Archive for category: Developing Countries

Information and stories about developing countries.

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Elderly Poverty in Botswana

Elderly Poverty in BotswanaWith Botswana’s extended family system, different generations keep closely in touch and often live under the same roof. It is refreshingly different from the isolating nuclear family set-ups common in other parts of the world. However, it also means that the responsibility of the young orphans of HIV and AIDS victims falls disproportionately on older generations, who bear the brunt of the financial obligations that come with caregiving. Thus, elderly poverty in Botswana is a considerable challenge.

Elderly Poverty in Botswana

Many elderly are impoverished but unable to take part in productive economic activity comfortably. Some force themselves to partake in hard labor like land tilling and alcohol brewing to keep afloat. Caregiving further strains those who suffer from non-communicable age-related health problems, like arthritis, according to the Journal of Nursing Scholarships. These issues, however, are not restricted to caregivers. They are symptomatic of the wider condition of the Botswanan elderly.

More and more people are reaching old age in Botswana, with the number of older people (60+) as a proportion of the population reaching 7% in 2020. Yet, socio-economic development has not kept pace with this increase. Elderly poverty in Botswana is a salient issue, with 91% of the older population living below the poverty datum line, or the level of income needed by a household to achieve minimal levels of well-being across different parameters.

Vulnerability to Poverty

One answer is that many Botswanans tend to leave the labor force relatively earlier, beginning at age 50. This is often because of ill health, participation in lower-productivity activities like subsistence farming, and obligations to undertake unpaid care work, as outlined above. This significantly reduces the period over which their retirement savings can build up. It also increases the number of years that such savings must provide for, according to the 2022 UNFPA report.

For those who do not exit the workforce so early, the legal retirement age is 60, according to the Journal of Nursing Scholarships. The five-year gap between this and the state pension age – 65 – leaves many in financial insecurity.

Households headed by older persons in Botswana tend to have relatively lower per capita income and more dependents than wage-earners, UNFPA reports. A more detailed individual-level analysis finds that the elderly show higher levels of multidimensional poverty than any other age group.

Although the old-age public pension scheme mentioned above is a step in the right direction, many have trouble accessing benefits. This is because of lengthy commutes to pay points and delays in processing life certificates.

Inadequacies in Public Health Care

Botswana has an effective public health care system, with minimal out-of-pocket expenses for citizens. Recent advances have reduced the incidence of communicable diseases. But it is yet to adapt to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases: for example, 36% of 50 to 59-year-olds now self-report hypertension. Close to 34.5% of older men and 65.8% of older women are overweight or obese.

BMC Proceedings reports that there is a lack of expertise in treating such diseases across health care providers, especially in rural areas. National health care guidelines are not adhered to strictly. It follows that those who already suffer because of elderly poverty in Botswana are hit even harder by the uneven access to high-quality health care.

Additionally, studies estimate that only 3% of older adults have a good diet. Assessment scores show poor intake of dairy, fruits and vegetables. Many older people also report irregular access to drinking water, according to the 2022 UNFPA report.

Support and Empowerment

The government has responded to these difficulties by developing a National Healthy Ageing strategic programme, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This includes a more thorough public health response to the needs of the elderly population. According to WHO, it also adopted the WHO’s Integrated Care for Older People guidelines to roll out a comprehensive health monitoring tool in 2022.

Masego Leepile’s Beno Society, founded in 2004, focuses on empowering the elderly to be self-reliant. Along with providing palliative care, it also encourages their social well-being by organizing “community wellness days, festivals and campaigns.”

The Sisters of the Charity of Nazareth administer the Pabalelong Hospice close to the capital city of Gaborone. Its experienced team provides home care to more than 90 patients nearby, and accessible palliative care services to people throughout the country.

Botswana has witnessed remarkable economic growth since its independence and has successfully lifted thousands of citizens out of poverty.

– Shiveka Bakshi

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

Photo: Flickr

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3 Organizations Helping the People of Vanuatu

People of VanuatuVanuatu, an Oceanic country of more than 80 volcanic islands, has a population of 334,506 people as of 2023. However, around 15.9% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2020 as a result of the high risk of natural disasters and rapid population growth, which has put a strain on health and education services. Many organizations are helping the people of Vanuatu by empowering them to break out of poverty, which will positively affect future generations. Below are three organizations helping the people of Vanuatu.

Progress Pikinini

Progress Pikinini is a charity dedicated to giving the children of Vanuatu a brighter future. Founded in 2015 after Cyclone Pam’s devastation, it provided schools and children with essential education tools and everyday items such as clothes, shoes, bed linen and toys. The organization also donates school supplies, arts and crafts materials and funds for special projects. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has focused on country-wide initiatives, including building play equipment and libraries, educational resource projects for schools and providing clean drinking water.

CARE Australia

CARE Australia is an international nonprofit organization that assists people experiencing poverty, empowers women and girls in their local communities and helps them achieve social justice and break the cycle of poverty. It works with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women, such as earning an income, gaining access to a fair share of resources, leading and participating in decisions affecting their lives and aiding climate disasters and other crises.

In Vanuatu, CARE’s Leftemap Sista project aims to help girls live without constant fear of violence, earn an income and make decisions about their lives. Operating in Tafea and Shefa, the project focuses on young single mothers, girls who have not finished school, survivors of violence and women living with disabilities.

CARE also helps communities in Vanuatu prepare for future disasters and the impacts of varying climatic conditions by establishing and training local disaster committees, conducting disaster simulations, providing First Aid training and trialing new disease-resistant crop varieties. Due to the drought and water shortages caused by El Niño in 2016, CARE has been working with local communities to rehabilitate water systems. It has also constructed toilets and run hygiene and sanitation classes in schools, focusing on menstrual hygiene for girls.

Save the Children

Save the Children is an international organization founded in 1919 that focuses on children’s rights. It supports health, education, child protection, emergency response to natural disasters, adverse weather adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Operating in Vanuatu for 40 years, Save the Children has worked with the government to strengthen the education system.

Save the Children has partnered with the Global Partnership for Education to ensure schools are well-resourced and effective learning environments for all children, including those with disabilities. The organization provides life-saving food, shelter kits and learning resources in natural disasters. It collaborates with the government to strengthen disaster response and preparedness. Additionally, Save the Children has introduced health care initiatives that include training local health care providers, strengthening health care systems and promoting preventive care, such as providing vaccinations for curable diseases.

In March 2023, Vanuatu was hit by category four cyclones that destroyed food gardens and homes, prompting the government to declare a six-month state of emergency. In response, Save the Children launched a food preservation project involving the growing, harvesting and exporting of local foods to Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. There, the food is transformed into shelf-ready ration-pack meals that can be stored for up to two years, ensuring preparedness for future natural disasters.

Looking Ahead

Vanuatu is working toward ending poverty with the help of international organizations and innovative approaches to disaster response and preparedness. Nonprofits such as Progress Pikinini, CARE Australia and Save the Children Australia have significantly contributed by offering support and providing vital resources for the people of Vanuatu to thrive. As a result of international aid and help from the government of Vanuatu, the country is on a path toward a more prosperous future for its citizens.

– Kimran Gill

Kimran is based in Leicester, UK and focuses on Celebs and World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Elderly Poverty in Guinea

Elderly Poverty in GuineaAlthough life expectancy was previously low due to health issues leading to early death, advancements in technology, urbanization and globalization are expected to increase the elderly population in low-income African countries. With an overall lack of resources in line with few studies and policies made for older adults, elderly poverty is a concerning issue in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with the world’s highest poverty rates. “In Guinea, the country is currently facing problems related to aging, not because of the low demographic weight of the elderly (about 6% of the total population) but because of their increasing number.”

Reasons behind Elderly Poverty

Most of the elderly population live in rural areas (65%) and have not received education (82%). As they age and become less able to perform labor, it is hard for older adults to earn income. Deterioration in body function also leads to malnutrition, diseases and illness. Formally, in a traditional family, family members and offspring cared for older people.

However, recently, Africa has been going through a change initiated by colonialism. With development and modernization, change was made toward a Western family structure of a nuclear family or young people moving to urban areas and leaving older people behind. As a result, older adults are often left vulnerable. They have little or no support they would otherwise have had in a traditional setting.

Strategy of Governance

Some solutions to combat poverty emphasize the need for stronger governance and a more effective social pension system. A study that simulated pension systems in 15 low-income sub-Saharan African countries found that considering fiscal capability and operational feasibility, a non-contributory pension program targeting poor elderly individuals was ideal. A targeted social pension was deemed more practical than a universal pension system.

A “Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper” by the Guinean government in 2013 stated that the urban-rural divide and low-income distribution to the poor contribute negatively to national poverty. While the paper does not exclusively cover the topic of elderly poverty in Guinea, it emphasizes efforts regarding policy-making, governance and economic development to combat issues of regional growth, employment and poverty.

A Pan-African Way

However, there is another way of dealing with issues, especially in regard to older people. It is to embrace the African culture and approach rather than implement Western values and modernized social structures. Pan-Africanism is a term that calls for unity within the African region and criticizes colonialism. The book “Aging in Africa” emphasizes the importance of providing support to older adults through family generations. It writes that “this is how Africa had its strength in the decades past and this should be where it draws its strength in the future.”

Conclusion

While there are nongovernmental organizations such as the World Food Program and Helen Keller International operating inside Guinea for poverty allegations, there are not many significant measures taken to deal with elderly poverty. Continuous interest and an in-depth understanding of elderly poverty in Guinea are required. A Pan-African approach, embracing and preserving the African culture of valuing older people, can be implemented to deal with poverty.

– Minji L. Kim

Minji is based in Preston, Lancashire, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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FGM in Somalia and The National Development Plan

FGM in SomaliaSomalia has one of the highest rates of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the world, with nearly 100% of women aged 15 to 49 having undergone the procedure. This practice is rooted in cultural, religious and social norms, perpetuating control over female sexuality and upholding gender inequality. Despite being illegal, female genital mutilation persists due to societal pressures, weak enforcement of existing laws and unstable governance. Traditional practitioners, often older women in the community, typically perform FGM, leading to severe health complications for the victims.

Reasons for Persistence

  • Cultural and Religious Beliefs: FGM is viewed as a cultural practice to mark the transition from girlhood to womanhood. The practice is also mistakenly linked to religious expectations and beliefs.
  • Social Pressure: There is a risk of ostracism if families do not conform to this practice held by groups. This process often aligns with practices such as child marriage. FGM is a way to preserve family honor and ensure daughters are “pure” and “virginal” women.
  • Limited Access to Education: There is a lack of awareness regarding the pain, danger and injustice of FGM.

The National Development Plan

The Ninth National Development Plan (NDP9) is a comprehensive governmental framework designed to guide Somalia toward sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction between 2020 and 2024. This plan addresses politics, improved security, economic growth and social development. Furthermore, gender equality and women’s empowerment are pivotal objectives of NDP9. A significant focus is placed on combating harmful practices like FGM.

NDP9 incorporates strategies to combat FGM through laws, public awareness campaigns and education programs targeting both men and women. This includes the Ifrah Foundation’s “Dear Daughter” campaign, which hopes to reduce FGM by promoting personal empowerment and asking parents to pledge that they won’t cut their daughters. The aim is that a three-pillar approach of education, advocacy and action will begin to lay sustainable foundations for FGM eradication.

Comparison with Kenya

With previously high rates of FGM, similar initiatives and legislation in Kenya have seen FGM drop to approximately 15% among women aged 15-49. Effective grassroots activism, education and support from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have led to significant reductions in FGM prevalence, as well as the criminalization of those practicing. Organizations like the Kenyan anti-FGM Board and Amref Health Africa have been instrumental in these efforts. This comparison suggests that increased governmental stability and specific FGM groups can facilitate a quicker eradication of FGM in Somalia.

Activism, Advocacy and Advice

Activists like Shamsa Sharawe have played a crucial role in the fight against FGM in Somalia and Europe. By bringing the attention of international communities to the issue, Sharawe’s advocacy highlights the physical and psychological harm caused by FGM. Her efforts and those of various NGOs have been instrumental in pushing for more robust policies and community-based interventions. They display that this is not an issue of the past. FGM is a continual injustice and attack on female autonomy, dignity and freedoms.

Survivors of FGM, like Ifrah Ahmed (founder of “Dear Daughter“), have become vocal advocates for ending the practice. They emphasize the importance of education, community dialogue and international cooperation. Additionally, by sharing their stories, survivors help break down stereotypes and stigmas associated with female genital mutilation, advocating for survivor support and defending women’s dignity and integrity.

– Olivia Howard

Olivia is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Water Rights: How NGOs Respond to Tanzania’s Water Crisis

Tanzania’s Water CrisisTanzania faces an ongoing water crisis due to the lack of access to clean water and sanitation, which many families face. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as End Water Poverty are working hard to combat Tanzania’s water crisis and provide individuals with their right to clean water and sanitation.

Tanzania’s Water Crisis

Tanzania is an extremely dry country, with one-third considered arid to semi-arid. Several large lakes surround Tanzania that provide water for those who live nearby. However, the reality is that many do not have access to freshwater and instead must resort to contaminated groundwater from wells or bacteria-infested surface water. According to the Water Project, water-borne illnesses account for more than half of the population’s diseases due to the lack of sanitary water options, with malaria and cholera being the most common.

Alleviating the Pressure on Children

According to WaterAid, 25.7 million people in Tanzania lack clean water near their homes. That means that two out of five people in Tanzania are required to travel long distances to collect safe water. This task is predominantly placed on women and children.

One young girl, 11-year-old Tausi Katambarai from the Kigoma Region of Tanzania, was tasked with trekking 10 kilometers daily to collect 20 liters of water from a well she would need to carry on her head to carry home. Her responsibility to collect water for her family meant that she could only attend class twice a week, which had an extremely negative effect on her education.

To combat this, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) partnered with Water Mission Tanzania to drill boreholes in the Kigoma Region and piped water to schools and villages. This is part of a larger program of 15 projects that has “significantly transformed the lives of vulnerable groups, including women, girls and children,” according to Eng: Denis Arbogast, Project Manager at Water Mission. Teachers at Tausi Katambari’s school have praised the initiative and reported that class attendance has improved significantly since gaining nearby water access.

The #ClaimYourWaterRights Campaign

End Water Poverty is a “global civil society coalition” that campaigns to fulfill people’s human rights to sanitation and safe water. It works at different levels to advocate for governments to respect and protect what it calls “water rights,” a shorthand for the human rights to water and sanitation.

The #ClaimYourWaterRights campaign was first launched in 2019 and aimed to provide various groups with knowledge and confidence to advocate for water rights using the international human rights framework. The campaign focused on informing governments of their duties and educating vulnerable communities whose rights had been violated and their entitlements as holders of water rights.

Additionally, each year, the NGO grants $1,200-$6,000 to projects that support the campaign through advocacy and community mobilization.

The WaterCredit Solution

Another NGO that hopes to solve Tanzania’s water crisis is Water.org, which has been piloting water and sanitation programs in the country since 2017. According to the initiative, the country’s high demand for water and sanitation has created a dynamic market for water products such as storage tanks, rain harvesting devices and pipes.

The WaterCredit Initiative is Water.org’s loan program, which provides financing and resources to individuals facing water scarcity. Since its inception in Tanzania, the charity has disbursed 13,000 loans, granting more than 230,000 people access to household water and toilet solutions.

Hope for the Future

While the water crisis in Tanzania continues to impact millions of people daily, there is hope that the work of NGOs such as UNICEF, End Water Poverty and Water.org can go some way toward safeguarding individuals’ water rights.

– Carla Messinger

Carla is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in Lebanon

Child Marriage in LebanonIn Lebanon, 20% of girls are victims of child marriage. In 2017, UNICEF published a regional study on child marriage in Lebanon, reporting that the percentage of child marriage in the country varies with nationality. The study reported that 6% of the victims were Lebanese, 12% were Palestinian refugees from Lebanon, 25% were Palestinian refugees from Syria and 40.5% were Syrian refugees. The unstable political situation in the Middle East has made Lebanon a focal point for refugees who also become victims of child marriage.

Poverty and Child Marriage

Poverty affects 44% of the population in Lebanon. Between 2019 and 2021, the GDP per capita in Lebanon fell by 36.5%. In addition, The World Bank re-classified Lebanon from an upper-middle-income to a lower-middle-income country in July 2022. With unemployment hitting 300,000 individuals and a great increase in the intake of refugees, the rate of child marriage has seen growth, according to UNICEF.

Conflict causing a large refugee intake strained the Lebanese infrastructure and finances, resulting in refugees finding themselves undocumented and finding a solution in child marriage.

Those who live in Lebanon have also seen a rise in prices for their most basic needs, with inflation increasing by 200% since 2019, according to Anera. This results in many Lebanese, also non-refugees, having to marry off their daughters to survive.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to an increase in child marriage in Lebanon. Since the beginning of the pandemic, up to 10 more million girls worldwide are at risk of being victims of child marriage in the next decade. With school closures during the pandemic, the probability of child marriage could be 25% higher.

A Change Is Possible

UNICEF report shows that an approach to education can change the perception of child marriage. The report shows that 62.3% of girls who go to school are against child marriage, followed by 45% of girls who dropped out and 37.2% of girls with no education.

This demonstrates that there is a relationship between child marriage and education. Therefore, an increase in political pressure on educational policies in Lebanon and the Middle East could have a positive impact by reducing the cases of child marriage.

Lebanon does not have a personal status law that regulates issues like the legal marriage age. Instead, 18 different religious groups are regulating this issue, according to DW. In December 2020, The Sunni Supreme Islamic Council approved raising the minimum age for marriage to 18. Likewise, between November 2020 and December of the same year, Shiite Muslim religious authorities claimed to raise the minimum age of marriage to 15, DW reports.

A Structural Approach

ABAAD is an organization that fights for gender equality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. ABAAD collaborated with Queens University to study what factors affect child marriage, aiming to obtain through data collection an understanding of why child marriage happens and how its cause(s) can be intersectional.

The study targeted different groups, ranging from mothers of victims of child marriage to community leaders and as was known previously, showed that some of the root causes of child marriage are education, political situations, instability and poverty.

ABAAD’s study, however, also provided a conclusion that is central to future strategies to prevent child marriage in Lebanon. The results demonstrated that female and male participants responded differently to the causes of child marriage, showing that the approach is gendered. From this, ABAAD concluded that future strategies, therefore, can target groups who have a differentiated opinion and aim to shift this gendered narrative. Such as challenging the gendered male narrative of being responsible for a family’s income.

Different factors affect the situation of child marriage in Lebanon. This is seen in how child marriage ranges with nationality, with studies demonstrating that education can impact the approach to child marriage, proving how its perception ranges with different societal groups.

Child Marriage in Lebanon therefore has multiple intersectional causes. With progress from the religious communities and organizations such as ABAAD that target these root causes, one can see a slow but positive shift.

– Daniela Maldonado

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

Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Jamaica

Charities in JamaicaAccording to a report by the World Food Programme (WFP), 58% of Jamaica’s population experienced severe food insecurity in 2022. Addressing critical issues such as food insecurity and period poverty and providing essential aid to individuals affected by regional turmoil, such as that in neighboring Haiti, remains vital for meeting Jamaica’s community needs. In addition, implementing robust mentorship and empowerment programs for vulnerable populations is crucial for fostering sustainable growth and development. The active involvement of various charities in Jamaica is making a significant impact in addressing these diverse community challenges. Here are five charities operating in Jamaica.

Food for the Poor

Food for the Poor (FFTP) Jamaica is the largest charitable organization in Jamaica and it has been assisting since 1982. Through its transformative initiatives, the organization collaborates with more than 1,300 churches and institutions to distribute food, medicine, educational supplies and other essential items. FFTP has successfully executed numerous projects in Jamaica, focusing on education, medical care, housing and agriculture.

One of FFTP’s initiatives is the Build Back the Love for Jamaica campaign, launched to commemorate the charity’s 40th anniversary in Jamaica. The campaign aims to improve socioeconomic conditions by providing shelter, implementing sustainable projects and offering resources and training for individuals and families.

Moms on a Mission

A group of mothers in St Ann, called Moms on a Mission, is addressing period poverty by distributing sanitary napkins to schools in the parish. The group was founded by Marcia Rankinson-Stanley, who was inspired to focus on girls’ needs after learning about Jamaica’s lack of access to sanitary pads. By donating “48 packs of sanitary napkins to the school every month,” the charity’s efforts have significantly impacted students’ lives, reducing absences due to the lack of menstrual products.

SOS Children’s Village Jamaica

Established in 1970, SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica is a private, nongovernmental organization that works with children who have lost parental care. It follows a rights-based approach as defined by the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Child Care and Protection Act of Jamaica.

In Jamaica, more than 80% of children experience violent discipline at home and thousands require external care and protection. As part of SOS-Kinderdorf International, the world’s largest private child welfare organization, SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica provides essential care and support to these vulnerable children and young people.

Currently, the organization cares for more than 60,000 children in more than 550 of its village communities, established in 125 countries, including Jamaica. Additionally, it has educated and equipped more than 290,000 underprivileged children in the nations where it operates. The initiative emphasizes the belief that no child should grow up alone and encourages child sponsorship to make a lasting difference in the lives of at-risk children.

Looking Ahead

These charities operating in Jamaica are making significant progress in addressing food insecurity, period poverty and child poverty. Through their continued work, life in Jamaica should only improve.

– Deonna Jackson

Deonna is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Empowering Communities: Reducing Poverty in Indonesia

IndonesiaIn Indonesia, grassroots nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are pivotal in alleviating poverty, particularly in rural areas. Their reliance on volunteers, temporary workers and bottom-up approaches characterizes their efforts, a central aim of addressing socioeconomic and cultural challenges.

Poverty in Indonesia

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 9% of Indonesia’s population lived below the international poverty line in 2023. Although this is the lowest poverty rate in the last 10 years, more than 25 million Indonesians still experience poverty. Some of the causes of poverty in Indonesia include:

  • Economic Deprivation: Indonesia hosts some of Southeast Asia’s largest commodity export, manufacturing, services, dairy and digital export markets. However, its financial markets are still emerging and there is little integration into the global financial system. This restricts economic productivity and global financial influence. Similarly, with many areas still lacking basic infrastructure, such as quality roads, this delays rural populations’ access to the secondary job sector in cities that currently run the country.
  • Social and Cultural Factors: Strong family and cultural norms across Indonesia lead multigenerational families to live together. The natural sharing of limited resources this ensues often perpetuates poverty as individuals less regularly leave impoverished local communities.
  • Gender Inequality in Indonesia: Certain beliefs across Indonesia can result in women facing lower social mobility, wages and greater job insecurity. These cultural norms and gender biases limit women’s opportunities for education and employment, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Desperation for an income and city experiences can also result in young, vulnerable (often rural) women either choosing or being forced into sex work, further entrenching their economic hardships and lack of social mobility.
  • Environmental Vulnerability: Natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods disproportionately affect people experiencing poverty and are common throughout Indonesia. In 2022, Indonesia experienced one of its worst earthquakes, which killed about 900 people and caused extensive damage. Natural disasters can increase poverty by more than 2% in affected areas.

Yayasan Kampung Halaman

Established in 2006, this Yayasan Kampung Halaman empowers rural youth through education and creative expression. Based in Yogyakarta, it helps them develop critical thinking skills and community participation through its endeavors. Programs include media production for educational purposes, community labs for social research and literacy campaigns that use various media formats like films and social media to raise awareness of social issues. ​ The organization received the International Spotlight Award from The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program in 2011, highlighting its impact on youth engagement through creative storytelling.

Koperasi Kasih Indonesia

Koperasi Kasih Indonesia (KKI) is a cooperative organization founded in 2011. It provides microfinance services to low-income families, primarily focusing on women in North Jakarta. Honing in on gendered experiences of inequality, the cooperative follows the Grameen model, which emphasizes small loans to help individuals start or expand small businesses. KKI currently serves more than 9,000 members and has disbursed more than $10 million in microloans. The organization aims to empower the urban poor through financial support and by offering mindset-motivation training to foster sustainable economic growth and self-sufficiency.

Rumah Yatim

This NGO supports orphans and vulnerable children by providing education, health care and basic needs, helping them break the cycle of poverty. Rumah Yatim aims to empower these children to achieve their full potential and contribute positively to society by offering a safe and nurturing environment. The comprehensive care provided by Rumah Yatim includes basic necessities and emotional and psychological support to ensure holistic development. The organization has reached approximately seven million people since its inception.

Sahabat Anak

Dedicated to street children, this organization offers education and social services to reintegrate them into society and ensure their well-being. It provides educational programs and social services to help reintegrate these children into society. This local effort tries to ensure street children have access to education, health care and a supportive community, bettering their futures and trajectories.

The Indonesian government and international organizations recognize the importance of grassroots NGOs in poverty alleviation. The National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM) exemplifies this. PNPM encourages local community groups such as Yayasan Kampung Halaman, Koperasi Kasih Indonesia, Rumah Yatim and Sahabat Anak. PNPM aims to include a national body in community-led poverty alleviation activities to enhance partnerships between centralized and localized services.

Conclusion

Grassroots NGOs are indispensable in Indonesia’s fight against poverty. Community ties, participatory approaches and adaptability make them uniquely capable of addressing poverty’s complex and multifaceted nature. By empowering local communities, these organizations ensure that development initiatives are effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate.

– Olivia Howard

Olivia is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Poverty and Hunger in Yemen Are Interconnected

Hunger in YemenYemen has triumphed through a difficult past. Unfortunately, remnants of this politically complex past, from civil wars to foreign interference, continue to affect the population today. Hunger in Yemen is rampant – out of a population of 33.7 million, 17 million are food insecure, with 18.6 million also requiring humanitarian assistance. Poverty and hunger in Yemen are not mutually exclusive, with food prices rising by 45% and the expensive scramble to eat resulting in more than 70% of the population residing below the poverty line. Having already withstood numerous injustices, the population shines in their ability to cope, but this does not mean hunger in Yemen can be overlooked, and these harrowing statistics raise the critical question of what must be started, or reinforced, to ensure that Yemen can recover from its rocky past.

Hunger and Poverty in Yemen

Conflict since 2015, from civil to proxy, has resulted in unfortunately growing hunger in Yemen as well as poverty extremes. Around 4.5 million people are internally displaced, with the majority residing in camps. In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Yemen had a score of 39.9, with the range of 35.0 to 49.9 labelled as “Alarming.”

However, this score of 39.9 has dropped from the score of 42.1 in 2015, proving that global action to subvert this crisis as much as possible has been slightly beneficial.

Additionally, more than 308,000 migrants, mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia, are currently in Yemen while migrating through the Eastern Route, according to the INTERSOS. Escaping conflict of their own, these migrants only add to the mouths to feed within the country and intensify the hunger crisis.

Subverting Poverty

Bearing this in mind, The World Food Programme (WFP) and other subsets of the United Nations, have played a critical role in attempting to alleviate hunger and poverty in Yemen. According to WFP, it provides food over 4,360 distribution points across the country, covering all 333 districts of Yemen. Close to 2 million students across 4,600 Yemeni schools received fortified date bars or biscuits every day, under the Healthy Kitchens project.

Each month, the WFP distributes close to “100,000 metric tons of food commodities at more than 5,000 points, reaching more than 8 million Yemenis.”

Reinforcing These Initiatives

In December 2023, the WFP notified the world of a halt in food distribution due to limited funding and no agreement with local authorities on the best way to proceed with food deliveries. Considering the slow yet positive impact of the initiatives mentioned above, it is imperative to intensify the funding to the WFP, taking global action towards mitigating hunger.

Bearing this in mind, increasing WFP funding efforts and encouraging greater food distribution will help ensure the gradual mitigation of hunger in Yemen. Raising awareness, engaging with the WFP and interacting with Yemenis will help drive efforts to resume food distribution and convey the seriousness of arriving at funding agreements.

– Disheta Anand

Disheta is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Nonprofits Helping the Indian Tribal Communities of Karnataka

Indian Tribal Communities of KarnatakaThe Karnataka state in India is home to more than 4 million tribal people from 14 tribes. These individuals live in severe poverty due to centuries of neglect and segregation, resulting in minimal resources. The tribes face significant challenges, from food scarcity to inadequate education and health care. Despite their impoverished conditions, nonprofit organizations are working hard to amplify their voices and meet their basic needs. Below are two nonprofits dedicated to helping the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka.

Bridges of Sports

This organization started in 2016 and aims to guide many tribal athletes. Many tribal individuals are extremely fast barefoot runners. However, they do not have the guidance or mentorship to compete or fully utilize their amazing athletic abilities. Bridges of Sports provides these athletes with proper resources, training and advice to beat state, world and university records. Bridges of Sports is benefiting the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka by recognizing their potential. The organization leverages their strengths to create opportunities that can transform their lives.

By addressing their needs and providing support, the organization is helping these communities overcome neglect and build a better future. More than 100 children have been supported, 200 medals have been awarded and the organization has produced three of the fastest Indians. In addition, by giving these Indian tribal athletes a spotlight, many have received higher education. Bridges of Sports has made a large positive impact on the vulnerable communities of Karnataka.

Friends of Tribals Society

The organization was established in 1989 and strives to uplift and empower the tribal communities impacted by poverty. Many of these tribes are located in Karnataka, India. Friends of Tribals Society provides individuals with good education and discusses “primary education, health care education, development education, awareness education and sanskar education.” The organization has 37 chapters across India and has taught more than 1.3 million students in its 35 years of service.

Final Remark

While the issues of poverty and neglect facing the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka are prevalent, it is important to recognize the work that is being undertaken. Currently, there are not many nonprofits helping the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka, but Bridges of Sports and Friends of Tribals Society have made significant impacts on these communities.

Bridges of Sports focuses on nurturing sports talent among tribal children, providing them with training and opportunities to excel and become the fastest athletes. Friends of Tribals Society, on the other hand, emphasizes education, health care and sustainable development, working toward the holistic upliftment of these communities.

Through more media coverage and awareness, these organizations show that the Indian tribal communities of Karnataka are slowly starting to escape from the poverty cycle. The efforts of these nonprofits not only improve the immediate living conditions but also pave the way for a brighter future for the next generation, fostering hope and resilience among the tribal populations.

– Poppy Duggal

Poppy is based in Singapore and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr