The Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa are grappling with severe challenges, including poverty, food insecurity and the impacts of the changing climate. More than 300 million individuals endure chronic hunger, as agricultural systems struggle under soil degradation, unpredictable rainfall patterns and excessive dependence on basic staple crops. Launched in 2023 by the U.S. Department of State alongside the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) serves as a framework to bolster food systems through an emphasis on crops resilient to climate change and eco-friendly soil practices.
VACS addresses the demand for varied, nutrient-packed farming that can endure ecological disruptions while enhancing livelihoods in rural areas. The program highlights “opportunity crops” — resilient yet underused varieties such as millets, sorghum and cowpeas — alongside efforts to rehabilitate depleted soils. This evidence-based approach seeks to interrupt ongoing patterns of poverty and malnutrition across the region. By combining climate adaptation strategies, nutritional safeguards and farmer empowerment, VACS delivers a roadmap for enduring agricultural progress in at-risk populations, ultimately contributing to improved food security in the Sahel.
Exploring the VACS Initiative
VACS functions as a multilateral trust fund integrated within the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) Rural Resilience Program (2RP). It consolidates climate financing, adaptation resources and development funds into a comprehensive strategy designed specifically for small-scale farmers. Four primary strategies guide VACS:
First, the promotion of crop diversity to enhance climate resilience addresses Africa’s dependence on a limited range of staple crops such as maize, rice and wheat, which are susceptible to environmental stress. VACS advocates for cultivating underutilized indigenous crops such as fonio and teff, which thrive in arid conditions and offer strong nutritional benefits. Although research and policy have historically neglected these crops, they hold significant potential for improving food security in the Sahel.
Second, restoring soils and adopting sustainable land management practices address Africa’s widespread soil erosion challenges. More than 65% of the continent’s soils are degraded, leading to productivity declines of up to 30%.
VACS supports restorative practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry and the use of natural soil amendments to enhance water retention, nutrient content and long-term sustainability.
Third, empowering farmers and establishing knowledge networks ensures that smallholders have access to essential resources and education for climate-smart agriculture. VACS strengthens community-based seed systems, provides training on climate-adaptive farming techniques and improves financial access, facilitating transitions to more resilient agricultural practices.
Finally, developing markets for opportunity crops ensures economic incentives for farmers to cultivate adapted varieties. By connecting smallholders with buyers such as school meal programs and expanding access to local and international markets, VACS enhances income stability and promotes economic growth in rural areas.
VACS’s Impact on Breaking Cycles of Poverty and Hunger
In the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, food systems remain trapped in a damaging cycle: environmental disruptions reduce harvests, triggering shortages, undernutrition and financial instability. VACS intervenes by targeting the underlying sources of fragility. Nearly 40% of Sahelian children experience micronutrient deficiencies stemming from diets high in calories but low in nutrients.
VACS emphasizes nutrient-rich crops such as amaranth and pigeon peas, which provide iron, zinc and protein. Through diet diversification, the program addresses stunting, anemia and malnutrition, particularly among women and youth, contributing to improved food security in the Sahel.
Projections indicate that without intervention, climate change could reduce crop outputs by 20% by 2050.
VACS’s resilient crops, including drought-resistant sorghum and heat-tolerant millets, help shield smallholders from irregular weather. In Niger, where drought-prone rain-dependent farming prevails, those using mixed cropping have maintained consistent yields amid worsening climate conditions.
VACS also strengthens economic resilience by creating equitable supply chains for opportunity crops. The fonio supply network in West Africa, supported by entities such as Yolélé Foods, has generated employment, increased farmer earnings by as much as 30% and opened new export opportunities.
Soil health remains central to VACS’s strategy. Degraded soils reduce yields while worsening water scarcity and emissions. Through comprehensive soil nutrient strategies, including organic composting and eco-farming methods, VACS has demonstrated yield increases of up to 28% in pilot areas such as Ethiopia, further supporting food security in the Sahel.
Tools for digital soil analysis further support targeted farming by aligning actions with specific locations for optimal results.
Advancing VACS: Key Policies and Future Directions
Realizing VACS’s full potential requires coordinated action among governments, aid organizations and commercial entities. Increasing investment in climate-resilient agriculture remains essential. Currently, just 1.7% of global climate funding benefits smallholder farmers, limiting access to critical resources needed for sustainable practices.
Governments and international contributors should prioritize VACS-compatible initiatives in agricultural budgets and climate adaptation funds. Strengthening seed systems and advisory services will also accelerate adoption. Many opportunity crops lack improved seed varieties due to prolonged underfunding in crop research. Expanding research and development, alongside digital-based farmer education and collaborative learning, will help address this gap.
Emphasizing fair land tenure and gender equity remains vital. Women manage approximately 60% of African farms but often lack secure land rights, which restricts investment in long-term soil care. Legal reforms supporting equitable land ownership and targeted initiatives for women farmers are key to VACS’s success.
Private-sector involvement is also a key to success. Incentives such as tax reductions, subsidies and public-private partnerships can spur investment in processing and marketing opportunity crops. Examples such as Kenya’s “Super Porridge” program, which incorporates nutrient-rich crops into school meals, demonstrate how consumer demand can drive broader adoption.</span>
Embedding VACS within broader regional climate strategies will further amplify its impact. Alignment with initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 can strengthen collaboration on ecosystem restoration, nutrition security and poverty reduction, advancing food security in the Sahel.
Looking Ahead
VACS extends beyond technical fixes and represents a shift in agricultural development for climate-vulnerable regions. By integrating scientific research, policy coordination and community-driven action, the initiative outlines a pathway to disrupt cycles of poverty and hunger. With sustained commitment from governments, farmers and partners, VACS has the potential to strengthen resilience, improve nutrition and support long-term livelihoods across the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa.
– Christopher Pellant
Christopher is based in Evansville, IN, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Malala Yousafzai: Fight for Education and Poverty Reduction
More than a decade after surviving an assassination attempt for defending girls’ education, Yousafzai continues to use her voice to challenge inequality. Finding My Way charts her journey from a student in Pakistan’s Swat Valley to a global advocate for education and women’s rights. The memoir’s release has reignited conversations about how education and poverty reduction remain one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty worldwide.
Education as the Foundation for Poverty Reduction
For Yousafzai, the connection between education and poverty reduction is not theoretical but lived. Growing up under Taliban rule, she witnessed how denying girls an education limited entire communities’ potential. Yousafzai’s overall message is that “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” When one child is denied the chance to learn, the whole world suffers.
According to UNESCO, more than 244 million children and youth remain out of school globally, with girls disproportionately affected. Each additional year of schooling can raise a woman’s income by up to 20%, reduce child marriage rates, and improve family health outcomes. Yet, education funding for low-income nations remains chronically under-resourced, accounting for less than 3% of global humanitarian aid.
Studies consistently show a link between access to education and economic mobility. Literate populations drive stronger GDP growth, healthier families, and lower rates of violence. Still, more than half of the children in low-income countries cannot read or understand a simple story by age 10, or the end of primary school. This learning poverty traps generations in economic instability. By highlighting her story once more, Yousafzai reminds the world that personal resilience and policy reform must work in tandem to create lasting change.
Barriers and Breakthroughs
Yousafzai’s college years at Oxford, as detailed in Finding My Way and interviews with NPR and USA Today, offered a different kind of education. She “nearly failed” her exams, struggled to balance global advocacy with coursework, and faced panic attacks that forced her to confront the trauma she had long suppressed. She explained to Fresh Air how marijuana triggered flashbacks to the day she was shot. That episode led her to therapy and a realization that the mental health part was the missing piece.
This moment of vulnerability underscores a broader truth: trauma, whether from war, displacement, or generational poverty, is often the invisible barrier keeping people, especially women and children, from escaping deprivation. As her foundation continues to support girls’ education in conflict zones, Yousafzai’s openness about healing offers a new kind of leadership: one that views recovery as essential to sustainable progress and lasting education and poverty reduction.
Progress in global education, however, has slowed since the pandemic. COVID-19 pushed millions of children, especially girls, out of school, many of whom never returned. Natural disasters, conflict, and gender-based violence have further deepened inequalities. Yet, countries like Kenya and Bangladesh are showing that targeted investment can reverse this trend. Programs offering conditional cash transfers, free school meals, and digital learning access have successfully kept children in classrooms. Organizations like the Malala Fund, Education Cannot Wait, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) continue to advocate for stronger international commitments to make education a universal right rather than a privilege.
Beyond Charity: Education as Empowerment
Yousafzai’s approach reframes education not as an act of charity but as a human right and an economic imperative. Educating girls creates ripple effects that lift entire communities, reducing poverty, improving maternal health, and promoting democratic participation. “Investing in education,” Yousafzai has written, “is investing in peace.” This perspective reinforces that education and poverty reduction go hand in hand as human rights essential to progress.
Her new memoir also challenges the narrative of perfection often imposed on global icons. “I want to introduce the real me, the funny me, the messy me, the sad and the annoying me,” Yousafzai told USA Today. That authenticity matters: it reminds the world that empowerment and healing are personal before they are political. Her evolving views on marriage, shaped by her cultural background and feminist reading list, also reflect this balance between independence and belonging. “Marriage is a beautiful relationship,” she said, “it is friendship, and it’s this strong bond between two people who love each other and who bring more beauty to each other’s lives.” For a woman who once feared marriage meant compromise, her reflection becomes a metaphor for reclaiming agency. Something millions of women in poverty still fight for daily.
A Call to Action
Yousafzai and her journey from survivor to scholar, from activist to author, is a testament to the enduring power of education. Her story invites a global reckoning: ending poverty demands not only policy reform and aid but also the freedom for people, especially women, to heal, to learn, and to live fully.
Empowering students today shapes the prosperity of tomorrow. As Yousafzai continues her mission, her voice underscores a timeless truth: education and poverty reduction are inseparable, and education is not only the way out of poverty, it is the way forward.
– Ella Bogdan
Photo: Flickr
Taipei Christmas Market Gifting Aid For Ukraine
A Taiwanese organizer who identifies as “Jen” founded TSWU, which consists of Ukrainians, Taiwanese and international volunteers who mobilized around the invasion’s onset. It serves to support Ukrainians through volunteer-led efforts and government backing. TSWU uses its funds to provide humanitarian and medical aid to Ukrainian refugees, children and elders who have resettled in Taiwan. The booth acquired donations at the Taipei New Year’s Eve Party that took place from December 26 to December 31, 2025, serving the same humanitarian purpose.
Amid the festivities and market stalls during the celebration, TSWU distinguished itself by organizing a Taipei Christmas market gifting aid for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Booth
Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, annually holds a New Year’s Fair in the Xinyi District. The fair itself features live performances, a countdown celebration and department stores that illuminate the city during the holidays. TSWU’s booth, which opened on the fourth day of the fair, blended culture and festivity with charity through the Taipei Christmas market gifting aid for Ukraine.
The booth collected donations through the sale of unique Ukrainian souvenirs and the performances of traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols. Participants could also join the educational workshops to create Malanka masks and didukhs. The souvenirs ranged from traditional crafts to original artworks and festive treats. Traditional festive Ukrainian folk songs echoed throughout the district and along the streets near the Taipei 101 skyscraper, allowing the public to experience Ukrainian traditions.
This year’s booth featured multiple students from Zhenzhi National University and Taiwan National University under the guidance of their instructor, Su Yuxuan. It brought Ukrainian and Taiwanese volunteers together with local residents, not just to share Ukrainian culture, but to inform them of Ukraine’s current conditions.
TSWU’s Previous Successes
Since its formation in response to Russia’s invasion, TSWU has done multiple projects that have delivered aid to Ukraine from Taiwan, the Taipei Times reports. It has raised a total of 4.5 million New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) since February, 2022. It has also raised enough money at Taipei’s Europe Festival in 2023 to buy two ambulances and medical supplies for Ukraine. Since September 17, 2024, Ukraine has purchased a total of six ambulances, which helped medical personnel evacuate more lives, deliver aid and reduce fatalities.
Taipei’s 2025 European Countries Festival highlighted Ukrainian culture, thanks to TSWU’s collaboration with Leleka, another organization aiding Ukraine. They sold Ukrainian souvenirs, clothing, treats and more to raise funds for aid. The organization has also collaborated with other Ukrainian aid organizations such as Kids 2 Kids, Through The War and OBOZ. In July 2024, TSWU transferred 518,624 NTD to Ukraine and its collaborators. One contribution funded renovations to make the first floor of Through The War’s shelter wheelchair accessible. In recognition of donor support, TSWU has given small tokens of appreciation ranging from stickers to custom name patterns.
Conclusion
Ukraine continues to face deepening poverty and hardship as the invasion persists. However, efforts by nonprofit organizations such as TSWU continue to provide meaningful support with engaging cultural exchanges. Compassion takes many forms, including quieter ones. While modest in scale, the Taipei Christmas market gifting aid for Ukraine helped maintain global attention on the invasion and reinforced a sense of international solidarity across communities worldwide.
– Cindy Nguyen
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Improved Food Security in the Sahel
VACS addresses the demand for varied, nutrient-packed farming that can endure ecological disruptions while enhancing livelihoods in rural areas. The program highlights “opportunity crops” — resilient yet underused varieties such as millets, sorghum and cowpeas — alongside efforts to rehabilitate depleted soils. This evidence-based approach seeks to interrupt ongoing patterns of poverty and malnutrition across the region. By combining climate adaptation strategies, nutritional safeguards and farmer empowerment, VACS delivers a roadmap for enduring agricultural progress in at-risk populations, ultimately contributing to improved food security in the Sahel.
Exploring the VACS Initiative
VACS functions as a multilateral trust fund integrated within the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) Rural Resilience Program (2RP). It consolidates climate financing, adaptation resources and development funds into a comprehensive strategy designed specifically for small-scale farmers. Four primary strategies guide VACS:
First, the promotion of crop diversity to enhance climate resilience addresses Africa’s dependence on a limited range of staple crops such as maize, rice and wheat, which are susceptible to environmental stress. VACS advocates for cultivating underutilized indigenous crops such as fonio and teff, which thrive in arid conditions and offer strong nutritional benefits. Although research and policy have historically neglected these crops, they hold significant potential for improving food security in the Sahel.
Second, restoring soils and adopting sustainable land management practices address Africa’s widespread soil erosion challenges. More than 65% of the continent’s soils are degraded, leading to productivity declines of up to 30%.
VACS supports restorative practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry and the use of natural soil amendments to enhance water retention, nutrient content and long-term sustainability.
Third, empowering farmers and establishing knowledge networks ensures that smallholders have access to essential resources and education for climate-smart agriculture. VACS strengthens community-based seed systems, provides training on climate-adaptive farming techniques and improves financial access, facilitating transitions to more resilient agricultural practices.
Finally, developing markets for opportunity crops ensures economic incentives for farmers to cultivate adapted varieties. By connecting smallholders with buyers such as school meal programs and expanding access to local and international markets, VACS enhances income stability and promotes economic growth in rural areas.
VACS’s Impact on Breaking Cycles of Poverty and Hunger
In the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, food systems remain trapped in a damaging cycle: environmental disruptions reduce harvests, triggering shortages, undernutrition and financial instability. VACS intervenes by targeting the underlying sources of fragility. Nearly 40% of Sahelian children experience micronutrient deficiencies stemming from diets high in calories but low in nutrients.
VACS emphasizes nutrient-rich crops such as amaranth and pigeon peas, which provide iron, zinc and protein. Through diet diversification, the program addresses stunting, anemia and malnutrition, particularly among women and youth, contributing to improved food security in the Sahel.
Projections indicate that without intervention, climate change could reduce crop outputs by 20% by 2050.
VACS’s resilient crops, including drought-resistant sorghum and heat-tolerant millets, help shield smallholders from irregular weather. In Niger, where drought-prone rain-dependent farming prevails, those using mixed cropping have maintained consistent yields amid worsening climate conditions.
VACS also strengthens economic resilience by creating equitable supply chains for opportunity crops. The fonio supply network in West Africa, supported by entities such as Yolélé Foods, has generated employment, increased farmer earnings by as much as 30% and opened new export opportunities.
Soil health remains central to VACS’s strategy. Degraded soils reduce yields while worsening water scarcity and emissions. Through comprehensive soil nutrient strategies, including organic composting and eco-farming methods, VACS has demonstrated yield increases of up to 28% in pilot areas such as Ethiopia, further supporting food security in the Sahel.
Tools for digital soil analysis further support targeted farming by aligning actions with specific locations for optimal results.
Advancing VACS: Key Policies and Future Directions
Realizing VACS’s full potential requires coordinated action among governments, aid organizations and commercial entities. Increasing investment in climate-resilient agriculture remains essential. Currently, just 1.7% of global climate funding benefits smallholder farmers, limiting access to critical resources needed for sustainable practices.
Governments and international contributors should prioritize VACS-compatible initiatives in agricultural budgets and climate adaptation funds. Strengthening seed systems and advisory services will also accelerate adoption. Many opportunity crops lack improved seed varieties due to prolonged underfunding in crop research. Expanding research and development, alongside digital-based farmer education and collaborative learning, will help address this gap.
Emphasizing fair land tenure and gender equity remains vital. Women manage approximately 60% of African farms but often lack secure land rights, which restricts investment in long-term soil care. Legal reforms supporting equitable land ownership and targeted initiatives for women farmers are key to VACS’s success.
Private-sector involvement is also a key to success. Incentives such as tax reductions, subsidies and public-private partnerships can spur investment in processing and marketing opportunity crops. Examples such as Kenya’s “Super Porridge” program, which incorporates nutrient-rich crops into school meals, demonstrate how consumer demand can drive broader adoption.</span>
Embedding VACS within broader regional climate strategies will further amplify its impact. Alignment with initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 can strengthen collaboration on ecosystem restoration, nutrition security and poverty reduction, advancing food security in the Sahel.
Looking Ahead
VACS extends beyond technical fixes and represents a shift in agricultural development for climate-vulnerable regions. By integrating scientific research, policy coordination and community-driven action, the initiative outlines a pathway to disrupt cycles of poverty and hunger. With sustained commitment from governments, farmers and partners, VACS has the potential to strengthen resilience, improve nutrition and support long-term livelihoods across the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa.
– Christopher Pellant
Photo: Flickr
Libraries Without Borders Fights Poverty Surge in Ukraine
Children have been among the most affected. UNICEF reported in July 2025 that 70% of Ukrainian children — about 3.5 million — lack access to basic goods and services, forcing many out of school.
The loss of educational access has broader consequences for Ukrainian society. Mariya Levonova and Balázs Jarábik of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that the contraction of Ukraine’s educational networks has undermined access to basic services and weakened social infrastructure, eroding public trust in self-governance.
Education is not the only sector reflecting deepening poverty in Ukraine. An estimated 4.6 million people have experienced severe disruptions to water access, including physical damage to infrastructure and contamination.
“Fighting and shelling have polluted water sources with explosives, heavy metals and other hazardous substances, making them unsafe for consumption,” according to Anna Cherevko of the United Nations University.
The Big Picture
The erosion of basic services in Ukraine has left many families without nutritious food, adequate clothing, heating or educational materials, according to UNICEF.
Anna Cherevko of the United Nations University described Russia’s invasion as Europe’s largest military conflict since World War II. The war has caused Ukraine’s gross domestic product to shrink by more than 30% and left roughly 40% of the working population unemployed.
Amid the crisis, Libraries Without Borders or Bibliothèques Sans Frontières has worked since 2007 to provide protection, information and psychological support, particularly along Ukraine’s borders.
The organization supports people affected by war trauma, including an estimated 14 million Ukrainians in need of psychological assistance and roughly 9 million now living in poverty.
What Libraries Without Borders Does
The organization strives to “protect, support and guide Ukrainian inhabitants, displaced persons and refugees” throughout the ongoing battles.
Economic losses tied to the war exceed $499 billion, driven by unemployment and disrupted economic activity, according to the Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025
With losses of this magnitude, services such as those of Libraries Without Borders are necessary more than ever before.
The organization eases poverty in Ukraine through several initiatives:
The boxes include creative and literary materials, tablets and televisions, forming a “digital library that provides access to thousands of educational and cultural resources without requiring internet connectivity.”
Looking Ahead
UNICEF warns that millions of Ukrainian children are being deprived of a minimum standard of living, jeopardizing their long-term development, health and education.
The United Nations University estimates the war erased 15 years of development gains, pushing an additional 7.1 million people into poverty and raising the national poverty rate to 24.1% in 2022.
Despite the challenges, Libraries Without Borders reported its centres have assisted more than 50,000 people. The organization estimates a single Ideas Box can serve more than 100 people per day — potentially reaching about 100,000 people over three months.
Humanitarian planners say aid efforts in Ukraine will increasingly prioritize cash and voucher assistance aligned with community preferences, using multisectoral approaches to meet basic needs.
Final Remarks
The war in Ukraine has deepened poverty, weakened access to essential services and placed millions of children and families at risk, reversing years of social and economic progress. Rising unemployment, disrupted education and widespread psychological trauma have intensified humanitarian needs across the country.
As international organizations warn of long-term consequences, Libraries Without Borders has emerged as a critical source of support by providing access to education, information and safe community spaces.
While the scale of the crisis remains vast, targeted initiatives such as these mobile libraries and community programs demonstrate how focused humanitarian action can help restore stability, resilience and opportunity for those most affected by the conflict.
– Gemma Nailer
Photo: Flickr
Transforming Rural Electrification in Tanzania Introduction
In response to these challenges, solar energy has emerged as a practical, affordable, and renewable source of energy. Rural Energy Agency (REA) in Tanzania has played a key role in promoting off-grid solar systems and mini-grids to expand electricity access in rural areas. Also, Private companies such as Zola Electric and Mobisol have also introduced pay-as-you-go solar models that allow low-income households to access electricity without high upfront costs.
In addition, organizations like IRENA report that decentralized solar systems have improved education outcomes, health care delivery and local business productivity in rural Africa. This paper will explore how solar energy is transforming rural electrification in Tanzania and supporting sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Background
Tanzania is a country in East Africa and home to more than 67 million people, it shares borders with countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Known for its rich natural resources, including wildlife, fertile land and renewable energy potential, incredible landscape, being home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa and diverse culture, Tanzania has played an important role in regional trade and development.
Despite those advantages, access to reliable electricity remains a major challenge, particularly in rural areas, with only about 25% of rural residents having electricity compared to 75% in urban areas that aren’t connected to the national grid. Limited rural electrification in Tanzania has slowed economic growth, restricted access to education and healthcare, and widened the gap between urban and rural populations.
Health clinics without reliable electricity have trouble operating medical equipment, storing vaccines safely, and providing emergency care during the night. Similarly, small businesses face reduced productivity when they cannot power machinery, refrigeration, or communication tools, limiting the income of workers and local economic growth. These challenges have encouraged Tanzania to adopt off-grid solutions such as solar home systems and mini-grids as practical alternatives to improve rural electrification in Tanzania.
To address Tanzania’s electricity challenge, the country has turned to solar energy as a practical and renewable solution for rural and off-grid communities. The following paragraphs will examine the main solar energy systems driving rural electrification in Tanzania and highlight how these innovations are improving access to electricity while supporting economic development.
Solar Home Systems
Solar Home Systems (SHS) are small, off-grid energy systems that provide electricity to individual households in rural Tanzania. SHS provide houses with small, solar setups that generate electricity for basic amenities such as lighting, phone charging, radios, and small appliances. These systems typically include solar panels, a battery for energy storage, and sometimes an inverter or controller, which makes them perfect for off-grid areas where the availability to switch to the national grid is costly and slow. They are designed to provide electricity to homes and small businesses that lack access to the central grid, with components like PV panels and batteries that are engineered for basic electricity needs.
One major provider is Zola Electric, which supplies solar home systems to households through flexible payment plans, allowing families to access electricity without high upfront costs. Another key company is Mobisol, which offers larger SHS capable of powering multiple appliances and supporting small home-based businesses. These systems have significantly improved living conditions by replacing kerosene lamps with clean, reliable energy.
Mini-Grids
Solar mini grids are small-scale power systems that generate and distribute electricity to entire communities, including homes, schools, health clinics, and businesses. Unlike SHS, mini grids can support higher energy demand and productive activities such as milling, refrigeration and phone charging services.
In Tanzania, the government supports mini-grid development through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), which works with private developers to expand electricity access in remote areas. These partnerships help reduce costs, improve system maintenance, and ensure long-term sustainability of rural electrification in Tanzania
Pay-As-You-Go Solar
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar systems allow users to pay for electricity in small, affordable installments using mobile money, thereby making solar power accessible to low-income households. This system removes the inconvenience of high upfront costs and enables families to gradually own their systems.
An example is Solar Sister, which combines PAYG solar with a community-based distribution model. Solar Sister trains and supports women entrepreneurs to sell solar products within their communities, increasing both energy access and local economic opportunities. This approach not only expands electricity access but also promotes gender empowerment and poverty reduction.
Looking Ahead
As Tanzania continues to explore other solar energy solutions, off-grid systems, mini-grids and pay-as-you-go models, a clearer path towards rural electrification can be achieved. With enough government support, private partnerships and continued investment in renewable technology, solar power has the potential to reach even the most remote communities. These systems not only improve daily living conditions, but also support education, healthcare and small businesses. Looking ahead, with enough innovation and practical application, solar energy can play an important role in reducing energy poverty and promoting rural electrification in Tanzania.
– Emmanuel Fagbemide
Photo: Flickr
The Maldives’ Triple Elimination: A Blueprint for Health
Understanding Triple Elimination
Triple elimination is a public health standard that ensures the next generation is born free of three specific infections that often cause lifelong health complications or infant mortality. To achieve this, the Maldives had to meet rigorous WHO criteria, including maintaining antenatal care coverage and testing rates above 95%. The nation also proved that its newborn interventions, such as the hepatitis B birth dose, are consistently delivered within 24 hours of birth. Data show that the Maldives recorded zero babies born with HIV or syphilis in both 2022 and 2023. Additionally, a national survey in 2023 confirmed that no young children entering school carried hepatitis B.
A Decentralized Approach to Maternal Care
Progress toward the Maldives’ historic triple elimination was made possible by a decade of systemic reform focused on reaching people in remote areas. Because the population is dispersed across more than 1,000 islands, the government prioritized a decentralized, community-based health care system. In 2018, the nation implemented the “Agenda for Integrated Service Delivery,” which standardized data collection for all three diseases. This ensured that even on the smallest islands, pregnant women could access free testing and treatment. By removing financial barriers, the government addressed a primary cause of health vulnerability among low-income families.
The Role of WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
The WHO and UNICEF played essential roles in supporting the Maldives during the validation process. The WHO provided the technical framework and training to ensure that screening and vaccination programs were integrated into routine maternal and child health services. UNICEF South Asia contributed by reviewing and refining national reports to ensure they met global standards for data accuracy. These organizations worked alongside the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, which serves as the national reference laboratory for validating test results. This partnership allowed the Maldives to use digital monitoring tools such as the Electronic Immunization Registry to track children’s health status in real time.
Promoting Equity With the Migrant Health Policy
The path to the Maldives’ historic triple elimination also involved ensuring that no resident was left behind due to background or legal status. The government recently launched a Migrant Health Policy that guarantees equal access to health services for all residents, including migrant populations. This inclusive policy reduced gaps in disease surveillance and ensured that every mother living in the country received the same standard of care. Experts note that including marginalized groups in national health frameworks is a critical factor in achieving disease elimination goals.
A Beacon of Hope for Global Health
The success of the Maldives serves as a beacon of hope for other nations working to eliminate preventable infections. By combining political leadership with a decentralized health system and strong international partnerships, the country has protected future generations from chronic disease. The Maldives’ historic triple elimination demonstrates that geographic isolation and resource constraints are not insurmountable barriers to public health progress. As countries move toward the 2030 global goal for triple elimination, the Maldives shows that equitable, high-quality health care can play a significant role in reducing poverty and improving lives.
– Elena Cárdenas
Photo: Flickr
Concordia: Trips to Help Reduce Global Poverty
Concordia
Concordia strives to build international peace and equality through volunteer opportunities, raising awareness and appreciation of culture by providing authentic experiences. One of Concordia’s featured experiences is the Children’s Christmas Camp trip, where volunteers support children in Marangu during their Christmas holiday. This is a two-week trip costing less than £500. Responsibilities include organizing activities such as sports, games, competitions and crafts, as well as helping with homework. This provides a safer space for children to spend their school holidays and helps relieve poverty by offering free child care that enables families to continue working.
Volunteers are able to get involved with real communities, sharing rooms, cooking meals together and trying local cuisine. Concordia’s volunteer manager, Tom, told The Borgen Project in an interview that “cultural exchange is a vital part of international volunteering. Everyone loves sharing their culture with others, teaching them a bit of their language, sharing your food, and other intangible cultural elements. International volunteering allows a two-way exchange, which leads to great understanding between cultures, and a more peaceful world.”
The location of this trip sits at the foot of Africa’s tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro, a popular tourist attraction. During this interview with The Borgen Project, Tom explained how the organization ensures projects are ethical: “The key to designing an effective volunteer program is to ensure that the host community take the lead in developing the programme, to ensure the work the volunteers carry out is actually wanted and has a real impact.” Concordia takes practical steps to ensure this by working exclusively with two international networks: the Coordinating Committee for International Volunteer Services (CCIVS) and the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations.
Through both networks, the receiving organizations design the voluntary projects. They believe that “when done right, international volunteering has tremendous potential to alleviate poverty around the world.” Much like The Borgen Project, Concordia values the mission to raise global awareness: “We must raise awareness of issues relating to poverty and oppression, and volunteers who experience this in person can return home can advocate on issue relating to poverty and oppression.”
Globalteer
Globalteer runs and supports grassroots projects across the world, focusing on children’s education, community empowerment, animal welfare and conservation. The company matches volunteers with projects to support the sustainable growth of their partner organizations. There are opportunities to volunteer with children at community schools, teaching a variety of subjects, with projects providing clean water to villages and with farms producing essential food for communities.
Volunteers can also work at an Indigenous community project or at programs to empower women. Globalteer offers packages starting at less than £400 and ranging from 1–12 weeks in length. During an interview with The Borgen Project, general manager Jim expressed how fulfilling volunteers find the experience: “Many volunteers describe their time with us as life-changing. They gain confidence, cultural understanding, and a greater awareness of the challenges faced by the communities we serve.” Their projects in Peru and Cambodia are led by local staff, and volunteers support—not replace—their work, ensuring respect is at the center of their mission.
International Volunteer HQ
More specialized programs are also available, such as International Volunteer HQ’s Medical Volunteer Programme, which provides medical experience that supports career growth and offers valuable insight into medical practice in lower-income countries. Every year, they organize placements for more than 3,000 people on their Medical Volunteer Programme in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. This program is eligible for pre-med students, medical students, nursing students and professionals. As a medical volunteer with International Volunteer HQ, there are opportunities to specialize in physiotherapy, dentistry, paramedics, pharmacy, emergency medicine (EMTs), nutrition, public health, orthopaedics, radiology, HIV/AIDS support, midwifery, pediatrics and more. These programs run between 1 and 24 weeks and start at just £244.
The Mighty Roar
The Mighty Roar is committed to ethical conservation, sustainable community endeavors and providing positive experiences to everyone. Their teaching programs operate in places such as Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bali, Madagascar, Ghana and Thailand. These programs last between 1 and 24 weeks, and the main responsibilities include planning fun, interactive lessons and teaching underprivileged children as young as 4. The Mighty Roar has established community classes in many volunteer destinations and provides free English lessons to thousands. The company assists under-resourced schools, meaning volunteers gain an authentic understanding of education systems in developing countries, which can be used to help improve education systems across the world.
Looking Ahead
Opportunities like those through Concordia and The Mighty Roar act as a significant step and propeller for careers in the charity sectors, politics and philanthropy. Volunteers gain firsthand experience and insight into the poverty present across the world and what can be done to improve it. Reviews of these trips are significantly positive, with people reporting: “It was amazing,” “The whole experience was fantastic” and “One of the best experiences I’ve ever had!” Participating in some of the various trips helping global poverty helps keep missions like these alive, which is increasingly important, with approximately 700 million people living in extreme poverty as of 2025.
– Abigail Gadsden
Photo: Flickr
How Project for Awesome Reduces Poverty
Collective Action Explained
Global poverty is one of the most persistent challenges and one that nonprofits and charities often target directly and indirectly. Traditional donation models often rely on large institutional donors and centralized decision-making, which can limit public engagement and transparency about where donors’ money is going. Collective models, by contrast, emphasize shared responsibility, participation and trust. Project for Awesome, headed by YouTubers and authors John and Hank Green, follows this model. Through community voting and digital engagement, Project for Awesome has changed the charity landscape and shown how collective giving can produce significant and measurable impacts.
The Structure of Project for Awesome
Project for Awesome is a branch of the larger nonprofit Foundation to Decrease World Suck. Project for Awesome works as follows: each year, participants submit videos nominating nonprofits and community members vote to determine how and where funds are allocated.
This allows viewers to learn about various charities and vote for those that resonate with them and the causes they want to support worldwide. Donations can also earn supporters perks such as keepsakes and exclusive podcast episodes or content from John or Hank Green. Each year, Project for Awesome holds a livestream to help determine which charities receive donations. This event is central to its fundraising efforts and, due to John and Hank Green’s online reach, is often a large success.
In 2025, Project for Awesome recorded 169,384 votes and raised $3,739,917.69 in total donations. According to reports, 50% of the 2025 funds went to Save the Children and Partners in Health, and the remaining 50% was split among charities chosen by the Project for Awesome community.
Project for Awesome Reduces Global Poverty
Independent media coverage reinforces the credibility and impact of Project for Awesome. Reporting by Good Good Good confirmed that the 2025 event raised more than $3.7 million in a single weekend, making it the largest fundraising total in the project’s history.
The article further noted that all funds directed to Partners in Health in 2025 supported tuberculosis treatment and prevention efforts, a disease closely linked to poverty and inadequate health care infrastructure. Save the Children similarly used funds to provide humanitarian aid, nutrition support and emergency relief in crisis-affected regions. These outcomes demonstrate that collective giving is not merely symbolic. It translates directly into services, medical treatment and material support for vulnerable populations.
Looking Ahead
Project for Awesome illustrates how collective giving can function as an effective tool for addressing global poverty. By combining digital participation, community voting and transparent allocation of funds, John and Hank Green and Project for Awesome reduces poverty by mobilizing hundreds of thousands of donors and directing millions of dollars to poverty-focused interventions. The 2025 results demonstrate that participatory fundraising models can strengthen trust in nonprofits, support global and local anti-poverty efforts and engage new generations in sustained philanthropy. By framing poverty alleviation as a shared responsibility, collective giving offers nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) a proven and scalable model for impact.
– Mollie Skogen
Photo: Flickr
Yoga Alleviates Child Poverty in India
The caste system reinforces these inequalities. Jill Lawson of HuffPost writes that many Indians are “rich in spirituality yet struggling to survive.” At the same time, wealth at the top continues to grow. According to BBC reporter Meryl Sebastian, the number of billionaires in India rose to 166 from 102 in 2020 alone, reflecting a system shaped by inherited wealth and social status.
Sebastian also reports that taxing the country’s top 100 billionaires at 2.5% could nearly fund the cost of returning an estimated 150 million children to school.
Child Poverty in India
For those not living in luxury, daily life is marked by limited access to education, unemployment or underemployment, inadequate health care infrastructure and persistent social inequalities. Discrimination based on caste, gender and ethnicity often creates cycles of poverty that are difficult for future generations to escape. UNICEF India Representative, Cynthia McCaffrey, notes that improving children’s well-being requires a “collective will” and is not solely dependent on resources.
Some organizations argue that yoga can help address child poverty by fostering mental well-being and community. Accessible to both the affluent and the less fortunate, yoga promotes calmness and a shared purpose, creating a more supportive environment for learning and personal growth. According to Yogift, the benefits of yoga are wide-ranging, with regular practitioners reporting improvements in daily life, self-awareness and relationships with others.
How Does Yoga Alleviate Child Poverty in India?
Yoga classes can offer several benefits, particularly for children living in poverty. They:
Organizations Using Yoga To Address Child Poverty
YoGift, founded in 2020, works to combat child poverty by highlighting the health and economic challenges faced by children in India. The organization notes that about one-third of Indian children suffer from lung problems caused by pollution and unsafe living conditions. At the same time, limited access to job training perpetuates generational poverty.
YoGift raises funds in the United Kingdom (U.K.) through workshops, events, donations and partnerships. Proceeds support Harmony House, a children’s day center in Delhi founded in 2010. The center serves more than 1,000 children daily, providing support in areas such as well-being, education, nutrition and career preparation.
Since its inception, the group has raised more than $8,000 for Harmony House. Another organization, Yoga Gives Back, founded in 2006, also emphasizes community through yoga-based fundraising. Its Sister Aid program provides primary education to about 600 girls and abandoned children and offers microloans to nearly 600 mothers.
The organization’s Scholarship for Higher Education program supports approximately 440 disadvantaged youths who are pursuing college degrees. According to Yoga Gives Back, these efforts have helped approximately 600 girls avoid child labor or early marriage and provided additional educational support to around 800 rural children following the COVID-19 school closures.
Balancing Bodies and Economies
McCaffrey shed light on India’s vast progress on poverty reduction and how “India’s flagship programs have supported investments in children, putting India on track for SDG 1.2 ahead of the 2030 endline.” Evidence of this progression is presented in the World Bank Group’s 2025 Report. It states that rural poverty has decreased from 64.9% to 27.7% and urban poverty decreased from 39.7% to 14.3%.
Despite this progression, there is still further to go. The top 1% of the country’s population still holds 73% of the wealth. Empowering and educating India’s next generation means investing in not only its economy but its people.
The Bhagavad Gita itself invites us to “participate actively in the world, [we are] encouraged to fight for justice and righteousness.” Through practices such as yoga and its mass funding opportunities, we can all use this soft power to make life that little bit more equal, one balance at a time.
– Gemma Nailer
Photo: Flickr
UN Meets to Discuss the Doha Program of Action
For a country to graduate, it must reach a threshold of income, education and resilience. The Doha Program of Action aims to help 15 more countries reach graduation by 2031. LDCs face disproportionate risks from climate disruptions, conflict, financial distress and trade disturbances. Rabab Fatima, a U.N. high representative for LDCs, said that participants at the meeting exhibited “a strong collective will to ensure that graduation becomes a gateway to resilience, opportunity and sustainable prosperity.”
Doha Program of Action
The Doha Program of Action functions as a framework and coordination mechanism that sets shared goals and standards for least developed countries and guides how governments, international organizations and development partners provide support. It outlines six main focus areas. The first focuses on supporting people in LDCs by reducing poverty and expanding access to basic services. For the second focus area, it emphasizes science, technology and innovation as tools to address multiple vulnerabilities and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Next is promoting productive transformation as a driver of economic growth. The fourth encourages international trade among LDCs and strengthens regional cooperation. The fifth addresses climate change, environmental degradation and post-pandemic recovery while strengthening resilience to future shocks through risk-informed sustainable development. Finally, the sixth mobilizes international solidarity, renewed global partnerships and innovative mechanisms to support sustainable graduation.
Transition Strategies
Countries that are at or near graduation, such as Bangladesh, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nepal, provided advice on transitioning. The three countries explained that LDCs should prioritize a national transition plan. Representatives emphasized that this step is crucial to reaching the graduation threshold. A coherent strategy will reduce reliance on targeted aid. Representatives said these policies should be pragmatic and centered on supporting the future of LDCs. The conference also examined how developing countries can increase output by implementing digital technology and environmentally sustainable industries. To support developing economies, participants identified expanding trade opportunities as a priority.
The Role of iGRAD
The iGRAD facility plays a key role in implementing the plan. The facility will help guide LDCs through the transition period. Qatar has pledged $10 million to support it. Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, director general of the Qatar Fund for Development, said the conference illustrated the necessity of supplying LDCs with “the tools, resources and partnerships with confidence.”
International Support
In previous years, countries and international partners have provided assistance to LDCs, demonstrating commitment to the Doha Program of Action. Qatar committed to donating $60 million. Qatar allocated $10 million to support implementation of the plan and $50 million to build foundational strength in LDCs. Germany pledged 200 million euros to finance LDCs. Canada pledged $15 million to provide vitamin supplements for 15 LDCs, as well as ecosystem support efforts in Burkina Faso. The United Nations lists 44 countries as LDCs.
Looking Ahead
Overall, the gathering shows the U.N.’s effort to assist least developed countries in their journey toward graduation. Guidance from countries that have graduated, innovative financial mechanisms and a history of international support signal a promising future for the Doha Program of Action. If countries follow through on these commitments, more LDCs will have the means to graduate. Continued coordination and support will play a key role in the plan’s success.
– Sasha Banaei
Photo: Flickr