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The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Algeria 

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Algeria
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, leading to widespread job losses and a sharp decline in economic activity. COVID-19 has particularly hit the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria has added to the country’s economic and social challenges as it experienced a double shock due to a sudden fall in foreign revenues and recession-induced lockdown measures.

Algeria’s Oil-Dependent Economy

Algeria’s oil-dependent economy suffered a severe blow accounting for more than 95% of the government’s budget. The economy has struggled due to years of falling global oil prices since 2014. Algeria heavily relies on oil and gas exports, rather than diversifying into other sectors, which made it vulnerable to the disruption of global trade due to COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, Algeria was already facing significant economic challenges, including high levels of youth unemployment that reached 26%, while women’s unemployment rate was on the rise and widening the gender gap. Inequality and economic hardships led to nationwide strikes and protests.

Moreover, Algeria suffers from multidimensional poverty that affects all poverty dimensions: education, health, living conditions, unemployment and financial inclusion. A 2021 Economic Research Forum article said that despite laws that provide mandatory education for nine years and the health law that assumes that health care is free for all, Algeria still needs to achieve those objectives.

In addition, more than 75% of the population do not have access to either hot water, heaters, television or refrigerator, or access to the internet. In comparison, 60% of the population has no access to waste management and 43% of households have at least one child not registered in school.

Decrease in Economic Activity

The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded Algeria’s economic challenges, leading to the closure of businesses, job losses and a sharp decline in consumer confidence, which resulted in a significant decrease in economic activity, exacerbating poverty levels in the country.

To curb the spread of the virus, the Algerian government implemented curfews and mandatory closing times for businesses. However, these measures disproportionately affected low-wage and informal workers who could not work remotely and lacked job security.

The Algerian Government’s Measures

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on poverty in Algeria, the government has taken several measures, including providing financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises, food subsidies and cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations.

It also launched a major vaccination campaign to reach 70% of the population and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy, according to the Middle East Institute (MEI). The success of this vaccination drive was critical in restoring consumer confidence and kickstarting economic growth in the country, thus, decreasing the poverty rate and its effects. In April 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classified Algeria as a “slow inoculator” in its regional economic index, indicating that the country was lagging in its vaccination efforts.

The government fully funded a massive program to ensure vaccine accessibility to all residents. It has also “prioritized health care workers, vulnerable people and police officers” first to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The government should test its health system periodically to improve operational abilities and evaluate its financial system to ensure adequate reimbursements, which will equip the country with a better capability to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria.

NGOs That are Helping

NGOs in Algeria have also played a crucial role in supporting the health care system to provide lifesaving care to Algerians. In August 2022, the Algerian Medical Network launched a fundraising campaign to purchase medical equipment and hospital supplies as the country faced a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Nas Al-Khair, a local NGO operating in northwestern Algeria, launched a campaign to spread awareness, distribute masks and sanitizers and deliver food to residents safely to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its effects on the community.

Despite the challenges Algeria’s economy faces before and during the pandemic, there are signs of a slow recovery and these measures have helped to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria. However, the economic outlook remains uncertain and challenging as pre-pandemic vulnerabilities persist. The IMF has highlighted the need for Algeria to address its declining energy revenues and support the private sector to ensure sustainable economic growth. The Algerian government has implemented plans to tackle these challenges and promote economic recovery.

– Nisan Ahmado
Photo: Flickr

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in South Africa

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in South Africa
Nestled at the southernmost point of the African subcontinent, South Africa stands as a sparkling reminder of everything pristine. Known for its deep blue lakes, majestic peaks and picturesque landscape, South Africa is a country rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity. However, South Africa continues to face a persistent challenge in providing a decent standard of living for all of its citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this situation and the country of South Africa has felt the pronounced impacts of COVID-19 on poverty nationwide. Here is some information about the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in South Africa.

Inequality in South Africa From the Pandemic

Inequality has long been a problem in South Africa, with a large portion of the population struggling to make ends meet even before the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2017 study found that approximately 18 million people, constituting the poorest 20% of households in the country, were living in dire conditions, with a disproportionate number of these households located in rural areas.

When COVID-19 arrived, these figures increased considerably. According to The Conversation, the bottom 10% of households lost nearly 45% of their income during the nationwide shutdowns, highlighting the pandemic’s devastating impact on the most vulnerable. The pandemic has not only affected the income of South Africa’s poorest households but also resulted in a major decline in employment. The country saw a net 40% drop in employment from February to April 2020, leading to widespread job losses. Estimates have indicated that 20% to 33% of those who lost their jobs during the lockdown period lost the majority of their income, with 3 million to 5.5 million individuals falling into poverty as a result. Despite attempts to implement relief programs, a staggering 80% of newly unemployed individuals did not receive any support whatsoever.

Effect on Education

In addition to its economic ramifications, the education sector in South Africa has also felt the tremors of COVID-19. The pandemic lockdowns in 2020 resulted in widespread school closures, with nearly all African academies remaining shuttered for a minimum of 100 days. As a result, estimates have stated that nearly 13 million young students fell behind on curriculum coverage and will now face severe skill deficiencies in the coming years.

While virtual learning was an option during this time, the vast majority of learners across rural South Africa did not have access to such luxuries. In fact, a study of 515 participants aged 15-24 across the nation found that only 34.7% of households had access to a laptop and only a mere 23.9% had internet access at home, according to Frontiers in Education.

Food Instability

Another key facet of the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in South Africa is food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a devastating spike in food prices across the nation, disproportionately affecting the country’s poorest. In March 2020, when the entire country went into full lockdown, many informal food traders were unable to practice their trade. Considering that the informal sector accounts for some 70% of overall food sales in South Africa, this delivered a major blow to the food economy. When food traders stopped operating, travel costs increased exponentially for food and transport expenses for those who were still operating skyrocketed.

Solutions

Fortunately, the government of this country has taken several steps to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in South Africa. Through the use of insurance, social programs, NGOs and nonprofits, the South African government has distributed nearly 1 million food parcels, reaching about 5 million people in the most severely affected regions of the nation. Furthermore, the government’s temporary “COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant” (SRDG) provided nearly two-thirds of applicants with crucial funds to help ease some of the burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, many citizens view the government’s actions in these regards as too little, too late. The application process for many of the grants and relief programs, including the SRDG Act, has received criticism for being difficult to access and understand. The expectation to apply through an online portal also excluded many individuals living in rural areas and regions without internet access. Despite the South African government’s efforts to provide online learning resources during school closures, students from low-income families, rural areas and underserved communities still struggled due to poor internet connectivity and a lack of personal devices. Furthermore, government officials’ misuse of grant monies and depletion of the already restricted funds made corruption a recurring problem in the distribution of help.

All in all, the devastating impact of COVID-19 on poverty in South Africa is an issue as widespread and contagious as the virus itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of daily life, robbing everyday citizens of the financial and social securities they previously enjoyed. Without firm and immediate action from the government and international community, this issue will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for generations to come.

– Sanjith Sambath
Photo: Flickr

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Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Diseases

Prevent the Spread of Diseases
The recent global health crisis, triggered by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought to the forefront the importance of efforts to prevent the spread of diseases. While treatment is crucial, proactive steps to reduce the risk of disease transmission are equally important. Disease prevention plays a critical role in promoting public health, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Gavi’s Work to Prevent the Spread of Diseases

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership that is committed to improving access to life-saving vaccines in low-income countries with the aim to prevent the spread of diseases. The partnership has played a critical role in reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide by providing funding, technical support and vaccines to increase access to immunization programs in the world’s poorest countries.

Gavi has assisted in the vaccination of more than 981 million children, which will prevent at least 16.2 million disease-related child mortalities at minimum. Its efforts have also resulted in the successful introduction of new vaccines in low-income countries, including the pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines.

The Global Fund’s Efforts

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is another public-private partnership committed to reducing the incidence of these three deadly diseases, increasing access to treatment and care and improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. It has played a critical role in preventing the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS by providing funding to support HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services.

In 2021 alone, the Global Fund provided HIV-preventative services to 12.5 million at-risk individuals and helped to provide about 670,000 HIV-positive mothers with treatment to sustain themselves and prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in HIV/AIDS-related deaths worldwide.

The Global Fund has also played a crucial role in expanding access to TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, contributing to a decline in TB-related deaths worldwide. In addition, the Global Fund has supported the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor spraying and other preventative measures to reduce the incidence of malaria, resulting in a significant reduction in malaria-related deaths worldwide.

