The nationwide pause of in-person learning on March 13, 2020, underscored the glaring digital divide in Jamaica. Generally, the digital divide refers to a gap between those who do and do not have ready access to an array of technology services including computers and smartphones. However, an additional layer to the definition points to a divide in the quality of digital services.
Particularly, while an individual may possess technological devices, the quality of their internet access can interfere with their ability to use those devices effectively. In an increasingly digital economy, access to up-to-standard and high-speed technology has become a necessity. This can enable full and effective participation in the workplace and throughout educational institutions.
Background
The digital divide was highlighted following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 which caused a worldwide disruption in education, leaving 90% of children impacted. The effects of this disruption were also felt through the absence of in-person education and the subsequent switch to remote, online learning.
As 34% of children in Jamaican households do not have access to a technological device and lack reliable internet access for educational purposes, concerns surrounding the ability to acquire the needed devices for remote learning were raised.
This inability to access needed technology also affected attendance in the online learning landscape. Some academic institutions saw less than 60% attendance in their virtual instruction environments. In addition, less affluent households who did manage to procure a device like a tablet found difficulty splitting the device’s time between multiple children — therefore leaving the online classroom largely unattended by numerous households.
For years, closing this digital divide in Jamaica has been a pressing concern in education among policymakers and government officials. However, with the switch to virtual instruction, there has been a redoubled effort to close the digital divide among citizens of the country.
Pandemic Effects
Caroline Dyche, a Professor at the University of the West Indies Mona Branch (UWI), spoke to the notable shift from a physical learning environment to a virtual one in Jamaica. While a regular class schedule was maintained in her Language, Linguistics and Philosophy courses, she noted the remote experience was “more problematic than effective.”
Nevertheless, Dyche mentioned various efforts put in place to facilitate learning in the midst of the adversity. Students were able to contact their professors during their scheduled office hours — two hours per week – and outside the allotted time if needed. Moreover, communication between students and professors via email was encouraged, with a number of professors participating in WhatsApp groups with students to provide assistance with inquiries if necessary.
Typically, students attended online classes through devices such as their cell phones with their data plans. However, Dyche noted that poor Wi-Fi connectivity among students would cause frequent disruptions throughout classes as students found themselves attempting to rejoin classes repeatedly. This issue of inconsistent internet connection illustrates the difficulties of remote learning as a consequence of the digital divide in Jamaica.
To address problems faced by students who did not own technological devices in the midst of virtual education, students were able to borrow tablets from UWI’s library for extended use. Furthermore, Dyche adds that the library’s online services were increasingly utilized during the pandemic — including the interactive “Ask a Librarian” feature.
Addressing the Challenge
Upon recognizing that approximately 120,000 students faced an educational setback due to unequal access to technology services, the Ministry of Education opted to host a summer catch-up program in 2021. Yet, while students did attend these summer classes, they were described as having wavering attendance alongside a short learning time.
Similarly to UWI, the use of Google Classroom, WhatsApp and phone calls were common strategies employed by Jamaican teaching professionals to continue communication and engagement with their students. For those unable to access or afford the technology required, institutions such as Little Bay Primary started a drop-off program to physically deliver lessons and assignments to their students to be picked up by the end of the week.
The country’s government also showed initiative in addressing the concerns of technological access raised by those through providing daily educational content with the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ). Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, announced that the PBCJ would broadcast this content using digital transmission technology and students without access to a Smart TV could use a digital set-top box to allow their current television to receive these transmissions.
The government also further invested in high-speed fiber-optic technology in order to improve access to cable and internet connection for those with unreliable Wi-Fi networks. In the midst of the transition, ensuring every community had access to Wi-Fi was prioritized through the installation of hotspots in locations throughout the country including Port Antonio, Ocho Rios and Annotto Bay.
Looking Forward
Although there has been a return to physical learning in Jamaica as of late 2022, the digital divide still remains an issue. The efforts to close the digital divide in Jamaica have continued in 2023 as the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) provided a grant of $350,000 to fund the installation of 17 internet sites within community centers and schools. While the gap will be difficult to completely close, the steps taken by educational institutions, organizations and government officials towards addressing the divide during and beyond the nationwide switch to remote learning shows progress.
The work being done also furthers the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal for education to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
– Katrina Girod
Photo: Pixabay
Mental Health in Papua New Guinea
5 Facts About Mental Health in Papua New Guinea
Conclusion
Papua New Guinea’s multifaceted geographical landscape, coupled with its linguistically intricate composition, gives rise to numerous challenges. The stigma around mental health issues is a significant deterrent for patients seeking assistance, underscoring the crucial roles that services and education play.
The prevailing reality reveals a dearth of adequate measures being taken in this regard. Given this circumstance, individuals hailing from various nations have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact by fostering awareness, enlightening others and offering resources to assist those who are grappling with such issues. One notable example is the organization known as Headstret, which is diligently working to alleviate numerous mental health challenges in Papua New Guinea.
– Sandy Kang
Photo: Pixabay
The Pandemic and the Digital Divide in Jamaica
Particularly, while an individual may possess technological devices, the quality of their internet access can interfere with their ability to use those devices effectively. In an increasingly digital economy, access to up-to-standard and high-speed technology has become a necessity. This can enable full and effective participation in the workplace and throughout educational institutions.
Background
The digital divide was highlighted following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 which caused a worldwide disruption in education, leaving 90% of children impacted. The effects of this disruption were also felt through the absence of in-person education and the subsequent switch to remote, online learning.
As 34% of children in Jamaican households do not have access to a technological device and lack reliable internet access for educational purposes, concerns surrounding the ability to acquire the needed devices for remote learning were raised.
This inability to access needed technology also affected attendance in the online learning landscape. Some academic institutions saw less than 60% attendance in their virtual instruction environments. In addition, less affluent households who did manage to procure a device like a tablet found difficulty splitting the device’s time between multiple children — therefore leaving the online classroom largely unattended by numerous households.
For years, closing this digital divide in Jamaica has been a pressing concern in education among policymakers and government officials. However, with the switch to virtual instruction, there has been a redoubled effort to close the digital divide among citizens of the country.
Pandemic Effects
Caroline Dyche, a Professor at the University of the West Indies Mona Branch (UWI), spoke to the notable shift from a physical learning environment to a virtual one in Jamaica. While a regular class schedule was maintained in her Language, Linguistics and Philosophy courses, she noted the remote experience was “more problematic than effective.”
Nevertheless, Dyche mentioned various efforts put in place to facilitate learning in the midst of the adversity. Students were able to contact their professors during their scheduled office hours — two hours per week – and outside the allotted time if needed. Moreover, communication between students and professors via email was encouraged, with a number of professors participating in WhatsApp groups with students to provide assistance with inquiries if necessary.
Typically, students attended online classes through devices such as their cell phones with their data plans. However, Dyche noted that poor Wi-Fi connectivity among students would cause frequent disruptions throughout classes as students found themselves attempting to rejoin classes repeatedly. This issue of inconsistent internet connection illustrates the difficulties of remote learning as a consequence of the digital divide in Jamaica.
To address problems faced by students who did not own technological devices in the midst of virtual education, students were able to borrow tablets from UWI’s library for extended use. Furthermore, Dyche adds that the library’s online services were increasingly utilized during the pandemic — including the interactive “Ask a Librarian” feature.
Addressing the Challenge
Upon recognizing that approximately 120,000 students faced an educational setback due to unequal access to technology services, the Ministry of Education opted to host a summer catch-up program in 2021. Yet, while students did attend these summer classes, they were described as having wavering attendance alongside a short learning time.
Similarly to UWI, the use of Google Classroom, WhatsApp and phone calls were common strategies employed by Jamaican teaching professionals to continue communication and engagement with their students. For those unable to access or afford the technology required, institutions such as Little Bay Primary started a drop-off program to physically deliver lessons and assignments to their students to be picked up by the end of the week.
The country’s government also showed initiative in addressing the concerns of technological access raised by those through providing daily educational content with the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ). Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, announced that the PBCJ would broadcast this content using digital transmission technology and students without access to a Smart TV could use a digital set-top box to allow their current television to receive these transmissions.
The government also further invested in high-speed fiber-optic technology in order to improve access to cable and internet connection for those with unreliable Wi-Fi networks. In the midst of the transition, ensuring every community had access to Wi-Fi was prioritized through the installation of hotspots in locations throughout the country including Port Antonio, Ocho Rios and Annotto Bay.
Looking Forward
Although there has been a return to physical learning in Jamaica as of late 2022, the digital divide still remains an issue. The efforts to close the digital divide in Jamaica have continued in 2023 as the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) provided a grant of $350,000 to fund the installation of 17 internet sites within community centers and schools. While the gap will be difficult to completely close, the steps taken by educational institutions, organizations and government officials towards addressing the divide during and beyond the nationwide switch to remote learning shows progress.
The work being done also furthers the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal for education to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
– Katrina Girod
Photo: Pixabay
Community Gardens in Lebanon Reduce Food Insecurity
Issues in Lebanon
The economic crisis in Lebanon became apparent in October 2019 and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened this. The 2020 Beirut port explosion compounded the crisis as did the impacts of the invasion of Ukraine. In particular, the explosion that struck Lebanon’s primary port in Beirut severely impeded the country’s food import capabilities, impacting the food security of about 6 million people, as reported by Reuters.
Human Rights Watch reports, “Rising unemployment, a depreciating local currency, skyrocketing inflation and the removal of subsidies for medicines and fuel have made it harder for many people to meet their basic needs.” The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia estimates that multidimensional poverty rates in Lebanon rose dramatically from 25% in 2019 to 82% in 2021.
Additionally, Lebanon stands as the host for the highest number of refugees worldwide, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency — 1.5 million Syrian refugees as of 2019. The influx of refugees has only increased the pressure on Lebanon’s dwindling resources.
According to an the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, by December 2022, about 2 million Lebanese people and Syrian refugees in Lebanon endured acute levels of food insecurity.
However, amid this escalating economic crisis and against the backdrop of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and the surging refugee population, a movement emerged. This movement aims to tackle the increasing poverty rate and guarantee equitable access to cost-free or reasonably priced agricultural products for all through community gardens in Lebanon.
The Rise of Community Gardens in Lebanon
Growing food is a reliable means of ensuring greater food security by placing the power in the hands of the people and creating a culture of collaboration, green spaces and nourishment.
What started as small individual home gardens grew into a national movement, as reported by Executive Magazine. The most notable example began in the neighborhood of Kon in Furn el-Chebbak where community members developed a community garden project in early 2020, coming together to address food insecurity by growing food as a community.
Slowly, with the help of the internet and time at home during the COVID-19 lockdown, these gardening practices to address food shortages grew. People developed online sharing platforms, tutorials and advice groups to share tips and educational information and build comradery.
In January 2020, agricultural engineers in Lebanon created a Facebook group called Izraa to provide agricultural advice and tutorials — by April 2020, the group had 14,500 members.
From struggle came possibility; a range of new gardens sprung up across Lebanon and continue to do so. From rooftops to reclaiming unused land, this movement only continues to grow. Most households utilize natural resources and methods due to the high price of chemical fertilizer. Many communities work together, dividing the work up depending on location. For example, allocating the care of sun-loving plants to south-facing households and vice versa and going on to share the produce among the community.
An unexpected advantage of this movement arose as collaborative projects cultivated a sense of unity. Specifically, gardening transformed into a vehicle for nurturing harmony among Lebanese communities that had previously grappled with cultural differences and tensions arising from the convergence of diverse individuals in shared spaces due to migration.
Looking Ahead
University of Bath student Tara El Assad tells The Borgen Project about the impact of her family’s vegetable garden in Lebanon. “My family started growing most of their fruit and veg in their garden in the south of Lebanon a few years ago to save money during the economic crisis. It’s definitely a sense of community coming together to pick our food and cook together. It’s fulfilling to have natural ingredients to feed ourselves and the children.”
Community gardens in Lebanon not only serve as examples of how independent solutions can address national problems but also show how addressing food shortages in fertile areas suited to growing food is as simple as spreading the right information and tools to those who need them. Even with no land of their own, so many impoverished communities can come together to grow their food and provide for their communities through urban gardening.
– Rhianna Cowdy
Photo: Flickr
3 Organizations Aiding People in Guatemala
3 Organizations Making a Difference in Guatemala
With missions surrounding health, water sanitation and education, Many Hopes, Water For People and CoEd are influential organizations aiding people in Guatemala by helping to break cycles of poverty.
– Rupinder Kaur
Photo: Unsplash
How Film Can Raise Awareness About Poverty
Although film and poverty do not seem correlated in any capacity, there is a lot of implicit advocacy present in modern-day film-making that many may be unaware of. Pushing social change through film has now become trendy and is something that current film directors and producers are looking to showcase. Films target privileged people and allow them to experience the disadvantages present in the world that they normally would not have to worry about. In turn, this can expand their perspectives on certain issues and hopefully initiate change.
A modern-day example of this is “Parasite,” a Korean film that came out in 2019 and swept the Oscars by winning all six awards that it received nominations for. This film aimed to highlight the economic disparities that capitalism has caused and the lengths that people will go to in order to survive. This movie increased awareness all over the world for poverty-stricken families and has led many youths to focus on advocating for and resolving this social injustice. Here is how film can raise awareness about poverty.
The Ways Filmmakers Can Raise Awareness About Poverty
There are numerous different techniques that filmmakers use in order to engage audiences and advocate for certain societal issues such as poverty. One of these includes the size and/or angle of the shots they use. A close-up, for example, is able to show the suffering that someone is going through and allow the audience to further empathize with them.
On the other hand, a longer and wider shot is able to show one’s environment and surroundings. For this reason, when showcasing poverty, filmmakers will often start with a close-up of an individual who is suffering and slowly expand the angle focusing on that individual’s surroundings – the cause of the suffering that they are going through. This allows the audience not only to empathize with the certain individual but also to be able to see what has caused them to be in that situation, further raising advocacy and awareness for such causes as poverty.
The Documentary Film Series “Why Poverty?”
“Why Poverty?” is a documentary film series that includes about eight films that are one hour long and 34 short films. The films originate from 28 different countries. The film series aims to raise awareness about poverty and get people around the world thinking and talking about poverty as a major societal issue. The long films explore the structural causes of poverty, such as capitalism and racism, and how to limit their effects on poverty-stricken families. On the other hand, each of the 34 short films provides a glimpse into people’s lives as they deal with poverty and inequality. More than 70 TV networks screened these films in 2012 and now people can screen them for educational purposes and/or purchase them.
Although it seems like film and poverty are topics from two different worlds, this article has shown that they are actually interconnected in several different ways. Through the size and/or angle of the shot, the length of the film, and the target audience, it is clear that modern-day filmmakers use several different techniques in order to showcase and advocate for different social issues such as poverty. How the audience decides to act on these issues is entirely up to them.
– Jennah Kalaaji
Photo: Flickr
5 Facts About “Sound of Freedom” & Child Trafficking
On July 23, 2023, The Hill reported that “Sound of Freedom” — a film aiming to raise awareness about the global issue of child trafficking — surpassed $100 million in gross revenue at the domestic box office. While the film brought this issue to mainstream audiences, some have criticized it for portraying a sensationalized representation of child trafficking. Here are five facts about “Sound of Freedom” and child trafficking.
5 Facts About “Sound of Freedom” and Child Trafficking
Ongoing Efforts
While “Sound of Freedom” has brought attention to Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), it is not the only organization whose mission is to fight back against child trafficking. Other nonprofit organizations have the same goal. For example, World’s Children is an organization dedicated to creating “a world in which every child has a safe, nurturing place to call home, and a chance to achieve their potential through education.”
World’s Children currently has an initiative called the Prevention of Child Trafficking Program (PCT) that aims to educate vulnerable populations about how to identify and stop child traffickers as well as working directly with government officials and local authorities to put an end to child trafficking.
Thus far, PCT has made quite an impact on the communities it’s aimed to help with a total of 130,985 adults and children having been taught about child trafficking prevention, 153 victims being saved from child trafficking and 75 child marriages being terminated. Hopefully, ongoing efforts such as PCT will help put an end to child trafficking globally.
– Nicole Alexander
Photo: Flickr
Poverty and Gender-based Violence in Balochistan
Studies by the government of Pakistan and donor agencies estimate poverty incidence in Pakistan using survey data. Over the past decade, these studies consistently show Balochistan as the poorest province, with its poor accounting for 10-11% of the country’s total poor population. Unfortunately, Balochistan is experiencing a challenge with gender-based violence and poverty. Here is information about the correlation between poverty and gender-based violence in Balochistan.
Harmful Customary Practices
Balochistan is full of harmful customs that adversely affect women and violate their rights. These include killings for honor, forced marriages, exchange marriages (where women are traded between tribes to settle disputes) and depriving girls of education. Poverty makes these abuses more likely to happen because it gives women less power and fewer choices.
According to police reports, in February 2022, over two days, three women and two men died in the name of ‘honor’ in the Jaffarabad, Mastung and Hub districts of Balochistan. In Jaffarabad, a man shot his wife and nephew dead. Meanwhile, in Mastung, unknown persons brutally slaughtered a married couple. In Hub, the second husband allegedly murdered his wife, Mah Jan. These honor killings show how common these kinds of crimes are in Balochistan. These unjustified killings are due to poverty, the lack of legal protections for women and traditional harmful beliefs that allow gender-based violence against women in Balochistan. The cases in February 2022 have brought calls for reform and justice to stop such tragic loss in the name of family honor.
Crisis of Missing Persons
The issue of missing persons in Balochistan also disproportionately affects women. Thousands of Baloch men have gone missing, allegedly abducted by security forces. Their grieving wives and mothers have been left in limbo, not knowing if their loved ones are dead or alive. These women, considered ‘half widows,’ face social stigma, economic deprivation, legal problems and severe psychological trauma. The unsolved missing person crisis further terrorizes and disempowers the province’s women.
Sammi Deen Baloch has been protesting for 13 years since her father disappeared in Balochistan, one of more than 5,000 reported missing persons in the province. After the abduction of Dr. Deen Mohammed Baloch in 2009, 15-year-old Sammi began raising awareness about these enforced disappearances by Pakistan’s security forces. Despite abusive crackdowns on protests, Sammi continues to demand answers and justice for families like hers suffering from indefinite loss. Her brave activism symbolizes the plight of Balochistan’s ‘half widows’ and mothers whose loved ones have vanished, as well as the importance of accountability for the decades-old human rights crisis that has left thousands missing amid the region’s separatist conflict.
The Vital Work of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons
Organizations like the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons provide affected families with legal aid, counseling and advocacy support. However, endemic poverty makes it difficult for women to pursue justice and healing. Economic dependence and lack of opportunity trap them in anguish and uncertainty.
Affected families formed The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) in 2009 to pursue justice for Balochistan’s disappearance. Headquartered in Quetta, VBMP provides free legal assistance to help families file petitions and cases seeking information on missing loved ones. It also offers counseling and mental health support to traumatized families, particularly women and children. VBMP organizes protests, sit-ins and campaigns to highlight enforced disappearances and pressurize authorities. It has district committees across Balochistan to document cases and mobilize families.
VBMP publishes reports to increase awareness of the crisis locally and internationally. It also assists impoverished families with resources for legal procedures and accessing VBMP hubs. Operating on donations and aid funding, the organization employs legal advocacy, activism, counseling and reporting to support families of the missing in Balochistan in their struggle for truth and justice.
Recommendations for Empowerment
Increasing economic empowerment among women is crucial. Income generation through vocational training, microfinance schemes, handicrafts cooperatives and cash-for-work programs can provide women with financial security. These enable women to avoid forced marriages, escape abuse and sustain themselves while searching for missing family members.
Communities and justice systems should engage to stop seeing women’s rights abuses as acceptable. Protecting women from harm, ensuring their safety through shelters and prosecuting abusers will create an environment where women can exercise their rights and seek justice.
Tackling endemic poverty and socioeconomic empowerment of women has to accompany legal-social reform to alleviate gender-based violence in Balochistan in all its forms. Holistic efforts addressing economic and cultural factors are needed to promote women’s rights, safety and development in Balochistan.
– Asia Jamil
Photo: Flickr
5 Ways MSF is Tackling Noma in Nigeria
Noma, a disfiguring tropical disease in Nigeria, is a preventable and treatable condition that has unfortunately been neglected in impoverished areas in Nigeria. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has taken significant steps to support noma patients and combat the disease. Here is some information about noma and how MSF is tackling noma in Nigeria.
What is Noma?
Noma is an infectious but non-contagious bacterial disease that affects the face, primarily afflicting children between 2 and 5 years old living in impoverished conditions. Despite available preventions and cures, only up to 15% of affected children survive. Noma spreads rapidly, causing devastating damage to facial tissue and bones. Many survivors of the tropical disease in Nigeria are left with severe facial disfigurements and endure discrimination from their communities. The scars left from noma can lead to growth disturbances and result in functional impairment, making basic functions such as eating and speaking challenging. Here are five ways MSF is addressing noma in Nigeria.
5 Ways MSF is Tackling Noma in Nigeria
Looking Ahead
Free and accessible health care and SDG action plans have been crucial factors in noma prevention and treatment. MSF and other humanitarian organizations are making a remarkable difference in combating this neglected tropical disease in Nigeria. With ongoing dedication and support, it is possible to work towards a future where noma no longer exists.
– Sophia Holub
Photo: Flickr
How the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy is Helping Developing Nations
When the European Union was formed, all the countries that joined it collaborated on an extensive, detailed farm policy. The countries enacted this policy, known as the Common Agricultural Policy, in 1962. The policy aimed to create a cohesive market within the EU, where agricultural goods would move freely, and all members would have standardized prices. It also aimed to prioritize products from within the internal market over foreign imports by implementing shared customs tariffs and fostering financial cooperation through joint funding for agricultural initiatives. The European Union has found great success with this policy, especially in its recent efforts to support small rural farmers and implement initiatives that promote sustainable farming practices and resource management.
The implementation of this policy in the European Union has had an exponentially positive impact. However, past versions of the Common Agricultural Policy, which focused solely on domestic initiatives, did not provide assistance to developing nations. Recently, the Common Agricultural Policy has started to yield beneficial effects on developing nations, along with recommendations for modifying this policy to offer even greater assistance to these countries.
Subsidies
Within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Union has taken a concrete step to generate positive impacts for developing nations. The step involves the gradual reduction of import barriers to access EU markets. Prior to 2017, the European Union maintained skewed trade policies that exclusively favored its own interests. Subsequently, these subsidies were eliminated to facilitate affordable access to the European Market for developing countries, including those in Africa. This shift is of particular significance as Europe serves as the primary market for numerous crops originating from Africa, such as coffee or peanuts.
A year after removing these subsidies, the European Union conducted a study on the global impact of the Common Agricultural Policy, which led to the conclusion that “In recent years, progress has been observed in better aligning agriculture with international development goals.” It becomes clear that the reduction of barriers for developing countries to enter the European agricultural market benefits both these nations and the global economy. This instance represents merely one example of the barriers the European Union has eliminated. Many more barriers remain in place to ensure the policy’s benefits for European farmers, while also safeguarding developing countries and their populations from exploitation. With achievements like this, further progress can be achieved in enhancing the inclusivity of this policy, promoting international development and simultaneously maintaining a thriving European Union.
Green Practices
While more indirect, the Common Agricultural Policy is benefiting developing nations through innovations and the adoption of green practices. European farmers receive numerous supports under the policy, but these often come with requirements for implementing green practices. This alignment ensures that initiatives within the Common Agricultural Policy adhere to environmental and climate regulations. Consequently, this arrangement proves advantageous for developing nations. Green farming practices, including those addressing environmental degradation, can be trialed within a supportive platform. Once their efficacy is established, these practices can be replicated in these nations, facilitating sustainable agricultural development.
Pre-Accession Assistance
Lastly, the Common Agricultural Policy has expanded its assistance to developing nations by offering pre-accession support in the agricultural sector. Strengthening their competitiveness, promoting sustainable practices and enhancing resilience against climate challenges constitute the core objectives of these forms of aid. These measures not only facilitate their prospective membership in the European Union but also enhance their stability and economies. Pre-accession assistance embodies practical international development.
Although these elements may appear modest within the context of the Common Agricultural Policy, the policy itself has progressed significantly from its earlier focus on international development. Nonetheless, substantial room for improvement remains to better serve developing nations, particularly within the agricultural sector. The 2018 study assessing the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy on developing nations underscores this point, pinpointing areas ripe for enhancement. Expanding this policy poses various challenges, yet the initial stride taken by the European Union in acknowledging its responsibility and influence is evident. The Union’s consideration of the study’s recommendations and its deliberation on the optimal approach to their implementation stand as indicative of this recognition.
– Ada Rose Wagar
Photo: Flickr
Food Systems in Singapore
Food Security Through Innovation
With limited land for agriculture, Singapore has historically relied on imports, with more than 90% of food coming from various outside sources. However, such a system leaves the country highly vulnerable to disruptions in the supply chain, leading the government to seek alternative solutions that not only secure the nation’s food supply but also greatly benefit the poor.
Some of the newly instituted food systems in Singapore include a vertical growth system, allowing for maximized use of resources within a controlled environment. Another example is the 30 x 30 goal, which aims to produce 30% of food locally by the year 2030. The government is leaving no stone unturned in attempting to fulfill this initiative, investing in cutting-edge technologies like hydroponics and aeroponics that work to optimize production.
Poverty Alleviation and the Job Industry
Ultimately, these food systems in Singapore are working toward the global goal of alleviating poverty. In the case of a supply chain disruption, the poor would likely be affected the most. The Food Bank Singapore found that 10.4% of surveyed households had experienced food insecurity in a 12-month period between 2018 and 2019. By securing the country’s food supply, the government ensures that those in poverty can feel safer knowing that food will continue to be accessible at all times and as affordable as possible.
Low-income individuals can gain skills and knowledge by participating in the urban farming industry and related sectors. For those struggling with poverty, being part of a farming project can provide a sense of purpose, skill development and access to healthy food. Not only can the food initiative provide a wealth of jobs for those who need them most, but it also plants the seeds for a pathway out of poverty through hard work and determination.
Education plays a vital role in sustainable food practices and poverty reduction. Singapore has embraced this by implementing educational programs that raise awareness about nutrition, waste reduction and responsible consumption. By equipping residents with knowledge about healthy food choices and reducing food waste, these programs contribute to healthier and more economically stable communities.
Looking Ahead
By developing sustainable farming initiatives and new food systems in Singapore, the government is creating a sense of social engagement and empowerment for marginalized communities and individuals. Despite its relatively low levels of poverty to start with, Singapore takes the issue seriously, providing an example for the rest of the world — by working to end poverty, it takes another crucial step in the path toward becoming a truly inclusive and equitable society.
– Namit Agrawal
Photo: Unsplash