Informal employment compromises a large percentage of India’s labor force, with the size of India’s informal economy estimated to be 43.1% of its total GDP. Importantly, 88% of employed Indian women are working in the informal sector, mainly in small-scale farming. Other informal work includes domestic cleaners, street vendors and garment factory workers.
As 9.5% of India’s employed population living below the poverty line are women, it is not hard to see that women bear a significant economic burden. Yet, empowering women in India’s informal sector will not only alleviate the symptoms of poverty for women and their families, but it will also benefit the global economy.
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were developed to create a better and more prosperous future for all. Goal 5 directly relates to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls across the globe, whilst the other SDGs recognize gender poverty, women’s unequal access to education and health care, and women’s poor health and well-being as key issues going forward.
According to UN Women, despite commitments to end gender inequality, the world has failed to make considerable progress and only 48% of the data needed to monitor SDG 5 is currently available. In fact, if the world does not take substantial action now, predictions have indicated that it will take another 286 years to enforce and monitor gender equality.
The disproportionate number of women in India’s informal sector is hindering the ability of developing countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the informal economy, workers do not receive contracts, lack the same level of social protection that the formal sector provides and earn lower wages. Not only this, but the nature of informal work is often more precarious, hindering women’s ability to gain social and economic security.
Empowering Female Workers
In spite of these circumstances, women in India’s informal sector are demanding better treatment, health and protection in the workplace. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the urgency of having secure employment and health and well-being.
Formed in 1984, The Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has around 2.5 million workers and is empowering women in India’s informal sector to be self-reliant and take back ownership over their work.
SEWA’s Punjab state co-ordinator Harsharan Kaur told Foreign Policy that it is important for the government to recognize that the informal sector is the largest contributor to India’s economy so that it takes social protection measures for women seriously.
Foremost, SEWA educates women about their rights before helping them to collaborate to demand better pay and lobby the government into action. Through the association, more than 300,000 women have joined collective enterprises where women are made equal shareholders, providing them with greater economic power.
The association believes that asset ownership through cooperatives is the key to freeing women from poverty by ensuring that women have equal access to services such as health and childcare and financial, legal and housing services.
Global Economic Benefits
According to Oxfam, gender inequality results in a loss of $9 trillion a year in developing countries which is not only detrimental to women and their families, but the global economy.
Between 2000 and 2010, a 30% reduction in poverty in Latin America was achieved by increasing the number of women in secure, paid employment showing how closing the gender gap in India could also help to reduce poverty.
Achieving gender equality by securing women’s employment will have universal economic benefits, for which informal work accounts for 60% of all global employment.
A study by the IMF showed that only 13% of women working in sectors that are more integrated into the global economy are employed informally compared to 20% of women in sectors that are less integrated.
Integrating developing countries into the global market will therefore help women to access more secure employment opportunities. Boosts in the global market will help achieve gender equality by exposing women to better jobs and in turn, increase women’s spending power.
Looking Ahead
The World Bank’s International Development Association has already directed $93 billion toward low-income countries which should be appropriately channeled toward supporting and strengthening informal workers’ organizations, skills and empowerment. By recognizing that informal work constitutes a large proportion of India’s economy, investing in women’s futures will not only help developing nations meet their sustainability goals but benefit the global economy at the same time.
– Tatum Richards
Photo: Flickr
HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, the HIV and AIDS epidemic has been raging on since 1987, with the condition being characterized as “stable” according to the National Institute of Health.
The low-income West African country has dealt with many issues over the years, including economic and political instability, public health scares such as the Ebola epidemic which lasted two years between 2014–2016 and civil war.
Prevalence and Statistics
A 2017 report “has estimated that since the beginning of the global HIV pandemic in 1981, 35.4 million acquired immunodeficiency syndromes” which means that many people living with HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone have severe health problems that are linked to the condition. Furthering this is “a disproportionately high number of the global total deaths (70%) occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Why is HIV/AIDS So Prevalent in Sierra Leone?
Estimates have indicated that the large prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the country is due to social and economic factors, with the epidemic having “been fueled, in part by a severely under-resourced health care system, a decade-long civil war (1991–2000) and disruptions in HIV care due to the recent Ebola epidemic (2014–2016). In addition to this, treatment is also not accessible to most due to the extreme poverty much of the population faces, with there being an estimated 67,000 HIV infected people, with less than 30% receiving ART.”
ART, in particular, is a form of medication that helps treat those with the condition and lower the viral load in the bloodstream of HIV, which means it is unlikely that the infected person will spread the disease to others. Due to the large number of people not receiving treatment in the country, the worrying fact is that HIV will spread to others and create an even bigger epidemic of suffering in Sierra Leone.
UNICEF: Tackling HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone
However, despite the severity of HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone being particularly worrying, the charity UNICEF is currently providing vital support for those suffering from the condition to ensure those affected get access to treatment.
A story that demonstrates this is that of a lady named Edith who learned she had HIV after she lost her husband, father and children.
Edith herself stated “When I was diagnosed as HIV positive, I was sad, angry, confused and unsure about what to do next. I did not have a lot of information about this condition and was afraid that being a widow with little resources, taking a lifelong medication would be too expensive.” However, due to the help and support of UNICEF, Edith no longer has to live in fear, as Edith goes on to state “I receive my ARVs free of charge and this has helped me with treatment adherence and helping me to remain healthy and strong. Today I use the lessons and experiences I have had from taking ARVs to advise other people living with HIV on the importance of taking ARVs every day at the same time, even when the CD4 count gets high.”
The treatment UNICEF has provided Edith with has also helped to prevent it from spreading to Edith’s new husband and the baby. This is because the use of ARVs contributes to reducing HIV-related morbidities and mortalities across Sierra Leone.
Overall, UNICEF serves as an example of what charities and governments can do to prevent the epidemic of HIV and AIDS from both spreading further afield and impacting the lives of those living in underdeveloped countries. Through providing access to treatment and testing facilities, people will no longer have to live in fear of the disease and the implications of it.
– Megan Rose Miley
Photo: Flickr
Poverty and Education in India
India’s education system is one of the largest in the world. In 1947, when the country gained independence, the literacy rate was only 18% for men and around 8% for women. With steady reforms, India has come a long way to revamp its education system. According to the National Survey of India, the literacy rate has increased in the past 13 years from 73% in 2011 to more than 77.7% in 2022. However, this statistic is still lower than the global literacy rate which is around 86.5%. Illiteracy plays a major role in continuous and generational poverty in India. Luckily, there are efforts in place to improve education in India.
Discrimination in Education in India
Gender disparity and inequality are some of the main reasons for the stark difference in literacy rates between women and men. The male literacy rate is 84.7% whereas the female literacy rate is disappointingly lower at 70.3%. In some states such as Bihar, the female literacy rate is shockingly low at 51.50%. During the pandemic, 6 million children were out of school and a majority of them were girls. This difference in education between men and women has inevitably led to a higher rate of female poverty in India.
Social and cultural beliefs about the inferiority of women are still widespread. Studies have shown that gender violence is prevalent throughout the country, especially in domestic households where women have to perform unpaid labor whereas men do not. A survey has shown that 54.4% of people agree that a woman deserves to be beaten and physically assaulted if she leaves the house without permission.
Girls are often seen as less important and less deserving of education in India. They have to stay at home and engage in household chores. Many people still think that when a girl is born, she is “paraya dhan”, meaning that she is an object or possession that a family must groom in order to marry off and will eventually hand over to a man and in-laws. The tradition of the bride’s family giving a dowry (money, property or goods) to the groom’s side of the family upon marriage exemplifies this.
Societal pressures to marry and bear children are so high that young girls have to drop out of school just after primary education. A lack of sanitary productions and taboo surrounding periods has also persistently kept girls from attending school.
In rural areas, people from scheduled castes and tribes, particularly women and girls, experience exclusion from education altogether. Women thus face low economic prospects and struggle to be financially independent as a result of a lack of proper education. Deep-seated gender stereotypes and cultural beliefs about the Caste System have led to a spread of inequity in education and basic standard of living, increasing the rate of poverty in India.
Rote Learning in Education in India
Many critics have argued that the primary secondary curriculum in India, called Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is often memory and textbook-based, without much attention to vocational and skills-based training at all. Sometimes called “text-book culture,” rote learning is the primary method of teaching in both government and private schools, with teachers having little to no autonomy in the classrooms. Repetition of information as an approach to pedagogy is common across the country.
Consequently, studies have shown that students are not stimulated to creativity and originality. Textbooks include impractical pieces of information and are of little use for developing analytical and reasoning capabilities. Intelligence is thus often linked to the ability to memorize huge amounts of information, and tested with standardized examinations that high-stakes competitions fuel. Academics also believe that this system received encouragement during the British Raj and is a consequence of colonists wanting to establish a country of obedient followers instead of original thinkers.
In contrast, some critics have also argued that the connection between memory and rote learning is misleading and a misconception. While rote learning does not typically help in forming complex connections between old and new information, memory can help retrieve information, apply it and use it in new modes and forms. For this to happen, the curriculum must encourage the skills of analysis and interpretation in students.
Pressure From Society
Children’s parents also pressure them to take up traditional professional occupations. It seems to be part of the culture to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer. An incredibly competitive job market has resulted in parents wanting their children to have secure and high-paying jobs. Consequently, many students are suffering from depression and end up taking up professions that they are not passionate about. Ironically, because of the scarcity of opportunities, even graduates of professional occupations struggle to secure a job.
Looking Ahead
In 2020, the government introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) in an effort to revolutionize the system by encouraging a more holistic and skills-oriented approach to education. Students should now have exposure to a flexible choice of subjects for higher education and vocational streams at a young age. It also states that a Gender Inclusion Fund and Special Educational Zones will emerge for disadvantaged and vulnerable members of society.
With the government’s continued reforms and intervention, including more job opportunities for young graduates, the education system can help rapidly alleviate poverty in India.
– Sharvi Rana
Photo: Flickr
How Lebanon’s Economic Crisis Is Affecting Its People
Lebanon has been suffering through a brutal economic crisis for more than a year; the resulting financial insecurity has thrown an estimated 1.4 million people into high levels of food insecurity. However, efforts are underway to combat Lebanon’s economic crisis.
Hyperinflation
As of May 2023, inflation rates in the nation reached a shocking 260%, and since July 2022, the Lebanese currency has lost 70% of its value. This has contributed to the food Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB) increasing by 230% in the same period. The IPC defines the SMEB as “a benchmark to estimate the cost of food and other basic needs of a refugee family in Lebanon.” Thus, it is becoming progressively more difficult for the people of Lebanon to sustain themselves.
Political Uncertainty
Since the end of the presidential term in October 2022, there have been multiple failed attempts to elect a new leader. This has dropped the nation into a state of dramatic institutional uncertainty. Lebanese politics’ current chaotic state makes it extremely difficult for the government to deal with the economic issues they are facing and is the catalyst for the continuation of this crisis. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has claimed that if the political situation is not resolved and drastic reforms are not made in the near future, Lebanon could fall into a perpetual crisis.
Unemployment in Lebanon
Unemployment in the nation is decreasing but still stands at one-quarter of the population. These figures are much higher for certain groups, with women and young people facing almost 40% unemployment.
The nation is also harboring a large number of Syrian refugees. Accessing formal employment for these groups is incredibly difficult leading them to fall into more informal work that often leads to them suffering through extremely exploitative working conditions. Nearly 30% of Syrian refugee households in Lebanon have no working members and temporary labor in agriculture and construction is the primary source of income for these groups, behind humanitarian assistance.
The effects of the crisis are by no means even and universal for the entire country. Certain regions are feeling the strain to a far greater extent than others. In El Hermel, 82% of Syrian refugees cited humanitarian aid as their main source of income.
Food Insecurity
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), an estimated 37% of the Lebanese population is in a state of acute food insecurity. The WFP goes on to state that due to hyperinflation, reduced access to basic services and increasing social tensions, the difficulty of finding a sufficient source of food will only increase.
Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA)
Currently, 28% of all Lebanese residents and 75% of all Syrian refugees in the country are receiving Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA). In April 2023, the number of people receiving HFA in the nation reached 1.12 million. Although this is going a long way to limit the suffering the people of Lebanon are facing as a result of the crisis, more action is necessary to find a real long-term solution.
Recommended Actions
The IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis gives multiple recommendations for potential solutions to Lebanon’s economic crisis. It suggests there needs to be an expansion and standardization of the social safety nets that the Lebanese government has provided to ensure security for the nation’s poorest citizens.
Livelihood support programs need to be scaled up, particularly in the agricultural sector to provide stable sources of income and to mitigate the resulting loss of purchasing power that the nation’s extreme levels of inflation have caused. There needs to be an increase in asset creation, again mainly in the agricultural sector, to allow citizens to not only make a livelihood but also to allow people in poorer areas to support themselves through personal food production. However, to achieve reforms this substantial, increased political stability is necessary.
Conclusion
Although Lebanon’s economic crisis is ongoing, the continued support from HFA and a clear plan of action that the IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis has laid out presents a sliver of hope for a brighter future.
– Henry Tuppen
Photo: Flickr
The Lack of Food Security in Zambia
Zambia, situated in Southern Africa, is renowned for its abundant natural beauty and wildlife, showcased in its many national parks. Yet, one critical issue that often receives insufficient attention in Zambia is the ongoing lack of food security that its people confront daily.
Population and Food Poverty
Zambia has a large population of 17.4 million, 48% of whom suffer from an array of illnesses due to malnutrition and under-eating. Because of this, 35% of children have stunted growth, meaning that these children will not grow to their full capabilities and are already being restricted from a young age.
That being said, there has been an improvement in the income of Zambia. In 2011, it was recorded to have received a lower-middle income status. This shows how things may be improving for the country overall, but that does not mean that they have reached a comfortable point, nor does it mean that the entire population is experiencing this improvement. There are still parts of Zambia that are progressing more slowly than others.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Food Security
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the lack of food security massively in Zambia. Alongside other factors like climate shocks, Knowledge For Poverty reports the country has experienced “prolonged dry spells, flooding, reduced livelihood opportunities due to restrictions linked to COVID-19, pests and diseases and high input and food prices.”
Although the pandemic had a knock-on effect globally, Zambia — a nation on its way out of poverty — is unfortunately back at square one. The rural areas were responsible for housing 60% of the population, which was affected the most. Furthermore, 54% of the Zambia population has been living on under $1.90 a day, which is significantly lower than the amount needed to live.
Malnutrition and Early Childhood
One of the main issues within Zambia is the effects of malnutrition. In a USAID report, the organization explored the cases of malnutrition among children and concluded: “Nationally, 40% of children under 5 years are stunted. Analysis by age group shows that stunting is highest (54%) in children 18–23 months and lowest (14%) in children under 6 months. Children in rural areas (42%) are more likely to be stunted than those in urban areas (36%).” This shows how severely the lack of food security within Zambia has and continues to affect children and highlights the importance of how people can help.
Feed The Hungry and African Vision of Hope
Feed The Hungry is a charity that works alongside the African Vision of Hope in order to reduce food poverty — particularly among children and young people — in Zambia. Together, these two charities are providing food for more than 5,000 children every day during school time to ensure that they at least have one sufficient meal and can focus on their studies in an attempt to break the poverty cycle.
The work of charities such as these helps reduce the number of people affected by food poverty; however, it does not stop the issue itself. Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in relation to malnutrition, and this highlights the need for more charities and other support systems to direct efforts toward alleviating food poverty.
Zambia’s experience with food security has been up and down for many years, marked by periods of both success and challenges. Recently, it has faced a difficult period due to various factors. These include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and significant fluctuations between droughts and floods. While the recovery is gradual, efforts are underway to improve the situation.
– Ella Bushell
Photo: Flickr
Empowering Women in India’s Informal Sector
Informal employment compromises a large percentage of India’s labor force, with the size of India’s informal economy estimated to be 43.1% of its total GDP. Importantly, 88% of employed Indian women are working in the informal sector, mainly in small-scale farming. Other informal work includes domestic cleaners, street vendors and garment factory workers.
As 9.5% of India’s employed population living below the poverty line are women, it is not hard to see that women bear a significant economic burden. Yet, empowering women in India’s informal sector will not only alleviate the symptoms of poverty for women and their families, but it will also benefit the global economy.
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were developed to create a better and more prosperous future for all. Goal 5 directly relates to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls across the globe, whilst the other SDGs recognize gender poverty, women’s unequal access to education and health care, and women’s poor health and well-being as key issues going forward.
