In Indonesia, mangrove honey is emerging as a promising way for coastal communities to diversify incomes while helping protect the forests they depend on. For households whose livelihoods are vulnerable to changing environmental conditions, fishing pressures and limited economic opportunities, community-based honey production offers a nature-based alternative that connects income generation with ecosystem conservation. Small-scale fisheries are a major source of livelihoods in Indonesia, with around 1.3 million households benefiting from the sector, according to Indonesia’s 2024 Blue Food Assessment. However, many of these households face high levels of poverty and vulnerability linked to declining ecosystem health and changing weather patterns. Charcoal production as an alternative source of income has also been historically relied upon, but this creates further problems surrounding conservation and sustainable, long-term income generation.
The Vulnerability of Small-Scale Fishing
Fishing is deeply connected to Indonesia’s economy and food security. As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia relies heavily on its marine resources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), small-scale fisheries account for nearly 90% of all aquatic products captured in Indonesia. This figure refers to the amount of aquatic products that small-scale fisheries catch, rather than the number of fishers, fishing vessels or people employed in the sector.
However, dependence on fishing can leave communities particularly exposed to environmental and economic changes. Research into small-scale fisheries across Indonesia has identified ecosystem degradation and climate change as significant influences on livelihoods. Changes in weather patterns, declining ecosystem health and pressure on marine resources can make fishing less predictable, highlighting the importance of diversifying coastal livelihoods.
For communities living alongside mangrove forests, fishing is also not the only livelihood connected to these ecosystems. Mangroves provide a range of resources that can support local economies, including timber and non-timber forest products. In some communities, however, the harvesting of mangrove wood for charcoal has placed significant pressure on these forests.
Indonesia’s Mangrove Economy
Indonesia is home to approximately 3.4 million hectares of mangrove ecosystems, representing more than 20% of the world’s mangrove area. These forests provide critical habitat for fisheries, store significant amounts of carbon, protect coastlines from erosion and extreme weather and provide food and income for coastal communities.
Mangroves can therefore have economic value while remaining standing. One example is honey production.
Mangrove ecosystems provide habitat and food sources for forest bees, including the species Apis dorsata, which produces forest honey collected by communities in parts of Indonesia. As a non-timber forest product, mangrove honey in Indonesia can generate economic value without requiring communities to cut down mangrove trees.
Moving Away From Mangrove Charcoal
Batu Ampar in West Kalimantan provides a useful example of the challenges facing mangrove-dependent communities. In 2017, the community received a Village Forest permit covering approximately 33,140 hectares of mangrove forest. Many residents traditionally depended on fishing, while charcoal production from mangrove wood also contributed to local livelihoods. However, the area is classified as protection forest, meaning only limited use is permitted and wood cannot legally be harvested from the protection forest. Yale’s Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative describes charcoal production in Batu Ampar as illegal and notes that it has contributed to significant mangrove deforestation and degradation.
The problem is that these two forms of economic activity can be closely connected to the health of the mangrove ecosystem. Fishing depends on healthy coastal environments, while charcoal production from mangrove wood contributes to the removal and degradation of the forest. This creates a difficult economic situation: communities depend on the forest for income, but some forms of resource extraction can damage the ecosystem that supports those livelihoods.
In 2023, Blue Forests and Yale’s Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative worked with the Batu Ampar community through a course focused on sustainable mangrove honey utilization. Rather than simply asking communities to stop using mangrove resources, the training explored how non-timber forest products such as honey could provide alternative livelihood opportunities while reducing economic dependence on charcoal production from mangroves.
Participants learned about bee habitats and life cycles, mapped honey locations, explored harvesting techniques and discussed harvest rotation and post-harvest processing. The approach connected environmental knowledge with practical skills that could help communities make greater economic use of the forest without removing its trees.
Honey as an Additional Source of Income
Mangrove honey in Indonesia does not need to replace fishing or become a community’s sole source of income. Its potential lies in diversification.
For households dependent on fishing, an additional income stream can provide greater flexibility when weather conditions, environmental pressures or seasonal changes make fishing less reliable. At the same time, honey production can create opportunities beyond harvesting itself, including processing, packaging, marketing and local entrepreneurship.
The environmental benefits are also significant. If honey becomes a viable source of income, communities have an economic reason to maintain the mangrove habitats that support bee populations. This creates a different relationship with the forest: rather than generating income through removing mangrove wood, communities can generate value from keeping a living ecosystem intact.
This does not mean honey production alone can solve poverty or prevent mangrove degradation. Market access, infrastructure, training, finance and effective environmental management are all important to whether nature-based livelihoods become economically sustainable.
Nevertheless, the Batu Ampar example demonstrates how livelihood diversification can address both economic and environmental pressures at the same time.
Building Long-Term Resilience
Mangrove honey in Indonesia illustrates how environmental protection and economic opportunity can be connected rather than treated as separate challenges.
Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystems already support coastal livelihoods through fisheries, food, coastal protection and other natural resources. The World Bank’s Mangroves for Coastal Resilience project similarly aims to improve livelihood opportunities for coastal communities alongside mangrove conservation and restoration.
For communities facing pressure on fishing and economic incentives to harvest mangrove wood for charcoal, developing sustainable non-timber products could provide another path. Honey offers one example of how a forest can generate economic value without being destroyed in the process.
For Indonesia’s coastal communities, the lesson extends beyond honey itself. Diversifying livelihoods around healthy ecosystems can help reduce dependence on vulnerable or environmentally damaging activities while creating new economic opportunities. As changing weather patterns and environmental degradation continue to affect coastal households, nature-based livelihoods such as mangrove honey could form part of broader strategies for building long-term economic resilience.
– Amber Bannon
Amber is based in High Wycombe and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Expanding Access to Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention in Eswatini
Eswatini is expanding access to lenacapavir, an injectable medication that provides six months of protection against HIV. In December 2025, Eswatini became one of the first African countries to offer the medication as an alternative to daily HIV-prevention pills. The World Bank estimates that 54% of the population lived below the lower-middle income poverty line of $4.20 per day in 2025, measured in 2021 purchasing-power-parity dollars. By reducing the number of doses people must remember, lenacapavir could strengthen HIV prevention in Eswatini and make protection more manageable for people facing financial, geographic or social barriers.
A Continuing Need for Prevention
Eswatini has made considerable progress against HIV. UNAIDS reported that annual new infections declined from approximately 21,000 in 2000 to 4,000 in 2023. Even so, UNAIDS Data 2022 estimated that 27.9% of adults ages 15 to 49 were living with HIV in 2021. The burden is also unequal. According to UNAIDS, HIV prevalence among young women and girls ages 15 to 24 was 70% higher than among young men in the same age group in 2023. These disparities demonstrate why expanding HIV prevention in Eswatini remains important, particularly for women and young people.
How Lenacapavir Works
Lenacapavir is a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, that helps prevent HIV in people who do not have the virus but may be at risk of exposure. Clinical trials found the medication to be highly effective, leading the World Health Organization to recommend it for HIV prevention in July 2025. Unlike oral PrEP, which is generally taken every day, lenacapavir is administered by injection once every six months. This schedule may help people who have difficulty taking or privately storing daily medication because of transportation barriers, unstable living conditions or fear of HIV-related stigma.
Introducing Lenacapavir Across Eswatini
Eswatini began offering lenacapavir in December 2025 through five clinics located across all four regions of the country. The Ministry of Health, the Global Fund and other partners support the rollout. In fewer than four months, approximately 2,750 people received the injection. The government and its partners aim to expand access to 204 health facilities across the country by the end of 2027. This expansion could bring the medication closer to low-income residents who may face transportation costs or lose income when traveling long distances for health care.
Expanding Choice for Women and Young People
Lenacapavir may be particularly valuable for women and young people who face stigma or unequal power within their relationships. Some people may find it difficult to store daily PrEP pills privately, while others may be unable to negotiate condom use with a partner. Because the injection is administered only twice per year, it could provide a discreet option that does not require medication to be taken at home every day. Offering several prevention methods allows individuals to select the option that best fits their circumstances and may help more people remain protected over time.
Partnerships Supporting Access
Eswatini’s rollout is part of a broader partnership between national governments, the Global Fund, the U.S. government and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. In April 2026, the Global Fund and the United States expanded their commitment to long-acting HIV prevention, establishing a joint goal of providing lenacapavir to 3 million people by 2028. The Global Fund is also working with manufacturers to increase the supply of more affordable generic versions. These efforts could help prevent the cost of the medication from limiting access in Eswatini and other countries where communities with the greatest need often have the fewest health care resources.
Looking Ahead
Eswatini’s lenacapavir rollout is still in its early stages, and its long-term effect on new infections will depend on reliable funding, public awareness and continued access through local clinics. However, the strong early participation and planned expansion to more health facilities offer encouraging signs. By giving people a highly effective alternative to daily medication, the program could help reach individuals who have not previously used PrEP. Continued investment in HIV prevention in Eswatini may protect more people while helping the country move closer to ending HIV as a public health threat.
– Jessica Miller
Photo: Flickr
5 NGOs Providing Cardiovascular Disease Care
An estimated 75% of cardiovascular disease deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Insufficient and expensive health care and education prevent people from accessing care and early diagnosis, increasing their vulnerability. However, these five NGOs are working to address the gaps and improve cardiovascular disease care in the most affected areas.
World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is an international NGO working to raise awareness of the symptoms, treatment and prevention methods for cardiovascular diseases. The organization has trained more than 250 health care professionals and advocates, who work regionally to raise awareness.
World Heart Day on Sept. 29 is its flagship campaign and has reached 2 billion people. The website offers fact sheets and fliers that can be posted or printed to educate communities.
Alongside this, the federation runs regional initiatives like Colours to Save Hearts in Mozambique. The initiative used coloring to educate children about the symptoms and prevention methods for rheumatic heart disease. In the first year, it reached 60,000 children, 600 teachers and 50 health care professionals across 24 schools.
Chain of Hope
Chain of Hope helps children access cardiovascular disease care, working since 1996 to perform life-saving operations for those across Africa, the Caribbean, parts of the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Through a referral program, Chain of Hope connects local physicians with partner hospitals to fly children out, receive treatment and recover with host families.
Alongside these operations, Chain of Hope supports local clinics by providing the training and equipment needed to provide cardiac care. In Jamaica, Chain of Hope has facilitated treatment for 400 children since 1996, and in Egypt it funded two operating theaters and 12 ICU beds to start the Aswan Heart Centre.
UMID
UMID is an Uzbekistan-based NGO working to improve the lives of diabetics in the country. Since diabetes doubles the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, UMID’s prevention work is vital to both diabetes and cardiovascular disease care.
Partnering with the Ministry of Health, UMID organizes conferences on the treatment and prevention of diabetes. On behalf of 948 members, UMID has ensured increased medical access and taught individuals to self-monitor in the family clinics of Tashkent.
Their most recent campaign, in partnership with the National Programme, is Combatting Heart Attack and Stroke. It focuses on early diagnosis and implementing cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease care programs.
Indonesian Heart Association
Established in 1957, the Indonesian Heart Association is a research-based NGO working to develop doctors’ expertise and improve national cardiac care for patients. The association now accounts for more than 2,500 vascular specialists across the country.
Foundational to its research are 14 working groups, which explore different aspects of cardiovascular disease care to discuss at conferences with national and international experts. One can largely separate the groups into:
In July 2026, an association scientific gathering brought together more than 2,500 local delegates and 17 international experts. Indonesian Heart Association and American Heart Association representatives also discussed future collaboration, including plans to scale the association’s Training Village and expand access to American Heart Association training programs.
Since there are currently only 2,500 cardiologists and 400 interventional specialists to treat Indonesia’s 280 million people, this training would be a significant step forward.
Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery
Organized by Emergency, the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Sudan is one of only a few completely free cardiac surgery hospitals in Africa and the only one in Sudan. Since 2007, the center has been visited by 91,501 patients and performed 10,261 life-saving surgical interventions. Alongside the center, Emergency runs five other clinics, which have been visited by a combined 581,440 patients.
The Salam Centre primarily treats valvular complications caused by rheumatic heart disease, helping patients manage and treat this long-term condition. Unlike wealthier regions where rheumatic fever is effectively eradicated, Sudan’s poor health care facilities and restricted hygiene systems mean 1 in every 1,000 people is affected, particularly young people, who make up 56% of the center’s patients.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has worsened health care access, increasing cardiac vulnerability. Since April 2023, there have been 217 attacks on health care facilities, leaving 37% of them non-functional as of April 2026. The World Health Organization reported that 21 million people lacked access to health services.
Despite this, the Salam Centre continues to operate, and Emergency has opened more of its satellite clinics to continue to support the vulnerable.
– Elizabeth Holden
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Organizations Helping Nigeria
Nigeria is known for its beautiful plants and animals; however, it is currently better known for tackling severe poverty. In 2022, 41.8% of Nigerians reportedly lived below the $3-a-day international extreme-poverty line, and 28.91% used safely managed drinking water services. In 2018, 28% of primary-school-age children were out of school.
Poverty is a difficult problem for any country to solve. Many nonprofit organizations and government-funded foundations have stepped in to aid Nigeria while the country’s clean water is limited and the number of Nigerians living under the international extreme-poverty line remains high. These organizations address different parts of Nigeria’s poverty crisis. Here is some information about the organizations helping Nigeria address issues pertaining to poverty.
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
The International Rescue Committee is a humanitarian organization located in 40 countries, focusing on providing safety, education and power to countries that struggle to have it. Currently, the organization helps Nigeria by:
World Food Programme (WFP)
The second initiative in this list of organizations helping Nigeria is the World Food Programme (WFP). The World Food Programme is a nonprofit organization that works to bring food to about 120 countries and territories, specifically those that are victims of weather extremes, wars and natural disasters. In August 2025, the WFP reopened 150 nutrition clinics after they were suspended due to funding shortages, providing Nigerians locally sourced nutritional meals called Tom Brown to fight the country’s malnutrition. Tom Brown is blended flour made with millet, sorghum, soybeans and groundnuts. Currently, the organization helps Nigeria by:
Helpers Social Development Foundation (HSDF)
The Helpers Social Development Foundation is a nonprofit organization located in Enugu, Nigeria, focusing on eradicating one of the most crucial causes of poverty in Nigeria and other African countries: lack of education and childcare. In 2021, the foundation opened a nursery and free education school in Enugu. Currently, the organization helps Nigeria by:
Concluding Thoughts
These organizations that are helping Nigeria address different parts of Nigeria’s poverty crisis through health, nutrition, water, sanitation and education support. No single organization can solve poverty alone, but their work shows how targeted programs can help vulnerable communities access essential services and opportunities.
– Ares Bryant
Photo: Flickr
Plastic Roads in Kenya Turn Waste Into Opportunity
Nairobi faces an ongoing challenge in managing the waste produced by its growing population. According to UN-Habitat, the Kenyan capital generates approximately 3,085 metric tons of municipal solid waste each day. About 65% is collected, while only 15% is recovered, leaving much of the remainder to end up in open dumpsites. One Kenyan company is finding a productive use for some of that discarded material by turning plastic waste into paving blocks. Plastic roads in Kenya offer an example of how local innovation can address pollution while creating employment and providing alternative construction materials.
Turning Plastic Waste Into Pavement
Nairobi-based Gjenge Makers collects discarded plastic and processes it into construction materials. Founded by Kenyan materials engineer Nzambi Matee, the social enterprise combines processed plastic waste with sand before molding the mixture into paving blocks and tiles. The company produces several types of pavers, including heavy-duty blocks designed for roads and areas used by heavy machinery.
The approach gives difficult-to-reuse plastics another purpose. Gjenge primarily works with plastics such as high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene and polypropylene. According to the company, its pavers provide a strong alternative to conventional concrete paving materials.
The technology has already been used in several paving projects around Nairobi. According to Gjenge Makers, in 2022 the company completed an installation at Kenya’s Ministry of Transport on Jogoo Road that used approximately nine metric tons of recycled plastic to create 564 square meters of paved space. The company also reports that earlier installations at residential developments repurposed several metric tons of plastic.
Creating Jobs Through Recycling
The benefits extend beyond removing plastic from the waste stream. In 2024, Gjenge Makers received an Impact Award at the United Nations SDG Action Awards. The United Nations reported that the enterprise had recycled more than 200 metric tons of plastic and created more than 600 jobs for women and young people while promoting a culture of recycling in Kenya.
This employment component strengthens the connection between recycling and poverty reduction efforts. Waste collection and recycling can provide income opportunities while supplying businesses like Gjenge with the material needed for production. The company’s model turns discarded waste into a product that can be sold and used for infrastructure.
Plastic roads in Kenya therefore represent more than an environmental solution. By connecting waste collection, manufacturing and construction, the process demonstrates how a circular economy can create economic opportunities while reducing the amount of material sent to dumpsites.
Kenya’s Growing Circular Economy
Recent government action could further support recycling efforts. Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority introduced new Extended Producer Responsibility regulations in 2024. The regulations require producers to take responsibility for the post-consumer management of their products. Kenya also introduced regulations aimed specifically at improving the management and recycling of plastic packaging.
These policies complement businesses that find commercial uses for discarded materials. Kenya’s efforts are also part of a larger shift toward circular economies across Africa. In July 2025, the African Union and its partners launched the Continental Circular Economy Action Plan for Africa 2024-2034 in Nairobi. The plan seeks to promote resource efficiency, green growth and inclusive economic development across the continent.
What’s Ahead
Gjenge Makers cannot solve Nairobi’s waste challenges alone. The low share of municipal waste currently recovered shows the scale of the problem. However, the company’s work demonstrates how locally developed technology can turn part of that challenge into an economic resource.
By converting discarded plastic into durable paving materials, creating jobs and supporting a growing recycling economy, plastic roads in Kenya provide one example of how environmental innovation can also support livelihoods. Continued investment in recycling businesses and waste collection could help Kenya build cleaner communities while creating new opportunities for workers and entrepreneurs.
– Ben Jordan
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mobile Library in Syria: Bringing Books to Conflict-Affected Children
Life in Syria remains profoundly challenging after years of civil war and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024. This includes increased poverty rates and a devastated education system. However, one mobile library in Syria is helping children reconnect with books, art and cultural activities after years of disruption. Through books, art and performance, it offers an escape from the harsh nature of reality.
Refugee Crisis and Poverty
Despite the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024, Syria remains the world’s largest refugee crisis. In December 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recorded 5.4 million refugees, with a further 5.5 million Syrians internally displaced as of April 2026. Syrians are still feeling the remnants of the civil war as 90% of people live below the poverty line, making humanitarian assistance essential.
Impact on Education
One aspect of Syria’s infrastructure that the war has severely impacted is the education system. The war resulted in the damage or complete destruction of more than 7,000 schools, leaving more than 2 million children out of school. As a result, the number of children who have never entered formal education is rising, limiting their future opportunities and sparking concern for their long-term development. Additionally, the psychological trauma of war and limited supplies pose significant challenges to children in Syria. However, mobile libraries in Syria ensure that children who have grown up with war have a connection to knowledge, enrichment and entertainment.
Mobile Cultural Bus Initiative
In 2025, Syria’s Ministry of Culture launched its initiative known as the Mobile Cultural Bus. The objective is to bring books, art and fun cultural activities to children and their families who do not have access to safe community spaces. This mobile library in Syria, run exclusively by volunteers, focuses efforts in refugee camps and rural areas, where access to books is severely limited. It consists of two buses, each equipped with approximately 1,200 books. This mobile library in Syria has visited the governorates of Qunetira, Deir Ez-Zor and Tartus, as well as the rural outskirts of Syria’s capital Damascus.
This initiative has received funding from publishing houses and libraries across the world, while organizations on the ground have ensured that the bus continues to support as many children as possible.
Connecting Children to Culture
Through reconnecting children to books, this mobile library in Syria also offers them the opportunity to learn about the country’s rich history and heritage. This is achieved through traditional crafts such as soap making and glass blowing. By expanding services beyond books, the Mobile Cultural Bus offers an escape from the devastating impacts of poverty and war through community and laughter, giving children a glimpse of what a childhood should entail.
More than 8,000 children have benefited from this important mobile library in Syria. The demand for this initiative is high, with volunteers facing more requests than they can answer to. In response, project officials have indicated that a long-term goal is to install a mobile library in all 14 of Syria’s governorates.
When safety, food and work are not guaranteed, cultural enrichment is a luxury that is often inaccessible. While Syria’s educational crisis is complex, this mobile library provides a joyful window to learning for children and their families rebuilding their lives after much pain and instability.
– Maya Tailor
Photo: Flickr
How Mangrove Honey in Indonesia Can Support Sustainable Livelihoods
In Indonesia, mangrove honey is emerging as a promising way for coastal communities to diversify incomes while helping protect the forests they depend on. For households whose livelihoods are vulnerable to changing environmental conditions, fishing pressures and limited economic opportunities, community-based honey production offers a nature-based alternative that connects income generation with ecosystem conservation. Small-scale fisheries are a major source of livelihoods in Indonesia, with around 1.3 million households benefiting from the sector, according to Indonesia’s 2024 Blue Food Assessment. However, many of these households face high levels of poverty and vulnerability linked to declining ecosystem health and changing weather patterns. Charcoal production as an alternative source of income has also been historically relied upon, but this creates further problems surrounding conservation and sustainable, long-term income generation.
The Vulnerability of Small-Scale Fishing
Fishing is deeply connected to Indonesia’s economy and food security. As the world’s largest archipelagic state, Indonesia relies heavily on its marine resources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), small-scale fisheries account for nearly 90% of all aquatic products captured in Indonesia. This figure refers to the amount of aquatic products that small-scale fisheries catch, rather than the number of fishers, fishing vessels or people employed in the sector.
However, dependence on fishing can leave communities particularly exposed to environmental and economic changes. Research into small-scale fisheries across Indonesia has identified ecosystem degradation and climate change as significant influences on livelihoods. Changes in weather patterns, declining ecosystem health and pressure on marine resources can make fishing less predictable, highlighting the importance of diversifying coastal livelihoods.
For communities living alongside mangrove forests, fishing is also not the only livelihood connected to these ecosystems. Mangroves provide a range of resources that can support local economies, including timber and non-timber forest products. In some communities, however, the harvesting of mangrove wood for charcoal has placed significant pressure on these forests.
Indonesia’s Mangrove Economy
Indonesia is home to approximately 3.4 million hectares of mangrove ecosystems, representing more than 20% of the world’s mangrove area. These forests provide critical habitat for fisheries, store significant amounts of carbon, protect coastlines from erosion and extreme weather and provide food and income for coastal communities.
Mangroves can therefore have economic value while remaining standing. One example is honey production.
Mangrove ecosystems provide habitat and food sources for forest bees, including the species Apis dorsata, which produces forest honey collected by communities in parts of Indonesia. As a non-timber forest product, mangrove honey in Indonesia can generate economic value without requiring communities to cut down mangrove trees.
Moving Away From Mangrove Charcoal
Batu Ampar in West Kalimantan provides a useful example of the challenges facing mangrove-dependent communities. In 2017, the community received a Village Forest permit covering approximately 33,140 hectares of mangrove forest. Many residents traditionally depended on fishing, while charcoal production from mangrove wood also contributed to local livelihoods. However, the area is classified as protection forest, meaning only limited use is permitted and wood cannot legally be harvested from the protection forest. Yale’s Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative describes charcoal production in Batu Ampar as illegal and notes that it has contributed to significant mangrove deforestation and degradation.
The problem is that these two forms of economic activity can be closely connected to the health of the mangrove ecosystem. Fishing depends on healthy coastal environments, while charcoal production from mangrove wood contributes to the removal and degradation of the forest. This creates a difficult economic situation: communities depend on the forest for income, but some forms of resource extraction can damage the ecosystem that supports those livelihoods.
In 2023, Blue Forests and Yale’s Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative worked with the Batu Ampar community through a course focused on sustainable mangrove honey utilization. Rather than simply asking communities to stop using mangrove resources, the training explored how non-timber forest products such as honey could provide alternative livelihood opportunities while reducing economic dependence on charcoal production from mangroves.
Participants learned about bee habitats and life cycles, mapped honey locations, explored harvesting techniques and discussed harvest rotation and post-harvest processing. The approach connected environmental knowledge with practical skills that could help communities make greater economic use of the forest without removing its trees.
Honey as an Additional Source of Income
Mangrove honey in Indonesia does not need to replace fishing or become a community’s sole source of income. Its potential lies in diversification.
For households dependent on fishing, an additional income stream can provide greater flexibility when weather conditions, environmental pressures or seasonal changes make fishing less reliable. At the same time, honey production can create opportunities beyond harvesting itself, including processing, packaging, marketing and local entrepreneurship.
The environmental benefits are also significant. If honey becomes a viable source of income, communities have an economic reason to maintain the mangrove habitats that support bee populations. This creates a different relationship with the forest: rather than generating income through removing mangrove wood, communities can generate value from keeping a living ecosystem intact.
This does not mean honey production alone can solve poverty or prevent mangrove degradation. Market access, infrastructure, training, finance and effective environmental management are all important to whether nature-based livelihoods become economically sustainable.
Nevertheless, the Batu Ampar example demonstrates how livelihood diversification can address both economic and environmental pressures at the same time.
Building Long-Term Resilience
Mangrove honey in Indonesia illustrates how environmental protection and economic opportunity can be connected rather than treated as separate challenges.
Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystems already support coastal livelihoods through fisheries, food, coastal protection and other natural resources. The World Bank’s Mangroves for Coastal Resilience project similarly aims to improve livelihood opportunities for coastal communities alongside mangrove conservation and restoration.
For communities facing pressure on fishing and economic incentives to harvest mangrove wood for charcoal, developing sustainable non-timber products could provide another path. Honey offers one example of how a forest can generate economic value without being destroyed in the process.
For Indonesia’s coastal communities, the lesson extends beyond honey itself. Diversifying livelihoods around healthy ecosystems can help reduce dependence on vulnerable or environmentally damaging activities while creating new economic opportunities. As changing weather patterns and environmental degradation continue to affect coastal households, nature-based livelihoods such as mangrove honey could form part of broader strategies for building long-term economic resilience.
– Amber Bannon
Photo: Flickr
Saudi Aid to Yemen: Supporting Recovery and Poverty Reduction
The fight to reduce poverty is an ongoing battle. Many helping hands from various backgrounds and countries have stepped up to contribute. One such helping hand is Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is known for its wealth due to oil production, but it has also become a major provider of humanitarian and development assistance. Yemen, its neighbor, has received substantial Saudi support.
Yemen
Saudi Arabia’s support for poverty reduction is particularly visible in Yemen. Yemen’s humanitarian crisis ranks among the most severe globally. The Houthis took control of the capital, Sana’a, in 2014, and a Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in 2015. The conflict has caused deaths both through direct violence and indirectly through hunger, disease and the breakdown of services. A 2021 UNDP estimate put conflict-attributable deaths at 377,000, including 154,000 from direct combat and violence and 223,000 from indirect causes.
With economic and political unrest, the country has not recovered, and the Houthis continue to control large parts of Yemen. In 2026, more than 22 million people require humanitarian assistance, 18.3 million people are acutely food insecure, and more than 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished.
Kingdom of Giving
Saudi Arabia has provided humanitarian, development and economic support to Yemen for many years. Saudi sources report more than $12 billion in support between 2012 and 2025, while the Saudi Aid Platform records Yemen as one of the largest recipients of Saudi assistance.
Saudi Arabia has also contributed to UN humanitarian responses. In 2019, it provided $500 million toward the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan.
Helping Hands
One organization involved in this work is the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, KSrelief. The organization provides food, medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance.
KSrelief has worked with the World Food Programme on food-security and livelihood programs in Yemen, including support for farming families, agricultural land, irrigation channels and greenhouses.
KSrelief’s own statistics show that it implemented 531 completed or ongoing projects in 2024 at a total cost of more than $622 million. Since its establishment, the center reports thousands of projects across more than 100 countries, with Yemen its largest beneficiary by project spending.
Another Saudi organization supporting Yemen is the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY). Established in 2018, its work includes rebuilding infrastructure, supporting economic stability and promoting long-term development. Its projects have included energy and road infrastructure.
SDRPY has also partnered with international organizations, including UN-Habitat, on projects involving housing and water infrastructure.
Since 2018, SDRPY has implemented hundreds of development projects across sectors including education, agriculture and fisheries. Its work includes training and support intended to strengthen livelihoods and local production.
In partnership with Yemen’s Social Fund for Development, SDRPY has also supported education projects, including plans involving more than 25 schools and training for hundreds of teachers.
Final Thoughts
Saudi aid cannot by itself resolve Yemen’s poverty or humanitarian crisis, which ultimately depends on greater political and economic stability. However, humanitarian assistance and longer-term development programs can help communities meet immediate needs while supporting infrastructure and livelihoods needed for recovery.
– Lara Lewis
Photo: Flickr
Tracking Ebola in the DRC With Mobile Phone Data
On May 15, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared its 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976. Two days later, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that the Bundibugyo virus outbreak constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for this strain.
The virus spread fast. It passed 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days. The 2018 outbreak in the DRC took about 235 days to reach that mark. As of Sept. 23, the DRC had reported 7,890 confirmed cases and 3,799 deaths across seven provinces, a crude case fatality ratio of 48.1%. For comparison, WHO says past Bundibugyo outbreaks had fatality rates between 30% and 50%. Numbers like these push health workers to find new ways to track Ebola in the DRC before it spreads further.
A Response Under Strain
The response to Ebola in the DRC has struggled to keep up. One month in, Médecins Sans Frontières warned that gaps in testing, contact tracing and community outreach were letting the virus outrun the response. By the two-month mark, confirmed cases had tripled. In just five weeks, they went from around 650 to more than 2,000. Deaths rose even faster, from 130 to over 700 in the same period. Trish Newport of Médecins Sans Frontières said teams were still chasing the outbreak instead of staying ahead of it.
Tracking Movement by Phone
A Swedish nonprofit called Flowminder is trying something different. It works with Vodacom, the DRC’s largest operator, with more than 26 million active subscriptions and nearly 35% of the market. Flowminder studies phone records created when phones connect to cell towers. The data are aggregated and anonymized, so no individual caller is identified. By tracking movement between areas over time, researchers can see where people travel. Linus Bengtsson, founder of Flowminder, told Reuters that knowing how people move offers clues about how infected people might move.
Flowminder published its first report on May 28 and updated it on June 4. Using anonymized Vodacom data, it ranked the health zones receiving the most travelers from Bunia, Mongbwalu and Rwampara, the outbreak’s first hotspots. By June 1, eight of the top 10 recipient zones already had confirmed cases. By the end of June, all 10 did.
The tool does not predict where an infected person will turn up. It flags which areas face a higher risk of importing the virus, so teams know where to look first. Kisangani shows how this works. The major river port does not border the affected areas. Even so, Flowminder’s first report listed it as the top destination in Tshopo province for travelers from the hotspots. Dr. Olivier le Polain, who leads epidemiology and analytics for WHO’s response, told Reuters the data showed significant risk there by mid-June. He said operations were strengthened before the first cases were detected. Those cases were confirmed in early July.
A Heavy Price for Children
Children in affected areas face particular risks. UNICEF estimates nearly 3 million children in affected areas face rising danger. By late June, more than 130 children in Ituri province had already lost a parent to Ebola in the DRC. UNICEF is seeking $70.7 million for its six-month response. As of the appeal, $20 million of that remained unfunded.
A Model Worth Building On
The system has limits. It only captures subscribers on the participating network, so people using other providers stay invisible. So do people who cross into nearby countries. The data are also aggregated and anonymized, which protects privacy but limits detail. That is why mobility data complement epidemiological surveillance rather than replace it. Testing, contact tracing and community work still do the core job. Flowminder and U.N. officials are working to bring other operators on board, which would sharpen the picture.
If that expansion succeeds, the same tool now helping track Ebola in the DRC could become a model for other outbreaks. It would fit anywhere health systems are stretched thin but phones are common. The DRC has faced this virus 17 times since 1976. Mobility data can help responders identify areas at higher risk earlier, complementing testing, contact tracing and community-based surveillance.
– Juan Guillermo Rueda Castrillón
Photo: Flickr
Gaza’s Health System: From Emergency Response to Recovery
Since the outbreak of hostilities on Oct. 7, 2023, Gaza’s health system has faced what the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) describes as a “systemic collapse,” severely undermining its capacity to meet the population’s basic health needs. The conflict has damaged health facilities, degraded services, created shortages of medical supplies and fuel and severely constrained health care personnel’s delivery of care.
As of August 2026, 35 of the 57 hospitals and field hospitals, and 146 of the 233 primary health care facilities, were partially or fully operational, according to the World Health Organization’s HeRAMS assessment. Despite these extraordinary restrictions, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has maintained primary health care services wherever possible by adapting its operational model, expanding mobile health teams, and establishing temporary health facilities.
Emergency Medical Teams Fill Critical Gaps
In Gaza, Emergency Medical Teams, international and national professional health teams coordinated through the World Health Organization (WHO) response, have helped provide surge capacity while local services remain severely constrained. Their role is not to replace Gaza’s health system but to help keep essential services functioning while local capacity remains severely constrained. Comprising more than just doctors and nurses, these teams are self-sufficient mobile units that also include logisticians, water and sanitation specialists, and administrative staff. In Gaza, Emergency Medical Teams are responding to high levels of injury and illness alongside the local health workforce. As of April 15, 2026, 23 Emergency Medical Team partners were supporting 36 active teams in Gaza, comprising 72 international and 310 national personnel. According to the World Health Organization, Emergency Medical Teams had provided 4,288,220 general medical consultations, 65,056 emergency surgeries and treatment to 272,483 critical trauma patients from January 2024 through March 2026.
Primary Health Care Keeps Essential Services Accessible
When the capacity of hospitals—which constitute only one part of the broader health system—is severely constrained, primary care centers, health posts, mobile teams and temporary facilities become key avenues for ensuring access to care. From June 8 to 14, 2026, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East reported 70 mobile medical teams working through 28 medical points alongside six health centers and four temporary health centers. During that week, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East health personnel provided 73,165 medical consultations, including maternal care, physiotherapy, laboratory services and vaccinations.
Rebuilding Gaza’s Health System Requires More Than Hospitals
Rebuilding Gaza’s health system will require more than just repairing damaged hospital buildings. The health system also relies on medical equipment, pharmaceutical supply chains, electricity and fuel, laboratories, ambulances, referral systems and trained health care personnel. Meanwhile, damage to water and sanitation infrastructure increases public health risks, while a lack of rehabilitation equipment and specialized services can lead to long-term disability. A 2026 qualitative study based on interviews with health care workers found that future reconstruction efforts should incorporate local expertise, workforce development, emergency preparedness and stronger coordination among health stakeholders.
From Emergency Care to Long-Term Recovery
One can already see he transition from emergency response to recovery in services such as rehabilitation. The Limb Reconstruction Center at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis originated on June 1, 2026, and provides orthoplastic surgery, physiotherapy and limb reconstruction services for patients with complex conflict-related injuries. The center has access to 16 World Health Organization-funded beds and dedicated operating theater sessions twice a week.
According to the Humanitarian Situation Report, such services demonstrate why the recovery process does not end when a patient leaves the emergency department; serious injuries may require surgery, rehabilitation and long-term medical support. These interventions should not be viewed merely as simple wound care. Long-term recovery also requires ongoing attention to chronic diseases, mental health, maternal and child health, rehabilitation and medical follow-up. Therefore, the goal is not simply to restore individual buildings, but to rebuild a health system capable of providing continuous and comprehensive care to the population.
Health Care as a Foundation for Recovery
In conclusion, Gaza’s health crisis cannot be addressed through emergency medical aid alone. Immediate intervention is essential, but long-term recovery requires re-establishing the systems that enable the day-to-day functioning of health care services. This requires the rehabilitation of facilities, the reconstruction of supply chains, support for health workers, the re-establishment of referral and ambulance networks, the expansion of primary health care services and investment in rehabilitation, mental health and public health infrastructure. Rebuilding health services for Gaza is also part of rebuilding daily life. Access to reliable health services can help people manage chronic conditions, recover from injuries and maintain maternal, child and mental health services. These conditions can contribute to people’s ability to return to education, work and community life.
– Ömer Valyozoğlu
Photo: Flickr
Ovarian Cancer Gaps in LMICs
On May 8, 2026, people around the world marked World Ovarian Cancer Day, an annual campaign focused on raising awareness of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, there are low rates of awareness of ovarian cancer in LMICs, otherwise known as low and middle income countries, making this campaign particularly important.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Ovarian cancer poses a significant threat as a gynecological cancer, with many cases diagnosed late due to vague symptoms such as bloating and difficulty eating. These symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions. The day unites health care professionals, advocacy groups, survivors and communities to promote education and fundraising.
#NoWomanLeftBehind Theme
The 2026 theme, #NoWomanLeftBehind, differed from previous years. According to the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, fewer than 20% of women receive a stage I diagnosis, even in high-income countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. Outcomes and access to recommended treatment vary significantly between countries. This theme emphasizes equitable ovarian cancer outcomes, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
Global Health Issue
Ovarian cancer remains a major global health issue. About seven in 10 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die within five years, the highest death-to-diagnosis ratio among the four major women’s cancers. Global cases may rise by 53% by 2050. In lower-middle-income countries, cases are projected to rise by 82%, while cases in low-income countries are projected to rise by 151%.
World Ovarian Cancer Day
In response, leaders from ovarian cancer advocacy organizations worldwide established World Ovarian Cancer Day in 2013. The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition now leads the annual initiative, collaborating with more than 200 partner organizations, from grassroots patient advocacy groups to national health organizations, to promote earlier diagnosis and equitable access to care for women globally.
#ReachForTheScars Campaign
As part of the #NoWomanLeftBehind theme, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition promoted the #ReachForTheScars campaign. This campaign highlighted the real experiences of women with ovarian cancer, generating 58 million impressions, reaching 164 countries and receiving more than 47,000 social engagements. Global partners, including the World Economic Forum, Union for International Cancer Control and Zentalis, also helped increase visibility. These figures demonstrate the campaign’s global reach and engagement.
The 2018 “Every Woman Study” Findings
In 2018, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition conducted the Every Woman Study. The goal was to address the evidence gap and identify ways to improve survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. With more than 1,531 women in 44 countries participating, it was the largest-ever global survey of women with ovarian cancer at the time.
The study showed more than two-thirds of respondents had never heard of ovarian cancer or knew little about it before diagnosis, and about nine in 10 respondents experienced multiple symptoms before receiving a diagnosis.
Additionally, access to genetic testing varied dramatically by country, with more than 80% of women who had two or more relatives with ovarian cancer not receiving genetic testing before their diagnosis.
The Every Woman Study – LMIC Edition
Following the 2018 results and the expected rise in ovarian cancer cases, the Every Woman Study: Low- and Middle-Income Edition launched in August 2021. It was a joint initiative between the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. The goal was to document the experiences of women with ovarian cancer in LMICs on a large scale.
Believing that the original 2018 study was not representative enough of lower-income countries, research was conducted on 2,446 participants across 22 LMICs, including regions such as South Africa, India and Jamaica. Participation occurred through interviews and surveys, with results examining factors like knowledge of ovarian cancer, route to diagnosis, treatment, financial impact and emotional support.
Finally completed in 2025, the study found that only about one in four women had heard of ovarian cancer and knew something about it before diagnosis. Additionally, around three in four women said that ovarian cancer affected their family’s finances, with 29.4% stating that their household income fell below what they needed to live on.
Access to genetic testing and advanced treatments like PARP inhibitors was also limited among participants. Furthermore, one in three women reported traveling more than two hours to reach their treatment center, illustrating yet another barrier to accessing treatment.
Next Steps
The Every Woman Study shows that closing ovarian cancer gaps requires more than awareness alone. Better access to diagnosis, treatment, genetic testing and support is essential, especially in LMICs. As World Ovarian Cancer Day continues to bring global attention to these disparities, its 2026 message, #NoWomanLeftBehind, serves as a reminder that every woman deserves a chance at better care, no matter where she lives.
– Diya Rajkumar
Photo: Flickr