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Cryptocurrency in the Philippines

 cryptocurrency in the PhilippinesThe fallout from a new cryptocurrency game in the Philippines, Axie Infinity, has prompted involved parties to question the nature of the role that cryptocurrency plays in the economy of developing countries. The game’s adverse effects halted players’ hopes of financial gain, which cost many, including those on low incomes, their savings. Axie Infinity originally saw Filipinos earning sums as large as $487 in just over two weeks, and thousands of people entered the crypto game, as it soared in popularity. However, the game’s economy crashed, leaving many of its players in debt and a poor reputation for cryptocurrency in the Philippines.

The Appeal of the Game

The Philippine Statistics Authority saw an increase in the percentage of the population living in poverty, from 21.1% in 2018 to 23.7% in 2021. One can attribute this increase in poverty to the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively impacted many people’s work and income stability. Many Axie Infinity players had an attraction to the play-to-earn element of the game so that they could improve their incomes. The game involved buying monsters (Axies,) that are NFTs (non-fungible tokens.) Players could trade or breed these and also obtain an exchangeable currency called SLP (smooth love potion).

How the Game Collapsed

The low income of many players (minimum wage in the Philippines currently being around 570 PHP/$10.3 USD) meant that as SLP began to increase in price, it became more difficult to afford the starter monsters and therefore, Axie Infinity became less financially accessible. This led to an employment scheme where “managers” from high-income countries, such as Australia, would buy monsters, and those who could not afford to would take the position of “scholars,” leveling the monsters up, while the managers raked in the profit. As the game’s popularity increased, the value of the currency dropped, and a bad situation turned into a catastrophe for cryptocurrency in the Philippines, with a hack costing the network and its players $600 million. Despite the players getting their stolen money back, the game lost its credibility as a multi-faceted lack of security emerged, and many players were worse off than where they started.

The Benefits

Upon seeing the damage that the Axie Infinity crash caused, it is easy to doubt the benefits of cryptocurrency, specifically to those living in poverty. Despite the magnitude of the fallout, cryptocurrency still plays a crucial role in the socio-economic system of the Philippines. At least 70% of people in the Philippines do not have a bank account, and sources show that cryptocurrency and distributed ledger technology (blockchains) are helping to decrease this percentage. Having access to banking is a vital tool for bringing people out of poverty, enabling them to have more financial stability and security in receiving pay, paying bills and opening doors for aspiring entrepreneurs. More than half of Filipinos would consider investing in cryptocurrency, and the trust issues caused by Axie Infinity may be somewhat repairable by building knowledge.

Barriers to Overcome

In order to tackle financial exclusion, and therefore poverty, using cryptocurrency must become the accessible tool it has the potential to be. This is only enabled by further research to ensure regulation will not lead to a market collapse, and for users to be educated and informed. Despite players having some trust issues with the prospect of regulation, many believe that regulating could make the market bring possibilities for rapid economic development. Working on these trust issues by studying and teaching cryptocurrency in the Philippines would mean that people could reap the benefits with minimal risk.

– Lydia Tyler
Photo: Flickr

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Mexico’s Drug War Affects Education

Mexico's Drug War Affects EducationSince the Mexican government declared war against drug cartels in 2006, nationwide violence between cartels, police and the military has been taking a steep toll. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)  estimates the war led to 300,000 homicides and the disappearance of 66,000 people since 2006. This increased violence raises particular concern about how Mexico’s drug war affects education quality.

Major Disruption to Mexico’s Education System

Widespread violence from the drug war has caused mass school closures, negatively affecting the quality of education Mexican youths receive. Between 2019 and 2020, cartel violence forced school closures in eight states: elementary schools closed 104 times, junior high schools 51 times, preschools 49 times, high schools four times and universities three times. These forced closures caused severe disruptions for Mexican youths, undermining the quality of their educational opportunities. The World Bank reported in 2020 that only 72% of Mexicans used the internet, implying difficulties for remote learning options.

A study collected data during the 2000s and captured stark differences in education quality between areas with high rates of violence and areas with lower violence. Student absenteeism in high violence areas was 44%, while lower violence areas had 33%. Teacher absenteeism follows the same trend: High violence areas were 20.8%, while lower violence areas had 13.2%. Student lateness compared 52.9% to 11.9%, and teacher lateness had 41.2% to 29.1%. The study found the widest divergence in the presence of youth gangs: 51.6% versus 23.5%. Even one month of gang-related violence can reduce school enrollment by 14%. These statistics show how drug-related violence has heavily disrupted many educational systems in Mexico.

Drug Cartels Target Students and Teachers

The study emphasizes how homicide is now the second leading cause of death for Mexican males aged 15-24, a critical age range for learning skills from education and entering the labor force. Between 2000 and 2019, 21,000 Mexicans under 18 were killed, while 7,000 have disappeared. Cartels have also recruited youths in economically deprived areas where a lack of opportunities and resources contribute to youth recruitment. In 2019 alone, cartels recruited an estimated 30,000 Mexican youths. This recruitment targeting is partly why youths sometimes avoid or drop out of school. In 2006, at the start of the drug war, 11,664 Mexican youths did not attend primary school, compared to 106,131 in 2019.

In 2011, 7,000 Acapulco teachers protested against gang violence threatening their schools. They called on the government to provide safety in the face of teachers being attacked, extorted and kidnapped. More than 100 schools shut down in Acapulco due to teachers standing up to cartels who had demanded half their salaries in extortion. Schools only reopened four years later, in 2015, after the Mexican National Guard stepped in to ensure student and teacher safety.

Mexican citizens have increasingly mobilized to demand accountability from their government and better protection for schools. In 2014, the disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero sparked national protests over the government’s inability to provide a safe, educational experience for teachers and students. Mexico continues to fight drug-related violence affecting schools, knowing how important education is in reducing poverty and improving opportunities.

– John Zake
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The UK Government’s Asylum Partnership Agreement with Rwanda

Asylum Partnership AgreementOn April 14, 2022, the U.K. government and Rwanda entered into an agreement, that later became a five-year asylum partnership agreement. The agreement, officially titled “U.K.-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” will aim to provide asylum for immigrants traveling to the U.K. illegally, through relocation to Rwanda. As part of the agreement with Rwanda, officials will process refugees on entry into Rwanda, where they will receive a decision regarding their refugee status.

What Does the Agreement Entail?

U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta signed the asylum partnership agreement, which falls under the Memorandum of Understanding. The decision to strike an agreement with Rwanda came about as a result of the U.K.’s new immigration policy, which intends to counteract illegal immigration. “The consultation showed public support for the need to disrupt the criminal activity that underpins illegal migration.”

Rwanda will receive financial support from the U.K. government to accommodate and process refugees. According to the House of Commons Library “…the U.K. is providing £120 million funding to Rwanda. It will also pay for the processing and integration costs for each relocated person.”

Is the Agreement Necessary?

The two states signed the agreement in response to the migrant crisis affecting much of Europe in recent times. They intend to provide a safer, more manageable system to combat illegal immigration into the U.K.

It is anticipated that approximately 60,000 people are set to travel across the English Channel by the end of 2022. This figure is more than double in comparison with last year’s 28,526 people crossing the Channel in small boats. There was hope that schemes such as the partnership agreement would present a more viable option to combat future illegal immigration. However, “14,728 people have arrived since the government launched the Rwanda policy,” according to BBC.

Questions Over Suitability of the Deal and Its Potential Impact on Poverty

Many raised notable questions over the suitability and practicality of Rwanda serving as the representative country to accommodate refugees. Significant concern from U.K. officials regarding the asylum partnership agreement with Rwanda has manifested from numerous documents submitted to a high court hearing earlier this year.

A key point raised questions over Rwanda’s human rights status. Rwanda is one of the 14 countries presenting substantial issues in relation to asylum systems and human rights.

Concerns regarding the impact the agreement may have upon refugees traveling to Rwanda and the communities that they could settle in have been a prevalent talking point. Treatment of refugees arriving in Rwanda remains an issue from a human rights perspective, as suppression of freedom of speech, detention and even torture are common practices.

Economically, Rwanda has seen steady progress in recent times, with the country aiming to become a middle-income nation by 2035. However, according to The World Bank, with its poverty percentage standing at 55% in 2017, it may represent a difficult beginning for many refugees. The refugees that could face relocation to Rwanda will indeed discover this and with the right to leave Rwanda available to thousands of them, it has the potential to cause chaos and increase the strain on aid agencies working to combat poverty within Rwanda and across Africa.

The Ethical and Legal Challenges of the Agreement

At this current time, the agreement appears to be shrouded in controversy and indifference due to human rights concerns. The inaugural flight carrying asylum seekers destined for Rwanda should have departed on June 14, 2022. However, the European Court of Human Rights'(ECHR) late intervention successfully halted the first wave of deportations. Prime minister Boris Johnson condemned the ECHR’s decision and threatened to revoke the U.K.’s participation in the convention.

The asylum partnership agreement with Rwanda was met with a considerable outcry in the lead-up to June 14 and efforts to disrupt and put an end to the agreement were voiced in the form of organized protests. The UNHCR commented on the agreement, stating “They should not be traded like commodities and transferred abroad for processing.”

With the considerable legal battles looming over the asylum partnership agreement, any effort to relocate migrants to Rwanda as part of the agreement will not take place before late autumn at the earliest. The next landmark step in the ongoing developments of the agreement will take place on September 5, when a judicial review will take place at London’s High Court to determine the legality of the agreement.

– Jamie Garwood
Photo: Flickr

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Increasing Disability Support in Brazil

Increasing Disability Support in BrazilBrazil’s poverty rate was 13.10% in 2020, well above the global average poverty rate of about 9% for the past several years. Among Brazil’s low-income residents, many have physical and mental disabilities. A global survey shows a strong correlation between disability and poverty in low and middle-income countries such as Brazil. Increasing disability support in Brazil is crucial to decreasing its poverty rate.

Statistics on Disability and Poverty in Brazil

In 2019, the National Survey of Health (PNS) reported that 17.3 million adults and children in Brazil were living with a mental or physical disability. PNS found that nearly half, 8.5 million, were 60 and older. Currently, Brazilian law recognizes disability in those who live with any long-term impairment that hinders full participation in society.

Poor Conditions Found in Institutions

Brazil has been criticized for its poor treatment of people with disabilities. In 2018, the Human Rights Watch released an 83-page report exposing inhumane conditions in institutions for people with disabilities. The report revealed a lack of basic food and hygiene services, neglect, abuse and little to no legal rights for those detained in institutions. The HRW visited eight institutions that forcibly restrained patients and sometimes tied them to their beds. Although the government passed the Brazilian Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in 2015, poor treatment of people with disabilities still occurred, as the HRW’s 2018 report shows.

A Need for More Government Support

Article 11 of the disabilities inclusion law states that people with disabilities retain legal rights to refuse medical intervention or forced institutionalization. However, many of these people have little choice. Often, they or their caregivers lack enough financial means for people with disabilities to live independently.

The government offers Benefício de Prestação Continuada (BPC), a monthly social pension for those with disabilities who cannot support themselves. BPC provides 954 Brazilian reals, $259, per month to an individual, but families state that this is not enough. The 2018 HRW report presents testimony from Brazilians calling for more services such as physical therapy and mobility devices.

HRW states that an over-reliance on institutionalization occurs partly because the Brazilian government does not provide enough support for these households. In addition, BPC is not adequate alone: In many cases, people with disabilities did not directly receive their social pension, and HRW found that institution employees had used these pensions without permission.

Increasing Disability Support and Funding

The Brazilian government responded to HRW reports and expanded the BPC program as of March 2020. More people with disabilities became eligible for a monthly pension in the expansion. Actions taken by other countries may also provide some models for supporting people with disabilities. Italy annually recalculates disability benefits based on changes in inflation and cost of living. Japan provides monthly compensation based on disability severity rather than a fixed amount.

Following the HRW’s recommendations, critics call on Brazil to do more for its people with disabilities: to continue expanding BPC, regulate institutions while working toward deinstitutionalization, pass legal reforms that protect autonomy, and develop more community-based services such as health care and inclusive education.

– Luke Sherrill
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Indigenous People in the U.S.

Indigenous peoples in the U.S.Indigenous people have endured an undeniably long and dark history of displacement, oppression and discrimination; and now subsequently constitute 15% of the world’s population living in extreme poverty. In the U.S., they bear the highest poverty rate compared to other minority groups at 25.4% and often lack access to economically reliable housing, health care and other resources. As the native population grows, so have national movements and tribal rights. In the last 10 years, Native Americans have made progressive strides in the United States. These are some of the advancements indigenous people in the U.S. have accomplished in the past decade.

Land Acknowledgements and Tribal Economic Development Efforts

One way for Native Americans to uplift themselves out of poverty and food insecurity is through acquiring tribal sovereignty. Recently, indigenous people in the U.S. and their allies have further pressured the federal government to amend its federal trust management system.

Indigenous land in the U.S. is abundant in vital natural resources. However, many policies prohibit native leaders from utilizing the resources that could be used to stimulate economic growth in reservations (and reduction in poverty rates).

Tribes like the Oneida Nation have worked around the discrepancies to stabilize their local tribal economy. The nation developed a sustainable food system that would circulate food within the reservation and allow for more job opportunities. The Oneida Community Integrated Food Systems (OCIFS) has thrived since 1994 and continues to influence other tribes.

The native lands are vital to the indigenous communities and the world as they house over 80% of the planet’s biodiversity and natural resources, according to Amnesty International. Governments and corporations continue to exploit indigenous land, which results in the pollution and displacement of the native people. As migration from their lands continue, Native Americans lack access to essential resources and their sacred customs. As a result, indigenous people are more likely to experience economic hardship, abuse, illness and the ultimate threat of extinction.

Electing the First Indigenous Woman as Cabinet Secretary

In 2021, Debra Haaland assumed office and made history as the first indigenous woman to serve as cabinet secretary. Haaland is a 35th-generation New Mexican member of the Pueblo of Laguna currently serving as the United States secretary of the interior. Before becoming secretary of the interior, Haaland served as a tribal administrator, lieutenant governor and a representative in congress.

As secretary, Haaland enacted the Not Invisible Act, a commission in coordination with the Department of Justice to cut down on crimes against indigenous peoples in the U.S. The commission would act as a hub to take on trials, evidence and witnesses. Upon collection the data acquired, the commission would then give the federal law enforcement guidance on how to fight crimes against Native Americans better.

On April 1, 2021, Secretary Haaland declared the creation of the Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) under the Bureau of India Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS). The unit would aid interdepartmental efforts and provide better resources to investigate missing and murdered indigenous people. The unit will continue to work on unresolved and active cases by collaborating alongside the BIA, FBI, Tribal prosecutors and other agencies.

Declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On October 8, 2021, President Biden made the historic decision to proclaim October 11, 2021, “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” The presidential action recognizes and honors the diverse communities of indigenous peoples in the U.S. and their contributions to the nation. Moreover, the proclamation acknowledges the extensive history of horror and injustice inflicted on native people within the United States. In addition, it promises to maintain and uphold “a future grounded in tribal sovereignty and respect for the human rights of indigenous people in the Americas and around the world.”

The Long Road to Reconciliation

Organizations like The Red Road remain at the forefront of advocacy for Native Americans. The organization started in 1999 when its founder Charles Robinson, gave a speech on Native Americans at a school and was disturbed by the misconceptions about indigenous people in the U.S.

The Red Road devotes its efforts to spreading awareness of indigenous struggles and addressing the colonial history of indigenous people. One of the organization’s upcoming projects is to uplift Native Americans from poverty and food insecurity. One project involves establishing a self-sustaining source of healthy food via community gardens as grocery stores are scarce in and around reservations.

The other project looks at the inter-reservation economies. Most reservations have very few tribally-owned businesses and fewer opportunities to build indigenous wealth, hence why countless indigenous communities rely on federal subsidies. The project would assist and promote the establishment of native-owned companies, allowing for greater tribal independence and economic opportunities for the indigenous people in the U.S.

Native Americans continue to endure tremendous hardship but remain resilient. There are many years of decolonization and rebuilding left before reaching true reconciliation. But, with the constant changes occurring throughout the recent decades, the future appears promising.

– Ricardo Silva
Photo: Flickr

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Europe’s Efforts on Heat Wave Crisis

Europe's efforts on heat wave crisisSince July 2022, Europe has been going through severe heat waves. In the United Kingdom, temperatures hit over 40 degrees Celsius, leading to at least 1,500 heat-related deaths and becoming the highest recorded in the country’s history. Europe’s efforts in the heat wave crisis are tackling devastating fires and negative impacts on the health, energy and economy sectors. In addition to the war in Ukraine and subsequent global economic crisis, heat waves most affect low-income populations.

Economic Impact of Heat Waves in Europe

Europe’s heat waves are occurring in a tense time: The world is still experiencing the coronavirus’ hit to the economy and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Europe saw a devaluation in the euro for the first time in 20 years along with skyrocketing inflation.

In Italy, farmers state that they are seeing the worst drought in 70 years. In Germany, a major transportation river’s water level has dropped so low that slow shipping is stalling the supply chain. In France, a major utility company stated that three power reactors could not run at total capacity due to the high water temperatures of surrounding rivers.

Extreme temperatures are leading to wildfires all over the continent and are becoming expensive. In 2019, the World Wildlife Fund reported that Mediterranean countries spend more than $2 million yearly on fire management, about 80% on suppression and only 20% on prevention. The report also notes that growing wildfires negatively impact workers in forestry and land cultivation, and tourism.

Poverty and Heat Waves in Europe

The heat wave, drought and wildfires in Europe have also severely impacted the economy for daily living. Prices soared for basic commodities like wheat, rice, maize, potatoes and beets, which need much water for production. Allianz, a financial services company, reports that food and drink prices have risen by about 14% in European countries since 2021. Calling it “heatflation,” Allianz estimates Europeans will soon pay about $243 more per grocery trip.

Heat waves are exacerbating energy poverty. Skyrocketing costs in energy products and bills most affect low-income households. They often contend with poorly insulated homes, unshaded neighborhoods and a lack of air conditioning access. Consequently, heat waves negatively impact their health.

Europe’s Efforts on Heat Wave Crisis

To combat the heat wave, European countries undertook various actions. In southern France, firefighters are evacuating residents from critical areas and creating fire buffer zones by preemptively burning terrain and cutting down trees.

Portugal asked for European Union assistance, calling on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which delivered emergency help for its wildfires. Other nations are working on financial relief plans to help people with rising inflation. In France, the parliament approved a $20 billion relief package, and nongovernment organizations are aiding vulnerable people who lack access to heat-relief facilities.

Despite the scorching temperatures and related deaths, Europe continues these efforts on the heat wave crisis at local and international levels.

– Youssef Yazbek
Photo: Flickr

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The State of Poverty in Jamaica

Poverty in JamaicaMany view Jamaica as the heart of the Caribbean, with beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. However, Jamaica has long faced an uphill economic climb that continues to plague the nation. While Jamaica’s GDP saw growth from 2013 onward, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the economy. The state of poverty in Jamaica indicates regression since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The poverty rate in Jamaica rose 4% in two years, sitting at 23% in 2020.

Tourism Industry in Jamaica

Due to the nation’s heavy reliance on the tourism industry, the COVID-19 pandemic affected Jamaica significantly. The tourism industry alone accounts for $60 billion in gross domestic product while generating 2.8 million jobs for the citizens of Jamaica, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness. In 2019 alone, a staggering 4.2 million tourists flocked to the beaches and resorts on the island.

However, once the pandemic hit Jamaica, the tourism industry came to a halt as did tourism-based income. The gross domestic product decreased by 9.9% in the year 2020, accounting for the steepest decline in the island’s history. During the peak of the pandemic, in July 2020, the unemployment rate reached 12.6%.

The CARE Programme

To combat this harsh reality, the Jamaican government stepped up to the plate to assist citizens. One of the most significant moves the government receives applause for is its implementation of a social and economic support program called the CARE Programme.

In order to improve the state of poverty in Jamaica, the program provided “compassionate grants to those who were unemployed or informally employed” before the onset of the pandemic. Those facing unemployment as a result of the pandemic received “temporary unemployment benefits” and the program supplied grants to small businesses and self-employed individuals whose income decreased due to the pandemic. The CARE Programme also provides aid to ill, elderly and disabled Jamaicans as well as other economically disadvantaged groups by boosting aid through existing initiatives. The program also gave incentives to companies in specific sectors to retain employees who fall in the lower-income bracket.

Due to the government’s generous and swift reaction to the pandemic, the state of poverty in Jamaica has continuously improved post-pandemic. In the year 2022, the percentage of people active in Jamaica’s labor force has risen. According to Carol Coy of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) as of April 2022, “The overall number of persons in the labor force rose by 24,900 or 1.9% to 1,350,300.” In addition to its renewed workforce, Jamaica anticipates that tourism in the nation for the year 2022 may bring in approximately USD $2.9 billion while drawing up to 2.5 million tourists to the island.

Looking Ahead

The perseverance of the Jamaican citizens and the government has led to a historic turnaround for the nation’s economy post-pandemic. While poverty has long ridden the island, the resiliency of the Jamaican people has brought the nation back from the brink of complete economic collapse. The current state of poverty in Jamaica makes it apparent that the future is more prosperous than ever.

– Austin Hughes
Photo: Flickr

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How Digital Payments Can Aid Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis

Afghanistan’s Humanitarian CrisisAfter nearly two decades, the Afghanistan War ended in August 2021, when United States forces evacuated the country. For the nearly 40.9 million Afghans left behind, the rippling impacts of the war have created a devastating crisis. Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis has made nearly every aspect of life take a turn for the worst under the rule of the Taliban. Crucially, this includes economic struggles, which then affect access to food and healthcare.

Part of the reason for the harsh and sudden economic downturn for Afghanistan came as a result of the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Since then, most foreign aid has been revoked, including from sources such as:

  • The United States
  • The World Bank
  • The International Monetary Fund
  • The Asian Development Bank

As a result, nearly $2 billion in aid has been stopped, causing the economy to collapse, as prior to this, Afghanistan was nearly dependent on foreign aid.

Humanitarian Crisis

The economic collapse was the result of multiple failures or setbacks Afghanistan faced in recent years. Drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts all came to a head with the Taliban takeover. Food insecurity has been at the forefront of the humanitarian crisis plaguing the Middle Eastern country.

According to the World Food Programme, 95% of Afghans are food insecure as of January 2022. Drought and rising food prices in the last year have increased the severity of food insecurity, which is now up 14 points from 81% the year before.

Food insecurity isn’t due to a lack of food in the country and is rather due to a lack of economic security. As of 2020, 85% of Afghans did not have a bank account. In the current crisis, humanitarian aid is not enough. Afghans need access to secure finances to lift themselves out of poverty and to allow them to purchase food and other necessities.

However, Afghanistan’s Central Bank’s credentials are not recognized internationally, which essentially renders it useless as a financial institution. This is a security measure, as there are fears that the Taliban could use any money for their own purposes. However, the group Human Rights Watch writes of a way to legitimize the Central Bank without giving funds indirectly to the Taliban, in a practice called “ringfencing.”

A Human Rights Watch article stated the ways to protect money going into Afghanistan. By “(ensuring that bank leaders have sole and independent authorities and credentials), put in place independent auditors to monitor the bank’s transactions internationally and domestically and ensure that assets made available are being used for legitimate central banking functions and humanitarian and commercial purposes.”

Measures to ease the burden of the economic crisis will go a long way to aid Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.

Digital Payments

One creative attempt to relieve the financial woes felt by Afghans is the use of digital payments. The Center for Global Development released a brief in May 2022 on the potential impact of digital payments on Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.

Digital payments do not include cryptocurrency, though it doesn’t exclude the possibility. They work similar to apps like Venmo or CashApp, where money goes directly to consumers and then to the places they do business. The rise of technology like QR codes has made digital payments even more accessible.

In a country similar to Afghanistan, digital payments are seen as a way to alleviate economic hardship without inadvertently giving money to the Taliban, or paying the Taliban to regulate financial institutions. Instead, security measures including biometric data on smartphones or customer due diligence protocols. The protocols are already in place for digital payments used by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which often utilize digital payments for salaries in the countries they operate in.

The benefit of digital payments is the traceability, unlike bank notes. However, one potential disadvantage is that many Afghan women do not have access to smartphones or are illiterate, which would be a greater barrier to the effective use of digital payments.

There are various digital payment platforms that have already shown success. Fintech for International Development partnered with several NGOs to launch “Lotus20”, which had a successful pilot program in Kenya. In Afghanistan, the platform seeing success is “HesabPay”, which has partnered with more than 4,000 Afghan merchants to accept digital payments.

A Look Ahead

Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is rapidly growing and will continue to get worse. There are a plethora of other issues contributing to the total devastation and yet so many can be traced back to economic pitfalls. Digital payments have the potential to help Afghans regain control of their finances and lives in a time of near constant crisis.

–Emma Rushworth
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Global Engineering Brigade Provides Clean Water in Honduras

Global Engineering BrigadeEngineering students from around the world work with the Global Engineering Brigade and local communities to create clean water systems in areas that do not have access to them. College chapters travel to Ghana, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to cater the water system to the community’s needs.

In Honduras, these efforts are needed more than ever as 5.7% of the population lacked access to clean water in 2021. The following year, Honduras’s capital Tegucigalpa also experienced a clean water shortage for its 1.5 million residents. Coupled with unsafe drinking sources, malnutrition and poor health care, there are increased fears of pneumonia, which is one of the leading causes of child deaths in the country.

Global Engineering Brigades

Global Brigades began in 2003 when Shital Vora, a physical therapist student at Marquette University recruited about 20 students to volunteer in Honduras. While students initially only delivered medical supplies, the scope of the program has since evolved. Global Brigades now also provides clean water, legal help and guidance on improving public health. During the pandemic, engineering students collaborated with communities over Zoom to help with clean water systems specifically.

Water Systems

Ongoing projects in five areas of Honduras continued post pandemic lockdowns. In cities such as Loz Izotes, residents’ primary water sources are local streams with untreated water. For this community, the only way to get sufficient water flow for everyone in the area is to build a well and install an efficient pump system. The location was assessed in 2016 and a water system is designed. However, a project partner is needed to bring the plan to completion.

Volunteering Process

The global engineering brigade has a five-step process for each water system project. Although it is typically a week-long trip, chapters strive to follow these steps to ensure clean water is presented to the community. Students and other volunteers first meet with community residents and leaders to assess current water sources and the community’s needs.

Once the assessment is done, Global Engineering Brigade engineers work with volunteers to design the project. They map the area, design the water system and create a budget that works with the community. With the project developed and the budget created, the volunteers present their findings to the community before they begin construction.

Volunteers also have the opportunity to visit previously completed projects to follow up and ensure it is operating correctly. The construction phase can take time due to funding. While volunteers are not expected to stay during the construction they can extend their trip if they want to.

Ongoing Projects and Future

While the pandemic temporarily changed the way the Global Engineering Brigade operated, engineering students are now back to work in person in 2022. At the beginning of the year, the University of Birmingham in England began to fundraise for their trip to Honduras planned for July 2022.

Similarly, Dalhousie University in Canada raised $30,093.34 for their trip to Honduras in May 2022. In 2021, the engineering students participated in a TeleBridage, helping communities virtually during the pandemic.

The University of Central Florida (UCF) in the United States is scheduled to travel to Honduras in May 2023. Students at UCF also joined the TeleBrigade in 2021 to help with the water access crisis.

Global Engineering Brigades worldwide continue to raise money and provide water systems to countries lacking clean water. As of 2019, 45 water systems have been constructed with the Global Engineering Brigade’s assistance.

– -Sara Sweitzer
Photo: Flickr

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Updates From AIDS Conference 2022

AIDS ConferenceThe 24th Annual AIDS conference occurred in Montreal between July 29, 2022 and August 2, 2022. This was the first year the conference employed a hybrid model with both in-person and virtual speakers. As a result, researchers, advocates and leaders from 172 countries attended, and most were from developing countries.

The AIDS conference displayed many breakthroughs in HIV prevention and the intersections between sciences such as clinical, political, social and behavioral. The greatest clinical development, according to the co-chair of the conference Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy, was the research that found that the receipt of a long-acting injection shot of antiretroviral medication every eight weeks is “safe and superior” to daily oral medication.

Necessary Steps

However, though medical science is taking strides forwards, the rollout of these treatments remains behind. Esteban Burrone, the Head of Policy at the Medicines Patent Pool, described the necessary steps to promote the equitable rollout of HIV antiretroviral medication. Each country needs FDA approval, licensing, manufacturing and recommendation in guidelines for a rollout to receive approval. Things that can help fast-track product rollout in countries are “community involvement in demanding access, pursuing early licensing, securing national approval, equitable pricing agreements.” In addition, Dr. Karin Hatzold, a public health physician, discussed how access to “diagnostic strategies such as HIV self-testing… [and] operations research to optimize delivery models” are crucial for a successful rollout and introduction to products.

Reaching Rural Areas

Tackling the difficulty of delivering medications to vulnerable populations in developing countries, however, is Dr. Rosalind Parkes-Ratanshi. Parkes-Ratanshi discussed a pilot project in Uganda where medical drones help distribute HIV medication in remote locations and for mobile populations. Her medical drone project is also used for COVID-19 and STI sample delivery. Although this does not address the policy required to roll out new products in other countries, it is a step to reaching rural populations with already approved antiretroviral medication.

New Framework

Furthermore, representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Fund and the International Aids Society (IAS) presented new people-focused guidelines that the WHO has adopted to focus on structural barriers. This includes reducing stigma and eradicating “punitive laws.” The new framework also works to target key populations who make up 70% of new HIV infections according to UNAIDS. Each presenter at the AIDS conference including the WHO strives to progress the global community toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target, a goal that states by 2030, 95% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 95% of people who know their status will be receiving treatment and that 95% of people on HIV treatment will have an undetectable viral load making the chance of infecting others very low.

PEPFAR News

PEPFAR, the U.S. President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, announced that 5.5 million babies across the world have been born HIV-free due to the program’s efforts. PEPFAR’s efforts to expand treatment and prevention services to many target populations across the globe have reached millions. U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy Ambassador-at-Large Dr. John Nkengasong described the prevention program that made this possible. “In collaboration with countries, communities, and our partners, PEPFAR supported comprehensive HIV prevention programming for adolescent girls and young women, voluntary medical male circumcision, and we scaled up treatment for women and men with viral suppression.” Other PEPFAR announcements included reaching the 90-90-90 UNAIDS target in at least 12 “high HIV disease burden countries” and treating approximately 20 million men, women, and children with antiretroviral medication.

These were only a fraction of the many positive advancements that researchers discussed at the 2022 AIDS conference. Much progress has occurred in understanding other barriers such as the social, political and economical barriers to reach the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goal by 2030. Check out the AIDS 2022 website for more information about the 24th Annual AIDS conference.

– Jordan Oh
Photo: Flickr