According to UN Women, despite commitments to end gender inequality, the world has failed to make considerable progress and only 48% of the data needed to monitor SDG 5 is currently available. In fact, if the world does not take substantial action now, predictions have indicated that it will take another 286 years to enforce and monitor gender equality.
The disproportionate number of women in India’s informal sector is hindering the ability of developing countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the informal economy, workers do not receive contracts, lack the same level of social protection that the formal sector provides and earn lower wages. Not only this, but the nature of informal work is often more precarious, hindering women’s ability to gain social and economic security.
Empowering Female Workers
In spite of these circumstances, women in India’s informal sector are demanding better treatment, health and protection in the workplace. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the urgency of having secure employment and health and well-being.
Formed in 1984, The Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has around 2.5 million workers and is empowering women in India’s informal sector to be self-reliant and take back ownership over their work.
SEWA’s Punjab state co-ordinator Harsharan Kaur told Foreign Policy that it is important for the government to recognize that the informal sector is the largest contributor to India’s economy so that it takes social protection measures for women seriously.
Foremost, SEWA educates women about their rights before helping them to collaborate to demand better pay and lobby the government into action. Through the association, more than 300,000 women have joined collective enterprises where women are made equal shareholders, providing them with greater economic power.
The association believes that asset ownership through cooperatives is the key to freeing women from poverty by ensuring that women have equal access to services such as health and childcare and financial, legal and housing services.
Global Economic Benefits
According to Oxfam, gender inequality results in a loss of $9 trillion a year in developing countries which is not only detrimental to women and their families, but the global economy.
Between 2000 and 2010, a 30% reduction in poverty in Latin America was achieved by increasing the number of women in secure, paid employment showing how closing the gender gap in India could also help to reduce poverty.
Achieving gender equality by securing women’s employment will have universal economic benefits, for which informal work accounts for 60% of all global employment.
A study by the IMF showed that only 13% of women working in sectors that are more integrated into the global economy are employed informally compared to 20% of women in sectors that are less integrated.
Integrating developing countries into the global market will therefore help women to access more secure employment opportunities. Boosts in the global market will help achieve gender equality by exposing women to better jobs and in turn, increase women’s spending power.
Looking Ahead
The World Bank’s International Development Association has already directed $93 billion toward low-income countries which should be appropriately channeled toward supporting and strengthening informal workers’ organizations, skills and empowerment. By recognizing that informal work constitutes a large proportion of India’s economy, investing in women’s futures will not only help developing nations meet their sustainability goals but benefit the global economy at the same time.
– Tatum Richards
Photo: Flickr
How Tanzania is improving Water Sanitation
Tanzania, situated on the coast of the Indian Ocean in Sub-Saharan Africa, is home to a growing population of more than 68 million people. As of 2019, almost 24 million of its people lacked access to safe drinking water, while a staggering 43 million did not have proper sanitation. Unfortunately, the absence of clean water and sanitation facilities increases the risk of diseases, which can particularly affect the health and well-being of children. Nevertheless, the Tanzanian government, in collaboration with aid organizations, is actively striving to enhance its water and sanitation infrastructure.
Clean Water Access
Access to clean water is a crucial aspect of reducing global poverty and improving people’s lives. In Tanzania, the government has teamed up with various organizations to enhance water quality. The Tanzanian government partnered with Water.org to introduce the Water Credit system. Through this collaboration, Equity Bank is facilitating the process by providing small loans for households in need of clean water and larger loans for water and sanitation companies. This initiative aims to make safe water more accessible to underserved communities.
Tanzania has received direct aid from the World Bank, with a $300 million International Development Association credit for the Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program (SRWSSP). This funding will facilitate the expansion of the SRWSSP to 137 districts around Tanzania. It will also be the building block for 206 new water schemes, all created to achieve drinking water for all Tanzanians. The World Bank’s work with the Tanzanian government can help up to 10 million citizens with improved water supply.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Another important tenet of WASH is hygiene and sanitation. UNICEF has partnered strategically with the Tanzanian government to transform and develop strategic WASH areas (sanitation, water and hygiene). Through a community-led sanitation approach, it seeks to ensure improved sanitation in rural and local communities. Hygiene lessons like instilling the importance of washing hands with soap can reduce bad-hygiene-related diseases by 47%. UNICEF also aids in providing WASH facilities in health and educational institutions and focuses on equitable access to these provisions for disadvantaged children, girls and women.
USAID’s Water Resources Integration Development Initiative (WARIDI) has been designing better infrastructure for WASH initiatives at various primary and secondary schools. This is particularly important as 40% of diarrhea cases in children get transmitted in schools. The provisions include providing separate toilets for boys and girls and easy access to sanitation facilities for students with disabilities.
The Tanzanian government has also implemented Vision 2025, which has plans to improve access to proper sanitation facilities by 95% by 2025. A secondary five-year plan is set to improve sanitation in rural areas by 85%. Massive undertakings such as these are pivotal steps to improving hygiene throughout Tanzania.
Looking Ahead
Overall, Tanzania’s efforts to enhance water and sanitation infrastructure are paving the way for a brighter future. Collaborations with organizations like Water.org and the support of the World Bank are expanding access to clean water, benefitting millions of Tanzanians. Initiatives promoting hygiene and sanitation, driven by UNICEF and USAID, are creating healthier environments, especially in schools, and helping to reduce the spread of diseases. With ambitious plans like Vision 2025, Tanzania is making significant strides toward improving the lives and well-being of its people.
– Atheeth Ravikrishnan
Photo: Flickr
Vaccinating Zero-Dose Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Vaccination has historically been one of the most effective and widespread public health interventions, saving millions of lives each year globally. However, in many parts of the world, particularly developing nations, vaccination is not readily available, and many children have never received a single dose of any vaccine. These children are known as “zero-dose” children, and their lack of immunization is a great threat to their health and those around them.
One example of a country with many zero-dose children is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). But on the bright side, the DRC is working with organizations on several initiatives to help alleviate this issue.
The Situation
A study in 2021 revealed that one in five children between 12 and 23 months of age in the DRC could be considered zero-dose. One initiative for vaccinating zero-dose children is the Mashako Plan, an effort that began in 2018. The government planned to vaccinate a quarter of a million children as part of the immunization program, targeting vulnerable provinces in the country.
Increasing immunization is also a critical part of fighting global poverty. When children remain healthy and safe from common diseases through vaccination, families can avoid the financial burden of medical expenses and lost productivity. In low-income countries like the DRC, where health care resources are limited, preventing diseases through vaccination is a strategically strong economic choice.
Solutions
New funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is accelerating efforts to vaccinate zero-dose children in the DRC. Gavi’s Equity Accelerator Fund (EAF) is helping provide the DRC with $59.7 million, working toward an ambitious goal to reach 35% of zero-dose children. This is the most money any country has received from the EAF and is an important step in both global health improvements and poverty reduction. Thabani Maphosa, a managing director at Gavi, spoke about ensuring “that the most marginalized communities are no longer left behind,” which relates to the goal of fighting global poverty.
Additionally, vaccines support the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Ensuring zero-dose children are immunized contributes to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, regardless of age or socioeconomic status. Vaccination also indirectly supports other SDGs related to education, equality and economic growth, as healthy children are more likely to attend school, contribute to their communities and break out of the cycle of poverty.
Looking Ahead
While several initiatives like these are working toward vaccinating zero-dose children in the DRC, challenges remain in the path toward full equity. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the progress of the Mashako plan, resulting in a renewal of the plan with a second version, which had similar goals to the first. Political instability in the DRC prevents all of its people from receiving access to immunization, and the size of the country makes it difficult to maintain a supply chain for vaccines.
However, vaccinating zero-dose children is an essential step toward improving public health and reducing poverty. Therefore, there is a need for sustained efforts to ensure the protection of the health and future of vulnerable children. In turn, this could lead to a healthier and more prosperous nation.
– Namit Agrawal
Photo: Flickr
Limitations of Geography: Poverty in Madagascar
The Geographic Poverty Trap
Madagascar is an island nation off the coast of Southern Africa and is one of the biggest islands in the world. However, Madagascar’s terrain is varied, with most of the country’s surface covered in dense forests, arid highlands or relatively short mountain ranges. This rough terrain, combined with the fact that around 60% of the population lives in rural areas, offers insight into the slow poverty reduction rate in Madagascar.
As economist Jeffrey Sachs has identified, this terrain makes transportation and infrastructure development costs much more expensive. This, in turn, creates more difficulties when looking to reduce poverty in these areas, as trade is fully dependent on challenging and costly transportation.
Madagascar, however, faces an exacerbated version of this geographic burden, as most of this rural population lives under the extreme poverty line of $2.15 a day. Furthermore, Madagascar mostly depends on subsistence farming techniques that are vulnerable to the extreme climates that have become so characteristic of the island.
Madagascar faces recurring challenges such as droughts, floods, and cyclones each year. These natural disasters often devastate the crops of subsistence farmers, who make up a significant portion of the population. As a result, many Malagasy people live in isolated areas, trapped in a cycle of poverty. The level of poverty is so severe that the people struggle to save money for investments in transportation, trade or increased productivity. The combination of geographical isolation, reliance on subsistence farming, and the frequent impact of natural disasters has made poverty in Madagascar incredibly resilient. This has made it difficult to achieve meaningful progress in poverty alleviation efforts.
Solutions
These issues have not gone unnoticed. Madagascar received more than $1 billion in Official Development Aid in 2021, and a flourishing NGO sector works in Madagascar to turn the tide and help accelerate poverty reduction in the country. Madagascar receives a relatively small share of GDP compared to other island nations. However, there is room for improvement in the assistance provided to the country.
Despite this, there are increasing efforts on the side of NGOs striving to reduce poverty in Madagascar. Most of these center around teaching improved farming methods, natural disaster recovery and boosting education programs all over the country. Noticeable among these is SEED Madagascar, a U.K.-based NGO that is active in tackling all aspects of poverty through health, education, productivity and cultural programs.
Looking to The Future
While Madagascar’s persistent poverty challenges may be rooted in its geographic factors and economic limitations, there is hope on the horizon. The recognition of these obstacles has led to increased international aid and the dedicated efforts of NGOs like SEED Madagascar, working on multiple fronts to empower communities with improved farming techniques, disaster recovery strategies and education programs. With these ongoing initiatives and a growing commitment to combating poverty, Madagascar could well be on a path toward a brighter future.
– Daniel Pereda
Photo: Flickr
Instability in Ghana’s Economy Impacts Poverty
Ghana is a western African country situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. More than half of the country’s GDP comes from the services sector, one-fifth comes from agriculture, and about one-fourth lies in industry. Though the nation possesses many major resources, like coal and gold, Ghana’s economy is suffering from a high debt burden and inflation. Thus, working-class individuals and those in poverty suffer as the prices of common goods rise, making it difficult for people to purchase necessities. According to the World Bank, “Simulations suggest that, in 2022, nearly 850,000 Ghanaians were pushed into poverty due to rising prices and the loss in purchasing power.”
Inflation in Ghana
In July 2023, Ghana experienced a significant inflation rate of 43.1%, marking an increase from the previous four months. The primary driver of this inflation was the soaring food prices, with food inflation rising from 54.2% to 55%. Additionally, non-food prices also saw an increase.
Furthermore, Ghana is grappling with a historically high level of public debt, nearly equivalent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In response to these pressing economic challenges, Ghana sought and secured a $3 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December 2022.
Despite Ghana’s economic struggles, inflation has improved slightly since last year’s peak. In 2022, the cedi, Ghana’s local currency, lost more than half its value compared to the U.S. dollar. To cope with inflation, the Bank of Ghana increased interest rates, which hurt businesses and households that relied on borrowed funds. Consumers and businesses are still suffering from the ramifications of last year’s economic catastrophe.
Impact on Civilians
Citizens are facing heightened financial challenges as essential commodity prices continue to rise. Lower-income families grapple with the increasing costs of rent, school fees and food. Businesses, too, encounter difficulties as fluctuating prices for goods make investments more uncertain. This economic instability impacts various aspects of people’s lives.
Poor government spending has also resulted in mounds of debt. Government entities now owe thousands of contractors money, which puts those workers at a loss. For example, many teachers face months of back pay, making it even more difficult to purchase everyday goods. Inflation has also diminished consumers’ purchasing power, shown through the prices of goods like maize: 159 kg cost 300 cedis in 2021, compared with the current price of 650 cedis. Maize is a prime example of a staple grain in Ghana that has increased significantly in price.
Causes of Economic Struggles
There are many contributing factors to Ghana’s economy, but the nation was not always struggling. When President Nana Akufo took power in 2017, inflation decreased significantly from 15.4% to 7.9%. By 2019, Ghana had the world’s fastest-growing economy and was described by the World Bank as “Africa’s shining star.” That same year, Ghana’s budget deficit was reduced to 5% of the GDP.
Some argue that the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove inflation. However, many economists attribute much of the issue to poor government decisions, including excessive borrowing from the Bank of Ghana.
Hope for the Future
Numerous organizations are actively engaged in addressing Ghana’s economic challenges. More than 24 aid groups, which include Oxfam, Christian Aid, Caritas Ghana, ActionAid and Debt Justice, have collaboratively called on international creditors to reduce a portion of Ghana’s debt. In a joint letter signed by these organizations, they highlight the direct impact of the debt crisis on the people of Ghana. Ghana’s substantial debt burden has led to inflated prices, which, in turn, have made it increasingly challenging for many families to meet their basic needs.
The U.S. is also doing its part to assist Ghana. In March 2023, Kamala Harris announced that the U.S. pledged $100 million in assistance. The government has also requested another $139 million from Congress for aid to Ghanaians. The aim is to put these donations into efforts to lower some of the costs of commodities like food and fuel.
While Ghana’s economy is still suffering, the fact that inflation is lower this year than last gives hope for the future.
– Lindsey Osit
Photo: Pexels
How Gerando Falcões Is Transforming Communities in Brazilian Favelas
In Brazil, more than 11 million people live in poverty in a record number of 6,329 favelas. Brazilian favelas are densely packed areas of poorly planned urban housing on the outskirts of cities across Brazil. Job opportunities in favelas are limited, and clean water and sanitation systems can be hard to come by. For many favela residents, Gerando Falcões is a way for them to break through the cycle of poverty. It aims to “put poverty in favelas in a museum before Elon Musk colonizes Mars.”
Gerando Falcões (Generating Falcons)
The number of people living in favelas increased 108% from 2010 to 2019 and has only worsened in recent years due to the pandemic. When Edu Lyra started Gerando Falcões in 2012, it was a small organization helping kids in favelas build brighter futures. Today, Gerando Falcões has grown to impact more than 6,000 favelas in 26 states across Brazil and works with 1,280 NGOs. Gerando Falcões is a Brazilian social development organization aiming to end favelas’ poverty. It brings education, economic development and citizenship services to impoverished people stuck in a cycle of poverty. Gerando Falcões works with favela leaders and locals who all dream of ending poverty in the Brazilian favelas.
Favela 3D
Favela 3D is Gerando Falcões’ largest project. The three Ds stand for dignify, digitize and develop. Favela 3D is designed to transform favelas and give the residents a better quality of life. Under the Favela 3D project, favela residents work directly with Gerando Falcões to create urban interventions and affordable housing units. Gerando Falcões believes that the locals should completely control their community development. Favela 3D then promotes innovative technology solutions that allow favela residents to generate income through entrepreneurial projects. Within the first six months of urban intervention, favelas see a rise in income.
The Favela 3D project implements various solutions and opportunities that lead to social development. Favela 3D gives residents access to health care, citizenship, children’s education, women’s autonomy and sport. Favela 3D tailors family-specific needs through The Family Take-Off Plan. All of these things that Favela 3D offers can lead to long-term stability and a culture of peace within the Brazilian favelas.
Falcons University
Gerando Falcões started Falcons University in 2020, intending to help favela residents break through the cycle of poverty. Falcons University educates children, young adults and favela leaders on skills and techniques necessary for overcoming poverty.
Favela leaders receive training on various subjects, including favela expertise, public policies and technological and innovation skills. These skills set them on a path toward community development. Falcons University has already trained more than 100 favela leaders on community development strategies and hopes to continue training more.
Falcons University’s youth program teaches kids core competencies and socio-economic skills. Children can learn basic technological skills and specific skills that interest them. Children are taught the 10 National Common Curriculum (BNCC) competencies. Through education, children in favelas can take control of their lives and begin to see a brighter future for themselves. Falcons University also offers young adults the chance to learn professional skills that they can use to benefit themselves and their community.
– Jack Wells
Photo: Flickr