Information and stories about developing countries.

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Hunger in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Hunger in Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines (32 eastern Caribbean islands and cays), a small island developing state, is a British Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, colonized in the 18th century. Slave-run plantations dominated the economy until slavery was abolished in 1834. Former slaves and immigrants provided labor until landowners abandoned estates in the early 1900s, leaving the liberated slaves to cultivate the land. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines progressed from an administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies (1960-62) to autonomy and then finally to independence in 1979. Its population of just over 100,000 is primarily (71.2%) of African descent. 

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an agricultural economy, although over half of its population (54.3%) is urban. Its mountainous terrain is more than two-thirds forest, with less than 13% arable land. It is home to La Soufriere volcano, which last erupted in 1979, and in addition to volcanic eruptions is also threatened by hurricanes. 

Natural and External Challenges

In July 2024, the minister of agriculture for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines declared, “Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is on the brink of food insecurity. On average it has been hit by one natural disaster every year for the past five years, which has disrupted every food chain. We have experienced COVID-19, 32 volcanic eruptions, severe droughts and hurricanes.” June’s Hurricane Beryl, destroyed the country’s fisheries and lobster chain, affecting 95% of vessels and displacing a large percentage of producers and fisherfolk, along with destroying 98% of plantain and banana production. 

By October 2024, however, the World Bank reported that these natural and external disasters and shocks were followed by agricultural recovery and “robust performance” in tourism. Those improvements, along with the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, were driving economic growth. Despite high food prices, food security concerns decreased with a decrease in inflation, and the proportion of the population experiencing severe food shortages (no food, or skipping meals, for a whole day) had declined over the year. In addition, food-vulnerable households were supported by existing social programs, including safety net payments.

Agenda for Sustainable Development

In 2015, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines committed to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with the agenda’s 17 sustainable development goals. SDG 2 is Zero Hunger: end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. 

As of 2024, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was assessed as having significant remaining challenges in meeting SDG 2, with its score “stagnating or increasing at less than 50% of the required rate.” The country was on track or maintaining its achievement only with regard to the prevalence of undernourishment and cereal yield, and its major challenge was in the prevalence of obesity. (Data were unavailable on three of the eight indicators.) 

Nutrition Targets

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has implemented ten national food and noncommunicable disease policies, with targets related to six global nutrition targets. However, the 2022 Global Nutrition Report reported the country as “off course” in meeting all the global nutrition targets for maternal, infant and young child nutrition, no progress in reducing anemia of reproductive age women and insufficient data to assess several other targets. 

The FAO and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1981. Initial support included capacity building, legislative development, formulation of policy and agricultural planning. Food security programs, technology transfer, market infrastructure and climate change resilience were later foci. Recent FAO contributions to the country have included technical support in 2022 to prepare and implement the country’s first agriculture census in 22 years and, in 2023, assistance to finalize a Fisheries Bill to manage the country’s fisheries resources. 

Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

In October 2024, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The Global Alliance formally launched in November 2024 to serve as a platform “for the development, implementation, or expedited execution of public policies aimed at SDGs 1 and 2.” Joining the Alliance was Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ commitment to collaborate with Alliance members in addressing solutions to hunger and poverty worldwide. This voluntary membership is significant in recognizing the global challenges of hunger and poverty and the importance of a collaborative and mutually supportive response to those challenges. 

– Staff Reports

Photo: Flickr

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The East African Community and the Eastern Congo Crisis

The East African CommunityThe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured more than three decades of conflict, with constant attacks on civilians and insecurity fueling a severe humanitarian crisis. Even before the recent surge in violence, 21 million people were internally displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance, a number that continues to rise daily. The ongoing DRC crisis in Eastern Congo has displaced more than 6 million people, creating a cycle of dependency on aid.

This situation will likely worsen the DRC crisis due to funding shortages, including significant cuts from the United States, which accounted for 70% of the DRC’s aid in 2024. Despite these challenges, humanitarian organizations and regional neighbors like the East African Community (EAC) remain committed to fostering peace and delivering essential aid to the Congolese people.

First Congo War 1960-1965

Shortly after gaining independence from Belgium, chaos erupted as the Force Publique soldiers at the Thysville military base, marking the beginning of the DRC crisis. Congolese soldiers revolted against their white counterparts, demanding better wages. This unrest quickly escalated to other military bases, igniting widespread violence across the nation.

Just two days earlier, the provinces of Katanga and South Kasai had declared their independence from Congo. These post-colonial power struggles led to the assassination of Patrice Lumumba on January 17, 1961, which only deepened the chaos. On November 25, 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in a coup, renaming the country Zaire. He ruled until 1997 when he was ousted after decades of corruption and economic mismanagement.

The Rwanda Genocide and its Aftermath

When the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) reclaimed the Rwandan capital, Kigali. The advance of the Tutsi-led rebels forced more than one million Hutu refugees to flee to the DRC (then Zaire), where they staged attacks against the Kigali government while being sheltered by Mobutu.

In 1996, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL), under the command of Laurent Kabila, conducted attacks on the camps. The war pitted the ADFL against Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zairian Armed Forces (FAZ), Interahamwe militia, Rwandan Armed Forces ex-FAR and mercenaries. This rebellion stoked ethnic tensions, particularly with the Banyamulenge Tutsis in eastern Congo and eventually led to the overthrow of Mobutu in 1997.

Second Congo War 1998-2003

After Mobutu fled to exile in Morocco, Kabila expelled all foreign soldiers, but the Hutu militias stationed in eastern Congo continued their attacks on Rwanda. In August 1998, Rwanda invaded eastern Congo with the support of Congolese Tutsi and rebel groups against Kabila. This marked the start of the Second Congo War, which drew in as many as 14 different armies, including troops from Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, who backed Kabila against Burundi, Uganda and Rwandan forces against Kabila.

The wars led to countless deaths, displacements and entrenched ethnic divisions and resource-driven conflicts in eastern Congo, leaving a legacy of instability that persists today.

The Role of the East African Community

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, DRC and Somalia. The community has committed to maintaining peace and restoring stability in the DRC. Some of the interventions include:

  • In July 1999, Rwanda, Uganda and four other warring nations signed the Lusaka Accord, formalizing a ceasefire to end the Second Congo War.
  • In 2002, Rwanda and Uganda endorsed the Pretoria Agreement, while Uganda and the DRC agreed to withdraw Ugandan troops and restore bilateral relations under the Luanda Agreement.
  • Between 2008 and 2009, Rwanda and DRC held joint military operations called Kimia to disarm armed groups in eastern DRC.
  • In 2022, the EAC deployed regional forces to eastern DRC to work with the DRC forces to combat armed groups and support humanitarian efforts.
  • In 2022, the EAC Nairobi Process emerged, rallying regional leaders, civil society and international partners to prioritize dialogue and negotiation, particularly pushing for dialogue between the government and M23. 
  • In 2023, the Joint EAC-SADC united regional leaders in committing to a lasting solution, urging peaceful coexistence. Despite setbacks, such as President Tshisekedi’s refusal to attend a virtual summit hosted by Kenya’s William Ruto in 2025, regional collaboration remains central to resolving the crisis.

Final Remarks

The East African Community has dedicated significant efforts to fostering dialogue and promoting peace in the DRC, from a conflict dynamic to peace initiatives. However, it has encountered various challenges and criticisms. The deployment and subsequent withdrawal of the EAC Regional Force underscored the need for a more effective approach to tackle the issues comprehensively.

The differing economic and political interests among member states complicate the mission to pursue peace, as these divergent priorities have prompted the DRC government to seek assistance from external parties, further exacerbating the country’s instability.

The DRC crisis is a complex weave of historical injustices, failed governance, external meddling and a lack of global concern. Achieving a lasting solution goes beyond ceasefires. It requires dismantling systems that favor resource exploitation at the expense of human dignity. It also calls for holding regional powers responsible for destabilizing and empowering Congolese communities to take charge of their recovery.

– Grace Ruria

Grace is based in Nairobi, Kenya and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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ILO Launches Program to Empower Women in Uganda

ILO Launches Program to Empower Women in UgandaUganda is nestled in East Africa and is famous for its rich wildlife and is known for being the “pearl of Africa.” In recent years Uganda has made significant strides toward gender equality. In 1995 the constitution declared men and women equal in the eyes of the law. Despite this recent political progress, the reality in Uganda is not reflective of these political changes. Women still face a gender wage disparity of 32.3 %. This economic disparity hinders Uganda from reaching its full economic potential if approximately half the workforce faces wage disparity. Empowering women in Uganda would foster their economic inclusion and by extension prop up the country’s national wealth.

Uganda’s Coffee Industry

Uganda is part of the global coffee industry’s supply chain, which is worth billions of dollars since the county’s climate is ideal for growing coffee plants. The country is the 7th largest exporter of coffee. Its coffee sector plays a vital economic role, supporting 1.8 million farming households and generating approximately one-third of the nation’s export revenue, which funds essential public infrastructure and services. Uganda aims to significantly expand its coffee production capacity with plans to increase exports fourfold in the future.

Women’s Role and Wage Disparity

Despite women performing the majority of coffee farming labor in Uganda, handling nearly 70% of fieldwork and post-harvest processing, they face significant wage disparities, earning approximately $250 less than their male counterparts during harvest season.  Women in East Africa’s coffee sector still face systemic barriers rooted in cultural norms and institutional practices. These include the inability to inherit land directly from their families, exclusion from cooperative membership due to lack of plant ownership and limited access to leadership roles due to prejudiced assumptions about their capabilities. These challenges are further compounded by women’s disproportionate responsibility for household duties and childcare, as well as limited access to formal education, effectively creating a cycle that restricts their economic advancement in the coffee industry.

Empowerment Programs

Recognizing the coffee industry’s central role in the economy, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has strategically chosen this sector as a pathway to empowering women in Uganda. The ILO’s CLEAR Supply Chains project, which seeks to eliminate child labor from supply chains,  is launching a Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Program in Uganda’s Kalungu district to develop leadership and technical skills among women coffee farmers. The program began with a needs assessment in October 2024, involving focus group discussions with coffee farmers from the Lwabenge sub-county, which identified training needs in areas such as financial literacy, agricultural practices and leadership skills. 

Training and Leadership Development

Following farm visits and assessments, in cooperation with ILO members from the Siraye program in Ethiopia and Ugandan Members of the International Women Coffee Alliance (IWCA), a four-day training of trainers was conducted in December at Kalungu district headquarters. The 16 participants received comprehensive training on topics including management, leadership, gender equality and farm workers’ rights. The next phase includes a refresher session planned for February 2025, where trained farmers will learn to deliver training to their peers, with ongoing mentoring from ILO and IWCA throughout the program. This initiative represents a significant effort to enhance women’s participation and representation in coffee farming cooperatives and farmer groups in the Kalungu district.

Moving Forward

The ILO’s Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Program represents a thoughtful approach to addressing gender disparities in Uganda’s coffee sector. By directly challenging misconceptions about women in leadership, while providing practical skills training, the program aims to unlock the untapped potential of female farmers who constitute a large share of the workforce. The collaboration with the local chapter of the International Women Coffee Alliance demonstrates the value of incorporating local expertise and understanding, ensuring interventions are culturally appropriate and sustainable. Given coffee’s significance to Uganda’s export earnings, empowering women in Uganda in this sector could create a ripple effect, not only advancing gender equality but also strengthening the nation’s economic prosperity as a whole.

– Salome von Stolzmann

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

Photo: Flickr

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Combating Malnutrition in Indonesia: New Free Meals Program

Malnutrition in IndonesiaIndonesia suffers from a triple burden of malnutrition (TBM) problem. TBM refers to a population at threat of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overnutrition. Other problems in the country, such as poverty, low education levels, gender inequities and poor infrastructure, alongside frequent natural disasters and environmental and climate-related factors, further aggravate these deprivations.

Stunting and Wasting

A 2022 survey conducted by the Ministry of Health reveals that, in Indonesia, one in 12 children aged less than 5 five is wasted. Additionally, one in five is stunted. Stunting and wasting are two major nutritional problems Indonesian children face that need to be detected and treated.

Wasted children have skinny appearances, are low in weight and have small upper arm circumference. It stems from poor nutritional intake, low food quality and frequent illness in children. Out of all problems with malnutrition, wasting has the highest risk of death. The mortality risk for wasted children is 12 times more likely than for children with adequate nutrition.

Stunting, on the other hand, develops in a short period and is often a sign of chronic malnutrition. Stunted children are relatively shorter than those around them. A child becomes at risk of stunting when they are malnourished from pregnancy until the child is 2 years old or has lived 1,000 days of life.

Wasting and stunting often correlate, with both problems having the same risk factors and one condition making the other worse. When left untreated, wasted children are three times more likely to develop stunting and stunted children are 1.5 times more likely to become wasted. Child mortality rates also increase when they experience both stunting and wasting at the same time, which many children in Indonesia do.

The first two years of a child’s life are the best time to prevent both problems; however, if preventative measures fail, health workers must give immediate care and treatment to ensure the child’s survival.

Maternal Nutrition

Maternal nutrition also contributes to malnutrition, as many micronutrient deficiencies start with the mother. It begins from preconception and continues to adolescence. Indonesia has a high rate of maternal malnutrition alongside high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. According to a malnutrition report published by UNICEF in 2018, one in two pregnant women is anemic, one in six is thin and one in three is short stature.

Indonesia’s government has been working hard to implement programs to combat malnutrition. Programs include postpartum vitamin A supplementation, supplementary feeding for undernourished pregnant women, nutrition education and counseling.

Obesity

The final major malnutrition problem faced by Indonesia is obesity. According to the Indonesia Health survey and the Family Life survey, the number of overweight adults in Indonesia has doubled in the past two decades. One in five school-age children is affected by obesity and overweight and obesity are among the top five death risk factors.

Genetics play a role; however, unhealthy diets and insufficient exercise are the primary causes. Individuals consume more calories than required and their bodies store them as excess fat. The high availability of unhealthy foods in schools and a sedentary lifestyle using phones and TV do not mix well regarding health.

Free Meals

Although combating malnutrition may seem challenging, Indonesia has made much progress. On Jan. 6, Indonesia’s President, Prabowo Subianto, launched a multibillion-dollar program to provide free meals to more than a quarter of Indonesian citizens, feeding around 570,000 on its opening day. This ambitious free meal program was the center of Subianto’s election campaign. However, it had no official launch date. The program initially involved only 190 kitchens that prepped meals for school children and pregnant women in no more than 20 provinces.

Subianto has big targets for the program and hopes that by 2029, 82.9 million of the country’s total 280 million will be reached and helped. The government and military will help prepare and distribute meals and the number of meal recipients hopes to increase to 3 million by March of this year, according to Dedek Prayudi, a spokesperson for the President’s office.

Spokespeople from the Office of the President have said that President Prabowo Subianto is considering ways to reach nearly 83 million of Indonesia’s population by the end of 2025, much earlier than the initial target of 2029. Subianto also stated that the program aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21.5% of Indonesian children younger than 5 and would raise farmers’ income. He hopes to develop the nation’s human resources so that they can achieve a “Golden Indonesia” by 2045.

Slow Progress

The government aims to reach 19.5 million schoolchildren and pregnant women in 2025. The budget is set at $4.3 billion to keep the annual deficit under a legislated ceiling of 3% of GDP. According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, the national stunting prevalence was 21.5%, down around 0.8% from the previous year.  Although some progress has been made, it is still slow. The Indonesian government hopes this program will speed up the success rate in lowering the rate of malnourishment. So far, feedback has been positive.

Catharina Yenny Indratno, the principal of an elementary school in East Jakarta, said there had been a positive response from families and students. “Our children don’t really bring their own food from home. Their parents come from mid-low income, so their pocket money is small,” she said. She said, “With this program, it’s very good because they’ll have enough nutrients.” Parents also welcomed the program, as it helps reduce their daily burdens. One parent in West Jakarta stated: “Thank God, this helps us.”

MUFPP Community

Indonesia has also implemented other policies to combat malnutrition, including active participation in the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) community. The MUFPP has collaborated with 15 cities in Indonesia to support the implementation of school meal programs. The Milan Pact is firmly committed to supporting the Indonesian government’s mission of implementing school meal programs via advocacy and facilitating learning exchange sharing. This is done with ASEAN, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Indonesia still has a long way to go regarding combating malnutrition. However, developing this new program, alongside other policies the government is undertaking, will help reduce the problem massively.

– Ayat Aslam

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Everything to Know About Poverty in Indonesia

Poverty in IndonesiaIndonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic state, comprising of a vast territorial spread of more than 17,000 islands containing a population of 280 million people. The geographical and demographical properties of Indonesia provide a unique set of challenges to effective governance, societal equality and poverty reduction. Here is some information about poverty in Indonesia and efforts to reduce it.

Reducing Poverty in Indonesia 

In recent times, Indonesia has made positive strides in poverty reduction. In 2024, more than 3 million Indonesians were lifted out of poverty, as the poverty rate fell to 9%, the lowest in the country’s history. This figure is a significant achievement considering that just over two decades ago, poverty levels in some rural areas were documented as high as 76%.

The steady decline of poverty in Indonesia is present in both rural and urban areas. Recent records showed that urban poverty levels were 7.1%, and poverty in rural areas was at 11.8%.

Indonesia’s Economy 

The sustained progress and success in the alleviation of poverty in Indonesia is rooted in the strong economic growth of the country. Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and has an abundance of natural resources such as nickel, palm oil and rubber. Additionally, Indonesia’s burgeoning tourism and manufacturing sectors contribute significantly to the country’s GDP and are vital in helping to attract foreign investment. Over the past three years, Indonesian manufactured exports of footwear have risen by 67%. 

Challenges to Poverty Alleviation 

The fight against poverty in Indonesia appears to be improving. However, upon closer inspection, the economic vulnerability and precarious circumstances that millions of Indonesians experience becomes apparent.

More than 40% of Indonesians remain economically insecure, while a further 25 million are classified as poor and survive on less than $36 each month. Moreover, critics have attributed the recent progression in the rates of poverty alleviation to social assistance, in the form of cash payments and staple food disbursements. Critics argue that this is a short-term solution that fails to address the underlying causes of poverty.

The dispersed nature of the Indonesian population makes the proliferation of equality and opportunity challenging. It is recognized that empowering rural communities is essential to further reduce poverty rates. Consequently, the government has introduced a series of economic investment packages to promote and incentivize additional business activities outside of agriculture.

Education 

An improvement in the accessibility and quality of education is central to reducing poverty in Indonesia. Education helps to break the perpetual cycle of poverty by removing the barriers to social mobility and improving economic opportunity. Through education, a person is more likely to gain formal employment and subsequently earn a higher wage.

Over the past two decades, the education system in Indonesia has been subject to several major reforms, including a constitutional mandate to allocate 20% of the national budget for education. Additionally, many practical solutions have been enacted, such as consulting with business leaders to help shape the school curriculum in accordance with the relevant demands of the job market.

Overall, the accessibility and quality of education in Indonesia has steadily increased, reached gender parity and created enhanced employment prospects. However, enrolment in secondary education remains limited in some rural areas.

Food Security 

Indonesia is ranked 77/125 in the Global Hunger Index and remains vulnerable to food insecurity. In 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) declared the levels of malnutrition across Indonesia as concerning, as around 23 million people were unable to meet their dietary needs. Additionally, the geographical location of Indonesia increases its susceptibility to natural disasters, potentially further jeopardizing food security and leading to fluctuations in food prices.

In January 2025, a new food program launched across Indonesia. The government initiative aims to help combat widespread malnutrition by providing free nutritious meals to more than 80 million people by 2029. The program has found initial success and delivered around 500,000 meals on the first day.  Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has backed the program, although critics have questioned its sustainability, due to logistical and financial constraints.

Looking to the Future 

For the 100th anniversary of Indonesia, former President Joko Widodo created the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision. As part of this ambitious development plan and drive to become a leading global power, Indonesia has pledged to reduce poverty to almost zero.

Indonesia’s success in reducing poverty is encouraging. Its flourishing economy and improvements in education have provided millions with the opportunity to attain higher-paid employment and break free from the cycle of poverty. However, as Indonesia enters a critical transitionary period, it is pertinent that the millions still enduring poverty and inequality are not overlooked. Empowering the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of society remains vital in alleviating inequality and poverty in Indonesia in the future.

– Ollie Roberts

Ollie is based in the UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Disability and Poverty in Zambia

Disability and Poverty in Zambia
Zambia, a nation that is home to about 20 million people, achieved middle-income status in 2011 after enjoying one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa during the 2000s. However, as the nation developed, people with disabilities, who make up 10.9% of the adult (18+) population and 4.4% of the young persons (2-17) population, have been left behind. Here is information about disability and poverty in Zambia and what is being done to address it.

Ableism and Employment in Zambia

For individuals living in poverty with disabilities in Zambia, life is fraught with obstacles, often marked by ableism which prevents many from accessing employment. About 10% of people with disabilities in the country have reported experiencing abuse, including physical violence (8%, primarily affecting men) and sexual violence (2%, predominantly targeting women), just because of their disabilities. 

The national disability survey is that 8% have faced discrimination from using public services. Those with disabilities in Zambia not only face barriers in life, but also stigma due to their disabilities. Disability is often misunderstood. Many people think that being disabled in Zambia is a consequence of sin, maternal promiscuity, an ancestral curse or demonic possession.

One can see a reflection of these stereotypes in Zambia’s employment statistics. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities was at 16.8% compared to just 12.5% of those without disability according to UNICEF in Zambia. This highlights the likelihood of a correlation between disability and poverty in Zambia.

Challenges to Education and Skills Attainment

One of the most severe challenges to disability and poverty in Zambia is access to education. This remains a significant challenge for disabled Zambians. Only 80.8% of people with disabilities reported attending primary school, compared to 89.9% of those without disabilities. Many schools lack the infrastructure to meet disabled students’ needs, and most teachers are not trained in disability-inclusive teaching methods. Additionally, only 20% of disabled individuals use assistive devices, with an even smaller percentage among school-age children, leaving some unable to participate in education.

Without more than a primary education, many disabled children cannot acquire the skills needed for employment, while further education institutions and workplaces often lack the infrastructure to support them. This limited access to education and job training traps many in poverty. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), “the majority of Zambians with disabilities live in poverty.”

After the release of the national disability survey in 2015, the Zambian government launched the National Policy on Disability in February 2016 aiming to provide equal opportunities for all citizens, with or without disabilities, by 2030.

The Solution

Zambia’s National Policy on Disability addresses a range of areas, but these are the five key aspects of the policy the government has introduced to support people with disabilities to escape poverty:

  1. Preventing Disabilities: The government aims to reduce preventable disabilities by promoting programs that combat diseases like polio and TB, which are major contributors to disability.
  2. Improving Daily Living Skills: The policy promotes community-based initiatives to enhance daily skills for greater independence. It includes increasing the availability of assistive devices and raising awareness about their use, improving disabled individuals’ quality of life and boosting confidence for employment.
  3. Tackling Stigma: To combat discrimination, the government will introduce legislation protecting disabled people from ableism, particularly in the workplace. This aims to promote economic independence and challenge cultural beliefs that disabilities result from curses or supernatural causes. 
  4. Promoting Equality: The policy highlights equal opportunities by recognizing sign language as Zambia’s eighth official language and expanding the use of Braille. It also ensures access to welfare programs and bursaries, empowering disabled people to rely less on external care. 
  5. Expanding Education and Skills Training: The government plans to train educators in disability-inclusive methods and improve accessibility in schools and training centers. This includes teaching Braille and sign language, and providing access to new technologies and the internet, ensuring disabled individuals can fully participate in education and skills development. 

These measures aim to reduce poverty among disabled Zambians and create a more inclusive society by increasing access to education to reduce the attainment gap for disabled children. They also aim to increase opportunities for adults to gain skills so they can enter the workforce and educate the whole nation on the causes of disability so that outdated stereotypes and ableism are things of the past. 

Looking Ahead

The results of Zambia’s National Policy on Disability will remain unclear until the government conducts another national disability survey. However, the policy’s intentions demonstrate a clear commitment to investing in and protecting the nation’s disabled population while striving to ensure they are treated with the same respect and opportunities as everyone else in Zambian society. The economic success of the 2000s cannot benefit only those without disabilities. The International Labour Organization’s observation that “the majority of Zambians with disabilities live in poverty” underscores a persistent inequality the government aims to address.

While it may take time to analyze and scrutinize Zambia’s National Policy on Disability, it represents an ambitious effort to address disability and poverty in Zambia and create a more equitable society.

– Oliver Hedges

Oliver is based in Lancaster, Lancashire, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Disability and Poverty in Morocco

Disability and Poverty in MoroccoMorocco is working to create an equitable society that is inclusive of people living with disability and poverty. The king and ministers of government in recent years have expressed concerns regarding the connection between disability and poverty in Morocco and have set out to address those concerns. The Moroccan government in conjunction with international nonprofit and aid organizations has made significant progress toward reaching reform goals.

The King’s Decree

King Mohammed VI decreed in 2022 that social protections for citizens experiencing disability and poverty in Morocco would be a top priority moving forward. That year, the king set a 2025 goal for finalizing initial reforms to Morocco’s social protection programs. 

The Arab Reform Initiative has called King Mohammed VI’s decree to focus on health care and social reforms, “one of the most significant decisions since the nation’s independence.”

The Relationship: Poverty and Disability

According to 2023 statistics from the United Nations Development Program, 5.5% of Morocco’s population (727,833 people) have a disability. UNICEF statistics from 2022 show that one in seven children in The Middle East and North Africa live with a disability. Children with disabilities in the region are often marginalized from society due to social stigmas and lack of access to health care and social protection services.

People with disabilities, both visible and invisible, are more likely to experience multidimensional poverty than their peers without disability. One can attribute this to several interrelated factors which cause people with disabilities to experience more barriers when attempting to access education, employment, transportation and health care.

Assistive devices give people with disabilities the opportunity to hear and be heard, to communicate, be mobile and access services. However, these devices, hearing aids and wheelchairs for example, are often costly.

Social stigma and lack of access to services create prohibitive barriers to social and economic inclusion for people experiencing poverty and disability in Morocco. The Moroccan government hopes to reduce those barriers and stigma with its new social reforms.

Urgent Reforms

By the end of 2023, Morocco had already made significant progress towards its goals by working with international organizations and nonprofits. In 2023, the World Bank contributed $350 million USD to social protection initiatives in Morocco.

Dalal Moosa, Senior Economist and Program Co-Leader at the World Bank commended Morocco’s reforms, saying, “The implementation of [social protection programs] will be critical to protecting vulnerable populations such as women, children, people with disabilities and isolated populations in rural or remote areas against health risks.” 

Reforms supportive of those living with disability and poverty in Morocco continued to progress when the government introduced its 2024 budget plan. The 2024 budget specifically allocates funding to programs for children with disabilities. 

About $36.6 million USD of the 2024 Moroccan governmental budget is going to programs and initiatives supporting children with disabilities in Morocco. Minister Naima Ben Yahya estimated that programs funded by the 2024 budget would reach and support 27,500 children living with disabilities.

First Steps

Morocco took its first step toward its goal of providing its citizens with universal health care by merging the private and public health care sectors in 2022. Since then, access to private health care options has reduced the stress on the public health care sector.

In an added push towards its goal of universal health care, Morocco is funding initiatives to support telehealth options for its citizens. The positive impact of the telehealth initiatives is especially noticeable in rural areas of Morocco where health care facilities can be few and far between.

Human Rights and Autonomy

Social stigma is a significant barrier to inclusion and fulfilment for people living at the crossroad of disability and poverty in Morocco. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is focused on breaking down those barriers by upholding and strengthening the human rights and autonomy of people with disability. 

UNDP projects in Morocco include the standardization of sign language within the nation, improvements to the disability certification process and increasing the accessibility of buildings and restrooms. Additional projects that the UNDP is managing in Morocco aim to reduce social stigma by actively dismantling prejudice, spreading awareness and information and promoting social inclusion of people with disability. 

The United Nations Development Programme has expressed optimism about Morocco’s reforms, saying,  “Imagine a world where every person, regardless of their disability, can thrive, actively participate, and fully contribute to society. In Morocco, this paradigm is becoming a reality.”

– Caitlyn Erwin

Caitlyn is based in Asheville, NC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Lack of Shelter and No Electricity Led to Hypothermia in Gaza

Hypothermia in GazaAccording to the United Nations (U.N.), in the last month, eight newborns have died of hypothermia in Gaza, causing an outcry from international organizations. The cases of hypothermia come from the freezing conditions in Gaza. Gaza is experiencing its coldest month, with a lack of proper equipment and resources its people need to survive.

What Is Hypothermia?

Doctors classify hypothermia as a medical emergency resulting from a drop in body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). It happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce, causing the body to enter into a dangerously low body temperature. When the body is left in this condition, the heart, nervous system and other organs are unable to function properly. Without treatment, hypothermia can shut down the heart and respiratory systems, ultimately causing death.

Hypothermia is now one of the many preventable diseases/conditions that are now taking place in the Strip as a result of the ongoing conflict.

The Destruction of Residential Buildings

The Israeli onslaught in the Strip has made it difficult for aid to enter Gaza. Additionally, the incessant bombing has destroyed residential buildings, leading people to use tents as a new way of shelter. The bombing has damaged approximately 66% of the total structures in the Strip, with damage ranging from moderate to destruction.

Specifically 163, 778 structures have been damaged, including “52,564 structures that have been destroyed, 18,913 severely damaged, 35,591 possibly damaged structures and 56,710 moderately affected.” The destruction displaced 1.9 million civilians, forcing them to rely on tents as shelter. Yet, tents have quickly been unable to prove themselves as enough to deal with the cold weather enveloping the Strip.

January is Gaza’s coldest month in which temperatures can drop as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), underscoring the challenges faced by those relying on them for survival.

Lack of Electricity in Gaza

The lack of shelter is a significant challenge in the Strip. However, the lack of electricity also plays a critical role in preventing Gazans from staying warm. Before the war, Gaza had an average of 7-13 hours of electricity each day, with occasional blackouts. However, after October 7, according to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there were zero hours of electricity available for Gazans in 2024.

Gazans now solely rely on solar panels to charge their phones or other electronic devices. However, only about 12,400 solar panels are available for a population of roughly two million. Without electricity, Gazans will not be able to keep themselves warm. They must rely on blankets and clothing, which are already scarce in the region. So, for many individuals, freezing is the only option they have, in the end causing hypothermia in Gaza to become a reality.

Looking Ahead

International organizations have been outspoken about the lack of resources in the Strip and continue to pressure American and Israeli government officials to let aid in. The OCHA has also repeatedly stressed the importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. The U.N. and its partners have also provided critical medical support to those in the Strip. Between December 22 and January 8, about 560,000 people received primary and health care services. However, this work remains insufficient and much more work lies ahead.

– Aya Diab

Aya is based in New York City, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Foreign Aid to Burkina Faso

Foreign Aid to Burkina FasoBurkina Faso faces many challenges, including a high poverty rate, with more than 40% of its population living below the national poverty line. Terrorism, political instability and economic uncertainty compound these difficulties. Despite these overwhelming hurdles, foreign aid to Burkina Faso has played a crucial role in alleviating immediate crises and contributing to long-term development.

A Historical Look At Foreign Aid to Burkina Faso

Since independence from France in 1960, Burkina Faso has relied heavily on foreign assistance. In its early years, foreign aid to Burkina Faso focused on developing agricultural infrastructure. Key projects included irrigation and market development improvements, which were vital for an economy still largely dependent on agriculture, contributing 80% of the population’s income.

In the ’90s, international aid priorities shifted toward democratization and poverty reduction. Contributions from entities like the European Union (EU), the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported key development goals. However, by the 2010s, insurgencies in the Sahel region had disrupted these advancements, displacing millions and deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The Current Crisis: A Multifaceted Emergency

The insecurity situation in Burkina Faso, which escalated in the early 2010s, stems from armed conflict, displacement and economic instability. As of 2024, Burkina Faso has experienced increased violence caused by armed groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated organizations. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), targeted attacks on civilians, including worshippers at churches and mosques, have displaced more than 2 million people, including 32,768 children, in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

Terrorism and Displacement

Armed groups have forced families to flee their homes, leaving 2.7 million people in extreme food insecurity. More than one million individuals are trapped in blockaded regions such as Djibo, which is cut off from essential supplies and services. The ongoing violence has disrupted agriculture and livelihoods, further exacerbating the need for foreign aid to Burkina Faso.