Positive Impacts

The impact of these global health initiatives in preventing the spread of diseases worldwide is reflected in the significant progress made in reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. These partnerships have saved more than 50 million lives and significantly reduced the number of new infections and deaths linked to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Contributions to the fight against these deadly diseases have not only significantly reduced the number of new infections and deaths but also strengthened the health systems of low and middle-income countries to better cope with disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

Prevention is Key

Disease transmission is a significant public health challenge, with prevention being the key, and everyone from individuals to communities and governments has an important role to play in proactively addressing the issue.

Practicing good hygiene, obtaining vaccinations and accessing health care for the early detection and treatment of illnesses are all essential strategies in preventing the spread of disease. Good hygiene, such as hand washing and avoiding contact with sick individuals, is a basic yet effective way to reduce the risk of infection. Vaccination is critical in building immunity against various diseases and protecting vulnerable populations. Early detection and treatment of illnesses can reduce the severity of the illness and the risk of transmission to others.

It is also important to ensure that vulnerable and marginalized communities have access to prevention, treatment and care services. Strengthening the leadership, engagement and capacity of community-led organizations and networks can improve service continuity between community-led activities and formal health care provision. The Global Fund’s Community Engagement Strategic Initiative and community-led monitoring efforts work toward achieving these goals.

In conclusion, investing in preventative measures and global partnerships is critical in reducing the incidence of preventable diseases and saving lives.

– Nkechi First
Photo: Flickr

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How The Avido Foundation is Aiding Kibera

Aiding Kibera
David Avido, the creator of the Lookslike Avido clothing brand and The Avido Foundation, has made a remarkable impact within Nigeria and globally. Avido has overseen operations and provided leadership for sustainable program implementation. The Avido Foundation has placed these programs to inspire youths to live a life free of crime and idleness. Through this, households are able to generate income, further giving back to theie community. Here is how The Avido Foundation and Lookslike Avido are aiding Kibera. 

The Avido Foundation

Avido had the desire to create an NGO that would bring additional aid to Kibera locals who are in need of a brighter future. A group of committed, young individuals who are hungry to make a difference in developing communities by creating innovative ways to end the cycle of poverty established the organization in 2021. Lookslike Avido expresses David Avido’s message through the crafting of beautiful handmade pieces in Kibera. Here is how Looklikes Avido is aiding Kibera.

5 Ways Looklikes Avido is Giving Back to Kibera

  • Creating Jobs: Looklikes Avido employs 12 local tailors on a project-by-project basis. As the clothing brand expands, its objective is to generate long-term employment for people.
  • Upholding the Community: Looklikes Avido has created 74 school uniforms and funded tuition for 10 students. Along with mentoring young people, it also organizes cleaning activities.
  • Eliminating Fabric Waste: All of the organization’s unused materials help create free COVID-19 masks for the people of Kibera or shopping bags or it donates them to local tailoring classes.
  • Investing: The organization reinvests 20% of its profits into localizing the value chain. It does this in Kibera and includes investments in product photo shoots, artist collaborations and item tailoring.
  • COVID-19 Initiative: In 2020, approximately 600 food distributions and 23,000 free face masks were provided to the residents of Kibera in collaboration with the Uweza Foundation. 

About the Avido Foundation

The Avido Foundation itself is a non-governmental organization based in Kibera. The majority of their initiatives serve to specifically target mothers and children who live in the Kibera slum. The number of Nigerians living in poverty stands at more than 133 million, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and that figure represents 63% of the nation’s population. Avido’s efforts focus on eradicating poverty by educating children and empowering the people affected with tailoring and fashion design skills. Here are four programs that the Avido Foundation provides that are aiding Kibera.

4 of The Avido Foundation’s Programs

  1. Vocational Training: Tailors at Lookslike Avido provide training to the deaf community and young women in tailoring. The course lasts approximately six months. At the end of the program, individuals gain the skills necessary to improve their finances and decrease their dependency on family members.
  2. Helping Students: The Avido Organization identifies pupils who may drop out because of unpaid school fees in cooperation with Kibera’s primary schools. Numerous Kibera families cannot afford to put their children in school due to high unemployment rates within Kibera and Nigeria. The Avido Foundation assists and supports children throughout their whole academic careers.
  3. Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy: The Avido Foundation has provided a safe place as well as exercises including yoga for youths living in Kibera. This ensures that they can express their emotions and share their hardships openly. Avido’s goal is to assist in eliminating the stigma associated with discussing mental health.
  4. Emergency Relief: The Avido Foundation has invested itself in organizing fundraising campaigns for emergency relief, such as extinguishing fires, combating flooding and addressing food distribution issues that have consistently affected Kibera.

Building imaginative futures and empowering the people of Kibera are the primary motivations behind The Avido Foundation and the global fashion brand LooksLike Avido. The Avido Foundation is one of the many NGOs that are changing the world.

– Lauryn Defreitas
Photo: Flickr

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Philanthropists Help Address COVID-19’s Impact on Nigeria

Covid-19’s Impact on Nigeria
Philanthropists in Nigeria have played a pivotal role in addressing national emergencies, but the scope of their partnership widened beyond expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when families increasingly struggle to buy food due to low economic activities during the pandemic, such efforts are significantly crucial. Private sector institutions and wealthy individuals have donated large sums of money in an effort to mitigate COVID-19’s impact on Nigeria. The initiative, named Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) is one such endeavor, which raised well above N25.8 billion (approximately $620,192,307.6 at the time) as additional financial resources to complement the government’s effort.

Furthermore, Nigerians in the diaspora and other international donors contributed considerable money to support the government’s effort to address COVID-19’s impact on Nigeria. They made their contributions noticeable through a nonprofit organization called Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF). The NSSF, created in 2020 as a “multi-donor institutional mechanism” for raising funds for interventions in the health sector, uses its funds to target vulnerable groups and re-skilling the youths for post-COVID-19. The NSSF has been actively involved in vaccine advocacy campaigns and training health care workers in Nigeria.

Motivation

In Nigeria, charitable giving has strong ties to religious and cultural traditions. Both Christian and Islamic beliefs emphasize the importance of helping others. The glaring negative impact of the pandemic on individuals and households has invited the private sector to provide assistance in curbing the large-scale impact of COVID-19. This includes the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 CACOVID Fund, which delivers effective assistance to improving the public and private health sectors. Funds that CACOVID collected totaled $55.7 million, 5.1 million of which have been received via donations from the Central Bank.

According to a World Bank report on COVID-19’s impact on Nigeria, the strict measures adopted by the government to contain the virus, coupled with the declining prices of petroleum products, a significant earner of national income by 60%, brought hardship to most households. The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2022, also reported that about 133 million Nigerians, or 63%,  are multi-dimensionally poor, compared to the pre-COVID period figure of about 80 million before the pandemic.

Implementation and Accountability

The government of Nigeria introduced a regulatory measure titled, Framework for the Management of COVID-19 Funds in Nigeria under the Treasury Single Account. The aim of this framework is to support adequate transparency pertaining to COVID-19 funds. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation containing $1 million, also supported Nigerians rebuilding and addressing the ramifications following COVID-19.

The public-private partnership model to address national emergencies is emerging as a regular pattern in Nigeria. In the second half of 2022, widespread flooding took place across the country, particularly in Benue state. The Dangote Flood Committee, which Mr. Aliko Dangote heads, helps flood victims across the country. During the late 2022 flooding incident, the committee raised a significant amount of money totaling N1.5 billion from philanthropists to provide relief and food resources to flood victims in the country. Such relief efforts are of particular significance, as UNICEF reports the destruction of 82,000 homes. This was in addition to the government’s efforts and the $21.4 million aid from the United States.

Public spiritedness, charity or philanthropy are emerging as extra tiers of solutions to national and global challenges. While citizens expect that governments assume primary responsibility, philanthropist partnerships with the government contribute hugely in relation to financial assistance to address COVID-19’s impact on Nigeria. This intervention brought immense relief to larger sections of the population beyond the scope that the government provided.

– Friday Okai
Photo: Flickr

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COVID-19’s Impact On The Sustainable Development Goals

 COVID-19’s Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals that the United Nations Department of Social Affairs created in 2015 to set up a path for countries to follow to end poverty, improve health and education, create economic growth and reduce inequality by 2030. Disruption of these goals occurred with the emergence of COVID-19 in 2019. COVID-19’s impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) means that the following goals are in need of even more assistance. The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs is working with countries to accomplish the following 17 goals:

  1. “End poverty in all forms.”
  2. End hunger and food insecurity, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
  3. Ensure health and well-being for all ages.
  4. Ensure quality, inclusive and equitable education for all with lifelong learning opportunities.
  5. “Achieve gender equality and empower all women.”
  6. Ensure sustainability and availability of clean water and sanitation.
  7. Ensure access to reliable, affordable and sustainable clean energy.
  8. Promote sustainable economic growth with productive, decent employment for all.
  9. Build resilient infrastructure with an emphasis on industry and innovation.
  10. Reduce inequalities among countries.
  11. Make sustainable, inclusive cities and communities.
  12. Ensure responsible, sustainable consumption and production.
  13. “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”
  14. Sustainably conserve the oceans, seas and marine resources.
  15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of life on land, combat deforestation and halt biodiversity loss.
  16. Promote peaceful, inclusive societies for sustainable development and provide justice for all using effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.
  17. Strengthen the means for implementing and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

The 2030 Agenda

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a plan of action that seeks to create a strong, peaceful planet with a main focus on eradicating poverty. Many consider it the “greatest global challenge and indispensable requirement for sustainable development.” This 2030 agenda demonstrates the targets set out to accomplish in 15 years that involve economic, environmental and social empowerment. The 17 SDGs are associated with 169 associated targets that world leaders pledged to work on. These goals and targets came into effect on January 1, 2016, to guide countries in achieving the SDGs by 2030. However, COVID-19’s impact poses serious concerns for reaching the SDG goals established in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals

The SDG Summit in September 2022 revisited the 2030 agenda to review the status of the 17 SDGs. The Summit noted that COVID-19’s impact on the SDGs has been huge as each goal experienced setbacks. The pandemic erased more than four years of progress against poverty (SDG 1) and one out of 10 people suffers from hunger as food security increases worldwide (SDG 2). Additionally, COVID-19 infected more than 500 million people worldwide and led to 15 million deaths (SDG 3). It also disrupted health services in 92% of countries and stopped progress toward universal health coverage (SDG 3). Global life expectancy and immunization coverage have also decreased (SDG 3). Meanwhile, the global learning crisis increased as 147 million children missed in-person school (SDG 4) and women accounted for 45% of global employment losses in 2020 due to the pandemic (SDG 5).

As of 2019, more than 733 million people lived in countries with high levels of water stress (SDG 6). Additionally, new waves of COVID-19 impacted the global economic recovery and global unemployment will remain above the pre-pandemic level until 2023 if not longer (SDG 8). The passenger airline industry experienced a loss of half its customers after 2019 (SDG 9). The pandemic caused the first rise in income inequality between countries in a generation (SDG 10). The pandemic led to 90% of the world’s fishers who have employment in small-scale fisheries in need of accelerated support (SDG 14). Meanwhile, the COVID-19 recovery spending has hugely neglected biodiversity (SDG 15). Developing countries face obstacles during the pandemic recovery because of the rising debt burdens (SDG 17).

COVID-19 and Poverty

According to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s assessment of the world before COVID-19 in comparison to the world two years into the global pandemic, COVID-19 has pushed the target to meet the SDGs back to nearly two decades. The time to accomplish the SDG goals has changed from 2030 to 2092. Before COVID-19, one out of 45 people worldwide needed humanitarian assistance but now one in every 28 people worldwide is in need of humanitarian assistance. In regard to poverty, the pandemic increased the number of people living in poverty from 650 million worldwide to 700 million.

Moving Forward

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Congress allocated $18 billion to emergency COVID-19 international response funds. This money goes to support humanitarian and global health needs around the world. In addition, USAID and the U.S. State Department committed more than $1.6 billion to emergency assistance in more than 120 countries that are considered the most at-risk facing the pandemic. The money protects health care facilities, supports laboratory work, disease-surveillance and addresses the secondary impacts of the pandemic like increased hunger and poverty. The United Nations created a $10.3 billion campaign to support testing and laboratory needs in 60 of the world’s vulnerable nations.

The World Bank has also provided $160 billion to support 100 developing countries as they respond to the pandemic’s social, economic and health impacts. Other entities aiding countries experiencing crises due to COVID-19’s impact on the SDGs are private philanthropy and foundations like the COVID-19 Solidarity Fund, which has raised more than $246 million for COVID-19 preparation and response efforts. In July 2022, The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development pushed for a new, accelerated plan in order to progress toward the SDGs after COVID-19. With the help of U.S. aid programs, global and multilateral institutions, private philanthropy and foundations, aid is available and increasing with the hope that the world will achieve the 17 SDGs despite COVID-19’s impact on the Sustainable Development Goals.

– Arden Schraff
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Malawi

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Malawi
The COVID-19 pandemic displayed a significant impact on the world’s economic situation and presented numerous challenges for several countries. One such country is Malawi, located in the Southern part of Africa. In 2020, Malawi stood at 174 from a sum of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. This article delves deeper into the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Malawi in terms of economic activity, education and food security.

Economy

In response to the pandemic, several governments around the world adopted restriction measures on imports and exports. Such safety measures displayed numerous ramifications on Malawi’s economy. This is especially since it heavily relies on imports pertinent to energy, agriculture and health among others. For instance, 80% of the overall population is employed by the agricultural sector, which also accounts for 30% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Scarce availability of such rudimentary resources caused the cost of living to increase, and in 2020, 17% of the general public lived below the poverty line. One can attribute such a decline in Malawi’s economic activity to heightened government spending during the pandemic, which accounted for $345 million. In 2020, the fiscal deficit stood at 7.7%, and economic growth declined to 1.7% compared to 5.7% in 2019.

To help curb the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Malawi, the country’s government launched cash aid for affected households and small-sized business entities. The cash aid encapsulates aiding around 1 million eligible households and businesses with $40 monthly payments, equivalent to 35,000 Malawi Kwacha.

Education

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many countries to shift from traditional to virtual education. This shift placed much emphasis on access to technological facilities among pupils. Increased poverty rates in Malawi, impeded learners’ ability to access online education due to limited internet facilities. According to UNICEF, COVID-19 caused students’ performance to plummet across the country. As a result, the Malawi government contracted with Telecom Network Malawi (TNM). TLM is an internet company, which, as part of the agreement, provided free unlimited internet packages to students. This agreement enabled learners across all different levels to obtain equal access to online education, especially since COVID-19 halted the education for 5.4 million students from both schools and universities.

Food Security

The impact of COVID-19 economic growth and poverty in Malawi yielded devastating results for the overall population. The outbreak of COVID-19 contributed to widespread disproportionate food insecurity. One can primarily attribute challenges relevant to nutritional support to rising poverty and declining agricultural productivity. To mitigate against food insecurity, UNICEF for instance, supported the government of Malawi in the delivery of adequate nutritional support. Other efforts to curtail hunger include World Food Programme assistance (WFP). Through funding via USAID, WFP provides financial and nutritional support to 382,000 food-deprived Malawians. Efforts such as those, assist the Malawian people to recover and survive in the midst of a food crisis, as well as allow the general public to lead healthy and sustainable lives.

The emergence of the pandemic on the global level, contributed to increased poverty and unemployment rates, alongside a declining economy. Measures and initiatives such as those that the WFP and government implemented enable the nation to undergrow economic recovery, as well as improve the living conditions across the country.

– Lisa Dzuwa
Photo: Unsplash
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Jordan

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Jordan
Though the pandemic left no one unscathed, it hit impoverished people in developing countries harder with poverty rates skyrocketing, social tensions brewing and education systems crumbling. Jordan, a Middle Eastern country, faced immediate effects. The World Bank is taking action to address the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Jordan.

Rising Poverty Rates in Jordan

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Jordan, it had a prompt effect on poverty rates. At the peak of the pandemic, according to the World Bank, there was a 38% increase in poverty rates among Jordanians, with respect to the national poverty line of 67 Jordanian dinars per person per month. Regarding Syrian refugees in Jordan, the number of Syrians living under the national poverty line rose by 18%. This percentage is lower than the poverty rate among Jordanians likely because pre-pandemic, “many Syrians were already below the poverty line, limiting how many more could fall into poverty,” the World Bank explains.

Other Impacts

As jobs and resources became scarce, so did social tensions. The World Bank reports that during the lockdowns implemented, reports of domestic violence rose. Moreover, with school shutdowns, children faced difficulty accessing education, either left to attend school virtually or unable to continue their studies at all due to a  lack of access to the internet and technology.

Due to the impacts of the pandemic, in 2020, unemployment rates in Jordan reached a high of 25% for the general population and exceeded 50% among the youth.

As time went on, these difficulties further harmed Jordan’s economic state. With a declining job market, tensions rising and educational disparity, Jordan’s GDP declined by 1.6% from 2019 to 2020.

Hunger in Jordan

In 2022, the Global Hunger Index gives Jordan a score of 10.6, an increase of 1.8 points from 2020, equating to a moderate level of hunger. This ranks Jordan 53rd out of 121 countries in terms of hunger. In 2020, Jordan scored even better — 8.8, which equates to a low level of hunger. In terms of hunger levels, GHI indicates the severity of hunger in a country, with 100 representing the most severe levels of hunger and zero representing no hunger. The number of undernourished Jordanians rose to almost 17% in 2022, up from 6% in 2014.

In 2022, Jordan’s GHI (10.6) dropped below its pre-pandemic score — 0.2 points lower than in 2000 (10.8), according to the World Bank. Meaning, following the pandemic, hunger severity levels in Jordan are still lower than two decades ago.

Recovery in Jordan

Ultimately, following the pandemic, Jordan’s poor faced increased rates of malnourishment while disadvantaged youths faced education gaps and the working class dealt with unemployment and job scarcity. Yet, in 2022, with the help of emergency relief, Jordan is on its way to rebuilding itself.

On March 22, 2022, the World Bank approved $350 million worth of added funding for Jordan’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project to provide cash transfer support for Jordan’s poor and those most negatively affected by COVID-19. The World Bank initially provided the first round of funding of $20 million to Jordan in April 2020.

These cash transfers enable low-income households in Jordan to meet their basic needs. This means households can put their income toward health and education services, both of which will aid in developing Jordan’s human capital.

While COVID-19 imposed some of the direst consequences, the world is recovering and developing countries like Jordan are back on track to reduce poverty and build their economies up.

With support from other countries and aid from the World Bank, the world’s poor can continue to progress. Though these are positive indicators of Jordan’s comeback, more aid is necessary to resolve the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Jordan.

– Micaella Balderrama
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia

COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia
Gambia is currently classified as one of the least developed countries in the world with a GDP per capita of $835 in 2021 and more than 50% of the country’s population living in poverty in 2022, the World Bank reports. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated Gambia’s economic and healthcare-related problems, which prompted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide the country with about $21 million worth of Special Drawing Rights emergency funding in 2020 to keep the nation from collapsing. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia is significant, but not irreversible.

Economic Problems

Gambia is the smallest country within mainland Africa and lacks economic diversity because of its heavy reliance upon its agricultural sector, which accounts for 30% of Gambia’s GDP. In Gambia, 70% of the labor force relies upon crops and livestock in order to secure their livelihoods.

Gambia’s economy is also reliant upon its service sector and hospitality industry as its abundant wildlife and attractive coastline make the country a desirable tourist destination. The pandemic severely affected Gambia and exacerbated the country’s economic problems by bringing a halt to industries and putting a strain upon its fragile healthcare system and limited resources. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia is still ongoing as Gambia’s tourism industry is struggling to rebound to pre-pandemic success.

The Impact on Agriculture

COVID-19’s impact on Gambia exposed how sensitive Gambia’s food systems are to external shocks. The pandemic brought to light Gambia’s heavy reliance upon its vulnerable agricultural economy and highlighted a need for more sustainable investments in rural and agricultural development. The transition to a more resilient and environmentally sustainable food system would likely strengthen Gambia’s socioeconomic landscape and protect Gambia against future crises. In 2021, more than 13% of Gambia’s population experienced food insecurity, and currently, more than 10% of the population suffers from acute malnourishment.

The pandemic magnified food insecurity in the nation because Gambia is a net food importer country. As a result, supply chain constraints and rising global food prices hit the country especially hard. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia in 2020 is estimated to have increased poverty in urban areas by about 5% and 92% of households nationwide experienced a loss in total income by August 2020.

Recovery

Gambia is continuing to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to affect this recovery by driving up the cost of resources that Gambia imports. Gambia relies on imports for important resources such as fertilizer, food and fuel. As the prices of these resources rise, these imports become more difficult for Gambia to obtain. Despite these challenges, Gambia can potentially achieve economic growth and rebound from the pandemic in the coming years if its leaders adopt new governmental reforms.

Strengthening the Agricultural Sector

In November 2021, Gambia secured $40 million through the World Bank for the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV).

The GIRAV project supports Gambia’s national goal of poverty reduction by strengthening food and agricultural production through improved value chain coordination. This process entails a shift from subsistence agriculture to market-oriented agriculture and aims to address constraints in Gambia’s agricultural supply chain. GIRAV is expected to strengthen the livelihoods of about 50,000 farmers. To reduce poverty among the most vulnerable groups, women will account for at least half of the project beneficiaries and Gambia’s youth will account for 30% of beneficiaries.

Through a focus on climate-smart agriculture, the project aims to increase resilience in the agricultural sector. Apart from boosting income generation among Gambians, the project will also reduce food insecurity. GIRAV and future investments of this nature show promise for Gambia and are strategies that set the stage for a country-wide recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Gambia’s government has the potential to improve the welfare of its people and accelerate economic growth by adopting new economic policies and investing in its future.

– Dylan Priday
Photo: Flickr

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Mental Health in Chile Since COVID-19

Mental Health in Chile
Depression and anxiety have risen in post-COVID-19 Chile. Prolonged confinement, uncertainty and lack of social contact triggered a dramatic increase in these pathologies. However, these frightening figures have made these diseases visible at levels never seen before, which is the first step to achieving important changes.

Depression and Anxiety on the Rise

Mental health is often a silenced topic in Chile, as well as in most parts of the world. One can see the unequal treatment that patients suffering from mental illness compared to physical illnesses received by the lack of services dedicated to these and the discrimination that mentally ill individuals have suffered. These are diseases that the media has traditionally not highlighted and that many treat as minor problems. Undoubtedly, this generates mistrust on the part of the affected person when seeking help.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and anxiety are some of the most worrying results of the lockdown. A study that the Catholic University of Chile conducted, in collaboration with the Chilean Safety Association (ACHS), indicated that mental health issues were among 35% of respondents by 2020. While, in 2020, the number of people that some symptoms of depression affected was 13%, in 2022, it rose to 16% due to unemployment and economic instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, as many as 28% suffered from anxiety.

Despite the problems with mental health in Chile, the total budget dedicated to mental health is currently at 2%, which is the lowest among all OECD countries. Without a doubt, this situation requires governmental action to achieve a change in strategy and an increase in the budget.

Mental Health: Challenges and Solutions

The impact that mental instability has on one’s performance and on society reaches consequences that affect the whole country. Giving these illnesses the importance they require and establishing a prompt response can have a positive impact on society’s well-being but also on reducing poverty. For example, mental issues have massive indirect costs that have links to the lack of productivity and motivation of the affected person. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), mental health problems are the main cause of disability in Chile. Chile is also one of the Latin American countries with the highest depression rates, especially among the lowest-income groups. This suggests that chronic depression or severe anxiety disorders cause the inability to perform well in society, increasing the possibility of unemployment, drug addiction, and therefore, the risk of poverty.

Thus, mental health problems increase the levels of poverty while poverty increases the chances of suffering from mental issues. In order to break this vicious cycle, mental illnesses ought to receive treatment in time. Accepting the reality that mental health is equally important to physical health and making this reality visible, not only brings urgency to the matter but also incentivizes people to reach out without being scared or shameful to do so. Breaking the social stigma that mental instability is a symbol of weakness or insanity is the first step toward an effective response.

The First Signs of Grass Shoots

Fortunately, there is a change for the better. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed the importance of mental health in a series of guidelines that it published earlier in 2022. These are in the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030. In fact, the WHO argues that every country can move towards progress simply by making the problem visible. It promotes:

  • Raising awareness about mental health so that everyone understands the importance of it.
  • Eliminating the stigma of mental illness.
  • Improving access to mental health treatment.

Mental health in Chile became more visible since COVID-19. In 2021, Chile increases its budget by 310% compared to the previous year. The funds go toward:

  • Strengthening the human resources in mental health care for children and teenagers.
  • Improving primary health care in mental health.
  • The introduction of the Remote Brief Psychological Intervention Program, which people can use to communicate with a doctor through a video call.

Some of the most recent updates in Chile show even more positive progress. The national budget for public spending in 2023 that the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric, announced dedicated more than $18 billion to strengthen Chile’s response to mental diseases.

As Boric stated “mental health matters and we are not going to leave them alone.” Meanwhile, global mental health day was celebrated on October 10, 2022, and the Health Minister from Chile, Ximena Aguilar, reaffirmed the same idea stating that people will no longer have to face their mental health issues alone. The Government of Chile establishes as a priority to advance the improvement of the treatment of mental illnesses while protecting the rights of the people who suffer from them.

– Carla Tomas Laserna
Photo: Unsplash