Archive for category: Developing Countries

Information and stories about developing countries.

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High Rates of Unemployment Among Youths in Sudan

Unemployment in SudanIn 2022, the youth unemployment rate in Sudan remained nearly unchanged at around 34.45%. However, according to the data provided by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the unemployment rate in Sudan has increased to 20.80% in 2023, up from 17.60% in 2022. This means that a larger percentage of the labor force in Sudan is currently unemployed or actively seeking employment.

The data also shows that the unemployment rate in Sudan has averaged 16.02% from 1991 until 2023, with the highest rate recorded in 2023 and the lowest recorded in 2009 at 13.00%. These fluctuations in the unemployment rate over the years indicate the varying economic conditions and job opportunities in Sudan.

The high rates of unemployment among youths in Sudan are a pressing economic and social issue. They are garnering attention from both local and international media outlets, particularly given the country’s current difficult financial situation resulting from the secession of South Sudan and ongoing armed conflicts. This means that not only are there limited job opportunities available, but the overall instability and insecurity in the country exacerbate the problem of unemployment.

Contributing Factors

Several contributing factors to this issue exist. However, one key issue is a lack of access to quality education and vocational programs. Many young people in Sudan do not have the skills or qualifications needed to secure employment in a competitive job market. More than 70% of the population in South Sudan is younger than 30, with half of them lacking basic literacy skills.

Further, South Sudan has one of the lowest literacy rates globally and a significant number of children, about 2.8 million, do not attend school. Various factors such as ongoing violence, poverty, lack of leadership and insufficient investment in education contribute to the limited access to quality education for many children in the country.

Girls, in particular, face significant challenges such as child marriage, which often results in them being unable to pursue their education. This has resulted in a high illiteracy rate among girls, with very few of them enrolled in secondary school.

Another factor is lack of experience. In South Sudan, the lack of experience is a major barrier to employment for many individuals. Due to the country’s limited job market and economic opportunities, employers often seek candidates with relevant industry experience to fill positions. This can pose a challenge for recent graduates or individuals entering the workforce for the first time, as they may not have the necessary experience to compete with more seasoned job applicants.

Additionally, the ongoing conflict and instability in South Sudan have contributed to the limited job opportunities available, making it even more difficult for inexperienced individuals to secure employment. This lack of experience can create a cycle of unemployment and poverty as individuals struggle to gain the necessary skills and expertise needed to access better job prospects.

To combat youth unemployment, the Sudanese government implemented initiatives to support young people in entering the workforce.

YEEP

Youth Employment and Empowerment Through Private Sector and Value Chain Development (YEEP) is a four-year initiative (December 2018-December 2022) that focuses on empowering youth in specific locations in South Sudan, including Bor, Jubek, Rumbek, Torit and Yambio. The project, a collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Labor, is financially supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and UNDP.

The main objective of YEEP is to empower youth by nurturing their entrepreneurial mindset and providing them with market-relevant skills that will enhance their employability and enable them to participate actively in economic activities. By doing so, the project aims to contribute to the socioeconomic transformation of South Sudan, promoting durable peace and sustainable development.

YEEP’s implementation is guided by various frameworks and strategic plans, including the United Nations Cooperation Framework (UNCF), the Partnership for Recovery and Resilience (PfRR), UNDP’s strategic plan of 2019-2021 and the UNDP Country Programme Document 2019-2021, (CPD), which focuses on inclusive and risk-informed economic development.

YEEP aims to support livelihood training, infrastructure renovations and the establishment of institutions that can effectively serve the youth population of South Sudan. Through these efforts, the project seeks to create a conducive environment for youth empowerment and sustainable development in the country. As a result, more than 1400 young people, including 553 females, signed up for vocational skills training in various trades.

The diverse range of trades offered in the program highlights the efforts to cater to the varied interests and career aspirations of the participants. The high enrollment numbers and the inclusion of female participants demonstrate the program’s success in promoting skills development and vocational training among youth.

ENABLE Youth Sudan

ENABLE Youth Sudan is part of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Enable Youth Initiatives, which are part of the Bank’s strategic focus on transforming Africa’s agriculture. The program’s main goal is to provide young women and men in Sudan with the chance to start businesses and access decent employment opportunities within key agricultural value chains in the country. The program specifically targets individuals younger than 35. It requires participants to be graduates with at least a postgraduate degree. By directly benefiting selected young people, the ENABLE Youth Sudan program aims to contribute to the overall transformation and growth of Sudan’s agricultural sector while providing a pathway to sustainable livelihoods for the country’s youth population.

The allocation of beneficiaries for the program will be determined by the proportion of the total youth population in each area, taking into consideration both urban and rural demographics as well as the level of education. The goal of the program is to train and empower 2,000 agripreneurs in five specific target states. Each agripreneur is expected to hire five support workers, resulting in a total of 12,000 new jobs being generated, with 6,000 of those jobs specifically earmarked for women for the first five years. This strategy aims to strategically distribute opportunities across various regions and demographics, ultimately contributing to job creation and empowerment within the agriculture sector.

Final Remark

The Sudanese government is taking necessary steps to address the issue of youth unemployment by implementing these initiatives. By promoting private sector engagement and value chain development, empowering young individuals and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, young people are empowered to achieve economic independence and contribute to the overall development of their communities.

– Oyinkansola Adewumi
Photo: Flickr

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Make in India: The End of Indian Poverty?

Make in IndiaAs the fastest-growing country in the world, India has been making massive strides in improving areas of underdevelopment. From working on renewable energy projects to sustainable agriculture, the Government of India has made notable advancements through the use of government-funded projects. However, one initiative in particular has and will continue to bring a tremendous amount of change not only in the way that India runs but in how it combats poverty.

The Make in India Campaign

The Make in India campaign is a series of initiatives meant to boost national innovation, manufacturing, the economy and Indians’ livelihoods. The initiative has four major pillars: new processes, new infrastructure, new sectors and new mindsets. These four pillars serve as the foundation for policies and ideas and all individuals work to combat severe poverty.

Poverty plagued India during the early 2010s, with nearly a billion people facing significant economic challenges. Despite efforts, the country could only generate roughly 1.2 million jobs annually, leaving the majority struggling to secure employment, often resorting to low-paying agricultural work. Although there was a gradual increase to five million jobs by 2015, it paled in comparison to the 12 million entering the workforce that same year.

Recognizing the urgency, it became evident that cohesive government intervention was imperative. Hence, in 2014, the Make In India campaign was unveiled as a comprehensive solution aimed at alleviating poverty and reforming the nation’s economy.

Interview With the Borgen Project

The Borgen Project spoke with a source who lives on the outskirts of Delhi, one of the most populated cities in India, about how Make In India has caused change in the job market and opportunities around them. The source has asked to be kept anonymous. During the interview, the source describes how, originally, work in the city was scarce. Often, people without education couldn’t work in anything besides minimum wage jobs, such as maids, sewage pipe management and taxi drivers.

With many of these jobs being unappealing, most people attempt to work in the factories and travel great distances to either work in factories or shift back to agricultural work. Since 2014, our source tells us that not only have there been more government jobs but also more private sector jobs that provide a basic income and good working conditions. The source also explains that the technology sector has seen rapid growth, especially with new infrastructure requiring massive amounts of labor, which reduces the population without jobs. The numbers agree, with India having created nearly 192 million new jobs in the past 10 years.

The massive creation of jobs and the focus on boosting the economy have left India in the amazing position of eliminating extreme poverty. Overall, while India still has much potential to improve and work on removing pay inequality and other societal issues, it has demonstrated that the Make In India campaign was a success.

– Aman Chaudhary
Photo: Pexels

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Bolivians Without Disabilities: Helping Poor Amputees in Bolivia

Bolivians Without DisabilitiesBolivia has seen a reduction in poverty. However, current statistics suggest that 11% of people live in extreme poverty and 36.3% live in moderate poverty. This may be due to the fact that Bolivia suffers from 160 major weather conditions, which result in food shortages and lower amounts of drinkable water. Yet, conditions are worse for people with disabilities in Bolivia. The Borgen Project spoke with Matthew Pepe, the founder and president of Bolivians Without Disabilities, about the life of amputees in Bolivia and explained the help the organization provides to these people.

The Bolivians Without Disabilities

“Our main focus is to work with nonprofit Bolivian prosthetic organizations that provide prostheses to low-income Bolivian amputees,” says Pepe. The Bolivians Without Disabilities accomplish this by collaborating with Bolivian companies that physically construct artificial limbs and provide these to amputees.

Bolivians Without Disabilities gives monetary support and teaching resources to associations that help people with disabilities in Bolivia. This greatly enhances those with disabilities in a physical and mental sense by:

  • Having the opportunities to help their relatives and their local communities.
  • Improving their self-confidence and job prospects.

Why Are They Important

Pepe describes the life of an amputee in Bolivia, stating, “Living with a disability in Bolivia is not easy, especially if you are poor. Streets and sidewalks are often crowded and very narrow with lots of dips and broken concrete, making walking, even with two good legs, very difficult.” If this is not bad enough, experiencing an amputation can cause despair and unhappiness due to the sense of loss of autonomy and self-perception.

Furthermore, when asked if the Bolivian government was doing enough to help amputees, Pepe answered, “Definitely not, but I am not sure that I can fault them very much since the issue is largely financial.” Indeed, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Additionally, the Bolivian government has failed to pass adequate legislation that identifies discrimination based on disability.

Disability is a critical problem since people who have gone through an amputation suffer terrible financial issues and poverty as they encounter more hurdles to health care. This is unsurprising since Pepe explains that “Social stigma is also a serious concern. Disabled people suffer serious discrimination.” In comparison with the general population, amputees are more likely to experience inadequate access to health care.

Furthermore, people with an amputation are more likely to be unemployed. As stated by Our World in Data, in 2022 in Bolivia, the unemployment rate is 5.16% among amputees, in comparison with 3.81% among the general population. Pepe explained this by saying, “It is also very difficult to get a job if you are disabled. Many jobs are very physical and you need all your hands, feet and abilities to work at most jobs.”

The Impact on Poverty

According to Pepe, “The government also does very little to provide prosthetic limbs.” Pepe continues, “I think that I fairly believe that the little prosthetic clinic that I created provides far more prosthetic limbs than the practically non-existent government attempts to provide limbs.” With the Bolivians Without Disabilities intervening and providing low-income amputees a prosthetic limb, this will create a positive change and will improve their well-being while decreasing their chances of falling into the poverty cycle. This is because they will be encouraged to participate in education and employment activities.

The Bolivians Without Disabilities has shared many personal stories. Here are two examples:

  1. Pabio is a Bolivian man and while he was working, he accidentally inserted his left arm into a mechanical machine. As a result, his arm was amputated because it was severely crushed. After the incident, Pabio was unable to work and he felt depressed. After Bolivians Without Disabilities provided the financial means to construct an artificial arm and hand for Pabio, his job prospects improved.
  2. A woman named Mariana had a job accident while working at a sawmill. One day, she accidentally cut off her hand since there were no safety precautions. After this incident, Mariana was miserable and dependent on others on a day-to-day basis. After receiving an artificial arm from Bolivians Without Disabilities, Mariana’s self-confidence improved. She hoped to study petrochemistry and find a job.

Looking Ahead

The interview with Pepe provided a snapshot of the life of an amputee in Bolivia. Stigma and discrimination are felt more by disabled people and they find it harder to live in Bolivia due to the little help provided by the government. The work done by Bolivians Without Disabilities is vital to help people with disabilities so they can avoid the poverty cycle by improving their job prospects and self-confidence.

– James McAlinden

James is based in Rosehearty, Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Practical Action Addresses Youth Unemployment in Kenya

Practical Action Addresses Youth Unemployment in KenyaPractical Action, a development charity, works alongside communities to develop sustainable solutions to tackle youth poverty. It revolutionizes agricultural solutions, job opportunities and water management through teaching, training and supporting communities. Its volunteers work across Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Zimbabwe. The organization is tackling youth unemployment in Kenya through its ongoing project, Resilient Agriculture that Works for Young People (RAY). Launched in November 2022, the project aims to meet its key goals by October 2027.

RAY: A Beacon of Hope for Kenyan Youth

Centered in West Kenya, the RAY project seeks to provide young individuals with training in regenerative agriculture and business management, empowering them to pursue job opportunities. It aims to reduce the high rate of youth unemployment in Kenya. While the expansion of agricultural opportunities has great potential for creating dignified jobs and income, young people in the country face significant challenges due to limited access to land and the skills necessary for succeeding in agribusiness.

Practical Action reports that four out of 10 young Kenyans are unemployed. Of this, women comprise six out of every 10 unemployed youth. To fight this, Practical Action’s RAY project has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to offer unemployed Kenyan youth employment opportunities. In addition, this partnership provides access to critical resources such as finance, land and markets, aiming to enhance job prospects and reduce poverty.

Collaborative Efforts

In its earlier project in Kenya, Transforming Rural Economies and Youth Livelihoods (TREYL) from 2019 to 2022, Practical Action helped 6,000 young people, 46% of whom were women, to enter agribusiness. Its main goal is to transform agriculture in Western Kenya into an appealing and sustainable source of employment for the youth. Practical Action seeks to offer unemployed Kenyan youth a new perspective on rural economics. It tackling the obstacles they encounter in accessing job opportunities. Beyond equipping young people with essential skills to boost their employment prospects, Practical Action is working to forge strong partnerships with county governments.

The ongoing collaborations aim to enhance opportunities and connections between employed youth and their suppliers. Furthermore, Practical Action’s partner, the Mastercard Foundation, offers vital networking opportunities for young people in Africa, to overcome socio-economic challenges. Since its launch in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has helped more than 45,000 young Africans gain access to education.

Reducing Poverty Through Agribusiness

Practical Action employs several key strategies to achieve its goal. The strategies are as follows:

  • Providing Mentorship to young entrepreneurs. A central aspect of the project is providing youth with transferable skills and knowledge. This is achieved through peer-to-peer learning to enhance their understanding of the agricultural business.
  • Planet-Friendly Methods. Practical Action’s eco-friendly methods give Kenyan youth a forward-thinking understanding of environmentally friendly practices that enhance productivity. This new knowledge not only helps in restoring degraded land but also shapes the youth into valuable, conscientious employees.
  • Youth Savings and Loans Associations (YSLA). The project aims to teach youth the importance of personal finance as a means to reduce youth unemployment in Kenya. It believes providing young people with access to affordable capital equips them with the essential knowledge to break the cycle of poverty.
  • Gender Transformative Actions. A major initiative of the project is changing gender attitudes to empower female youth. It enables them to seize opportunities in agribusiness and achieve employment equality.

Focused and Positive Future

Practical Action’s 2023 Annual Report states that by 2025, the charity aims to positively impact 20 million people by reducing poverty through various employability projects. In Kenya, the project involves current farmers as mentors. These mentors work to guide young people toward finding career paths in the agricultural sector. The objective is for trained youths to become the next generation of mentors, contributing to the reduction of youth unemployment in Kenya.

– Kasia Flisiuk

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

Photo: Flickr

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Spotlight on Danceaid

DanceaidDanceaid is a charity based in the United Kingdom (U.K.) that uses the energy of dance to transform the lives of children. Using dance-based activities, the charity raises funds to alleviate certain hardships that are often experienced by orphaned, poor and disabled children, both in the U.K. and abroad. The programs it runs focus on things such as food insecurity and education, with the aim of helping children in need reach their full potential.

Founded in 2009, Danceaid uses slogans such as “dance a little, live a little, save a life” and wants to get everyone involved, from “tiny tots to groovy grannies shaking a leg to make a difference.” DanceAid runs a whole range of dance-based events and activities to raise funds. For example, it runs dance competitions and shows, a “design your own medal hanger” scheme, triathlons and danceathons and has celebrity endorsement from JLS star Aston Merrygold.

The Main Aim of the Charity

The main aims of the charity are education and training, the prevention and relief of poverty, overseas aid and famine relief. It does this by providing finance, human resources, buildings, facilities, open space and aid services. The charity primarily operates throughout England and Wales, the Philippines, South Africa, Syria, Turkey and Ukraine.

Impacts

A key example of Danceaid’s work is in the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. In Manila, children are forced to live and work in the streets from as young as 3 years old and face serious problems such as food insecurity. In August 2013, Danceaid launched a “feeding program,” just after the city had been hit by monsoon floods, leaving the community without food. The charity currently feeds 100 children every day in Manila. A year later, in 2014, it launched a feeding and support program for Manila entitled Mama and Me. This program is for mothers who are so malnourished that they cannot produce breast milk and for babies who are malnourished, underweight and unwell.

Danceaid also runs projects in rural South Africa, with a focus on young people affected by HIV and AIDS. Its preschool for children aged 3 to 6 provides children with food, toys, books, education on topics such as colors, numbers and patterns and language education in both local languages and English. The charity also runs a drop-in center for affected families, which not only provides cooking utensils and food but also basic fuel to cook.

Also in South Africa, Danceaid currently runs a football program for 100 young boys, with under 13, under 15 and senior teams. The funds Danceaid raises get to put toward footballs, football boots, registration fees for players, transport to games and a healthy meal before engaging in the sport. Since Danceaid initiated this program, one of its players has subsequently been elevated to the South African Premiership, indicating its significant success.

– Eva McMonigle
Photo: Pexels

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Hydropower in Namibia

Hydropower in NamibiaNamibia, a small nation in Southern Africa, has begun making strides toward renewable energy, which has dominated its market. The country has a demand of 600 MW but only a generation capacity of 486.5 MW, which is expected to grow as the population increases year after year. The government of Namibia wishes to boost its generation to fulfill its requirements and provide electricity to all educational institutions and health care facilities by 2020. However, in 2024, the country still doesn’t generate even half of what it consumes.

Additionally, Namibia has an electrification rate of 50%. However, this doesn’t display the full picture as there is a huge disparity between urban and rural areas. Urban areas have an electrification rate of 72% and the rural regions only have a rate of 21%. With more than 46% of people living in rural areas, many citizens lack options. At the time, there was truly no hope for the Namibia population. However, all hope is not lost. The International Renewable Energy Agency researched the situation of South Africa and Namibia in particular and found that focusing on renewable energy could be the solution to Namibia’s energy poverty. With nearly 21.6% of Namibians unemployed, equipping these workers with the training required could also ease the unemployment rate.

Namibia’s Renewable Energy Initiative

In 2021, the government of Namibia passed the Second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPPII). The HPPII is a government-powered group of targeted policies aimed at providing enhanced services, boosting the economy, combatting poverty and engendering inclusive growth. The push for this campaign came after the country was found struggling after the pandemic.

This initiative was intended to completely reform the country from how it handled conflict with other countries to how to deliver electricity to its people. The initiative also builds on Namibia’s current energy production while ensuring that the country prioritizes clean, renewable energy.

Currently, Namibia produces most of its energy in a renewable fashion through hydropower. Roughly two-thirds of the country’s energy production comes from hydropower. Specifically, four power stations produce approximately 60% of the country’s energy, leaving the population vulnerable if one shuts down. The current plan is to slowly build more solar and hydropower projects to boost the country’s production and decrease the reliance on any project and other countries for energy. 

Namibia has a unique geographical advantage that makes it perfect for solar projects. With a lack of dense areas and an abundance of flat land that receives a lot of sunlight, Namibia can drastically increase its production through the use of solar farms. Additionally, this can bring in many new high-skilled jobs.

Conclusion

While renewable energy in Namibia is still an emerging market, it has the potential to completely shift the narrative of the country. It can provide millions of jobs and lift many people out of poverty while providing clean electricity to the population. By harnessing its unique hydropower and solar advantage, Namibia can meet its energy needs and achieve much more.

– Aman Chaudhary
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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From Pond to Plate: Aquaculture in Zambia Is Transforming Lives

Aquaculture in ZambiaIn Zambia, a landlocked country in southern Africa, fish serve as more than just sustenance; they are the very foundation of livelihoods. More than  30% of the country’s animal protein is derived from fish. As the population grows, the imperative of cultivating aquaculture in Zambia grows ever more pronounced, emerging as a pivotal conduit for securing food security and economic stability, especially within rural communities.

With the strategic interventions of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the collaborative efforts of government initiatives, Zambia is poised to harness the potential of its growing aquaculture sector. The nation aims not only to meet the nutritional needs of its populace but also to drive sustainable development while safeguarding its resources for generations.

The Prospects of Aquaculture in Zambia

Zambia is a prominent figure in Sub-Saharan Africa’s aquaculture landscape, standing as one of the continent’s leading producers of farmed fish. Within the agricultural sector, fisheries contribute significantly, constituting 3.2% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The nation boasts an annual production of 75,500 tons of tilapia, marking a nearly 10,000% increase since 1986. Despite this impressive growth trajectory, the demand for fish shows no signs of abating. Projections indicate a need for an additional 71,591 tons of fish by 2030 to meet the country’s surging population demand.

Zambia remains a net importer of fish, highlighting the persistent challenge of bridging the supply-demand gap in this vital sector. Therefore, the country stands to reap substantial macroeconomic benefits from expanding its aquaculture industry. By fostering growth in fisheries and enhancing common practices, the nation is primed not only to attain agricultural independence but also to address the pressing challenge of food insecurity, which affects 48% of the population. Recent research by the University of Stirling demonstrates the pivotal role aquaculture plays in bolstering food security in Zambia.

However, the expansion of the aquaculture industry holds promise beyond enhancing food production; it has the potential to alleviate poverty by creating employment opportunities and increasing incomes directly. Moreover, it facilitates coherent community development measures, offering a new avenue for revenue generation for entire lakeside towns. Aquaculture in Zambia often synergizes with crop agriculture, leveraging the fertile conditions and irrigation opportunities provided by lakes, fostering income diversification and growth. To ensure that farmers and fishermen can fully harness the benefits of aquaculture, various domestic and international initiatives are in place to provide support and assistance.

Zambian Government Initiatives

For decades, the Zambian government has played a pivotal role in fostering the growth of the aquaculture industry. In 2004, the introduction of the National Aquaculture Development Strategy (NADS) signaled a concerted effort to provide guidelines and support for private sector-led growth aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and bolstering production. Additionally, the establishment of the centralized Department of Fisheries underscores the government’s commitment to the sector, with five aquaculture centers positioned across the country.

These centers are tasked with conducting feasibility studies and research, particularly concerning fish nutrition and species selection, to drive innovation and sustainable development. Moreover, the Agriculture Commercialization Programme (ACP) offers low-risk financial services to farmers and fishermen, as well as provides a gateway to access relevant technologies.

Ultimately, the Zambian government’s commitment to empowering its fisheries and rural population is not only a testament to its dedication to food security but also to uplifting its most vulnerable citizens. By providing entrepreneurial and employment opportunities, initiatives like the ACP contribute significantly to poverty alleviation in Zambia.

Foreign Investment in Aquaculture

Foreign aid, particularly from USAID, plays a crucial role in fortifying aquaculture in Zambia as well. Through initiatives like feasibility tests, USAID provides invaluable insights into the profitability of aquaculture ventures, demonstrating that even modest investments can yield substantial returns.

For example, one such test revealed that the input costs for a 500 square meter pond, approximately $1,000, offer an impressive 42.38% internal rate of return.

USAID’s aquaculture initiatives in Zambia extend beyond research. For instance, the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program facilitates access to emerging technologies, enhancing the quality and quantity of fish and produce available in local markets.

Similarly, FishFirst! Zambia and the USAID-Mississippi State University partnership at Zambia’s Feed The Future Innovation Lab for Fish prioritize research on fish nutrition and the development of fish-based products, such as instant porridge, which has notable potential for both domestic consumption and international export. These efforts not only promote entrepreneurship but also contribute directly to improved nutritional outcomes for rural communities.

Additionally, USAID programs equip rural Zambians with educational resources, imparting knowledge on the nutritional benefits of various fish species and offering practical guidance through recipe handbooks. Ultimately, foreign investment plays a pivotal role in augmenting food security and reducing poverty in Zambia by fostering innovation, education and economic opportunities.

Final Remark

Aquaculture in Zambia offers a promising avenue for sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation as the country moves into the future. With support from domestic and international channels, there is immense potential for the expansion of the vital industry. With continued investment and collaboration, Zambia’s fisheries can play a pivotal role in achieving broader development goals and alleviating poverty through the creation of long-term, sustainable and profitable employment opportunities.

– Matthew Candau

Matthew is based in St. Andrews, Scotland and focuses on Business and New Markets and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Project HOPE: Primary Care Amid Haiti’s Health Care Crisis

Project HOPEAs the largest island in the western Atlantic, Haiti lies at the core of the Caribbean hurricane belt. Its treeless landscape amplifies its susceptibility to natural disasters, making it particularly prone to cyclones, floods, droughts and landslides. With a population of roughly 11.4 million, these environmental hazards pose significant risks to more than 96% of the island’s residents. Project HOPE radiates a beacon of hope across oceans with its unwavering commitment to tackling some of the globe’s most pressing public health challenges.

Haiti: A Brief History of Health Care Challenges

Since the ’80s, Project HOPE has been dedicated to aiding the people of Haiti, encompassing initiatives in maternal and child health alongside emergency interventions. Through its swift mobilization of emergency relief efforts and sustained commitment, Project HOPE has played a pivotal role in facilitating the recovery of Haiti’s health care system for enduring resilience.

The organization remains unwavering in its dedication to fortifying Haiti’s fragile health care infrastructure amid the island’s tumultuous history and prevailing struggles. As a steadfast ally, Project HOPE extends a lifeline of aid to a nation teetering on the brink of a humanitarian crisis.

Natural Disasters

The catastrophic 2010 earthquake, which claimed the lives of more than 300,000 people and obliterated 60% of the health care facilities, continues to cast a long shadow over the Caribbean island. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew compounded the damages by decimating thousands of homes and vast swathes of the region’s farmland.

Cholera Outbreaks

Frequent floods and vulnerability to earthquakes have exacerbated cholera outbreaks on the island. The disease thrives in conditions of poor water quality, inadequate waste disposal and declining hygiene standards. According to Relief Web,  more than 820,000 cholera cases were reported in Haiti between October 2010 and February 2019.

In 2022, another cholera outbreak prompted Project HOPE to take action. Its efforts included supplying clinics with essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) materials, distributing hygiene kits, and training community health workers. Additionally, in January 2023, the organization initiated a multi-sectoral program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in response to the epidemic.

Since August 2021: Project Hope’s Impact

In recent years, the nonprofit organization has adapted its strategies to address the evolving needs of the community amid the rise of gang warfare. Haiti’s health care crisis extends far beyond its disaster-prone geography, deeply rooted in a tumultuous history of political turmoil and the pervasive presence of gangs. Recent reports indicate that approximately 80% of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, is now under gang control. This multifaceted crisis has resulted in hospitals being set ablaze, medical personnel facing targeted violence, widespread roadblocks disrupting health care access, soaring malnutrition rates and alarming increases in maternal and elderly mortality.

In May 2023, Project HOPE undertook a thorough assessment of Haiti’s Grand Sud region, uncovering significant findings. More than half of the participants reported journeys of an hour to access health care facilities, with limited financial resources identified as the main hindrance. Additionally, nearly half of the surveyed women lacked access to health service facilities for childbirth. It grappled with recurrent shortages of vital medications and deficiencies in staff training. Moreover, health facilities encountered challenges in reaching areas afflicted by high malnutrition rates due to the lack of mobile medical units.

Mobile Health Care Units: A Beacon of Hope

Project HOPE’s mobile medical units (MMUs) have emerged as indispensable assets, especially in areas controlled by gangs where access to traditional health facilities is hindered, exacerbating poverty and further impeding access to essential services. These MMUs have become lifelines for communities grappling with such challenges.

Transportation routes crippled by roadblocks have made it difficult for Haitians to reach health care centers and for facilities to acquire necessary medical supplies, fuels and pharmaceuticals. A surge in internal displacement, particularly from the capital toward the southern regions, has intensified the demand for assistance.

Amid understaffed, underfunded and underresourced health facilities, mobile clinics have played a crucial role in providing essential services to vulnerable and rural communities. These include protective services and hygiene promotion activities. Additionally, Project HOPE’s MMU offers medical consultations, prescriptions and care for mental health patients and victims of gender-based violence.

From October to December 2023, Project HOPE’s MMU operated almost daily, treating more than 45,000 patients in the Sud, Nippes and Grand’Anse departments. With sustained support from USAID, two mobile clinics will be held weekly in the Nippes department, ensuring access to vital health care services for the community.

– Irene Suvillaga
Photo: Flickr

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Tackling Poverty Among People With Disabilities in Niger

People With Disabilities in NigerIn Niger, disability affects a significant portion of the population, with approximately 4.2% of individuals living with disabilities, according to the African Disability Rights Yearbook. Sadly, these individuals often face social exclusion, hindering their ability to thrive and participate fully in economic activities. However, various initiatives are underway to promote inclusivity and empower people with disabilities in Niger. From targeted programs focusing on children and girls to collaborative efforts with international organizations, the country is striving to ensure equal opportunities for all its citizens, regardless of ability.

Societal Inclusion as a Strategy in Niger

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is actively expanding its efforts in Niger to support individuals affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters. The organization is working to facilitate the socioeconomic advancement of people with disabilities through greater societal inclusion. It involves conducting research studies to identify the specific needs of individuals with disabilities and understand the barriers they encounter in achieving success when these needs are unmet.

The objective of these studies is to foster broader societal awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. HI collaborates closely with local organizations, institutions and humanitarian actors to advocate for the integration of people with disabilities into society. Additionally, the organization is dedicated to ensuring that children with disabilities have access to primary education and the opportunity to pursue secondary education upon completion of their studies.

Programs for People With Disabilities in Niger

The government of Niger, along with international institutions, has implemented initiatives to support education and employment programs for individuals with disabilities. The Niger Learning Improvement for Results in Education Project, backed by $230 million, aims to improve educational access by constructing learning facilities, training educators and refining teaching methods nationwide.

Specifically, the project allocates funds for the construction of boarding schools and classrooms to facilitate girls’ access to education. Additionally, the Disability Inclusion Strategy, integrated into the International Organization for Migrant’s existing efforts, outlines the rights and needs of individuals with disabilities. This strategy emphasizes enhancing educational opportunities, particularly for girls who historically faced barriers to schooling.

Niger is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the necessary resources and opportunities to thrive and contribute to the economy. Furthermore, initiatives such as the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, one of many policies in Niger, strive for equal opportunities and societal integration by aligning with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

International Organization for Migration

In Niger, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has organized various initiatives to connect individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities. One notable event was the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2019. Collaborating with local organizations in Agadez and Tahoua, the aim was to promote the societal inclusion of people with disabilities as outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The event featured conferences, presentations by local organizations, film screenings, bicycle races and poetry readings, all aimed at fostering integration and awareness.

– Ryan Patrick
Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Bangladesh

Charities Operating in BangladeshBangladesh has made significant strides from poverty to becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The poverty rate has gone from 41.6% to 18.7% in the past decade. While improvements in health care and education are notable, many areas still lack essential resources. Bangladeshis living in poverty-stricken areas have inadequate access to healthcare, education and food, with about 25% of the country being food insecure.

In addition, Bangladesh has the fourth highest child marriage rate in the world, primarily affecting rural populations living in poverty. These populations often turn to child marriage as they are unable to provide for their daughters. Despite progress, disparities persist, leaving some regions underserved.

To address these challenges, several charities are actively working on the ground in Bangladesh. They aim to ensure equitable access to vital resources for all citizens. These organizations play a crucial role in bridging the gap and empowering communities through supporting health care, education and poverty alleviation. Here are five charities operating in Bangladesh:

Save the Children

Save the Children is a global nongovernmental organization (NGO) that stands as a vigilant guardian for children worldwide, committed to shielding them from potential harm. Operating in Bangladesh since 1970, its initiatives encompass essential programs such as health, education and protective measures.

Noteworthy achievements include spearheading the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) MaMoni Maternal Care Strengthening Project, a five-year program that began in 2018. It aimed to increase access to quality maternal and newborn health care and to reduce the maternal and neonatal mortality rate for marginalized communities.

Additionally, there’s the Reading Enhancement for Advancing Development (READ) project, a five-year program that took place from 2013 to 2018. This initiative provided training for teachers and reading materials for students, impacting more than one million learners. Moreover, Save the Children’s efforts extend to aiding Rohingya refugees residing in southeastern Bangladesh by building facilities such as toilets, health care centers and learning centers, exemplifying its unwavering commitment to the well-being and production of vulnerable children in the region.

Jaago Foundation

Jaago Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that is dedicated to empowering underprivileged individuals across Bangladesh, with a focus on education, youth development and women’s empowerment. Currently, its endeavors include blistering technological skills among students and expanding access to education through digital platforms.

In addition, it provides scholarships to women, ensuring they can pursue and continue their education, thus fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. Through its efforts, it has helped provide access to education to more than 3,500 students and engaged 16,000 children in reading initiatives. Through these initiatives, the Jaago Foundation is catalyzing transformative change and paving the way for a brighter future for all.

Thrive Global

Thrive Global has been on a mission to combat child hunger in Bangladesh by providing nutritious meals to schools. It has collaborated with local NGOs since 2012. USAID approximates that 25% of Bangladesh remains food insecure, including 36% of kids under 5 years of age. Children remain one of the most vulnerable populations to malnutrition.

Thrive Global’s targeted efforts are concentrated in underprivileged areas, particularly urban slums, where access to adequate nutrition is often scarce. Each day, it provides meals to about 2,100 students at 11 different schools across Bangladesh; 20 more schools are currently on the waiting list to receive daily meals.

Recently, Thrive Global has extended its reach to the Philippines, expanding its impactful initiatives beyond borders to address the pressing issue of childhood malnutrition in more communities. Through dedicated work, the nonprofit is sowing seeds of hope and nourishment for a brighter future for children in need.

Girls Not Brides

Another of the charities operating in Bangladesh is Girls Not Brides, an international organization that is at the forefront of the global movement to eradicate child marriages. Launched in Bangladesh in 2013, it focuses on nurturing youth leadership and empowering young activists, as well as advocating for increased investment in programs aimed at ending child marriage.

In 2017, the organization was involved in the technical revision of the Child Marriage Restrain Act, a law intended to make sure that girls under the age of 18 and boys under the age of 21 are protected from unlawful marriage. It continues to lobby the government for the enforcement of the act while simultaneously striving to raise public awareness throughout the country.

Girls Not Brides has reached nearly 50,000 girls across Bangladesh through its efforts to end child marriage. This nonprofit is driving meaningful change toward a future free from child marriage in Bangladesh and beyond.

Brackett Refugee Foundation

Brackett Refugee Education Fund is a nonprofit foundation established in 1997 and dedicated to providing education for refugees, particularly internally displaced children. It supports children in poverty-stricken regions by providing financial contributions so they can go to school. With a focus on Burma, Bangladesh, India and Thailand, it supports students at various levels, including to hundreds of university students, offering them a chance at a brighter future amid adversity.

In Bangladesh, the organization supports educational assistance to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar through the Children on the Edge program, which sets up learning centers and digital initiatives. By focusing on providing access to education, it empowers these vulnerable populations to foster resilience and opportunities for a brighter future.

Looking Forward

Bangladesh’s progress in tackling poverty is evident, but challenges persist, particularly regarding regional disparities in access to essential resources. Charities operating in Bangladesh play a vital role in bridging these gaps and fostering a more equitable society. As Bangladesh continues to develop, ongoing efforts to address inequality are essential for ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to thrive in the country’s evolving landscape.

– Adrita Quabili
Photo: Wikimedia Commons