The Central African Republic, a landlocked nation in sub-Saharan Africa, is bordered to the south by the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, to the west by Cameroon, and to the north by Chad and South Sudan. Founded as an independent nation after a period of French colonial rule in 1960, the Central African Republic was saturated with various structural challenges dating from before and during colonial administration. The product of this history and several ongoing conflicts, as well as poverty from decades of relative economic and land mismanagement, have resulted in the Central African Republic failing to overcome among the highest poverty rates globally. Land and natural resource mismanagement has, in particular, rendered the nation’s most vulnerable populations, especially children, vulnerable to food insecurity. There are four primary causes of this child hunger.
Civil War
Following several military coups and continued ethnic tension dating from the nineteenth century culminated in a civil war beginning in the 1990s. Over the past twenty years, the nation has transitioned back to constitutional democracy since a final pro-democracy military coup in 2003 brought a new constitution and various multi-party elections. However, civil wars remain prominent, with several rebel organizations still active in the country’s north. Following these conflicts, the central government’s institutions, based in the Central African Republic’s historic metropolitan center, Bangui, have been substantially weakened, limiting the ability of public institutions to provide essential social services reliably. Additionally, recent post-election violence has added to this deprivation.
Economic Activity and Supply
Though many ceasefires have kept military tensions from worsening, rebel militias remain in control of large swathes of the nation, hampering economic output in all sectors, including agriculture. This dynamic has worsened poverty due to an absence of employment opportunities; 75% of the Central African Republic’s population is impoverished, statistically among the highest globally. This, coupled with a 35% reduction in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, has led to most households losing purchasing power, with recent reports indicating 65% to 75% of household income is allocated towards food.
The Most Vulnerable Demographics
High socioeconomic inequality most impacts women and young children in rural regions of the country, partially the result of longstanding inequality of land ownership common in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, rural families depending on subsistence or localized agriculture, already strained by circumstance, were often most impacted by the depredation of civil war. This has most substantially affected children among the youth population of the Central African Republic. Currently, the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, estimates that 40% of children under five years of age are suffering from malnutrition, while 30% suffer from malnutrition; rates are considered an “emergency threshold.” This growing number of malnourished children has prompted fears that already limited access to social services, such as education, will be exacerbated. This has rendered international food aid fundamental to preventing backsliding, in particular related to children. Currently, the World Food Program provides 36,000 children under 5 years of age with fortified meals as part of the initiative to improve nutrition, vaccination rates and health training.
International Efforts
Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, immediate impacts on Ukrainian grain exports, on which sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly dependent, especially nations that rely on food imports, such as the Central African Republic. Increased costs for food imports, of importance due to structurally low domestic productivity, are overextending residents in the world’s poorest nations, including the Central African Republic.
This development has been especially pronounced among already impoverished children, with child malnutrition increasing at high rates; since 2020, severe acute malnutrition among children under five years of age has increased by 25%. This has acted to reverse decades of efforts by international aid organizations, ranging from the International Monetary Fund, UNICEF, and prominent national donors, to counter the precarious situation for children and other vulnerable demographics, such as women in rural areas, with investments to improve security and resources.
Before recent setbacks, child hunger in the Central African Republic was relatively lower than its neighboring countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with most large families obtaining direct and widespread international aid. In 2017 alone, UNICEF programs aided 850,000 in the Central African Republic through initiatives such as the WASH, a series of centers nationwide providing safe drinking water educational and health care services.
In conclusion, while international aid has proven integral to improving the impoverished circumstances in the Central African Republic, child hunger remains an ongoing and worsening crisis as the scale of deprivation among children is exacerbated by external factors, such as the war in Ukraine. As a result, organizations such as the IMF and individual nations are evaluating ways to encourage reform and expand programs. However, though a consensus remains, both are contingent on continued funding for the international programs that have prevented more significant crises from emerging.
– Cormac Sullivan
Photo: Flickr
The Silent Health Issue: Period Poverty in Panama
Four key indicators monitor a country’s menstrual health:
When assessing Panama’s limited data regarding menstrual health through the lens of these four indicators, the results are disappointing. Kelly Hernandez, a Panamanian advocate for ending period poverty, estimates that more than 150,000 Panamanian girls do not meet these four indicators.
The Enemy? Poverty.
Panama’s overall poverty is continuing to exacerbate these health issues, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. In 2019, the poverty rate was only $6.85 a day in 2017 PPP and primarily impacted indigenous communities such as Ngäbe-Buglé. Children and adolescents are also primary victims of the enemy of poverty, with an estimated 32.8% living in poverty, 25% of which live on Indigenous land.
In a world of increasing natural disasters and pandemics, the instability of equitable health care only gets worse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was quoted that “women have to choose between buying a pound of rice or a pack of feminine sanitary pads.”
Days for Girls in Panama
Ending poverty in Panama is not simple; there needs to be major changes in education, governance, distribution and more. While these facts and figures may seem overwhelming, one can begin to help put a stop to period poverty in Panama.
The aforementioned Kelly Hernandez is a women’s health ambassador for an organization called Days for Girls. Days for Girls is a global nonprofit that seeks to “eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation so that women and girls have improved health, education and livelihoods.” Its work spans 145 countries where it introduces and donates reusable and sanitary pads, provides health education services, and encourages local leadership and community programs. The organization also advocates for better policy and health research. Because Days for Girls is a nonprofit, it depends on donor support for money and supplies. Evidently, Days for Girls is not a permanent solution, but it is a promising start.
Endeavors for a Bright Future
While there is no overnight solution to combating period poverty in Panama, one can help make a difference by learning more about powerful organizations like Days for Girls, as well as educating oneself and others and staying updated with the latest developments. By sharing information, we can encourage others to learn more about powerful NGOs like Days for Girls and help boost their outreach.
Poverty is the number one enemy of Panama, but to go to war with poverty, humans need to first examine who is primarily being affected and how poverty is being inflicted on the 4.4 million Panamanians who call it home. Women and girls in Panama struggle to gain and maintain access to quality health care. This lack of necessary care exacerbated other existing issues relating to poverty, such as discrimination toward Indigenous people and a decline in school attendance. Period poverty in Panama is deserving of global attention. Regardless of one’s identity or background, everyone deserves basic human rights, including access to menstrual products and sanitary services.
– Piper Jenkins
Photo: Flickr
How Women’s Pavilion is Fighting for Gender Equality
Visiting Women’s Pavilion
Even if it is not possible for one to physically visit the display, the website offers a virtual 360° tour of the showcase that allows people to witness the amazing displays from their own home. The exhibit includes photos and accompanying explanations ranging from Frida Kahlo to Kathy Matsui, a partner in MPower.
The opening of Women’s Pavilion’s exhibit portrays how women have been underrepresented. With this being the first section of the Pavilion, it highlights the fact that gender inequality does not start at a specific age, and even children will experience prejudice from a school age.
The Aims of Women’s Pavilion
The main and most evident aim of Women’s Pavilion is to encourage young women to break down the barriers that are pre-existing stereotypes and allow them to live carelessly as their authentic selves. It also aims to deconstruct any misconceptions when it comes to women’s roles; both in a small community or a wider society including household duties and careers. However, Women’s Pavilion also acknowledges the men who have helped to make sure that these women are finally getting the recognition that they deserve as a thank you for using their privilege in order to share the deserved spotlight with the women they worked alongside.
This is not the first time that Dubai has been vocal in its fight for women’s rights and gender equality. Women’s Pavilion shares stories of many women from Arab countries and Islam who have fought to make the world a cleaner and better place.
Highlighting Gender-Related Poverty
In the display, there is a moving excerpt that consists of a wall filled completely with women’s shoes. At first glance, it may simply look like a wall of shoes, but after looking closer, they will learn that despite the 75% decrease in poverty, more women live in poverty compared to men. This highlights the fact that although conditions are improving immensely, there are still improvements that need to occur to promote gender equality.
There is also a moving dedication to applaud the women who played important parts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which again showcases the work of women whose selfless acts are going unnoticed.
Women’s Pavilion is a perfect representation of all of the women throughout history who have gone completely unacknowledged for their skills or contributions to society. From world-famous artists to teachers and behind-the-scenes programmers, Women’s Pavilion appreciates and applauds every woman.
– Ella Bushell
Photo: Flickr
How Water Security Improves Gender Equality
The burden of collecting and transporting water predominantly falls to female household members in cultures across the world. This costs hours each day, requiring many girls to skip school in order to keep up with the demand. On top of the costs to girls’ education, carrying the weight of water each day can cause life-long health problems. Water sources themselves, which include rivers and holes in the ground, threatens women and girls’ lives. The journey to and from sources of water can also be dangerous, putting women and girls at risk of harassment and sexual assault. Globally, women spend 200 million hours a day collecting water. Establishing water security improves gender equality for health, resources and safety.
WaterAid
By installing water pumps and wells in rural communities, organizations like WaterAid allow girls more time at school. In this instance, water security improves gender equality in education. Tsehaynesh is just one of the thousands whose lives have changed through reliable access to water. Her responsibility of collecting water from a spring for her family used to mean that she was often late for school. Since the installation of three pumps in her village of Derekwa in Ethiopia, the 15-year-old can attend school and she is working toward her dream of becoming a nurse.
Currently, a woman gives birth every two seconds without safe water, a toilet or hygienic equipment. Clean water and sanitation are vital in maternity centers, allowing women to experience secure and dignified childbirth. Doctors, midwives and mothers practicing good hygiene reduce the risk of infection, birth complications and maternal and infantile death.
How Sanitation Access Can Help
Providing access to sanitation also protects women’s safety and dignity. In areas without toilets, men, women and children must go outside, with women often waiting until it gets dark for privacy. This puts them at a greater risk of violence and rape, as well as long-term bladder problems.
For girls on their periods, poor hygiene and no decent toilets make school much harder. This is so much so that many girls stay home for days at a time each month, missing out on valuable education. In many cultures, periods are still a stigmatized topic, preventing girls from accessing the help they need. Fitting toilets and taps in schools, educating teachers about their female students’ needs, and including men and boys in conversations about menstrual hygiene can all help girls to access education while on their periods.
How Water Security Improves Gender Equality
The UN has emphasized the link between changing weather patterns and water insecurity as extreme weather events, floods, drought and tropical storms become more frequent and intense. Limited rainfall, damaged pipes and contaminated water impact already vulnerable communities the most. This includes people in rural areas, low-income households, children and women. Through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and nonprofits such as WaterAid, projects can help improve the status and development of women through access to water. Women included in leadership can make decisions that benefit all.
– Lydia Greene
Photo: Flickr
Desalination in Djibouti Doubles
Background
Djibouti is a country with an unforgiving climate with very little average annual rainfall and no running rivers or lakes. This formerly meant an enormous reliance on groundwater extraction for the country’s inhabitants. Moreover, due to frequent droughts in the Horn of Africa, groundwater reserves quite often dry up and cause significant water stresses.
Since 2017, the Horn of Africa as a whole has been suffering from drought aggravated by climate change, which has depleted water and food supplies for the likes of Somalia and Kenya. However, it is worth noting researchers emphasize the widespread suffering caused by the drought cannot be exclusively attributed to climate change but also a fundamental lack of preparedness and resilience. Such facts put into perspective the importance of investment in water infrastructure and not purely towards climate change reversal.
In 2017, the Ethiopia-Djibouti Transboundary Project was announced which as the name suggests is a pipeline transporting groundwater from neighboring Ethiopia, the collaboration would provide water for 750,000 people in Djibouti. While experts hail the importance of groundwater as “significant in climate adaptation and resilience-building” such sources are also prone to depletion during periods of drought; an undesirable characteristic for a country like Djibouti.
The initial construction of the Doraleh Desalination plant in 2021 was a major milestone in improving water security. Aside from its output of 22,500 cubic meters, enough to provide for 250,000 people, with seawater being the source, it allowed a major level of decoupling from unreliable groundwater reserves. The project was part of the Djibouti government’s development strategy, “Vision Djibouti 2035” and was heavily funded by the European Union (EU).
Recent Expansion
Last month’s EIB loan was a continuation of EU support as part of the Global Gateways Investment Package. The investment package has wide and ambitious aims, including “accelerating sustainable growth and decent job creation,” aims that experts believe a strong water supply system can act as drivers for. The EIB has also invested in a desalination plant in Jordan and fast internet connections in remote areas of the Congo and Uganda among other things.
The plant’s expansion also includes the construction of a 12 MW solar plant to power the desalination facility. On top of the eco-friendly aspect of this, it also provides reduced power dependence. Particularly, advantageous considering that Djibouti suffers from an intermittent power supply and sources the majority of its electricity from Ethiopia.
Final Thoughts
The summation of the plant’s output which after the expansion is claimed to provide water for 550,000 people along with the Ethiopia-Djibouti Transboundary Project which was designed to cater to 750,000 will substantially increase water security given Djibouti’s population of just over a million. Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner For International Partnerships celebrates the expansion saying, “Today’s project will become a model for best practices in water management across the region.”
– Sabique Sadique
Photo: Flickr
Child Hunger in the Central African Republic
Civil War
Following several military coups and continued ethnic tension dating from the nineteenth century culminated in a civil war beginning in the 1990s. Over the past twenty years, the nation has transitioned back to constitutional democracy since a final pro-democracy military coup in 2003 brought a new constitution and various multi-party elections. However, civil wars remain prominent, with several rebel organizations still active in the country’s north. Following these conflicts, the central government’s institutions, based in the Central African Republic’s historic metropolitan center, Bangui, have been substantially weakened, limiting the ability of public institutions to provide essential social services reliably. Additionally, recent post-election violence has added to this deprivation.
Economic Activity and Supply
Though many ceasefires have kept military tensions from worsening, rebel militias remain in control of large swathes of the nation, hampering economic output in all sectors, including agriculture. This dynamic has worsened poverty due to an absence of employment opportunities; 75% of the Central African Republic’s population is impoverished, statistically among the highest globally. This, coupled with a 35% reduction in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, has led to most households losing purchasing power, with recent reports indicating 65% to 75% of household income is allocated towards food.
The Most Vulnerable Demographics
High socioeconomic inequality most impacts women and young children in rural regions of the country, partially the result of longstanding inequality of land ownership common in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, rural families depending on subsistence or localized agriculture, already strained by circumstance, were often most impacted by the depredation of civil war. This has most substantially affected children among the youth population of the Central African Republic. Currently, the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, estimates that 40% of children under five years of age are suffering from malnutrition, while 30% suffer from malnutrition; rates are considered an “emergency threshold.” This growing number of malnourished children has prompted fears that already limited access to social services, such as education, will be exacerbated. This has rendered international food aid fundamental to preventing backsliding, in particular related to children. Currently, the World Food Program provides 36,000 children under 5 years of age with fortified meals as part of the initiative to improve nutrition, vaccination rates and health training.
International Efforts
Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, immediate impacts on Ukrainian grain exports, on which sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly dependent, especially nations that rely on food imports, such as the Central African Republic. Increased costs for food imports, of importance due to structurally low domestic productivity, are overextending residents in the world’s poorest nations, including the Central African Republic.
This development has been especially pronounced among already impoverished children, with child malnutrition increasing at high rates; since 2020, severe acute malnutrition among children under five years of age has increased by 25%. This has acted to reverse decades of efforts by international aid organizations, ranging from the International Monetary Fund, UNICEF, and prominent national donors, to counter the precarious situation for children and other vulnerable demographics, such as women in rural areas, with investments to improve security and resources.
Before recent setbacks, child hunger in the Central African Republic was relatively lower than its neighboring countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with most large families obtaining direct and widespread international aid. In 2017 alone, UNICEF programs aided 850,000 in the Central African Republic through initiatives such as the WASH, a series of centers nationwide providing safe drinking water educational and health care services.
In conclusion, while international aid has proven integral to improving the impoverished circumstances in the Central African Republic, child hunger remains an ongoing and worsening crisis as the scale of deprivation among children is exacerbated by external factors, such as the war in Ukraine. As a result, organizations such as the IMF and individual nations are evaluating ways to encourage reform and expand programs. However, though a consensus remains, both are contingent on continued funding for the international programs that have prevented more significant crises from emerging.
– Cormac Sullivan
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Period Poverty in Jamaica
The stigma surrounding women’s reproductive rights and menstruation makes it difficult for women to seek adequate health care and education about their bodies. In countries where education surrounding periods is limited and there is a lack of access to sanitary products, period poverty becomes an issue. UNICEF reported in Latin America, one in four adolescent girls who live in impoverished rural areas do not attend school but instead do unpaid domestic chores and care work. This lack of education limits their knowledge of their menstruation and health. In developing countries like Jamaica, the problem worsens, with period poverty being a central issue facing young girls and women.
About Always’ Work to End Period Poverty
Sanitary product company Always began a campaign in 2021 to end period poverty. Always found that 35% of girls treat menstruation as a “private matter” worldwide. The company committed itself to opening the discussion surrounding periods by installing a van in busy areas of Kingston, Jamaica. The van- nicknamed the Menstru-Mobile– tested passers-by on their knowledge of menstruation and provided information on period poverty.
Additionally, for every pack of Always purchased in shops linked to the campaign, the company donates a sanitary pad to girls affected by period poverty, and from 2021-2022, Always donated 200,000 sanitary pads in Jamaica due to this initiative. Always’ aim for 2023 is to donate more than 410,000 sanitary pads to girls in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Panama. These donations are delivered to communities experiencing period poverty through non-government organizations in Jamaica, such as HerFlow.
How the HerFlow Foundation is Educating Women
Shelly-Ann Weeks created the HerFlow Foundation in 2016. HerFlow works to end period poverty in by educating women and girls about their reproductive health and rights. The campaign started by assisting three schools in Jamaica but now works with over 300 schools, government homes and 28 health clinics, with more than 6 million period products donated.
The Outcome
Initiatives and organizations striving to end period poverty in Jamaica are making an immediate impact. Through donations and collaborations with companies such as Always, these initiatives have supported thousands of girls and made significant progress in ending period poverty.
– Anjini Snape
Photo: Flickr
El Niño’s Impact on Honduras
The Impact of El Niño in Honduras
Honduras and most of Central America expect around 3.5 million people to require humanitarian assistance because of El Niño. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), El Niño’s impact on Honduras is causing about 1.6 million people to require moderate to severe assistance with food because of the scarcity.
El Niño’s impact on Honduras causes severe drought compared to how it impacts other countries. Rural parts of the country that rely on importing goods or agriculture are affected the most by the severe drought and erratic weather the phenomenon presents. According to UNICEF, the lack of crops presents a constrained agricultural production, which leads to borderline famine and food scarcity.
The Permanent Commission of Contingencies (COPECO) declared that Honduras is on an indefinite Red Alert for 140 municipalities from rural areas to major cities. Aside from food scarcity, consumable and usable water is also becoming difficult to access. Water is now competing for agricultural use and human consumption, resulting in families in rural areas sacrificing water use for healthy hygiene. Since water is being used primarily for agriculture, there is an increase in water contamination, which affects children under five years the hardest.
Poverty in Honduras
While Honduras remains one of the poorest countries in the world, it is a remarkable and durable nation that emerged from a collapsing economy after the 2020 pandemic and two hurricanes. According to the World Bank, in 2020, more than half of the population lived under the poverty line but the country managed to recover with an increase in the labor market and an inflow of remittances.
Honduras’ economy will likely slow to 3.2% because of a slower growth of exports. El Niño’s impact on the country is a massive contributor to the halting of the economy because of the droughts it is causing. Without many crops or agricultural production, exporting goods significantly stunts the economy’s growth. The World Bank states in the report that another factor contributing to Honduras’ halting economy is low private investment and weak budget execution.
According to a report, the National Centers for Environmental Information estimates that the drought linked with El Niño is expected to cut into the region’s harvest. The drought is also impacting Honduras’ hydroelectric plants and beginning to ration electricity. Representative of The International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr. Ricardo Llaudes, the mission’s leader to Honduras, states, “Honduras remains one of the world’s most vulnerable countries” to natural disasters, “with sizable adaptation investment needs.”
Action Against Hunger’s Efforts
Adaptation is the game’s name when dealing with El Niño and its random weather outbursts. Countries cannot prevent the phenomenon because of how long it has been around. But there are strategies, aids and plans that can be implemented to help Honduras surge forward.
Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization that provides food assistance to rural areas with minor nutrition and works to improve clean water access, safe sanitation and healthy hygiene. As of 2022, Action Against Hunger helped 227,971 people in the country in hopes of reducing the impact of El Niño.
But a growing concern in the country is the mass amount of migration from Honduran nationals and other countries in South America, including Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela and many more. What Action Against Hunger is doing in response is providing humanitarian support to inside and outside migration shelters alongside prioritizing children’s malnourishment.
How USAID is Helping
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new humanitarian funding package of $42.5 million. The package will support El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the most impacted by El Niño. According to USAID, the support will help reduce food insecurity and provide drinking water. The U.S. is providing a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
Ways to adapt and deal with El Niño include helping farmers grow different crops that require less water. A good example is the sorghum plant. The dragon fruit cactus is a great alternative fruit tree that can survive in severe drought. U.N. agencies are helping farmers create vegetable gardens that efficiently conserve water by having a small irrigation system.
While El Niño is here to stay, there are ways to reduce its impact. Planting alternative plants that can still provide nutrition to help reduce food scarcity. New farming methods focus on conserving as much water as possible and using aid packages to develop a reliable source of consumable water and food.
– Sebastian Llerena
Photo: Flickr
How the Internet of Things Can Help Fight Global Poverty
Through this network, devices can exchange information, analyze it, and perform tasks to enhance productivity, reduce waste and improve overall quality of life. Globally, computing costs have plummeted over the last few decades due to constant innovation, allowing technology to drive solutions for people experiencing poverty. For example, the cost of a gigaflop of processing power has fallen from $1 trillion to $0.03 since 1960. As a result, the Internet of Things has a variety of potential impacts that can help fight global poverty.
IoT Applications in Agriculture
Particularly in developing nations, agriculture and farming make up a significant portion of the impoverished’s livelihoods. But while such tasks aren’t typically associated with technology and innovative progress, IoT can help fight global poverty through several agricultural applications. For example, IoT-enabled sensors can monitor soil conditions, weather patterns and crop health in real time. As a result, farmers can have regular access to actionable insights for the improvement of yields and reduction of losses. Automated irrigation systems can be activated based on data collected by these sensors, ensuring efficient water usage and cost-effectiveness. Some estimates indicate that IoT helps save up to $50 per acre, which adds up to significant savings that can be greatly beneficial for impoverished people in developing countries.
Combining technologies and the Internet of Things can facilitate huge improvements in farming techniques. Drones equipped with sensors can monitor large areas of farmland, identify areas of concern and help farmers make informed decisions about their crops. The increased profits from this precision farming can go a long way in providing these farmers a way out of poverty. Already, developing countries including Vietnam and India have invested in IoT technology in agriculture, enabling precision farming through hardware devices.
Improved Access to Services
Access to essential services such as health care, education and financial transactions is often limited in impoverished areas. IoT has the potential to bridge this gap by enabling more accessible and more efficient access to these services. For instance, telemedicine powered by IoT can connect remote communities with health care professionals, allowing timely consultations and diagnoses. South Africa is just one of many countries investing in innovative health care facilities and research supports the hypothesis that these facilities increase efficiency greatly. For example, smart health care buildings use IoT to improve service delivery and data collection and to expedite processes. In the past, the health sector has also greatly benefited from easily collected data via mobile devices. This can lead to improved health outcomes and reduced health care costs for individuals and communities.
Additionally, IoT can facilitate mobile payments and banking services, providing financial inclusion to those who previously had limited access to traditional banking systems. Access to mobile-based financial transactions can enable secure and convenient transactions, empowering low-income people to participate in the formal economy and manage their finances effectively.
Disaster Response and Readiness
Natural disasters can have hugely debilitating effects on developing nations, which tend to struggle with resilient infrastructure. It is estimated that 26 million people are forced into poverty every year due to such disasters. IoT and other technological solutions, such as machine learning applications, can help with disaster response and resilience by providing real-time data on environmental conditions and early warnings for imminent threats.
Furthermore, IoT can aid post-disaster recovery efforts by tracking and managing relief supplies, ensuring efficient distribution to affected areas. This can significantly enhance the effectiveness of the humanitarian response, ultimately assisting in reducing the impact of disasters on communities and their path to recovery. As the World Bank estimates, disasters cause losses of approximately $520 billion each year and applications of the Internet of Things can help save billions of dollars that can instead be used to aid those in poverty.
Conclusion
The Internet of Things holds immense potential to mitigate global poverty by enhancing connectivity and enabling smart solutions across various sectors. As the world moves toward further digitization, data collection is becoming increasingly simple. IoT provides a method to harness the power of interconnected devices worldwide, using them as a catalyst for positive change. As communities are uplifted and individuals are empowered, collaboration among organizations can work toward bridging the poverty gap and fostering a brighter future for all.
– Namit Agrawal
Photo: Wikimedia
To a Healthier Future: USAID Programs in Zambia
Agriculture and Malnutrition
In December 2022, USAID began its partnership with African companies to build more eco-friendly facilities and improve market circulation in Zambia. Surplus crops, specifically maize, are a major issue in the country, and reducing food loss reduces regional hunger and further maximizes the economic potential of the country.
These projects coincide with USAID’s Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance (SUN TA) program. According to USAID, 35% of Zambian children under age 5 suffer from malnutrition and stunted growth. This drastically affects their ability to learn and develop into the adolescents and adults of the future of Zambia. SUN TA works with mothers to provide household assistance and nutritious meals to children.
In a late March update, USAID announced grants totaling about $1 million to local Zambian companies to promote more environmentally friendly technology in the country and begin downsizing residential charcoal usage. Reducing deforestation and carbon emissions creates a healthier country that is less reliant on natural resources.
Charcoal and Environmentalism
Charcoal is by far the most dominant fuel source in the country. Ongoing USAID programs in Zambia also include the Alternatives to Charcoal (A2C) project. Charcoal is overwhelmingly the primary fuel source for cooking, with over 75% of households using charcoal regularly. High demand requires high supply to meet it. Because charcoal is made from wood (not coal), Zambia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world — 180,000 to 250,000 hectares are cut down yearly. To reduce both deforestation and charcoal-produced carbon emissions, the A2C project aims to establish new fuel sources and technology in the country that are more efficient than charcoal, such as electrical appliances and gasifier stoves. Due to their higher efficiency at a reduced cost, Zambians can lower their cost of living and save more for the future.
Health
Zambia is one of the most HIV-prevalent places in the world, with the population of HIV-positive individuals at about 11%. This is cited as a primary reason why over 30% of Zambian households have at least one orphaned child. To tackle this combination of issues, USAID is currently implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) plan and the Adolescents and Children, HIV Incidence Reduction, Empowerment and Virus Elimination (ACHIEVE) project.
By investing 57% of its annual budget into continuously improving nationwide clinical HIV services. PEPFAR is designed to reduce disease through prevention and treatment programs in the country. While HIV is the main target of PEPFAR, similar programs exist for malaria, tuberculosis and other various diseases. PEPFAR also oversees family planning to reduce the rate of congenital (present from birth) HIV. As a result of the past decade of effort, the infection rate for children born to HIV-infected mothers has dropped to under 5%.
The ACHIEVE Project is the developmental plan for Zambia’s government infrastructure to better serve at-risk minors. By improving the country’s case management systems, Zambia will be able to better track and care for children across the country, further increasing household assistance and family planning.
Other Business
The Prosper Africa Initiative has recently partnered with EG Capital to target a goal of $100 million to spread among African businesses and entrepreneurs across East Africa and Zambia. The goal is to invest in regional growth sectors such as food, climate, technology, health and education while reducing the poverty line and specifically benefiting women with employment and children for a healthier future.
In the post-COVID world, USAID programs in Zambia, among others, are growing the country to be more efficient with its food, infrastructure and manpower. More efficient use of resources not only establishes a better economy but makes a difference in the lives of the many children who live below the poverty line. Reducing diseases and better oversight of millions of households allows the next generation of citizens to grow healthier and stronger to take on the challenges of the future. With these programs, Zambia is both capable and expected to grow soon into a country with a significantly better quality of life for its average citizens than in previous years.
– Eddie Dale
Photo: Unsplash
Mobile Libraries in Afghanistan Are Empowering Youth
The Plight of Education in Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s educational infrastructure has faced considerable challenges over the past few decades. War, political unrest and cultural norms have limited access to quality education for many, especially girls. According to UNICEF, by 2018, around 3.7 million children were out of school in Afghanistan, with girls making up 60% of this figure due to factors like traditional norms and the Taliban takeover affecting girls’ education.
The Taliban Takeover and Its Impact on Education
The Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021 has had a significant impact on education, especially for girls. Following the takeover, the Taliban implemented several restrictions, including barring girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. This move, among other restrictive measures, targeted the education and employment opportunities for women and girls in Afghanistan.
According to UNESCO, more than 2.5 million, nearly 80% of school-aged Afghan girls and young women, have been out of school since 2021. The Taliban’s restriction tightened in 2022, barring girls from attending secondary school and university, making Afghanistan one of the most restrictive countries globally concerning women’s education.
Charmaghz, a Kabul-based non-profit organization, has provided educational resources to children amid these challenging circumstances. The organization repurposes old public buses into mobile libraries, offering a space for children to read, think and ask questions. Although they had to halt operations temporarily due to the Taliban’s takeover, the dire need for educational support for children propelled them to continue their mission.
Charmaghz: Wheels of Knowledge Amidst Adversity
The Charmaghz Mobile Library was launched in 2018 in Kabul, Afghanistan, by Freshta Karim. The name “Charmaghz” is derived from Farsi, where “chahar” means four and “maghz” means brain. This reflects the foundation’s philosophy of work, which is to create opportunities for critical thinking.
With the mission to provide spaces for critical thinking and children’s imagination in areas heavily affected by conflict, they offer mobile library services across Kabul and have various activities to encourage children to express themselves. Each mobile library is stocked with about 400 books in Dari, Pashto and English, covering topics ranging from science to history and has five active mobile libraries in Kabul, namely Khairkhana, Karte Naw, West Kabul, Khoshalkhan and Baghe Bala with about 1,000 visitors per day.
Three of the five libraries under the Charmaghz initiative received funding throughout 2021 with support from the Afghan private sector, indicating local support for such initiatives.
Positive Impacts of Mobile Libraries in Afghanistan
These mobile libraries are doing more than just spreading the joy of reading. They’re creating safe spaces where children, especially girls, can gather, share ideas and cultivate a love for learning. Regular reading sessions, storytelling events and discussions are organized, fostering a sense of community and shared learning.
By providing access to books and creating spaces for learning, mobile libraries contribute to bridging the educational gap in regions where regular schooling might be inaccessible or inadequate. The outreach to schools, parks, orphanages and communities, coupled with providing a wide range of books, extends educational resources to those who might otherwise have limited access.
The Road Ahead
The success of initiatives like Charmaghz is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Afghan people. There are efforts to promote reading among children, such as creating community libraries in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Kabul in 2021.
The Afghan government, with support from international NGOs, is recognizing the potential of these mobile libraries and is considering plans to support and expand these programs. The hope is that, soon, mobile libraries will not just be limited to Kabul but will be found across the country, bringing education and hope to every corner of Afghanistan.
The work of organizations like Charmaghz is a beacon of hope amidst the bleak educational landscape for girls in Afghanistan. Highlighting the operations of such organizations helps to ensure that the international community does not overlook the plight of girls and women in Afghanistan amidst other unfolding global crises.
– Laeticia Mbangue
Photo: Flickr