When the inaugural cohort of 15 Washington students arrived at their host families’ homes in Logroño, Spain, during the summer of 2017, it was clear that these students were the first in a new field of global advocacy, yet far from the last. This was the year the Washington State Leadership Board (WSLB) launched Washington World Fellows, Washington State’s first international advocacy program for high school youth.
Recent years have seen an increase in similar initiatives for youth across the world, creating a rapidly growing network of globalized communities. The WSLB is an example of regional governments integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into long-term community planning. Local institutions play a uniquely crucial role in alleviating poverty at the grassroots level, and employing the rising generation is central to this work. “If we’re not taking care of our citizens, the whole society suffers,” says WSLB Director of Programming, Amy Ubungen.
WSLB programs for youth leadership in Spain are necessary avenues that reflect a growing global presence in the development of sustainable communities.
A Long-lasting Global Network
The WSLB backs two international programs, both designed as accessible, cost-free opportunities for underserved youth from Washington and Northern Spain to travel abroad. Washington World Fellows began in 2017 as a sister exchange program to World Fellows España, which in 2022 sent its first cohort of Spanish students to Washington State.
World Fellows, many of whom are first-generation college students facing community-specific education barriers, embark on a college readiness track while abroad. In July 2025, World Fellows connected with local government officials during an annual International Youth Summit in Viana, Spain, where students issued a magazine to voice concerns about universal socioeconomic barriers facing youth.
The Compassion Scholars initiative launched in 2019, when the inaugural cohort of Washington students traveled to Dharamsala, India, to discuss global inequalities with the Dalai Lama.
Compassion Scholars now visit the La Rioja region in Northern Spain, where they observe measures in both urban and rural settings to alleviate poverty. Upon returning home, Scholars implement community projects that range from reducing education barriers to partnering with local immigrant support agencies.
Sustainable Development Goals at the Micro Level
WSLB’s partners in La Rioja each incorporate SDGs, enriching the region with a strong network of resources. El Colletero is an innovative, grassroots effort based in the agricultural community of Nalda, Spain. It is driven by local women who offer training sessions in food production to prevent food insecurity and promote ecofeminism. La Rioja Acoge is a regional immigrant and refugee resettlement agency in Logroño whose Reception and Integration System accommodates asylum seekers fleeing humanitarian crises in areas such as Gaza and Ukraine. The regional branch of La Cruz Roja in La Rioja tailors its emergency response services to local vulnerable populations. All three agencies promote youth leadership in Spain and provide an exemplary framework for communities worldwide pursuing para-diplomacy.
How the WSLB and Its Partners Thrive
The success of World Fellows and Compassion Scholars is due in part to the WSLB’s history as a longstanding, state-funded institution, providing a legal foundation in Washington State for an international framework. However, this level of institutional support is not present for World Fellows España. “You could say… that we are the Spanish agency of the WSLB, [but World Fellows España doesn’t] have any support here locally,” explains World Fellows España Director, César Martínez Lorenzo. “We do have the support of organizations that get involved in Compassion [Scholars]. They support us. They do it out of compassion, so to speak. But other than that, at any institutional level, we don’t have any support just yet.”
Despite Spain’s developed social safety net, community-driven initiatives like World Fellows España often struggle to gain the institutional recognition needed to lift programs off the ground. The pandemic delivered a particular blow to World Fellows and other youth programs globally. However, César remains optimistic about the WSLB’s continued success. “Policy should be implemented to make these programs a thing,” he says. “It’s like planting a seed… and we need to let it grow. But that is a process. That doesn’t happen overnight… I think we have to wait and see. It’s a ‘trust the process’ kind of thing. And that’s what we do, we trust the process. And we can invest in it, because we believe in it.”
Missions for Underserved Youth
Early in World Fellows España’s development, the regional initiative Los Pioneros provided a well-aligned model for the World Fellows mission. Los Pioneros is a nonprofit based in Logroño that promotes youth leadership in Spain by addressing education and employment barriers for marginalized young adults.
Many initiatives like Los Pioneros exist globally but lack access to consistent funding like that of the WSLB, making it difficult to expand programs beyond their region of origin.
Alliance Africa Avanza is another example of a well-resourced initiative sustained on an international scale. In August 2024, the Spanish government launched a joint program in Senegal, Tierra Firme, to address the country’s high unemployment rates by fostering self-sufficiency and financial stability. The program enables 500 Senegalese youth to receive vocational and professional training. Bilateral agreements between nations, such as Alliance Africa Avanza, demonstrate how essential institutions are in providing measurable opportunities for youth.
The WSLB and Barriers to Success
Like many state-funded agencies in the U.S., WSLB programming has been affected by recent decreases in federal funding. For World Fellows and Compassion Scholars students in both Washington and Spain, the programs’ limited mobility caused by budget cuts “puts a lot more burden on participants, [and] it requires participants to step up,” says Amy Ubungen. Since spring 2025, the WSLB has experienced a 12% funding cut.
Such cuts are the “biggest threat and number one concern of our agency at this time,” says WSLB Programs Manager Claire Muehleisen. Given World Fellows España’s lack of local financial support, these reductions present a particular challenge for youth leadership programs in Spain.
“…What would be ideal [is for World Fellows España] to get funded, and that’s where local governments and institutions come in,” says César Martínez Lorenzo. He suggests increased support from “a local institution, say the city council or… the town hall,” to channel funding. “We would need someone in a position of power… to believe in what we do and make it happen… that’s my hope,” he explains. With a boost in local support, César foresees a future where Compassion Scholars could evolve into an exchange program, like World Fellows.
A Catalyst for Sustainable Development
As World Fellows and Compassion Scholars expand, the WSLB’s international partnerships will continue to inspire global youth initiatives aligned with the SDGs. “Poverty is always in the details,” remarks César Martínez Lorenzo. Fortunately, so are local institutions that continue to make long-term investments in the youth for healthy, sustainable communities in the future.
– Isla Hansen
Isla is based in Spokane, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
How Reusable Diapers Are Fighting Poverty, Waste & Inequality
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to transform this landscape by launching three regional factories to produce reusable sanitary diapers and pads. This, in turn, will boost employment in local communities and directly address issues of inequality, poverty and environmental degradation.
The Issue at Hand: A Silent Crisis
Across West Africa, 401.9 million people currently face health and education challenges and 60% of them are young people. Obstetric fistula affects a vast number of women as well, where social exclusion risks coming as a result. Furthermore, the lack of sanitary products in schools contributes to school dropouts among girls and the elderly struggle with a lack of products to help manage urinary leaks.
What ECOWAS is bringing to the table is an opportunity to address these gaps by integrating education, health and socioeconomic issues in a way that promotes human development in the region. It also offers a pathway to tackle the current global waste crisis. “This isn’t just about hygiene-it’s about dignity, economic inclusion and breaking cycles of poverty,” as stated by an ECOWAS commissioner during a signing ceremony.
Governments, together with private entities, can ensure civilians receive safe sanitary products by reinforcing product standards and increasing supply. This approach helps restore both dignity and the market for these products.
ECOWAS Reusable Diaper and Pads Initiative
In 2024, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Gender Development Center (CCDG) initiative, launched this project to establish three factories for producing reusable sanitary pads and diapers. The goal is to meet the needs of teenage girls, fistula survivors and older people, advancing both gender equality and human development.
By initiating this project, ECOWAS objectives centered on decreasing the rates of school dropout, enhancing reproductive health for fistula victims by producing affordable sanitary items and providing them with economic independence by creating jobs.
The management of these factories was entrusted to the States. However, it has a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors, including ECOWAS, partners and ministries, which oversee its training, implementation and advocacy.
Countries in the Spotlight
Within West Africa, several countries have positively responded to this initiative, including Sierra Leone, Togo and Liberia.
The Bigger Impact
Using reusable pads and diapers offers a major environmental advantage, especially since disposable versions are among the biggest global contributors to plastic waste. More than 300,000 diapers are thrown away every minute, ending up in landfills and polluting the environment and oceans. This issue is even more serious given how difficult they are to recycle, often taking years to break down. By promoting a circular diaper and pad industry, this initiative could prevent 38 million tonnes of waste each year.
What ECOWAS proposed and initiated was far beyond just hygiene; it is about dignity, breaking cycles of poverty within West Africa and socioeconomic inclusion.
– Liz Mendes
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Amazon’s Disaster Relief Hubs and Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts
Hurricane Melissa’s Impact
A recent NBC News report stated that Hurricane Melissa killed 32 people in Jamaica and described it as the most devastating storm ever to make landfall in the country. The British Red Cross also noted that more than 30,000 Jamaicans have been displaced, with the number rising daily. Hurricane Melissa’s financial toll is also being felt throughout Jamaica.
According to a recent report by Reuters, the storm could cost Jamaica as much as $7 billion, a conservative estimate. Experts say that all totaled, Hurricane Mellisa could cause a 30% drop in Jamaica’s GDP, severely weakening its economy.
How Amazon Is Helping
In 2021, Amazon opened its first disaster relief hub in Atlanta, Georgia. It subsequently built 14 additional disaster relief hubs, strategically placed in areas prone to disasters, to assist with a variety of natural disasters. According to WSB-TV Atlanta, the Amazon disaster relief hub in the city is sending emergency supplies to Jamaica. These include a range of portable technology solutions designed to power and connect hospitals, police stations and emergency operations in Jamaica.
The hub can deploy up to 1.4 million pre-packaged relief items within 72 hours of a natural disaster. According to Amazon’s website, its disaster relief hubs are stocked with muck and gut kits to help with flooding, hygiene kits to keep people clean and sensory kits to help children who may be overwhelmed by staying in shelters. These kits provide them with noise-canceling headphones, a weighted blanket and toys.
The WSB-TV Atlanta report also notes that since launching in 2021, Amazon’s disaster relief hubs have supported more than 190 disaster zones. Additionally, they have delivered more than 26 million relief items.
Conclusion
Hurricane Melissa has had a devastating impact on Jamaica — one that will be felt for years to come. However, relief efforts from Amazon’s disaster relief hubs, as well as collaboration with a host of nonprofits, are expected to strengthen recovery efforts. Furthermore, efforts will help to ensure that displaced residents have homes to return to.
– Charlie Means
Photo: Pixabay
New Paths: Migration to Georgia Is Changing the Story
Migration Statistics
In recent years, migration to Georgia has surged. In 2023, more than 245,000 people left the country, nearly twice the number from the year before, while about 205,857 people arrived. Most were of working age, according to Civil Georgia, meaning the movement reflects shifts in both labor and opportunity.
By 2024, Georgia recorded a small but positive migration balance: 135,811 people immigrated, while 121,425 emigrated. For the first time in years, Georgia gained more people than it lost, a subtle but hopeful sign for a nation long shaped by departures.
Economic hardship remains the main reason people leave. Many Georgians move abroad for higher wages, while others seek education or reunite with family members overseas. Yet the same openness that encourages travel also makes Georgia attractive to newcomers. Students, entrepreneurs and remote workers are drawn in by low living costs and simplified visa rules.
The dual flow tells two stories: one of aspiration and one of adaptation. Emigration can stretch families thin, but remittances often sustain those who remain. At the same time, immigration insinuates new energy, filling labor gaps and bringing cultural exchange that enriches the social fabric.
Migration and Poverty
For many families, migration to Georgia, whether incoming or outgoing, is directly tied to poverty. Workers abroad send home billions of dollars each year, providing relief from daily expenses and financing children’s education. According to the World Bank, remittances reached $4.06 billion in 2024, equal to more than 12% of Georgia’s GDP.
However, there’s a hidden cost. When working-age adults leave, communities lose labor, expertise and stability. Rural areas suffer most, as young people head abroad while older generations stay behind. The imbalance widens inequality and slows local development.
Yet migration can also become a lifeline. When returning, Georgians bring new skills or investments; they help create jobs, strengthen local economies and build resilience against poverty.
Building Solutions That Work
The government and its partners are working to make migration a tool for growth rather than loss.
These efforts are gradual but promising. With strategic investment and stronger protections, migration could serve as a bridge between local development and global integration.
A Shared Future
Migration to Georgia is not just about movement; it’s about connection. The same forces that push people to leave also bring others in, reminding the country that growth often comes from openness, exchange and return. If nurtured with care, migration can become one of Georgia’s greatest assets: a driver of innovation, inclusion and economic stability.
In a world constantly on the move, Georgia’s strength may lie not in resisting migration, but in learning how to make it work for everyone involved.
– Salome Jincharadze
Photo: Freepik
Food Aid Theft Solutions
In some cases, this renders food aid less effective. For instance, in Yemen, despite increased levels of support in 2019, hunger persisted and even increased in some areas. However, innovative grassroots, structural or community-based initiatives have shown potential to reduce the problem in deeply affected places such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen.
Grassroots Initiatives
Action Against Hunger launched a grassroots campaign in Somalia by establishing community call centers to improve aid reporting measures. The approach helps track aid deliveries in areas affected by limited resources and conflict. Addressing these issues is essential because Action Against Hunger reports that limited road access and control of territory by non-state actors significantly contribute to aid diversion.
The organization hired and trained local volunteers in tracking and reporting aid deliveries. The team handles complaints and verification and also manages real-time crises. In 2023, the call center was alerted by community members about a cholera outbreak, allowing the organization to intervene immediately. In two years of operation, the call center has answered more than 30,000 calls regarding aid delivery verification, feedback on aid received and requests for emergency assistance. The calls are prepaid, meaning even people in remote regions can contact the center.
Structural Changes
A growing approach among humanitarian organizations is shifting from in-kind aid to direct financial assistance. According to the WFP, sending money is empowering because cash is often the most important asset during a disaster or crisis. It provides flexibility, allowing recipients to use it for food, medical bills, rent or school fees based on their needs. This has become an increasingly common practice. In 2023, the WFP sent about $2.8 billion to countries including Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan, directly supporting 51.6 million people.
The Poverty Action Lab, a research center founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professors, evaluated cash assistance positively. The organization reported that in Niger, financial support helped families eat more frequently. Delivery costs are relatively low, making this solution cost-effective. Their findings suggest that cash can improve economic conditions and have positive effects on mental well-being. For example, Afghan women who received cash transfers reported feeling happier and more confident about their economic situation. While the Poverty Action Lab notes the need for more research, it concludes that cash has a tangible, positive impact on food security. Provided an area has functioning markets, the organization suggests this type of assistance can support long-term stability by helping families build more secure futures.
Community Approaches
Community-based strategies are another of the solutions addressing food aid theft. Humanitarian organizations engage local residents in various ways, including empowerment projects in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and feedback desks in Sudan.
Omna Tigray, a nonprofit in Ethiopia, addresses food aid theft by involving residents in planning, implementing and monitoring food aid programs. The organization states that local engagement cultivates responsibility among community members. According to Omna Tigray, empowering residents helps identify and report aid diversion and strengthens relationships between donors and beneficiaries, which can be strained by theft. Community engagement is particularly important in a region where 5.4 million residents depend on aid deliveries.
Similar approaches have been implemented elsewhere, including feedback desks in refugee camps in Sudan established by World Vision. A committee of camp residents and World Vision staff selects and trains local volunteers who assist with reports and inquiries from camp residents. These desks help quickly address distribution issues and are recognized positively by locals. During a discussion session with World Vision staff, an anonymous female refugee said the “community help desk system is the best for food distribution.”
Looking Ahead
These various food aid theft solutions demonstrate multiple ways to address the issue. Ranging from grassroots initiatives to structural and community-based approaches, they show potential for reducing the problem. These measures have contributed to more equitable aid distribution in some areas. Furthermore, they have been positively received by local communities and researchers focused on food aid programs.
– Karol Hejduk
Photo: Flickr
WSLB: Global Stewardship Through Youth Leadership in Spain
Recent years have seen an increase in similar initiatives for youth across the world, creating a rapidly growing network of globalized communities. The WSLB is an example of regional governments integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into long-term community planning. Local institutions play a uniquely crucial role in alleviating poverty at the grassroots level, and employing the rising generation is central to this work. “If we’re not taking care of our citizens, the whole society suffers,” says WSLB Director of Programming, Amy Ubungen.
WSLB programs for youth leadership in Spain are necessary avenues that reflect a growing global presence in the development of sustainable communities.
A Long-lasting Global Network
The WSLB backs two international programs, both designed as accessible, cost-free opportunities for underserved youth from Washington and Northern Spain to travel abroad. Washington World Fellows began in 2017 as a sister exchange program to World Fellows España, which in 2022 sent its first cohort of Spanish students to Washington State.
World Fellows, many of whom are first-generation college students facing community-specific education barriers, embark on a college readiness track while abroad. In July 2025, World Fellows connected with local government officials during an annual International Youth Summit in Viana, Spain, where students issued a magazine to voice concerns about universal socioeconomic barriers facing youth.
The Compassion Scholars initiative launched in 2019, when the inaugural cohort of Washington students traveled to Dharamsala, India, to discuss global inequalities with the Dalai Lama.
Compassion Scholars now visit the La Rioja region in Northern Spain, where they observe measures in both urban and rural settings to alleviate poverty. Upon returning home, Scholars implement community projects that range from reducing education barriers to partnering with local immigrant support agencies.
Sustainable Development Goals at the Micro Level
WSLB’s partners in La Rioja each incorporate SDGs, enriching the region with a strong network of resources. El Colletero is an innovative, grassroots effort based in the agricultural community of Nalda, Spain. It is driven by local women who offer training sessions in food production to prevent food insecurity and promote ecofeminism. La Rioja Acoge is a regional immigrant and refugee resettlement agency in Logroño whose Reception and Integration System accommodates asylum seekers fleeing humanitarian crises in areas such as Gaza and Ukraine. The regional branch of La Cruz Roja in La Rioja tailors its emergency response services to local vulnerable populations. All three agencies promote youth leadership in Spain and provide an exemplary framework for communities worldwide pursuing para-diplomacy.
How the WSLB and Its Partners Thrive
The success of World Fellows and Compassion Scholars is due in part to the WSLB’s history as a longstanding, state-funded institution, providing a legal foundation in Washington State for an international framework. However, this level of institutional support is not present for World Fellows España. “You could say… that we are the Spanish agency of the WSLB, [but World Fellows España doesn’t] have any support here locally,” explains World Fellows España Director, César Martínez Lorenzo. “We do have the support of organizations that get involved in Compassion [Scholars]. They support us. They do it out of compassion, so to speak. But other than that, at any institutional level, we don’t have any support just yet.”
Despite Spain’s developed social safety net, community-driven initiatives like World Fellows España often struggle to gain the institutional recognition needed to lift programs off the ground. The pandemic delivered a particular blow to World Fellows and other youth programs globally. However, César remains optimistic about the WSLB’s continued success. “Policy should be implemented to make these programs a thing,” he says. “It’s like planting a seed… and we need to let it grow. But that is a process. That doesn’t happen overnight… I think we have to wait and see. It’s a ‘trust the process’ kind of thing. And that’s what we do, we trust the process. And we can invest in it, because we believe in it.”
Missions for Underserved Youth
Early in World Fellows España’s development, the regional initiative Los Pioneros provided a well-aligned model for the World Fellows mission. Los Pioneros is a nonprofit based in Logroño that promotes youth leadership in Spain by addressing education and employment barriers for marginalized young adults.
Many initiatives like Los Pioneros exist globally but lack access to consistent funding like that of the WSLB, making it difficult to expand programs beyond their region of origin.
Alliance Africa Avanza is another example of a well-resourced initiative sustained on an international scale. In August 2024, the Spanish government launched a joint program in Senegal, Tierra Firme, to address the country’s high unemployment rates by fostering self-sufficiency and financial stability. The program enables 500 Senegalese youth to receive vocational and professional training. Bilateral agreements between nations, such as Alliance Africa Avanza, demonstrate how essential institutions are in providing measurable opportunities for youth.
The WSLB and Barriers to Success
Like many state-funded agencies in the U.S., WSLB programming has been affected by recent decreases in federal funding. For World Fellows and Compassion Scholars students in both Washington and Spain, the programs’ limited mobility caused by budget cuts “puts a lot more burden on participants, [and] it requires participants to step up,” says Amy Ubungen. Since spring 2025, the WSLB has experienced a 12% funding cut.
Such cuts are the “biggest threat and number one concern of our agency at this time,” says WSLB Programs Manager Claire Muehleisen. Given World Fellows España’s lack of local financial support, these reductions present a particular challenge for youth leadership programs in Spain.
“…What would be ideal [is for World Fellows España] to get funded, and that’s where local governments and institutions come in,” says César Martínez Lorenzo. He suggests increased support from “a local institution, say the city council or… the town hall,” to channel funding. “We would need someone in a position of power… to believe in what we do and make it happen… that’s my hope,” he explains. With a boost in local support, César foresees a future where Compassion Scholars could evolve into an exchange program, like World Fellows.
A Catalyst for Sustainable Development
As World Fellows and Compassion Scholars expand, the WSLB’s international partnerships will continue to inspire global youth initiatives aligned with the SDGs. “Poverty is always in the details,” remarks César Martínez Lorenzo. Fortunately, so are local institutions that continue to make long-term investments in the youth for healthy, sustainable communities in the future.
– Isla Hansen
Photo: Flickr
Clean Water and Empowerment: Women-led WASH in Nepal
Chair of the WASH-CC, Mr. Dhir Bahadur Shahi, says, “Previously, we had little knowledge about the particular WASH needs of people with disabilities and women. The Disability Inclusive Development (DID) training, the inclusive WASH assessment and several activities organized by the WfW-BFL project sensitized us. These motivated us to include people with disabilities and women in the WASH-CC at [both] the rural municipality and ward levels.”
Women at the Helm
Across Nepal, women are leading a quiet yet powerful revolution in water and sanitation. In one of the SNV-supported programs, 20 out of 24 hamlets (tole) in Nepal are now managed by women-led WASH committees. In fact, these groups oversee everything from water safety to menstrual hygiene programs and public toilets.
Since placing women in charge of decision-making, projects have seen stronger follow-through and more sustainable outcomes. What was once considered “household work” has now become community leadership, as these women guide a future focused on reducing disease, saving time and improving livelihoods.
The Water and Poverty Connection
While access to water in Nepal has improved dramatically, challenges still remain. UNICEF reports that 95% of Nepalis now use an improved water source; however, 71% of all the water sources and more than 90% of those used by the most vulnerable group are contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. Furthermore, a recent BMC Public Health study among the Indigenous Kumal community revealed that 40% of households use surface water as their primary source of water.
Unsafe water leads directly to disease and a missed income, as women often bear the heaviest burden and walking long distances for clean water may still make families sick.
Solutions in Motion
To close these gaps, inclusive programs are changing the way water projects are managed. The Water for Women Fund’s partnership with SNV has reached more than 52,800 people in Nepal through community-led water and sanitation programs. These projects prioritize Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), ensuring women, people with disabilities and marginalized groups lead the way.
In Sarlahi District, women now head 20 of the 24 local water management committees. Their duties include overseeing sanitation campaigns, managing water billing and advocating for menstrual hygiene in schools. These systems have shifted WASH efforts from temporary aid to sustainable and locally owned solutions.
Beyond Access To Real Empowerment
Water access is only one part of the story, as empowerment fills the remainder. Indeed, through programs like SNV’s “Family Leadership” initiative, women now serve as chairpersons of local WASH committees and lead community outreach. In several Indigenous communities of Nepal, women manage sanitation systems, maintain toilets and run health workshops that reach hundreds of households.
This leadership has built significant trust within communities and strengthened local governments’ capacity to sustain progress. As SNV’s field reports note, women’s involvement has turned WASH work from a top-down effort into a community-driven movement.
The Bigger Picture
Nepal’s journey toward clean water and sanitation is as much about equity as it is infrastructure. With women-led WASH in Nepal, the country is improving health, education and economic opportunities, particularly for those who have long been excluded from decision-making. From Thantikandh to Sarlahi, women have demonstrated that access to clean water can also unlock opportunities for power, dignity and change. Nepal’s progress offers a model for how inclusive leadership can turn basic.
– Tiana Hermes
Photo: Flickr
School Meals Coalition: The Fight Against Childhood Hunger
Countries Leading the Way
Several African countries are leading the way in advancing domestic nutrition programs, with considerable progress in Rwanda and Kenya.
In 2024, Rwanda provided school meals to nearly 4.5 million students through its National School Meal Programme. That same year, the Rwandan government released the National School Feeding Strategy 2023-2032, which outlines plans to continue expanding the program by accommodating the growing student population, increasing program efficiency and building resilience against external shocks. The government is also increasing capacity through higher budget allocations. In 2021, the school feeding budget was $6.25 million; by 2024, it had increased to $73.4 million.
Kenya has taken strong action toward providing universal access to school meals. The Kenya School Meal Programme has been scaling up since the 1980s. In 2024, 2.6 million school-aged children received school meals. By 2030, the government aims to deliver meals to all 10 million primary school students.
Sustainable practices have been prioritized, including procuring locally grown food from small-scale farms—especially climate-resilient crops—and expanding clean, on-site cooking methods to lower energy use and reduce pollutants. Kenya joined the School Meals Coalition in 2021 and has since launched a national chapter, the first of its kind in Africa.
A Meal for Every Child: The School Meals Coalition
This progress reflects the efforts of the School Meals Coalition, a global movement that mobilizes governments to invest in school feeding initiatives. The coalition includes 112 member states, 150 partner organizations and six regional bodies committed to addressing childhood hunger and supporting Sustainable Development Goals.
As countries join, they issue commitments to scale up national school feeding programs and outline how they plan to reach those goals. In return, the coalition provides research, financial strategies and technical support. Many of the countries making the most progress are coalition members, demonstrating high levels of cooperation. In Africa, 44 out of 54 countries are now part of the coalition.
Looking ahead, the coalition aims to provide daily meals to all school-aged children worldwide by 2030. One major milestone has already been reached: restoring all national school meal programs suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued efforts focus on reaching vulnerable children who still lack access by recruiting more member countries, scaling up programs and improving their efficiency and sustainability.
The Benefits of School Meals
School feeding has strong implications for poverty reduction, providing measurable improvements in educational, economic, health and nutritional outcomes. The most immediate benefits involve improved child health and nutrition, especially in low-income countries where many children face food insecurity. For many, a school meal is their most consistent source of essential nutrients.
There are also far-reaching benefits beyond nutrition. Evidence shows that school meals can improve educational outcomes by increasing enrollment, attendance and classroom participation, particularly in communities facing poverty. Food often acts as an incentive for families to send their children to school, helping reduce absenteeism and fatigue.
School feeding also supports economic growth. As governments add locally grown foods to their menus, smallholder farmers benefit, strengthening local food systems and economies. Long-term returns stem from improved education and increased job opportunities. It is estimated that for every $1 invested in school feeding, $7 to $35 is gained in economic returns.
Looking Forward
As countries continue scaling up school feeding initiatives, they address key drivers of poverty. Consistent, nutritious meals help prevent child malnutrition and improve health outcomes. School meals also provide students with the foundation to break cycles of poverty through better educational and employment opportunities. Local economies benefit through stronger food systems and increased income opportunities.
Through major progress in reaching children with school meals, the School Meals Coalition and its member states show how cooperation can support human development and poverty reduction while continuing the global fight against childhood hunger.
– Quinlan Bohannon
Photo: Flickr
Fighting Poverty Among People With Albinism in Malawi
Harmful superstitions have fueled discrimination and ritual attacks, with some erroneously believing that some body parts of people with albinism bring wealth or good fortune. These dangers leave individuals with albinism isolated and economically vulnerable. Growing advocacy efforts are helping to challenge stigma, improve access to protection and build safer, more inclusive opportunities for Malawians with albinism.
Poverty and Discrimination Among Malawians With Albinism
Of the 134,000 Malawians with albinism, 53,000 are primary and secondary school age. From an early age, many Malawian children with albinism face bullying and discrimination at school. Social exclusion, alongside misinformation about their condition, causes many to withdraw or drop out entirely.
Without a full education, opportunities for higher-paying or skilled employment become limited, increasing the likelihood of lifelong poverty. Those who struggle to find work are often pushed toward low-wage, outdoor labor, such as farming or manual jobs, which places them under direct sunlight for long hours and heightens health risks.
Health concerns further compound these economic barriers. As melanin helps protect the skin from ultraviolet exposure, people with albinism are highly susceptible to severe sunburn and skin cancer. Access to sunscreen, protective clothing and dermatology services is limited, particularly in rural areas. Both medical challenges and threats of violence trap individuals with albinism in a cycle where discrimination and poor health drastically narrow opportunities for mobility and economic participation.
The Association of Persons With Albinism in Malawi
The Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) is the country’s leading grassroots advocacy group for the rights, safety and economic inclusion of people with albinism. APAM documents attacks and human-rights violations, presses police and government to act and, through engagement with local communities, demands better protection and services. In recent years, the group has shifted its focus from emergency response to long-term inclusion.
It now implements school outreach programs to reduce stigma, supports leadership and entrepreneurship training to help members transition into safer, higher-quality work and advocates for policy measures. APAM also partners with health-focused NGOs to expand sunscreen distribution, vision care and dermatology referrals, recognizing that health protection and socioeconomic well-being are interlinked. By combining case documentation, public education and policy advocacy, APAM has helped place albinism on Malawi’s national agenda.
It has prompted the government and donors to commit to sustained funding for protection programs, a vital step in breaking the cycle of discrimination and poverty.
Standing Voice
Standing Voice is an international nonprofit working in Malawi (and across Africa) to deliver long-term, scalable solutions for people with albinism. Rather than focusing only on crisis response, the organization operates programs that prioritize individuals’ safety, attending school and participating confidently in public life. In the health sector, Standing Voice establishes clinical networks and provides access to sunscreen, dermatology and low-vision services.
These are critical interventions that enable people with albinism to participate in school or the world without being sidelined by illness. On the education and livelihoods front, the organization works to reintegrate children into schools and provide vocational and livelihood support. This enables adults with albinism to access safer and more sustainable employment rather than outdoor, high-risk labor.
Additionally, like APAM, Standing Voice undertakes advocacy to break cycles of stigma, violence and exclusion by amplifying the voices of people with albinism and influencing policy. Its holistic strategy links protection with economic empowerment, addressing both root causes and outcomes of poverty for Malawians with albinism.
Final Remarks
People with albinism in Malawi continue to face preventable dangers and barriers that limit both their safety and socioeconomic participation. Yet, the progress led by advocacy organizations, health initiatives and community education shows that these challenges are not inevitable. With continued investment in protection, accessible health care and inclusive employment, Malawians with albinism can build secure, independent futures.
– Elysha Din
Photo: Flickr
Kenya’s National Debt Crisis: The Toll On Its Population
Origin of Kenya’s Debt
Kenya’s debt originates from two primary places: loans from other countries and loans from private organizations. One of its largest lenders is China, which provided significant financing for Kenya’s national railroad. As for private loans, Kenya has taken out substantial funding through Eurobonds, a type of international debt security. The numerous loans have compounded, trapping Kenya in a cycle of debt that is increasingly difficult to escape as interest accumulates.
Chatham House also noted that Kenya’s internal fund management issues have contributed to repayment challenges. The volume of loans taken out made long-term repayment more difficult despite short-term infrastructure gains. Regardless of the debt’s origins, Kenya’s high debt burden has led to further issues, particularly for its most vulnerable populations.
The Effect on Poverty
Given the large debt, the Kenyan government has prioritized interest repayments. This has caused public goods such as health care to receive less funding. Reduced investment in public works can lead to declines in quality of life. Additionally, many low-income households could face tax increases as the government seeks extra revenue. Afronomics Law reported that as Kenya’s national debt reached its ceiling in 2023, the increased burden could expand public debt, which is debt owed by citizens. Because of this, Kenya has been working to find ways to address debt while minimizing negative effects on its population.
Ongoing Efforts
Many organizations, both within and outside Kenya, have made recommendations for how the country should move forward. According to the World Bank, Kenya’s latest financial review suggested government restructuring to help address the debt challenge, primarily through stronger tax policy and improved efficiency in public spending. These steps would help strengthen the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) while reducing dependence on additional loans. The World Bank also noted that these measures could support job creation, helping to alleviate poverty. They stated that austerity measures are not recommended because they often come with severe costs to citizens.
Kenya’s government is also implementing its own strategies. Parliament recently passed an extensive debt mitigation plan to prevent further problems. The bill is not intended as a long-term solution but rather as a way to reduce damage caused by the existing debt. These strategies include increasing borrowing from domestic sources, which the national treasury determined would minimize external debt owed.
Looking Ahead
This decision between paying off loans and funding government programs does not have an easy answer. However, the examples above show that Kenya can take practical, actionable steps without worsening conditions for its citizens. Many other nations face similar debt challenges, and understanding how Kenya reached this point, and how it can move forward, could offer valuable insights for developing nations worldwide.
– Thaddeus Konieczny
Photo: Flickr
Setting a Precedent: History of Turkish Humanitarian Aid
Historical Transformation
In 1947, Türkiye joined the World Bank and only three years later took out its first loan for agricultural infrastructure. Back then, the income per capita was a modest $166. This made the country eligible for funding from the International Development Association (IDA) on attractive terms with low interest rates. For four consecutive years, IDA provided concessional financing, helping the country boost economic growth and achieve stability.
In a rapid turnaround, Türkiye became an IDA donor itself as early as 1973. Turkish people have experienced an impressive journey to prosperity. Nowadays, income per capita is more than $15,000, placing the country in the high-income category. As the country’s economic status progressed, so did the role of international development in its foreign policy.
The country launched its first state aid program in 1985, donating $10 million to help strengthen government institutions in several African countries, including The Gambia, Senegal and Sudan. Four years later, these efforts were centralized with the creation of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA). The agency was established in response to the emerging humanitarian needs in Central Asia following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of new independent states.
Since then, Turkish humanitarian aid has rapidly expanded and now reaches a far wider range of regions. As a new donor, Türkiye has been increasingly influential. Between 2006 and 2009, its overseas development assistance (ODA) levels exceeded the global average, reaching $707 million.
In 2010, Turkish humanitarian aid had reached more than 130 countries listed by the OECD as recipients of aid. In the early 2000s, among emerging global donors, Türkiye was second only to South Korea, another excellent example of transformation from recipient to donor.
TIKA
TIKA has worked on 30,000 projects across 170 countries, showcasing Türkiye’s importance on the international humanitarian stage. Its work is multi-sectoral and includes support for accessible and clean energy, agriculture, clean water, education, emergency humanitarian aid and many other areas. At first, the organization focused primarily on countries in the region due to its historical ties with Turkic communities in Central Asia and shared linguistic roots.
These similarities with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan made aid efforts easier and helped strengthen international relationships. However, with globalization, TIKA expanded its operations significantly, growing from 12 foreign offices in 2002 to 63 today. Some of the recent projects TIKA has carried out include improving health services in Zambia, renovating health centers in Venezuela and providing solar-powered lamps to Syrian villages.
The projects are also designed to be sustainable, helping recipients achieve financial independence. For instance, TIKA promotes qualified beekeeping in Tunisia to help vulnerable members of society secure a stable income. Besides funding up-to-date equipment, TIKA has also provided training on honey production to ensure efficiency. The focus on the honey business aims to help people take advantage of the potential that the industry holds in Tunisia.
IHH
The IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation is another Türkiye-based organization with a significant international impact. Since 1992, it has helped people in need regardless of whether they have been victims of war, natural disasters or political repression. Its work in around 123 countries across five continents has resulted in international recognition, as evidenced by multiple honorary memberships in organizations such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council and The Union of NGOs of the Islamic World.
The work IHH does focuses on poverty-stricken countries, including emergency aid, human rights advocacy, humanitarian relief and education campaigns. Its support is transparent and has recently been centered around Palestine. Since October 7, it has delivered more than 37 million hot meals, 200,000 food parcels, 120,000 hygiene kits and clothing to 140,000 people, making a real impact.
A mission carried out by IHH in Kolonda, a small town in Mali, shows the tangible support that international aid provides to people in need. When the Turkish volunteers arrived in town to drill a new water well, residents informed them that their makeshift well was too old and no longer functioning properly. Seriba, one of the villagers, explained: “When the drought arrives, water becomes extremely scarce […] and sometimes it gets so muddy that we can’t use it.”
The newly implemented solution, however, will provide the 800 residents of Kolonda with a new well, making it significantly easier to access clean water.
Conclusion
Overall, the impressive transformation of Turkish humanitarian aid and the country’s status on the international stage is setting a precedent for other emerging donors. The Turkish state and non-state aid organizations are increasingly active in global relief and development efforts. This inspiring example seems to be similar to that of several countries, such as South Korea and Poland, which were once recipients and have recently emerged as donors.
These emphasize the real impact of aid and the importance of global assistance in times of reduced aid activity globally.
– Karol Hejduk
Photo: Wikimedia Commons