The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that “mental, neurological and substance use disorders account for more than 10% of the global disease burden.” Furthermore, the “lost productivity resulting from depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, cost the global economy $1 trillion per year.” Concerningly, in developing nations, more than three-quarters of people suffering from mental conditions do not receive adequate care or treatment. In response, the Ghanaian government has taken steps to improve mental health and mental health care in Ghana. However, in 2022, WHO reported that just “2% of Ghana’s 2.3 million people living with mental health conditions [received] psychiatric treatment and support from health facilities.”
Mental Health Care in Ghana
According to the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2020, Ghana allocates approximately 3% of the government’s total health expenditure on mental health care, with 67.8% of this amount going toward funding the services provided in mental health hospitals across the country.
Ghanaians with mental conditions contribute about 20% toward the cost of the mental health services they use, and similarly, about 20% toward the cost of associated medicines.
Although Ghana had been in the developmental stages of the mental health care sector, from 2014 until 2020, the number of mental health care workers per 100,000 population rose by about 2%. According to the 2020 Atlas, Ghana has 39 psychiatrists, 26 psychologists and 2,463 mental health nurses.
Furthermore, Ghana has three official mental hospitals while 250 hospitals across the country have outpatient mental health facilities. Ghana also has 1,016 community-based mental health outpatient facilities, which makes mental health care more accessible.
The major mental health problems in Ghana are schizophrenia, mood disorders and substance abuse. People with mental disorders in Ghana are often ostracized and treated inhumanely, for example, through restrictive measures such as shackling.
Addressing the Inhumane Treatment of Mentally Illness
Human Rights Watch reported at the end of 2022 several eyewitness accounts of shackled people suffering from mental health conditions. In January 2023, at the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Ghana, U.N. Member States called on the government of Ghana to urgently “address the shackling and inhumane treatment of people with mental health conditions in Ghana.”
Several media outlets have reported on the shackling of mentally ill people in Ghana. Human Rights Watch reported, “Families often take people with mental health conditions to faith-based or traditional healers because of widely held beliefs that psychosocial disabilities are caused by curses or evil spirits.” People who are shackled face further issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and muscular atrophy. Furthermore, in these faith-based centers and camps, shackled mentally ill people are confined to small and unhygienic spaces, deprived of basic human needs.
Understanding the Problem
Mental health nurse and founder of the Ghanaian NGO called the Mental Health Advocacy Foundation, Stephen Asante, has a different view. He explains that the use of shackles is not a matter of “abandonment or abuse,” but rather, of poverty and under-resourced health care systems. Families and other caregivers resort to chaining due to a lack of access to medication and adequate mental health care treatment. Asante notes that by addressing underfunding and the lack of mental health care resources in Ghana, the issue of shackling will dissolve.
Due to the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Ghana, people suffering from mental health conditions object to and fear seeking help. Therefore, many Ghanaians remain suffering in silence. Changes in attitudes toward mental health will require community-wide interventions and campaigns.
Ghana’s mental health budget stands at about 1.4% of its total health care expenditure, according to WHO. This is low in comparison to the 11% that the U.K. committed to mental health care in 2015.
Moving Forward
The Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) is a grassroots membership association that aims to improve access to quality and affordable mental health care across Ghana. This association is managing to aid 18,000 people suffering from mental illnesses and their caregivers, across Ghana. MEHSOG also aims to advance mental health in Ghana by influencing decision-makers to implement policies that uphold the rights of people with illnesses and the people who care for them.
In February 2021, MEHSOG partnered with the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) to hold three training sessions to train 10 owners and managers of traditional prayer camps and healing centers in Ghana on the rights to bear in mind when treating people with mental health conditions. Michael Osei-Koranteng, the main investigator at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) facilitated these training sessions using his expertise in human rights. Osei-Koranteng highlighted that these facilities must never utilize torture, abuse or any other violations of human rights when dealing with people who have mental conditions.
With greater funding and commitments to upholding the human rights of mentally ill individuals, mental health in Ghana has the potential to significantly improve.
– Louise Kiernan
Photo: Flickr
The Benefits of Drip Irrigation in Developing Countries
On a global scale, only 5% of countries are currently implementing drip irrigation. According to estimates, the drip irrigation market is worth around $4.6 billion and forecasts suggest an increase to $9.4 billion by 2027. Countries like South Africa and Israel effectively use drip irrigation and many other developing countries have started to apply this irrigation technique.
Israel’s Success With Drip Irrigation
The implementation of drip irrigation in Israel has mitigated the impacts of drought and climate change on agricultural production. This process boasts an efficiency rate of 95%-100%, surpassing other methods such as sprinkling by 15%. Drip irrigation plays a crucial role in reducing poverty in Israel. Innovation Africa, a nonprofit organization based in Israel, is dedicated to bringing water, solar energy and agricultural innovations to villages across Africa. Through the use of drip irrigation, a common technique employed by the organization, crop yields are increased, leading to a higher production of food and addressing issues of food scarcity. Innovation Africa has supported 3 million residents through 500 projects in 10 countries.
Developing Nations Implementing Drip Irrigation
Looking Ahead
Drip irrigation holds immense potential to alleviate poverty and improve agricultural productivity in developing countries. The success of countries like Israel, Morocco, Ethiopia and Pakistan in implementing drip irrigation showcases its transformative impact on water conservation, crop yield and livelihoods. As more countries recognize the benefits of this efficient irrigation technique, there is an opportunity to further alleviate poverty, increase food production and promote sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.
– Joshua Rogers
Photo: Flickr
The World Bank Efforts Toward Universal Digital Inclusion
The Digital Development Global Practice
The mission of the World Bank is to help the governments of poorer nations bring their citizens out of poverty. The World Bank’s Digital Development Global Practice was set up to provide governments with finance and knowledge to help improve citizens’ access to digital technologies, enabling them to participate in the digital economy.
In 2021, the World Bank established the Korea Digital Development Program (KoDi) to help developing economies accelerate their digital transformation. The program utilizes Korean technology and best practices to develop a technical knowledge base for the future. This knowledge base will provide nation-specific guides on how to make vital improvements to cybersecurity infrastructure and case studies on data-based economies and ‘greening’ the technology sector.
Strengthening Connectivity in Africa
The Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) is a key World Bank initiative that supports the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020 to 2030). The DE4A aims to achieve universal digital inclusion in Africa by 2030. As part of the initiative, the World Bank has conducted digital economy diagnostics for nearly 40 African countries to assess their present weaknesses and map possible opportunities for growth.
Experts measure digital connectivity by internet access through mobile phones. But high costs and limited broadband keep 4G or equivalent mobile internet out of reach for two-thirds of Africans. By 2030, projections show 90% of mobile subscriptions in North America will have 5G, compared with 10% in sub-Saharan Africa.
World Bank and Digital Economy for Africa
Through the DE4A, the World Bank is investing heavily in Africa’s digital connectivity. Already in Togo in West Africa, investments by the World Bank have helped internet penetration increase to 75% from 5% around a decade ago. The DE4A initiative has also pledged significant financial aid to similar regional projects that will develop digital markets across East and West Africa.
World Bank funding has also benefited Rwanda, an East African nation leading the way in digital inclusion initiatives in Africa. As well as providing 250,000 households with financing for smartphones and other devices, the World Bank has contributed to the training of 3 million Rwandans in basic digital literacy, focussing particularly on women and girls. Meanwhile, in Madagascar, where access to electricity and digital connectivity is among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa and the world, a World Bank-funded project is pioneering models of joint digital and off-grid energy provision in rural areas.
Spreading Knowledge and Infrastructure in Latin America
The World Bank also runs a comparable digital inclusion initiative to the DE4A in Latin America. The Digital Economy for Latin America and the Caribbean (DE4LAC) initiative assists governments across the region. The most notable recent work by the DE4LAC has been the one that focuses on strengthening data infrastructure in Argentina. Last year, through this project the World Bank approved a $200 million loan to the Argentinian government to improve digital infrastructure and the uptake of digital tools and technologies. The project aims to benefit 350,000 residents, especially women, across Argentina’s most neglected rural areas.
The DE4LAC is also working across the Caribbean. An ongoing expansion initiative of the region’s 3G networks is providing high-quality internet to more than 95% of the populations of Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This expansion of the 3G network will improve links to markets and access to key services.
In addition to direct funding, the DE4LAC also provides national diagnostics and actionable policy recommendations to help governments in Latin America achieve digital inclusion. In 2022, the World Bank provided El Salvador with a diagnostic to help the country come closer to achieving its vision for digital inclusion set out in the National Digital Agenda 2020-2030. Similar efforts are in the works for Ecuador, Colombia and Jamaica.
Looking Ahead
According to a prediction by the International Telecommunication Union, an additional $428 billion investment needs to go into high-speed broadband development over the next ten years to achieve universal digital inclusion. Ongoing work by the World Bank, particularly in Africa and Latin America, is helping to meet this challenge. By supplying finance as well as diagnostic reports and a knowledge base to the world’s poorest countries, the World Bank is helping to ensure that all will be able to participate in the ongoing “Digital Development revolution”.
– Samuel Chambers
Photo: Wikimedia
Being Poor in Egypt: The Threat of Inflation and Currency Depreciation
Poverty in Egypt: A Resurging Problem
Poverty is resurging in Egypt, with approximately one-third of the population living in impoverished conditions and millions more struggling financially. The nation’s economy continues to face significant challenges, including rising inflation that hampers citizens’ economic and social rights, as well as their access to sufficient food and essential services. In August 2022, annual inflation surged to 15.3%, compared to just over 6% in the same month the previous year.
Furthermore, the Egyptian pound recently hit a historic low against the strengthening U.S. dollar, with an exchange rate of 19.5 pounds to $1. Consequently, this depreciation has widened trade and budget deficits, as the diminishing foreign reserves have resulted in a nearly 10% decline in purchases of grain and fuel in March 2022. For impoverished Egyptians, these economic challenges make life significantly more difficult, as they struggle to meet their basic needs, particularly regarding food. Additionally, the devaluation of the Egyptian Pound in the currency market poses heightened difficulties for the country in importing goods.
Responses
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has provided some of the much-needed financial aid in Egypt. A recent agreement for a 46-month loan program valued at $3 billion with the Egyptian government aims to attenuate at least some of the monetary issues in the country, including its outstanding debts. The theory behind this is that if Egypt staves off the fears of its defaulting on the national debt, the run on its currency will end, holding greater confidence in the Egyptian economy to stay solvent. If this can be achieved imports would become cheaper and capital will again be able to flow into the country boosting supply shortages. Simply put, this effort aims to increase the Egyptian Pounds value against hard currencies such as the US Dollar and Euro, thereby enabling local individuals and businesses to more easily buy foreign goods and capital that cannot be sourced from within Egypt.
Other nations and organizations have chipped in with a specific focus on agricultural and food issues in Egypt. Japan recently pledged $3.8 million in aid through the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) focused on agricultural development in Egypt. Furthermore, the World Bank approved a $500 million project in Egypt aimed at ensuring all vulnerable families in the country can afford food. This served to strengthen Egypt’s resilience to food crises and support reforms in food security policies. Additionally, the project has tasked itself with monitoring and improving nutritional outcomes in the country.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges Egypt faces with its financial crisis and increasing poverty rates, international support is being extended to address these issues. The IMF’s loan program aims to alleviate monetary challenges and restore confidence in the Egyptian economy. Furthermore, contributions from Japan and the World Bank specifically target agricultural development and food security, providing hope for improved resilience and access to essential resources for vulnerable populations in Egypt. These collaborative efforts hold the potential to mitigate the impact of poverty and contribute to a brighter future for the country.
– Christopher Maddocks
Photo: Flickr
Improving Mental Health Care in Ghana
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that “mental, neurological and substance use disorders account for more than 10% of the global disease burden.” Furthermore, the “lost productivity resulting from depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, cost the global economy $1 trillion per year.” Concerningly, in developing nations, more than three-quarters of people suffering from mental conditions do not receive adequate care or treatment. In response, the Ghanaian government has taken steps to improve mental health and mental health care in Ghana. However, in 2022, WHO reported that just “2% of Ghana’s 2.3 million people living with mental health conditions [received] psychiatric treatment and support from health facilities.”
Mental Health Care in Ghana
According to the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2020, Ghana allocates approximately 3% of the government’s total health expenditure on mental health care, with 67.8% of this amount going toward funding the services provided in mental health hospitals across the country.
Ghanaians with mental conditions contribute about 20% toward the cost of the mental health services they use, and similarly, about 20% toward the cost of associated medicines.
Although Ghana had been in the developmental stages of the mental health care sector, from 2014 until 2020, the number of mental health care workers per 100,000 population rose by about 2%. According to the 2020 Atlas, Ghana has 39 psychiatrists, 26 psychologists and 2,463 mental health nurses.
Furthermore, Ghana has three official mental hospitals while 250 hospitals across the country have outpatient mental health facilities. Ghana also has 1,016 community-based mental health outpatient facilities, which makes mental health care more accessible.
The major mental health problems in Ghana are schizophrenia, mood disorders and substance abuse. People with mental disorders in Ghana are often ostracized and treated inhumanely, for example, through restrictive measures such as shackling.
Addressing the Inhumane Treatment of Mentally Illness
Human Rights Watch reported at the end of 2022 several eyewitness accounts of shackled people suffering from mental health conditions. In January 2023, at the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Ghana, U.N. Member States called on the government of Ghana to urgently “address the shackling and inhumane treatment of people with mental health conditions in Ghana.”
Several media outlets have reported on the shackling of mentally ill people in Ghana. Human Rights Watch reported, “Families often take people with mental health conditions to faith-based or traditional healers because of widely held beliefs that psychosocial disabilities are caused by curses or evil spirits.” People who are shackled face further issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and muscular atrophy. Furthermore, in these faith-based centers and camps, shackled mentally ill people are confined to small and unhygienic spaces, deprived of basic human needs.
Understanding the Problem
Mental health nurse and founder of the Ghanaian NGO called the Mental Health Advocacy Foundation, Stephen Asante, has a different view. He explains that the use of shackles is not a matter of “abandonment or abuse,” but rather, of poverty and under-resourced health care systems. Families and other caregivers resort to chaining due to a lack of access to medication and adequate mental health care treatment. Asante notes that by addressing underfunding and the lack of mental health care resources in Ghana, the issue of shackling will dissolve.
Due to the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Ghana, people suffering from mental health conditions object to and fear seeking help. Therefore, many Ghanaians remain suffering in silence. Changes in attitudes toward mental health will require community-wide interventions and campaigns.
Ghana’s mental health budget stands at about 1.4% of its total health care expenditure, according to WHO. This is low in comparison to the 11% that the U.K. committed to mental health care in 2015.
Moving Forward
The Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) is a grassroots membership association that aims to improve access to quality and affordable mental health care across Ghana. This association is managing to aid 18,000 people suffering from mental illnesses and their caregivers, across Ghana. MEHSOG also aims to advance mental health in Ghana by influencing decision-makers to implement policies that uphold the rights of people with illnesses and the people who care for them.
In February 2021, MEHSOG partnered with the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) to hold three training sessions to train 10 owners and managers of traditional prayer camps and healing centers in Ghana on the rights to bear in mind when treating people with mental health conditions. Michael Osei-Koranteng, the main investigator at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) facilitated these training sessions using his expertise in human rights. Osei-Koranteng highlighted that these facilities must never utilize torture, abuse or any other violations of human rights when dealing with people who have mental conditions.
With greater funding and commitments to upholding the human rights of mentally ill individuals, mental health in Ghana has the potential to significantly improve.
– Louise Kiernan
Photo: Flickr
The White Helmets: The Volunteer Group Giving Aid in Syria
History
Throughout the last decade, Syria has been one of the most unstable countries in the world, due to both political instability and natural causes. The Syrian Civil War, a conflict that began in 2011 and continues even now, is the main reason for this instability. The fighting mostly occurs in urban areas, and it typically involves mass artillery strikes and chemical weapons attacks. As a result, nearly 7 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to World Vision. World Vision also estimates that food insecurity currently affects 12 million people throughout Syria, while nearly half of all Syrians live in poverty as of March 2023.
In addition to the ongoing conflict, the northwest of Syria suffered two massive earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Both earthquakes registered well over 7.0 on the Richter Scale. The devastating earthquakes were responsible for over 7,000 deaths throughout Syria. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDS), 8.8 million people live in the areas that the earthquake impacted, and this dramatically increases the need for humanitarian aid in the country.
Making an Impact
Over the course of the Syrian Civil War, the White Helmets have provided invaluable aid to those in need. Its official website estimates that the efforts of the White Helmets “saved more than 100,000 lives over the past five years.” The volunteers began with urban search and rescue teams, often scouring through the rubble of bomb sites to find survivors.
The White Helmets continue to make an impact today as it provides earthquake relief. In the early stages of recovery from the earthquakes, the Syria Civil Defense was able to save over 3,000 people, helping pull people from the rubble of destroyed buildings, delivering food and medicine to those in need and distributing medical care all around the affected area.
The Story Continues
Now an influential organization, the White Helmets began as nothing more than groups of everyday people who wanted to look out for others. When the Syrian Civil War first began, there was little to no effective infrastructure to help those hurt in bombings, shootings and a variety of other deadly hazards that the war caused. Despite a total lack of organization and incredible danger, the first members of the White Helmets took it upon themselves to help those in need.
The institution has come a long way since those days, as it has become one of the most well-known aid organizations currently operating in Syria. The White Helmets got a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. Although it didn’t win the prize, the publicity gained from the nomination was invaluable. In 2016, a documentary titled The White Helmets won an Oscar for best short subject documentary. The White Helmets’ impact has earned recognition from around the globe, and the organization’s work continues to make a difference.
– Ezra Bernstein
Photo: Flickr
Conflict in Sudan Puts Poorest at Risk
The Cause of Conflict
In 2019, the deposition of long-term dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir failed to result in the establishment of a stable and democratic civilian government in Sudan. The army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, launched a coup and took control of the country in 2021. Civilian rule was due to be restored in Sudan at the start of April 2023 following an agreement brokered in December 2022 between the army and political and civil groups. However, disagreements over the deal, which would see the RSF integrated into the army, resulted in a power struggle between the two factions. On April 15, violent clashes between the army and the RSF broke out. Reports suggest that Khartoum, the country’s capital, has been consumed by 24-hour conflict since Saturday. Battles are also taking place across western Darfur and other regions in Sudan. So far, at least 400 people have died.
Sudan’s political and economic issues have worsened in the years following the 2019 uprising and military takeover. Western nations and international organizations have suspended the majority of aid and loans for Sudan. In the context of international isolation, chronic political unrest and economic hardship, conflict in Sudan spells even more misery for the country’s poorest. The long-dreaded violence between the country’s two chief military factions threatens to destabilize the Northeast Africa region and increase the number of internally displaced people in Sudan (already 3.7 million), and this could consequently make the process of getting humanitarian aid across to the country’s most vulnerable more challenging.
World Food Program Halts Operations
WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, halted all operations in Sudan on Sunday, April 16, 2023, after three of its employees were killed the day before. The killings happened in Kabkabiya, North Darfur. An additional two employees were injured in the same incident. In a statement, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain explained that all operations in Sudan had been suspended “pending a review of the evolving security situation.” Ms. McCain said threats to their teams make it impossible to operate safely and effectively in the country and carry out WFP’s critical work. She also said that damage inflicted on a U.N. Humanitarian Air Service aircraft during an exchange of fire at Khartoum airport seriously impacted the WFP’s ability to transport humanitarian workers and aid within the country.
The indefinite suspension of activities by the WFP represents a significant blow to the humanitarian effort in Sudan. WFP Sudan recently received a €24 million ($26 million) payment from the European Union (EU) to help meet the basic food and nutritional needs of the country’s poorest. As the conflict in Sudan continues, it is still unclear when citizens will receive this aid. Although the WFP was already experiencing “pipeline breaks” to its nutrition support and school feeding program before fighting broke out, the people of Sudan could begin to feel the loss of its activity as they run low on food and water.
International Aid
Former dictator, Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s ban on NGOs in the country had inhibited humanitarian assistance to Sudan. International charitable organizations have nonetheless managed to establish themselves in the country. Organizations such as UNICEF Sudan, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and Plan International continue to provide vital aid in Sudan, even as the WFP ceased operations on Sunday. UNICEF Sudan, for example, remains the leading agency providing long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to Sudan.
Sudan lies at the epicenter of the global nutrition crisis. And the current conflict in Sudan could exacerbate this issue. A collective of humanitarian organizations estimated in a 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan that 14.3 million people across Sudan required humanitarian aid in 2022. Of those in need, most are female, and more than half (7.8 million) are children. In January, UNICEF launched an ‘acceleration plan’ in Sudan and 11 other mainly sub-Saharan nations to prevent and treat ‘wasting’ in women and children. Women urgently need the delivery of this plan, as malnutrition afflicts approximately 25% of mothers across the region. Conflict in Sudan threatens to interrupt the work of organizations like UNICEF. Additionally, it makes it harder for mothers to access the vital care they need.
Looking Ahead
Governments and organizations all over the world have condemned the outbreak of conflict in Sudan. Head of the U.N. Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Mr. Volker Perthes has warned that acts of violence disrupt the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance: “When incidents like this occur, it is women, men and children in desperate need of assistance who suffer the most.” As the withdrawal of the WFP from Sudan shows, violence directly impacts the provision of aid to Sudan’s most vulnerable. But while the suspension of operations by the World Food Program is a setback, efforts to address the nutrition crisis and support vulnerable populations in Sudan are ongoing. The resilience and dedication of these organizations UNICEF and Save the Children offer a glimmer of hope for a brighter future for the people of Sudan.
– Samuel Chambers
Photo: Flickr
Combating Child Poverty in Bangladesh
According to the Center for Policy Dialogue in Bangladesh, in 2020, 46% of children in Bangladesh endured multidimensional poverty — the experience of several deprivations at once. The government and organizations are taking action to address the pressing issue of child poverty in Bangladesh.
5 Facts About Child Poverty in Bangladesh
Taking Action to Reduce Child Poverty in Bangladesh
In 2013, the Bangladesh government collaborated with the World Bank to launch a program called Reaching Out of School Children (ROSCII). This initiative opened new opportunities for impoverished students to complete their primary education and pursue secondary education. Since 2017, the program provided quality primary education to 735,000 impoverished children from underserved rural areas and slums, with girls accounting for 50% of this number.
UNICEF reports that 90% of children in Bangladesh experience “physical punishment or psychological aggression” from caregivers or educators. To uphold the rights of children who experience violence, neglect and exploitation, UNICEF is striving to establish a child-friendly justice system in Bangladesh.
In 2015, the Government of Bangladesh launched the Income Support Program for the Poorest (ISPP), commonly known as the Jawtno program. “The program supported 600,000 poor pregnant women and mothers with children under five years, in locations with high child malnutrition and poverty rates. It provided cash payments to incentivize the parents’ use of services aimed at improving their children’s nutrition, cognitive development and readiness for school,” the World Bank highlights. The program recorded positive results. For instance, mothers used the cash payments to invest in their children’s development and engaged with their children more to strengthen the mother-child bond and prepare them for school.
The World Bank and UNICEF have supported the Bangladeshi government’s efforts to reduce child poverty in Bangladesh. With this support, the country’s government is working to ensure that all children live a higher quality of life.
– Gurjot Kaur
Photo: Flickr
Breaking the Cycle Of Poverty in Guatemala
The World Bank’s Support
On Oct. 20, 2022, the World Bank approved a Development Policy Loan (DPL) of $250 million to support the poor and vulnerable in Guatemala, promote a “green recovery” and enhance public sector transparency. This loan is in addition to the $500 million loan granted in 2020. These funds aim to reverse the economic losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic by improving access to health care for all communities. One of the plans for the DPL is to support school feeding programs, where the goal is to increase the number of beneficiaries from 2.56 million as of 2019 to 3.01 million students by 2024. In 2017, the World Bank granted Guatemala a $100 million loan to address chronic malnutrition, as the country reported the highest malnutrition rates in Central America.
Efforts to Alleviate Malnutrition
The government of Guatemala faces the challenge of eradicating all forms of malnutrition by 2030. According to the World Food Program (WFP), half of the population cannot afford a basic food basket, with one in five children under 5 years old suffering from stunted growth. In the hardest-hit communities, stunting rates reach as high as 90% for all children. However, Guatemala launched the “National Strategy for the Prevention of Chronic Malnutrition” in 2016 and assigned the World Bank’s “Grow up Healthy” project. According to the Global Hunger Index, Guatemala’s score improved from 21.7 in 2014 to 18.8 in 2022. Additionally, the prevalence of stunting in children decreased from 45% in previous years to below 40% in 2022.
Food For The Poor (FFTP)
In 2022, FFTP partnered with Caritas Arquidiocesana to implement three water distribution projects in three Guatemalan departments. These projects aided 100 families, alongside helping an additional 332 families. The partnership also improved Los Anonos schools by replacing roofs, gutters and restrooms while upgrading water systems.
Furthermore, FFTP collaborated with Archdiocesan Caritas to construct 50 homes in Chiyani, 51 in Los Prires, 40 in the village of El Tablon and 45 kitchens in Hatio and Cofradias. FFTP has been supporting Guatemala since 1996.
Approximately 80% of Guatemala’s rural population lives in poverty. Organizations including Mercy Corps have been working to assist Guatemala since 2001 by addressing violence, improving health and providing economic opportunities for rural communities. In 2019, their services benefited more than 333,000 Guatemalans. In the agricultural sector, Mercy Corps is helping small farmers to differentiate and track their crops to improve crop quality and increase their incomes.
Looking Ahead
While poverty is still an issue in Guatemala, the country made some progress in the right direction. Communities, towns, villages and cities are seeing a reduction in child and adult malnutrition. With organizations such as Mercy Corps making contributions toward breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala, there is hope for even more progress.
– Joshua Rogers
Photo: Flickr
Abu Dhabi Ports’ Strategic Maritime Initiative with Angola
The group is a renowned port operator and logistics provider with a global presence. It operates several ports and industrial zones in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) including the flagship deepwater Khalifa Port. The company has an exemplary track record of delivering world-class port infrastructure and advanced technology services. Abu Dhabi Ports promotes the maritime industry in the UAE and enhances the flow of imports and exports, making it an ideal partner for Angola.
Angola and Its Natural Resources
Angola is a country with a long coastline and vast natural resources. The country “is the second largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa.” It has an output of 1.55 million barrels of oil a day. Unfortunately, the volatile nature of the oil market has resulted in high levels of poverty and inequality in Angola. In 2018, Angola’s poverty levels were just under 50%. In contrast, the country ranks 6th in the world for diamond production. Furthermore, Angola is also rich in certain minerals including iron, phosphates, copper and gold. With demand for these minerals rising in the near future due to the global energy transition from fossil-based systems to renewable energy sources, mineral extraction could eventually comprise a significant portion of Angola’s GDP.
Economic Instability and Underdevelopment
Despite the abundance of natural resources, Angola as a country has struggled with economic instability and underdevelopment. In 2022, Angola had an urban unemployment rate of approximately 38%. Angola’s government, however, has recently launched a series of reforms to attract foreign investment and promote economic diversification. These reforms have resulted in this partnership between Abu Dhabi Ports and Angola’s Ministry of Transport.
The two parties have entered an agreement to begin the development of maritime services and infrastructure across Angola. Abu Dhabi Ports will also work with Angola’s state-owned transportation company, UNICARGAS, which controls Angola’s most thriving port, the Port of Luanda. The Port of Luanda navigates more than 70% of Angola’s imports and 80% of its non-oil exports.
Developing and Modernizing Infrastructure
According to reports, the strategic partnership between the Angolan government and Abu Dhabi Ports will focus on developing and modernizing Angola’s logistics infrastructure. The agreement also includes a Maritime Academy in Angola. The construction and operation of new logistics facilities and ports in Angola could help improve the country’s connectivity and competition with global trade, thereby resulting in economic growth.
Looking Ahead
The partnership between Abu Dhabi Ports and Angola holds great promise for economic growth and development in the region. By leveraging Abu Dhabi Ports’ expertise in port operations and logistics, Angola can enhance its maritime industry and improve trade connectivity. The planned development of infrastructure and logistics facilities, along with the establishment of a Maritime Academy, could contribute to Angola’s economic diversification and attract foreign investment. This partnership marks a positive step towards fostering stronger trade relations and driving sustainable growth in Angola.
– Aemal Nafis
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Income Inequality in Uganda
Economic Growth in Uganda
Since 2002, Uganda’s economy has been expanding by a minimum of 6% yearly and real GDP per capita has tripled since 1990. In 1992, almost 56% of the population lived below the poverty line set by the nation. However, by 2014, it had decreased to 19.7%. Despite this, the disparity between the affluent and the impoverished has grown significantly since the 1990s. Uganda has experienced “growth with exclusion,” where only a small group of people have gained from the economic expansion.
Income Inequality in Uganda
The wealthiest 10% of the population receives 35.7% of the national income; the poorest 10% earns a meager 2.5% and the poorest 20% just 5.8%. Income inequality in Uganda is not only a problem for the present but also affects future generations. Wealthy families have access to better opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Rural areas are worse off, with poverty rates nearly three times higher than urban areas. Poverty is higher in the northern and northeastern regions that have suffered from civil conflicts.
Reasons for the Income Inequality in Uganda
According to the International Trade Administration, agriculture is the mainstay of the Ugandan economy, accounting for a quarter of GDP in FY 2021/22 and 33% of export earnings. About 70% of Uganda’s labor force population is employed in agriculture, however, most farmers are smallholders who own five acres of land or fewer and women often do not have rights to this land. Although women account for more than 70% of the agricultural workforce, they only own about 7% of the land, Oxfam highlights.
The quality of education in Uganda is also a notable reason. While some urban schools boast state-of-the-art facilities, rural schools lack basic infrastructure and teachers are often absent. The poor quality of public schools means that education can no longer be a means of escaping poverty and many young people struggle to find work.
According to Oxfam, “Uganda’s tax system is exploitative and unfair.” Foreign investors receive preferential treatment while local manufacturers do not get tax breaks. The tax system imposes an 18% flat rate for VAT, which disproportionately affects those living in poverty. The government’s high level of domestic borrowing has also created a considerable fiscal deficit, leading to higher interest rates and inflation.
Hope for Reducing Income Inequality in Uganda
Uganda has in place a strategy to meet Sustainable Development Goal 10 of eliminating inequality. Uganda’s Vision 2040 strategy places at its core “balanced development through ensuring that all regions of the country benefit from the growth of the national economy.” The 2020 Voluntary National Review is Uganda’s Second report to the High-Level Political Forum and highlights the country’s progress in meeting the SDGs through frameworks and strategies. In the report, in order to progress on SDG 10, the Government of Uganda highlights an interest to institute initiatives that “support social protection” and looks to make investments in “regional development to accelerate equitable, regional economic growth and development.”
The Ugandan Government also expresses an intention to pass legislation that “supports women’s ownership of critical production factors such as land and also access to technologies that improve agricultural productivity and reduce labor-intensive work.” Furthermore, the government shall “focus on policies that promote inclusive growth and create jobs for the lower segments of society,” the report indicates. By prioritizing policies and programs that promote economic growth and reduce inequality, Uganda has the potential to create a more just and equitable society for all its citizens.
– Amber Kim
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