Since 2016, Uzbekistan has undertaken a remarkable transformation — from isolation to a path of reform-driven growth. As Central Asia’s most populous country, endowed with abundant natural resources and occupying a strategically pivotal location, Uzbekistan is now emerging as a hub for new investment opportunities.
Economic reforms across multiple sectors are opening up previously untapped markets, and among these, the renewable energy sector stands out. It not only offers strong financial returns for investors but also generates meaningful social and environmental benefits, making Uzbekistan a compelling case of how reform can drive inclusive and sustainable development.
Uzbekistan’s Economic Reform Journey
Uzbekistan’s reform agenda first began in 2017, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoev, marking a decisive shift from a centrally controlled, state-dominated economy toward an open, market-oriented system. The government’s strategy has focused on liberalizing key sectors, improving transparency, and creating a business-friendly environment not only for domestic investors, but foreign also.
One of the most significant reforms was the unification and liberalization of the Uzbek som. By allowing the currency to float freely, the government eliminated the black-market exchange rate, increased transparency and provided investors with a predictable and stable financial environment. This move has been instrumental in boosting the confidence of foreign investors.
Uzbekistan has also initiated a large-scale privatization program, opening up state-owned banks, utilities and manufacturing companies to private and foreign investment. This has unlocked new sectors for capital inflows, particularly in infrastructure and energy, while signalling a long-term commitment to a market economy.
Economic Growth and Investment Trends
Uzbekistan’s economic reforms have begun to yield tangible results. In 2023, the country experienced a 6% GDP growth and attracted over $7.2 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), nearly doubling the amount from 2022. These investments are instrumental in modernizing infrastructure, expanding energy production, and diversifying the economy. The government’s commitment to liberalization reforms launched in 2017 continues to encourage private sector participation and foreign investment.
In 2024, FDI in Uzbekistan grew by more than 50%, with the investment volume in the fourth quarter reaching its highest level since 2021, totaling $3.87 billion. From January to December 2024, the total volume of FDI increased by 53.6%, reaching $11.9 billion, while the share of FDI in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 2.4 percentage points, reaching 10.3%. The volume of cross-border money transfers also increased by 30%, reaching $14.8 billion.
These inflows are helping to modernize infrastructure, expand energy production and stimulate economic diversification. The government’s commitment to liberalization reforms launched in 2017 continues to encourage private sector participation and foreign investment. The government aims to double the GDP to $200 billion by 2030, leveraging significant progress in green energy and energy sector reforms.
Emerging Investment Frontier: Renewable Energy
Uzbekistan’s electricity sector remains heavily dependent on natural gas. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2022, natural gas accounted for 82% of the country’s total electricity generation, significantly outweighing other sources like coal, oil, hydro or wind and solar.
This reliance on gas exposes Uzbekistan to risks–including price volatility, supply disruptions, and environmental impacts – making diversification in this current climate essential. Recognizing this, the government has committed to a bold energy transition, aiming to have 25% of its electricity from renewable sources by as early as 2030.
This policy is backed by targeted legislation, including the Decree on Accelerated Measures to Improve Energy Efficiency and the Development of Renewable Energy Sources from 2019, which explicitly sets the target for renewable electricity by 2030. This marks a significant advancement in Uzbekistan’s shift toward sustainable electricity generation. These favourable conditions have created specific avenues for investment opportunities, from solar and wind projects to modernizing the electricity grid and leveraging public-private partnerships.
Renewable Sources
With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Uzbekistan has one of the most favorable solar climates in Central Asia. This makes large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects highly viable. Several pilot and commercial-scale plants are already in operation, and the government is actively seeking foreign investment to expand capacity, particularly in the Navoi, Samarkand, and Khorezm regions.
Moreover, wind corridors in regions such as Karakalpakstan and Navoi offer significant potential for utility-scale wind farms. Major Gulf and European firms have begun investing in these projects, attracted by favorable government policies, guaranteed power purchase agreements, and financing support from multilateral institutions.
Uzbekistan’s electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure requires significant upgrades to integrate renewable energy efficiently. The World Bank has approved a $100 million credit and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) a $125 million loan to modernize the power grid, including upgrading transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks. These initiatives aim to improve energy efficiency, enhance reliability, and support the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
The government has created legal and financial frameworks to encourage PPPs, offering security in Uzbekistan’s investment opportunities, long-term contracts, and partial risk mitigation. These mechanisms make Uzbekistan a more predictable and attractive destination for foreign investors seeking both profitability and involvement in the country’s energy transition.
By combining natural advantages, supportive policy, and growing demand, Uzbekistan’s renewable energy market could be emerging as one of the most promising investment frontiers in Central Asia, thus creating greater job opportunities and wider market growth for the country.
Uzbekistan’s Investment Opportunities: The Future
=”https://borgenproject.org/the-uzbekistan-2030-strategy/”>Uzbekistan’s reform-driven transformation has created a dynamic investment climate, with the renewable energy sector emerging as a prime example of how economic openness can deliver both financial returns and social impact. Abundant solar and wind resources, ambitious government targets, and support from multilateral institutions position the country as a regional hub for clean energy investment.
Combined with grid modernization and public-private partnerships, these reforms are fostering job creation, market growth, and long-term economic prosperity, making Uzbekistan a compelling model for sustainable development in Central Asia.
– Elizabeth Occleston
Elizabeth is based in Southport, UK and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Uzbekistan’s Investment Opportunities
Economic reforms across multiple sectors are opening up previously untapped markets, and among these, the renewable energy sector stands out. It not only offers strong financial returns for investors but also generates meaningful social and environmental benefits, making Uzbekistan a compelling case of how reform can drive inclusive and sustainable development.
Uzbekistan’s Economic Reform Journey
Uzbekistan’s reform agenda first began in 2017, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoev, marking a decisive shift from a centrally controlled, state-dominated economy toward an open, market-oriented system. The government’s strategy has focused on liberalizing key sectors, improving transparency, and creating a business-friendly environment not only for domestic investors, but foreign also.
One of the most significant reforms was the unification and liberalization of the Uzbek som. By allowing the currency to float freely, the government eliminated the black-market exchange rate, increased transparency and provided investors with a predictable and stable financial environment. This move has been instrumental in boosting the confidence of foreign investors.
Uzbekistan has also initiated a large-scale privatization program, opening up state-owned banks, utilities and manufacturing companies to private and foreign investment. This has unlocked new sectors for capital inflows, particularly in infrastructure and energy, while signalling a long-term commitment to a market economy.
Economic Growth and Investment Trends
Uzbekistan’s economic reforms have begun to yield tangible results. In 2023, the country experienced a 6% GDP growth and attracted over $7.2 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), nearly doubling the amount from 2022. These investments are instrumental in modernizing infrastructure, expanding energy production, and diversifying the economy. The government’s commitment to liberalization reforms launched in 2017 continues to encourage private sector participation and foreign investment.
In 2024, FDI in Uzbekistan grew by more than 50%, with the investment volume in the fourth quarter reaching its highest level since 2021, totaling $3.87 billion. From January to December 2024, the total volume of FDI increased by 53.6%, reaching $11.9 billion, while the share of FDI in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 2.4 percentage points, reaching 10.3%. The volume of cross-border money transfers also increased by 30%, reaching $14.8 billion.
These inflows are helping to modernize infrastructure, expand energy production and stimulate economic diversification. The government’s commitment to liberalization reforms launched in 2017 continues to encourage private sector participation and foreign investment. The government aims to double the GDP to $200 billion by 2030, leveraging significant progress in green energy and energy sector reforms.
Emerging Investment Frontier: Renewable Energy
Uzbekistan’s electricity sector remains heavily dependent on natural gas. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2022, natural gas accounted for 82% of the country’s total electricity generation, significantly outweighing other sources like coal, oil, hydro or wind and solar.
This reliance on gas exposes Uzbekistan to risks–including price volatility, supply disruptions, and environmental impacts – making diversification in this current climate essential. Recognizing this, the government has committed to a bold energy transition, aiming to have 25% of its electricity from renewable sources by as early as 2030.
This policy is backed by targeted legislation, including the Decree on Accelerated Measures to Improve Energy Efficiency and the Development of Renewable Energy Sources from 2019, which explicitly sets the target for renewable electricity by 2030. This marks a significant advancement in Uzbekistan’s shift toward sustainable electricity generation. These favourable conditions have created specific avenues for investment opportunities, from solar and wind projects to modernizing the electricity grid and leveraging public-private partnerships.
Renewable Sources
With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Uzbekistan has one of the most favorable solar climates in Central Asia. This makes large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects highly viable. Several pilot and commercial-scale plants are already in operation, and the government is actively seeking foreign investment to expand capacity, particularly in the Navoi, Samarkand, and Khorezm regions.
Moreover, wind corridors in regions such as Karakalpakstan and Navoi offer significant potential for utility-scale wind farms. Major Gulf and European firms have begun investing in these projects, attracted by favorable government policies, guaranteed power purchase agreements, and financing support from multilateral institutions.
Uzbekistan’s electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure requires significant upgrades to integrate renewable energy efficiently. The World Bank has approved a $100 million credit and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) a $125 million loan to modernize the power grid, including upgrading transmission lines, substations, and distribution networks. These initiatives aim to improve energy efficiency, enhance reliability, and support the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
The government has created legal and financial frameworks to encourage PPPs, offering security in Uzbekistan’s investment opportunities, long-term contracts, and partial risk mitigation. These mechanisms make Uzbekistan a more predictable and attractive destination for foreign investors seeking both profitability and involvement in the country’s energy transition.
By combining natural advantages, supportive policy, and growing demand, Uzbekistan’s renewable energy market could be emerging as one of the most promising investment frontiers in Central Asia, thus creating greater job opportunities and wider market growth for the country.
Uzbekistan’s Investment Opportunities: The Future
=”https://borgenproject.org/the-uzbekistan-2030-strategy/”>Uzbekistan’s reform-driven transformation has created a dynamic investment climate, with the renewable energy sector emerging as a prime example of how economic openness can deliver both financial returns and social impact. Abundant solar and wind resources, ambitious government targets, and support from multilateral institutions position the country as a regional hub for clean energy investment.
Combined with grid modernization and public-private partnerships, these reforms are fostering job creation, market growth, and long-term economic prosperity, making Uzbekistan a compelling model for sustainable development in Central Asia.
– Elizabeth Occleston
Photo: Flickr
Empowering Liberia’s Women: Socio-Economic Equality in Liberia
Liberia’s Women Project, Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Women Empowerment Forum are three initiatives that are bridging the socio-economic gap and empowering women through technology, training, and programmes designed to increase their financial rights and advocate for change. These initiatives not only empower Liberia’s women but also pave the way for a flourishing and equitable nation.
Liberia’s Women Empowerment Project
Liberia’s Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) utilizes a community-driven and multi-sectoral approach, which has impacted 498 communities across six counties in Liberia. Its strategy involves individual and group-based, income-generating activities such as business training, credit and saving groups and life skills programmes for more gender inclusive training. Most importantly, the project empowers Liberia’s women by teaching them how to increase their confidence and develop sustainable and resilient livelihoods. By strengthening their voices and agency, women become leaders as they engage in household and community decision-making.
Alongside the educational part of the project, it also mobilizes communities and helps change attitudes surrounding women’s socio-economic engagement which is how prejudices start to dismantle.
Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Empowerment
Digital Inclusion for Women’s Economic Empowerment focuses on the economic challenges women in rural areas face. Led by U.N. Women, alongside various NGOs, the initiative uses technology to improve financial inclusion and entrepreneurial opportunities for women.
Women in remote areas experience greater economic inequalities than women in urban areas, often only being engaged in subsistence farming that has limited opportunities for increasing business or accessing broader markets. The digital platform Buy from Women connects women to wider markets beyond their area.
Since the launch in 2022, more than 3,000 women have had an income increase through better access to markets powered by the Buy from Women platform. Besides broader market access, women learn about financial literacy and have more growing opportunities to carry out secure transactions and oversee their businesses, income and job opportunities.
Women Empowerment Forum Liberia
Women Empowerment Forum (WEF) enables women across Liberia to become active and influential voices in their communities. The economic empowerment program includes microfinance and entrepreneurship training to assist women in starting businesses. Vocational training workshops provide instructions and discussions on market-driven trades, which women can participate in.
Additionally, community engagement focuses on leadership training where women can practise and engage in local development issues, rights, and opportunities hosted by community forums and workshops. Not only are women taught strategic and confidence-building techniques, but they also have the chance to apply them. Alongside their financial literacy, women can put these into practice in real-life scenarios, while learning about opportunities involving entrepreneurship and business.
This holistic approach empowers women on an individual level but also builds social cohesion and economic stability. WEF has impacted several regions, alongside their increasing partnerships with local and international stakeholders. These initiatives and collaborations have made them a contributing force in Liberia’s path to gender equality.
Empowering Liberia’s Women
All three initiatives adopt a multifaceted approach to break down gender inequalities and build a more equal and prosperous future for women’s socio-economic opportunities in Liberia. By addressing the various hardships women face, from being in remote regions to having their voices suppressed or lacking access to financial literacy information, these initiatives have developed sustainable solutions. At the core, they have raised women’s voices and encouraged women to become leaders of change, self-sufficiency and empowerment in Liberia.
– Jule Riemenschneider
Photo: Flickr
Food Security with Solar Cold Storage in Africa
Solar Refrigeration Steps In
Companies like Sokofresh are utilizing solar-powered cold storage in Africa which is a clean, off-grid alternative to diesel-based systems. This enables farmers to preserve their perishable goods for up to 21 extra days, extending selling windows and increasing revenue potential.
Based in Nigeria, ColdHubs provides 100% solar-powered, walk-in cold rooms at rural hubs to combat post-harvest food waste for farmers. These units can store up to three tonnes and serve numerous small-scale farmers and fishers. This has ultimately reduced spoilage during transportation by up to 80%.
At the same time, Koolboks delivers solar-powered refrigeration and freezers to the Nigerian market traders to aid their protection of stock during frequent outages.
In Kenya, Sokofresh’s model helps farmers band together to access and share storage, helping them significantly cutting waste. ColdHubs’ network across 54 sites provides accessible refrigeration while generating local jobs and improving produce value.
As well as this, Uganda is implementing innovative strategies to empower female farmers, extend the shelf life of harvests, and strengthen local markets. This approach maximises available resources and serves as a model for reducing food waste and providing relief across Africa.
Barriers to Scaling Solar Cold Storage in Africa
However, there continues to be barriers as in Tanzania, up to 50% of tomato harvests spoil before reaching consumers due to a scarcity of cold storage. Significant obstacles are preventing Tanzania from introducing solar-powered storage, including institutional and technological barriers, foreign investment and aid to electrification project that require reshaping.
From the strides Nigeria has made in improving their food storage, this has awoken Rwanda’s eyes in attempting to reduce its food wastage by utilizing solar-powered storage. The model uses solar energy to complement Rwanda’s initiatives to reduce their post-harvest loss whilst increasing their green energy and cutting carbon emissions.
Cooling Towards Prosperity
Solar-powered cold storage has made significant differences in a multitude of countries all around Africa. Protecting the post-harvest quality, reducing waste and helping preserve farmers’ goods, this innovation supports food security, gender equity, and sustainable rural economies. This solar-powered solution can significantly reduce the $1.2 billion annual waste of improperly stored food and help provide wider access to food for those without consistent electrical connections.
– Carise Wallbank
Photo: Flickr
How Landlocked Developing Countries Become Global Players
As countries that are directly cut off from access to the sea, they must face many challenges. These include slow delivery times, high transport costs and border procedures directly impacting economic success and progress. Beyond economic and geographical barriers, the climate emergency worsens the problem. It damages roads and disrupts supply chains, threatening the fragile infrastructure with droughts, floods and other forms of extreme weather.
Despite these barriers, LLDCs are progressing toward becoming active global trade players, working to develop as they adopt goals that could successfully lift millions out of poverty.
Turning Point and Success
More recently, a United Nations (U.N.) conference in landlocked Turkmenistan has led to hope regarding LLDCs. The conference brought together Heads of State, development partners, private sector leaders and U.N. officials. Leaders highlighted the Awaza Program of Action for 2024 to 2034. The Program encompasses five priority areas:
Seeking to accelerate progress, the Awaza Program sets a clear direction. Its focus spans trade facilitation, transport connectivity, climate resilience, the mobilization of international support, structural transformation and technology. It aims to align domestic and global nations within a shared framework for sustainable development.
A U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) report examined Asian LLDCs. It argued that to accelerate structural transformation, these countries must diversify their economies and reduce dependency on extractive industries. Regarding poverty alleviation and structural transformation, what matters most is a reallocation of production factors that leads to the growth of labor-intensive sectors. Since labor is the primary input of those experiencing poverty in production processes, expanding the labor sector is key to long-term poverty reduction.
What’s Next
Looking forward, LLDCs are working to turn these commitments into real progress. Several initiatives worldwide show that development is truly possible, stressing the need for smarter infrastructure, broader economic diversification and simplified customs procedures. In Africa, electronic cargo tracking and Central Asia’s use of electronic TIR carnets have reduced delays and encouraged private sector participation in cross-border trade.
Upcoming global forums, such as COP30 in Brazil in November 2025, the UNCTAD conference and the 2027 Global Mountain Summit, will give LLDCs opportunities to push their priorities higher on the international agenda. The international community must continue to foster cooperation among LLDCs so they can more easily access global markets. Stronger cooperation will drive regional integration and build an international framework of shared rules, standards and goals.
Conclusion
While the precarious geographical position of LLDCs presents many obstacles, recent developments show that their future does not need to be limited by borders. Through international cooperation, domestic policy development, structural transformation and the adoption of innovative trade systems, LLDCs are steadily moving from “landlocked” to “landlinked.”
This transformation goes beyond economic development, improving the lives of millions. Lower transport costs allow for the development of domestic industries and cheaper goods for families. Infrastructure projects create jobs, economic diversification raises wages and climate-resilient systems protect vulnerable communities. These projects contribute to the reduction of poverty and to narrowing the gap between LLDCs and other developing countries.
– Rafaela Paquet
Photo: Unsplash
Forest Sustainability and Poverty Reduction
Forest Dependency
Approximately 40% of the world’s rural poor in developing nations, about 3.27 billion people, live in or within one kilometer of a forest. When the range is expanded to five kilometers, the number rises to 4.17 billion, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). With 80% of the world’s most impoverished people living in rural areas, mostly concentrated in the Global South, the importance of forests to their subsistence is clear, further underscoring the connection between forest sustainability and poverty reduction.
Those who rely on forests in whole or in part to survive via employment or source of income, but most importantly as a food source, are classified as Forest Dependent People (FDP). The majority of FDP live within forests and derive their entire livelihood from them alone, but FDP also includes those that tangentially rely on forests, such as foraging for medicinal plants, harvesting wood or even supplying labor to logging and forestry businesses.
Indigenous groups often make up FDP communities and their extremely rural proximity limits access to goods and services. This makes them vulnerable to economic, social and health care shocks. Discrimination and marginalization, such as in India and Kenya, or poor infrastructure, as in the Brazilian Amazon, further compound their struggles.
Forest resources help mitigate these shocks for FDP, however, rampant deforestation and land degradation have only exacerbated their poverty and vulnerability. Because of this, FDPs are a focal point for anti-poverty initiatives, but this has been a double-edged sword.
Damaging Effects of Standard Poverty Reduction Efforts
There is no question that poverty-reduction initiatives have been successful. According to World Bank figures, poverty has declined in developing countries by more than 65% since 1990. Yet many of these tried-and-true methods end up causing further deforestation, which leaves FDP vulnerable in the long term.
Many goodwill efforts to alleviate poverty overlook the ingrained benefits of forest sustainability and poverty reduction, instead focusing on agricultural and infrastructural development, which can compound environmental destruction and damage aid efforts long-term. When forests are cleared, the health of the land erodes and water scarcity increases. This harms FDP communities and sets back any potential gains realized through intervention. Crops die without water and disease spreads worsens. Standard practices appear sufficient for the long-term prosperity of FDP.
The “One Health” Approach
In recent years, the FAO, World Bank and researchers from institutions such as the Notre Dame Poverty Initiative have increasingly observed the connection between forest sustainability and poverty reduction. In this collaborative approach, poverty alleviation must go hand in hand with forest conservation strategies.
Protected Area Projects make up one facet of sustainability efforts. In Brazil, the World Bank successfully lobbied the government to give protected status to 24 million hectares of forest land, safeguarding access for FDP communities. Furthermore, in Ghana, efforts resulted in the planting of sustainable woodlots to serve as sources of firewood and fuel instead of naturally occurring forests. In Kenya, the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme allocates degraded plots of forest land to FDP to revitalize through new plantings.
Research into further symbiotic strategies between forest sustainability and poverty reduction is ongoing. In countries such as India and Peru, researchers from the Pulte Institute for Global Development are evaluating nascent anti-poverty initiatives that also prioritize forest sustainability to isolate those most effective for rollout in other developing nations.
Looking Ahead
Evidence suggests that forest sustainability and poverty reduction are two sides of the same coin. Sustainable forests combat poverty among FDP by providing replenishing food sources, fuel and construction materials and improved community health. With such a large percentage of the world’s extreme poor being FDP or FDP-adjacent, efforts to support the prosperity of the world’s forests are also direct contributions to eventually lifting FDP out of poverty.
– Nikola Stojkovic
Photo: Flickr
Mastercard and the MADE Alliance: Driving Digital Access in Africa
Background
The initiative, announced at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, will focus on the role of women and on the agricultural sector, starting a program that will support 3 million farmers in Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria. While the African Development Bank Group will invest $300 million in the initiative, Mastercard’s plan is to register 15 million users on its platform. By leveraging public-private partnerships, the MADE Alliance represents a significant effort to foster economic growth, poverty reduction and digital inclusion throughout Africa.
Focusing on inclusive innovations meant to unlock economic potential and expand digital access, Mastercard plays a key role in the alliance. Using Community Pass, the company provides farmers across Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania with digital identities and access to vital tools and services. Through collaborations with telecom and fintech companies, Mastercard provides millions of workers with access to real-time, inclusive and secure payment solutions.
The Impact
Since its launch, the MADE Alliance has made significant progress. In Kenya, Alliance members deployed affordable high-speed internet and provided digital skills training for approximately 10,000 farmers and their communities, according to the World Bank. The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation also received funding from the AfDB to help 250,000 farmers improve their bankability to financial institutions.
In Tanzania, the MADE Alliance is helping equip 50,000 sunflower farmers with digital payment solutions. In Nigeria, Mastercard has introduced solutions like Tap on Phone, Payment Links and QR Pay-by-Link; options that allow small businesses to easily accept payments while reducing cash reliance through e-commerce, according to The Guardian.
For consumers, the opportunity to use digital payments offers more security, convenience and financial access, allowing people to pay bills, shop online and make transactions with just a mobile device. This provides them with better access to banking services, particularly in areas where traditional banking infrastructure is limited or non-existent.
Women, Poverty and the Future of Inclusive Growth
The MADE Alliance also tackles gendered poverty by focusing on women’s economic empowerment. Women make up nearly 40% of Africa’s agricultural labor force but continue to face systemic barriers in access to land, credit and training, according to The Guardian. By equipping women farmers and entrepreneurs with digital identities, financial tools, and services, the Alliance not only supports equality but also addresses the structural poverty that limits entire households and communities.
Ultimately, the development of digital technologies in agriculture has the potential to serve as a powerful poverty-reduction tool. By boosting productivity, expanding market access and opening financial doors for millions, the MADE Alliance provides pathways out of subsistence-level farming and into more sustainable livelihoods.
Mastercard’s role in this process is to support growth, strengthen local innovation, and build on investments that accelerate inclusive, poverty-reducing development. By removing trade barriers, expanding financial access and empowering women and farmers, the Alliance demonstrates how digital infrastructure can be leveraged not just for economic growth, but for poverty alleviation at scale.
– Rafaela Paquet
Photo: Flickr
Earthquakes in Afghanistan: The International Response
Survivors Share Their Stories
A resident in Kunar spoke about the effects of the earthquake on his family. Muhammad Israel said the earthquake buried his home, belongings and livestock. According to The Guardian, he said: “I barely got my children out of there. The earthquake jolts are still happening. It is impossible to live there.” Dr. Sahak, leader of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency office, was at the scene to aid those injured. He arrived at Nurgal District on Monday afternoon and said he was unprepared for the devastation.
Thousands of civilians rushed to help victims and volunteer rescuers came from neighboring countries. Dr. Sahak described the scenes at the site: “We saw bodies in the street. They were waiting for the people to come in to bury them.” One survivor, Muhammed, age 60, told Dr. Sahak about the loss he had experienced. Dr. Sahak said the man had 30 family members living with him and 22 of them had died in the earthquake.
Earthquakes Deepen Poverty Crisis
A 2021 report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that as much as 97% of Afghanistan’s population was at risk of falling below the poverty line, following what it called a “catastrophic deterioration” of the economy. New figures from the UNDP show that, as of 2024, 85% of Afghans live on less than $1 a day. An estimated 22 million Afghans are in a state of food crisis or emergency, according to Islamic Aid. The recent earthquakes have further exacerbated the country’s economic crisis, leaving thousands in eastern Afghanistan without homes or belongings.
The Impacts on Women in Afghanistan
Poverty for women in Afghanistan is extreme, with the Taliban’s restrictions not allowing women to work in most jobs. This has led to an estimated economic loss of between $600 million and $1 billion. The United Nations (U.N.) has detailed the ongoing mental health crisis for women in Afghanistan due to the loss of rights. In Afghanistan, 8% of women have reported knowing a girl or woman who attempted suicide, with 68% saying they have “very bad” mental health.
U.N. Women believes that women and girls will be among the most affected by the recent earthquakes. After the 2023 earthquake in western Afghanistan, nearly two-thirds of those injured were women and almost six in 10 of those killed were women. Many women, so far, have been deeply affected by the most recent earthquakes in Afghanistan. And with the restrictions on women’s rights in the country, many women affected by these earthquakes in Afghanistan may fall further into poverty after losing their most beloved and belongings, with restrictions prohibiting them from helping provide for their families.
Response from Charities
Looking Ahead
Despite the devastation, international organizations are stepping in to provide lifesaving aid and long-term recovery support for Afghans affected by the earthquakes. From emergency food and medicine to rebuilding schools and health care systems, these efforts highlight how global cooperation can bring hope and resilience to communities facing crisis.
– Alice Haston
Photo: Flickr
Renewable Energy in Comoros
Poverty in Comoros is catastrophic with poor, unprofitable harvests on a national economy that is dependent on farming. In 2014, the poverty headcount ratio measured up to a 31.4% of the population of Comoros living on less than $3 a day, in scale with 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. In the combat against poverty, improving public health especially the incidence of waterborne infectious diseases, acute lower respiratory infections and lung cancer through the use of renewable sources of energy over other energy sources is beneficial. Non-renewable sources of energy have high damage costs, which was $16.4 million in 2021 as a result of carbon dioxide gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels and cement production. Here is more information about renewable energy in Comoros.
Hydroelectric Power Plants in Comoros
Comoros has hydroelectric power plants constructed on the island, which are a renewable source of energy. Hydroelectric power plants transform the potential energy of water into electrical energy, which holds advantages of having low operational and maintenance costs, a long lifespan, as well as wide-ranging uses in: irrigation, the supply of water to urban areas, flood control and navigation. The greater the water flow rate, height of the water descending and conversion efficiency of the turbine, the greater the electrical power generated from the hydroelectric power plant. However, Comoros still has a poor supply of electricity and water, largely due to poverty. Comoros and other low-economic countries could develop the technical potential of hydroelectric power, since only 6% of the technical potential for hydroelectric power has undergone development for use in Africa, compared to half in Europe.
The Benefits of Hydroelectric Power
The use of hydroelectric power as a renewable energy source over non-renewable energy sources reduces carbon emissions and decreases greenhouse gas emissions, which is of great importance in light of the Paris Agreement (2016) – a legally binding international treaty on environmental welfare that 195 parties adopted at a United Nations conference to limit global temperature rises. The necessity for the integration of renewable energy sources is paramount to an eco-friendly economic development, since for Comoros a weighty 0.23 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions emitted were from the transportation sector in 2021, which is just a fragment of the wider societal infrastructure.
Although Comoros has built and installed hydroelectric power plants on the island, a greater number of other renewable energy source technologies would be beneficial to the increasingly urbanized towns and industrialization as the country develops economically in strategies to reduce extreme forms of poverty. Since hydroelectric power is helpful in supplying storage and load balancing for solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, further investments in other renewable energy sources would be a fitting extension to the hydroelectric power plants present on the island.
Solar Energy Project in Comoros
Comoros has invested in solar energy via a Solar Energy Access Project for Comoros, with the goal of expanding the renewable energy generation capacity and enhancing the operational performance of the solar energy system for electricity. Power storages in addition to photovoltaic and system upgrades were installed as part of the project at solar photovoltaic power plants built at Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, while the battery storage remained situated in Grande Comore and Anjouan. The photovoltaic cells transform solar energy radiation from sunlight directly into electrical energy that people can use as electricity.
The vast majority of photovoltaic cells in international financial retail market shares comprise crystalline silicon materials. According to a review on solar photovoltaic technology, innovative carbon nanotube cells used as a material for photovoltaic cells have the capacity to convert 75% of the light energy it receives into electricity, which could aid in providing a more reliable source of electricity to Comoros. Comoros has a tropical weather climate with peak temperatures of 35°C at the beginning of the humid season, therefore the warm sunny climate makes solar energy an ideal renewable energy source.
The Comoros National Electricity Corporation will aid the enlargement across territories of the management information system of the solar energy project plus the installation of the advanced metering infrastructure to all customers. Solar energy projects have great potential compared to other renewable sources of energy as the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggested, and could even help disinfect water for safe drinking.
Looking Ahead
The use of renewable energy sources rather than non-renewable sources of energy is crucially important in the industrial development of Comoros, in order for the country to expand economically as a poverty-reduction effort without causing pollutive damage to the ecosystem, public health or financial trade markets. Hydroelectric and solar energy power plants are renewable sources of energy that have been constructed in Comoros, although maximizing the technical benefits of the renewable energy sources is vital to ensure an efficient, reliable electricity and water supply in a country that has poor utilities due to poverty.
– Deborah Asante
Photo: Unsplash
Food Insecurity and Poverty in Jordan
Poverty and Food Insecurity in Jordan
According to new data, the percentage of registered refugees living in poverty has increased significantly in Jordan’s refugee camps, rising from 45% in 2021 to 67% now. Food insecurity has increased and household spending has decreased as a result. The employment rate among camp-dwelling refugees has also decreased since 2021. According to the survey, many women are unable to look for work due to hold/hold duties, and those who can find employment are frequently more susceptible to risks at work.
Experts globally recognize that to transform food security and eradicate poverty, it is essential to develop safe, sustainable, and healthy diets that are accessible to all. As the United Nations Food Systems Summit approached in 2021, the national food systems highlighted the great importance of transformation and suggested ways to lower the cost of nutritious foods and make healthy diets more accessible for the country, which launched the National Food Security Strategy in 2021.
Creating Sustainable Economic Opportunities
A significant progress is happening in Jordan. Officials are saying the move from an economy that focuses on resource extraction to a circular nation is opening opportunities for the country to not only achieve sustainable and inclusive development but to boost the economy to grow, along with the creation of new jobs that will increase the local production of goods. While highlighting the country’s environmental benefits the Ministry of Environment has made the circular economy a top priority. This will include recycling and cutting down on waste, trimming down on gas emissions and taking on resource use to encourage sustainable consumption and production.
Ensuring Food Availability
Funded in 2003 by Princess Haya bint Al Hussin, Um Ali gives out sustainable food support and essential assistance to support food security and poverty eradication in Jordan that are in deep need across the country. The mission of the food bank still continues to push through occasional charitable food distributions. In 2020 and 2022 wage based employment and self employment aims to help those who participated in the employment program develop technical skills, self- reliance, and strengthen their goal of long-term food for security for the poor.
Final Thoughts
Jordan faces significant challenges in food security due to the resource shortages, poverty and limited job opportunities. Transforming the nation’s food systems and promoting sustainable, healthy diets is essential. Through initiatives like the 2021 National Food Security, the circular economy, and programs by Tkiyet Um Ali, Jordan is making progress by creating jobs, boosting local production and providing sustainable food support to vulnerable communities, ultimately strengthening self-reliance and long term food security.
– Joshua Pettis
Photo: Flickr
Vocational Education in Mexico
While challenges remain, efforts from organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the National Institute for Standardization and Certification of Labor Competencies (CONOCER) and German cooperation through Sparkassenstiftung show how VET centers are reducing barriers, especially for women. These initiatives are also creating new pathways out of poverty.
Skill Gaps in Mexico’s Workforce
Flexibility, adaptability and technical skills are key to Mexico’s vocational training programs. In the past, government-driven policies often limited the scope of workers’ training, restricting them to narrow skills tied to specific industries. This prevented workers from finding higher-paying jobs and slowed the country’s ability to meet global market demands. Today, VET centers address these gaps by equipping workers with diverse, transferable skills.
There is still a gender gap in vocational education enrollment. Social barriers and perceptions that technical training is “not for women” create unequal access to opportunities. Encouraging women’s participation strengthens the labor force, increases household incomes and promotes social equality.
Solutions Driving Change
During the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) reforms, Mexico’s certification system shifted from rigid government-imposed curricula to training models supported by companies and industries. This change expanded access to certifications and improved job placement opportunities by making training more relevant to labor market needs.
Expanding the Dual Vocational System
German development organizations such as GIZ are collaborating with Mexican schools to expand dual VET programs. These combine classroom instruction with workplace training, giving students both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Sparkassenstiftung reports that thousands of young Mexicans have already been trained through this system. Benefits include higher employment rates and stronger partnerships between schools and employers.
The Impact of VET Centers in Mexico
Mexico has more than 2,500 institutions dedicated to higher education, with approximately 20% of lower secondary students enrolled in VET pathways. By expanding access and making training more inclusive, VET centers are becoming a powerful tool in reducing poverty and improving social mobility.
Conclusion
Vocational education and training centers in Mexico are more than just schools. They are engines of economic growth and social progress. By investing in VET, Mexico is not only building a skilled, adaptable and inclusive workforce but also creating a long-term pathway to poverty reduction. Each investment in VET translates into more opportunities for employment, higher wages and a stronger safety net for vulnerable communities.
These programs prepare students for today’s labor market while giving them the resilience to thrive in tomorrow’s global economy, ensuring that progress reaches families across the country.
– Miranda Yacynych
Photo: Flickr