Political polarization refers to the divergence of political attitudes toward ideological extremes. In simple terms, people are becoming more divided in their views and tending more toward far-right or far-left views, creating vast ideological distances between opposing political individuals. This results in overall less agreement among those of differing political beliefs. However, this may not be the only result of increasing polarization.
Consequently, viewpoints are increasingly becoming more singular, allowing prevalent issues in society to be turned monochrome. This has especially been exacerbated in political discourse surrounding issues with a strong moral component, which cannot be quantified by numbers or data. For example, the issue of foreign aid could be considered to have a high level of subjectivity, as there is no correct answer to how much foreign assistance ‘should’ be provided.
The Impact on Global Poverty
Studies have previously shown that high levels of political polarization can lead to a delay in the legislative process and that a divided government can critically slow the policymaking process. Research has uncovered how polarization can delay the legislative process by “60 days, on average,” a significant duration of time for which many issues cannot wait.
A delay in the legislative process will inevitably hinder decisions made regarding U.S. public policy, including foreign policy and aid measures. Furthermore, polarization can impact policy on an international scale, affecting international cooperation. This could be detrimental to recipient countries, leading to the neglect of those who are most in need.
Poverty Reduction Abroad, Impacts at Home
Addressing global poverty has benefits for domestic donors such as the U.S., including improvements to the economy, job creation and reinforcing national security. Reductions in global poverty mean that, on aggregate, fewer people will be living below the poverty line. Thus, their overall disposable income will be higher. Higher demand accompanies higher incomes. Therefore, consumption is likely to increase, which can increase global demand. Domestic markets will be able to reap the benefits of this increased demand, and additional job creation may occur. This can generate an incentive for addressing global poverty.
Fostering international relationships is yet another benefit of foreign aid. Providing assistance to other nations encourages international cooperation and may be a preventative measure against future conflict. National security grows stronger as alliances between nations are fostered. This provides another incentive for foreign aid.
Foreign aid given by the U.S. has already made a massive impact on global poverty reduction efforts. For example, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program tackling HIV in Africa, prevented many deaths that would have likely otherwise occurred due to the disease’s high mortality rates. Other aid programs have included alleviating famine in India, which, in addition to helping the Indian population, also spurred development in the agricultural industry. This resulted in better production techniques and higher yields. The military aid provided to many South American countries from the 1980s has accelerated the clamp-down on illegal substances, both for the U.S. and other nations, decreasing the global supply of drugs. Foreign aid plays a critical role in combating poverty, and, as demonstrated, has beneficial effects for all.
Individual Action
While the U.S. is numerically the largest contributor to overseas aid, when taking into account the per capita figure, the U.S. ranks significantly lower than other countries overall. Considering the vast size and GDP of the U.S., more could certainly be done in terms of providing foreign assistance.
Now more than ever, individual action is key in expediting the legislative process. Putting pressure on political leaders can be done in different forms, through emailing, calling, writing letters and much more. This is critical in obliging leaders to put foreign poverty reduction at the forefront of their agenda, and overcoming the delay created by intensifying polarization, in order to achieve a successful eradication of global poverty.
Solutions to Polarization
While polarization is a very real and worsening issue, it is more of a psychological phenomenon than a concrete issue. This makes any form of solution difficult to enact. Reducing prejudice and intolerance between different groups is key to becoming more open-minded. This can be facilitated through encouraging more contact and discussion between opposing groups. Encouraging open debate and analyzing alternative perspectives is helpful in avoiding polarization. This will ultimately be the key to mitigating the legislative time delays and other negative impacts of political polarization.
– Hannah Bugeja
Photo: Flickr
How AI in Cuba Can Help Improve Living Standards in Cuba
In 2019, the island of Cuba announced that it would collaborate with China to build an institution dedicated to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), with the aim of displaying AI’s “capacity and potential” to diversify technology and be beneficial for Cuban society. The Hebei University of International Studies is based in China and is under the direction of Dr. Yailé Caballero, one of the leading Cuban scientists of AI and international relations. This new facility is symbolic of the potential benefits of AI in Cuba to help reduce poverty and improve living standards in the country and has boosted interest in AI among Cuban scientists since it was announced.