Health Care and Education Gaps

The conflict has rendered 426 health facilities nonoperational, depriving more than 4 million people of essential medical care. Vaccination campaigns have reached approximately 3.4 million children, yet gaps remain due to restricted access.

Similarly, education has been severely disrupted, with more than 5,336 schools closed and 823,340 children unable to attend classes. UNICEF has supported the construction of temporary learning spaces, allowing 2,500 displaced children in the Sahel region to resume education while training teachers to manage emergency education needs.

International Humanitarian Response

The international community has mobilized resources to address these crises:

  • USAID’s Contributions: USAID has been a vital partner in delivering foreign aid to Burkina Faso. Through its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the organization supports food security, nutrition, WASH and shelter programs. Since April 2024, USAID’s BHA has provided $70 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) for emergency food distribution in regions like Centre-Nord and Sahel. Furthermore, In 2024, USAID launched the Burkina Faso Community Health Activity, a five-year program with $50 million in funding to improve health care access in underserved regions.
  • UNICEF Nutrition Programs: UNICEF has treated more than 16,015 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Community health workers screened 62,070 children, identifying 1,431 severe cases requiring treatment. Additionally, 337,801 pregnant and lactating women received feeding counseling, while 10,370 children were given micronutrient powders to prevent deficiencies.

A Way Forward: Strengthening Resilience

While foreign aid to Burkina Faso is essential for immediate relief, the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development suggested sustainable development is critical for long-term recovery. These include diversifying the economy from agriculture and mining through investments in renewable energy and manufacturing. Therefore, as foreign aid to Burkina Faso continues to provide critical relief, the international community must focus on closing financial gaps and addressing structural challenges to ensure sustainable recovery.

– Mmanoko Faith Molobetsi

Mmanoko is based in Pretoria, South Africa and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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UNICEF and Partners Address Water Crisis in Afghanistan

Water Crisis in AfghanistanAccess to safe water is vital for ensuring good hygiene practices and protection from disease. However, in Afghanistan, water is far from accessible. Afghanistan’s political climate has rendered access to vital resources, such as water, limited across many regions. After years of economic challenge, poor management and political instability, water crisis remains an urgent issue in Afghanistan.

This situation has only worsened with the Taliban’s power resurgence in 2021. However, as of 2024, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF). This collaboration has reduced the water crisis in Afghanistan by supplying sustainable water systems.

Water Crisis in Afghanistan

Clean water is vital; it ensures children are less vulnerable to diseases like diarrhea, which exacerbate malnutrition. However, this resource is difficult to find in remote areas of Afghanistan with very little rainfall. Due to agricultural demands, an over-extraction of groundwater has significantly reduced the water supply from underground aquifers.

Furthermore, changing climatic conditions have depleted available water sources. Afghanistan has held record-breaking droughts for more than two decades. Consequently, only about 42% of Afghans can access safe drinking water.

UNICEF’s Work to Supply Sustainable Water Sources

UNICEF has been working to support Afghanistan for more than 70 years, with increased efforts directed toward water supply in the past few years. It is Afghanistan’s lead provider of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. By installing solar-powered pumps, UNICEF has ensured that the power to access clean water is returned to local communities.

One hundred percent of the facilities are small-scale and solar-powered, meaning the communities can run them. UNICEF has collaborated with 30,000 community-elected councils, ensuring management and decisions regarding the resource remain at the local level.

Partnership With the AHTF

UNICEF has partnered with the AHTF to complete the installation of “Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Water Supply Services in Remote Rural Communities.” This has given more than 30,000 people in 18 remote communities with sustainable water supply systems. The community-elected councils led the construction of these systems.

Community mobilizers supported by UNICEF worked to help the locals on essential parts of the water supply projects. Additionally, local mechanics have been equipped and trained to maintain these systems.

Real Life Application – Fauzia

Each day, 10-year-old Fauzia would walk half an hour to the water tap in the Charkh district, a remote part of the Logar province. She would push a wheelbarrow full of jerry cans to fetch water for her family and wait in a queue for more than an hour. The journey back would mean pushing a heavy wheelbarrow full of water. Only after this does she reach for her school backpack.

As a result of UNICEF’s collaboration with the AHTF, Fauzia doesn’t need to miss any more school time. Now, her family has a new water tap. Safe water is available right in their home from a piped system installed in their village. Fauzia states, “The engineers installed the tap in our house, so now we have water all the time. We can cook whenever we want and I am happy.”

In the coming year, the AFTH, in partnership with UNICEF, will set up water supply systems in 32 remote communities in Faryab, Helmand and Farah provinces. This will support more than 64,000 people, resulting in fewer and fewer people having to make the journey, like Fauzia.

– Amelia Short

Amelia is based in Bradford, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr