Archive for category: Children

Information and stories addressing children.

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Romania

Poverty Eradication in RomaniaVisiting Romania can feel like traveling to two separate countries. On one side, urban, rapidly advancing cities such as Bucharest and Cluj are thriving. On the other side, poverty and stagnation affect rural communities and smaller towns. 

According to the Brookings Institution, more than 25% of the population lives on less than $5.50 a day. This problem worsens because most affected individuals live in rural regions, where 75% of the population experiences poverty. Many of the citizens lack drinkable water and children struggle to maintain a well-resourced education; 40% of the children in Romania cannot read or write at a functional level, and one in five children drop out of school entirely. Romania’s communist roots in the mid-20th century account for much of the country’s persistent poverty. 

Romania’s Escape From Communism

Communist leaders imposed centralized control over Romania after World War II. Nicolae Ceaușescu became ruler in 1965 and oversaw the forced industrialization that contributed to severe poverty and repression, according to Local Histories. The Romanian Revolution in 1989 ended the regime and Romania transitioned toward a market economy. This shift continues to influence innovations in poverty eradication in Romania.

This transition proved difficult because the communist regime directly controlled many key industries. With the collapse of these industries, many small-to-medium cities relying on these industries stagnated. Eventually, through liberalization, privatization and political reform, Romania improved economically. Romania’s acceptance into NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007 marked a turning point for citizens, but it also revealed gaps in development and social justice. This felt especially true for many of the children living in vulnerable populations.

Community-Driven Change

In 2014, to address the extreme poverty that families in Romania experienced, Foundation Botnar partnered with UNICEF and the Norwegian and Romanian Governments to develop a pilot program in 45 communities in the Bacǎu region. Their solution, the Minimum Package of Services (MPS) model, aimed to expand Romanian children’s access to necessary services and improve their educational outcomes.

An innovation in poverty eradication in Romania resulted from the digital platform Aurora, which efficiently organizes and evaluates data for the MPS model. A trained team consisting of a social worker, community nurse and a school counselor used this platform to collect data on each of the family’s needs.

The program’s nontraditional approach to social change delivered many benefits:

  • Data-Driven: The integration of Aurora made the MPS model more effective by offering evidence-based guidance for supporting children and families within the social welfare system. Aurora further allows for the clear visualization of data, making the model scalable and replicable across communities and regions. 
  • Cost-effective: Preventative measures such as reducing school drop-out rates, limiting family separation and increasing immunization coverage lowered long-term spending for governmental agencies.
  • Community-focused: Families often struggled to navigate the complex welfare system. This program removed many of those barriers by providing comprehensive guidance and support to households, preventing vulnerable families from falling through the cracks.
  • Holistic: To maximize the program’s impact, teams exchange information through strong horizontal (inter-community) and vertical (national–county–community) communication. The program also prioritized comprehensive training, equipping teams with skills in data analysis and project planning.

Impact of the MPS Program

UNICEF conducted independent evaluations in 2017 and 2019 to determine the effectiveness of the program. The 2017 report found a decrease of 20% in households with children at risk of domestic violence and estimated costs fell under $46 USD per child. Furthermore, the 2019 evaluation reaffirmed its cost-effectiveness, determining that the cost per person for the MPS model was one-third for active cases and one-eighteenth for closed cases compared to similar projects funded by European programs.

By strengthening community-based services and emphasizing prevention in health, education and social protection, this initiative set the standard for innovation in poverty eradication in Romania and across Europe.”

– Sachin Kapoor

Sachin is based in Atlanta, GA, US and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Charities Operating in Kosovo

Charities Operating in KosovoMany youths in Kosovo believe that limited access to power and social influence are restricting them. Kosovo is a partially recognized country in Southeast Europe that has faced many political challenges since the 1990s. It is also one of Europe’s poorest countries due to its limited resources, with 28% of its population comprising those younger than 15-years-old.

As of 2016, Kosovo’s unemployment rate is a high 34.8%. By 2022, the World Bank estimated 25.4%-30% of the 1.8 million people in Kosovo to be living in poverty and earning incomes below the poverty line. Many issues, including women’s rights and freedom of expression, plague the country, leaving many feeling powerless. However, Kosovo’s poverty rates declined by 2022 and the World Bank expects them to decline even further. From child welfare to employment opportunities, many Kosovars and volunteers have united to fight for a brighter future. Since the political atmosphere of the 1990s, humanitarian organizations have helped vulnerable Kosovars by providing the resources they need to build their economy. While many nonprofit organizations are making a difference, five charities operating in Kosovo are making notable strides in combating poverty and improving the quality of life.

5 Charities Operating in Kosovo

  1. Action for Mothers and Children/Akcioni per Nena dhe Femiji (AMC) – Since 2013, AMC has helped mothers have healthy pregnancies and save children’s lives. It has provided home services to improve children’s lives and strengthen family medicine. As one of the charities operating in Kosovo, AMC uses education to strengthen the trust between health care workers and families through training programs and engaging activities. Since Jan. 2014, AMC’s Women’s Health Information Center program has supported more than 10,000 pregnant women and their partners. On Nov. 2, 2016, many guests, including Valerie Rockefeller Wayne and Dua Lipa, supported a fundraiser that raised $44,360 to help lower child and maternal mortality rates in Kosovo.
  2. Caritas Kosova – In 1992, Caritas Kosova’s founders believed that the cultivation of solidarity and social entrepreneurship would increase economic independence, well-being and employment opportunities. It has empowered the youth and women with training, practical work, interpersonal skill development and grants. It has also improved rural agriculture through connecting farmers, exchanging knowledge and providing subsidies. By Oct. 2025, the YourJob program had provided 6,571 youths with career counseling. As stated by Don Viktor Sopi, director general of the charity, “young people are the most secure force of the future. We must continue to support young people in their aspirations.” Through charities operating in Kosovo, youths took advantage of opportunities to integrate into the labor market, build careers and shape their futures and communities.
  3. The Ideas Partnership (TIP) – TIP is a charity that has operated in Kosovo since 2009 and has worked to improve education, lobby the government, help youths enroll in school, mediate between families and schools and distribute clothes and supplies. It focused on bursaries, led micro-finance projects such as soap-making and recycling and helped families improve their homes. TIP has used funds and grants to empower people and preserve cultural heritage while protecting the environment. As with many other charities operating in Kosovo, it has always stood alongside children and adults. On May 14th, 2025, TIP celebrated its 16th anniversary by growing with teachers, social workers and professionals from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. Through commitment, they have offered long-term support rooted in empowerment and community solidarity.
  4. The Kosovar Organization for Talent and Education (TOKA) – TOKA has operated in Kosovo since 2015, focusing on education and development for disadvantaged children. It has aimed to unlock the youths’ full potential through innovative teaching methods and long-term volunteering opportunities. More than 20,000 participants have tested their programs and more than 30,000 children have benefited from them. Educational gaps between primary schoolchildren and peers in high-income countries continue to prevent youths from reaching their full potential. TOKA’s continuous efforts to improve life trajectories, bridge the gap and strengthen partnerships with the government and global allies have helped youth gain the skills, confidence and opportunities they need, ultimately contributing to improved living conditions in Kosovo.
  5. PL4Y International – In 1999, founders established PL4Y as Sport without Borders. While operating in Kosovo, the charity’s leaders promoted inclusive education, gender equality, inter-ethnic reconciliation and youth empowerment. Collaborating with youth networks, educational authorities and civil society, the programs of charities operating in Kosovo like PL4Y strengthen life skills, psychosocial tools and academic knowledge. For example, Mirela Hysenaj, a teacher at Dardania Primary School, shared how fun activities within the Playdagogy training program fostered an empathetic classroom environment. More than 80,000 children have participated in these programs, including more than 4,000 disabled children. PL4Y has expanded from classroom programs to community fields, using the universal language of play as a tool for learning and development.

The Bigger Picture

While seemingly unrelated to tackling the broader issue of poverty, these five charities operating in Kosovo have helped struggling people access resources to improve their social standing. Education, health care and social support can create long-term benefits, including economic growth and stronger global stability. Through continued efforts by charities like these, Kosovars can strengthen their ability to build a more secure and hopeful future.

– Cindy Nguyen

Cindy is based in Albuquerque, NM, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Ways Zambia’s Free Education Policy Helps Children in Poverty

Zambia’s Free Education PolicyIn 2022, Zambia removed school fees for all public primary and secondary students through a nationwide Free Education Policy (also referred to as “Education for All”). For children living in poverty, this decision changed everyday life. Families that once struggled to cover fees can now send their children to school without facing impossible financial choices.

Within a few years of the policy’s introduction, more than 2.3 million previously out-of-school learners returned to classrooms. Since the policy began, millions of learners have returned to the classroom and early evidence shows that the reform is creating new pathways out of poverty. Here are five ways in which free education is transforming children’s lives across Zambia.

Education Is Now Accessible to All Children

Before the policy came about, many families could not afford tuition fees, exam charges or contributions to parent-teacher associations. These costs often pushed children out of school or prevented them from enrolling in the first place. However, with Zambia’s Free Education Policy, these financial barriers have been removed.

As of 2025, 80% of Zambians say that someone in their family has benefited from free schooling and it is estimated that roughly eight million learners (from early childhood to secondary school) are covered under the free education system. For children living in low-income households, this reform gives them their first real opportunity to access continuous education, opening many more doors for them later in life.

It Reduces the Risk of Child Labor and Exploitation

When families face extreme poverty, children are sometimes sent to work in agriculture, informal labor or other household enterprises to help bring in income, especially when education costs are high. Fortunately, by making education free, the policy reduces one of the main financial pressures that results in pushing children toward exploitation instead of having a better well-being by being in school. The Zambian government and education sector researchers have linked the increase in school enrollment to declines in drop-outs and reduced pressure toward child labor.

This shift gives vulnerable children a much safer and healthier alternative: attendance in school rather than engaging in exploitative work.

It Expands Future Job Opportunities

Education remains one of the most reliable paths out of poverty. By giving children the opportunity to complete primary and secondary education, Zambia’s free education policy opens doors to future jobs that require literacy, numeracy or more advanced skills. With a growing base of educated youth, more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds may access stable employment and obtain skilled professions.

Analysts describe the policy as a major investment in human capital formation and social mobility. For many children living in poverty, this offers a real chance to change their economic trajectory and contribute positively to their communities and national development.

It Creates New Teaching Jobs and Strengthens Communities

The surge in school enrollment triggered by free schooling has led to one of the largest teacher recruitment drives in Zambia’s history. In 2022 alone, the government recruited 30,496 teachers and staff. This expansion provides employment opportunities, especially in communities where poverty and unemployment are significant.

Teacher recruitment also ensures that growing class sizes can be managed, which supports better learning outcomes and helps to stabilize local economies. For families living in impoverished or rural areas, this presents a new path to stable income through teaching, helping strengthen social stability and building a more educated workforce within those communities.

School Supports Social and Emotional Development

Attending school does more than teach reading, writing and mathematics. It provides a structured environment where children build friendships, develop social skills, learn discipline and gain confidence. These social and psychological benefits are widely acknowledged by sociologists and developmental psychologists as early social interaction and peer learning foster emotional resilience, collaborative skills and a sense of belonging.

For children growing up in poverty, who may otherwise lack stable social structures or supportive environments, free access to schooling gives them a place of security, routine and community. Though quantitative data on social development under the policy is not yet robust, the general principle that schooling supports socialization is well-established. In Zambia, by making education accessible across socioeconomic divides, free education helps ensure that all children, not only those from wealthier families, have access to the social and emotional benefits school can provide.

Final Remarks

Zambia’s Free Education Policy is already reshaping opportunities for children living in poverty. By removing financial barriers, reducing the risks of exploitation, opening future career paths, creating new teaching jobs and supporting healthy social development, the policy is proving to be a powerful investment in human potential. If the government continues to support education with adequate infrastructure, resources and funding, every child in Zambia could have the chance to learn, grow and build a better future.

– Daisy Winstone

Daisy is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in El Salvador

Child Marriage in El SalvadorChild marriage continues to plague young girls across El Salvador every year, despite becoming illegal nearly a decade ago. While the rate of child marriage has declined since the ban, factors such as gender inequality, poverty and teen pregnancy play a big role in its concealed continuation.

Current Prevalence and Driving Factors

On August 16, 2017, El Salvador’s Family Code underwent a reformation. The updated Family Code set the legal age of marriage to 18 for women and men, opposed to its previous ruling, which stated that girls could marry regardless of age if they were pregnant or had a child. Following the reformation, according to the Child Marriage Data portal, the prevalence of child marriage dropped from 25% in 2006 to 19.7% in 2021.

However, as of 2025, 199.7 thousand girls now aged 20-24 were married by 15 and 720.3 thousand within the same age range were married by 18. The prevalence is higher in rural areas (26.6%) than in urban areas (16.6%) and it might be due to factors such as poverty and educational opportunity. According to Girls Not Brides, 12% of women living in El Salvador’s most impoverished households and 52% of women with little to no education were married or in a union as children.

In contrast, the numbers are far lower for those in urban, more affluent and educated groups: only 2% of women from wealthy households and 3% of women who completed university were married or in a union as children. Yet, both before and after the Family Code’s reformation, young girls also married young as a form of escape from gender-based violence, hard home lives or teen pregnancy. Following cases of sexual violence, young women would marry their rapist to avoid repercussions involving money or the police. Other young women would marry following a teen pregnancy to avoid straying from societal norms.

Government Action

On August 16, 2017, Salvadoran lawmakers voted to make child marriage illegal, as the previous Family Code acted as a loophole for sexual perpetrators. According to UNICEF and other sources, the 1993 code allowed sexual perpetrators to evade the penal system by marrying their victims. As a result, the cycle of impunity continued. The 2017 reform marked a significant shift in both Salvadoran law and society, advancing protections for children and young adults and signaling a stronger commitment to their rights.

Another Step Forward

Young Salvadoran girls now have the freedom of choice due to the ban on child marriage. However, legal change does not immediately get rid of societal issues. Providing education and economic relief to underprivileged citizens will be another step toward a better country for all and will reduce child marriage in El Salvador.

– Keyly Rios

Keyly is based in Dallas, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Infant Mortality in Developing Countries

Infant Mortality in Developing CountriesInfant mortality in developing countries remains a significant issue, with complications due to premature birth being a leading cause. Though largely preventable, more than one-third of the 2.3 million newborn deaths in 2021 were due to preterm birth complications. Deaths occurring within the newborn period are also highly associated with diseases and infections contracted due to a lack of proper sanitation, quality care and necessary medical treatment. Countries worldwide have made progress in this area, although it has slowed in the last decade. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 64 countries will be unable to meet the SDG goal for eliminating preventable infant mortality by 2030 without quick action. However, innovations provide hope in tackling this issue.

Survival Rates in High and Low-Income Countries

The survival rate of newborns varies significantly by region, with a notable disparity between high and low-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia show the least favorable conditions for infant survival. In fact, these areas accounted for more than 80% of deaths in children under 5 in 2022, many being in the neonatal stage.

These disparities are especially significant for extremely premature infants born before 28 weeks. On the low end, these infants experience a 10% survival rate in developing nations, compared to a rate of more than 90% in parts of the developed world, according to BMC Pediatrics. Without specialty care provided in the newborn stage, surviving preterm babies also have a higher chance of developing lasting health issues and disabilities.

One of the biggest challenges facing health care systems in developing countries is inaccessibility to medical technology and equipment. Due to high costs, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of professionally trained personnel, health care facilities are often unable to implement advanced technologies and deliver life-saving care.

Finding Solutions: IncuNest

Incubators are an essential piece of medical technology used to keep ill and premature babies healthy during their first days of life, while they are vulnerable to fatal complications such as infection and temperature dysregulation. However, high-tech incubators generally cost anywhere from $1,500 to $35,000, an unrealistic investment for many hospitals with limited resources.

Led by Pablo Sanchez Bergasa, Medical Open World developed a medical technology solution made to prevent infant mortality in developing countries effectively.

They created IncuNest, a low-cost incubator which aims to save the lives of vulnerable infants born into environments that lack the resources to keep them healthy. Their incubators cost a fraction of the mainstream price at €350 per unit, making them far more economically accessible. Constructed to be lightweight and portable, they are easy to transport to areas where they are necessary the most, with minimal infrastructure necessary for operation.

Easier to Operate

IncuNest is also easier to operate in areas that struggle with accessing electricity. Being extremely energy efficient, one incubator requires a maximum of only 130 watts and can operate using unconventional energy sources, such as car batteries. With significantly fewer resources required to run the incubators, the technology remains effective, focusing on the most important functions, such as sanitary confinement and temperature and humidity control.

IncuNest is also an open source technology, meaning that their blueprints are fully accessible via the IncuNest website, allowing anyone to construct their own incubators locally. This approach to decentralizing medical technology shifts the focus from incubators being a product to being a tool for advancing human development and well-being. So far, IncuNest operates in more than 200 locations and saved the lives of 4,000 infants.

Looking Ahead

With less developed areas struggling to implement advanced healthcare technologies, IncuNest poses as a blueprint addressing this inequality. Through the creation of medical innovations that are easy to acquire and distribute, more communities gain access to life-saving care. In addition, decentralized approaches that encourage local construction allow for solutions to be adopted more easily. Bridging the gap between healthcare systems in high and low-income nations has no one solution and will require various systematic changes. However, finding ways to bring effective technologies to communities that need them most is an important piece in achieving greater equality and addressing infant mortality in developing countries.

– Quinlan Bohannon

Quinlan is based in Portland, OR, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About Poverty in Bulgaria 

Poverty in BulgariaFor a substantial portion (approximately 21.7% or 1.5 million in 2024) of Bulgaria’s population, poverty is an inescapable reality. Vulnerable citizens, especially Romani people, are born into families with little access to basic needs, such as education, housing and employment, further maintaining the cycle of systemic inequality. Recently, however, the nation’s government and nonprofits have been taking measurable steps toward a brighter outlook by reducing the risk of poverty for more than 1 million individuals since 2015. Understanding poverty in Bulgaria starts with recognizing who is experiencing the most impact and why the hardships persist, and the actions organizations are taking to alleviate the conditions of poverty in Bulgaria.

Who Faces the Greatest Risk

The effects of poverty disproportionately impact children and Romani communities. About 28.2% of Bulgarian minors were at risk of poverty in a 2024 report; four-fifths of them were born into households with parents who had not completed more than ISCED Level 1 education. Systematic inequality continues to affect Romani peoples’ access to basic needs unduly. The income inequality is especially notable, as the region with the lowest GDP per capita in the European Union, Severozapaden, also reports the lowest life expectancy.

Numerous interconnected factors have been maintaining this state of affairs, and their consequences are evident. While average wages and the poverty line have increased in recent years, they remain among the lowest in the EU. Individuals working in low-value-added industries (agriculture, most commonly) struggle most with poverty in Bulgaria. Due to low birth rates and emigration, Bulgaria’s population has dropped by nearly 25% since 1990. While rural communities are most subject to depopulation and low investment, economic growth remains concentrated in Sofia.

Social Transfers and EU Cohesion Funds

To support the impoverished, several government and NGO interventions have been implemented and are underway. Pensions, child allowances and other governmental social transfers are serving hundreds of thousands of households that were previously facing the predicament of whether to cut back on essentials in order to provide their children with food and school supplies. Such transfers decreased the likelihood of child poverty by 13.6 percentage points in 2023. Funding from the EU is especially important in facing regional imbalances and persistent poverty. The EU Cohesion Policy for 2021–2027 continues to support the improvement of infrastructure, as well as increased employment opportunities and vocational training. Additionally, billions of leva have been allocated by the Human Resources Development Programme to promote entrepreneurial activity, fund improved childcare and train employees. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians have completed the training.

An NGO’s Impact

According to the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), Bulgaria not only advocates for fairer wages and more inclusive social policies, but also directly assists households during energy crises. Thousands of families received such energy assistance, according to the EAPN’s 2023 Poverty Watch. The group has demanded that the government raise the minimum wage and pension, tax more equitably and guarantee that all disadvantaged populations receive proper support.

Looking Ahead

Bulgaria is moving towards the goal of leaving no one behind, thanks to national transfers alleviating child poverty, EU cohesion funds increasing access to education and jobs and civil organizations supporting vulnerable households. The most critical first step that is needed in the fight against inequality is the recognition that an issue as widespread as poverty affects millions of lives that have untold potential.

– Clara Garza

Clara is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Child Marriage in Eritrea

Child Marriage in EritreaChild marriage disproportionately affects the lives of young girls in Eritrea, as an estimated 41% of girls are married before the age of 18 compared to 2% of boys, according to the most recent government data from 2010. Many recognize child marriage as a violation of human rights, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating that consent to marriage must be ‘free and full’ and cannot be so when one of the parties is below adult age.

Eritrea revised its Marriage Law in 1991 to make 18 the minimum age for marriage, however, a 2025 Human Rights Watch report reported that child marriage remains prevalent despite this law. This is due to a lack of enforcement, as well as customary laws and legal exceptions. For example, 16-year-old girls can marry if they are pregnant or have already given birth.

Causes of High Rates of Child Marriage

The Girls Not Brides organization states that gender inequality is the driving factor behind child marriage in Eritrea, in addition to poverty, and a lack of opportunities for education or financial independence for girls. These factors are worse in rural areas where the rate of child marriage is significantly higher, 55.2% compared to 20.4% in urban areas. There is social and financial pressure on girls to abandon their studies to perform domestic or agricultural labor and enter marriage to relieve their families of financial burden.

Addressing the Problem

At the 2019 Nairobi Summit Eritrea committed to end all forms of violence against women and girls, including child marriage by 2030, committing to provide “access for all adolescents and youth, especially girls, to comprehensive and age-responsive information, education and adolescent-friendly comprehensive, quality and timely services to be able to make free and informed decisions and choices about their sexuality and reproductive lives.”

International aid can also help to end child marriage by reducing risk factors like poverty and lack of access to health care and education through targeted programs and partnerships. Organizations such as UNICEF and UNFPA work in Eritrea to protect those at risk of child marriage. The UNFPA collaborates with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the national health system and expand access to health care, particularly for underserved rural populations. UNFPA also work with the National Union of Eritrean Women to support legislation against underage marriage and FGM.

The Current Status of the Issue

Due to a lack of recent data from the government on child marriage rates, it is difficult to know how close Eritrea is to achieving the goal of eradicating child marriage by 2030. It is important that regulatory bodies get accurate and recent data from the government to address the issue and assess the progress that has occurred. International support is essential to improve access to education and provide resources to impoverished rural communities to alleviate financial pressures that push girls out of education and into marriage. Increased opportunities combined with stricter enforcement of the minimum legal age for marriage will help girls in Eritrea to live childhoods free from forced marriage.

– Nieve Dowling

Nieve is based in Bristol, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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$28 Billion Pledge Boosts Childhood Anemia Prevention

Childhood Anemia PreventionIron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent, yet preventable, nutrient deficiency-related disease in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 269 million children younger than 5 are affected, primarily those in low-income countries. At the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, global leaders addressed childhood anemia prevention, pledging nearly $28 billion to address the crisis. This investment could change millions of lives; however, the challenge is turning commitments into actions that reach children who need it the most.

Childhood Anemia: Effects on Health, Education and Poverty

Iron deficiency anemia is primarily caused by inadequate nutrient intake. Children in poverty-stricken countries are most at risk as food insecurity prevents balanced meals. Excessive blood loss associated with malaria, a disease currently found in 83 countries, is also a compounding factor of anemia in children. The link between poverty and anemia highlights why it is essential to understand its impact on children’s health, education and future potential.

Anemia causes fatigue, weakness, compromised immunity and, if left untreated, heart problems. Beyond health issues, affected children struggle with attention and memory problems, impacting learning as well as social interactions. The result is poor school performance and increased absenteeism, which affects their access to future educational and career opportunities, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

Why Previous Efforts Fell Short

Previous N4G Summits prioritized malnutrition and childhood anemia prevention. Global leaders pledged $23 billion in 2013 to address global malnutrition and $27 billion in 2021 to invest in anemia and food fortification. Sadly, these pledges fell short as a result of weak monitoring, insufficient funding and implementation delays. COVID-19 disruptions additionally prevented 2021 programs from fully reaching target communities.

Based on previous tracking reports, the 2025 Summit has new priorities. With a historic investment of $28 billion, the WHO and global leaders aim to turn commitments into tangible results. The efforts emphasize accountability, targeted interventions and measurable outcomes, supported by data systems to track progress. These changes set the stage for this initiative to make a real difference.

How $28 Billion Supports Childhood Anemia Prevention

Building from previous frameworks, the WHO, in partnership with UNICEF and the Anemia Action Alliance, has developed a comprehensive strategy to address childhood anemia. Their four primary areas for intervention include:

  • Addressing root causes: Programs are being implemented to address the nutritional and infectious causes of anemia. Comprehensive care tackling iron deficiency, malaria and parasitic infections is paramount in reducing the prevalence of childhood anemia.
  • Supplement distribution: In collaboration with national ministries and outreach programs, the WHO and UNICEF will increase women and children’s access to iron and folic acid tablets.
  • Food fortification: Countries are enacting policies mandating the fortification of staple foods such as wheat, rice and salt, which make up the bulk of diets in low-income countries. Fortification with iron helps address the widespread deficiency that contributes to childhood anemia.
  • Health system improvements: The WHO and UNICEF are working with ministries of health to integrate anemia testing into routine health services, provide training to health workers and improve the delivery of supplies.

These efforts aim to create lasting systems that prevent childhood anemia rather than only treating it. When sustained, such progress improves health and boosts education, productivity and economic stability, helping break the cycle of poverty.

Turning Promises Into Progress: Why Transparency Matters

The impacts of anemia go beyond health; it impacts national growth, too. According to the World Bank, anemia in children reduces productivity and learning potential, costing low-income countries up to 4% of their GDP each year. To truly make a difference and reduce poverty across generations, commitments to improving health need to become actions.

That’s why the 2025 N4G Summit emphasizes trust and transparency. Past pledges faltered due to weak data collection and limited accountability. Organizations such as the U.N. and Global Nutrition Report are calling for stronger monitoring systems to ensure this doesn’t happen again. New tracking dashboards are in place to measure outcomes and ensure real progress is being made.

If governments and partners uphold their commitments, this unprecedented $28 billion pledge for childhood anemia prevention could finally create lasting change. It offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to break the cycle of malnutrition and poverty for generations to come.

– Tina Kusal

Tina is based in Montrose, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Everything To Know About Child Marriage in Nicaragua

Child Marriage in NicaraguaThe Nicaraguan government and local organizations have worked to reduce and eliminate child marriage and early unions. Their efforts have achieved a 50% decrease in the number of girls married before the age of 18, falling from 1987 to 35% in 2012. However, Latin America remains the only region in the world that has not shown a clear decline in child marriage over the last three decades. Nicaragua has the highest rates within the region and ranks 14th globally with 10% of girls marrying or entering a union before age 15. Among boys, 19% marry or enter a union before the age of 18. Here are the main reasons for child marriage in Nicaragua:

Poverty

Poverty continues to affect a large portion of Nicaragua’s population. The United Nations reports that 48% of people live below the poverty line. Continual climate disruptions devastate the environment and worsen economic conditions. High levels of organized crime and human trafficking also contribute to insecurity. Many families marry off their children to ease financial hardship and improve their economic situation, resulting in increased levels of child marriage in Nicaragua

Furthermore, Nicaraguan society continues to enforce cultural and gender norms that pressure girls to marry young and bear children. These expectations limit and restrict their opportunities.

Lack of Education

A lack of access to education is both a cause and result of child marriage in Nicaragua. Families often pressure girls to leave school after marriage. Communities with poor access to education have higher levels of child marriage.

When families remove girls from education to marry, they face a greater risk of teenage pregnancy. Reports show that 30% of girls who marry or enter a union become pregnant within the first year. A 2019 UNFPA study highlighted the high correlation between early unions/marriage and pregnancy among girls in Nicaragua. Not only this, but teenage pregnancies pose a serious health risk for young mothers with increased maternal mortality rates.

Solutions in Place

The Nicaraguan government has implemented several measures to reduce child marriage and aims to end early and forced marriage by 2030. The government co-sponsored the 2013 and 2014 United Nations General Assembly resolutions on child, early and forced marriage. In 2013, as a member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Nicaragua adopted the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, which recognized the need to address the high levels of adolescent pregnancy and its associations with forced marriages.

The government also updated legislation under the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belem do Para Convention to ensure the minimum age of marriage was 18 for both men and women. During its 2019 Universal Periodic Review, the government agreed to review recommendations to combat all harmful practices against women and girls, including child marriage in Nicaragua.

Beyond legal reforms, the government and international organizations have focused on education and advocacy. Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and educational initiatives work to keep girls in education. For example, SOS Children’s Village, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children living in poverty, has provided education to more than 2,630 children. Other global charities, such as UNAIDS, have partnered with UN Women, UNICEF and the World Health Organization in a joint initiative to eliminate child marriage and to ensure that governments meet the needs of women and girls in Latin American and the Caribbean. Due to the work of these initiatives and awareness brought to these issues, a number of communities now acknowledge the harm that child marriage in Nicaragua caused.

The Path Forward

There is still much more work to be done. There are still barriers to reform that need to be addressed and tackled with global organizations calling for stricter and better enforced policies, more access to education for girls, a change in cultural gender norms and continuing efforts to end poverty. However, the continued successes of government initiatives and charity organizations suggests a real progress for the improvement of women and girl’s rights and opportunities and for the reduction of child marriage in Nicaragua.

– Alys Gaze

Alys is based in Wales, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Charities Operating in Mauritania 

Charities Operating in MauritaniaMauritania, a largely desert country in West Africa bordering Senegal, Mali and Western Sahara, faces urgent challenges, including poverty, limited health care and barriers to education. The population relies heavily on agriculture, even though only 0.4% of the territory is arable. The country also experiences recurrent droughts and floods. In 2024, political instability in Mali caused a rise in refugees in Mauritania. Today, more than 288,000 refugees and asylum seekers live in the southeastern region of Hodh Chargui.

Five charities operating in Mauritania have helped improve access to education, health care and food assistance for vulnerable populations. International organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) provide food distribution and malnutrition services. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) implements protection and inclusion programs for Malian refugees.

Progress in Mauritania comes from international and local organizations working together to improve health care, education and livelihoods. Both local and international charities operating in the country have positively impacted its development. Here is information about five charities operating in Mauritania. 

1. World Vision Mauritania

World Vision is a global Christian humanitarian organization that began operating in Mauritania in 1983. The NGO originated in Nouakchott and focuses on improving the well-being of children and families in vulnerable communities. Its mission is to reduce poverty and improve access to education, health care, clean water and livelihoods through sustainable, community-driven programs. World Vision Mauritania has supported more than 230,000 children enrolled in various educational programs and established more than 300 preschool structures to promote early childhood learning. The charity has improved access to clean water by constructing 619 drinking water systems and 302 wells, benefiting more than 114,000 people. World Vision established 894 savings and loan groups with more than 17,000 participants, 98% of whom are women. Through its comprehensive and measurable initiatives, World Vision Mauritania continues to create lasting change by empowering communities and fostering sustainable development.

2. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) 

Among the five charities operating in Mauritania, MSF began its operations in the country in 1992. In 2024, MSF returned to the Hodh El Chargui region in response to the increasing influx of refugees from Mali. The international organization provides basic health care, mental health support, sexual and reproductive care and treatment for malnutrition. MSF set up mobile clinics in many villages in Bassikounou to provide care to people arriving from Mali. It also collaborated with local organizations to improve emergency rescue efforts. MSF trained local officials in mass-rescue operations and first aid. In December 2024, it assisted migrants at the disembarkation point in Nouadhibou and supported three disembarkations and two land interceptions. Its work resulted in 2,590 outpatient consultations and 50 children admitted to outpatient feeding programs. By delivering essential health care and support services to vulnerable populations, MSF directly addresses critical gaps in Mauritania’s health care system.

3. Oxfam 

Oxfam has been active in Mauritania since 1983, mainly in Brakna, Gorgol and Hodh el Gharbi. Between 2005 and 2006, Oxfam GB also spent about £616,641 on disaster response in Mauritania.

Between 2010 and 2012, Oxfam’s small-scale irrigation project in Boghé, implemented with the Mauritanian Red Crescent and Spanish Red Cross, benefited 957 farmers in 20 cooperatives and indirectly improved food access for more than 12,000 people.

From 2022 to 2023, Oxfam supported education projects through Education Out Loud, investing $196,511 USD to strengthen 20 member organizations in 15 regions to improve education inclusion and monitoring of SDG 4. Its programs strengthen resilience in communities facing food insecurity, limited land access and educational challenges, helping people build sustainable livelihoods.

4. Youth and Hope 

Among the five charities operating in Mauritania, Houleye Thiam founded Youth and Hope in 2011. According to the organization, its mission is to eliminate barriers to education for young people in four targeted villages in rural areas of Mauritania. Youth and Hope delivers school sets to students twice a year, providing six notebooks and 12 pens. The sets are delivered by hand and the organization asks school teachers to confirm that the students have the basic supply needed to study. The local organization also operates in other villages that host former refugee populations returned from Senegal in 2011, like Gawdal, Diolly and Houdalaye. Youth and Hope’s work highlights the role of local initiatives in supporting vulnerable communities. 

5. Care and Relief for the Young (CRY) 

Since 1992, CRY has been an international charity that supports children and women in developing countries by providing education, shelter, feeding programs and micro-grants. Its work also includes helping orphans and street children through the provision of food, medicine, clothing and school fees, aiming to empower vulnerable groups through partnerships with local organizations. In Mauritania, where education access remains a major challenge, especially for children in rural and refugee communities, CRY’s work fills a crucial gap. In 2025, they launched the Child Development Centre in Mauritania, which supports more than 100 children and funds three feeding programs. The project provides direct assistance to orphans and street children and focuses on improving access to education, nutrition and health care.

The Bigger Picture

The work of these five charities operating in Mauritania makes a significant difference in the lives of Mauritanian people. The joint efforts of both local and international organizations support the most vulnerable groups, including children, women and refugees. Their programs provide direct assistance, such as food provisions, as well as grants and educational resources. Their mission is to help communities achieve sustainable livelihoods and build a better future for the country. 

– Angela D’Avino

Angela is based in Preston, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr