Archive for category: Developing Countries

Information and stories about developing countries.

, ,

3 Ways UNHCR Is Addressing Venezuelan Displacement

Venezuelan DisplacementVenezuelan displacement is one of the largest forced displacement crises in the world. The country, once a refugee hub in the past, now marks 7.7 million people being displaced globally due to widespread violence, economic pressure, food insecurity and more. Dreaming of security and a better life, 6.5 million, among 7.7 million, have fled to Latin America and the Caribbean. Specifically, as a result, there are nearly 3 million displaced Venezuelans in Colombia, searching for opportunities.

More and more children have been separated from their families and reported fleeing alone. This adds another layer of difficulty in getting proper sustenance and education for their growth and development. As a response, a nonprofit organization, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has stepped up to support the journey of Venezuelans. Here are three ways the UNHCR is addressing Venezuelan displacement:

The Graduation Model Program

One way UNHCR addresses Venezuelan displacement is through the Graduation Model program in Colombia. Launched in 2019, this model includes a series of support programs designed to help displaced Venezuelans. It offers workshops, training and mentorship to assist them in building their own businesses and achieving self-sufficiency. The workshops cover various skills, including business management, finance, marketing and customer service.

Yuli, who relocated to Colombia from Venezuela in 2019, launched her jewelry-making business after participating in the Graduation Model program. Referred to UNHCR by a local humanitarian aid partner, Yuli gained essential skills in budget management and business sustainability through the program. With her business, she could be independent economically and socially, which brought security and hope. She shares her experience: “Everything has changed for the better. Joining the project was my starting point to bring my family happiness, peace of mind and confidence — all I aimed for when I came to Colombia.”

The PPN Program

UNHCR also created the project called Pedagogy and Protection for Refugee and Migrant Children with a Mixed Approach (PPN) in 2019 to help Venezuelan children’s social integration into Colombia. Additionally, the project aims to teach children the value of interculturality through various programs and technical support to school staff.

Mariangelis, an eighth grader from Venezuela, attends Tierra Bomba school in Colombia, where the project has made a significant impact. She expressed her gratitude for receiving quality education and protection. She shared that her experiences have inspired her to pursue studies in human rights. Mariangelis is determined to address the challenges and mistreatment faced by refugees and migrants. Overall, PPN has raised awareness of the importance of quality education, emphasizing interculturality and diversity.

The Trust the Toucan Campaign

In May 2023, UNHCR initiated the Trust the Toucan campaign to address misleading information about relocation on social media that affects Venezuelans’ decisions. The campaign involves creating verified content for Venezuelans through interviews with refugees and sharing their experiences. Many refugees begin their journey without knowing the risk it takes and the dangers along the way, such as crossing the Darién jungle itself.

To ensure that people are well-informed about their journeys, the Trust the Toucan campaign has been informing people’s decisions. The trust aims to mitigate the risk factors with proper preparation. In its first year, it published 334 pieces of content and gained 16 million views.

UNHCR has taken crucial steps to help the refugees through the rebuilding of their lives in search of secure homes in a new country. Furthermore, continuous steps toward long-term solutions for improving the lives of Venezuelan refugees can gradually improve their quality of life and social integration in a new community.

– Sein Kim

Sein is based in Bellevue, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Uplifting Haiti’s Vulnerable: Disability and Poverty in Haiti

Uplifting Haiti’s Vulnerable: Disability and Poverty in HaitiHaiti struggles with profound social, economic and political instability, making it the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean and one of the poorest globally. In 2024, Haiti faces another year of negative economic growth, compounded by environmental hazards and ongoing political crises. These factors contribute to prevalent issues of disability and poverty, placing a significant portion of the population at risk.

Disabled Population in Haiti

In 2010, Haiti saw a significant increase in the number of disabled individuals following an earthquake that injured nearly 10% of households. Disability, affecting about 4% of Haitians aged 5 and over, is defined as experiencing some difficulty in at least two functional domains or serious difficulty or incapacity in one domain. Post-earthquake, 16% of households reported having a family member with a disability, which has drastically impacted individuals’ work capabilities and family financial stability.

Beyond natural disasters, disabilities in Haiti also stem from birth anomalies and noncommunicable diseases. The Disability Data Initiative reports that 24.9% of Haitians aged 15 and older face functional difficulties, with vision issues being the most common. Furthermore, a survey of more than 53,000 people found that 43% suffered from physical mobility disabilities.

How Disabilities Impact Poverty

Disability and poverty in Haiti severely limit the social mobility of a significant portion of the population. Poverty in Haiti often manifests as multidimensional poverty, which encompasses multiple social disadvantages such as unsafe living conditions and low educational attainment.

Approximately 86.2% of Haitians with significant functional difficulties are also multidimensionally poor. Compared to the general population, disabled individuals in Haiti face harsher socioeconomic conditions and have more difficulty entering the workforce. This perpetuates a cycle where impoverished and disabled communities struggle to achieve social mobility, affecting future generations.

According to the 2020 Human Capital Index, children in Haiti are projected to achieve only 45% of their potential productivity if they have access to stable education and health care. Moreover, the literacy rate among the disabled community is under 30%, nearly 30% lower than the national average.

Uplifting the Disabled Community

An initiative tackling disability and poverty in Haiti is the Promoting Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Social and Employment Programs. This program strives to enhance the presence of PwDs in the labor force by integrating them into the social registry, offering professional training and conducting awareness campaigns about the status of PwDs in Haiti and how to support them.

The World Bank has funded this initiative with a $2.29 million grant and collaborates with Humanity and Inclusion, a nongovernmental organization that aids people with disabilities. This partnership focuses on providing training and methodologies. So far, 127 PwDs have completed training in various fields, which has enabled them to boost their income and explore opportunities like starting their businesses.

The World Bank funds the Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (ASPIRE) program, which offers a financial safety net through the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. This program ensures that vulnerable households receive regular financial support and health care. ASPIRE aims to give individuals the opportunity to stabilize their lives and seek employment, mitigating the risks of extreme poverty and food scarcity.

PwDs in Haiti often fall victim to violence from natural disasters and gang-related activities. The U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) supports these individuals by providing crutches, wheelchairs, dignity kits and assistance in organizing work documentation, enhancing their autonomy. These services help PwDs return to work, secure protection from violence and promote economic independence.

Looking Ahead

As Haiti endures another year of economic decline, compounded by environmental hazards and political crises, the disabled community remains particularly vulnerable. Efforts like the Promoting Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Social and Employment Programs and the ASPIRE program are crucial in providing professional training and financial support. Additionally, the UNFPA’s initiatives to supply mobility aids and essential services are vital in empowering disabled individuals to achieve economic independence and protection from violence. The ongoing efforts aim to improve the living conditions and prospects for Haiti’s disabled population.

– Astrid Burns

Astrid is based in Roseland, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Food Insecurity and the Venezuelan Educational System

Venezuelan Educational SystemOnce an oil-rich nation and one of the most progressive in South America, Venezuela is now experiencing an exponential downfall due to a six-year economic crisis. This crisis has severely impacted the Venezuelan educational system, with food insecurity taking a major toll. The educational system is declining as fewer students attend classes, educators struggle to perform their duties and medical care becomes increasingly insufficient.

Lack of Attendance

According to The New York Times, “In Boca de Uchire, the Caruto family has stopped sending its nine children to a nearby school when the cafeteria doesn’t open. ‘I can’t send them to class hungry,’ said José Luis Caruto, a 36-year-old unemployed father of two.” The Caruto family is just one out of thousands affected by food insecurity within the school system.

According to Global Issues, “Hundreds of thousands of children and young people and thousands of their teachers, drop out of regular schooling in Venezuela year after year and most of those who remain go to the classroom only two or three days a week, highlighting the abysmal backwardness of education in the country.” This is largely attributed to food insecurity plaguing the country, especially those most vulnerable, such as impoverished children.

Lack of Proficient Educators

Not only are students affected by Venezuela’s food insecurity crisis, the educators are, as well. In fact, according to the national teachers’ union, thousands of the country’s 550,000 teachers did not show up to classes when schools reopened in September 2020, abandoning their $8-a-month wages.

Venezuela teachers are among the groups most affected by food insecurity and the economic crisis. According to The New York Times, “The number of graduates at Venezuela’s main teacher training center, the Libertador Experimental Pedagogical University, fell 70% from 2014 to 2018.” As a result, many Venezuelan schools have had to enlist parent volunteers to come in and teach their children, resulting in an insufficient learning environment.

Poor Medical Care

As more and more school-age children have fallen helpless to the food insecurity crisis in Venezuela, there has been a high demand for medical care and attention, most of which is unattainable. In schools all across the country, students are fainting mid-class due to extreme hunger. “You can’t educate skeletal and hungry people,” said Maira Marín, a teacher and union leader in Boca de Uchire.

According to South American Initiative, a nongovernmental organization, “The infant mortality rate has doubled because hospitals and parents have no food to feed them. In some cases, parents are forced to abandon their children and drop them off at orphanages because they simply cannot afford food.” Venezuela’s food insecurity crisis, coupled with the unrealistic expectations for medical facilities and workers, makes the risk of attending schools unnecessary for many families. Instead, many children stay home with their parents to participate in the workforce to gain enough revenue to feed their families.

Solutions

While the food insecurity crisis and its effect on the Venezuelan school system looks like a bleak and lost cause, the World Food Programme (WFP) is working to curb the situation. WFP activities in Venezuela include providing school meals and food assistance for vulnerable populations, supporting climate risk management, building resilience and strengthening food systems infrastructure and logistical capacity. The organization aims to support one million Venezuelans with food by the end of 2025.

Conclusion

The Venezuelan educational system is struggling to provide students with adequate nutrition so that they can attend schools, have proper educators and appropriate medical care. However, nonprofit organizations like WFP are actively working to curb the food crisis in Venezuela.

– London Collins Puc

London is based in West Palm Beach, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

, ,

USAID in the Central African Republic

USAID in the Central African RepublicThe Central African Republic is one of the world’s poorest countries, despite its abundant valuable resources such as diamonds, gold, oil and uranium. The government has faced instability since its inception in 1960 when the country became an independent country. It has since seen multiple military coups which have become especially disruptive since 2013 and more than 60% of the country lives in poverty. This amount of poverty combined with weak governance has led to multiple humanitarian issues, such as high maternal mortality rates and low life expectancy. Many people and organizations within the country and around the world work to aid struggling or displaced people in the Central African Republic. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has programs committed to focusing on humanitarian aid and responding to crises in the Central African Republic but also invests in economic growth, trade and the environment.

Economic Growth and Trade

Currently, USAID programs in the Central African Republic are restoring an 85-mile stretch of road in the northwest region. The construction of this road creates jobs for locals and upon completion it connects two northern cities, opening their markets to each other. Unemployment in CAR stood at 6.34% in 2022. While little information is given on this project, USAID boasts community involvement and job creation as well as the potential for new trade, all of which can aid in reducing unemployment.

Environment

USAID programs in the Central African Republic also fund the Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE) which aims to protect the world’s second-largest rainforest. Located in the Congo Basin, the rainforest is threatened by deforestation, biodiversity loss, environmental destruction and growing global demand for resources.

About 70% of the country’s population depends on agriculture and nearly half of its population is food insecure. It is also facing an increasingly common issue with cattle farmers who cannot find grazing land. They have to travel farther than they used to graze, often causing them to cross borders into the Central African Republic because of its abundant fields. This puts a heavy strain on CAR’s resources and causes possibly violent disputes.

USAID supports the region by building up local, regional and national organizations to mitigate natural disasters, improve management of natural resources and sustain biodiversity. It also enforces logging regulations, reforms natural resource policy, engages communities in resource management and shares the benefits of forest resources.

CARPE is the largest environmental program from USAID. Its mission is to create a Congo Basin with healthy ecosystems and dynamic local leadership that supports stability and prosperity in communities. USAID works with partners such as the World Wildlife Fund to fund conservation, development, and community projects and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the region.

Crises and Conflict

Although recognizing the importance of economic growth and the environment, USAID places most of its focus on humanitarian crises in the Central African Republic. Fighting between the national army and rebel forces permeates across the country, regularly affecting civilian safety. In 2022, the government tried to remove the president’s two-term limit from the constitution, which only fueled the fire. This has led to an increase in abductions and hostages from both sides.

Because of ongoing instability, violence and displacement within the country people are often left without necessities. USAID works to combat food shortages and delivers medical aid such as measles vaccines and malnutrition treatment, according to its website. In places with more extreme conflict, they also provide emergency relief supplies, food aid, health and nutrition supplies, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and coordinated humanitarian efforts.

Food and Water

As of March 2024, USAID works with different partners to provide food security, health and nutrition, logistics support, water, protection and shelter and settlement in the Central African Republic. UNICEF, for example, partners with USAID to provide access to safe water for nearly 100,000 people through the rehabilitation and repair of more than 90 boreholes, the implementation of emergency water supply systems, and the distribution of household water treatment kits.

The World Food Program (WFP) implements cash transfers, locally procured food, food vouchers, and some U.S.-sources crops and supplementary feeding programs for young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. These are just two of their many partners and programs which also include things such as humanitarian air transportation due to insufficient roads, latrines and hygiene kits, community safety awareness sessions, emergency case management, emergency shelter kits and more.

The Central African Republic is facing political and economic instability and a major climate crisis at the same time, leading to skyrocketing poverty and food insecurity rates. USAID programs in the Central African Republic are designed to target these issues and help remove people from violence, poverty and hunger.

– Anna Thibodeau

Anna is based in Omaha, NE, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Cycles of Poverty in the Philippines

Poverty in the PhilippinesIncome inequality is a huge contributor to the persisting cycles of poverty within the Philippines. In 2022, the country’s top 1% of earners reported 17% of all national income, while only 14% was shared between the bottom 50%. Outreach International argues that income inequality continues to exacerbate issues of poverty because many of the national efforts to reduce poverty have been focused in the most densely populated areas of the country, where the most opportunities already exist. Hence, Outreach International focuses its support initiatives on providing those in rural areas with long-term and sustainable solutions that help break the cycle of poverty.

The Cycle of Family Poverty in the Philippines

Income inequality in the Philippines stems from several different structural factors. These include the fact that access to higher education and job skills remains an impossible task for many, the societal norms that leave women and other minorities at a disadvantage socially and addition, the complex geography of the nation, which means that opportunities and natural resources are disproportionately located.

The cycle of poverty prevails when these structural disadvantages mean that households permanently lack the resources to cover their most basic needs. When individuals are forced to spend their whole lives struggling to meet these basic needs, it means that they lack the time and resources to address the core of the issues that keep them rooted in poverty. This cycle of poverty can last a lifetime. It can even be passed from one generation to the next – family poverty.

These cycles of poverty, extreme and chronic, are passed from one generation to the next when children are born into situations where they are unlikely to have the ability to pursue changes that would make life easier for them and even their potential children. Children who are born into poverty are less likely to enroll in school and maintain age-appropriate grade levels because their time is taken up by the need to help the family meet their daily and most basic needs. Limiting a child’s access to education also limits their access to opportunities in the future, their subsequent earning potential and even the prospective development of their community.

However, Outreach International recognizes that family poverty is caused and maintained by more than just a lack of access to education and other kinds of infrastructure. It acknowledges the role of the above structural and societal inequalities and predatory loan practices.

Community-Led Development

Community-led development (CLD) aims to help communities get to the root of social issues affecting them and hindering their economic growth and development. CLD projects result in the final product and help the involved communities develop skills, knowledge and confidence in many aspects of life and business.

When the involved group learns how to “identify, prioritize and mobilize to reach a goal, they don’t just reach that one goal,” they develop skills to reach every goal after that. Their development becomes continuous and sustainable. Unlike short-term monetary solutions, this continues to benefit the communities involved as these skills can be passed onto future generations.

Outreach International’s Rice Loans

An example of Outreach International’s focus on CLD programs is its rice loans. Local community leaders work directly with suppliers to obtain rice at a wholesale price. They negotiate a fair price and organize a delivery location that is accessible to all participating households. The rice is then portioned and delivered to families who cannot afford it at market price.

All households are members of their respective Community-Based Organizations. Over time, each recipient repays the cost of their food loan into a community-managed fund. This fund generates interest and will cover the cost of further rice acquisition. This means vulnerable households can avoid using loan sharks that will take advantage of them. It also means the community can develop the funds and skills to tackle rice shortages on a long-term scale.

By providing communities with the skills and confidence to overcome structural issues over time, Outreach International’s focus on CLD schemes results in long-term economic and social development that helps lift the most vulnerable in the Philippines out of the cycle of poverty.

– Kristina Grant

Kristina is based in Scotland and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

, , , ,

Ending Child Marriage in Guinea

Child Marriage in GuineaChild marriage occurs in many countries but Guinea has some of the highest prevalence rates in the world. The World Bank defines child marriage as a “marriage or union taking place before the age of 18.” Many often associate it with poverty and low levels of education, and it disproportionally affects girls. There are several successful programs to reduce child marriage in Guinea.

Affected Population

In Guinea, though the law states that the minimum age of marriage is 18, this is not always upheld in practice. According to Girls Not Brides, 47% of girls marry before 18 and 17% of girls marry before the age of 15. This compares with 2% of boys who are married before age 18.

Rates of child marriage differ based on location. Rates of child marriage are two times higher in rural than urban areas, which may coincide with higher levels of poverty in the countryside. Child marriage in Guinea is more common in some areas of the country than others, with the highest rate being in Labé where 76% of children marry before 18, according to Girls Not Brides.

Reasons behind Child Marriage

Child marriages are often done with parental consent and because of financial worries, as children can be offered in exchange for goods. Other reasons include religious beliefs and fears of girls falling pregnant outside of marriage, Girls Not Brides reports.

Child marriage brings many dangers to these girls; 95% of girls married before 18 experience FGM/C, according to Girls Not Brides. Girls who are married as children are more likely to give birth earlier and experience complications in these pregnancies. They also have a higher chance of contracting infections like HIV and are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence.

Child Marriage and Poverty

Guinea is experiencing high levels of poverty with, according to the World Bank, 43.7% of people living below the poverty line – this equates to 5.8 million people. Statistically, there is a strong positive correlation between rates of poverty and rates of child marriage. This can be seen in Guinea; Labé is one of the poorest areas of the country with 66% of people living below the poverty. The city also has the highest rate of child marriage in Guinea. 

UNICEF has identified that increasing access to education is a significant contributing factor to reducing rates of child marriage. According to Girls Not Brides, 63% of women without an education marry before 18, compared with 26% with secondary level education or higher. Therefore, a key aspect of tackling child marriage is increasing access to education; this is also an important aim of downsizing poverty.

Solutions

Though Guinea is amongst the highest in the world for child marriage, some changes are taking place. The country signed up to the SDGs, one of which aims to end child marriage. Guinea also signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in 2017 launched the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, according to Girls Not Brides. This campaign began in 2014 and aims to target the countries in Africa most affected by child marriage. It has given countries and leaders space to advocate for girls’ rights and has encouraged many countries to change their laws regarding child marriage. It has also led to more research on child marriage, providing important information on its impacts.

UNICEF has implemented the Fundamental Skills Improvement Programme, which trains teachers with the overall aim of improving the reading and mathematical abilities of children in Guinea. At the beginning of the program, 61% of students could not identify numbers. Just six months into the scheme this decreased to only 4%. Because of this success, many other schools are applying to the program, increasing its reach from 1,500 students to almost 6,000.

Equity Committee

The U.S. government has also offered help to increase access to education; the USAID education programme created an Equity Committee to grow the number of girls in education. The World Bank also joined this to fund studies into how to educate girls, as it was such uncharted territory, as well as running publicity campaigns to encourage more girls, and their families, to access education. This resulted in the percentage of girls attending school increasing from 23% to 36% and the percentage of boys rising from 51% to 66% in just four years.

This increase in education has had an impact on the number of child marriages in Guinea. There has been an overall decrease in the number of child marriages: the World Bank has reported that the mean age of marriage in 18-22-year-olds is 15.5, compared with 16.8 in 18-49-year-olds, therefore showing a decline.

There have been notable improvements and the future opportunities are looking brighter for Guinea’s young people as work continues to decrease child marriage in Guinea. By continuing to increase the number of children, especially girls, accessing education and by downsizing poverty, Guinea can further the progress made to eradicate child marriage.

– Eryn Greenaway

Eryn is based in England and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Mental Health in India: Community-Based Care

Mental Health in IndiaIt is estimated that 13.7% of the people living in the Southeast Asia region suffer from mental health conditions. When zooming in on India, the number rises to 15%, showing the need for reform for mental health in India. Most people suffering remain untreated in the country’s current mental health infrastructure. This contributes to the high suicide rates in Southeast Asia. When individuals remain untreated, personal and interpersonal relationships are negatively impacted. Furthermore, there are documented consequences at the individual’s socioeconomic level.

Mental Health in India

India lacks a unified health infrastructure, leading to exorbitant prices and unequal access to mental health care. High treatment costs have a detrimental effect on vulnerable populations, pushing some families into poverty as they seek treatment. While the country provides free health care to the most impoverished 40% of its population, significant gaps in coverage remain. Many people are left to pay out of pocket for up to 50% of their healthcare needs, including prescriptions.

This inconsistency in healthcare contributes to the 55 million people who are pushed back into poverty every year in India. Despite these numbers, India, the most populated country in this region, spends less than 2% of its gross domestic product on health care. Low spending has resulted in a shortage of medical staff and resources. To combat this mental health epidemic, leaders are looking toward implementing more community-based care models.

Community-Based Care

Traditionally, institutionalization has been the mainstay in treating people with mental disorders. This was first thought to provide people with a safe place to heal while struggling with a mental disorder. However, new research has shown that it is not the most effective method. New understandings push public health leaders to advocate for and develop a new community-based care system. The care system will center the individual and their community at the core of treatment. The Southeast Asia Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), Ms. Saima Wazed, explains how “as our understanding of mental health has evolved, so too must our methods of care.”

As WHO Southeast Asia transitions to a community-based care model, it is emphasized that this shift will reduce the negative impacts of institutionalization. It will provide more community support for individuals with mental disorders. This new model of care will increase the number of people with access to mental health care and offer improved treatment outcomes. In March 2024, a three-day meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss how best to implement community-based care in the region.

Those working to create more awareness and implement community-based care are also fighting the deep stigma that surrounds mental health in India. Often fueled by misinformation, the stigma prevents many people from accessing the care they need for fear of social marginalization. This is contributing to an underutilization of available resources.

Final Words

India, having one of the highest percentages of individuals affected by mental health disorders, stands to gain the most from implementing community-based care as a pillar of mental health treatment. This new development from WHO Southeast Asia will aim to eliminate institutionalization as the region’s focal form of therapy and instead explore community as a highly researched alternative.

– Carlee Unger

Carlee is based in Pembroke, NC, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Updates on SDG 1 in Sudan

SDG 1 in SudanPoverty is one of the most pressing concerns facing the globe today. How poverty exacerbates many issues indicates the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1. Following the conclusion of the Millennium Goals in 2015, the United Nations created the 17 SDGs to provide a framework for achieving development by 2030. The first SDG put forth by the U.N. is no poverty and concerns both extreme poverty and the poverty line. Sudan has been fighting poverty for decades and according to the SDG index trends are continuing to decrease with already concerning levels of poverty throughout the country. This article unpacks the updates on SDG 1 in Sudan and the path to achieving no poverty.

Updates on SDG 1 in Sudan

The United Nations SDG index ranks Sudan 159th out of 166 countries included in the index analysis. The U.N. identifies that Sudan has major challenges remaining with decreasing trends in terms of achieving no poverty. This indicates that poverty in Sudan is not only extreme but continues to worsen every day. Based on data analytics from the United Nations SDG Index, the percentage of the population in Sudan living in extreme poverty has been steadily increasing from 12.5% in 2016 to 26.98% in 2024, the highest rate since 2000, according to the Sustainable Development Report.

According to the World Poverty Clock, 29% of people in Sudan are living on $2.15/day or less. On top of that, 52% of the population lives on $3.65/day, at or below the poverty line. https://worldpoverty.io/ Furthermore, according to a 2021 UNICEF analysis child poverty rates increased from 12% to 85% between 2014 and 2020.

GDP and Poverty Rates

A 2024 World Bank datasheet on poverty in Sudan explains that GDP could decrease by 3.5% after decreasing by 12% in 2023 due to the collapse of government institutions and conflict throughout the country. The conflict has disrupted public spending and reduced the country’s tax base which has consequently increased poverty rates as data from the World Poverty Clock and the SDG Index indicate. Thus the progress toward SDG 1 in Sudan has seen a negative impact from economic instability and conflict.

Life in Poverty

The interconnectedness of each of the SDGs brings about the discussion of how poverty impacts other aspects of life and development. Life in poverty heavily influences all other aspects of living and is reflected in the progression of many other SDGs.

Education in Sudan is an example that is largely related to patterns of poverty. As of 2018, only 77% of children of the official school age are enrolled in primary education and the participation rate in pre-primary organized learning is just 38.63%.  Such information indicates the relationship between poverty and education thus deepening the importance of tackling global poverty as taking action towards one SDG will positively impact others.

The Future

To combat the rising poverty rates, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), along with many other NGOs and foreign aid programs, have identified Sudan as a high-priority concern. As an NGO dedicated to supporting developing countries and their citizens, the IRC has set up and strengthened operations in the Blue Nile, White Nile, and Gaderef states in Sudan to support and bring humanitarian aid to the 25 million Sudanese that need humanitarian aid, the 8.2 million that have been forcibly displaced and the 18 million that are facing crisis levels of food insecurity.

In 2021, the Commission on Social Safety and Poverty Reduction under the Ministry of Social Development launched the Mothers and Child Cash Transfer Plus Program (MCCT+) to support mothers and children affected by poverty. The flagship program in Sudan actively supports those in need with cash provisions, sharing information, and care of women and children and has supported 50,000 pregnant women in just the first phase of the program.

Overall, these updates on SDG 1 in Sudan highlight the troubling situation for the Sudanese people. Poverty rates across the country have continued to rise along with growing economic instability, a declining GDP and its negative influence on education. However, it is with support from foreign aid, government initiatives like the Mothers and Child Cash Transfer Plus program and NGO’s like the IRC that bring hope to Sudan and make progress possible.

– Juliana Granville

Juliana is based in Broooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

How Poverty in India Makes It Difficult to Seek Support

Poverty in IndiaAcross the globe, the discussion surrounding mental health has become more accepting in recent years. By reducing stigma and increasing access to potentially life-saving care, people are now more than ever encouraged to get the help they need. India is no exception to this. The Indian government launched the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) to improve mental health services in 1982 and aims to provide community-based mental health care.

A watershed moment in awareness for those struggling with their mental health in India was the Mental Health Care Act 2017. The act ensured that every person has the right to access mental health care and treatment from services run or funded by the government; this treatment must be of good quality, affordable and available without discrimination.

The Role of Poverty in India

These acts alone cannot overcome the exceptionally disadvantaged position impoverished individuals in India face. People experiencing poverty in India often reside in rural or underserved urban areas where mental health services are scarce or nonexistent. Even these government-run mental health facilities are limited and unevenly distributed around the country. According to a National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted in 2015-16, about 70-80% of those suffering from mental disorders in India did not receive treatment, an unsettlingly high statistic.

Additionally, communities are unable to band together to support these individuals, with almost half of persons surveyed by the NMHS attributing mental health struggles to personal weakness. This deep-seated stigma surrounding mental health is prevalent in India, which leads struggling children and adults to blame themselves for disorders rather than seeking the help necessary. In these areas, school systems also tend to have less information to speak about mental health, unknowingly allowing deep-seated cultural beliefs and superstitions about mental health to persist to the detriment of struggling citizens.

In fact, the literacy rate in rural India stands at around 68.91%, compared to 84.11% in urban areas. This disparity limits the dissemination of mental health information. Even online means fail, with those in poverty-stricken areas only accounting for about 25% of the country’s total internet database, hindering access to online mental health resources and telehealth services.

Perseverance

Because of India’s shortage of trained mental health professionals, telehealth services are absolutely vital yet inaccessible to those who need them. Despite the government’s attempts at change, their reach has been limited; however, this isn’t to say that all hope is lost. Mental health services are currently being integrated into primary health care to ensure that mental health assistance is accessible at a base level.

The Central Board of Secondary Education has made another example of the attempts to raise support. Schools are essential in shaping children’s foundational beliefs, which is why discussing mental health topics in the school curriculum and providing training for teachers to identify and support students with mental health issues is the best way to bring change to the country.

– Abby Collins

Abby is based in Westwood, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Alleviating Poverty: The SAKALA Foundation

The SAKALA FoundationHaiti, located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, is the most impoverished country in Latin America and the Caribbean. Almost 59% of people in Haiti live below the poverty line, placing the country at position 163 out of 191 on the Human Development Index. With gross domestic product (GDP) growth at -3, the economy is contracting due to political instability, poverty, insecurity and socioeconomic issues.

The country is struggling with fuel shortages, which have left many in need of necessities, a resurgence of gang violence, which has limited access to education and health services and the aftermath of a 2022 cholera outbreak. Haiti’s shrinking economy has led to past gains in poverty reduction being undone and has left the youth vulnerable to the effects of worsening poverty and gang violence.

Cité Soleil

Cité Soleil, located in Port-au-Prince, is a highly dangerous area of Haiti due to extreme poverty and gang violence. It is an impoverished area where an estimated four million children aged 5-19 are at risk of losing learning opportunities. They are also faced with violence, malnutrition and poverty, which severely impact their livelihoods and ability to learn.

The SAKALA Foundation

The SAKALA Foundation is a beacon of hope for some of the most impoverished children in Cité Soleil. As the only youth community center in the area, it offers programs to educate and develop children and young people. Its vision is to provide a safe space for young people as an alternative to violence and gangs.

The SAKALA Foundation offers education, athletics and agronomy programs. Classes in English, IT, sexual health and leadership are available, teaching important life skills and academic subjects. Sports are important to the foundation, as they are part of after-school programs and day camps. The initiative stresses sports as a vehicle for community development. Therefore, it offers boys and girls a range of sports. SAKALA’s agronomy program focuses on teaching the youth agroecology and nutrition, leadership skills and sustainable development.

Haiti’s Education Sector

SAKALA’s programs offer children and young people the opportunity to learn important academic, professional and personal skills. For children living in areas controlled by armed groups, accessing education is difficult due to a lack of qualified teachers and forced school closures. In some of the most harrowing instances of gang violence, shootouts occur in schools as gangs and police use them as a base.

The disruption to education is clear and SAKALA’s importance is also clear. Providing a haven for some youth and allowing them to learn and grow among the chaos drives the foundation. Through a partnership with the Global Fund for Children, the foundation covers school fees for 160 local youth, helping them break the cycle of poverty through education.

The Future of Cité Soleil

Without economic stimulus and political stability, addressing the situation in Cité Soleil is difficult. This is where charities, foundations and existing schools can be the key to progress in the immediate future. Due to the lack of economic opportunities in the region, education is one of the only paths out of poverty. This means that schools that are operating and foundations like SAKALA are important in helping children and young people out of their predicament.

– Lauren Alkhalil

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

Photo: Flickr