According to suggestions, the key to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic could be female empowerment. The country currently ranks 84th out of 146 countries in the gender gap. Like most Latin American countries, the cultural value of machismo, the concept of male superiority and dominance over women, plays a role in the island’s gender inequality. Because of this, many in the Dominican Republic expect women to remain housewives.
Since women perform all household duties, they face limitations in their academic and economic opportunities. According to the World Economic Forum, 75% of men in the Dominican Republic participate in the labor force, while the figure for women stands at only 49%. Even though women control the affairs of the home, the expectation for men is to gain employment and provide money for the family, and this impacts female education and economic independence.
About 40% of women in the Dominican Republic carry out unpaid work at home. Due to a lack of participation in the economic sphere, the poverty rate among women is 27%, but 24% for men based on U.N. statistics.
The Impact of COVID-19
Unfortunately, COVID-19 worsened gender inequality in the Dominican Republic. During pandemic-induced school closures, females accounted for 61% of student dropouts and males accounted for just 39%. The pandemic confined female students to the household and diminished the importance of obtaining an education.
Similar to school drop-out rates, female unemployment rates as a result of the pandemic demonstrate the Dominican Republic’s levels of gender inequality. With jobs using digital technology for remote work, the number of Internet users rose throughout the Dominican Republic according to statistics from the U.N.
However, the digital gender divide restricted females from using the Internet for economic opportunities. Females are 50% less likely than men to have access to digital technology, according to the World Wide Web Foundation. Because women have minimal access to computers, they were less likely to transition to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 showed that the distribution of internet access is not even across the country. Although the government is working toward making the Internet universally accessible, the costs are still high. This excludes poor and rural populations from engaging in the digital world; therefore, only 59% of households in the Dominican population have internet access. Even though poverty widens the digital divide, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation commit to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic through female empowerment.
The Mariposa Foundation
Patricia Thorndike started the Mariposa Foundation in 2009 with the goal of educating, empowering and employing young girls ages 8 to 18 in the Dominican Republic. The organization believes that investing in women educationally and culturally encourages young girls to leave their households, make an income and pull their families out of poverty. The Mariposa Foundation gives young girls access to education alongside providing the tools required to help them gain employment. The potential long-term benefit of this is that more women entering the economic sphere and bringing money back to their families could lead to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic.
The Mariposa Center for Girls provides its students with academic enrichment and daily health and wellness activities. Before the organization opened, there was no high school in the town of Cabarete and most girls were not making it to the 8th grade. As of 2023, the school gives out scholarships and provides safe transportation to change the narrative for girls born into extreme poverty.
While the organization’s initial goal was for its students to reach the 8th grade, many have exceeded expectations; 100% of Mariposa girls are enrolled in high school. Once they graduate, the organization will continue to support them through workshops for navigating higher education, learning a trade, building a resume and starting a business.
The Mariposa Foundation also helps reduce poverty by providing economic opportunities for its students. For example, the Mariposa Foundation owns Cabarete Coffee Company, which brings in more than $100,000 in revenue to fund the organization’s programs, and Mariposa girls interested in hospitality can work for the company.
The Success Stories
One of many success stories is that of Fabiola Veraz Joazar. She works as a swim instructor and program assistant at the Center for Girls. After learning how to swim through the Mariposa Foundation, she became the first Haitian-certified lifeguard in the Dominican Republic. By encouraging girls to pursue their passions, the organization allows females born into extreme poverty to enter the economic sphere.
Not even COVID-19 slowed down the Mariposa Foundation’s efforts toward female empowerment. After announcing that the 2021 school year would be completely virtual, the organization handed out laptops and iPads to its students so all girls could continue their education. By providing the resources to close the digital gender divide, the Mariposa Foundation ensured young girls of all backgrounds could pursue their passions and be ready to enter the workforce.
What is Next?
Looking toward the future, the Mariposa Foundation is directly working toward achieving gender equality and poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic. The Mariposa Foundation provides young girls with the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the household, find their passions and enter the economic world. With the goal of female empowerment, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation play a vital role in reducing poverty for all.
– Meilyn Farina
Photo: Flickr
The Impact of COVID-19 on Barbados
Amid the global pandemic, nations faced numerous challenges in various areas such as the economy and public health. The impact of COVID-19 on Barbados was profound, affecting the lives of its citizens and causing significant economic setbacks. In June 2021, the World Bank approved a $100 million relief effort to address the economic downturn that the pandemic in Barbados caused.
Impact on the Economy
Due to Barbados having been a popular travel destination, it comes as no shock how the halt in tourism was one of the leading factors to the increase in poverty. Its heavy dependence on the tourism industry resulted in around 40% of the workforce becoming disadvantaged; mostly women dominated in this industry.
In 2020, there was an estimated 18% decrease in the economy, accompanied by a 4% inflation rate. This inflation impacted the prices of essentials like vegetables and fish, which increased by 4.5%. Prior to the pandemic, Barbados was already grappling with GDP issues. However, the impact of COVID-19 led Barbados to act quickly. The plan to contract the real GDP to 3% is what eventually helped Barbados bounce back from what could have been devastating to the economy. In June 2021, the World Bank gave a $100 million stimulus package to Barbados in response to the pandemic’s health-related, economic and social impacts. This package also included a vaccination strategy and a program to support employment in the tourism sector.
Equity in Education
Like many other countries, the rapid impact of COVID-19 led to school closures with some schools never opening up even after the end of the pandemic. Unfortunately, for developing countries such as Barbados, the lack of infrastructural resources did not even give students the chance to continue their education remotely. This is where the challenge of equity in education presents itself.
Estimates determined that in the Caribbean alone, school closures affected at least 1.7 billion children across 21 countries. Thankfully, through the help of private-public partnerships, it did help to support access to the internet to help continue the education for most students. Though not everyone in Barbados was easily able to access this resource, it ensured 100 schools got access.
Prices and Employment
In December 2019, the unemployment rate in Barbados stood at 10.1%. However, the pandemic caused a significant increase in unemployment, particularly in the tourism sector, which accounted for 26% of the labor force. The exact number of job losses in this sector has not been fully accounted for, indicating that the actual unemployment rate is higher than reported.
Prior to the impact of COVID-19 on Barbados, unemployment was averaging around a 10% rate but following the lockdowns this number skyrocketed to 24-26% from 2020 to 2021. Barbados took account of this percentage during the 23rd week of lockdown and tourism did not restart until 2022.
The impact of closing the tourism sector was significant, even if the economy opened back up; this is based on models predicting how the GDP would look after reopening. Experts predicted that the GDP would only move to 6% in 2021 from its previous decline of 7% in 2020 during the lockdown, showing that unemployment would remain high. They also predicted that unemployment would average 12% in 2020 and decrease to only 10% in 2021.
Positive Future
Despite the challenges, Barbados has shown resilience and received support from other nations. While it will take time for the country to fully recover from the impact of COVID-19, the government is dedicated to assisting its citizens during this difficult period. The tourism sector, which the pandemic halted, is a vital source of income for Barbados. To combat the pandemic’s impact on poverty, the DCI program collaborated with Barbados to introduce the “12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp” visa. Leveraging the remote work trend, this program became the world’s first remote work visa initiative, promoted through an aggressive earned media campaign.
The Barbados government announced this program in June 2020, resulting in more than 4.8 billion impressions and 2,000 applications. The official Visit Barbados website provides information on how to apply and highlights the benefits, including the option to reapply if individuals enjoyed their initial year. This program has been successful and the website offers resources for various categories, including families, individuals and even pets, showcasing why Barbados is an ideal destination.
Looking Ahead
The impact of COVID-19 on Barbados has been significant, affecting various aspects of the country’s economy and society. The heavy reliance on tourism led to a sharp increase in poverty, as two years prior to the pandemic it was at 15% and had a 2% increase afterward. However, with international support and the resilience of its people, Barbados is taking steps toward recovery. Initiatives such as the 12-month visa program and the country’s unique cultural offerings have helped revive the tourism industry and overall economy. While the road to full recovery may be long, Barbados remains committed to supporting its citizens and welcoming visitors from around the world. Through media campaigns and highlighting its distinctive experiences, Barbados aims to rebuild its tourism sector and regain economic strength in the post-COVID-19 era.
– Isabella Polo
Photo: Flickr
Creating a Digital Economy in Vietnam
With Vietnam’s thriving economy, the country finds itself ready to take on digitalization to aid in smart rural development. Despite its transition from a low-income to a middle-income country and showcasing a shift in the global market arena, rural poverty remains a significant issue. Around 70% of the population resides in rural areas, with more than 14% belonging to ethnic minorities, facing economic vulnerabilities and unforeseen shocks. Here is how the country is creating a digital economy in Vietnam.
The Situation
Most of the rural communities are located in mountainous to highland and central coastal regions where people mainly generate income through agriculture production. Because of their geographic location, some resources such as water and health care, can be difficult to find. While Vietnam has made progress in gender equality, ethnic minority women still face disadvantages due to a lack of education and literacy.
The initiation of “The New Rural Development and Sustainable Poverty (NTPSP) Program-for-Results Project” in Vietnam aims to enhance economic opportunities and accelerate digital modernization in rural areas. The main idea for this digital transformation is to offer “service equality” to both rural and urban areas while bettering the livelihoods of rural communities. The program will officially carry out by 2025 in all rural communities.
Program Goals
The program aims to develop the rural economy by creating a digital economy in Vietnam. In other words, it will aim to create more attraction and concentration by applying technological advancements in all agricultural productions and rural infrastructure. For instance, in Bac Giang province, an e-commerce platform will support rural farmers and agricultural cooperatives, facilitating digitalization in agriculture. Around 70% of these communes will be able to access agriculture businesses online in order to provide a more efficient collaboration between the production and selling of farm products. Another important feature that will accelerate the rural economy is digitally showcasing the landscape and cultural aspects of communities to improve tourism in local areas.
By 2025, about 100% of all administrative processes and documentation at all district levels will operate electronically. This will improve communication efforts for people living in rural communities and participate in online meetings with other provincial and district actors. To acquire an accurate assessment of the program, the government will initiate citizen feedback regarding how they are adapting to this new digital platform and make improvements accordingly, for the period of 2026-2030.
Government Initiatives
The Vietnamese government has acknowledged the challenges that rural communities have in acquiring the necessary resources to acquire a better livelihood. Moreover, the prime minister recognized that digital modernization is beneficial for labor productivity and business in Vietnam. The development of “smart cities” will continue to prioritize better quality of living and offer efficient social services for rural communities.
Looking Ahead
While Vietnam progresses in creating a digital economy in Vietnam, effective management, funding and planning are crucial for achieving desired outcomes. Prioritizing and improving the rural economy is key to enhancing well-being and providing better social resources to rural communities.
– Alessandra Amati
Photo: Flickr
The Mariposa Foundation and Poverty Reduction in the Dominican Republic
Since women perform all household duties, they face limitations in their academic and economic opportunities. According to the World Economic Forum, 75% of men in the Dominican Republic participate in the labor force, while the figure for women stands at only 49%. Even though women control the affairs of the home, the expectation for men is to gain employment and provide money for the family, and this impacts female education and economic independence.
About 40% of women in the Dominican Republic carry out unpaid work at home. Due to a lack of participation in the economic sphere, the poverty rate among women is 27%, but 24% for men based on U.N. statistics.
The Impact of COVID-19
Unfortunately, COVID-19 worsened gender inequality in the Dominican Republic. During pandemic-induced school closures, females accounted for 61% of student dropouts and males accounted for just 39%. The pandemic confined female students to the household and diminished the importance of obtaining an education.
Similar to school drop-out rates, female unemployment rates as a result of the pandemic demonstrate the Dominican Republic’s levels of gender inequality. With jobs using digital technology for remote work, the number of Internet users rose throughout the Dominican Republic according to statistics from the U.N.
However, the digital gender divide restricted females from using the Internet for economic opportunities. Females are 50% less likely than men to have access to digital technology, according to the World Wide Web Foundation. Because women have minimal access to computers, they were less likely to transition to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 showed that the distribution of internet access is not even across the country. Although the government is working toward making the Internet universally accessible, the costs are still high. This excludes poor and rural populations from engaging in the digital world; therefore, only 59% of households in the Dominican population have internet access. Even though poverty widens the digital divide, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation commit to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic through female empowerment.
The Mariposa Foundation
Patricia Thorndike started the Mariposa Foundation in 2009 with the goal of educating, empowering and employing young girls ages 8 to 18 in the Dominican Republic. The organization believes that investing in women educationally and culturally encourages young girls to leave their households, make an income and pull their families out of poverty. The Mariposa Foundation gives young girls access to education alongside providing the tools required to help them gain employment. The potential long-term benefit of this is that more women entering the economic sphere and bringing money back to their families could lead to poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic.
The Mariposa Center for Girls provides its students with academic enrichment and daily health and wellness activities. Before the organization opened, there was no high school in the town of Cabarete and most girls were not making it to the 8th grade. As of 2023, the school gives out scholarships and provides safe transportation to change the narrative for girls born into extreme poverty.
While the organization’s initial goal was for its students to reach the 8th grade, many have exceeded expectations; 100% of Mariposa girls are enrolled in high school. Once they graduate, the organization will continue to support them through workshops for navigating higher education, learning a trade, building a resume and starting a business.
The Mariposa Foundation also helps reduce poverty by providing economic opportunities for its students. For example, the Mariposa Foundation owns Cabarete Coffee Company, which brings in more than $100,000 in revenue to fund the organization’s programs, and Mariposa girls interested in hospitality can work for the company.
The Success Stories
One of many success stories is that of Fabiola Veraz Joazar. She works as a swim instructor and program assistant at the Center for Girls. After learning how to swim through the Mariposa Foundation, she became the first Haitian-certified lifeguard in the Dominican Republic. By encouraging girls to pursue their passions, the organization allows females born into extreme poverty to enter the economic sphere.
Not even COVID-19 slowed down the Mariposa Foundation’s efforts toward female empowerment. After announcing that the 2021 school year would be completely virtual, the organization handed out laptops and iPads to its students so all girls could continue their education. By providing the resources to close the digital gender divide, the Mariposa Foundation ensured young girls of all backgrounds could pursue their passions and be ready to enter the workforce.
What is Next?
Looking toward the future, the Mariposa Foundation is directly working toward achieving gender equality and poverty reduction in the Dominican Republic. The Mariposa Foundation provides young girls with the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the household, find their passions and enter the economic world. With the goal of female empowerment, organizations like the Mariposa Foundation play a vital role in reducing poverty for all.
– Meilyn Farina
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Rights in Kuwait
Divorce, for instance, is easier for men to file than for women. Men may divorce their wives for any reason, while women must file on specific grounds, such as a lack of financial support or mental illness. Many women also need permission for marriage from a male relative and the laws allow men to take up to four wives without needing the consent of prior spouses. While Kuwait may still have barriers to overcome to achieve gender equality, many organizations are working to advance women’s rights in Kuwait.
Women’s Place in Society
Women’s lack of autonomy in marriage likely contributes to the high prevalence of domestic violence in the country, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). There were no laws outlawing domestic violence or intramarital rape and sexual abuse prior to 2020. According to a 2020 Soroptimist survey, 62.9% of those surveyed admitted to having experienced domestic violence, with 83.5% being women. It is also likely that domestic violence is largely underreported in the country. The issue of domestic violence is expected to be dealt with within the family rather than by law enforcement.
There is also a severe lack of women’s representation in government and women in the country only received the right to vote in 2006, according to a World Economic Forum report. Furthermore, Kuwait swore in the first female judges in the country’s history in 2020.
Progress
One organization currently working to advance women’s rights in Kuwait is Abolish Article 153. The organization aims to remove Article 153 from the Penal Code in Kuwait. This article stipulates that any man who kills a female family member after finding them engaged in an “unsavory” sexual act will receive no more than three years of jail time. These acts are “honor killings” and are common in the Middle East.
About 47,000 women and girls worldwide were murdered in 2020 by their families or intimate partners. Abolish Article 153 group’s advocacy includes advocacy meetings with committees in the National Assembly as well as working with civil society organizations to spread awareness and educate the public on violence against women. The organization has had successes in the past, such as conducting the first survey on the topic of determining the public’s opinion on laws such as Article 153. The report indicated that 63% of those surveyed condemned such laws.
Looking Ahead
Although women in Kuwaiti society still experience many obstacles related to their gender, recent progress in gender equality in the country shows that the nation is undergoing improvements. Women’s rights groups such as Abolish Article 153 are helping to make strides in the right direction.
– Emma Glas
Photo: Wikimedia
Increasing Access to Renewable Energy in Malta Can Help Reduce Poverty
Malta faces challenges in reaching its energy goals due to high prices and limited options. The biggest is that most of Malta’s energy is imported, primarily from non-renewable sources, with only a small amount, approximately 4% as of 2021, coming from solar power. Additionally, Malta relies on a single electricity distributor and lacks a natural gas and district heating and cooling network. These limitations pose challenges, particularly in terms of expanding renewable energy production in Malta, as they restrict the available options to meet the 2050 energy-saving standards.
These issues further perpetuate poverty in the country, amplifying high energy prices due to the small market and the fact that the tiny nation is an island. Every household in the nation, especially the most vulnerable, experiences both direct and indirect effects as a result. Moreover, the cost of living increases as acquiring and performing products and services becomes more expensive. Therefore, increasing renewable energy in Malta would not only benefit the energy industry as a whole but individual households, especially those most vulnerable.
Renewable Energy Options in Malta
Resources for powering renewable energy endeavors are plentiful in and around Malta. The island receives abundant sun, enabling the establishment of large solar arrays. Furthermore, the implementation of offshore wind farming is not a new concept within the European Union and could be achieved easily off the shores of Malta. Additionally, Malta serves as a testing ground for innovative technologies that harness the power of the ocean and convert it into electricity. Harnessing wave energy alone would contribute significantly to Malta’s achievement of national energy targets, further highlighting the untapped potential of relying on renewable energy in Malta.
How it Directly Affects Poverty Rates
It is valid to inquire about the direct impact of increasing renewable energy in Malta on reducing the national poverty rate. One significant aspect to consider is that increasing renewable energy, both in Malta and elsewhere, contributes to mitigating the effects of changing weather patterns. This, in turn, reduces the severity of flooding and storm surges, which undoubtedly affect the island country. The impact of natural disasters tends to be more severe on individuals living in extreme poverty, making the most vulnerable population in Malta more susceptible.
Increasing renewable energy in Malta not only brings national benefits but also contributes to economic growth. Implementing renewable energy methods such as solar, wave and wind farming would diversify Malta’s sources and suppliers. This not only helps reduce direct and indirect energy costs for those living in poverty through economic competition but also enhances energy security by relying on multiple sources. It provides flexibility and reliability in the energy system, particularly during times of need. Moreover, increasing renewable energy in Malta does not solely bring national benefits. As Malta expands its solar fields and adopts new renewable energy technologies, it stimulates and positively impacts global trade. This further benefits individuals living in poverty in Malta by boosting national economic welfare, which historically leads to direct increases in wages.
Wave Energy Harvesting
As aforementioned, wave energy harvesting stands out as a particularly promising technology in Malta. Studies have been conducted by Researchers at the University of Malta, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research in Rome and they concluded wave energy harvesting is most suitable for the winter months. Additionally, the researchers noted that during the summer months, wind and solar power could compensate for the decrease in wave power. This further underscores the importance of diversification to guarantee an adequate energy supply for all.
The Maltese government has already taken steps to promote renewable energy. Incentives such as feed-in tariffs and grants encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, resulting in rapid growth in solar PV capacity. This growth is expected to continue as the costs of solar technology become more affordable. Furthermore, Malta is actively pursuing wind energy through projects like the Montenegro Wind Farm, increasing its wind energy capacity. In addition, offshore wind energy exploration further enhances Malta’s renewable energy portfolio. Alongside these efforts, Malta is actively working on energy efficiency measures and aims to reduce primary energy consumption. This is being achieved through initiatives such as energy-efficient buildings, smart grid technologies and the promotion of energy-efficient appliances. These endeavors contribute to Malta’s overall energy transition and diversification, making energy in the country more reliable and affordable for those in need.
Ultimately, increasing renewable energy in Malta will lead to greater energy independence, positioning the country as a stronger member of the EU and the international community. If energy availability and consumption are no longer major concerns then more funding could be allocated toward poverty alleviation efforts in a nation where 16.9% of the population lives below the poverty line. Individuals in poverty will gain the energy security they deserve, paving the way for a brighter future.
– Ada Rose Wagar
Photo: Flickr
Advancing Women’s Rights in Estonia
The Big Picture
Globally, Estonia ranks high on several women’s rights issues. The Global Gender Gap Report (2022) states that Estonian men and women have equal access to financial services, justice and freedom of movement, etc. Estonia also ranks first in all indicators of educational attainment and healthy life expectancy.
In 2016, Estonia’s fifth president Kersti Kaljulaid became the first female leader in the country’s history. Estonia’s first female prime minister Kaja Kallas, elected in 2021, made Estonia the first nation in the world to be entirely run by women.
Data from U.N. Women found that females in Estonia have slightly higher levels of stability compared to their male counterparts. Food insecurity for adult women is slightly lower than for adult men, at 7.7% and 8.0% respectively. There are also fewer female children falling out of primary and lower secondary education at only 1.8% to the male rate of 2.4%.
Keeping young girls in school is a powerful tool to ensure that Estonian women remain educated and prepared to obtain better jobs in the future, lowering their chances of cyclical poverty.
Education
Estonian women are some of the most highly educated in Europe. According to the CIA World Factbook, as of 2021, the literacy rate for Estonian women stood at 99.9%, on par with that of Estonian men. The percentage of Estonian women between 25 and 64 who completed higher education in 2021 was about 53%, well above the 36% average for the European Union.
The relatively low costs of tertiary education in Estonia help make higher education more accessible to women, especially those who are low-income. In 2013, a higher education reform made full-time, tertiary education programs conducted in Estonian free at public institutions. Unfortunately, the reform does not apply to part-time students. By providing free education for part-time students, more women, such as those who are low-income, care for children or have work-related duties, would be able to attain an education.
Employment
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Estonia’s female employment rate was 72% in 2021, significantly higher than the average of 61%. However, part of improving women’s rights in Estonia means making sure women have access to all areas of the workforce. Women are still underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields which remain dominated by men. Instead, many women in Estonia work in low-earning fields such as education and retail.
Based on The Global Gender Gap Report (2022), women make an estimated $28,880 in earned income compared with men at $42,320. With so many women concentrated in low-paying or unpaid fields, there is little opportunity to rise out of poverty.
On February 11, 2021, the University of Tartu celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science for the first time in Estonia. The U.N. established the day to celebrate and encourage women’s involvement in the sciences. Professors at the university recognized that the school’s large proportion of female students was not reflected in science and research roles. In their coverage of the event, Estonian World highlighted seven Estonian female scientists making a difference for women’s rights in Estonia and the world.
The Future of Women’s Rights
Despite all of the progress the Estonian government is making, there is still work to do. Local grassroots organizations are taking on the challenge of furthering women’s rights in Estonia. The Estonian Women’s Union/League (ENL) aims to unite women and safeguard their rights. The organization collaborates with state bodies and other democratic social organizations. ENL encourages women’s involvement in politics and organizes international conferences and training.
In 2008, ENL members participated in presenting the “Estonian Human Development Report 2007” which covered school violence, increase in unemployment, etc. In 2023, the organization continued its naming of “Mother of the Year,” a series meant to shine a light on Estonian mothers and the challenges they may face in supporting their children.
Women’s rights in Estonia have visibly improved in recent years, setting up the country for further success. The Estonian Women’s League is just one of a variety of local initiatives committed to empowering women from all walks of life, ensuring Estonia’s progress continues.
– Yesenia Aguilera
Photo: USAID
Using the Internet to Combat Rural Poverty in China
Digital Finance in China
In 2021, China had 1.011 billion Internet users, comprising 71.6% of its total population. As smartphones and the Chinese Internet spread, so do digital finance services such as mobile payment, online banking, online insurance and online investment tools. All of these increase the accessibility of formal financial services for impoverished people who previously lacked access to them, according to PLOS ONE.
China leads the world in the ubiquitous use of digital financial services. According to PLOS ONE, for each point increase in China’s digital finance aggregation index (DFAI), the probability of rural absolute poverty decreases by 10.27% while the probability of rural relative poverty decreases by 18.31%. Specifically, digital finance alleviates rural poverty in China by spurring four developments: the decrease of credit constraints, the increase of access to information, the expansion of social networks and the promotion of entrepreneurship.
The rural poor often struggle with the high cost of agricultural loans from traditional banks. Digital finance solves this issue by compiling massive amounts of online user information to grant loans much more liberally than traditional banks ever could. Easier access to loans and capital has the effect of promoting rural entrepreneurship. Next, digital financial services offer the rural poor timely information about agricultural production, employment opportunities, etc. which help them remain economically stable. Finally, these services also provide social capital, allowing the rural poor to network with friends and family. One example is WeChat Pay, which applies the Chinese tradition of gifting red envelopes to the digital market. This increases the circulation of online money and raises income for the rural poor.
The Benefit of Internet Policies in Rural Areas
The ethnic minority areas of Aba, Ganzi and Liangshan in Sichuan Province are the most economically underdeveloped in Southwest China. It would be appropriate to use those areas as a case study of how government investments in the Internet have produced positive economic effects. Central and municipal governments have put money toward a Communication Infrastructure Investment (CII) with the intention of developing the Internet in underdeveloped regions, thus facilitating e-commerce and other economic activity.
Indeed, in recent years, villagers in ethnic minority areas have begun selling agricultural products on popular e-business sites like Taobao, Alibaba, Amazon and Jingdong, which have helped lift sellers out of poverty. The Internet also provides platforms and venues for industries like health and tourism. Data analysis from the years 2000-2018 indicates that pro-Internet investments and policies in Aba, Ganzi and Liangshan are positively correlated with local GDP for years one to four years and per capita income for the entire time.
Playing a Crucial Role
The Internet proved especially useful during the COVID-19 crisis. According to the China Internet Network Information Center, 98% of people in rural areas living in poverty had access to fiber-optic Internet in 2020, compared to only 70% in 2017. Users sold their agricultural products online to maintain a stable income amidst COVID-19 layoffs and the slowing of business. The Internet also allowed them to donate money, fostering a community-based financial support system in rural regions.
Overall, it appears that the Internet plays a vital role in combating rural poverty in China. It provides new platforms that allow people to receive financial capital while enabling entrepreneurs to market and sell their products.
– Eric Huang
Photo: Unsplash
4 Groups Making Innovation in Malawi a Reality
Malawi is a country that has long struggled with poverty and under-development — around 70% of the native population lives on $2.15 a day as of 2019. Many struggle without necessary resources such as clean water and food, even with an extensive agricultural sector in the country. In light of these issues, many groups work to improve the lives of the people and actively look to bring new, beneficial developments to the country. The following four groups are making innovation in Malawi a reality.
The Centre For Youth and Development’s Promotion of the SDGs
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form the bedrock for many poverty-reduction movements in the world. Eliminating poverty, eliminating world hunger and providing clean water and sanitation are just some examples of these development goals. Malawi has struggled to fulfill these sustainable development goals for many years, with clean water proving the most difficult to address. The Centre for Youth and Development (CYD) seeks to make SDGs a major focus for Malawi while inspiring people to improve and empower their communities.
Based in Mzuzu, the CYD is a non-governmental organization that drives people, most prominently women and youth, to lead others in developing SDGs and innovation in Malawi. The CYD commits to this through a series of projects such as its Water is Life program. The Water is Life project seeks to overhaul the local irrigation of the Rumphi district for agricultural purposes and develop hydroelectric power for the area, which will affect 824 lives for the better. Its most recent successes in this project include building a water canal for water transport and farming.
How Converged Technology Networks is Connecting Malawi
Lack of internet access troubles Malawi. At most, 24% of individuals in Malawi had access to the Internet by 2021. This is an issue since many services, such as online banking, are available on the internet. The lack of internet also limits the availability of outside markets to reach the people, which hurts economic investment and limits the number of available jobs. Converged Technology Networks seeks to alleviate this issue by providing broadband internet to the country.
Beginning commercial operations in 2019, Converged is an internet service provider that is working to bring broadband internet to Malawi. The organization seeks to develop Malawi’s digital infrastructure and ensure that even people from more impoverished communities have access to the internet. In 2021, Converged joined forces with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to provide a grant for a feasibility study in Malawi to provide service to underserved groups in the country.
How mHub Helps Entrepreneurs
As many people live on $2.15 a day, struggles to become financially stable in Malawi are frequent. People need employment to pay for necessities, as well as develop skills in the business and technology sectors to make better, stronger systems for the economy. mHub, based in Lilongwe, works toward providing others with these skills, further facilitating innovation in Malawi.
mHub works as a hub for innovation, seeking to finance aspiring entrepreneurs working in the fields of business and technology. mHub’s work has assisted in creating more than 950 jobs for people within Malawi and has trained more than 40,000 youths in the skills necessary for these two major fields. Like the CYD, mHub uses numerous programs that help to develop communities such as the Jobs for Youth program. This project trains the youth in the tech and business fields to prepare them for future employment, which has helped in making 120 jobs for students after graduation.
The African Drone and Data Academy in Malawi
Keeping people relatively healthy is a difficult task in Malawi, especially due to the lack of sanitation and the need for proper health care facilities. Disease can run rampant if left unchecked in a community, which can put a strain on services to provide for the sick. A way to combat this problem is to collect data on the issues at hand to better prepare a response. The Malawi University of Science and Technology, in partnership with UNICEF, seeks to do this with the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA).
The ADDA trains around 140 students in how to design and pilot drones, all to apply them to development, humanitarian efforts and innovation in Malawi. This will allow Malawi to employ drones to respond to sudden developments and for data analysis, as well as simpler things such as medical deliveries. Data can be mapped to identify key areas for disease outbreaks, which in turn can help health care standards for people across Malawi.
Bringing Innovation to the People
Institutions such as these can help to inspire others in improving their home and make life better for the country. In the years to come, Malawi can lead the way for its people to innovate in new, unique and creative ways.
– Kenneth Berends
Photo: Flickr
Share The Meal – The App Eliminating Food Insecurity in Haiti
In an age where technology and electronic devices are at many people’s fingertips, global inequities can appear even starker — as William Gibson stated, “The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed.” The world’s 2 billion smartphones outnumber its hungry children by 20 to one. But apps such as Share The Meal are pioneering new ways to use the power of our smartphones to help those living in poverty and food insecurity.
Food Insecurity in Haiti
As the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean, Haiti’s poverty rate reached almost 60% in 2020, and it is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world with regard to food insecurity. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), almost half of the Haitian population — 4.9 million people — are underfed, and 1.8 million are at dangerous levels of food insecurity. Because of this, children are malnourished and underweight, and 66% of children under the age of 5 are anemic, affecting their early-stage development.
One of the main reasons for food insecurity in Haiti is poor agricultural performance. Although roughly two in three people in the Haitian workforce have employment within the agricultural sector, agriculture only actually accounts for 25% of Haiti’s gross domestic product.
More than 40% of Haitian land is under cultivation although only 20% of its land is even suitable for agriculture. Poor soil quality and soil erosion are among the leading problems with the land, and environmental issues such as droughts and lack of irrigation make it difficult to grow crops on land which does not have soil issues.
Haiti, therefore, relies heavily on importing food, which exposes its food market to price rises and inflation from the international market. The food insecurity situation has been desperate in recent years, but this could all change due to the development of an app eliminating food insecurity in Haiti.
Share The Meal App
The United Nations World Food Programme is helping people connect with the fight to end world hunger via a smartphone application called Share The Meal. Users of the app can support relief campaigns in poverty-stricken places all over the world at the touch of a button, whether they give one meal or one year’s worth. One meal that the WFP supplies costs only $0.80 (USD) or £0.65 (GBP), and according to WFP data, more than 150 million meals have been shared since the launch of the app in 2015.
The WFP aims to reach and support 512 million people via Share The Meal in 2023. The app allows users to choose a campaign or “goal” to donate to, which gives recipients nutrition support, agricultural support, school meals and emergency assistance depending on their needs.
Eliminating Food Insecurity in Haiti
Many people are choosing to support eliminating food insecurity in Haiti through Share The Meal’s “Improve Food Security for Families in Haiti” campaign. Haitians taking part in this poverty-fighting initiative receive cash support from the WFP donations to build protective measures for their agricultural sector, such as restoring local ecosystems to act as barriers to the climate, soil and water conservation efforts and providing local farmers with essential training on how to boost agriculture.
The WFP, with Share The Meal, is building more long-term solutions in Limbé in the Nord Department of Haiti, so people have better access to food and water, and food production is more steady and sustained. Repairing irrigation canals and planting trees such as pineapple and elephant grass are helping to reduce flooding and protect existing crops, allowing for the successful cultivation of more crops. This has promoted more sustainable ecosystems and facilitated a better standard of nutrition and is gradually eliminating food insecurity in Haiti. Funds that Share The Meal raise have also allowed for a 6,000-gallon reservoir to be built, which is providing locals with access to clean drinking water, as well as a reliable source of water to tend their crops.
The Haitian government is also working with WFP to provide school meals from local agricultural produce. This system involves the procurement of rice, fruit and vegetables from smallholder farmers, which gives them not only a more stable market for their goods but allows them to contribute to the nourishment of local children and help with eliminating food insecurity.
Overall, Share the Meal is working not only to improve food security, but it is equipping Haitians with the tools they need to strengthen their agricultural knowledge and resources, which is eliminating food insecurity in Haiti due to the shortcomings of the agricultural sector. The success of this Share The Meal campaign is a reminder of how impactful our decisions as smartphone users can be, and how technology can help in the fight against global poverty.
– Molly Wallace
Photo: Flickr
Lebanon’s Humanitarian Efforts – 5 Charities Operating in Lebanon
5 Charities Operating in Lebanon
In short, Lebanon, through its numerous national and international humanitarian organizations, has made a significant impact in addressing global poverty and aiding those facing humanitarian issues. These efforts have improved the lives of many individuals. The Borgen Project looks forward to witnessing further progress in the future.
– Jennah Kalaaji
Photo: Flickr