The Way AI Can Detect Weather
In early 2023, the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba began work on a project that uses AI to forecast periods of drought or heavy rainfall. By estimating the behavior of rainfall and droughts up to a year in advance, AI can be used in collaboration with farmers to preserve crop yield and prepare for adverse weather patterns.
How AI Can Reduce Malnutrition and Food Poverty in Cuba
While recent efforts by social security services and the World Food Programme (WFP) have proved very effective in reducing levels of malnutrition and food poverty in Cuba, inflation levels have skyrocketed in recent times, slowing this progress. If a crop has a very low yield due to drought/excess rainfall, basic laws of supply and demand tell us that because there is less of it, the price of food will increase. With AI being able to forecast these weather patterns, the Cuban agricultural industry, in collaboration with water companies, is able to take necessary precautions and inform decision-making to keep yield high and prices down.
With lower prices and greater availability of food, living standards in Cuba are likely to increase as a direct result of AI. A report by the Economist Group found that AI should boost the GDP of Latin American economies by 5%, incentivizing investment in AI technology. Cuban agriculture is the nation’s largest industry and employs roughly 18% of the population, meaning that the use of AI to protect farming by forecasting weather patterns months in advance will also help to secure employment and wages for 2 million people. This shelters a significant portion of the population from the risk of poverty and upholds living standards in the country.
How AI Can Help Allocate Resources
Another way that AI could improve living standards in Cuba is in the allocation of resources. Cuba’s economy is centrally planned, meaning that the government exercises control over most economic planning through state-run companies. However, the impact of COVID-19, tight U.S. sanctions and a drop in oil supply from Venezuela have contributed to stagnant economic growth. A report from the Human Rights Commission found that certain algorithms that utilize AI can provide a more effective allocation of resources. By reducing government inefficiencies, money is better spent on programs that can boost Cuban living standards and alleviate those living in poverty.
While AI is still in its early development in Cuba, future plans for extra funding are likely to spur further innovation in the industry, especially once the benefits of using AI in agriculture and resource allocation are fully realized. It is important that Cuba not only rely on AI to boost living standards but instead employ it as an instrument for its pre-existing (and fairly successful) poverty alleviation programs.
– Tom Lowe
Photo: Flickr
Cows For Cambodia: Bringing Aid to Cambodian Families
Cows for Cambodia
Cows for Cambodia began when founder Andrew Costello visited Cambodia in 2011 and noticed the poverty level. He partnered with cattle expert Wallace Gunthorpe to bring his charity to life. By 2015, Cows for Cambodia had raised over $15,000 and given cows to 50 families. Today, it has become Cambodia’s biggest agricultural charity.
Cows for Cambodia is a cow bank. It loans pregnant cows to families who benefit from having them. The family looks after the pregnant cow, and when it gives birth, the family keeps the calf. The calf grows up, becoming worth $800 to the Cambodian family.
Many cows in Cambodia have bad reproductive performance, and calf survival rates have dropped significantly. Cambodian cattle also have poor body conditions and are susceptible to many diseases, such as foot and mouth disease and hemorrhagic septicemia. Worms, lice and flies also plague them. Cows for Cambodia’s goal is for each one of their cows to remain healthy and happy in Cambodia. Cows for Cambodia administers vaccinations and injections for each cow to ensure their health and happiness.
In Cambodia, a cow can be worth the same as a house, and many families only dream of owning one. Families can break free of the poverty cycle simply by owning a cow. Cattle are an important part of life in rural Cambodia, and they can become an investment for a family. Beyond just providing beef, families can use cattle as draft animals, and the cattle provide families with fertilizer so they can continue to farm. By owning a cow, a family’s finances improve, children stay in school longer and begin to lift themselves out of poverty.
Tours
In 2016, Cows for Cambodia had its first tour in Cambodia. Today’s tours center around charity work and cultural immersion in Cambodian villages. Participants of each tour have the opportunity to work with cows and families and learn about vaccinations and pregnancy testing at the cattle farm. Tours include cooking for kids and helping provide English lessons at the local village school. Tourists can also become a part of the world-famous rice run charity system and deliver over 3,000kg of rice to families who are in need.
Rice Runs
Cows for Cambodia began holding rice run donations in 2015, and they describe themselves as the fastest donation in the world. An Australian Facebook page asks people to donate $50 for a 50kg bag of rice. The donor can send a message to the Cambodian family that will receive the rice, which they write on the bag along with the donor’s name. The bag of rice reaches a Cambodian family within two hours, and the organization takes a photo of them with the rice, which they post on their Facebook page. This donation system ensures that 100% of the donation goes toward helping Cambodian families and allows the donor to see their donation’s use and who it helped.
How to Help
Cows for Cambodia offers ways donors can contribute to the cause and help these rural families. No matter the amount a donor is willing to donate, every amount can help a family. $15 can vaccinate a cow, $30 will feed a family for a month and $1000 will give a family a cow. Cows for Cambodia’s goal is to have 1,000 cows in the project, and each donation goes a long way toward achieving that goal.
– Jack Wells
Photo: Flickr
Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Belgium colonized the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for 80 years until the country was able to gain its rightful independence in 1960. Belgian rule allowed the use of torture in particular to political opponents, causing instability from the ground up that has stayed with the country even as it became a democratic nation. History has shown how difficult it is for countries to prosper once colonized and the Congo is unfortunately no different. Both internal struggles for power and outside conflicts have hindered the country for decades, and the most vulnerable group is feeling it the worst — children. Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are nothing new, but the country is actively working to change that. One of the largest hurdles facing this issue is the extreme level of poverty in the country, where nearly 80% of citizens survive on less than $2 per day.
Congolese Politics
The DRC has had many instances of political violence, but the 1990s were a turning point. After seizing power in 1965, President Mobutu took control and ruled until he was overthrown in 1997. Former President Laurent Kabila took control and suspended the democratic process before he himself was assassinated a few years later. It was not until 2006 that democratic policies were reinstituted, but the internal conflicts of the past still remain today, including ethnic nationalism and tribalism throughout the region. The DRC is one of the poorest countries in the world. This poverty and constant internal conflict for power leave so many displaced, opening the door for child soldiers to be recruited and taken advantage of. With consistent instability, often the most at-risk groups feel the weight of the tension the most.
Child Soldiers
Children as young as 6 find themselves routinely recruited to join militia groups, though the most common ages range from 8-16. There are varying positions they are forced to work including spies and messengers. Other child soldiers in the DRC find themselves fighting on the front lines for differing warlords.
The UN has found militias operating in the DRC have a “staggeringly high number of violations against children.” They prey on children using patriotism as motivation or by taking advantage of the extreme level of poverty in the country. Government forces, who once also implemented child soldiers, have to shoulder some of the blame, as attacks on schools and hospitals have risen as well.
The U.S. Department of State provides a report to explain and understand how child soldiers are being implemented in the DRC while also showing the best estimation of child soldier numbers. The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report lists the DRC as a Tier 2 country on a 3-tier system. Tier 2 countries are those that have not eliminated trafficking but are making “significant efforts” to do so.
Solutions and Progress
The United States passed a law in 2008 that allows for the withholding of military aid to governments that use children in their armed forces, called the Child Soldiers Prevention Act. At the time, the Congolese government was still using child soldiers, but this act directly changed that. After its passing, the DRC signed a U.N. action plan that made certain guarantees leading to the end of its recruitment and use of child soldiers. Further penalties stem from TIP if a country is listed on Tier 3, which opens the door for U.S. sanctions.
The government of the DRC has taken further action against militia groups that are still involved by showing an increase in trafficking probes and prosecutions once caught. They have also removed children from these armed groups while agreeing with militia commanders on ending child recruitment, getting some to even renounce the practice altogether. That is quite an improvement in a country where this has taken place for decades.
NGOs are operating in the country, including Mercy Corps, which is finding ways to help the government economically that in turn, help the citizens of the DRC. Mercy Corps is addressing basic needs by piping in clean water and building wash stations. It has also proposed strategies that are designed to tackle poverty by repairing economic relations with other African countries that are facing the same violence. Another path is using the Congo’s massive amount of natural resources, both diamonds and gold and refining them at home.
There are still thousands of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo being used as spies and messengers. There are programs being implemented to bring change in this area, by both the Congolese government and outside NGOs. Further outside help is being provided by foreign countries that have incentive programs to counteract child soldier use. The number of child soldiers is down, but without continued help to alleviate a major cause, extreme poverty, the threat of being forced to fight in armed conflicts will remain.
– Benett Crim
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Fighting Child Poverty In Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is one of the World’s poorest countries, and as much as 77% of children live in poverty without having all of their basic needs met. UNICEF defines child poverty in Sierra Leone as a child being deprived of at least one of seven basic needs: nutrition, water, sanitation, health, housing, education and information. UNICEF uses the term multidimensional poverty to describe this. The way that UNICEF defines child poverty is important because children experience poverty very differently from adults. Adults are expected to work in order to make an income, whereas children are not expected to work or have any income.
About Child Poverty in Sierra Leone
In 2016, UNICEF conducted a report on child poverty in Sierra Leone. It found that roughly 80% of children in Sierra Leone are considered to be poor. The most common basic need that these children are being deprived of is housing, where more than half of them are living in overcrowded or mud dwellings. On average, most children in Sierra Leone are deprived of at least two of their basic needs. About 28% of children are deprived of at least three basic needs and 11% are deprived of at least four. Ultimately, 77% of children who are impoverished are deprived of more than one of their basic needs.
Child poverty is worse in rural areas where children lack access to a lot of things that can be found in more urban areas. In these rural areas, the amount of impoverished children can rise to as much as 90%. The area of Pujehun is estimated to have a child poverty rate of 93% and the area of Bonthe is estimated to have a child poverty level of 91%. Both Pujehun and Bonthe are in Southern Sierra Leone. Child poverty is generally highest in the North and the South where many children are living in more rural areas. The East and the West have lower levels of child poverty due to the larger more populated cities which bring more opportunities for families. In the South, a significantly higher number of children are deprived of at least three, four or five basic needs compared to the East and the West.
Challenges With Education in Sierra Leone
Children are also entitled to an education. In Sierra Leone, more than half of children aged 15 and up are illiterate. Lack of education and information has greatly contributed to the amount of children living in poverty. UNICEF reports that among the children in rural areas who took exams in 2019, 24% failed the NPSE and 43% of them failed the BECE5. Girls are reportedly dropping out of school at rates much higher than boys, this is most likely caused by gender norms. Many girls have become involved in issues such as transactional sex and early marriages.
A Solution
UNICEF’s report on child poverty in Sierra Leone shows that reducing or eliminating the number of impoverished children in one area of their basic needs has little impact, therefore different measures must be taken that provide relief to multiple areas of the basic needs of children. The government of Sierra Leone has committed to reaching a sustainable development goal by 2030. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked goals working towards the betterment of planet Earth as a whole. The SDGs include goals like clean water, sanitation and quality education for all. This goal would cut the number of men, women and children living in poverty by at least half. UNICEF is working closely with the government and has committed to reducing the number of children living in multidimensional poverty in Sierra Leone.
The government of Sierra Leone approved a National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) for the first time ever in 2011. Social protection is a framework that is concerned with preventing and managing situations that may negatively affect a population’s well-being. An NSPP may help families in extreme poverty find jobs and invest in the education and health of their children. Since the approval of an NSPP in Sierra Leone, UNICEF has been supporting the government in establishing a social protection system that provides aid to poor and vulnerable populations. The first phase of this system was officially launched in 2014, and by 2018 it had already reached 9 of the 16 districts in Sierra Leone helping more than 70,000 children.
Looking Ahead
In the future, UNICEF will be working to establish child-sensitive policies that will aid children suffering from multidimensional poverty. These child-sensitive policies will support the government of Sierra Leone in monitoring the child poverty reduction rates and provide financial support to national surveys which will in turn help the government collect data so it can gauge program effectiveness and change it if necessary.
– Jack Wells
Photo: Flickr
How Migration to Colombia Helps its Economy
Since 2015, Latin America has undergone a remarkable evacuation of migrants from Venezuela instigated by an economic and political crisis within the country resulting in hyperinflation, starvation and crime. In 2020, more than 95% of people in Venezuela were living in poverty, thus many have been forced to leave. The UN has given Venezuelan migrants refugee-like status which has sparked a major migration to Colombia.
Colombia: The Second Largest Host to a Refugee-Like Population
Colombia has become the world’s largest recipient of Venezuelans as it holds approximately 40% of all Venezuelan refugees. There are an estimated 2.9 million Venezuelan migrants residing in Colombia and they make up around 5% of the population. Colombia has been the main destination for Venezuelans due to Colombia’s proximity and the strong similarity between cultures.
A large portion of Venezuelan migrants are educated professionals and middle-class young people holding university degrees. However, these migrants who are more educated than local populations experience higher unemployment and have a higher chance of working in the informal sector as many Colombians have negative views toward the migrants. The unemployment rate for Venezuelan migrants is 12.7% for those who have lived in Colombia for over a year and 23% for those who have been in Colombia for less than a year. While many Venezuelans have the skills to be beneficial to the Colombian economy, their potential has been wasted.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), if these migrants can be integrated into the formal economy with positions matching their qualifications, migration to Colombia can increase real GDP by up to 4.5 percentage points relative to a baseline without migration by 2030.
Venezuelan Migration Presents a Big Economic Opportunity to Colombia
By adding to the labor force, the average annual rate of growth could increase 0.7 to 0.9 percentage points according to the World Bank. More migration also increases investment and consumption as well as widens the tax base. If the integration into the formal market can be administered properly, Colombia can obtain macroeconomic gains.
Seeing the development opportunity in the migration to Colombia, the government with the assistance of international organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, has created revolutionary open policies for the economic and social integration of Venezuelan migrants.
Colombia: Global Leader in Venezuela Migration Response
Colombia has become a global leader in its response to Venezuela’s unprecedented migration as the government sets a new example for handling large masses of displaced and vulnerable people.
Colombia’s policies revolve around three objectives:
Looking Ahead
While Colombia’s response has helped millions of Venezuelans, it has also brought some challenges. Public hospitals and public schools are being strained and have incurred major debts covering the new migrants.
The COVID-19 virus exacerbated these challenges as many Colombians fell into poverty and unemployment rose. International cooperation and assistance from international organizations can be crucial in ensuring that integration efforts are sustainable.
Migration to Colombia has been a struggle but brings a major opportunity for development and economic growth. Despite this economic opportunity, prejudice prevents them from fully integrating into the economy. If Colombia is successful with its efforts to eliminate prejudice and integrate Venezuelans into the Colombian workforce, the country can gain considerable economic advances and provide a new chance at life for millions of people. As Colombia’s presidential advisor said, “We gave Venezuelan migrants a license to dream.”
– Cameron Alcocer
Photo: Flickr
Solutions to Child Poverty in Saint Lucia After COVID-19
When the COVID-19 virus spread out into the world in 2020, it caused hardships for all countries. People feared contracting the virus but were also impacted by entire countries shutting down, putting citizens indefinitely out of work. Saint Lucia was one small Caribbean island whose children felt the burden of their parents’ lack of income. Child poverty in Saint Lucia, a country with a population of 180,000, rose to 34.5% in 2021.
In 2020, the economic and social impact on households was directly related to the closing of schools, businesses and the border itself. This led to a reduction in income due to job loss and restriction of hours. In addition, many citizens were unable to work due to their health. The biggest impact lies in the hotel and tourism sectors, with 33,000 people impacted by the shutting down of hotels, restaurants and retail stores, according to a United Nations presentation of the Saint Lucia Economic Stimulus, Recovery and Resilience Strategy. In a survey of citizens, “30% of households ran out of food once or more during the 30 days prior to the survey.” For poor households, “nearly 50% experience[ed] a time when they ran out of food.”
Effects of the COVID-19 Virus on Child Labor
The accumulation of this loss of income has increased child poverty in Saint Lucia. Many children had to take jobs such as street vending to provide for their families. However, it also led to more dangerous options, such as drug and sex trafficking. In 2020, the government began a revision of the Labor Act to address issues that did not meet the Labor Department’s mandates. It also approved the Counter-Trafficking Amendment Act, which protects victims of trafficking regardless of citizenship.
Saint Lucia took several other steps to eliminate child poverty and child labor. Its efforts included increased labor inspectors, updated standard operating procedures and a minimum age for work of 15. This allowed children to stay in school until legally able to work. It also passed a prohibition on forced labor and child trafficking. Labor enforcement funding has also risen from $392,313 in 2020 to $496,296 in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. St. Lucia also employed twice the number of inspectors in 2021 who were being trained before going out into the field and offered refresher courses for them.
Organizations Assisting Relief Efforts in Saint Lucia
On December 16, 2021, the Saint Lucia Ministry of Equity, UNICEF and the UN met for a development session on the impact and effects of the COVID-19 virus. They conferred together about the different measures that can be taken to learn from this pandemic. They also explored the extent of aid from social assistance responses. The World Food Programme (WFP) also stepped up in favor of the Income Support Program, which provided $1,500 each to more than 4,800 people unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, UNICEF donated up to $400 from July to September 2020 to children in foster care and $300 to the Child Disability Grant. The Public Assistance Program was able to accommodate an additional 1,000 households from November 2020 to April 2021, thanks to funding from the World Food Programme ($229,610) and the India UN ($500,000).
However, citizens did not sit around waiting for assistance to find them. Despite the decrease in crucial tourist revenue, 16 hotels prepared and distributed meals to those impacted by the economic shutdown. In two months, they served 19,131 meals to those affected.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected all families, but work is occurring to pull children off this path and into a promising future. “The highest poverty reduction effect overall would be achieved by supporting a large number of households (bottom 40%), followed by a universal child grant,” said the United Nations. “Support to all children would also achieve the highest reduction in the child poverty rate.” A better future for children means a better future for their country.
– Jennifer Arias
Photo: Pixabay
Addressing the Gender Wage Gap in Japan
The Statistics
In 2018, the World Economic Forum released its Gender Gap Index, ranking countries based on four benchmarks. Japan ranked 110 out of 149, in the bottom third. This was spurred by Japan’s high gender wage gap, where women make just 75.5% of what a man would make for the same job. Much of this is because of the disproportionate number of women in part-time and contract positions. While only just over 14% of men in Japan are in these positions, 53% of women who are working are in non-regular jobs. These all greatly contribute to gender income inequality in Japan.
Womenomics
As previously mentioned, Japan began to tackle this issue under Prime Minister Abe’s “Womenomics.” Womenomics was meant to tackle a variety of factors preventing women from entering the workplace. From building more daycare and child care centers to allow women to leave their kids during the day safely to changing economic policies that allowed for tax breaks if a wife earned less than 1.03 million yen ($6,872), Abe seemed determined to make it easier for women to enter or reenter the workforce. Because women did not work at the same rates as women in places such as the United States, there were barriers to entering the workforce that are not as common in the U.S.
Now and Later
While policies have been somewhat effective, notably 66% of Japanese women are now in the workforce, and the tax break threshold has been upped to 1.5 million Yen, Japan still falls short of their goals. While it is great that two-thirds of Japanese women are now in the workforce, it is imperative that these women are afforded full-time roles like Japanese men. Until the percentage of women in those jobs goes up, womenomics will not be a success. Additionally, while Shinzo Abe looked to appoint more women to his cabinet, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has only one woman in his cabinet. This does not set a good example when looking to reduce gender income inequality in Japan.
Tackling gender income inequality in Japan is one of the most important parts of revitalizing the Japanese economy. If successful, women would be able to be more financially and generally independent within Japan than they are now, allowing them to rely on their own wages and earnings and not just that of their husbands.
– John Rooney
Photo: Flickr
USAID Programs in Afghanistan
Modern Challenges in Afghanistan
In April, the Taliban announced it would block Afghan women from working for the United Nations agencies that provide disaster and poverty relief to impoverished communities in Afghanistan. This news hit only four months after the Taliban banned Afghan women from working in any organizations not within the Afghani government back in December 2022.
These are deeply concerning developments, and unfortunately in-line with a series of humanitarian crises Afghani people have faced since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Since the Taliban takeover, locals have seen a sharp rise in their cost of living, resulting in a staggering 28.3 million Afghanis or more than two thirds of the country’s population being in need of humanitarian assistance. In tandem, the country has also seen a sharp decline in their civil rights specifically targeting women and marginalized populations.
USAID Commitment to Afghani People
This is why the USAID stands firm in its commitment to support Afghani citizens through foreign aid funded USAID programs in Afghanistan. In spite of the Taliban takeover spurring on social and economic setbacks, the USAID is optimistic about Afghan’s future, and continues to invest in programs to aid Afghani citizens.
Economic Growth
Changing weather patterns has had a significant impact on the Afghani region, causing local farmers to abandon their farms, which in turn impact food costs for Afghani citizens. Food insecurity is a rising issue for locals, and the USAID has focused on agricultural programs in the region in direct response to the widespread crisis. Agro Businesses are a particular focus for USAID resources that keep local farming businesses operating and employing locals in an effort to stabilize food production in the region. In August 2022, announced an $80 million commitment to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to improve food security and nutrition for vulnerable Afghans. USAID’s agricultural programs have continued to benefit thousands of Afghan farmers in 227 communities in Sar-e Pul, Jowzjan, Khost and Nangarhar provinces.
Gender Rights
Human rights are central to all USAID programs and initiatives. In Afghanistan, the USAID is improving access to education, providing social protection and providing resources to civil societies particularly for women. In the current climate, many girls are prohibited from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade. Women are often unable to obtain employment and a growing number of women are prohibited from leaving the house. In response, USAID programs in Afghanistan focus on providing resources to women-led organizations crusading education and human rights for Afghani women. In 2022, USAID announced a $30 million commitment to support gender rights in Afghanistan, programmed through the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
USAID Provides Hope in Afghanistan
The USAID programs in Afghanistan are more critical now than ever before. Afghanistan has dealt with political upheaval that has drastically impacted gender rights, along with changing weather patterns that have affected food costs and economic growth. In spite of these challenges, the USAID provides hope to the Afghani people with programs specifically targeted towards access to education, providing social protection and providing resources to local farmers and businesses.
– Ann-Jinette Hess
Photo: Unsplash
Foreign Aid to India: Top 4 Contributions
Foreign Aid Has Been Instrumental in Reducing Poverty in India
The good news is that India has taken several initiatives over the last two decades to significantly improve its economic growth. According to the World Bank, the poverty ratio in India fell from 45% in 1993 to 21% by 2011. This decline is attributed to several other factors, such as improving education standards and progressive economic policies, however, foreign aid has also played a key role in alleviating poverty in India.
Top 4 Ways Foreign Aid Has Helped in India’s Fight Against Poverty
The Future of Foreign Aid in India
The resulting impact of foreign aid in India has been mixed. On the one hand, foreign aid has helped to reduce poverty and improve the lives of millions of Indians. On the other hand, there have also been some negative consequences, such as corruption and dependency on foreign assistance.
The future of foreign aid in India is uncertain. The Indian economy is growing rapidly and the country is becoming less reliant on foreign assistance. However, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed, such as poverty, hunger and illiteracy. Foreign aid can play a key role in addressing these challenges.
– Brijesh Goel
Photo: Unsplash
How Political Polarization Affects Foreign Aid
Political polarization refers to the divergence of political attitudes toward ideological extremes. In simple terms, people are becoming more divided in their views and tending more toward far-right or far-left views, creating vast ideological distances between opposing political individuals. This results in overall less agreement among those of differing political beliefs. However, this may not be the only result of increasing polarization.
Consequently, viewpoints are increasingly becoming more singular, allowing prevalent issues in society to be turned monochrome. This has especially been exacerbated in political discourse surrounding issues with a strong moral component, which cannot be quantified by numbers or data. For example, the issue of foreign aid could be considered to have a high level of subjectivity, as there is no correct answer to how much foreign assistance ‘should’ be provided.
The Impact on Global Poverty
Studies have previously shown that high levels of political polarization can lead to a delay in the legislative process and that a divided government can critically slow the policymaking process. Research has uncovered how polarization can delay the legislative process by “60 days, on average,” a significant duration of time for which many issues cannot wait.
A delay in the legislative process will inevitably hinder decisions made regarding U.S. public policy, including foreign policy and aid measures. Furthermore, polarization can impact policy on an international scale, affecting international cooperation. This could be detrimental to recipient countries, leading to the neglect of those who are most in need.
Poverty Reduction Abroad, Impacts at Home
Addressing global poverty has benefits for domestic donors such as the U.S., including improvements to the economy, job creation and reinforcing national security. Reductions in global poverty mean that, on aggregate, fewer people will be living below the poverty line. Thus, their overall disposable income will be higher. Higher demand accompanies higher incomes. Therefore, consumption is likely to increase, which can increase global demand. Domestic markets will be able to reap the benefits of this increased demand, and additional job creation may occur. This can generate an incentive for addressing global poverty.
Fostering international relationships is yet another benefit of foreign aid. Providing assistance to other nations encourages international cooperation and may be a preventative measure against future conflict. National security grows stronger as alliances between nations are fostered. This provides another incentive for foreign aid.
Foreign aid given by the U.S. has already made a massive impact on global poverty reduction efforts. For example, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program tackling HIV in Africa, prevented many deaths that would have likely otherwise occurred due to the disease’s high mortality rates. Other aid programs have included alleviating famine in India, which, in addition to helping the Indian population, also spurred development in the agricultural industry. This resulted in better production techniques and higher yields. The military aid provided to many South American countries from the 1980s has accelerated the clamp-down on illegal substances, both for the U.S. and other nations, decreasing the global supply of drugs. Foreign aid plays a critical role in combating poverty, and, as demonstrated, has beneficial effects for all.
Individual Action
While the U.S. is numerically the largest contributor to overseas aid, when taking into account the per capita figure, the U.S. ranks significantly lower than other countries overall. Considering the vast size and GDP of the U.S., more could certainly be done in terms of providing foreign assistance.
Now more than ever, individual action is key in expediting the legislative process. Putting pressure on political leaders can be done in different forms, through emailing, calling, writing letters and much more. This is critical in obliging leaders to put foreign poverty reduction at the forefront of their agenda, and overcoming the delay created by intensifying polarization, in order to achieve a successful eradication of global poverty.
Solutions to Polarization
While polarization is a very real and worsening issue, it is more of a psychological phenomenon than a concrete issue. This makes any form of solution difficult to enact. Reducing prejudice and intolerance between different groups is key to becoming more open-minded. This can be facilitated through encouraging more contact and discussion between opposing groups. Encouraging open debate and analyzing alternative perspectives is helpful in avoiding polarization. This will ultimately be the key to mitigating the legislative time delays and other negative impacts of political polarization.
– Hannah Bugeja
Photo: Flickr