Nauru, an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, benefitted from the 1900s phosphate mining industry. At its peak, Nauru’s wealth was estimated to be at “$2.5 billion.”
In 1980, a collapse in Australia’s market decreased demand for phosphate exports, pushing the phosphate-dependent nation into economic instability and widespread poverty. With a population of 11,875, around one in four people live below the poverty line.
Nauru’s poverty rate stands at 9.72%, but women are more concentrated in the country’s lower-income groups. Women make up 39.99% of those in the bottom 40% of the income or consumption distribution, pointing to greater economic vulnerability.
Women in Poverty
Poverty in Nauru disproportionately affects women and girls. Poverty for women encompasses a lack of political representation and GBV, alongside economic hardship and health care concerns.
Cultural norms and stereotypes in Nauru set the expectations of women and drive their exclusion from political and public life. As a result, women are more likely to face financial hardship, political underrepresentation, and health concerns amongst other poverty indicators.
Initiatives in poverty reduction in Nauru increasingly target women living in poverty.
Protecting Women and Girls Against Domestic Violence
The Pacific Islands have the highest rate of violence against women and girls. UNICEF found that “48.1% of ever-partnered women” have experienced GBV in their lifetime. Women and girls incarcerated in Australia’s offshore migrant detention center in Nauru also face high rates of GBV.
At a UNDP-supported training conference in 2024, Deputy Commissioner Simpson Deidanang reported that “Since 2021, over the past three years, we have received 79 cases, with 53 completed and 23 closed due to insufficient evidence.”
The Nauru Police Force and UN Women agree that women and girls are not sufficiently protected against GBV. UN Women state that “Nauru has no domestic violence, sexual harassment or family legislation, or any other legislation in place that addresses human trafficking or sex tourism.”
In response, the Nauru Police Force has launched specialized GBV training. With support from the UNDP as part of the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project, in 2023 the Police Force doubled their domestic violence unit, “increasing from two to five officers.”
ICAAD is a nonprofit organization also working to protect women and girls from GBV. Its program TrackGBV includes the GBV Sentencing Handbook and a TrackGBV Legal Database for the Pacific Islands. This initiative provides information on how to analyze GBV and attitudes towards it on a judicial and community level.
Together, these efforts are working towards poverty reduction in Nauru and target the multidimensional impacts of poverty and violence that women in Nauru face.
Supporting Female Economic and Political Participation
Women in Nauru face exclusion from both economic and political life. UN Women reports that the Pacific region has the “world’s lowest overall average of women in parliament.” Only two women are present in Nauru’s members of parliament, equating to 10.5%.
Economically, women rely on informal work. UN Women report that “Between 75 per cent and 90 per cent of all market vendors in the Pacific are women.” The working conditions are poor, and the profit is low. Consequently, “Female-headed households are more likely than male-headed households to be or fall below the poverty line.”
The UNDP has partnered with the Women Empowerment Nauru Association (WENA) to increase women’s engagement with politics.
At the July 2024 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting, regional organizations and UN Women endorsed initiatives to strengthen women’s political and public participation. President Heine highlighted the links between women’s political representation, GBV and economic participation. President Heine emphasized the need to “safeguard women-led industries” to enhance political participation and strive towards poverty reduction in Nauru for women.
Initiatives Supporting Women’s Health
Women’s health is significantly at risk in Nauru, driven by limited access to sanitation. Only “66 per cent” of the population has access to sanitation facilities, restricting menstrual hygiene for many women.
Anemia remains widespread, affecting 44% of pregnant women and 32% of non-pregnant women, with long-term consequences for maternal and overall health. Natural disasters intensify these risks as women lose access to health care, shelter and food at higher rates than the rest of the population.
The nonprofit Hesperian Health Guides supports women’s health in Nauru by supplying free and accessible health information. The organization distributes educational resources covering women’s health, safety, and environmental health.
Their titles are available in “84 languages” across “221 countries.” Its website HealthWiki is also available digitally at no cost. Its outreach is working towards poverty reduction in Nauru by improving health care autonomy.
Final Note
While poverty still affects many in Nauru, especially women, the country is taking action:
- The Nauru Police Force, UNDP, ICAAD and UN Women are tackling gender-based violence.
- WENA and regional forums are boosting women’s political and economic participation.
- Nonprofits like Hesperian Health Guides provide free health education and resources.
These efforts empower women and create real pathways out of poverty.
– Lucy Kerr
Lucy is based in Coventry, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Top 5 Facts To Know About Disability and Poverty in Palau
There are many hardships that make life difficult for able-bodied people in Palau, which, while difficult, are manageable, but when extra factors that impact disabled people come into play, the barriers seem near impossible to overcome.
With a high life expectancy of 69.3 years and a population of 17,907, the disparity between the richest 20% and the poorest 20% is surprising, and substantial steps are needed to resolve this. This is especially important when the people most affected by this disparity are disabled people, who make up 3.4% of Palau’s population. In Palau, the poorest 20% of the population get 9% of the income, which is a massive contrast to the richest 20% who get 42% of the income.
The country seems aware of these differences, recently realizing that the lack of a clear definition of disability is making it harder to help those with disability live out of poverty. A clear definition helps with recognition of an issue and will overall make a positive influence on those with disability in poverty. Below are the top five things to know about disability and poverty in Palau and how it can improve over time.
1. Accessible Homes
The country has worked hard to improve the standard of living for disabled people, and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recently applauded Palau for its efforts to make housing accessible, not just for the disabled, but also for the elderly. In 2024, the government allocated $500,000 through the supplemental budget for the PHA to use on eight housing projects. The Committee noted great improvement in accessibility in this area. Since these actions are recent, there are no observable the outcomes of these projects, but the Committee’s positivity signals promising improvement.
2. Transport
Despite major accessible housing improvements, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities felt that the country needed more in terms of accessible transport. If there isn’t an accessible way for someone with a disability to independently get around, gaining employment and living above the poverty line becomes much harder. This highlights the importance of disability and poverty being impactful on one another in communities, as independence is integral to keeping people out of poverty.
Though the state has some vehicles, they are only available via request, again highlighting work to be done. The Republic of Palau has recently put plans in place to build more roads and bridges to then increase the amount of public transport for all.
3. Health Care Expenditure
About 14.3% of Palau’s GDP goes to Healthcare Expenditure. This allows for disability and poverty to be recognized as it means that there is a focus on making disabled people’s health care accessible and easy, thus making independence more attainable. However, the lack of transport still limits health care, adding boundaries to disabled people in poverty, but doctors provide exceptional quality of care, when people can get there. This highlights the importance in the recognition of disability and poverty in Palau, as when one factor improves, such as transport, it can have a knock-on effect on many other industries, such as health care.
4. National Day
Palau joined the global community in recognizing the National Day for Persons with Disabilities. The day promotes the idea that every person deserves equal opportunities, dignity and inclusion. The population gets to reflect on how the country has strived for this equality in recent years. This reflection adds to the recognition of the correlation between disability and poverty, as people get to think about the lives of others they would not usually think about, and this reflection creates a good set up for future improvement in the workplace, transport, housing, etc. This national day occurs every December 3rd.
5. Persons With Disabilities Act
Lawmakers passed this act to help disabled people take an active role in society, whether through employment or other opportunities. This Act increases disability visibility, and with more than 2,800 people in Palau living with at least one disability, equality should be a given. Ensuring equal opportunity should help lift people out of poverty, since expanding access to income benefits everyone.
Takeaways
Continuous improvements in Palau are a pathway to a disabled person’s independence and visibility in Palau. With accessible homes and transport, disabled people will be able to have more agency in their own lives, suggesting a steady change to disparity on the island.
The battle against global poverty is a marathon, not a sprint, and recognition of issues within a country is a significant step forward to long-term change and the reduction of poverty. Realizing correlations such as the one between disability and poverty allows for change and improvements in the lives of thousands on the island, whether they be disabled themselves or the primary caregiver.
Overall, the five facts to know about disability and poverty in Palau highlight that while Palau still needs change and it is necessary, it is happening. While the disabled population of Palau have felt “invisible” in recent years, the latest government action shows positive visibility may be around the corner.
– Caitlin Cooper
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Everything To Know About the Gender Wage Gap in Kyrgyzstan
The Gender Wage Gap in Kyrgyzstan
Achieving true gender equality within Kyrgyzstan is challenging due to Kyrgyzstan’s notable imbalance in payment regarding working hours for both men and women. Women appear to earn only around 75% of the profits that men do, despite sharing similar levels of education and work experience. While many female workers primarily take jobs in sectors with lower pay, such as education, health care or social work, females must also participate in more domestic work, such as feeding and raising children, which is unpaid and limits opportunities for outside work, thereby expanding the gender wage gap in Kyrgyzstan.
According to Kyrgyzstan’s Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP), over the past 15 years, its women’s employment rate has declined from 49.3% to 43.8%, likely due to the country’s traditional gender norms and expectations, which make it more challenging for women to find well paying work. Of the women who have employment, more than 75% of them are in low paying social jobs, causing them to receive a low income on average which contributes to the 25% gender wage gap in Kyrgyzstan. Women also spend 4.5 times as many minutes per day on household labor, which goes unpaid and thus their efforts unrewarded.
Causes for Inequality in Kyrgyzstan
While there isn’t a definitive reason as to why women receive less pay than men on average, a potentially eye opening reason could be Kyrgyzstan’s rising domestic abuse rates. As of July 2025, authorities received more than 10,000 reports of domestic violence with Kyrgyzstan, a 35% increase from the same period in 2024. Most of the abuse is against women and young girls, especially those with disabilities which place them in situations where they are unable to find work or fight back against their oppressors. Reporting domestic abuse to the police is a very challenging situation as tormenters often coerce victims into remaining silent about their misfortune which makes them afraid to speak up and more difficult to protect them from harm. Due to these patterns, the number of unreported physical or sexual assault cases that occur will likely stem way higher than what is actually being projected.
Poverty in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan currently lives in extreme poverty, with more than 30% of its residents living below the standard rate of living. Their limited access to healthcare and education make it challenging to find work and obtain a salary used to keep themselves afloat. Many young children in Kyrgyzstan have to drop out before graduation in order to perform work with little to no pay for their efforts. Even with the resources allotted, they are most often unfairly distributed amongst the genders, which further adds onto the difficulty of women in Kyrgyzstan being able to find work.
Solutions
Thankfully, there are efforts underway to assist struggling women employees as well as to combat the gender wage gap in Kyrgyzstan that still exists. On February 10th 2025, several delegates met up in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek to discuss potential solutions. They proposed several ideas including the Kyrgyzstan Gender Equality Strategy 2030, a regulation intended to provide extra economic opportunities for women, developing women’s entrepreneurship programs and strengthening protection from gender discrimination in Kyrgyzstan.
Another important solution proposed at the meeting included the previously formed Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). First formed in 1979, this convention aims to oversee workplace discrimination against women alongside other guaranteed rights such equality and the right to vote in elections. While signs of major improvement in Kyrgyzstan have yet to be shown, providing for more reinforcement as well as supporting these programs can provide a safe and effective package toward protecting these guaranteed freedoms.
Looking Ahead
Overall, the gender wage gap in Kyrgyzstan provides little room for female workers to climb up the ranks and obtain fair payment. Receiving a typically low income alongside domestic cases rising throughout the recent years make finding and keeping employment challenging. However, that’s not to say that efforts haven’t occurred to combat workplace discrimination. Solutions, such as the Kyrgyzstan Gender Equality Strategy 2030 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), have occurred to reduce inequality in the workforce. The gender wage gap in Kyrgyzstan is more than just a personal issue, but rather a systematic one that requires cooperation from both governmental forces and the general public in order to reach an effective solution that positively affects everybody.
– Will Mancuso
Photo: Flickr
Ending Child Marriage in Equatorial Guinea
What Does Child Marriage in Equatorial Guinea Look Like?
Since 1992, Equatorial Guinea’s government has committed itself to ending child marriage, acceding to policies such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to ensure states’ eradication of non-consensual marriages, and the enforcement of the legal age for consent. Unfortunately, the country has struggled with enforcing these policies, due to a growing population and high rates of underage marriage in rural areas where infractions are less easily controlled.
Underage marriage is a multidimensional problem with innumerable consequences. Child marriage in Equatorial Guinea, like so many other nations, is a practice entrenched in cultural history, but also born from economic instability and thus it acts as a survival mechanism, shifting the financial burden to another family. Once married, these girls’ futures shrink, as either marital responsibilities or pregnancy impede education because pregnant girls cannot attend school by Equatorial Guinea’s law. The issue only expands from here, as without an education, a girl’s independent economic opportunities diminish, and young pregnancies often result in medical traumas or death.
Why Does the Problem Still Exist?
Although Equatorial Guinea has expressed a strong commitment and desire to combat this practice and enforce a legal consenting age for marriage, the problem persists, with the rate only having declined 12% from 1986 to 2026. One explanation for this is that child marriage in Equatorial Guinea functions at an ‘average’ rate, and as such there is a lack of data on the practice, owing to its undistinctive record. One could view this as cause for relief, however, an average score of approximately 40% of the population is not as small a number as it may seem.
UNICEF’s and the UNFPA’s Study
UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a study in which they compared and ranked the percentage of girls married before 15 and 18 in West and Central Africa, and found that Equatorial Guinea landed on the low end of the spectrum, but this does not take into account the size of the country’s population, nor the disparity between rates of underage marriage in urban and rural parts of the country. Concerning the latter, rural areas are harder to police due to their higher levels of poverty and consequently, greater disconnection from urban society. Poverty is not simply a lack of financial wealth or work, but poor infrastructure, education and food, all of which often create a sense of isolation. As such, marrying daughters at a young age alleviates the economic drain on a poorer family.
In turn, UNICEF’s study illuminated the former factor; according to UNICEF and UNFPA, “Despite the gradual decrease in prevalence in the region, however, the number of child brides is projected to grow given the growing population in the region. Projections show that […] Even if decline rates are doubled, the region will still have 14.8 million child brides by 2050.” In brief, without a decline in the population, there can be no stable and significant decline in child-brides.
Solutions
The situation is not hopeless, however. As of 2022, the country has taken real action, with a partnership between the government, UNICEF and UNFPA, who together have launched campaigns against child marriage, as well as violence against women and gender based discrimination. Equatorial Guinea’s campaign ‘UNiTE!’ currently aims to increase awareness on protection for girls and women, advocate for strategies to eliminate gender based threats, promote female leadership and mobilize stakeholders to support this mission. The government has vowed to end child marriage by 2030 with three draft bills in its pipeline including The Draft Bill Regulating Traditional Marriage in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, demonstrating a renewed dedication to finally abolishing child marriage in its country.
There are already internationally recognized activists, like Hoda Ali and Jaha Dukureh, speaking out against child marriage and related issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, organizations such as Girls Not Brides and the Girls First Fund are working to raise awareness and battle against these traditions. These organizations reach across the globe to fund and fuel female-centered projects with the desire to equalize opportunities for girls and women, be it in regards to education or simply freedom from underage and nonconsensual unions. It is the hope that Equatorial Guinea’s own female voices, with the help of these global organizations, will only become louder and stronger.
– Jaya Noonan
Photo: Unsplash
Efforts Toward Poverty Reduction in Nauru
In 1980, a collapse in Australia’s market decreased demand for phosphate exports, pushing the phosphate-dependent nation into economic instability and widespread poverty. With a population of 11,875, around one in four people live below the poverty line.
Nauru’s poverty rate stands at 9.72%, but women are more concentrated in the country’s lower-income groups. Women make up 39.99% of those in the bottom 40% of the income or consumption distribution, pointing to greater economic vulnerability.
Women in Poverty
Poverty in Nauru disproportionately affects women and girls. Poverty for women encompasses a lack of political representation and GBV, alongside economic hardship and health care concerns.
Cultural norms and stereotypes in Nauru set the expectations of women and drive their exclusion from political and public life. As a result, women are more likely to face financial hardship, political underrepresentation, and health concerns amongst other poverty indicators.
Initiatives in poverty reduction in Nauru increasingly target women living in poverty.
Protecting Women and Girls Against Domestic Violence
The Pacific Islands have the highest rate of violence against women and girls. UNICEF found that “48.1% of ever-partnered women” have experienced GBV in their lifetime. Women and girls incarcerated in Australia’s offshore migrant detention center in Nauru also face high rates of GBV.
At a UNDP-supported training conference in 2024, Deputy Commissioner Simpson Deidanang reported that “Since 2021, over the past three years, we have received 79 cases, with 53 completed and 23 closed due to insufficient evidence.”
The Nauru Police Force and UN Women agree that women and girls are not sufficiently protected against GBV. UN Women state that “Nauru has no domestic violence, sexual harassment or family legislation, or any other legislation in place that addresses human trafficking or sex tourism.”
In response, the Nauru Police Force has launched specialized GBV training. With support from the UNDP as part of the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project, in 2023 the Police Force doubled their domestic violence unit, “increasing from two to five officers.”
ICAAD is a nonprofit organization also working to protect women and girls from GBV. Its program TrackGBV includes the GBV Sentencing Handbook and a TrackGBV Legal Database for the Pacific Islands. This initiative provides information on how to analyze GBV and attitudes towards it on a judicial and community level.
Together, these efforts are working towards poverty reduction in Nauru and target the multidimensional impacts of poverty and violence that women in Nauru face.
Supporting Female Economic and Political Participation
Women in Nauru face exclusion from both economic and political life. UN Women reports that the Pacific region has the “world’s lowest overall average of women in parliament.” Only two women are present in Nauru’s members of parliament, equating to 10.5%.
Economically, women rely on informal work. UN Women report that “Between 75 per cent and 90 per cent of all market vendors in the Pacific are women.” The working conditions are poor, and the profit is low. Consequently, “Female-headed households are more likely than male-headed households to be or fall below the poverty line.”
The UNDP has partnered with the Women Empowerment Nauru Association (WENA) to increase women’s engagement with politics.
At the July 2024 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting, regional organizations and UN Women endorsed initiatives to strengthen women’s political and public participation. President Heine highlighted the links between women’s political representation, GBV and economic participation. President Heine emphasized the need to “safeguard women-led industries” to enhance political participation and strive towards poverty reduction in Nauru for women.
Initiatives Supporting Women’s Health
Women’s health is significantly at risk in Nauru, driven by limited access to sanitation. Only “66 per cent” of the population has access to sanitation facilities, restricting menstrual hygiene for many women.
Anemia remains widespread, affecting 44% of pregnant women and 32% of non-pregnant women, with long-term consequences for maternal and overall health. Natural disasters intensify these risks as women lose access to health care, shelter and food at higher rates than the rest of the population.
The nonprofit Hesperian Health Guides supports women’s health in Nauru by supplying free and accessible health information. The organization distributes educational resources covering women’s health, safety, and environmental health.
Their titles are available in “84 languages” across “221 countries.” Its website HealthWiki is also available digitally at no cost. Its outreach is working towards poverty reduction in Nauru by improving health care autonomy.
Final Note
While poverty still affects many in Nauru, especially women, the country is taking action:
These efforts empower women and create real pathways out of poverty.
– Lucy Kerr
Photo: Flickr
The Economic Enticement of WCAH In Tanzania
The WCAH Crisis
WCAH was originally a framework proposed during the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global movement, “Every Woman Every Child,” to encompass strategies aimed at investing in the health and rights of women, children and adolescents.
As it stands, WCAH in Tanzania is under strain due to different factors. Tanzania has made strides in reducing mortality among its under-five population. However, due to limited access to health services and a shortage of health care workers with the proper skills to manage the causes of maternal death, the maternal mortality ratio remains high.
Malnutrition in children and adolescents remains an important health issue in Tanzania. UNICEF reports that 30% of children across Tanzania experience childhood stunting due to malnutrition.
WCAH in Tanzania and the Economy
There are still many expected advancements with WCAH in Tanzania and the Tanzanian government, along with many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), continues efforts to address them. Evidence suggests that investing in WCAH in Tanzania can lead to economic returns.
When women lack access to quality maternal care, it can lead to complications after birth, including a higher likelihood of underweight newborns and miscarriages. In some cases, mothers may be unable to return to work for extended periods. Women in low-income countries such as Tanzania play a key role in the labor market. By investing in appropriate treatment programs, the costs of maternal and newborn health care can be lowered, and absences from the workplace can be reduced, increasing overall productivity.
Invest in the Children, Invest in the Future
NGOs such as Action Against Hunger promote initiatives like the “Equip for In-School Nutrition Services Project,” where children learn to engage in agricultural practices that support improved nutrition. By investing in the nutrition of children and adolescents, they are more likely to stay in school and pursue higher education. They also leave school with greater knowledge about safer pregnancies and healthier children, which can contribute to reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
By collaborating with more organizations to provide maternal health and childhood nutrition support, women and young girls may have greater opportunities for economic participation, contributing to Tanzania’s overall economic growth.
– Bernice Attawia
Photo: Flickr
Midwife Training and Maternal Mortality in Somalia
Why is There a Crisis in Somalia?
Somalia has endured prolonged conflict between the state and non-state armed groups, with significant funding cuts in 2025. More than 1.7 million vulnerable people lost access to protection services and an estimated 6 million people are in extreme need of life-saving assistance.
Ms Fatima Mohamed Abdalla, an official of the Somali Midwifery Association, spoke about how mothers suffer from the effects of poverty, walking long distances to reach a health facility, and no ambulances for effective referral of cases to the hospital. This shows the need for a stronger maternal health workforce where midwife training in Somalia consists of an approved institution and license to practice.
Solution to Maternal Mortality Rates in Somalia?
Midwives provide holistic care that meet every woman’s individual needs, education on sexual and reproductive health and they optimize the normal processes of pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal and newborn period.
Farhiya Ali Abdi – in a press release in 2019 – stated that she was driven by the fact that she was helping the most vulnerable people, including children as well as their mothers. In Somalia, there is a preference for Traditional Birth Attendants, rather than young midwives, due to experience and training, but this leads to a stigma arising for new healthcare professionals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been helping the crisis in Somalia, with their Reproductive Health and Nursing and Midwifery Programme Officer based in Somaliland, Asia Osman Ahmed, advocates for the need to train and oversee the work of midwives. She described a moment of a woman waiting desperately at a health facility for help, as a traditional midwife who tried to open up her FGM stitches so that her husband could enjoy being intimate with her had cut up part of her rectum and given her second degree tears.
This is the reality of so many women in Somalia and midwife training in Somalia is more than taking care of birth processes; it is about protecting every woman and child from injustice and needless suffering. WHO has also demonstrated a need to discuss with the Government to link community midwives to qualified midwives, who have been trained by partners such as the United Nations Populations Fund.
Investment
Somalia ranks among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rate, with an estimated shortage of 20,000 midwives compared to the WHO recommended standard. Graduate midwives have identified gaps in dealing with abortion and neonatal resuscitation, indicating the need for longer clinical training periods.
In 2016, according to the Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS), only 32% of Somali women delivered with the assistance of skilled birth attendants.
With more investment and training, midwives can meet about 90% of the need for essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health interventions. By 2035, they could save 4.3 million people per year, which highlights the need for more training.
A midwife is more than a trained professional, a midwife is a life saver, a source of reassurance, and a listener. Midwife training in Somalia is essential with a need for more midwives willing to fight against stigma, so that women and children have a greater chance of survival in the country.
– Anisa Begum
Photo: Flickr
Trail Bridges in Nepal: Improving Access to Schools and Clinics
Infrastructure and Recovery Needs
The need for resilient rural infrastructure intensified after the 2015 earthquake, which affected 31 districts and damaged transport links and public facilities. In many hill and mountain areas, the absence of a bridge can significantly extend travel time to schools, markets and health facilities, particularly during monsoon periods.
Nepal’s Department of Local Infrastructure (DoLI) coordinates the Trail Bridge Sector Wide Approach (TB SWAp), which provides national standards, financing mechanisms and institutional coordination across federal, provincial and local governments. According to DoLI, Nepal had 8,444 trail bridges in place under the sector framework, with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 additional bridges still needed to ensure safer crossings and reduce long detours.
The framework sets an access objective aimed at limiting detours to safer crossings to within one hour, with particular focus on rural and disadvantaged communities.
Implementation relies on standardized technical designs, trained bridge builders, user committees and quality monitoring systems operating under national guidelines.
Construction Momentum and National Scale
A 2023 regional presentation on Nepal’s trail bridge sector reported that Nepal reached 10,000 trail bridges by 2023 and constructed 740 trail bridges in fiscal year 2022/2023. The same presentation reported that approximately 1 million people use a trail bridge each day.
Switzerland’s development agency, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has supported Nepal’s trail bridge program since the 1960s.
Swiss government reports that Swiss technical support and funding support helped build more than 8,000 trail bridges, improving access to services for millions of people.
Measurable Gains in Education and Health Access
Switzerland’s government reported that the trail bridge program improved access for more than 18 million people, with about 1.4 million people using trail bridges daily.
In areas near newly built trail bridges, average school attendance increased by 16%, and visits to health centers increased by 26%.
Helvetas, which provides technical verification and engineering support to the Nepali government, reports similar outcomes: school attendance increases by an average of 16% and consultations at health centers rise by 26% following construction of a new trail bridge.
Helvetas also reports that each bridge shortens and secures travel routes for an average of approximately 1,800 people.
Why the Model Works
Nepal’s trail bridge sector combines national technical standards with decentralized delivery. The TB SWAp framework outlines institutionalized norms, standardized manuals and training systems that support construction and monitoring at multiple levels of government.
The UNCRD presentation notes that average annual construction increased under the sector-wide approach, reflecting strengthened coordination and sector planning.
Helvetas reports that more than 10,000 trail bridges have now been built in Nepal, many verified through long-term partnerships with the government.
Swiss development reporting highlights that Nepal has developed the institutional capacity to plan, construct and maintain trail bridges through national and subnational systems.
Continuing Need
Despite progress, thousands of additional crossings remain necessary to reduce unsafe river crossings and long detours in rural areas.
Documented increases in school attendance and health facility visits indicate that trail bridges in rural Nepal remain a practical and evidence-based approach to improving access to essential services for remote and marginalized communities.
– Kira Rai
Photo: Flickr
Spotlighting 5 Charities in the Galapagos
1. The Charles Darwin Foundation
In 1959, a group of scientists and researchers created the Charles Darwin Foundation to preserve the communities across the Galapagos Islands. Since then, it has only grown, becoming one of the leading charities in the Galapagos.
Volunteers are able to utilize the work they are putting into the environment to better the lives of the residents. Not only do they offer a comprehensive science education program, but they have also created clubs and social groups for the children enrolled. These opportunities are not something they can find elsewhere.
In addition to their classes and experiential learning activities, the foundation has traveling libraries to supplement the lack of them on the Floreana and Isabela islands. By providing 1,500 children with advanced education each year, it gives them additional opportunities for their future, widening what was previously available to them.
Education resources in the Galapagos Islands are extremely limited, so these programs are valuable to children living in poverty if they hope to have ample job prospects as they approach adulthood.
2. Ecuador Volunteer Fundacion
Ecuador Volunteer Fundacion has curated a vast network of volunteers across the globe who work to aid the community in the Galapagos. It is helping to better the lives of many by flying out volunteers to help directly, taking donations to increase their assistance budget and more. Its volunteers work closely with both children and adults on the islands to help them succeed. Because of its efforts, 1,437+ families have received natural, healthy food bags. On top of this, 1,161+ children have received a strong education and benefited developmentally.
These families are reliant on this kind of charity work as food and water insecurity are prominent in the Galapagos. It primarily receives food through imports from Ecuador, which often results in a decrease in the quality and nutritional value.
3. The Intrepid Foundation: Galapagos Conservancy
The primary focus of this foundation is to raise funds to support the people of the Galapagos Islands through a donation portal. It advocates for the often less-recognized troubles these communities face.
It pushes for women to have equal access to job opportunities and supports women’s leadership throughout the islands, desiring an inclusive environment. Through this, families can better support themselves financially. In tandem with this, it advocates for women to have a part in the conservation of their home. A large part of the work that charities in the Galapagos are doing is environmental, and they push for all residents to be included in that.
As this foundation has progressed, 60 women now have steady support to pursue sustainability and nutrition based work. The grants they have received have been as much as $10,000.
4. Galapagos Conservation Trust
The Galapagos Conservation Trust is composed of volunteers, scientists, citizen scientists, supporting members and the many people who donate. All of these people work together to curate a sustainable, hospitable home for the people of the Galapagos.
It works directly with community members and scientists from the islands to empower them to sustain conservation efforts in their communities. It is ensuring the future of their children, grandchildren and more by having sustainable development.
Volunteers also provide families with food security through the Urban Family Gardening project. Starting in 2020, it has supported local families in starting their own gardens and growing their own food to ensure their well-being. This project makes it so that the children of the islands are receiving healthy food, especially as importing from the mainland has been less effective after the COVID-19 pandemic. In just its first year, it reached 525 families and 19 teachers, and only more since.
5. Heifer International
Heifer International operates in nearly 20 countries to promote food security for impoverished families across the world. Particularly, in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, it aids rural communities in connecting with larger markets to promote their farming economy. Rather than focusing solely on the short term, it works to grow the islands’ economy over time.
It has had more than 600,000 participants in its program in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands since 1993, empowering people to grow their own food and take their agricultural businesses to the next level. As residents grow their own food, access to food is inherently more stable than relying on imports from elsewhere. By 2030, it hopes to have sustainable food systems operating in 189,000 households and rural areas to help them overcome poverty, food insecurity and eventually have a stable, livable income.
Final Remarks
As more charities expand to include the Galapagos in their ventures, and new ones pop up fully devoted to the islands, the percentage of islanders living in poverty will decrease further. It is important to support these organizations to make stability for these residents a possibility.
– Megan McGrath
Photo: Flickr
Foreign Aid to Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s History With Aid
The United States and Ethiopia have long held an important bilateral relationship in terms of aid. This east African country has consistently stood among the top recipients from the U.S, and the U.S. has consistently been its top donor. However, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) paused its foreign aid to Ethiopia in 2023, following reports that large amounts were being diverted away from the residents who relied on it and resold locally. The agency oversaw reforms in the distribution of its aid that year, allowing its vital efforts to continue its life-saving work. The assistance that USAID provided has helped reduce AIDS-related deaths by 79% and supplied locals with essential testing materials and medication kits.
As the U.S. continues to taper its contribution, other key actors are met with the responsibility of filling in its role. The World Food Programme (WFP) is a leading international organization in distributing humanitarian aid to those who most need it, regardless of political tension. Conflict, drought and rising food prices have displaced an alarming number of men, women and children without stable food supplies, making emergency assistance essential for survival. In 2024, the WFP detailed its plan to support 1.9 million high-risk Ethiopians and a further 1 million refugees through its assistance. Its unique initiatives involve optimizing and protecting harvests by providing seed inputs, expanding market access and preventing post-harvest loss.
Impact of the Humanitarian Efforts
The $1.3 billion in U.S. foreign aid to Ethiopia in 2024 has helped drive Ethiopians through periods of immense strain in several regions. The combination of armed conflict and a multi-year drought has proved challenging for tens of millions of residents, but the country has not gone without external aid. The vast majority of the U.S. donation—$831 million—was humanitarian, supporting emergency food distribution, malnutrition treatment for children and mothers and school meals for children in displaced communities. Smaller portions went toward long-term economic development, pro-democratic governance and stabilizing efforts like education and the environment.
Wealthy nations are not the only actors in the fight for global development. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian nonprofit that Albert Einstein helped create, is one of many independent organizations working to alleviate the country’s refugee crisis. Ethiopia accepts more than 1 million refugees and asylum seekers from neighboring nations, making it one of the world’s largest refugee hosts. Since 2000, the International Rescue Committee has played a decisive role in supporting vulnerable residents and refugees in the region, especially for women and children.
The Future of Funding
As the United States cuts back on large amounts of its foreign aid to Ethiopia and other countries, European and international bodies are placing a greater emphasis on humanitarian efforts in the area. The European Union has offered about $700 million to support the developing nation through 2027, focusing on development that promotes conflict resolution, governance and peacebuilding. Denmark has pledged a further $238 million sum over five years in bilateral grants, marking efforts to support sustainable growth amid waning U.S. assistance.
The WFP has outlined five goals for its operations in Ethiopia, each underscoring the importance of long-term solutions rather than solely monetary contribution. Among these, they hope to see crisis-afflicted populations gain “strengthened livelihoods supported by resilient food systems that enable them to withstand multiple shocks and stressors.” The primary aim of the WFP is in developing social and political systems in the country that allow residents to thrive despite unexpected conflict or natural disaster.
– Jayhan Adhi
Photo: Flickr
Beyond Zero: Empowering Maternal Care In Kenya
How a Bold Promise Became a National Campaign
Beyond Zero was founded in 2014 by Kenya’s first lady, Margaret Kenyatta. Two months after assuming office, Kenyatta delivered a pledge during her maiden speech for the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA). She vowed to use her platform to fight HIV/AIDS stigma and eliminate discrimination against people living with the disease.
Recognizing the need for stronger maternity services advocacy, Kenyatta launched Beyond Zero with a mission to reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths and eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. After Kenyatta’s 10-year tenure as first lady, the Beyond Zero mission continues to guide the campaign as it supports women and children across Kenya.
Examples of Care Provided on the Ground
For many mothers in rural communities, long distances to facilities and a shortage of specialist staff restrict access to antenatal, postnatal and neonatal care. Beyond Zero responds by bringing services directly to communities through mobile clinics and medical safaris.
Mobile clinics are fully equipped health facilities on wheels, including trucks or large vans fitted with examination spaces, diagnostic equipment, vaccines and essential medicines. Medical safaris are short-term outreach campaigns in which teams of health professionals visit a specific region for several days to provide specialized services, deliver community education and write hospital referrals. Together, these approaches focus on interventions during pregnancy, childbirth and infancy.
The Scope of Beyond Zero’s Impact Across Kenya
Since its launch, Beyond Zero has expanded from an advocacy drive into a national health initiative. Its impact is reflected in increased service delivery and expanded access in rural regions.
Looking Ahead
Beyond Zero demonstrates how targeted support for maternal and child health can expand access to care across Kenya. Its mobile clinics and outreach services continue to play a role in reducing preventable deaths and improving health services for women and children in remote communities.
– Charlotte Bunn
Photo: Flickr