Archive for category: Developing Countries

Information and stories about developing countries.

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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

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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

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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

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Poverty in Egypt: Everything You Need to Know

Poverty in EgyptEgypt is a lower-middle-income country in northeastern Africa and as of 2019, 1.5% of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day (the international poverty line) while 17.6% are below the lower-middle income poverty line of $3.65. Here is everything you need to know about poverty in Egypt.

Food

Egypt is one of the most food-import-dependent countries in the world. It imports approximately 40% of its food in terms of total value, meaning that the country is highly vulnerable to shocks in global food prices. These food price shocks can have an outsized impact on the poor, who need to spend a much larger proportion of their income on food than the wealthy.

Understanding this, the Egyptian government has long implemented a comprehensive system of ration cards to combat food insecurity. As of June 2024, 71 million Egyptians, or 64% of the total population, participate in the country’s subsidized bread program. This program allows beneficiaries to buy up to 150 loaves of bread a month at the price of 20 piasters a loaf, or about $0.004 each. This price amounts to only 16% of production costs, while the government compensates bakeries for the remaining 84%, according to a 2024 report.

While this program is expensive for the government, it represents a buffer against swings in global food prices and a crucial lifeline for millions of low-income Egyptians.

Water

Water, the basic necessity for all life, is getting scarcer in Egypt. Egypt’s population has grown rapidly as its economy has expanded, exploding from just 27 million people in 1960 to about more than 100 million today. According to the Atlantic Council, this population growth has caused the per capita water supply to quarter over the same period.

The agricultural sector, which relies on traditional flood-based irrigation, is responsible for 86% of the country’s freshwater withdrawals while generating only between 11% and 14% of Egypt’s GDP, making it an ideal target for reform, the Atlantic Council reports.

The Egyptian government is addressing this by giving soft loans to farmers who switch to sprinklers or drip irrigation, which could reduce water usage by as much as 30% to 70% while increasing crop yields by 20% to 90%. At the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit, Egypt launched the Decent Life Initiative and committed to ending both hunger and poverty by 2027.

Income, Education and Health

Egypt is an admirably equal country when measured by its Gini score, a metric that proxies household income distribution. Boasting a score of 0.36 (where 0 equals perfect equality and 1 means perfect inequality), Egypt is the second most equal country in the Middle East by this metric, and among the most equal in the world.

Aiding this image of equality is that 100% of Egyptians have had access to electricity since 2017, while 99.9% have had access to clean fuel for cooking since 2016.

Health and education gaps between rich and poor Egyptians have historically been large, but are closing. For example, 93% of Egypt’s population had access to skilled birth attendants as of 2014, a marked increase from just 65% in 2000. Over the same period, infant mortality was cut in half in the country.

More than 95% of Egyptians have access to safe drinking water, and more than 90% have access to improved sanitation, according to the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) report. On the education front, the total proportion of Egyptians completing secondary education has more than doubled over the past decade, reaching 55% of the population.

The poorest quintile of Egyptians reached a secondary education completion rate of 41% in 2014, a huge improvement from the 8% completion rate in 2000, according to the ESCWA report. Despite this progress, the richest quintile has reached a secondary completion rate of 80%, which is almost double that of the poorest.

Final Thoughts

This overview of everything you need to know about poverty in Egypt shows that despite challenging circumstances, Egypt has made laudable progress in reducing domestic poverty in recent years. The country has significantly reduced health, education, and income gaps while supporting small farmers and low-income households through loans and targeted subsidies. While much is still to be done, the future looks hopeful for Egypt’s poor.

– Kipling Newman

Kipling based in Denver CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Reducing the Gender Wage Gap in Zambia

Gender Wage Gap in ZambiaThe variation in pay between men and women, also known as the gender wage gap, is a prominent focus of the fight against poverty. According to the U.N. Women’s 2023 report, for every dollar men are paid, women in East and Southern Africa earn 81 cents. The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) recognized the large gender wage gap in Zambia and advised the government to “step up its efforts to take more proactive measures, including with employers’ and workers’ organizations, to raise awareness, make assessments, and promote and enforce the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.”

Understanding the Gender Wage Gap

In the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index rankings, Zambia ranked 85th out of 146 countries, with a score of 0.699. The Global Gender Gap Index considers education, health, politics and economic involvement. On the scale of the score, zero equals imparity whilst parity equals one. Zambia’s Index decreased from 0.723 in 2022 to 0.699 in 2023.

In terms of the economy, account ownership of either a bank account or a mobile money service was lower for women (45%) than men (52.5%). This difference helps to understand the gender wage gap. Although the rate of women working in vulnerable employment remains at 80.1% in Zambia, the number of female workers in vulnerable employment has decreased since 1991.

Education is a huge part of tackling the gender wage gap in Zambia and on a global scale. In 2024, the U.N. Women launched its economic empowerment strategy to champion clearer accountability for plans to achieve gender equality. These goals include U.N. Women working together with organizations such as UNICEF and the World Bank to advocate for gender equality.

Improving Education

UNICEF and the London Stock Exchange Group Foundation created Zambian Girls 2030. This scheme emerged because of the Zambian government’s “Vision 2030” aiming for the country to become a middle-income nation by 2030. The number of girls dropping out of education after completing primary school is almost double that of boys of the same age. Zambian Girls 2030 involved internships focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and the girls who participated in the program met women working in these industries, including accountants and business owners. Between 2016 and 2018, almost 10,000 girls participated in the initiative’s school clubs, whilst 233 girls had the opportunity to complete the internship. Zambian Girls 2030 provided education opportunities to girls in Zambia which could further help reduce the gender wage gap.

One reason why girls drop out at a higher rate than boys after leaving primary school is the lack of transport. Between 2012 and 2022, World Bicycle Relief and the Ministry of Education in Zambia provided 36,977 girls living in rural areas with Buffalo Bicycles so they could attend school. This removal of one barrier to their education meant that these girls were 19% less likely to drop out of school than those without access to bicycles and the amount of lessons missed fell by 28%.

Financial Literacy

Mother’s Union is a women-led organization that addresses trafficking, unemployment and the financial empowerment of women. Across Zambia, more than 12,000 Mother’s Union members campaign against violence against women and advocate health awareness schemes.

Mother’s Union has been running the Literary and Financial Education Programme (LFEP) since 2000. The program educates both men and women. Therefore, the environment is one where both men and women realize the importance of furthering women’s education and how they can contribute to the household income.

The Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) project has helped 96,000 women in Zambia to access support and opportunities. Projects such as these could challenge the gender wage gap by giving women the opportunity to have a more active role within the economy. The project links with the Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project, which aims to stop the challenges farmers face. Therefore, these two projects combine to allow women the opportunity to succeed through accessing opportunities within agribusiness.

Numerous initiatives are working to fight gender inequality in Zambia. By understanding the extent of gender equality, these schemes are addressing the causes of the gender wage gap.

– Amy Fox

Amy is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Renewable Energy in Mauritania

Renewable Energy in MauritaniaThe consequences of natural disasters can exacerbate poverty, yet poverty alleviation efforts, such as economic development and industrialization, can also have negative environmental impacts. However, in Mauritania, a coastal country along the Sahel strip, the transition towards green economies presents unique opportunities. The Mauritanian government, under the 2016-2030 Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity Strategy, aims to enhance the energy sector, with a strong focus on renewable energy. Bilateral agreements and international aid initiatives support this effort. Both domestic and global actors recognize the pertinence of renewable energy in Mauritania for development.

Conditions in Mauritania

Monetary poverty in Mauritania is falling. In 2023, according to the UNDP, 6.5% of the population lives below the income poverty line. However, the UNDP also reports that the nation’s standard of living indicators are lower than in similar economies. Electricity access, for example, is low for rural populations at 4%.

Mauritania is chiefly a “traditional subsistence economy,” with agriculture and livestock raising being its largest sector. Mining and fishing are the nation’s major exports. At the same time, Mauritania has remarkable potential for renewable energy production. Straddling both the Sahara desert and the Atlantic Ocean, the nation has more than 700,000 square kilometres of space for solar and wind energy generation. The nation is leveraging this potential for development and economic growth.

Opportunities for Development

Renewable energy technology is offering new opportunities for development initiatives. One example is solar energy-powered water drilling, which has been effective in expanding access to clean water in Mauritania’s most isolated communities. UNICEF, which supports the initiative, has found solar energy to be the most cost-effective power source when compared to other, non-renewable sources. As of 2018, solar energy supplies the majority of drinking water drills, a rise to 60% from 20% in 2015.

Investments in renewable energy in Mauritania have also expanded the power grid capacity of the nation. More than 40% of the country’s energy is now generated from renewable sources, according to the International Trade Administration (ITA). This effort is continuing to grow, with $289.5 million invested in two projects to increase solar energy production and connectivity, both to rural regions and neighboring nations.

Center of International Cooperation

Export potential has made the renewable energy sector a focus for international cooperation. Under its Power Africa initiative, USAID has worked with the nation to increase electricity connection, including helping create 8,436 solar lamp connections. The development of renewable energy production and technologies has also been a key area of interest for the ITA as well as the U.S. Department of Energy. The latter signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the COP28 to support Mauritanian clean energy technologies and low-carbon exports including steel and green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen in particular is at the forefront of clean energy development, piquing the interest of large energy firms. With this, the nation has signed four MoUs with multinational energy corporations for green hydrogen production and development, including one with CWP Global to create the largest green hydrogen production facility in the world, according to ITA.

Much of the pledged development remains in the early stages, although the growing share of renewables in Mauritania’s energy supply is promising. Renewable energy in Mauritania and green hydrogen, in particular, presents opportunities to add value to the nation’s exports and economy, as well as efforts to elevate standards of living. As the world begins to transition to green economies, Mauritania represents a nation where this effort and economic development intersect.

– Imme Koolenbrander

Imme is based in Beijing, China and focuses on Business and Technologyfor The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Initiatives in Benin Combating Poverty

Initiatives in BeninBenin, a small West African nation bordering Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria, has seen improvements in quality of life but still ranks low on the Human Development Index (HDI), particularly in life expectancy at birth and average years of schooling. In response, recent initiatives in Benin aim to enhance these metrics. Companies like the Hunger Project and GoMedical have launched projects designed to support economic relief and community improvement, reducing poverty in Benin.

The Hunger Project

Since its establishment in Benin in 1997, the Hunger Project has assisted more than 300,000 people in rural areas. In 2023, the organization launched new initiatives aimed at expanding its support to central and northern parts of the country, with programs set to continue until 2027. These initiatives focus on enhancing food and nutritional security in these regions. Additionally, the Hunger Project is dedicated to empowering younger generations and women, who are among the more vulnerable populations in these areas.

The Hunger Project in Benin has partnered with the Hunger Project in Australia to support the community of Bouanri. This initiative aims to enhance the community’s sustainability and strengthen various aspects of life, including food security, health, nutrition, as well as access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation.

GoMedical

Open SI has developed a new app, GoMedical, to enhance health care access in Benin. Since its 2017 launch, GoMedical has significantly expanded the country’s digital health care network. The app provides lists of doctors and enables users to schedule appointments, offering easy access to various features and facilitating communication with health care professionals. Despite nearly half of Benin’s population living below the poverty line, which complicates funding for emergency visits and general doctor access, many Beninese people utilize mobile money accounts to pay for appointments via GoMedical.

GoMedical benefits both patients and health care professionals in Benin. Patients easily access their medical history, manage appointments and handle cancellations or rescheduling directly through the app. Professionals can quickly retrieve patient information and manage mobile files with just a few taps on their devices. Since launching this initiative, GoMedical has seen a 60% increase in customer base, a 150% rise in usage and a 40% growth in the number of doctors adopting the system. These figures are expected to continue rising as the country increasingly embraces this technology.

Looking Ahead

Efforts to reduce poverty in Benin and improve life expectancy and education levels show promise through initiatives by The Hunger Project and GoMedical. The Hunger Project’s programs aim to enhance food security and empower women and youth, particularly in central and northern regions. GoMedical’s digital health care app is revolutionizing access to medical services, benefiting both patients and health care providers. These initiatives collectively contribute to advancing Benin’s human development metrics and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

– Dorothy Howard

Dorothy is based in Greensboro, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Mental Health in Tonga

Mental Health in TongaAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2022, one in every eight people globally suffers from mental health disorders and diseases. However, the effects are seen disproportionately, as developing countries face higher rates and poorer treatment options than more developed countries. A look into Tonga highlights this.

Causes

Mental health challenges that people in Tonga face mainly stem from difficulties or trauma, even from natural disasters. Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, in 2022, tells of the trauma people faced during the aftermath of the volcano and tsunami attacks on their motherland. Disasters have resulted in destroyed homes and infrastructure, leading to a significant toll on mental health.

Another major cause is substance usage and abuse. The Guardian, in 2022, talks about the drug crisis in Tonga, where between 20% to 70% of hospital admissions are because of drug usage and abuse. It further says that drugs have now become a major contributing factor to the onset of mental illnesses and the frequent relapse of individuals with chronic psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Stigma

There is a great stigma around receiving mental health treatment in Tonga, a major reason why many who suffer from mental health conditions choose to keep the illness to themselves and don’t seek help. That’s because of Tongan traditional views of being possessed by spirits or cursed if one has a mental illness. Moreover, Tongan culture has a larger role in this in that family image is very important. Ali Latsu, in a Medium article, explains that Tongans rarely embrace an individualistic mindset, if at all. For Tongan parents, hearing their child confess to mental illness can feel like a veiled criticism of their parenting.

Services

Tonga lacks the extent of resources needed to support the growing population of people who are increasingly struggling with mental health challenges. Besides that, instead of resources increasing and progressing, they are decreasing and regressing. The Mental Health Atlas in 2020 found that the number of mental health workers per 100,000 population decreased from 21.62 in 2017 to 17.23 in 2020. Similarly, the number of community mental-based mental health services per 100,000 decreased from 5.67 in 2014 to just 3.83 in 2020. This downward trend is alarming.

Efforts

In 2022, the University of Auckland announced a groundbreaking partnership. This partnership involves researchers from the university, Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa I Center for Pacific and Global Health and the Tonga Ministry of Health. The New Zealand Ministry of Health Polynesian Health Corridors supports it. The partnership aims to provide essential population-level insights into mental health and mental health services in Tonga. This information will offer much-needed insight and information to improve the mental health resources available in Tonga.

Furthermore, in March 2024, Tonga’s Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, announced the launch of a new initiative to implement mental health and addiction peer support services in hospital emergency departments. The initiative aims to improve outcomes for individuals seeking crisis help while enabling clinical staff to concentrate on clinical work.

– Shreyan Singha

Shreyan is based in Coral Springs, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Assisting Zambia’s Agricultural Communities

Zambia’s Agricultural CommunitiesLocated in Southern Africa, Zambia is home to more than 20 million people. While the country had a poverty rate of 60% in 2022, it faces wide economic disparities. Its rural areas are home to approximately 82% of the country’s most impoverished population. However, poverty rates have steadily decreased in most urban areas.

Despite a slight rise in urban poverty since 2015 due to factors such as the impact of COVID-19, the urban poverty rate remains around 31.9%, which is about half the national average. This difference is usually attributed to the nature of industry, which differs between these regions. While rural areas primarily derive their income from the agricultural industry, urban areas have benefitted from the growth of construction and financial sectors.

Challenges Facing Zambia’s Agricultural Sector

Multiple factors have contributed to Zambia’s agricultural industry’s deterioration. A report by the International Growth Center (IGC) found that while the sector employs 59% of the workforce, it makes up only 3.4% of the country’s national gross domestic product (GDP). The IGC lists a number of factors that contribute to this underperformance, many of which converge around issues of low levels of funding and limited access to sophisticated technology, hindering farmers’ ability to harvest and deliver crops cost-effectively and efficiently.

The report outlines a specific issue: many farmers’ limited access to suitable finance and insurance. Where 85% of the credit is dedicated to larger-scale commercial producers, many small-scale farmers lack access to the same financial services. This limits their growth potential and makes it difficult for them to compete. Many of the factors contributing to agricultural decline are out of farmers’ control, such as increasing levels of drought. However, improving the accessibility of financial resources among Zambia’s agricultural communities would empower small-scale farmers. Additional finances would allow them to invest in efficient technology, make bigger agricultural investments and track their supply and demand.

Supporting Zambia’s Agricultural Communities

Various schemes have been introduced to support Zambia’s agricultural communities. The International Development Enterprises (iDE), a global organization that works to empower entrepreneurs in the fight against global poverty, has run a number of schemes across the country. Recognizing the impact technology can have, iDE has set up demonstration plots to showcase various labor-saving technologies, such as water-saving irrigation systems. These plots have become important centers of community for farmers to meet, sell products and learn about productive farming practices and technologies. iDE has also helped lift a number of rural farmers out of poverty through the provision of microloans, supplying them with the necessary capital to cover the costs of crops and propel their small businesses.

E-Commerce Empowering Zambia’s Agricultural Sector

The move toward introducing forms of e-commerce into Zambia’s agricultural communities has and will have, a profound impact. The introduction of e-commerce will empower and assist small-scale farmers to gain control and autonomy over their finances. Assisted with funding from the Citi Foundation, the World Food Programme (WFP) has recently introduced an initiative that seeks to boost financial inclusion and resilience among Zambia’s agricultural communities.

In addition to helping farmers further develop their financial literacy skills and increasing their access to affordable credit, the scheme aims to scale up the financial app “Maano.” This is an e-commerce platform that allows farmers to advertise their products and track levels of supply and demand. Schemes like this empower small-scale entrepreneurs, recognizing the benefits that financial autonomy and management can have for rural farmers.

Final Remark

The decline of Zambia’s agricultural productivity can be partially explained by large-scale factors such as increasing levels of drought and low government funding. However, declining levels of productivity and efficiency could be reduced through empowering farmers on an individual economic scale. By teaching farmers financial literacy skills, they will be able to manage their sales more efficiently. Furthermore, it will ensure that they are maximizing the economic potential of their crops. This financial control will also assist farmers in achieving long-term economic resilience in the face of possible market fluctuations.

– Aimee Masters

Aimee is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Experiencing Period Poverty in gaza

Period Poverty In gazaSince the events of October 7, Israel has tightened its grip on the Gaza Strip. It has made it increasingly difficult for aid to enter the territory. Israel’s blockade has, therefore, left many pharmacy and shop shelves barren. One product in particular has become increasingly sparse on the shelves of various pharmacies across Gaza: menstruation pads. On the rare occasion that pads make their way on a shelf, they are sold at nearly five to six times their original price. For many unemployed and homeless Gazan women, such an expense is unthinkable. This, combined with limited water supply, lack of privacy and indoor plumbing, has compelled women to take measures into their own hands. As the rate of period poverty continues to mount within the Gaza Strip, its female residents prove that there is no shortage of resilience and ingenuity.

Period Poverty among Women and Girls in Gaza

In a study conducted by the United Nations (U.N.), an estimated total of 700,000 Gazan women and girls menstruate but do not have access to hygiene products, such as pads and toilet paper. Even more troubling is their barred access to toilets and running water. Various shelters run by The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians, say there is only one roll of toilet paper per 498 people. Within these same shelters, more than 400 residents share a single bathroom.

The situation is no better for women who live in shared apartment complexes with extended family. Limited access to water forces many to restrict the times they flush the toilet– only doing so when deemed necessary. Three functioning water pipelines remain for the whole of Gaza, thus making it increasingly difficult for women to wash themselves. Showering has become a luxury only some women can afford. Many women rise early and queue in front of hospitals in the hopes of showering before the water supply is cut for that day. Others are there to use the bathroom. Queues can number from up to 1,000 people.

Current Experiences

Owda is a Gazan woman documenting her experience online. She shared a video of one of many makeshift bathrooms found within the displacement camps. She points to the toilet in question, a garbage basket on the ground inside a meager tent and says to the camera: “There is no water. There is nothing around them. There is no infrastructure. They’re living in just a tent and they need bathroom(s). They’re humans.” The U.N. indicates that these sanitary conditions leave many Gazan women at risk of contracting reproductive and urinary tract infections. The sanitary pads that are at the disposal of Gazan women are poorly crafted and only further increase their risk of infection.

Gazan women and girls, therefore, are no longer afforded any privacy in tending to their menstrual hygiene. This issue has put a strain on the psychological health of many women within the strip. Some women share that the mounting stress they are experiencing has caused their menstrual cycles to come twice a month, further exacerbating the issue. As political tensions continue to rise, period poverty within the Gaza Strip only becomes a more pressing matter.

With Extreme Circumstances Comes Extreme Measures

The difficulty in obtaining female hygiene products has forced many Gazan women to resort to dangerous measures. Some women wash previously used pads to cope with the lack. Others have opted for old shreds of clothing, towels and ripped pieces of the tents they are using as shelter as substitutes for pads. Adult diapers and measly tissues are also on the list of items used as surrogates. The use of these substitutions may cause skin irritation, infection and deadly toxic shock syndrome. Though they pose great risks to their health, Gazan women have few other options.

Birth control has become a favored remedy among Gazan women, who would rather delay their cycle than deal with the physical and psychological burden that comes with it. Contrary to pads, the pill is readily available and far less expensive than hygiene products. A month’s supply’s worth of birth control costs approximately $3. The extreme measures Gazan women are reduced to take speak of the gravity of the situation. Furthermore, it highlights how women, once again, bear the blows of war. Gaza’s ongoing period poverty epidemic confirms the previous statement.

An International Call for Change

The international community has noticed Gaza’s shortage of menstrual hygiene products and has done its best to aid the crisis. Anera, a nonprofit organization, has provided hygiene kits, which include pads, underwear and wet wipes, to more than 20,000 women and girls. ActionAid has also supported the women in Gaza by preparing hygiene packages with a month’s worth of supplies. Despite their admirable efforts, more has to be done to aid the women in Gaza and stop the rate of period poverty from rising.

– Yasmine Nowroozi

Yasmine is based in Laval, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr