Archive for category: Aid

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How the Nonprofit Honduras Hope Improves Lives in Honduras

Honduras HopeHonduras, bordering Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua in Central America, is one of the lowest-income nations in the Western Hemisphere. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), approximately 63% of Hondurans live in poverty or roughly two-thirds of the 10.6 million residents. In the country, 20% of children under the age of 5 face chronic malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies, which lead to stunting and other developmental delays.

Economic instability and inflation, as well as political corruption and droughts exacerbated by inconsistent rainfall, worsened poverty in 2024, with climate instability intensifying issues related to food production and water access. Among those impacted, women, children, Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations appear to have been challenged the hardest. Environmental damage to the agricultural sector has placed particular pressure on rural communities and the marginalized populations that inhabit them.

About Honduras Hope

The organization, founded in 2001 by Reverend Bill Briggs, the coordinator, focuses on improving the lives of rural and indigenous populations in the San José and Plan Grande communities within the Department of Yoro. The nonprofit has a unique approach in which the board of directors works directly with “Patronatos,” or community councils, rather than arriving with a prescriptive aid solution.

As a 100% volunteer, nonprofit organization based in Franconia, NH, Honduras Hope improves lives through several trips to Honduras each year, working closely with local leaders to fundraise and kickstart initiatives. Such work acts as a complement to the organization’s own investments, which are fundraised through grassroots efforts, such as the concessions stand it ran on behalf of the Common Man food and restaurant chain at the Sandwich Fair in Sandwich, NH, in October 2025. The Borgen Project had the opportunity to speak with several board members at this event.

Briggs told The Borgen Project, “This is the third organization I’ve founded over the last 35 years,” all within Honduras. While all of his efforts have targeted the effects of poverty, Honduras Hope improves lives most effectively in the student population. The organization fights for children’s right to education. Briggs explained, “At the center of our organization and structure is the idea of hope – it’s in the name ‘Honduras Hope,’ after all.” This hope surrounds the work it does to propel disadvantaged students toward a path out of poverty.

How Does Honduras Hope Bring Hope to Students?

Briggs said that a central tenet of the speeches he regularly gives students is the phrase “si se puede,” or “yes you can.” The story of Dr. Cecile Lobo encapsulates how exactly Honduras Hope improves lives for students, empowering them with the idea that they can achieve their dreams by facilitating their education. With financial support from Honduras Hope, Lobo became the first Indigenous Tolupan doctor in Honduras.

Similarly, the organization established the San José boarding house for those unable to travel to school from rural mountain communities. After converting the home, which once belonged to a professional Honduran soccer player, Briggs explained that the nonprofit provided funding for school supplies and uniforms. It completed the project with the assistance of a residential supervisor to oversee the students and offer tutoring.

Girls’ Empowerment and Community Transformation

Kathy Swanson is a member of the Honduras Hope board of directors, serves on the Education Committee and leads both the Girls’ Empowerment Program and the Women’s Cooperative. She explained to The Borgen Project that at first, it was not expected of girls to attend secondary school or university or even to seek professional training. Cultural norms in the community resisted such action. Girls and women were instead expected to work within their communities.

However, Swanson’s belief that “girls have a right to dream, too” has been a guiding principle for Honduras Hope from the beginning. Since its work in Honduras, these community values have changed. Swanson recalled a transformative moment during her initial phase with Honduras Hope. During a meeting in which the committee faced significant resistance to sending young and adolescent girls to school, an older woman in the community stood up. The entire room fell silent as she explained that her hands, stained white down to the wrists, looked that way because they had spent nearly every day of her long life in starch. “She did not want her granddaughters to be cornered into that same life,” Swanson concluded.

This anecdote clearly moved Swanson and it also moved the community. They then paved the way for girls to seek their right to a different life. A 2023 newsletter detailed how Honduras Hope provided financial support to 34 students from Plan Grande to attend high school, with seven seniors on track to graduate. Furthermore, it reported that an average of 18 university students received scholarships each year to forge their path out of poverty. Additionally, 16 teenagers from San José and four mountain communities resided in the boarding house to attend high school in Yoro.

What Has Honduras Hope Done?

The organization funded two primary projects to completion. The first was the implementation of a new electrical program, which delivered electricity to Plan Grande near the end of 2023. Briggs noted that the program “was very tough to complete, politically,” given the widespread corruption in the nation. “At the end of the five-year project,” he said, “we are proud to say we covered the entire cost of installation.”

The second was the San José Water Project, a major milestone for the San José community, which previously had no means of accessing fresh water without long, arduous boat trips. It began nine months ago and was completed at the beginning of October 2025, a $60,000 initiative that now delivers water directly to the community. Briggs explained that navigating infrastructure across the 1.5 miles from the River Machigua to San José was very labor-intensive. However, the community rallied to complete it with financial support from Honduras Hope.

Additionally, Honduras Hope improves lives by implementing several other initiatives. For example, according to its 2023 newsletter, the Plan Grande nutrition program provided 69 preschoolers with nutritious, hot meals each week. For those unable to make the journey to the Community Center, the nonprofit purchased 200 broiler chicks for families to raise at home. Such work has been essential for those who otherwise don’t have the resources to eat.

– Shea Dickson

Shea is based in Newton, MA, USA and focuses on Good News, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Blockchain in Aid: A Path To Transparent Funding?

Blockchain in AidBlockchain technology, best known for powering cryptocurrencies, is now being tested in international aid and welfare systems. By offering a secure, decentralized way to record and track transactions, this technology has the potential to address one of the biggest challenges in aid: ensuring that funds reach their intended recipients. Pilot projects in countries like Ghana, Uganda and Ukraine show both the promise and the limitations of this approach.

Blockchain and Transparency in Aid

Traditional aid distribution often suffers from inefficiencies, lack of oversight and corruption. Intermediaries and opaque financial systems can make it difficult to know whether funds actually reach local communities. Blockchain, a distributed ledger technology, records transactions in a tamper-proof system, allowing donors, governments and recipients to track disbursements in real time.

This transparency reduces opportunities for fraud while building trust among stakeholders. For example, aid distributed via blockchain can be monitored at each transfer stage, from donor pledges to household-level disbursement.

Pilot Projects in Ghana, Uganda and Ukraine

  • Ghana: Blockchain technology has been explored as a tool for poverty alleviation. For example, initiatives have used it to improve the land registry systems, reducing disputes and corruption related to property rights. Additionally, this technology is being integrated into the cocoa supply chain, enabling smallholder farmers to trace their products, connect directly with international markets and secure fairer incomes.
  • Uganda: Startups have partnered with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to pilot blockchain-based land registries, helping reduce disputes and corruption around property ownership, a major factor in long-term poverty reduction.
  • Ukraine: In response to wartime displacement, blockchain systems have been explored to deliver direct cash aid and track humanitarian funds with greater accountability. It has helped prevent more than $200M of overlapping assistance since 2022.

Benefits and Transparency Gains

Blockchain projects have demonstrated several advantages:

  • Fraud Reduction: Tamper-resistant ledgers minimize opportunities for embezzlement or double-spending.
  • Efficiency: Smart contracts automate transactions, cutting costs by reducing reliance on intermediaries.
  • Trust-Building: Donors and recipients can access real-time, auditable records showing exactly where funds go.

These improvements could reshape donor confidence in international aid and encourage more consistent funding.

Challenges and Scalability

Despite its promise, blockchain in aid faces major obstacles:

  • Technical Barriers: Many communities lack reliable internet and electricity to support blockchain systems.
  • Regulation: Blockchain-based aid risks data misuse and uneven adoption without clear legal frameworks.
  • Scalability: Pilot projects often succeed on a small scale but require massive infrastructure and oversight to expand nationally.

These challenges show that blockchain is not a “silver bullet” but a tool that requires careful and thoughtful integration.

Looking Ahead

To responsibly integrate blockchain into poverty-alleviation funding, governments and NGOs must build regulatory frameworks that safeguard privacy, ensure inclusivity and maintain accountability. Partnerships with local communities are also crucial to avoid imposing solutions that fail to address real needs.

Blockchain can improve transparency, but only if implemented carefully and ethically. The technology offers a new way to fight inefficiency and corruption in aid. However, its true impact will depend on whether it can be scaled responsibly in the world’s most vulnerable regions.

– De’Marlo Gray

De’Marlo is based in Long Beach, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Catholic Organizations Work To Help Fight Poverty in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing African countries with a rising population of more than 220 million people. It also has one of the world’s largest young populations. Nigeria has a large Catholic population of more than 35 million people.

Nigeria is a country that is rich with natural resources such as crude petroleum, natural gas, gold and fertilizers. However, while it may be the largest growing African nation, more than half of the population lives in poverty. The rural parts of Nigeria are the most affected.

More than 31 million people are affected by food insecurity in Nigeria. Diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS have been widespread in the country. Nigeria is ranked fourth in the world for the highest cases of HIV/AIDS, with more than two million cases. The country has more than 68 million cases of malaria.

Catholic organizations such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Caritas Foundations of Nigeria (CCFN) work alongside the Catholic Church of Nigeria and international organizations to quell poverty. They continue adding resources to improve the livelihood of Nigerians and bring down cases of HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Nigeria’s Impoverished Population

Nigeria faces a longstanding issue with poverty. The widespread poverty problems derive from government corruption, food insecurity, lack of education, poor access to health care, displacement, homicides, economic instability and job insecurity. The World Bank reported that, “more than half of Nigerians (52.5%) are estimated to live in poverty in 2025.”

The youngest population, ranging from 14 to 65 years old, makes up more than 70% of Nigerians experiencing poverty. Many Nigerians are living below the poverty line on $2.15. In Nigeria and abroad, nonprofit organizations, religious groups and advocacy groups work to support Nigerians experiencing poverty and other socioeconomic issues.

Catholic Relief Services

CRS is a global humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S., assisting vulnerable people worldwide. Throughout Africa, CRS focuses on three important areas: disaster relief, health and agriculture. Since 1960, the Catholic organization has worked alongside local Nigerian advocacy groups, faith-based communities and institutions to reduce poverty, viral diseases and instability in almost all 36 states.

CRS has been active in helping to provide stability and improve living conditions for Nigerians in rural regions. CRS created the Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR) Project. The project aims to improve access to basic human resources such as water, health, markets, education and other important needs for more than 59,000 Nigerians throughout 90 communities.

The project would create economic opportunities and expand the people’s livelihood within the region. This program, funded by the KFW Development Bank, was created to help ” recover and build the resilience of vulnerable populations,” impacted by the Lake Chad Basin’s climate issues and living conditions. Vulnerable Nigerians, such as women, children and refugees, will receive the most aid from this project.

CRS continues to strengthen Nigeria’s health system by supporting programs such as the Global Fund Malaria Grant. This global public–private partnership works to reduce HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. In Nigeria, the Catholic organization distributed “[more than] 75 million long-lasting insecticidal nets” to keep families, children and pregnant women secure and prevent contamination from mosquitoes with malaria. CRS has long supported malaria prevention methods and ways to reduce the disease in Nigeria’s households, communities, hospitals and clinics.

Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria

CCFN is a specialized agency formed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in September 2010. Its role is to assist with humanitarian aid and development in rural regions of Nigeria. CCFN collaborates with more than 300 faith-based organizations around Nigeria. This Catholic organization partners alongside CRS, working toward the same goals and projects to assist Nigerians in meeting their basic needs. The CCFN is part of the branch of Caritas Africa, which has branches throughout the continent.

CCFN started a program called the Management Information Project in March 2025. This project is funded by the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The project aims to gather information on management services to support rural areas that need aid in the Nigerian states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. The project targets food insecurity, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and nutrition services.

– Gene A. Lambey, Jr.

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

Photo: Pixabay

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Aid Cuts Deepen Lesotho’s Health Crisis

Lesotho’s Health CrisisLesotho is a small landlocked nation in Southern Africa that is rarely in the headlines. The country is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian and health crises. Preexisting food insecurity, driven by repeated droughts, crop failures and rising prices, is now colliding with one of the highest HIV rates in the world.

These combined struggles leave families, especially young children, on the brink of survival. Aid cuts from international donors are worsening, forcing organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Vision to decrease their critical contributions. Without more support, Lesotho’s health crisis risks falling deeper, which could have long-term consequences for its people.

Food Insecurity Collides with HIV

Lesotho’s location in Africa, as well as its climate, makes it very vulnerable to drought. According to the WFP, nearly one in three people face food insecurity during the lean season when harvest numbers are low. Therefore, food prices increase. Families often skip meals, sell their livestock or pull their children out of school to work to cope with these circumstances. These cycles deepen the cycles of poverty.

On top of the food insecurity, Lesotho now has an HIV epidemic. The nation has one of the world’s highest HIV rates, with more than 20% of adults living with the virus. For children, exposure to both HIV and malnutrition creates a deadly combination. If they do not have adequate nutrition, antiretroviral treatment becomes less effective. This leaves the children more prone to infections and reduces their chances of survival.

Clinics across the country are reporting rising numbers of malnourished children who are unable to respond to HIV treatment because their bodies lack the strength. The double burden of food insecurity and HIV is creating an emergency that rarely makes global headlines; however, it devastates families daily.

Aid Cuts and Shrinking Safety Nets

For a long time, international aid programs provided critical support to the country. The WFP’s food distributions and World Vision community outreach programs supported thousands. Recent shifts in global funding, though, have forced cutbacks. The WFP warned in 2023 that it may have to reduce assistance due to shrinking donor contributions. This left tens of thousands without aid. These cuts come when inflation and climate are already straining many households.

Without funding, local programs have been unable to keep up. Families have to walk miles to health centers that no longer stock needed supplements. Those who once relied on emergency food services are left alone.

Innovative Local Solutions

Despite the challenges, Lesotho has developed several initiatives to fight back. One of those efforts is the establishment of nutrition corners in health facilities. The centers provide integrated care from food support to growth monitoring to HIV treatment, all in one place. According to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Lesotho, these facilities have been especially effective for children living with HIV, improving both their nutrition and survival rates.

Another initiative is the use of cash-transfer programs, such as the Emergency Food Assistance Project. Instead of distributing food directly, these programs provide families with money or food vouchers to buy what they need locally. This approach helps households access nutritious meals and supports local farmers and markets.

The Maximum Intervention Programme (MIP) is a government-led partnership backed by the U.N.’s Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger (REACH). It has made nutrition a national priority. By aligning itself with multiple agencies, it aims to provide food, health, social protection and security in one strategy.

Looking Ahead

Lesotho’s health crisis is not without hope. The solutions are known and are showing progress. Scaling up health and nutrition services, expanding monetary assistance and investing in climate-resilient farming can reduce reliance on unpredictable rainfall. What remains missing is steady international support.

Lesotho may not dominate headlines, but it illustrates the consequences of aid budget cuts on those who need help most. When donors focus elsewhere, vulnerable nations risk being left on their own. In a country where food insecurity and HIV intersect, continued global support is imperative. With sustained commitment, there is still hope for overcoming Lesotho’s health crisis.

– Brody L. Gates

Brody is based in Fort Worth, TX, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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UK Aid for Girls’ Education: Reasons, Aims and Progress

Girls’ EducationU.K. aid for girls’ education was hit when the U.K. government cut Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending from 0.7% of GNI to 0.5% in 2020. This decreased by $6.13 billion, lowering the overall spending to $13.6 billion. For context, the U.K. spends $25.84 billion just on food waste. This decrease, alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated existing inequalities in education. However, the U.K. is making efforts to push back.

Girls are more vulnerable than boys in terms of education, particularly in low-income countries. As of 2021, women made up 66% of the world’s illiterate population. Furthermore, COVID-19 had a significant impact on education across the world. At its peak, more than 1.5 billion students were out of school.

According to the U.K. government, girls were disproportionately affected, particularly in low-income countries. An estimated 11 million girls never returned to class after the pandemic, as many were forced into early marriage or work to support their families. The U.K. aims to lead international efforts to address this issue through:

  • Restoring its ODA budget to 0.7% of GNI when feasible.
  • Its Five-Year Plan to improve girls’ education.

UK’s Five-Year Plan

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) released this plan in 2021, a detailed scheme to improve girls’ education globally. It clearly states that boys’ education is just as important. However, it recognizes that girls are generally more vulnerable than boys, requiring more direct aid.

Minister Wendy Morton stated, “Girls’ education is a particularly powerful investment, the benefits are wide-ranging enough to stop poverty in its tracks.”

The pillars of the plan:

  • A global coalition on girls’ learning. U.K. aid for girls’ education will prioritize international alignment. The government aims to build political and economic cooperation between the countries receiving aid and those giving it.
  • Country-led action to get more girls in school, kept safe and learning. The U.K. will focus on building bridges with low-income governments, smaller communities and families within these countries.
  • Global goods to support bold education reforms. The U.K. promises to share its advantages in educational institutions and expertise to bring countries in need up to a similar standard.

In summary, U.K. aid for girls’ education was set to increase significantly in 2021. The U.K. government promised to build international relations, provide direct economic assistance and share technologies and expertise.

What Progress Has Actually Been Made?

In February 2025, the U.K. government further decreased ODA spending from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3%. This decision was made to facilitate increased arms spending. Fundamentally, this will reduce the effectiveness of U.K. aid for girls’ education.

Furthermore, the most recent numbers from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics point to an ongoing decrease in children’s education rates worldwide. By late 2023, 250 million children were reportedly out of education, an increase of six million since 2021, coincidentally the beginning of the Five-Year Plan. UNESCO points out the centrality of girls and young women in this increase. Since 2021, Afghanistan, in particular, has excluded girls from education on a massive scale.

However, there is reason for hope. UNESCO also showed that by 2023, there had been an increase of 50 million girls in school globally since 2015. According to UNESCO, there has been a drastic improvement in girls’ education overall. However, multiple negative pockets, such as Afghanistan, remain. While the increase in girls being enrolled in schools alongside the decrease in children in school may seem contradictory, it is likely to come back to the idea of overall progress being limited by pockets of problems.

Regardless, UNESCO made the clear point that global efforts, including U.K. aid for girls’ education, must increase to reach national and international targets.

Conclusion

Overall, U.K. aid for girls’ education is on the rise and there is cause for hope due to the commitments of the U.K. government to improve education for girls worldwide. By improving education, the U.K. is helping to facilitate the eventual end of poverty.

However, the U.K. government’s reduction of the ODA budget severely limits the impact of its international aid. 

– Oliver Evans

Oliver is based in Devon, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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GiveDirectly’s Cash Transfer Scheme

GiveDirectly’s Cash Transfer Pilot SchemeGiveDirectly is a nonprofit organization that has adapted an unconventional approach to poverty alleviation. Founded in 2009, the organization has been sending direct cash transfers to people living in extreme poverty, distributing more than $900 million to around 1.7 million recipients across Bangladesh, Kenya, the DRC, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and the United States (U.S.). Unlike traditional aid models, which often predetermine what impoverished communities “need”, GiveDirectly’s cash transfer scheme prioritizes autonomy. It ensures that the recipients themselves decide what to spend the money on, recognizing that the poor can identify their own needs. 

How it Works

GiveDirectly primarily operates through mobile money platforms, sending recipients one lump sum through a single online transfer. How to spend the money is entirely up to the individual’s discretion, but typically people choose to spend it on health care, education and housing improvements. Typically, the organization targets whole villages at a time. All households eligible within a given community receive the same transfer, which greatly minimises tension but maximises collective benefit.

Cash transfers remain an uncommon form of aid, but there is strong evidence to indicate the effectiveness of this method, especially when it comes to health. 

Impacts on Infant Mortality

In rural Kenya, GiveDirectly’s cash transfer pilot scheme, in partnership with Lwala Community Alliance, led to measurable improvements in infant mortality rates. Infant mortality rates in rural Kenya remain six times higher than in the U.S., largely due to barriers in accessing prenatal care, safe delivery environments and adequate nutrition. 

According to reports, 1,500 expectant mothers received a single cash transfer, alongside community-based health support. Most women used this money to fund transportation to and from clinics, prenatal visits, food and to purchase items for their newborns. The outcome of the scheme was notable. Infant mortality decreased by 48%, underscoring how financial empowerment, even though only a moderate sum, can enable mothers to secure essential resources that allow for safer pregnancies and healthier babies.

Impacts on Illness

Beyond maternal health, direct cash transfers have also been of significant benefit to individuals living with or at risk of infectious disease, such as tuberculosis (TB). Although TB is both preventable and curable, poverty remains a barrier as many of the poorest populations live in overcrowded conditions, with poor ventilation. Cash transfers enable households to invest in conditions that reduce vulnerability to infection.

Recipients can afford cleaner and less crowded housing, purchase more nutritious food to strengthen immunity access medical treatment if needed. For those already infected, transfers can also provide the financial security necessary to take time off work and focus on rest and completion of treatment. All of these factors remain essential for the prevention of transmission, crucial for bringing rates of disease down.

Evidence from Brazil illustrates this impact further. A national cash transfer programme led to a 50% reduction in TB cases, strongly suggesting that financial assistance plays a significant role in tackling the disease. These findings reinforce the conclusion that cash transfers are an effective tool in increasing the health of the poor, where money remains a key barrier.

A Call for Cash Transfers

GiveDirectly’s positive findings highlight the positive potential of cash transfers within the humanitarian aid sector. Through shifting the decision-making power into the hands of the recipients, these programs have produced measurable improvements in health and well-being. Crucially, however, they affirm the agency and autonomy of individuals living in poverty, challenging the narrative that the poor are passive or incapable of making effective choices for themselves.

– Niamh Trinder

Niamh is based in Leicester, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Brazil Prosperity Fund: Unlocking Brazil’s Trading Power

Brazil Prosperity FundThe Brazil Prosperity Fund was a range of projects designed to use aid from the U.K. to expand Brazil’s trade network and accelerate the country’s development. The scheme invested $40 million of U.K. aid between 2018 and 2023 and focused on four key areas:

  1. Energy
  2. Green Finance
  3. Future Cities
  4. Trade

Funding provided by the Brazil Prosperity Fund helped facilitate the exchange of information between U.K. scientists and the Brazilian Energy Program (BEP) on the most efficient ways to collect and utilize biogas. This led to the passing of Brazil’s Fuel of the Future law in October 2024, which regulates the country’s energy sector. The law was passed to reduce Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions and establish the country as a market leader in the sale of renewable energy, maximizing its trading power.

São Paulo Metro System Expansion

The Brazil Prosperity Fund provided funding, along with the World Bank, for the Brazilian branch of the Future Cities Programme. The funds from this scheme were used to expand the existing metro system in São Paulo, South America’s largest conurbation, with a population of more than 20 million people.

A key innovation in this scheme was to help expand Brazil’s trading power by connecting the city’s international airport to the Barra Funda area via express trains in 2018. This has allowed easier access to the city center for international travelers and a good entry into the country.

The São Paulo municipal government intends to continue to expand its metro network, with seven new metro lines planned for construction over the next decade.

The Brazil Exportação Platform

Brazil’s trading power had previously been hampered by the lack of access Brazilian businesses had to international markets. The Brazil Prosperity Fund aimed to alter that by establishing the Brazil Exportação (BRAEXP) trading platform.

BRAEXP works by identifying potential international buyers for Brazilian businesses and suggesting methods of payment that are accessible both to the businesses themselves and to consumers based overseas. The platform reported more than 50,000 unique accesses between its foundation in November 2023 and June 2024.

Reforming Brazil’s Transfer Pricing

Economic advisors from the U.K. were also involved in designing reform to Brazil’s transfer pricing system. Brazil’s trading power had previously been limited by its transfer pricing laws. These laws left some goods vulnerable to “double taxation,” where foreign exporters risked paying significantly more than the market rate to sell their products in Brazil.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the global policy forum that sets guidelines for international trade, has established the “arm’s length principle.” Under this agreement, any transaction between two parties must be priced within an appropriate range, as if the transaction were taking place between two entirely unrelated parties.

By enshrining this into Brazilian law in January 2024, the Brazilian government ensured fair competition between domestic and international producers. This makes Brazil a more attractive trading partner to developed nations.

The UK’s Trade With Brazil

The most recently published data shows that the total value of the U.K.’s trade with Brazil stood at approximately $16.6 billion for the year between April 2024 and March 2025. This represents an increase of more than 80% since the launch of the Brazil Prosperity Fund in 2018. The U.K.’s positive trade balance with Brazil increased, reaching more than $12 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025. This growth occurred despite the U.K.’s overall trade balance remaining negative during this period. These latest figures also show that Brazil is now the U.K.’s 26th largest trading partner globally and the country’s largest in South America.

Brazil’s trading power with the U.K. primarily stems from its exports of food and drink. These make up more than half of the U.K.’s imports from Brazil and utilize the South American country’s unique climate in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. Conversely, the U.K.’s leading exports to Brazil are medicinal and pharmaceutical products (17.4% of exports between April 2024 and March 2025) and mechanical power generators (10.2%). It is hoped that exports in both of these areas will further aid Brazil’s development and ability to produce exportable goods, while also improving the nation’s health care services.

Trade in the service sector, where the U.K. is a traditionally large exporter, between the two countries has been primarily based around financial services. By providing Brazilian businesses with access to London-based financial markets, this financial trade may allow for greater trade between Brazil and the rest of Europe, while also improving Brazil’s economic stability.

What Can We Learn From Brazil?

Brazil’s growing trade relationship with the U.K. is an example of a mutually beneficial arrangement between a developing nation and a developed nation, which overcomes geographic and linguistic barriers. This would not be as profitable for either country, without the recent acceleration of Brazil’s development, which was partially funded by international aid schemes such as the Brazil Prosperity Fund.

– Billy Stack

Billy is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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5 Charities Operating in Namibia

Charities Operating in NamibiaNamibia, a country on the southwest coast of Africa that is known for its vast deserts and diverse wildlife, is also a nation working hard to overcome its socioeconomic challenges. Struggling with a high income inequality rate and limited access to health care and education services, these obstacles remain significant. A growing number of charities operating in Namibia are dedicated to implementing positive change: improving health care, supporting education and empowering vulnerable families.

Here are five charities operating in Namibia whose efforts address urgent needs and build a stronger foundation for a future defined by inclusion and opportunity.

Ombetja Yehinga Organization

HIV/AIDS is a viral disease that is particularly prevalent in southern Africa. In 2017, Namibia had approximately 185,000 people living with HIV, 9,000 of whom were children. In 2023, 3,300 Namibians aged 15 and above died of HIV. Ombetja Yehinga Organization (OYO) is an organization that uses both visual and performing arts to spread awareness among young people of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other social problems.

These include domestic violence, rape and the abuse of drugs and alcohol. OYO communicates in a language that resonates with teenagers. The OYO Dance Troupe travels to schools and communities where the group performs and interacts with students. It also creates a safe space to answer questions and provides a specially trained youth councillor to handle particularly sensitive cases. By providing access to information, OYO empowers young people to make informed choices.

After School Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children 

After School Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (ASPOVC) was founded in 2007 and focuses on providing structured and supervised support to enhance the physical, psychological and social well-being of vulnerable children. In 2021, the number of orphans and vulnerable children in the Ohangwena region of Namibia was recorded at 24,594. ASPOVC’s most recent project began in 2023 and aims to ensure better education for orphaned girls, many of whom are often deterred from full academic participation due to a lack of financial, material or psycho-social means.

So far, ASPOVC has provided 200 vulnerable young girls with hygiene products to minimize barriers to school attendance. It has further provided another 150 children with stationery and school uniforms.

Autism Association Namibia

Global misconceptions of autism can lead to stigma, social exclusion and late diagnosis or lack of diagnosis entirely. Autism Association Namibia (ANN) is an organization formed by parents, individuals on the autism spectrum and professionals dedicated to enhancing the well-being of persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across Namibia. ANN’s core mission is advocacy and awareness: it sensitizes both the public and governmental bodies about the rights, needs and support systems essential for people with ASD.

It also trains parents and professionals in detecting ASD and effective assessment methods. Further, it aims to support infrastructure: the development of offices, resource centers and library services to support autism-related education and training. Filling critical gaps in awareness, services and support opens doors to acceptance, inclusion and respect for neurodiverse individuals.

Children’s Home Namibia

Children’s Home Namibia deeply believes that children are never responsible for the political or social conditions that can lead to adverse living conditions. Primarily based in the Katutura Township, this charity aims to help disadvantaged and abused children obtain a school education, a job and the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Many Namibian children face poverty, neglect or instability due to socioeconomic hardship and thus miss educational opportunities. By covering school fees, uniforms and related expenses, Children’s Home Namibia helps break the poverty cycle in Katutura and set young people on a path toward self-reliance and opportunity.

Men on the Side of the Road

As of 2024, 19.1% of Namibia’s total workforce was unemployed. Many of Namibia’s unemployed population did not have access to higher education and thus do not possess computer literacy. Men on the Side of the Road (MSR) aims to equip members of the organization to find employment by preparing and connecting them to opportunities. Though the percentage of individuals using the internet in Namibia has increased rapidly since 2016 (which was recorded at 31%), only 64% have access as of 2023.

As the current employment market has been digital (postings, applications and CVS are now all conducted online), MSR’s latest priority is offering unemployed Namibians access to digital literacy skills. The organization provides computers and internet access, allowing people to look for and apply to jobs they otherwise wouldn’t have access to. The long-term goal of MSR is to get Namibians into employment and thus help them rise out of poverty.

These five charities operating in Namibia exemplify how collective action can transform lives. These organizations foster long-term resilience and opportunity by filling critical education, health care and social support gaps. As these efforts continue to grow, they offer a reminder that meaningful change often begins at the grassroots and that with the right support, their work supports the vision of a more inclusive and equitable Namibia.

– Elysha Din

Elysha is based in Guildford, Surrey, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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From Aid Recipient to Trade Partner

foreign aid tradeUnited States (U.S.) foreign assistance is sometimes disparaged as mere charity; nonetheless, its effects convey a contrasting narrative. Strategic investments in development save lives and provide future economic prospects for the U.S.. The trajectory from Seoul to Gaborone illustrates that assistance may convert a recipient aid country into a strong trade partner. Timothy Geithner, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, argued that reducing foreign assistance would adversely affect the U.S. economy and diminish its competitiveness relative to China. U.S. foreign aid and trade together demonstrate how combating global poverty fosters domestic prosperity.

South Korea: A Model of US Foreign Aid and Trade

In the post-Korean War years, South Korea depended significantly on U.S. foreign assistance to maintain its economy and reconstruct its institutions. From 1946 to 1976, the U.S. gave $12.6 billion in economic assistance, including food aid, grants and infrastructure initiatives, making it one of the greatest per capita beneficiaries during that period.

As South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo noted, “After the devastation of the Korean War, the U.S. gave us aid, technology transfer, investments and security assurances,” which he credited with helping make South Korea “a very comfortable investment environment for foreigners.”

The results are clear today. In 2024, commerce between the U.S. and South Korea in goods and services amounted to $239.6 billion, with goods trade constituting $197.1 billion.

The U.S.–Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), enacted in 2012, abolished 95% of tariffs and enhanced U.S. exports by around $11 billion. This change demonstrates how U.S. foreign assistance and commerce foster reciprocal prosperity.

Botswana: How US Foreign Aid and Trade Built Prosperity

Upon attaining independence in 1966, Botswana was among the most impoverished countries globally. The U.S. emerged as a crucial development ally, allocating resources to education, health and governance via USAID and Peace Corps programs.

In the health sector, U.S. aid has been pivotal: via the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. has allocated approximately $1 billion in health assistance to the Government of Botswana since the program’s inception, highlighting a sustained and transformative commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.

Over time, assistance established the groundwork for economic collaboration. In 2024, commerce in products and services between the U.S. and Botswana reached $733.4 million, with U.S. exports increasing by almost 52% within one year.

Botswana also benefits from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access for more than 6,700 products. These results demonstrate how U.S. foreign aid and trade go hand in hand in creating stable partnerships.

US Foreign Aid and Trade as Economic Diplomacy

Foreign assistance transcends mere humanitarian gestures. It serves as an instrument of economic diplomacy. Initiatives such as AGOA and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation integrate trade and investment objectives into assistance endeavors. This connection fosters an environment conducive to commercial prosperity while tackling global poverty.

In July 2025, the U.S. entered into a new trade agreement with South Korea, ensuring $350 billion in U.S.-managed investments, $100 billion in energy acquisitions and preferential access for U.S. products such as semiconductors and medicines. Such agreements illustrate how U.S. foreign aid and trade evolve into lasting economic partnerships.

US Foreign Aid and Trade as Investment, Not Charity

U.S. foreign assistance is not a unilateral exchange. It is an investment that cultivates future markets, fortifies relationships and alleviates global poverty. South Korea and Botswana exemplify the transition of nations from being an aid recipient to a trade partner. By seeing assistance as an instrument of diplomacy and economic collaboration, the U.S. demonstrates that U.S. foreign aid and trade are mutually reinforcing policies. Combating poverty internationally eventually fosters collective wealth domestically.

– Ray Bechara

Ray is based in Glasgow, Scotland and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

Foreign Aid and Poverty in Lebanon: Shaping Regional Stability

Poverty in LebanonLebanon’s economic collapse has resulted in more than three-quarters of its people living in poverty, while also accommodating one of the highest per capita refugee populations globally, with around 1.5 million refugees among a total population of under 7 million.

The issue is intrinsically linked to foreign assistance and poverty in Lebanon, with U.S. and European initiatives being pivotal in ensuring food security, educational access for children and availability of health care services. Assistance not only supports at-risk homes but also mitigates unrest that may spread across the Middle East.

Food Vouchers That Keep Families Afloat

International assistance programs have emerged as a crucial support system for several Lebanese families. The World Food Program (WFP) offers electronic food vouchers and financial aid via redeemable e-cards at local retailers.

These allow families to buy essential items while supporting Lebanon’s fragile economy. A mother in Tripoli who relies on the vouchers explained, “With the card, I can buy bread, rice and milk for my children. Without it, I would have to skip meals so they could eat.”

She added that her children can stay in school thanks to aid-supported meal programs. “When they eat at school, I know they can concentrate on learning. It gives me hope they will have a better life than mine.” (Interview)

How Aid Becomes a Tool for Stability

The European Union and World Bank saw assistance as both humanitarian aid and a strategy for fostering regional stability. The World Bank reports that initiatives such as the Emergency Social Safety Net have provided financial aid to more than 150,000 at-risk families.

These programs illustrate the intersection of foreign aid and poverty in Lebanon with overarching objectives, including the reduction of extremism, mitigation of migratory pressures and enhancement of resilience against future adversities.

The Challenges Families Still Face

Despite advancements, political instability and inadequate governance constrain the comprehensive effectiveness of assistance. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has conditioned its support on structural changes, compelling Lebanon to tackle corruption and financial mismanagement prior to releasing billions in aid.

Nevertheless, assistance groups have established mechanisms to circumvent inefficiencies. Programs using electronic vouchers and direct cash transfers minimize corruption threats while guaranteeing that assistance is delivered to those in greatest need.

“When the aid is late, we run out of food. Sometimes I borrow from neighbors, but they are also struggling, so it is very hard,” the interviewee explained.

Such innovations show how foreign aid and poverty in Lebanon are tightly connected, with delivery methods determining how effective assistance can be.

Aid as Investment, Not Charity

Critics sometimes characterize assistance as unsustainable; yet data demonstrates that expenditures in education, food security and health care provide long-term benefits. For example, each dollar spent in early childhood nutrition generates up to $16 in future economic return, while enhancing educational continuity and food accessibility increases productivity and decreases healthcare expenses.

In Lebanon, assistance not only mitigates suffering but also averts regional spillover effects that might exacerbate security issues, with experts cautioning that state failure could trigger displacement, extremism and wider conflict.

International donors are enhancing the everyday lives of Lebanese residents and refugees, therefore not only addressing immediate needs but also investing in the nation’s resilience and peace. In this context, foreign aid and poverty in Lebanon illustrate that humanitarian assistance serves as a strategic investment in peace and development.

“I do not want charity. I just want steady work. Until then, this help keeps us going. Without it, many families like mine would not survive,” a mother from Tripoli told The Borgen Project.

Why Lebanon Proves Aid Matters

The situation in Lebanon illustrates the intrinsic link between foreign aid and poverty in Lebanon; help serves not just as a moral obligation but also as a mechanism that directly mitigates poverty and enhances regional stability. Food coupons that sustain families and cash transfers that uphold dignity are effective solutions, especially in a precarious political climate. As global leaders deliberate on budgets, Lebanon exemplifies the need to sustain and augment aid: it lleviates poverty and preserves broader stability.

– Ray Bechara

Ray is based in Glasgow, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr