Archive for category: Development

Information and stories on development news.

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From Trash to Treasure: Southeast Asia’s Recycling Revolution

Southeast Asia’s RecyclingMillions of families in Southeast Asia reside in areas where pollution and poverty coexist. Plastic waste is not only an eyesore but also a daily risk in areas with poor waste collection and significant unemployment. However, the region is demonstrating that the same plastic pollution that causes environmental degradation may also serve as a vehicle for community development and financial security.

Today, Southeast Asia’s recycling revolution is gaining momentum, with creative recycling initiatives in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines demonstrating that poverty reduction and environmental action can truly coexist.

A Crisis That Hits Low-Income Communities Hardest

Southeast Asia is facing an enormous and growing plastic problem. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the ASEAN + East Asia region consumed 152 million tons of plastic in 2022, nearly nine times more than in 1990. More than 56% of plastic waste is improperly managed due to inadequate waste management systems; it is frequently burned or disposed of in waterways near low-income areas.

The OECD predicts that the region’s plastic leakage might rise by 68% by 2050 if serious action is not taken. This situation is already more than just an environmental problem for families living near unofficial dumpsites or those who rely on waste picking for a living; it’s a public health and poverty issue.

Vietnam: Recycling as a Path to Livelihoods

One of the best examples of how community-led recycling may improve life in the region is Vietnam’s Greenhub initiative. The organization trained more than 33,000 people in recycling, waste reduction and community cleanups in 2024. It gathered 143,000 kg of garbage, which would otherwise clog drainage systems during floods or contaminate coastlines.

Cleaner surroundings are just one of the many advantages. Four hundred thirty informal waste collectors received training from Greenhub in 2022, enabling them to sort waste more effectively, earn a higher income and work safely. Improvements in this area have the potential to significantly reduce poverty because Vietnam’s informal waste sector is massive, with 10,000 to 16,000 workers sorting and collecting waste every day in just Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The expanding circular economy movement in Vietnam is also making room for businesspeople who repurpose plastic trash into home goods, crafts and building materials. In both rural and urban areas, these microbusinesses provide new revenue streams and jobs.

Indonesia: Cooperatives Boost Stability for Waste Pickers

Indonesia has some of the highest rates of improper garbage management in the world. The issue is both geographical and financial, due to the thousands of islands and inadequate infrastructure for waste collection. According to OECD estimates, if no changes are made, Indonesia’s plastic waste is projected to increase from 6.5 million tonnes in 2022 to 18 million tonnes by 2050.

The core of Indonesia’s recycling system consists of informal waste pickers, many of whom earn significantly less than the minimum wage. They gather significantly more recyclables than formal and governmental systems put together. However, despite its significance, many people lack a steady source of income, adequate safety equipment or social safety nets.

Cooperative recycling centers are emerging to fill that gap. By organizing waste pickers into formal groups, these centers help workers secure fairer pricing, gain access to equipment and work in safer conditions. Some cooperatives report that members have doubled their income or, for the first time, achieved steady monthly profits.

However, there are still difficulties. Indonesia received 262,900 tons of plastic waste in 2024 and investigations revealed that some discarded plastics were being burned as inexpensive fuel in small-scale operations. This underscores the critical need for safe and sustainable recycling methods that protect people in need.

The Philippines: When Recycling Puts Food on the Table

The Philippines produces 2.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with the majority of this waste coming from single-use sachets used for products such as condiments and shampoos. However, local organizations are coming up with innovative ways to transform waste into opportunity. A “trash-for-rice” program in Mabini, Batangas, collected 4.3 tonnes of plastic and provided low-income residents with 2.6 tonnes of rice in return.

Other programs, such as TrashCashPH, utilize mobile apps to offer individuals cash, groceries or service discounts when they bring in sorted recyclables. Meanwhile, refill systems allow customers to purchase things at a reasonable price without producing additional plastic. Cash-strapped homes benefit greatly from Greenpeace’s “Kuha sa Tingi” refill trial, which helped eliminate 50,000 plastic sachets and saved consumers an average of 201% compared to regular sachet purchases.

Economic and Environmental Wins

These initiatives demonstrate that reducing plastic pollution can have immediate, tangible effects. As part of the growing Southeast Asia recycling revolution, some of the most impoverished families in the region can earn more steady incomes through waste cooperatives and recycling incentives. By enhancing workplace safety, stability and dignity, training and protective regulations help empower informal workers, many of whom are women.

By 2030, recycling improperly disposed of plastic garbage in South and Southeast Asia could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200 million tons. The reductions show how regional waste management strategies can significantly advance global climate goals. Everyone lives in safer environments when streets, rivers and coastal areas are cleaner.

Communities experience fewer floods, reduced health risks and improved public health overall when waste that blocks drains and waterways is minimized, particularly in low-income districts that are typically the most severely impacted.

A Blueprint for Change

According to OECD estimates, plastic leakage in Southeast Asia could be reduced by 95% by 2050 with robust policies, including increased producer accountability, improved collection systems and investment in recycling. However, communities are some of the most potent forces behind Southeast Asia’s recycling changes, not the government.

Recycling has evolved from an environmental initiative in Southeast Asia into a driving force behind Southeast Asia’s recycling revolution. It serves as both a source of local empowerment and an economic lifeline. One bottle, sachet or piece of plastic at a time, these “trash to treasure” examples demonstrate how communities may create safer, cleaner and more prosperous futures with the proper support.

– Katelyn Leano

Katelyn is based in Plainfield, IL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Why City-Level Politics Matter for Health in Maputo, Mozambique

MaputoMaputo, Mozambique’s capital, is a fast-growing coastal city where most residents reside in informal or unplanned areas. Recent analyses estimate that between 75% and 80% of Maputo’s population lives in informal settlements, reflecting a pattern of spatial inequality and weak infrastructure provision. Academic and U.N.-Habitat assessments similarly note that at least 80% of the city is composed of informal settlements.

The municipality also struggles to meet the demand for basic infrastructure, including water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, energy, roads and communications. These deficits pose significant environmental and public health risks, particularly in peri-urban areas with self-built housing and unpaved roads. These conditions make Maputo a clear example of how urban health governance is inseparable from land use, infrastructure and local politics.

In such cities, health outcomes depend as much on municipal decisions about roads, sanitation and land tenure as they do on the formal health sector itself.

Informal Settlements, Infrastructure and Health Risk in Maputo

Studies of Maputo’s informal neighborhoods describe overcrowded, self-built housing, poor drainage and limited formal water and sanitation networks. Research on critical infrastructure in Maputo’s informal settlements shows that water pipes, stormwater drainage, sanitation, waste collection and public lighting are “almost nonexistent” in many areas. Some neighborhoods also still rely on unsafe sanitation and open defecation.

These conditions are explicitly linked to diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. Other studies on Maputo’s informal settlements document the links between socioeconomic status, settlement form and land consumption. They also highlight the exposure of low-income residents to flooding and other environmental risks.

This combination of dense informality and incomplete service coverage makes everyday environmental conditions a central driver of health outcomes. From a global health perspective, this means that interventions limited to clinics and hospitals will miss the root causes of disease burden. Effective urban health governance must therefore link health outcomes to improvements in water, sanitation, drainage, solid waste systems and safe housing in informal settlements.

City Government, Planning and Land

City-level politics are crucial in Maputo because the municipality controls or co-controls, key levers for planning, land management and basic services. Classic work on Maputo’s urban governance reveals that more than half of the city’s population lives in poverty. It also shows that most residents acquire land for housing through informal markets, reinforcing spatial and social inequality.

More recent analyses argue that informality is not an aberration but a dominant mode of urbanization in Maputo and that data on informal areas remain incomplete and outdated. This makes it harder for municipal authorities to plan and manage infrastructure in a way that reflects the realities of informal neighborhoods. U.N.-Habitat’s resilience work with the Municipality of Maputo, using the City Resilience Profiling Tool (CRPT), highlights institutional challenges related to data, coordination and long-term planning.

Recommendations of Actions for Resilience and Sustainability in Maputo focus on improving infrastructure, managing flood risk and strengthening local governance capacities. All of this underlines that urban health governance in Maputo is fundamentally tied to how the municipality regulates land, invests in infrastructure and engages with residents in informal neighborhoods.

Donors, Upgrading Programs and City-Level Investment

Maputo has been a focal point for large urban upgrading and infrastructure programs supported by international donors and development banks. A recent preprint and subsequent journal article on critical infrastructures in Maputo lists several major projects aimed at informal settlements, including:

  • Maputo Urban Transformation Project
  • Mozambique Urban Sanitation Project
  • Maputo Metropolitan Area Urban Mobility Project
  • Other neighborhood-level upgrading initiatives, such as the Chamanculo C and George Dimitrov projects

The World Bank’s Maputo Urban Transformation Project, approved in 2020, aims “to improve urban infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable urbanization in Maputo.” Components include informal settlement upgrading, city-center rehabilitation, sustainable urban growth in peripheral districts and institutional support. Progress reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of residents are benefiting from improved urban infrastructure, drainage, sanitation and roads in informal settlements.

The project also includes performance-based conditions to strengthen land tenure regularization, property tax reform and solid waste management. Earlier programs, such as ProMaputo, also supported by the World Bank and its partners, sought to modernize municipal administration, upgrade infrastructure and regularize land rights in selected neighborhoods. However, analyses note challenges including limited tenure regularization, relocation without secure alternatives and persistent deficits in basic services.

UN-Habitat’s Global Action Plan and Informal Settlement Health

At the global level, U.N.-Habitat has developed a Global Action Plan, titled “Accelerating for Transforming Informal Settlements and Slums by 2030,” which was launched in 2022. The plan is anchored in the Slums and Informal Settlements Network (SiSnet) and the Participatory Slum Upgrading Program (PSUP). It provides a framework for large-scale transformation of informal settlements through improvements in infrastructure, land tenure, community participation and policy reform.

U.N.-Habitat’s urban health work emphasizes that many determinants of health, including housing, transport, water, sanitation and public space, lie outside the health sector and within municipal mandates. It calls for integrated planning that positions health at the center of urban development efforts. Together, these initiatives position informal settlement upgrading and slum transformation as a core pathway for improving health outcomes in cities like Maputo.

They align local infrastructure projects with global frameworks for inclusive, climate-resilient and healthy urban development. This is exactly where urban health governance becomes a practical agenda: coordinating housing, infrastructure, participation and health objectives at the city scale.

Global Health Meets Local Politics

International health agencies are increasingly recognizing that city-level governance shapes health outcomes. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative on Urban Governance for Health and Well-Being (2020–2028) works directly with mayors and city governments to strengthen participatory, multisectoral and multi-level governance, ensuring that health is at the center of decision-making. A companion WHO policy brief on governance and financing for urban health notes that governance structures and funding mechanisms are key challenges to achieving urban health goals.

It emphasizes the need for coordination across government levels and sectors. Maputo’s experience provides a clear, concrete example of these points:

  • Health risks in informal settlements stem from gaps in infrastructure, such as water, sanitation, drainage and waste systems, as well as from land-use decisions.
  • Major improvements rely on the authority and capacity of municipal governments, not just national ministries.
  • Donor programs pass through city institutions and can either strengthen or bypass local systems.

For global health actors, this means that effective strategies must engage directly with municipal councils, planning departments, local utilities and community organizations, rather than focusing solely on national health ministries.

Conclusion

Maputo demonstrates that improving health in the Global South cannot rely on national policy alone. In cities where most residents live in informal settlements, health outcomes depend on urban health governance, which encompasses how city leaders plan, finance and implement infrastructure, as well as how they collaborate with donors and involve informal settlement residents in decision-making.

– Clara Garza

Clara is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Uganda Vision 2040: Foreign Direct Investment

Uganda Vision 2040Four decades after the implementation of the Bretton Woods Institutions’ controversial financial liberalization policies on the African continent, Uganda is retaking control of its economic future. This means cutting dependency on aid and focusing on sustainable economic growth. As stated in Uganda Vision 2040, the Ugandan government envisages “A Transformed Ugandan Society from a Peasant to a Modern and Prosperous Country within 30 years.” Key to fulfilling this aspirational vision is foreign investment, the encouragement of which forms a principal role of the country’s diplomatic service.

Moving Beyond Aid

The Ugandan government’s vision for the nation’s future is one of economic independence and prosperity, a vision that a high dependence on aid renders impossible. Recent years have also seen a sharp decline in the global aid budget, with many wealthier nations slashing the amount spent on overseas assistance in favor of internal spending.

This comes at a time when poverty is still a persistent challenge in Uganda. Using the World Bank’s international poverty line of $3 a day, 59.78% of Uganda’s 50 million inhabitants live in poverty. It is important to note, however, that this figure was more than 80% before the turn of the century, showing remarkable progress. Using Uganda’s national poverty line, the percentage of people in poverty has dropped to 16.1%, though this figure stands at 74.2% in the arid northeastern region of Karamoja.

The Borgen Project spoke with H.E. Philip Rukikaire, Uganda Deputy High Commissioner to the U.K. He said, “Whereas Uganda has relied heavily on multilateral and bilateral aid since the late 1980s to support the recovery of the economy and also to transform into a middle-class economy, the government acknowledges that Aid is not sustainable.”

Set Targets

Recognizing the unsuitability of an aid-dependent economy to Uganda’s specific context, prompted the Ugandan government to implement Vision 2040, a 2013-launched document outlining the steps required to increase per capita income to $9,500, with a focus on driving investment.

Ten years later, Uganda Vision 2040 was supplemented with the Tenfold Growth Strategy. “The Tenfold Growth Strategy is the specific economic blueprint designed to achieve the quantitative leap required to meet the Vision 2040 goal,” said Ambassador Rukikaire. The strategy is anchored on four high-potential sectors: agro-industrial, tourism, mineral development (including oil and gas) and science, technology and innovation (ATMS). Many see these sectors as key to growing the economy tenfold from $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040.

Potential for Investment in Uganda

Uganda’s potential for foreign investment is vast. In 2024, the inward flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) totaled $3.3 billion, an almost 200% increase from 2019. With a young, rapidly growing population, fertile soils, a substantial market size and regional integration through the East African Federation — and more recently the African Continental Free Trade Agreement — there are many advantages to potential investors.

As part of its broader strategy, the Government of Uganda has taken major steps to increase investment in the country. These include a 75% reduction in tariffs on machinery for factory use and a 100% tax deduction on costs related to training, research and mining. Additionally, the government has also offered additional benefits to incentivize investment in ATMS.

The Role of Foreign Service

A large role in stimulating investment in Uganda is played by the country’s diplomats. Indeed, in a recent meeting of Uganda’s Heads of Mission, the integral role of the foreign service in national development was restated. In the United Kingdom (U.K.), the Uganda High Commission works to encourage investment in each ATMS sector. This includes promoting Uganda Coffee, facilitating partnerships between NHS trusts in the U.K. and medical institutions in Uganda, and partnering with the Uganda Tourism Board to bring attention to Uganda’s unique tourist offerings.

U.K. Investments in Uganda

Many agreements have already been made, with the total U.K. Export Finance (UKEF) portfolio with Uganda set to surpass $1 billion in the coming year.

  • Kabalega International Airport. To support Uganda’s oil exploration, construction began in April 2018 on a second international airport in the country. Located in western Uganda, the project was funded by a €264 million loan from the U.K.’s Standard Chartered Bank and UKEF and carried out by U.K.-based infrastructure company COLAS. At the time, it represented the largest ever UKEF loan to an African government. Ambassador Rukikaire stated, “The airport is near the Albertine Graben area where oil wells at Kingfisher and Tilenga projects are in advanced stages of producing ‘first oil’ for sale (2026). It will facilitate cargo transportation but also improve connectivity around the country and region for tourism and trade, creating many jobs in the area in different sectors.”
  • Kampala City Roads and Bridges Upgrading Project (KCRBUP). In a project fully funded by UKEF, the Kampala Capital City Authority will upgrade and rehabilitate more than 118 roads across the capital, directly employing up to 300 Ugandans. The €250 million agreement was signed with COLAS and will overhaul the road network.
  • Kitgum-Kidepo Road. In Uganda’s northeast, UKEF facilitated a loan of up to €110.5 million from Standard Chartered Bank to upgrade the 116 km Kitgum-Kidepo Road. Ambassador Rukikaire noted, “For local communities, the project aids in developing the Karamoja sub-region, one of the poorest in Uganda, by improving market access for agricultural products and facilitating trade with South Sudan and Kenya. For the tourism sector, it transforms the currently difficult, dusty or muddy access road to the Kidepo Valley National Park into a reliable route, significantly boosting visitor numbers and unlocking the region’s vast tourism potential.”

Current Challenges

Despite progress, challenges remain in actualizing the aims of Uganda Vision 2040. Corruption is a persistent barrier to investment, as is insecurity in the country’s border regions with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Though there have been infrastructural improvements, investors remain disincentivized by poor connectivity.

Speaking on the U.K.’s relationship with Uganda, Ambassador Rukikaire stated, “The Labour government has signaled in its new ‘Africa Approach’ strategy its intention to prioritize Uganda in terms of investment that ultimately increases youth employment.” Through its international relationships, Uganda continues to make positive strides toward achieving the goals of Uganda Vision 2040 and the Tenfold Growth Strategy. Though challenges persist, the country demonstrates how to reduce poverty without overreliance on aid.

– Henry Weiser

Henry is based in Cornwall, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Poverty With Renewable Energy in Grenada

Renewable Energy in GrenadaGrenada, a small island in the Eastern Caribbean, has a population of approximately 113,000, nearly half of whom are under 30. Despite a period of economic growth and some poverty reduction according to the World Bank, extreme poverty has worsened between 2015 and 2019, rising from 2.4% to 3.5%. It is particularly prevalent among the youth, who make up two-thirds of this statistic.

The nation is held back by its small, service-based economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism and agriculture—sectors vulnerable to recent shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly frequent climate-related disasters. These industries are also largely unskilled, offering limited income prospects that keep many Grenadians in unstable economic positions.

Energy Dependence and Its Effects

Adding to the problem is Grenada’s energy situation. More than 98% of the nation’s energy comes from imported fossil fuels. The lack of self-sufficiency and renewable energy in Grenada subjects the population to high, unstable living costs due to international market fluctuations and import taxes in a remote region. It also affects demand and availability through supply chain disruptions. This can exclude remote or impoverished groups from basic resources and create structural challenges for small and family businesses relied upon for survival—forming a vicious cycle of poverty. The dependency on fossil fuels also worsens climate-related challenges, creating a cycle of environmental devastation.

A Focus on Renewable Energy Opportunities

The United Nations (U.N.) outlines that a strategic focus in Grenada should be placed on stabilizing and diversifying the economy, becoming more self-sufficient, and creating jobs and opportunities to unlock the nation’s potential. All of this can be achieved through developing the renewable energy industry. While the current situation is troubling, Grenada is on the brink of opportunity. The nation has access to various international funds and climate finance mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), that can accelerate and actualize the transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Grenadian government’s “Grenada Vision 2030” illuminates this potential. “Grenada’s National Energy Policy” proposes to establish a 100% renewable energy target by 2030. The vision statement behind the initiative outlines a desire to “build a competitive green economy that will be affordable and provide universal access to resources to improve the living standards for current and future generations.” This project focuses on developing renewable energy systems and enhancing energy efficiency infrastructure.

Benefits of Renewable Energy Development

The benefits of developing and investing in renewable energy sectors are wide-ranging and particularly beneficial for smaller, remote nations. Broadly, the industry creates sustainable, skilled jobs, as well as labor in installation and maintenance, improving income capacities and opportunities. Energy production also promotes self-sufficiency, eliminating import taxes and foreign dependency while stimulating and investing in the nation’s own economy.

More individually, cheaper and more available energy would boost disposable incomes, leaving more money to be spent on health care, food and education—vital for families at risk of resource deprivation. It would also lower costs for small businesses and local services, supporting communities and promoting local entrepreneurship. The nature of the industry and technological focus would also attract foreign investment and support from organizations involved in promoting renewable energy and sustainability.

The Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

The Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) exemplifies the fundamental significance of this transition. As a nonprofit intergovernmental institution, CCREEE functions as a technical hub, advisory body and implementation partner for renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives in the Caribbean. The organization’s core mission is to promote sustainability, reduce fossil fuel dependency and build public knowledge in clean energy and related technologies.

Examples of CCREEE’s work include training in professional renewable energy and efficiency jobs, supporting the creation of green-skill jobs, and advising the region’s governments on energy policies and strategies to help them meet targets such as “Grenada Vision 2030.”

A Tool for Sustainable Poverty Reduction

The initiatives of CCREEE demonstrate how renewable energy in Grenada is a fundamental tool to fight poverty, increase equity and mitigate climate-related shocks. The organization provides a case study for how collaboration, advocacy and research are just as vital in sustainably alleviating poverty as monetary donations. It is largely funded by Caribbean governments and regional bodies such as CARICOM, emphasizing the importance of supporting similar initiatives in nations that need them most.

– Mia Keen

Mia is based in London and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solar Energy in the Amazon: Lighting up Villages With Electricity

Solar Energy in the AmazonThe Amazon region of Brazil, known as Amazônia Legal, covers nearly 60% of the country’s territory across nine states. Yet, it is home to only about 12% of the population. More than 20 million people live within this vast area, including Indigenous residents, many of whom live in villages disconnected from Brazil’s national power grid. In recent years, both the Brazilian government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have begun investing in solar energy in the Amazon in an effort to bring sustainable electricity to the region.

More Light for the Amazon

In 2020, the Brazilian government launched the “More Light for the Amazon” project, later integrating it with the national Light for All initiative. The program aims to deliver renewable electricity to 228,000 homes by 2026, improving lives, creating opportunities for communities long overlooked and protecting the fragile Amazon environment.

These public policies have been essential for scaling up efforts, especially since NGOs alone often lack the resources to reach every village.

Impacts of Solar Energy in the Amazon

The Indigenous territory of Xingu offers a powerful example of how solar energy in the Amazon is transforming daily life. Today, many households have access to renewable electricity. Although it took more than a decade from the launch of the original initiative, families in Xingu can now switch on the lights and even watch TV, thanks to this clean and renewable energy solution.

Another example of how solar energy in the Amazon is transforming lives can be found in Vila Limeira, a village located within a protected area of the rainforest. The nearest city is 112 kilometers away and the community is reachable only by boat. Before solar power, diesel generators were the residents’ sole source of electricity, an expensive and unsustainable option.

Today, thanks in part to a donation from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to the World Wildlife Fund, Vila Limeira operates its own solar grid. Families can now enjoy basic amenities like refrigerators and washing machines, dramatically improving daily life.

Solar energy in the Amazon is transforming daily life and helping remote communities thrive. Renewable power now runs irrigation systems, keeps produce and meat fresh through refrigeration and makes simple tasks, like washing clothes at home, possible. Beyond convenience, solar power has also saved lives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities with access to solar energy could refrigerate vital medications and vaccines while also staying informed with reliable updates on resources and the spread of the virus. This access proved critical in such isolated areas, where reaching a hospital or medical facility is often difficult and time-consuming.

Final Remarks

As Brazil continues to expand public policies that promote solar energy in the Amazon, the results are already proving transformative. Remote villages, once isolated from the national grid, are now writing their own success stories, with renewable power bringing light, refrigeration, communication and opportunity into daily life.

Solar energy has minimal environmental impact, which allows communities to preserve their land and traditions while also strengthening local economies. Most importantly, it provides the foundation for future generations to thrive, with improved access to education, health care and the tools needed to build a more sustainable and equitable future.

– Fernanda Nilson

Fernanda is based in North Charleston, SC, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Uganda’s PARKS Project: Poverty Alleviation and Conservation

Poverty Alleviation and ConservationIn Uganda’s Kibale National Park (NP), the international nongovernmental organization (NGO), Village Enterprise, has introduced a highly successful scheme combining poverty alleviation methods with environmental conservation. In Uganda’s western regions, poverty is lower than the national average at 11.4%, though the region is one of Uganda’s most unequal, with the majority of the poor situated in rural areas. To improve the lives of those in extreme poverty and simultaneously strengthen environmental protection, a hybrid solution had to be implemented.

Kibale National Park

Kibale NP is situated in the west of Uganda. This region struggles with inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.33, a figure that rises to 0.39 for children, demonstrating the gulf between urban and rural populations. The national park contains 13 different primate species, including one of the largest chimpanzee populations in the world, more than 120 mammal species and 370 varieties of birds. Given the park’s immense biodiversity, local residents are dependent on its resources, often leading to confrontation between human activity and endangered wildlife.

Combining Poverty Alleviation and Conservation

Combining poverty alleviation and conservation is a challenging task, as economic development often depends on the exploitation of natural resources. Acknowledging this, Village Enterprise announced the PARKS initiative in 2021, an acronym for the Poverty Alleviation and Removal of Kibale Snares project.

The project, funded since 2024 by the Arcus Foundation and in collaboration with the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, has two distinct but connected goals: to reduce the incidence of extreme poverty within the national park and to ensure the protection of Kibale NP’s endangered chimpanzee population.

The key to this initiative was accepting that poverty alleviation and conservation are intertwined. In areas like Kibale NP, people living in extreme poverty are forced to rely on the natural world for economic stability, often engaging in harmful practices such as the illegal harvesting of bushmeat and timber. Programs aimed at reducing these activities, or punishing those engaged in them, have often had the unintended effect of pushing the local population further into poverty.

To tackle this issue, the PARKS program focuses on providing entrepreneurial training centered on local, sustainable micro-enterprises. Village Enterprise provides startup funding as well as mentorship to ensure local residents are freed from the pressure to engage in poaching and illegal logging. PARKS also encourages the formation of Business Savings Groups, allowing new business owners to pool their savings and provide a financial safety net for future entrepreneurs. Alongside this, PARKS offers additional training to selected entrepreneurs, creating “Conservation Champions” who encourage and advise others on sustainable business practices.

Results So Far

Through the PARKS initiative, Village Enterprise has provided training to more than 5,500 entrepreneurs, more than 65% of whom are women. This has led to the creation of 1,838 sustainable micro-businesses, positively impacting the lives of more than 20,000 people within the national park. These businesses include retail shops, small-scale agricultural projects, tailoring, cobbling, beekeeping, agroforestry and innovative solutions such as energy-efficient stoves for everyday cooking.

These businesses have reduced dependence on poaching and have helped families afford school fees and improve nutrition. On the conservation side, 90 Conservation Champions have been trained, providing further instruction to members of their local communities. Since the project’s implementation, Kibale NP has observed a significant reduction in illegal human activity within the park. As of April 2025, anti-poaching patrols funded directly by the PARKS project have led to the removal of 445 illegal snares, in addition to the more than 800 snares removed under the project as a whole.

Opportunities for Further Implementation

The benefits of the PARKS project extend beyond the boundaries of Kibale NP. It is an exemplary model of how to combine poverty alleviation and conservation, not only within Uganda, where human-animal conflict is common in several national parks, but also globally.

By encouraging a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem alongside environmental protection, the project contributes directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): goal 1 (No Poverty), goal 2 (Zero Hunger), goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and goal 15 (Life on Land). Indirectly, the scheme also addresses goal 5 (Gender Equality) through its focus on empowering women.

– Henry Weiser

Henry is based in Cornwall, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Connecting the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in a position to connect 9.7 million more unique mobile Internet users by 2029 under the right policies. Home to roughly 110 million people, the DRC’s growing youth population makes reliable Internet access an essential resource.

Expanding connectivity is also key to boosting economic opportunities as the country faces persistent financial struggles. Despite the issues of affordability, limited rural access and the self-stifling of the mobile sector, there are many avenues that these policies are looking to open up.

Current Issues

As of 2022, only about 27% of the population had access to the Internet, just over one-quarter of the country’s total population. This figure is well below Africa’s continental average of 39%, making it harder for the DRC to stay connected globally.

The average income required to afford the Internet has decreased recently, dropping from 48.98% in 2018 to 16.36% in 2024. However, despite this significant drop, affordability remains a major barrier. In the case of a cybersecurity incident, the DRC scores just five out of 100 in its ability to minimize potential problems.

Economically, an Internet shutdown is estimated to cost the DRC $261,762, with two shutdowns recorded in the past year. Overall, connecting the Congo has not been an easy task, with its Internet Resilience Score standing at only 23 out of 100.

Looking Forward

Connecting the Congo has a path forward despite the issues faced. The addition of Internet exchange points over the past 10 years has made using the Internet easier. With the Internet Society’s help, the Internet price has dropped by 98%, saving money for Internet providers and customers, allowing even more people to utilize the Internet.

There is still progress to be made to ensure consistent connectivity, especially as the DRC is the fourth-largest country in Africa. However, these steps are essential to keep the country moving forward.

Policies are also in place to support growth, including modernizing frameworks to lower costs, strengthening infrastructure and equipping DRC citizens with essential digital skills. These policies also aim to extend Internet access to public services, making them more efficient. Through these initiatives, the DRC is positioning itself to make significant strides in connecting the country to the rest of the world.

Conclusion

The DRC still has many strides to make in truly getting all of its people connected to the Internet. Issues like availability, affordability and weaker-than-average connectivity remain at the forefront. However, progress is being made.

The rollout of IXPs and the planned policies for the future of the Internet are expected to make big waves in connecting the Congo, allowing everyone to contribute to a world that is more interconnected and inclusive.

– Amari Jennings

Amari is based in Orlando, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Unsplash

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Education for Somali Women: Rebuilding a Nation

Education for Somali womenThe African country of Somalia has been ravaged by war for decades. Conflict began in the late 1980s and worsened after the fall of Siad Barre’s military government in 1991 at the hands of clan-based militant movements—the Somali National Movement (SNM) in the northwest, the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) in the northeast and the United Somali Congress (USC) around Mogadishu. Over the next 30 years, Somalia’s conflict would take many different forms, according to BBC News.

In August 2012, after years of clan violence and Islamist insurgency, Somalia’s first formal parliament in more than two decades was sworn in. The following month, Somalia’s parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, marking the first presidential election since 1967, according to BBC News. Today, Somalia remains at war with Al-Shabab—an extremist Islamist group—yet the government has turned much of its focus toward reconstruction and long-term stability.

According to the United Nations (U.N.), 4.4 million Somalis are projected to face acute food insecurity through the end of 2025, and 1.85 million Somali children are likely to experience acute malnutrition. Somali government initiatives and nongovernmental organizations are working to support vulnerable populations, but shrinking international support threatens to stall progress.

Still, Somalia’s situation is not unsalvageable. The nation’s recovery depends not only on government institutions but also on its citizens’ resilience and commitment to rebuilding—a mission many Somali women have taken to heart. Women have become increasingly involved and influential in Somali politics, education, entrepreneurship and peacebuilding, according to the U.N.

Below is a closer look at how women across Somalia are leading the way toward a brighter and more stable future.

Driving Economic Recovery Through Entrepreneurship

For a nation rebuilding from decades of war, expanding economic opportunity is essential to reducing poverty and strengthening support for struggling citizens. In 2019, Somalia launched the Gargaara Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Financing Facility, designed to fund aspiring Somali entrepreneurs and small businesses.

According to the World Bank, by June 2024, Gargaara had lent more than $23 million to MSMEs across the country, with women-led businesses receiving half of all loans—at least 800 in total. Yet, despite this equal distribution by number, the total monetary value of loans to women was significantly lower than that of male-run enterprises, highlighting a persistent gender gap in capital access.

Even so, Gargaara and its partners at the World Bank have committed to expanding their reach—onboarding more Somali financial institutions, increasing available credit and building lending capacity—all with the goal of supporting a greater number of women-owned MSMEs. Their efforts underscore how vital women entrepreneurs are to rebuilding Somalia’s economy.

Expanding Women’s Political Influence and Representation

Women in Somalia are increasingly taking leadership roles in politics. In March 2025, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called on women to get involved in political and security work during a state iftar dinner with more than 100 women leaders, according to AllAfrica News. He praised the work women were already doing—supporting troops and caring for the wounded—and urged them to join political parties, run for office and organize beyond clan divisions.

At the local level, progress is already happening. In Hirshabelle State, women have been elected to district councils and trained in leadership, advocacy and peacebuilding through programs supported by Finn Church Aid (FCA) Somalia. FCA also works with “peace mothers” and female councilors to organize community forums where women, elders and local leaders discuss policy and inclusion. Women now hold roughly 23% of council seats in these areas.

Education for Somali Women

Education for Somali women has been a struggle for generations, but the script is finally starting to flip. “Historically, two groups of patriarchs denied Somali female children schooling—those were the Italian and British colonists,” said University of Minnesota Professor Abdi Ismail Samatar. “It’s really the liberation movement in the 1950s and then the country’s independence in 1960 and thereafter, where female children’s education was expanded. So those challenges still exist.”

Education has become one of the most powerful tools for Somali women to rebuild their lives and communities. According to the U.N., educator Amina Abdi Ali has helped more than 450 women in Kismayo learn to read, write and improve their math skills through a local adult literacy program. Larger initiatives like the Somalia Girls’ Education Programme, led by the U.N. Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) and CARE Somalia, have also focused on keeping marginalized girls in school by removing barriers that prevent them from learning—especially in rural areas. According to the World Bank, the Rajo Kaaba program recently awarded scholarships to more than 2,000 Somali girls, allowing them to study in fields such as teaching and nursing.

Peacebuilding and Social Healing

After decades of warfare, civilian bloodshed and displacement, women in Somalia are taking it upon themselves to advocate for peace. One way they have done this is by establishing the Joint Programme on Women, Peace and Protection (WPP) in May 2022. With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), U.N. Women and the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia, the WPP has taken steps to localize peace and security for women in Somalia.

The WPP has already achieved major accomplishments, illustrating its importance as a program for sustained peace. These include the development and launch of a Local Action Plan (LAP) with presidential endorsement, the formation of a Peace Working Group bringing together diverse community leaders and the establishment of a One Stop Center that supports victims of sexual violence, according to the UNDP.

Looking Ahead

“Over the last 35 years, women really have been very crucial to keeping Somali society together—not only the family, but the whole society,” said Abdi Ismail Samatar. From running businesses and creating jobs to taking leadership roles in politics, expanding education for girls and young women and pushing for peace at the local level, women are at the heart of Somalia’s recovery. Their efforts show that rebuilding the nation is not just the work of governments or aid organizations—it is also the work of women who refuse to let their communities fall behind.

– Jordan Venell

Jordan is based in Edina, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Improving Higher Education in Mauritius

Higher Education in MauritiusMauritius’ first National Higher Education strategy marks an important moment in Mauritian history, aimed at increasing the number of those enrolled in higher education in Mauritius and establishing itself among other Commonwealth nations. 

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Mauritius and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) support the government’s commitment to improving higher education in Mauritius. By co-developing a national policy, they aim to indirectly reduce poverty, as experts see higher education is a key driver of socio-economic progress. Development began in June 2025 and is expected to reach completion by the end of the year. It is part of a 10-year plan to transform Mauritius into a knowledge hub. 

Educational Landscape of Mauritius

Improving higher education in Mauritius has a strong link to poverty reduction, as higher education has links to significantly lower poverty rates. Mauritius has made significant progress in reducing extreme poverty, but the disparity between those living below the national relative poverty line and those who are not depends heavily on the individual’s education. 

In 2023, the national relative poverty rate fell from 9.6% in 2017 to 7.3%. Higher education is crucial for a skilled workforce in a knowledge-based economy. A more educated workforce can lead to higher incomes and lower poverty rates. In Mauritius, the poverty rate in 2023 was about 11% for households with primary education compared to around 2% for those with upper secondary education.

Mauritius has also seen a positive reduction in the number of higher education-aged people out of education. In 2022, 50,566 Mauritians were in higher education. Although this rate exceeds that in many Commonwealth states, just over half of people aged 20-24 do not pursue higher education, largely due to socio-economic factors. This situation limits Mauritius’ chance to progress beyond other Commonwealth countries. Government leaders and organizations hope that the National Higher Education Strategy will be the push needed to change this imbalance. 

Developing Strategy

Dr. Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, participated in a workshop in July 2025 as part of the development process for the National Higher Education Strategy. The focus of the two-day event was on locating and developing key areas of higher education, including access to learning, teaching quality and industry engagement. 

In a speech, Dr. Sharma Sukon shared his hopes that the National Higher Education strategy gives Mauritian people a ‘comprehensive roadmap,’ helping ‘catapult’ Mauritius into an ‘educational powerhouse’ of Commonwealth states.

Dr. Sharma Sukon said “The future starts today. The transformation begins now.”

Positive Impact of Political Visibility

Research from the University of Cambridge found that “visible high-level political commitment,” like Dr. Sharma Sukon’s, helps improve access to learning. Countries that set their own targets show greater ownership and more responsibility for success.

In this case, the National Higher Education Strategy enables the Mauritian government to advocate for its own needs and join alliances that support its interests. For example, the National Higher Education Strategy aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), an external benchmark that countries can opt to follow. It aims to secure inclusive, quality education and learning opportunities for everyone.

SDG 4 provides a new way for countries to monitor progress toward their national educational commitments by 2030. India, the United Kingdom and 162 United Nations countries use SDG 4.

Education in the Commonwealth

In 2017, 137 million primary and secondary school children in Commonwealth countries, many from rural areas, were out of school, with little chance of ever completing higher education.

COL helps Commonwealth countries access education and development skills by breaking barriers to entry, such as gender and geographical location. 

By promoting distance learning and open schooling opportunities, COL and HEC are improving higher education in Mauritius. Mauritians will have better employment opportunities and a reduced number of people living in poverty due to a lack of education.

– Larisa Corr

Larisa is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Facing Poverty in El Salvador: The Continuous Problem

Poverty in El SalvadorPoverty in El Salvador continues to plague citizens across the country despite a drop in poverty rates from 2000 to 2023. About 40% of Salvadorans face a state of vulnerability and 1.8 million face poverty without access to clean water and proper food. While Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s president since 2019, has nearly removed gang violence from the list of nationwide threats, poverty remains at the top.

Beauty and Change

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, about 32 times smaller than the state of Texas. It is bordered by Guatemala, Honduras and the Pacific Ocean and is known for its volcanoes, surfing spots and national dish, the pupusa. Beyond the multi-colored scenery, crashing waves and popular cuisine, El Salvador is also known for its positive development since Bukele entered office in 2019.

The country faced gang violence for decades, with a total of 2,398 homicides in 2019 before Bukele stepped into office. After five years of presidency, the number of homicides has dropped to 114 in 2024. This was due to his Territorial Control Plan and implementation of the Exception Regime. Bukele has tried to offer safety and peace to Salvadoran citizens; however, poverty remains a barrier to peace and safety for many.

The Daily Struggle

Facing poverty in El Salvador means a lack of potable water and education. El Salvador faced a major drought in 2016 and declared a water crisis shortly after. Since then, citizens living in or vulnerable to poverty have suffered from a lack of proper potable water. Families also face the risk of malnutrition as a result of living in poverty.

Poverty affects families beyond inadequate food and water. A lack of access to education is considered one of the leading causes of poverty in El Salvador. According to the National TPS Alliance, in 2023, the illiteracy rate among Salvadorans aged 10 and older was 9.7%, with an average educational level of 7.2 years and just 5.6 years for families in rural areas. Without sufficient funding, families cannot provide their children with proper education.

COVID-19 and Job Opportunities

El Salvador was not spared when the global pandemic hit in late 2019 and early 2020. The poverty rate rose by 6.5 percentage points and more than 20% of Salvadoran workers lost their jobs. Although the pandemic is no longer as widespread as in 2019 and 2020, El Salvador still grapples with its lasting impacts.

In 2022, soaring inflation kept the poverty rate at nearly 27%. Combined with limited access to education, hundreds of Salvadorans face a severe shortage of job opportunities. Even those who pursue higher education are often met with unemployment, as the Salvadoran economy has not created enough jobs to meet demand.

Solutions 

Despite the effects of poverty continuing to affect Salvadoran communities, organizations and charities are working to help address the persistent issue. Charities such as the Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation (SAHF) and the Center for Exchange and Solidarity (CIS) work toward assisting families battling poverty.

SAHF has a program called the Early Childhood Development Program that helps families and children younger than 5 years old suffering from malnutrition. The Foundation also has a program that teaches English to primary school children in the educational complex at Residencial Libertad. The Foundation also offers a “life plan” to high school students within the program, allowing them to find job opportunities following their high school journey.

The CIS offers aid to families and communities without access to potable water and to youth who do not have a proper education. The CIS has partnered with other organizations and businesses to provide households, schools and businesses with water filters, wells, tanks and hand pumps. It has helped 3,000 families since 2011.

The organization also enables underprivileged youth at the primary, secondary and university levels to a leadership development program that leads them to a defined career. Children and young adults are selected for the program based on their economic need, educational standing and commitment to social change.

El Salvador may be experiencing a decline in job opportunities and continuing to face the harsh effects of poverty. However, organizations like SAHF and CIS are working to ease these challenges.

– Keyly Rios

Keyly is based in Dallas, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr