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How Beekeeping in Uganda Is Transforming Rural Communities

Beekeeping in UgandaAgriculture remains an important source of income for Ugandan families, particularly in rural communities. However, farmers often face limited access to financing, reliable markets and opportunities to add value to their products. The World Bank estimated that more than four in 10 Ugandans lived below the international poverty line of $2.15 per person per day in 2024. Beekeeping offers rural families another way to generate income while supporting agriculture and biodiversity.

The Growing Role of Beekeeping

Beekeeping, also known as apiculture, has become an increasingly important agricultural activity in Uganda. The country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries reported that honey production increased from 20,875 metric tons in 2022 to 2023 to 21,505 metric tons in 2023 to 2024, a 3% increase. The ministry identifies apiculture as an opportunity for employment, income generation and profitability, particularly for women and young people.

Beyond honey production, bees support agriculture through pollination. Pollinators help maintain food production and biodiversity, making beekeeping valuable to farmers who grow crops alongside their apiaries. Beekeeping can provide smallholder farmers with an additional source of income while supporting the ecosystems on which agriculture depends.

Beekeeping Creates Opportunities for Women

Women can also use beekeeping to diversify their incomes and gain greater economic independence. The Budongo Women Bee Enterprise in Uganda’s Masindi region provides one example. Eleven women created the cooperative in 2012, and 40 women have since benefited directly from training in beekeeping and candle making. Members sell honey twice a year and produce mosquito-repellent candles from beeswax.

The initiative connects beekeeping with broader community development. The women receive training in marketing, financial management and leadership while the cooperative supports sustainable land-use practices and tree planting. By combining honey production with other products and skills, the project gives women several ways to generate income while encouraging environmental conservation.

Supporting a Growing Industry

Organizations such as the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organization (TUNADO) also support the country’s beekeeping sector by connecting beekeepers, processors, trainers, researchers and other industry participants. TUNADO reports that its activities have reached more than 100,000 beekeepers across Uganda, including 45,000 women involved in different parts of the apiculture value chain. The organization also reports training 1,400 people with disabilities in beekeeping and honey production.

These efforts can help farmers access knowledge and markets while creating opportunities beyond the farm. Beekeeping can support jobs in honey processing, packaging, equipment production and marketing, allowing rural communities to benefit from several stages of the value chain.

A Sustainable Path Forward

Beekeeping does not require farmers to abandon other agricultural activities. Instead, farmers can integrate hives into existing farming systems while benefiting from pollination and additional products such as beeswax and propolis.

However, beekeepers still face challenges, including limited access to modern equipment, financing, training and reliable markets. Expanding technical support and improving access to higher-value markets could help more farmers benefit from the growing honey industry.

– Violette Bardouil

Violette is based in Paris, France and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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3 Pathways To Rule of Law in Papua New Guinea

Rule of Law in Papua New GuineaIssues regarding the rule of law in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are a matter of reach. The country has constitutional rights, courts, police and public institutions, yet many Papua New Guineans, particularly those in remote areas, cannot readily access them. Limiting factors like distance, cost, lack of legal knowledge and inconsistent government services make it difficult to navigate conflict within the law, often pushing communities to look outside formal systems. This fragility, however, does not mean that PNG lacks governance. It means that governance remains uneven across the country.

Compounding the challenge, economic shocks and natural disasters can intensify political instability – particularly for those living in poverty. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) identifies these pressures as interacting sources of fragility: they weaken government capacity to deliver services, reduce poverty and manage risks. Papua New Guinea faces some of the most complex and intersectional poverty in the world and when citizens cannot access reliable courts, health care or education, public institutions can lose legitimacy – the gap between constitutional promise and reality widens.

1. Rights Need Accessible Institutions

PNG’s Constitution protects civil and political rights, but basic procedural barriers make it difficult to enforce them. One constitutional review found that PNG frames socio-economic and cultural rights largely as guiding principles rather than rights, making it difficult to legislate enforceable protections. For people without access to legal services, rights to protection, education and health remain difficult to claim.

The formal justice system also cannot operate alone. Poverty in Papua New Guinea is not just about money; it’s about compounding factors. Most Papua New Guineans live outside urban centers, which means access to courts, police and other state services can become remote in every sense of the word. Rural communities also account for 88.5% of PNG’s population, 61.5% of whom experience multidimensional poverty. For the many citizens who are isolated from city centers, the village courts and customary systems become the first stop to keep the peace.

Village courts often provide the most accessible forum for dispute resolution. They sit closer to communities and can incorporate customary processes, though they still require safeguards for human rights and gender equality. Australian support has helped strengthen this local infrastructure. In 2026, PNG’s Village Courts and Land Mediation Secretariat report showed the total network to consist of 14,496 village courts, operated by more than 15,000 officials, 900 of whom are women. These courts strengthen state fragility and the rule of law in Papua New Guinea by providing fundamental access to state justice.

2. The Issue of Parliamentary Supremacy

The Papua New Guinea rule of law also depends on political institutions that constrain power. The 2011–12 constitutional crisis exposed the consequences when political leaders treat constitutional limits as negotiable. The crisis followed the removal of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and produced competing claims to executive authority. Research from the Australian National University characterized the fragility and the rule of law in Papua New Guinea issues during this period as a serious retreat from previous years. Fluid political loyalties and incentives prioritized parliamentary survival over institutional reform.

Fifteen years later, the Lowy Institute argues that PNG’s party law can exclude citizens from meaningful democratic participation. Political parties mostly lack deep membership structures, leaving voters with limited influence over candidate selection or party policy between elections. While more accountable political parties would not solve every justice problem, they could give citizens greater ability to demand service delivery and legal reform.

3. Power of the Local

PNG also has active solutions that address fragility at the community level. Femili PNG, a local organization that began operating in Lae in 2014, helps survivors of family and sexual violence access police, medical, welfare and justice services. Between July 2014 and June 2024, Femili PNG admitted 7,452 survivors as clients. Now, in 2024-25 alone, Femili PNG assisted 1,652 survivors and delivered more than 33,000 services. The organization works to connect survivors to services rather than expecting them to navigate a fragmented system alone.

Australia’s law and justice partnership aims to extend this work. Providing an estimated $500 million in bilateral assistance to PNG in 2026–27, Australia will allocate a total ODA of $680.5 million. Its development program supports security, policing and law and justice services, while the Australia–PNG Law and Justice Partnership aims to strengthen accessible justice at national and community levels. Funding to support state courts and police can help tackle fragility and the rule of law in Papua New Guinea, but assistance must also strengthen village courts, survivor services and trusted local mediators.

Pathways Forward

Most Papua New Guineans live in rural communities with higher levels of multidimensional poverty, which means formal legal institutions cannot alone secure the rule of law. The rule of law is not something a single piece of paper – it is the practice and tradition, reinforced with every new judgement and decision, that there is no person or power above the law. When most people in a country have challenges accessing justice, power rather than law becomes the stronger force. So, all of these local leaders, village courts, churches, rural communities and NGOs are not support structures: they are access points to justice.

– Matilda Beikoff Smart

Matilda is based in Brisbane, Australia and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Beyond the Pitch: Footballers and Humanitarian Impact

Footballers and Humanitarian ImpactFootball has the power to unite millions of people across cultures and continents, but its influence extends far beyond the pitch. Former England international Joe Hart is among those who have used his profile to support humanitarian causes. While best known for his achievements in professional football, Hart has partnered with charitable organizations to promote initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of disadvantaged communities. His efforts demonstrate how sport can serve as a catalyst for positive change, mobilizing resources and inspiring action on issues ranging from access to essential services to broader humanitarian support. By leveraging his influence off the field, Hart shows that footballers can have a humanitarian impact by creating opportunities for those most in need.

Hart’s Support for UNICEF’s Soccer Aid

Former England goalkeeper Hart has used his platform to support the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) humanitarian work through Soccer Aid, the annual charity football match that raises funds for children living in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities living in poverty. Since its launch in 2006, Soccer Aid has helped UNICEF deliver life-saving support, including access to clean water, health care, education and emergency assistance for children affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters.

One area where UNICEF’s work has had a significant impact is improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people still lack access to safe drinking water globally. Low water sanitation contributes to the spread of preventable diseases such as cholera and diarrhea, which remain leading causes of illness and death in many poverty-stricken countries. In many communities, women and girls also spend hours each day collecting water. The World Bank states that in nearly 80% of households lacking a clean water supply, the responsibility falls directly on women to collect it, reducing the time available for education, employment and other economic activities.

While no single campaign can solve the global water crisis, public figures such as Hart can help amplify the work of organizations delivering long-term solutions. This year, Soccer Aid for UNICEF raised £16,462,353 to support UNICEF’s work worldwide. Increased public awareness through footballers such as Hart can create humanitarian impact.

Footballers and Humanitarian Impact

With an estimated 3.5 billion fans worldwide, football is the world’s most popular sport, giving professional players an unparalleled platform to influence public opinion and inspire action. Beyond entertaining millions on the pitch, athletes can use their visibility to shine a light on humanitarian issues that often receive little international attention. By partnering with charities, participating in fundraising campaigns and encouraging public engagement, footballers can help generate donations, attract new supporters and expand the reach of organizations working to combat poverty.

Hart demonstrates how this influence can extend beyond sport. Through his support for Soccer Aid for UNICEF, Hart has used his public profile to support humanitarian impact initiatives that improve lives and create opportunities for disadvantaged communities. While athletes alone cannot solve complex global challenges, their advocacy can mobilize resources and encourage fans, businesses and fellow players to contribute to meaningful causes.

As global development organizations continue to address issues such as poverty, limited access to education and inadequate health care, partnerships with high-profile athletes can play an important supporting role. By leveraging the global reach of football, players like Hart show that success is measured not only by achievements on the field but also by the positive impact they make in communities around the world.

– Emma Wheeler

Emma is based in Valencia, Spain and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Digital Innovation: Supporting Poverty Reduction in Indonesia

Poverty Reduction in IndonesiaFrom digital identification systems to artificial intelligence, Indonesia is using technology to modernize public services and create new opportunities for millions of people. Despite recent progress, poverty remains a challenge, with 8.57% of the population living in poverty. As Indonesia works to reduce poverty, digital innovation has become an important tool for expanding access to economic opportunities.

Through digital identification systems, electronic payments and other digital technologies, Indonesia is modernizing the delivery of social assistance and public services. These innovations are improving efficiency, strengthening transparency and connecting more people with the resources they need. This article explores how digital transformation is supporting poverty reduction in Indonesia.

Digital Technology Is Improving Public Services

Indonesia is using digital technology to make government services and social assistance programs more efficient. By making government services easier to access and improving the delivery of social assistance, e-government systems ensure that support reaches vulnerable households.

E-government systems use digital technologies to provide public services and information to citizens, businesses and government agencies more efficiently. These systems offer an easier way for people to access services like tax filing, health care, financial aid and other government programs.

A key part of Indonesia’s e-government system is its digital identification program. In 2011, Indonesia introduced its digital identification system, centered around the electronic identity card (e-KTP). The system links with official records, including family cards, birth certificates and other identity documents. Now, it has been distributed to 170 million residents and is foundational to government and private-sector transactions.

By allowing citizens to verify their identities digitally, the e-KTP improves access to government services and social assistance while reducing administrative errors and fraud.

The World Bank is working on the “ID for Inclusive Service Delivery and Digital Transformation Project” to improve and increase the use of digital identification systems in Indonesia. The project aims to expand these systems in 12 more provinces.

By expanding digital identification systems, Indonesia improves access to essential public services and social assistance, helping more people, especially those in underserved communities, receive the support they need and contributing to long-term poverty reduction in Indonesia.

How Digital Innovation Is Expanding Economic Opportunities

In addition to improving public services, digital innovation is expanding economic opportunities across Indonesia by increasing access to financial services and digital commerce. Digital payment systems and other financial technologies help more people participate in the formal economy, particularly those in underserved communities.

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to the foundational digital systems that allow governments and businesses to deliver services at a large scale, including digital identification, digital payment systems and secure data exchange.

One of the main ways Indonesia is expanding economic opportunities is through digital financial services (DFS), an important component of DPI. These include a variety of financial tools and services, such as digital wallets, electronic payment platforms, savings accounts, loans, insurance and investment products.

These investments have already contributed to greater financial inclusion. Today, 88.7% of the population has access to formal financial services, with the government aiming to increase that figure to 93% by 2029.

These digital payment methods are more inclusive and accessible, particularly for people with limited access to traditional financial services. By reducing geographical barriers and enabling remote transactions, digital financial services make it easier for individuals to save money, receive payments, access financial products and participate more fully in the formal economy.

These benefits are especially significant for rural producers, who often face greater barriers to accessing markets and financial resources. Hengky Kohan, a consultant specializing in data and artificial intelligence, told The Borgen Project in an interview that digital innovation can improve economic opportunities for rural producers by making them more visible within digital supply chains. He said, “A farmer who exists in a traceable digital supply chain can be paid more fairly, qualify for certification premiums and access financing based on verifiable production records.”

How Digital Governance Strengthens Poverty Reduction

Beyond improving public services and expanding financial inclusion, digital innovation is also strengthening governance in ways that can support poverty reduction. By improving how information is collected, shared and analyzed, digital technologies help governments make more informed decisions and deliver resources more efficiently. Kohan explained that the Indonesian government has begun treating “data as national infrastructure” rather than simply as isolated information. He added that integrating data systems can strengthen policymaking, improve public services and support economic development.

He also noted how stronger digital governance improves transparency and efficiency. For example, digital reporting systems for exports help reduce revenue leakage and provide governments with more accurate information about economic activity. He told The Borgen Project, “The poverty connection is fiscal: every dollar of leakage that better data recovers is a dollar available for health, education and social assistance.” By reducing revenue losses and improving data accuracy, policymakers can make more informed decisions and allocate public resources more effectively. By strengthening digital governance and improving access to reliable information, Indonesia is building a more efficient public sector that can better support economic development.

Conclusion

While challenges such as digital literacy and unequal access to technology remain, Indonesia’s investments in digital innovation demonstrate how technology can support long-term poverty reduction in Indonesia. By improving access to public services, expanding financial inclusion and strengthening government transparency, digital transformation is helping create greater economic opportunities and build a more inclusive future for communities across Indonesia.

– Michelle Kurniali

Michelle is based in Dallas, TX, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Higher Education in Slovenia

Higher Education in SloveniaSlovenia has built one of Europe’s stronger higher education systems, and higher education in Slovenia plays a direct role in the country’s fight against poverty. Roughly half of all Slovenians between the ages of 19 and 24 are enrolled in tertiary education, and most never see a tuition bill. Undergraduate study at public universities is free for Slovenian and EU students who attend full-time, and about 74% of all students paid no tuition fees in the 2024/2025 academic year. That investment has paid off in rising attainment: 43.1% of Slovenians aged 25 to 34 now hold a tertiary degree, up from 31.3% in 2015 and just short of the European Union average of 44.2%. Last year, 16,629 students completed a tertiary degree in the country, 3.2% more than the year before, continuing a decade-long climb in the share of young adults with a university education.

The Costs of Higher Education in Slovenia

Free tuition, however, does not guarantee equal opportunity. Students from low-income families, rural areas and other underrepresented groups often struggle to cover the costs that surround the classroom rather than the classroom itself: housing, food, transportation and books. Monthly living costs for students in Slovenia typically run between €500 and €800, with dormitory rooms costing €120 to €200 a month and private shared apartments running €250 to €350 per person, expenses that weigh most heavily on students who cannot rely on family support and that can push young people from poorer or rural households to skip university altogether.

The gap shows up starkly in outcomes. Among Slovenians whose parents hold a tertiary degree, 74% go on to earn one themselves. Among those whose parents did not finish upper secondary school, only 16% do, one of the widest such gaps that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tracked. That 58-percentage-point divide illustrates how a family’s financial and educational background, not a student’s ability, can still decide who reaches a university classroom in Slovenia.

Scholarship Programs

To narrow that gap, the Slovenian government funds several scholarship programs aimed at the students who need help the most. Need-based state scholarships, reserved for students from financially disadvantaged families, reached 46.7% of full-time undergraduate students and 24.3% of master’s students in the 2021/2022 academic year, making them the most widely used form of student aid in the country. Merit-based Zois scholarships support high-achieving students regardless of income, and the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund separately awards roughly 1,000 new scholarships each year to students training for occupations facing labor shortages, worth €118.48 a month, with total recipients numbering 2,890 as of the end of 2023. Together, these programs are designed so that a student’s financial background does not determine whether they can finish a degree.

The Erasmus+ Program

Slovenia is also working to modernize its higher education system through participation in the Erasmus+ program, which lets students study at universities across Europe, build professional skills and connect with international peers. Almost 5,000 Slovenian students took part in Erasmus+ exchanges in 2023 alone, a 50% increase over 2019, and more than 31,000 Slovenian students have studied abroad through the program over the past decade. These placements help prepare graduates for an increasingly international job market while bringing new teaching methods and fresh ideas back into Slovenian classrooms.

The Slovenian Human Resources Development and Scholarship Fund

Nonprofit organizations reinforce this work. The Slovenian Human Resources Development and Scholarship Fund, the country’s central scholarship body, runs multiple programs that fund undergraduate, graduate and doctoral study for both Slovenian citizens and international students, in some cases covering tuition and living costs for recipients who could not otherwise afford them. The fund also finances researcher mobility and support for lifelong learning, helping students and workers continue building skills well beyond a single degree.

Looking Ahead

A college degree remains one of the most reliable paths out of poverty and into long-term economic security. Slovenian tertiary graduates face an unemployment rate of just 3.5%, compared with 11.4% for those who did not complete upper secondary school, and graduates typically earn more and change jobs less often than their less-educated peers. By continuing to fund scholarships, expand exchange programs like Erasmus+ and invest in partners like the Slovenian Human Resources Development and Scholarship Fund, Slovenia is working to make sure that a student’s family income says less about their future than their own effort does.

– Rachel Ma

Rachel is based in Florham Park, NJ, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Education Centers in Jamaica Tackle Unemployment

Vocational Education Centers in Jamaica

Jamaica needs skilled workers while simultaneously struggling with educational outcomes and youth unemployment. Vocational education training centers in Jamaica are instrumental in bridging this gap and can support the reduction of unemployment and drive economic growth and development. However, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has its potential limited by social stigma, inadequate funding and a disconnect between training and labor market needs.

Vocational education training centers in Jamaica offer practical, job-specific training and technical skills, which can provide a direct route into industries experiencing skills shortages. Existing centers include the St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre, which opened in 2022. However, simply increasing the number of vocational education training centers in Jamaica does not address the wider challenges facing a country where educational outcomes and youth employment remain challenges.  

TVET needs to become a more consistent and significant force in elevating people out of poverty. UNESCO’s International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean has identified some barriers TVET needs to overcome to become more effective.

The Issues Facing TVET in Jamaica

These include a disconnect between educational provision and labor market demand. Insufficient collaboration between training between providers and the targeted industry causes this.

Many people have historically seen TVET subjects as being for students who did not have success on the traditional educational path. Due to this, people have long seen TVET subjects as only for those who are good with their hands.

Jamaican children also struggle to transition between education levels. People have often called the effectiveness of education into question. Nationally, in 2025, only 19.2% of students passed Math, English and three other subjects. The low pass rate emphasizes that despite Jamaican children completing on average 11.7 years of schooling, according to a 2021 Public Expenditure Review on Education that UNICEF and the World Bank conducted, they only gain 7.2 years of quality learning.

Underinvestment in vocational education training centers in Jamaica can leave centers reliant on outdated equipment. Therefore, students do not have the skills that a modern labor market requires. Addressing these barriers is essential if TVET is to reach its potential as a pathway out of poverty.

How Jamaica Is Addressing These Issues

In 2025, the Institute of Vocational Education and Skills Training (INVEST) announced a collaboration with the TUI Care Foundation to launch the TUI Academy. The academy is based in Montego Bay, where youth unemployment and skills shortage coexist with the city’s importance to Jamaica’s tourism industry. The program is a response to a shortage of skilled labor in the tourism and hospitality industry. Combining theory with life skills like conflict management and substance abuse prevention has meant 70% of program graduates are expected to secure employment.

In 2023, the Ministry of Education announced that it is taking steps to introduce TVET at the primary level. According to The Global Economy in 2024, 97.3% of eligible children were enrolled in primary education, which is the largest enrolment rate for any education level in Jamaica. With children and parents introduced to it earlier, the idea that academic subjects and TVET are equal will grow. At a more systemic level, Fayval Williams, the previous education minister, said legislation changes would allow the University Council of Jamaica to give TVET courses the same accreditation as their academic counterparts.

A study that Dr. Paul Andrew Bourne conducted in 2025 with 500 TVET students showed that TVET courses reportedly mitigate academic underperformance. The results of this study showed that 62% of students reported improved literacy skills and 67% reported enhanced numeracy through integrated vocational training. These results suggest that vocational education training centers in Jamaica may be key to unlocking a path to a better quality of education for students and better retention of academic subject knowledge.

The government of Jamaica recently announced more than $400 million to strengthen TVET delivery across primary and secondary schools. There has also been a further $400 million earmarked to retrofit technical high schools with new and emerging laboratories. Furthermore, in June 2026, the HEART/NSTA (Human Employment and Resource training/National service training agency trust) announced through a Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) initiative that three courses will be available online with a minimum of 10 more to be digitized by 2027. The pilot of this initiative received funding from the German development agency GIZ.

The Success of These Measures

Despite the challenges TVET has faced, the programs have shown promising results. Since 2020, the HEART/NSTA Trust has provided skills training for more than 550,000 young people. Further consistent investment in vocational education centers in Jamaica could be an important route into employment for young people.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ announcement that the Jamaican government will remove fees for all programs that the HEART/NSTA Trust provided up to level 5 in the 2026/27 fiscal year is indicative of the steps Jamaica is taking in its fight against poverty and unemployment. Jamaica’s investment in TVET, its partnership with international organizations to provide education for in-demand industries and its alignment of TVET with more traditional education forms from primary school is making vocational education less stigmatized, more accessible and more affordable. Jamaica’s efforts demonstrate that TVET can be more than an alternative educational pathway: it can be an investment in economic mobility.

– Malachi Thompson

Malachi is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Indonesia’s SDG 5 in Java

Indonesia's SDG 5Gender equality is heavily connected to reducing poverty. Indonesia’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), gender equality, has 48 programmatic interventions through the United Nations (UN) and its partners. This one SDG accounts for about 25% of the UN’s SDG-related activities in Indonesia, and for a good reason. Young women aged 25 to 34 are 25% more likely than men to live in extreme poverty and are more vulnerable to falling into poverty.

In Indonesia, as of 2025, the labor force participation rate among females is 53.7% and among males is 82.3%. Even women within employment are around 14% more likely to be in vulnerable employment than men, meaning they are more likely to fall into poverty.

Dida Gardera, Indonesia’s acting deputy for the coordination of industry, manpower and tourism at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, believes that women, comprising 49% of Indonesia’s population, must not be overlooked for economic development. Eradicating gender inequality leads to economic development and a decrease in poverty in Indonesia. This can be done through advocating for women’s rights in the workplace and civil society and ensuring women’s safety. UN initiatives in these categories have greatly improved the lives of women, moving toward gender equality and alleviating poverty.

Rights of Women in the Workplace and Civil Society

Activity 1.2.15 and 1.2.16 focus on empowering women in civil society and the household, allowing women to have a more influential role. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen the ability to advocate, digital and physical security, leadership and policy influence. It fosters collective action and dialogue with policymakers, allowing meaningful participation for women in shaping an inclusive future.

Initiative 1.2.22 works to ensure decent work and reduce vulnerabilities for women and children in the context of labor migration in Southeast Asia. Part of this initiative is preventing and responding to violence against women in the workplace, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Preventive measures empower women migrant workers and children by uplifting their voices and equipping them with knowledge, skills and access to services.

Activity 3.1.3 aims to reduce gender-based discrimination at work and eliminate child labor, improving protection of rights for women and children during trade growth and restructuring. It allows for enhanced working conditions that enable workers to perform better, which boosts economic benefits.

Indonesia’s SDG 5 is helping women rise out of poverty through empowerment. Empowering women in society and the workplace increases household income and boosts economic growth. Results of these initiatives are evident in the increase of women holding seats in national parliament, from 11.4% in 1997 to 21.9% in 2025. By having more women included in policy-making discussions, women receive policy-based advocacy for their rights in society, the workplace and the household. Advocacy in policy allows for decent work and social protection, which provides security that allows women to rise out of poverty while establishing sustainable economic development.

Ensuring Safety of Women

Activity 1.2.19 strengthens policy ability to prevent and respond to gender-based violence facilitated by technology (TF-GBV). It takes a survivor-centered and rights-based approach to build specialized skills among police officers that enhance their ability to prevent TF-GBV. It also improves collaboration between law enforcement agencies, ministries and civil society organizations.

Activities 1.2.20, 1.2.36, 1.2.38 and 1.2.48 all aim to reduce violence against women (VAW). Both activity 1.2.20 and 1.2.38 focus on budgeting-related initiatives directed toward reducing VAW, with training of stakeholders and allocating more budget to decrease VAW. Activity 1.2.38 focuses on capacity-building activities that reduce VAW. Activity 1.2.48 focuses on implementing a VAW case management system in government centers.

Activities 1.2.45, 1.2.46 and 1.2.47 focus on reducing female genital mutilation (FGM). This is done by improving the enabling environment to establish agency, improving awareness and generating evidence among target populations.

Violence against women threatens women’s economic well-being, independence and health. Therefore, addressing and combating violence against women makes Indonesia’s SDG 5 an important component of fighting poverty. Gender-based violence affects one in three women worldwide, with 27% of women ages 15 to 49 experiencing intimate partner violence. In Indonesia, only 11.9% of women ages 15 to 49 experience intimate partner violence. This difference can partly be attributed to the initiatives described. Fighting violence against women and ensuring a safe environment for them allows participation in civil society and seeking employment without fear, facilitating personal economic growth to overcome poverty.

Agencies Behind the Initiatives

The two most prominent agencies in charge of these initiatives are the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women. UNFPA’s main mission is to advocate and uphold women’s rights through sexual and reproductive health. Its programs center around reducing maternal mortality rates, eradicating gender-based violence and advocating for women’s reproductive rights.

UN Women is an agency that seeks to empower women by closing the gender gap, shifting laws, institutions, social norms and services. It works in four areas: leadership; economic empowerment; freedom from violence; and peace, security and humanitarian action.

In Indonesia, UN Women works with stakeholders, Komnas Perempuan (Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence Against Women), legal aids and women’s crisis centers to improve policy and seek legal justice. Its Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Programme builds alliances with women members of parliament, and its Wahid Foundation develops peace villages for women’s safety. It engages with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sectoral bodies to develop conflict prevention and promote the collection and use of gender data for crises.

These agencies and their dedication to eradicating gender inequality benefit many women in poverty. By empowering them and allowing them the right to choose their future path, more women are able to find employment and reach their full potential, thus rising out of poverty.

– Arden Schultz

Arden is based in Milford, MI, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fragility and Rule of Law in Lebanon

Fragility and Rule of Law in LebanonLebanon has spent the better part of a decade immersed in the Middle East’s ecosystem of conflict, caught between Iranian and Israeli intervention along its southern border. Today, that instability has sharpened into a direct test of fragility and rule of law in Lebanon, as President Joseph Aoun’s government struggles to disarm Hezbollah and reassert the state’s monopoly on the use of force. Aoun took office in January 2025 on that promise, tied to the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, but more than a year later the question remains unresolved.

A State Testing Its Authority

The November 2024 ceasefire ended a year of open conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and required Israeli forces to withdraw from five military positions in southern Lebanon. Aoun’s government also committed to disarming Hezbollah, according to the House of Commons Library. Hezbollah refused to lay down its weapons until Israel completed its withdrawal. In this way, disarmament became a threat to Lebanon’s own standing rather than a step toward sovereignty.

By 2026, Lebanese officials reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) had moved into former Hezbollah positions along the border and near the Litani River, extending the army’s presence into territory the group once controlled.

Renewed Pressure, Renewed Risk

The fragile progress unraveled after the United States and Israel killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a February 2026 airstrike on Tehran, escalating the broader U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran. Hezbollah responded by firing six rockets into northern Israel, and the Lebanese government proved unable to compel full disarmament of the group, reviving fears of renewed conflict.

By June 2026, Washington and Jerusalem set stricter conditions for a new ceasefire, including complete Hezbollah disarmament, an end to hostilities and exclusive military authority for the LAF, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Lebanese, Israeli and U.S. officials continued negotiations through the summer, most recently in Rome in July 2026.

On June 16, 2026, Israel agreed to withdraw from two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, though the displaced residents and left damaged infrastructure behind were aspects to consider, Reuters reported.

Aoun described the Rome talks as showing “positive progress,” according to Vatican News, and negotiators added the return of Lebanese prisoners and a halt to house demolitions to the agenda.

Despite the diplomatic intervention, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli forces fired more than 450 projectiles into south Lebanon and crossed into Lebanese airspace nearly 100 times more than a single weekend in early August, increasing pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

Rebuilding State Institutions

Efforts to address fragility and rule of law y in Lebanon go beyond the battlefield. Since September 2017, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has worked with the Lebanese government to strengthen the country’s security and justice institutions. The program has helped turn municipal police forces into community-policing units in more than 300 municipalities, providing services to more than 260,000 people across 75 villages. According to UNDP, it has also established four legal-aid helpdesks with the U.N. refugee agency, providing free legal assistance to more than 19,000 people, 62% of whom are women. The project has received more than $14 million from international donors, including the United States, the European Union and Denmark, and is expected to continue until June 2027.

Present Day

Violence has decreased since the Rome talks and a preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement on the wider regional conflict, though Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continued into August, according to France 24 — a reminder of the gap that still separates what is agreed on paper from what happens on the ground.

This fragility has deepened poverty across the country. According to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2026, the collapse of formal safety nets alongside a weakened rule of law has left vulnerable populations exposed, with more than 79% of Lebanon’s population now living below the poverty line. Migrants face particular risk: approximately 165,000 of them, roughly 70% women, are exposed to exploitation, loss of legal status and exclusion from aid. IOM’s response focuses on community stabilization, peacebuilding, and social cohesion, working alongside the Lebanese government.

The European Union has also stepped in, committing €100 million in humanitarian aid after the March-April 2026 escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, which displaced more than a million people. Food, shelter, and other essential support for those caught in the crisis has been constantly provided.

Even so, the UNDP-backed expansion of community policing and legal aid access shows one path through which fragility and rule of law in Lebanon can improve, independent of the pace of diplomatic negotiations.

– Juan Guillermo Rueda Castrillón

Juan is based in Bogotá, Colombia and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Reducing Overtourism in the Canary Islands

Overtourism in the Canary IslandsIn the vast waters of the Atlantic Ocean, near the coast of northern Africa, lie the Canary Islands, an autonomous region of Spain. With a population of 2.2 million people, the Canaries are most famous for their renowned beaches, rich history and culture, year-round mild weather and distinctive cuisine. Due to all this, it is a popular vacation destination for many tourists who wish to see all the wonders of the Canaries.

Tourism in the Canaries

Tourism is a large part of the islands’ economy, similar to many other European regions. It has the potential to benefit the country and islands. Yet, it can also be the root of more issues, especially regarding the local residents and the poverty they face. Fortunately, there is a way to reduce mass tourism in the islands.

In moderation, tourism can be beneficial for the country and its people, as it gives them more recognition from the outside world. It allows more people to learn about their islands and culture, as well as providing new job openings, such as hotel employment, airline work, travel agencies and tour guides. It is not inherently a negative practice; however, too much of it can quickly become an issue, which is what is happening in the Canary Islands.

The number of tourists has greatly increased over the past few years; the islands drew a record 18.4 million visitors in 2025, or roughly 1.5 million a month. This is particularly an issue for the Canary locals, whose quality of life is negatively affected. When so many foreign visitors arrive, it strains the islands’ resources. Hotels and tourist-related companies strive to accommodate tourists, but this quickly causes problems for residents.

Housing Costs

Overtourism in the Canary Islands leads to overcrowding that makes it difficult for locals to move around and go about their daily routines. It raises house prices, as properties are increasingly used to house tourists—a notable example being Airbnb, as people buy property specifically to rent it to visitors—which leaves locals with housing costs they cannot afford. In May 2026, average home prices rose 19.3% compared with the same month in 2025—the largest increase anywhere in Spain—and prices are now 24.8% higher than at the peak of Spain’s 2007 property boom, according to valuation company Tinsa. Overtourism can also raise the price of food and other goods, as businesses cater to tourists, and locals end up paying more too. Mass tourism further strains the islands’ environment, as waste accumulates and resources are stretched.

All of these issues leave many residents facing worsening financial hardship as they struggle to afford a basic quality of life. In May 2025, Canary Islands locals held large protests against overtourism, arguing that it was the root cause of many of the islands’ issues and demanding that the government take action.

How to Change It

The government has created a voluntary contribution program as an alternative to a mandatory tourist tax. It allows visitors and travel companies to donate money online to fund the islands’ sustainability and community projects. Known as the Canary Islands Tourism Regeneration and Nature Restoration Fund (RegNext), the scheme operates across the islands, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

RegNext’s main goal is to channel those voluntary contributions into habitat restoration, species recovery, landscape improvement, new green jobs and support for local communities and social projects. Tourism already provides jobs for 280,534 people in the Canaries, and RegNext aims to fund additional green jobs to further reduce unemployment. The initiative is also collaborating with major travel companies—including easyJet holidays, TUI and Jet2—to develop regenerative tourism.

This recent development allows any willing visitor to contribute and help improve the islands and, by extension, help their people thrive. The Canary Islands are a beautiful destination, but overtourism has become a large issue for both the islands and their people, worsening residents’ quality of life. RegNext is intended to help ease that strain and the financial pressures Canary locals face, so that residents can live without the burden of overtourism and their communities can benefit from the program, improving their quality of life.

– Michalistsa Kontogianni

Michalitsa is based in Washington, DC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Telemedicine Expands Healthcare in Rural Pakistan

Healthcare in Rural PakistanFor a patient living in a remote Pakistani community, seeing a doctor can require more than making an appointment. Long distances, transportation costs and limited access to specialists can make healthcare difficult to reach, especially for lower-income families. Telemedicine in Pakistan offers one solution by connecting patients with healthcare professionals through digital platforms and remote consultations.

Pakistan has begun moving telemedicine beyond individual online consultations and into local health facilities. Recent government initiatives show how digital health can connect rural communities with doctors while allowing nurses and other health workers to provide support on the ground. Here is more information about how telemedicine is expanding healthcare access in rural Pakistan.

Why Rural Communities Need Better Healthcare Access

Healthcare access in rural Pakistan is challenging due to significant barriers. The World Bank estimates that about 60.5% of Pakistan’s population lived in rural areas in 2025. Rural communities also experience higher poverty rates than urban communities, which makes the cost and accessibility of health services especially important.

For some rural patients, reaching a hospital or specialist requires a long journey. Transportation costs can add another burden for families with limited incomes. For people living in poverty, the cost of traveling to a distant hospital can also mean sacrificing money needed for food or other household necessities. Workers who depend on daily wages may also lose income when they have to spend a day traveling for medical care. These barriers can discourage people from seeking care or cause them to delay treatment.

Healthcare costs can create an additional burden for low-income families. According to the World Bank, poverty remains significantly higher in rural areas than in urban areas of Pakistan. Improving access to healthcare is therefore important not only for people’s health but also for protecting vulnerable families from additional financial pressure.

Telemedicine can address part of this problem. A 2024 study in “Frontiers in Public Health” found that telehealth can reduce travel-related costs and time while improving access to healthcare for people in rural and isolated areas.

How Telemedicine Brings Doctors Closer

Telemedicine allows patients to communicate with doctors without traveling to a distant hospital for every consultation. Depending on the service, patients can discuss symptoms, receive medical advice and access follow-up care through video calls or other digital platforms.

Sehat Kahani, a Pakistani digital health organization, uses a nurse-assisted e-clinic model to connect patients in underserved communities with doctors remotely. Nurses can assist patients at local clinics while doctors provide consultations through digital platforms.

The model also creates opportunities for doctors to serve patients from a distance. Sehat Kahani’s network includes thousands of doctors and its digital platform has delivered about 1 million consultations, according to 100X Impact Accelerator. The organization reports that women make up a majority of its trained doctors, including women who have returned to medical practice through flexible telehealth work.

This approach can address two problems at once: communities gain access to doctors while qualified medical professionals can provide care without working from a traditional hospital or clinic.

Pakistan Expands Digital Healthcare

Pakistan’s government has recently taken steps to integrate telemedicine into primary healthcare.

On Jan. 6, 2026, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination worked with Sehat Kahani to launch a paperless, telemedicine-enabled Basic Health Unit in Gokina, Islamabad. The center uses secure video consultations, electronic medical records, digital prescriptions and pharmacy management systems. Nurses at the facility help patients through consultations and follow-up care.

The government expanded this effort on Jan. 14, 2026, when the Federal Health Minister inaugurated another digitalized telemedicine center at Bhambar Tarar near Islamabad. The Ministry of Health reported that the area had a Basic Health Unit but lacked a posted doctor. Residents previously needed more than an hour to reach major hospitals in Islamabad.

The new center allows residents to receive medical consultations locally. Health workers can also refer patients who need more advanced treatment to tertiary hospitals.

The government also announced an agreement with Sehat Kahani under which 5,000 online doctors will provide remote consultations. The government has described telemedicine as a permanent part of Pakistan’s national healthcare system and plans to establish 10 telemedicine centers.

A Solution With Room To Grow

Telemedicine cannot replace every form of medical care. Doctors still need to examine some patients in person and communities need reliable internet access, digital devices and trained health workers to use telemedicine effectively.

However, Pakistan’s recent initiatives show how the country can combine digital services with local health facilities. Instead of requiring every patient to travel to a major city, a local health center can connect patients with doctors elsewhere while nurses provide in-person support.

Telemedicine in Pakistan can also help reduce some of the financial burden associated with traveling long distances for healthcare. For low-income families, avoiding unnecessary transportation expenses and reducing time away from work can make medical consultations more accessible.

Sehat Kahani’s experience also shows that telemedicine can operate at scale. Its platform has already delivered about 1 million consultations while its network of doctors continues to connect patients with medical professionals across Pakistan.

Looking Ahead

As Pakistan expands its digital health infrastructure, telemedicine in Pakistan can help reduce some of the geographic and financial barriers that affect underserved communities. By bringing qualified doctors closer to patients through technology, Pakistan can move toward a healthcare system where access depends less on a person’s location or ability to travel and improve healthcare access in rural Pakistan.

– Afia Atif

Afia is based in Chenab Nagar, Pakistan and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons