Archive for category: disability and poverty

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How ART:DIS in Singapore is Helping People with Disabilities

ART:DIS in SingaporeFrom July 4 to 5, 2026, ART:DIS in Singapore, a nonprofit organization (NGO), held Pocket Fest, an event consisting of small workshops, a gallery, food and more. The exhibition featured many artworks from artists of ART:DIS, and it consisted of small classes teaching art skills from caricatures to cyanotype.

People With Disabilities in Singapore

Singapore’s disability rates for students, people ages 18-49, and people over 50 are 2.1%, 3.4%, and 13.3% of their populations respectively. Among residents with disabilities between the working ages of 15 to 64 in 2023 and 2024, around 34.7% were employed, with 3.6% having no job but currently looking for one. The remaining 61.8% were not considered in the labor force, many citing poor health or disability as the leading cause.

Benefits in Singapore for People With Disabilities

Singapore has several initiatives to help people with disabilities, including the Open Door Programme, which allows people with disabilities to gain a “year of job matching, and customised employment support” from experts. Grants under the same program also give subsidies to people with disabilities to go to training programs led by Enabling Academy, SG Enable’s disability learning hub.

SG Enable – an agency established by the Ministry of Social and Family Development focusing on inclusion and disabilities – with its partners, provided around 500 people with disabilities jobs each year between 2020 and 2022.

Employers can also gain wage support via the Enabling Employment Credit (EEC), a scheme by the government, which gives 20% wage support for people with disabilities making less than $4,000 per month. In 2022, almost 6,600 organizations gained the EEC and together employed over 10,000 people with disabilities.

About ART:DIS and When It Was Founded

ART:DIS is a nonprofit organization aimed at providing educational and livelihood opportunities to people with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities through the arts. Professor Tommy Koh founded ART:DIS in Singapore in 1993. ART:DIS organizes art partnerships, showcases and events to help people with disabilities in the future. ART:DIS also provides a platform where people with disabilities can express themselves, gain confidence and be part of a community.

How ART:DIS in Singapore Is Helping People With Disabilities

During the 2024 to 2025 financial year, ART:DIS helped 992 people and made more than $600,000 for their artists. In the same year (according to its annual report), ART:DIS was able to sustain three art centres, 91 regular art programmes, and it hosted 44 showcases, exhibitions and performances. Donations towards ART:DIS in Singapore go toward supporting training, mentorship and opportunities for artists with disabilities, giving them pathways to meaningful creative work, income opportunities and greater independence.

ART:DIS in Singapore uses the Social Model of Disability, which holds that barriers in society prevent people with disabilities from advancing further, rather than its own condition being the cause. This stands in contrast to the Medical Model, which treats people with disabilities as needing medical attention, and the Charity Model, which frames people with disabilities as objects of pity or as inspiring figures to be admired.

ART:DIS, using the Social Model, wants to normalize including people with disabilities. The organization wants to change the physical, attitudinal and communication barriers and raise access to ensure that people with disabilities can participate in society equally. One way that ART:DIS implements the Social Model is through providing different ways of learning, training and collaborating, adapted to suit each student’s and artist’s accessibility needs.

According to an ART:DIS feature, art helps reveal the individual “strengths and perspectives” that people with disabilities possess. It also enables people to understand who the people behind the artworks are. Art can also help increase self-confidence, “personal growth, social inclusion, and mental health benefits,” according to an article by Incluso. Moreover, art improves fine motor skills, coordination, communication and comprehension.

Helping People With Disabilities and Reducing Poverty

People with disabilities are more likely to face poverty compared to those without disabilities; however, ART:DIS in Singapore aims to combat this via helping their artists become financially independent. ART:DIS provides artists with disabilities programs which enable them to upskill towards professionalism. In the 2024/2025 year, ART:DIS gave 316 job opportunities to artists with disabilities, helping them build greater livelihood independence.

When people with disabilities receive skills training, like ART:DIS provides, they gain economic independence, helping end the cycle of poverty. A Harvard paper defines poverty as “a cause and consequence of disability.” If poverty is a consequence of disability, then helping people with disabilities can also help decrease poverty more broadly.

Looking Ahead

Instead of coming “from a place of deficit” when talking about people with disabilities, ART:DIS sees people with disabilities for what they can uniquely bring to the table. Through hosting events and programs, ART:DIS is aiming to change the narrative of people with disabilities, from what was once a dull story to one that is filled with brightness, optimism and color

– Sahana Sundar

Sahana is based in Singapore and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Addressing Disability and Poverty in Lesotho

Disability and Poverty in LesothoThrough the mists, in the landlocked mountainous kingdom of Lesotho Africa, a social pandemic is still prevalent. Disability and poverty in Lesotho are still alive. 

Many inhabitants who live outside of the cities still rely on agriculture and farming animals to make a living, though soil erosion is prevalent. Those who move to the cities to create a new life for themselves and their families are met with unemployment and homelessness. In fact, 59% of the population lives under the poverty line.

A Shared Link

Disability and poverty in Lesotho seem to go hand in hand. A lack of stability and infrastructure foster these issues. High unemployment, food insecurity, political unrest, poor fossil fuel resources and a reliance on food imports from South Africa make it difficult to gain full economic independence.

Ties to South Africa could do more harm than good in this present economy. Not only does Lesotho rely on South Africa for electricity, but it also relies on it for food imports. The U.S. has imposed a 30% tariff on South Africa. This will ultimately trickle down to Lesotho furthering the food insecurities of that country.

Living in rural areas makes food insecurity harder to deal with as well. As of 2024, 69.1% of Lesotho’s population lived in rural areas and were especially susceptible to food insecurity. They rely on agriculture to grow food. The increase in droughts and floods threatens crops resulting in many having little to eat.

Disability Adds to the Fray

Adding disability into the fray makes matters worse. Poverty creates a lack of accessible infrastructure, a lack of special equipment needed for individuals with disabilities such as wheelchairs, walkers and technology like tablets. There is a lack of medicine, homecare and specialists for those who need it the most. As of 2020, the UN found that 3% of the population suffered from some form of disability. Many children are within that percentage. According to findings by the UN in 2020, 38.5% of children had a form of visual impairment. About 30.3% had an intellectual impairment and 7.5% had some form of  a physical disability.

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities published its findings in March 2026 regarding the prejudice surrounding individuals with disabilities, particularly those who suffer from albinism. It found that there is a need to uphold human rights for all nationwide.

There is also a huge gap in education due to the lack of teachers and educational materials that are geared toward those with physical and intellectual disabilities. In fact, many who are disabled stay home because of the lack of help and the stigma surrounding disabilities.

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also published its findings regarding the lack of education surrounding children with disabilities. It recommended the repeal of the Education Act of 2010 that upholds the discrimination of children by blocking education for all.

Disability and poverty in Lesotho is a cycle. Because of the poverty levels, there is not enough adequate help for those living with a disability.

There Is Hope

Though the cycle of disability and poverty seems bleak, there is hope. There are many organizations who are helping the people of Lesotho break that cycle of poverty and thus, are able to help those with disabilities. A lot of this is occurring through education and technology.

The Lesotho Basic Education Strengthening Project was an initiative that helped teachers enhance their teaching skills through online training courses, enhance their teaching skills. The project closed in 2025 but the World Bank continues to invest in the Lesotho Education Improvement Project that continues to help teachers and improve physical learning conditions.

Global partnerships focusing on AI  have also made a positive impact on inclusivity. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in alliance with Intel Corporation, has helped to bring AI technology and training to Lesotho. With the backing of the Lesotho government, AI will be accessible to all by 2030.

Lesotho already has 40 digital learning labs and 40 trained digital ambassadors throughout the country thus far. These ambassadors are teaching the people of Lesotho AI through storytelling, and interactive games helping the population to learn as easily as possible. The goal is to make sure no one is left behind.

Those with disabilities are not being left behind either as the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) is taking initiatives to make sure of this. The umbrella organization helps enable individuals living with disabilities to live as independently as possible through the development of life skills and education.

Looking Ahead

Lesotho has ambitions for the future. Technology and AI hope to help make this happen. With improvements in agriculture, education, infrastructure and trade will help to create a more stable country thus improving the lives of all. 

– Lara Lewis

Lara is based in Wakefield, RI, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Multidimensional Disability and Poverty in Tonga

Disability and Poverty in TongaIn Tonga, about 88% of the population depends mainly on agriculture and fisheries. As a country made of many islands, limited resources as a result of changing weather patterns have furthered poverty. The changing climate has led to coastal degradation and increasingly violent cyclones, which greatly affect the economic resources that the population of Tonga relies on. Violent storms also disproportionately affect people with disabilities due to the difficulties they experience with evacuation. Multidimensional disability and poverty in Tonga, especially among rural areas and children, continually become more prevalent as an issue due to the effects of a changing climate.

Poverty in Tonga 

In Tonga, 75% of the population lives in Tongatapu, but the four other island groups, Vava’u, Ha’apai, Eua and Ongo Niua, face much higher levels of multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty evaluates poverty along the lines of monetary poverty, education and basic infrastructure services. A 2018 report showed that, among adult poverty, there is a 25% difference between Tongatapu urban and the other islands. In children, there is a 19% difference.

Children in Tonga are also more likely to be in poverty. As of 2026, about a quarter of children in Tonga live in multidimensional poverty. Most of these children are in rural communities. More specifically, about 25.3% of children in Tonga don’t have sufficient access to nutrition, healthcare, education, clean water and adequate housing.

‘Eua has the highest childhood poverty with 48.9%, followed by Ha’Apai with 40.8% and Ongo Niea with 35%. Due to the size of the islands, reduced coastlines and violent storms impact them even more, causing their resources to be depleted and therefore their economy to suffer.

Disability in Tonga

Disability and multidimensional poverty in Tonga have very close ties. Based on a survey that the Tonga Statistics Department did in 2018, 2.8% of the population have disabilities in Tonga. The U.N. and WHO estimate the percentage to be much higher at about 10%. This is likely because the 2018 survey did not account for “mild impairments.” The results were also likely unreliable due to the social stigma against disabilities in Tonga, meaning several people likely did not take the survey. The most prevalent recorded cause for disability was illness, with about 30% of survey takers, in both urban and rural areas, reporting disability from illness.

People with disabilities often face additional challenges when preparing for emergencies and disasters. While about 81% of people with disabilities understand the need to evacuate, there are still issues for people with disability-inclusive disaster preparation, evacuation support and accessible shelters. Additionally, assistive devices that many people with disabilities rely on have to be abandoned during evacuation.

Progress Being Made

Government agencies and nonprofit organizations are working to reduce multidimensional poverty and support people with disabilities and Tonga. Within the Tonga government, The National Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (N-MODA), first conducted in 2019 and available on the UNICEF website, is a report that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNICEF Pacific made possible, as well as preparation support from the Social Policy Research Institute. The goal of this report is to provide a benchmark for evaluating progress along Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) guidelines. The country has dedicated itself to addressing multidimensional poverty, specifically among children.

Additionally, the Pacific Disability Forum, intended to advocate for equity and inclusion for people with disabilities, has made moves to place importance on people with disabilities, calling on stakeholders to work closely with organizations of persons with disabilities such as the Tonga National Visual Impairment Association (TNVIA), the Tongan National Disability Council (TNDC), Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People’s Association (LATA) and Naunau ‘o e ‘Alamaite Tonga Association (NATA).

Outside of this forum, there are several nonprofits working to help multidimensional poverty and disability in Tonga. One of these groups is CARE International which has been in Tonga since 2019 in order to help communities to prepare for natural disasters. CARE has several programs around the world and encourages its involved members to focus on two main takeaways, being involved in short-term in activities and being involved in the long-term shift in people’s lives. In 2025, it reached 12,762 people struggling in Tonga. With organizations like CARE International, the damaging effects of multidimensional poverty and inequalities for people with disability are reducing.

Looking Ahead

Poverty informs disability in many ways. Access to appropriate care may not be possible due to multidimensional poverty factors. Accessible infrastructure makes living with disabilities much more difficult. Multidimensional poverty in Tonga, especially among children and in rural areas, persists due to the dependency on agriculture for the majority of the population. Severe storms and reduced coastlines due to the changing climate make an agricultural-based economy fragile and, therefore, more difficult to rise out of poverty. Recognition of the problem is the first step in improving the living conditions of impoverished people and people with disabilities.

– Arden Schultz

Arden is based in Milford, MI, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Disability and Poverty in Vanuatu: 5 Initiatives To Combat the Crisis

Disability and Poverty in VanuatuVanuatu, a small island country in the South Pacific, suffers from severe poverty rates, especially among the disabled community. Women and children suffer the most in terms of disability and inequality. 

Disability and poverty in Vanuatu have widened the economic gap; without access to the proper education or special needs to navigate the world, poverty rates continue to rise. Organizations and government initiatives are emerging to bridge the gap between the disabled and the rest of society.

Economic Background of Vanuatu

Vanuatu is a lower- to middle-income island country that has experienced declining economic growth in recent years—5.8% economic growth in 2023, 1% growth in 2024 and 1.5% growth in 2025. Statistics show a low school attendance rate with only 52% attending junior secondary school and 26% showing up for senior secondary school. Child labor is a frequent problem in the country as well, as a large portion of kids between the ages of 5 and 17 have been exploited for it. The poverty rate in Vanuatu is roughly 19.50%, which is the equivalent of $3 USD. The multi-dimensional poverty rate is at a stark 27.31%. 

The types of disabilities the people experience are often more along the lines of learning disabilities, issues with reading and writing, and mathematical calculations. Children often drop out of school as a result of not having glasses to see properly. Here are five initiatives that are addressing disability and poverty in Vanuatu.

1. Vanuatu Skills Partnership (VSP)

The Vanuatu Skills Partnership (VSP) is an initiative that helps students with disabilities gain access to programs that cater to their specific needs, while providing targeted support for each career path. The Partnership works closely with the Ministry of Education to develop programs such as disability specific education programs and new skills policies, giving providers the ability to qualify individuals for training programs. The program also offers sign language training to better assist the deaf community. The program offers a renewed chance for people in the disabled community to live meaningful lives and contribute to the economy and society. Individuals with disabilities who were prevented from success in the past are finding renewed opportunities in tourism, farming, food distribution, construction and business investments.

2. Vanuatu Disability Promotion & Advocacy Association (VDPA)

Established in 1999, this organization serves as the primary advocacy group for the disabled community. Despite the United Nations’ ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Vanuatu still struggles to implement effective programs. With the VDPA, advocacy has continued to grow over the years since this ratification. It has been able to provide capacity building that strengthens disability organizations across the country, and the organization partners with the VSP to create collaborative approaches to disability programs. It also spreads awareness to change attitudes and remove barriers already in place.

3. Vanuatu Society for People With Disability (VSPD)

The Vanuatu Society for People with Disability (VSPD) offers access programs so that people with disabilities have easier access to their rights, specific services and opportunities to be able to contribute and support their society. The VSPD also supports advocating for community-based inclusive development, which also supports both boys and girls within the community, and also bridges gender gaps in the country’s disability problem. With the nation’s National Gender Equality Policy (NGEP), the VSPD focuses on contributing to the end of violence and discrimination against women and girls. The VSPD has a strong partnership with NGOs and government agencies, including Save the Children, Oxfam, CARE and World Vision, to assist with implementing their vision and breaking down the barriers for the disabled community.

4. VSPD and VDPA Partnership – Strategic Plans for 2024–2029

In 2025, the VSPD and VAPD partnered to develop a strategic set of plans for the years 2024 to 2029 to strengthen and further their disability advocacy programs. The plans are set to fully implement the National Disability-Inclusive Development Policy, which aims to fully remove the barriers for the disabled, and the Inclusive Education Policy, to align with the United Nations CRPD.

5. Provincial Disability Officers and Committees

The Ministry of Justice and Community Services partnered with the VSP to put disability officers and committees in highly populated parts of Vanuatu. The officers work with committees to ensure these programs are properly implemented and that the proper resources are available to create success for the national mission.

Looking Ahead

These initiatives have taken steps to alleviate disability and poverty in Vanuatu, advancing its target to addressing their poverty issues and human rights advancement. 

– Benjamin Elland

Benjamin is based in East Lansing, MI, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Disability and Poverty in the Marshall Islands

Disability and Poverty in the Marshall IslandsThe Republic of the Marshall Islands faces significant challenges related to poverty, geographic isolation and climate vulnerability. For people with disabilities, these challenges often create additional barriers to education, employment and health care. Disability and poverty in the Marshall Islands remain closely connected, making it difficult for many individuals to achieve economic stability and independence.

Link Between Disability and Poverty

The Republic of the Marshall Islands consists of 29 coral atolls and five islands in the North Pacific and has a population of about 40,000 people. The country’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of people with disabilities through policies that promote inclusion and equal opportunities. 

A 2024 United Nations survey of 308 people with disabilities found that many continue to face significant barriers to employment and accessibility. About 85% of those surveyed were unemployed, with respondents citing inaccessible workplaces, limited workplace accommodations and discrimination by employers as major obstacles. The report also noted that noncommunicable diseases, particularly diabetes, have contributed to disabilities such as amputations and vision loss. In addition, the long-term effects of nuclear testing continue to affect some Marshallese, creating ongoing health challenges and highlighting the need for continued international support.

The government and local disability advocates have also worked to increase public awareness. In partnership with the College of Marshall Islands, the Disability Coordination Office and the Marshall Islands Disabled Persons Organization recently organized a community “wheel-a-thon” to promote disability inclusion and increase visibility for people with disabilities.

Barriers to Education and Employment

Education plays a critical role in reducing poverty. However, children with disabilities often encounter barriers that limit their participation in school. Some schools lack accessible infrastructure, while others have limited resources to support students in diverse learning needs. 

Employment opportunities also remain limited. A 2024 survey of persons with disabilities in the Marshall Islands found that approximately 85% of respondents were unemployed. Respondents identified inaccessible workplaces, employer bias and a lack of accommodations as major obstacles to finding work. 

Without access to education and employment opportunities, many people with disabilities remain dependent on family support or government assistance. This cycle can contribute to long-term poverty and social exclusion. 

Government Efforts to Promote Inclusion 

The Marshall Islands government has taken important steps to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2015, the country enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. The law promotes disability inclusive development and seeks to protect the rights of people with disabilities in areas such as education, employment and public services.

The government also established a Disability Coordination Office to help implement disability related policies and programs. Recent efforts have focused on improving accessibility, increasing participation in public life, and strengthening support services.

In 2025, the government expanded social protection initiatives through the Social Support Scheme Act. The program provides income support to elderly citizens and persons with disabilities, helping vulnerable populations meet basic needs. Eligible beneficiaries receive at least $1,200 annually through the program.

The Role of the Marshall Islands Disabled Persons Organization 

The Marshall Islands Disabled Persons Organization (MIDPO) serves as a leading advocate for disability rights and inclusion. MIDPO works alongside government agencies and regional partners to improve accessibility and increase awareness of disability issues.

In 2025, MIDPO launched an accessibility bus funded through the Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 Assistance Fund. The service helps people with disabilities travel to essential services, community events and other important destinations. Improved transportation can increase access to education, health care and employment opportunities.

MIDPO also participated in the Pacific Disability Forum’s “Growing Stronger Together” initiative, which strengthened the organization’s capacity to advocate for disability inclusive policies and programs.

Looking Ahead

Disability and poverty in the Marshall Islands remain interconnected challenges. Limited access to education, employment and essential services continues to affect many individuals with disabilities. However, government reforms, social support programs and the work of organizations such as MIDPO demonstrate meaningful progress.

By expanding inclusive education, improving accessibility and strengthening economic opportunities, the Marshall Islands can continue reducing poverty among people with disabilities. These efforts can help ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to participate fully in society and build more secure futures.

– Terrell Munford

Terrell is based in West Deptford, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Disability and Poverty in Tuvalu

Disability and Poverty in TuvaluAccording to a 2018 study by PacificData.org, 466 people in Tuvalu live with a disability. With little accessibility around the islands and in workplaces, many of these individuals tragically fall into disability poverty. Here is more information about disability and poverty in Tuvalu.

About Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a collection of small South Pacific islands with a population of approximately 11,500 people. It is a developing nation but is full of coconut trees, which provide the country’s main export.

Formally a British colony, Tuvalu’s population significantly diminished in the mid-nineteenth century from 20,000 to a mere 3,000. Multiple factors affected this shift, but most notably: the severe European enslavement of Tuvaluan people (more than half the population by 1863) and diseases brought over from Europe.

The islands were named the Ellice Islands in 1819 after a British MP who travelled there. However, after gaining independence from Britain in 1975, the islands were renamed Tuvalu, meaning ‘eight standing together’ in reference to the eight islands that made up the country, with a ninth later being included as part of the state as well. 

Disability Poverty in Tuvalu Today

Life can be tough in Tuvalu; as a small nation with little foreign trade, work is scarce. A Tuvaluan may work in the agricultural or farming industries to make use of the country’s natural resources; however, this type of work typically involves hard labor, which further limits career opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

People like Sinkiagi Taulamati (a former carpenter) had to give up work in the wake of amputation surgery. In a 2021 interview with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Taulamati noted that thereafter, he struggled to provide for his family as there were no other suitable work opportunities for him.

Welfare for Disabled Tuvaluans

In 2015, Tuvalu introduced the ‘Disability Support Scheme’ for those struggling in disability poverty. This was a welfare benefit scheme for disabled Tuvaluans which provided money for people who could not work due to their disability. However, access to this benefit was extremely limited, only including the congenitally disabled (from birth) and paralyzed people.

This act excluded disabilities that developed later in life, including amputees such as Sinkiagi Taulamati. Although Tuvalu amended it the following year, Pacific Data found that only eighty-seven people were receiving the benefit in 2018. 

Progress for Disabled Tuvaluans

Despite little government intervention, the Tuvaluan people have not given up on those living in disability poverty. In 2009, the first and only non-government organization in aid of disabled people in the country originated.

Fusi Alofa Association (FAA) advocates for disabled welfare in Tuvalu through lobbying activities in an effort to draw attention to the difficulties faced by disabled Tuvaluans, such as poverty, inaccessibility around the islands and education.

While the FAA remains the only organization of its kind in Tuvalu, it has amassed support from the Commonwealth Foundation, which has provided funding that allows the organization to flourish in its mission to stand up for disabled Tuvaluans.

In 2017, partnering with the Australian government, the FAA conducted a study to provide important data on disability and poverty in Tuvalu. This study not only demonstrated that a great deal of disabled Tuvaluans live in poverty but the FAA ensured jobs for disabled people like Taupaka Uatea, through the project, who worked as an FAA researcher.

Looking Ahead

Although disability poverty remains an issue in Tuvalu, the FAA has helped to provide work for disabled individuals as well as conduct surveys that accurately demonstrate the widespread problem and raise awareness of the difficulties that disabled Tuvaluans face.

– Lisa Jane Bryant

Lisa is based in Glasgow, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Disability and Poverty in Turkmenistan: Breaking the Cycle

Disability and Poverty in TurkmenistanMore than 1 billion people live with disabilities worldwide. Most of them face the same pattern: exclusion from education, from work and from the basic support that makes stability possible. Disability and poverty in Turkmenistan follow that same pattern, reinforcing each other in ways that are hard to break. According to the World Bank, people with disabilities face structural barriers that push them toward poverty and keep them there.

Barriers for People with Disabilities in Turkmenistan

Starting with education, because that is where everything else begins. For decades, children with disabilities in Turkmenistan were placed in residential facilities or excluded from school altogether. According to a 2024 UNICEF report that The BEARR Trust highlighted, approximately 7% of children with disabilities in Turkmenistan have never attended school, while nearly 60% of children with severe disabilities do not receive disability cash benefits.

Employment presents another significant challenge for people with disabilities in Turkmenistan. Workplaces are not built for accessibility. Hiring practices do not account for inclusion and sitting underneath all of it is stigma, the kind that not only makes it harder to find work but also harder to access health care and to be seen as a full participant in community life. These barriers reinforce long-term economic instability for people with disabilities.

International organizations and regional advocacy groups have pushed for stronger disability inclusion policies in employment. UNICEF and the World Bank have both supported broader disability inclusion initiatives across Central Asia, including efforts focused on accessibility, social protection and workforce participation. While Turkmenistan still faces major barriers in employment access for people with disabilities, these programs aim to strengthen long-term inclusion efforts.

The Link Between Disability and Poverty

Poverty in Turkmenistan remains difficult to measure accurately because publicly available government data is limited. However, international economic reporting shows that many households continue to face financial instability, particularly in rural areas. People with disabilities often experience even higher economic vulnerability due to limited employment opportunities and inconsistent access to benefits and support services.

Disability and poverty in Turkmenistan do not just coexist. They create each other. Poverty means inadequate health care, poor living conditions, and no early intervention for children who need it. Those conditions increase disability rates. Disability, in turn, limits access to education and employment, which keeps income low. The World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia disability inclusion brief describes this as a bidirectional cycle, particularly acute in countries with weak social protection systems.

Efforts to Improve Disability Inclusion

UNICEF has worked with Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education to expand inclusive education programs through pilot schools, accessibility improvements and teacher training initiatives. In January 2025, UNICEF and the Ministry continued specialized training programs for teachers, school administrators and education professionals working in inclusive classrooms in Ashgabat. These programs aim to improve mainstream classroom access for children with disabilities nationwide, though access in rural areas remains limited.

Turkmenistan made a major commitment in 2008 by ratifying the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. That ratification required legal frameworks protecting equal access to education, employment and social services. The World Bank has since worked with policymakers in the region to examine how benefits are distributed and where coverage falls short for people with severe disabilities.

The BEARR Trust, a U.K.-based organization founded in 1991, has tracked this work from the outside. It monitors social welfare conditions across the former Soviet Union, documents what is happening on the ground and produces the kind of independent analysis that governments and NGOs need to know where to direct resources.

A Path Forward

Progress on disability and poverty in Turkmenistan is real. More children with disabilities are in mainstream classrooms than a decade ago. Policy frameworks are stronger. International partnerships are deepening, but real progress and enough progress are not the same thing. Employment discrimination persists. Benefit access remains uneven. Rural communities are still largely left out.

Experts and advocacy organizations continue to emphasize that inclusive education, enforceable employment protections and stronger social support systems are necessary to reduce the long-term effects of disability and poverty in Turkmenistan.

– Sarah Jeanelle Taylor

Sarah is based in Belleville, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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The Fight for Justice: Disabilities in Libya

Disabilities in LibyaIn its long history, Libya has endured prolonged periods of turbulence and instability as it continues to rebuild its infrastructure. While most international headlines focus on Libya’s oil production and political transitions, the world often neglects a significant segment of the Libyan population. People with disabilities in Libya face a dual struggle: one born out of a fractured health care system, while they overcome the remnants of war in the form of landmines. 

To rebuild Libya, Libyan leaders and the international community must prioritize the rights and inclusion of these citizens.

Disabilities in Libya

Libya, since the 2012 overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has been embroiled in a constant state of warfare. The history of warfare negatively impacts those living with disabilities; even in the fleeting moments of calm, the lingering effects of war remain. The conflict has left a deadly, invisible legacy in the streets of Sirte, Tripoli and Benghazi: unexploded ordnance (UXO) continues to claim lives and trap families in a cycle of poverty years after guns fall silent.

Unlike traditional minefields found in Iraq or Syria, Libya’s contamination plagues densely populated cities. The HALO Trust reports that urban centers remain littered with “suicide” mines, booby traps and cluster munitions. Cities like Sirte, under occupation by ISIS until 2016, suffer from explosives hidden within the rubble of homes, schools and hospitals.

This contamination prevents displaced families from returning, effectively freezing the economic recovery of entire neighborhoods. Conflict-related injuries in Libya, in particular landmines, commonly result in permanent disabilities.

Survivors

A survivor of landmines, Omar Musa, a taxi driver from Tawergha, fled his home in 2011 to escape the violence. When he finally returned seven years later, he discovered a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) wedged into one of his palm trees. Musa did not touch the device. Instead, he contacted the Free Fields Foundation (FFF), a local NGO supported by the European Union. Today, Musa works with the FFF, training other returnees to find unexploded devices.

For others, the experience with mines is less fortunate. Mahmoud, a professional deminer, was blinded when a mine went off while working alongside his brother, Muhammed, for a professional demining team. Muhammed was killed instantly in the blast. Mahmoud was stripped of his sight and had to have his leg amputated. 

While many would see this as an unavoidable tragedy of war, Mahmoud identifies it as a deliberate crime. He points directly to the Russian Wagner Group and the forces of Khalifa Hafter, who retreated from the area in 2020 but left behind a landscape of prohibited anti-personnel mines and “trick” explosives designed to maim civilians and first responders alike. Mahmoud refused to accept his disability, transforming his survival into a vocal campaign for legal reparations.

The Fight for Inclusion

In Libya, losing a limb often has devastating results. While landmines themselves physically harm, a fractured health care system ensures the injuries remain permanent. The “right to health” in Libya has become a luxury that few survivors can afford. Libya once boasted one of the highest Human Development Indices in Africa, providing free health care to its citizens; today, that system is in near collapse. 

Only a handful of physical rehabilitation centers (PRCs) remain operational in cities such as Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi. Survivors in rural or southern regions must travel hundreds of miles through dangerous territory to access basic fittings. In response, the United Nations Support Mission recently issued a National Charter that includes a bold 7% quota for persons with disabilities in the next government and across all sovereign councils. 

Director Al-Awjali has called for a transition from traditional social care to true political empowerment, positioning women with disabilities as “decision-makers” rather than just service recipients. True inclusion requires more than medical aid; it requires a seat at the table. The Libyan Forum of Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with international partners such as UNICEF, is also working to break the stigma by advocating for political representation, which serves as a bedrock for other rights. 

These advocates keep the path open for people like Mahmoud to continue to stride forward in a nation plagued by war for more than a decade.

– Haydn Goodboy

Haydn is based in Massachusetts, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Facts To Know About Disability and Poverty in Djibouti

Disability and Poverty in DjiboutiDjibouti is a nation of approximately 1.1 million people located in the Horn of Africa, a region characterized by extreme heat, recurring droughts and limited agricultural land. While the country is classified as middle-income and maintains relative peace compared to its neighbors, this stability has come at a cost: there is little international media attention highlighting Djibouti’s humanitarian challenges.

More than 40% of its population lives in extreme poverty, and with 90% of its food imported, the country is deeply vulnerable to global price shocks. For persons with disabilities, these challenges are compounded further still. The following five facts shed light on disability and poverty in Djibouti, and the efforts some are making to address it.

1. Djibouti Faces Widespread Poverty

While Djibouti is a middle-income country, it is ranked 93rd out of the 125 in the 2023 Global Hunger Index. Thus, its food insecurity situation is considered to be in the category of serious severity. More than 40% of its inhabitants are living in extreme poverty. The main causes of the poverty rates are natural disasters such as droughts and disease outbreaks. This burden falls especially hard on people with disabilities: those with significant functional difficulties face a multidimensional poverty rate of 84%, compared to 81% for those with none.

2. Djibouti’s Economy Demonstrating Growth

Between 2000 and 2021, Djibouti averaged about 4% annual GDP growth, and an additional 6.7% in 2023. Some current projections even estimate that poverty rates have gone down since the most recent official date reported in 2017. Most of the economic growth has been a result of investments in transport and port infrastructure. While this is helpful for the economy, it also has created more debt vulnerabilities.

3. The Intersection of Disability and Poverty in Djibouti

People with disabilities have lower access to things like clean cooking fuel, adequate housing, electricity and assets than those without. Families with disabled children also face high costs of medical care and specialized therapies, in addition to the existing economic vulnerabilities. These create barriers for some children and families to have the same quality of education as others.

4. A New World Bank Project

The Improving Inclusion of Vulnerable Children with Disabilities Project is a new plan from the World Bank in partnership with the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF). In July of 2025, the JSDF approved a grant of $2.97 million. 

The project aims to help 4,500 beneficiaries in total, including 2,500 children with hearing or visual disabilities as well as 2,000 community members. The project will effectively run assessments to understand the challenges children with disabilities face, provide support to teachers, and promote economic inclusion for vulnerable households.

5. The International Community is Stepping Up

In addition to the World Bank’s and the JSDF’s recent efforts, the European Union (EU) has provided humanitarian aid at an average of €500,000 every year since 2020. These funds mainly target basic needs and services such as nutrition, water and special mobile support teams to assist those located in remote desert areas.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been active in Djibouti since 1978. They aid with food assistance, with nutrition programs that are especially helpful for refugees, pregnant women and children under 5 years old. A majority of the refugees in Djibouti have little to no income, so they must rely heavily on WFP’s food assistance programs.

In addition to the various nutrition facilities, the WFP and the Djiboutian government runs the Humanitarian Logistics Hub. This helps organize the logistics of providing food and aid, and also can store 65,000 metric tons of food to facilitate regional operations.

Disability and Poverty in Djibouti: The Good and the Bad

Progress on the situation in Djibouti is real and productive. There are various on-the-ground programs in motion and international investment in humanitarian aid is highly effective. There are more programs addressing disparities for people with disabilities. Nevertheless, the problems with the structural economy, food insecurity, rough climate and even lack of mainstream awareness means that significant work remains.

– Gia Sen

Gia is based in Mansfield, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Disability and Poverty in Suriname

Disability and Poverty in Suriname Suriname is a small coastal nation situated in the northeast of South America. Poverty remains a significant challenge in the country, with 17.5% of the population living below the national poverty line.

Disability as a Poverty Multiplier

Studies considering the intersectional nature of poverty have demonstrated that disability and poverty are strongly interdependent in Suriname.

When examining multidimensional poverty headcount rates, 25% of those with “at least a lot of functional difficulty” are multidimensionally poor. This compares with 21% of those with “some functional difficulty” and 16% of those with “no difficulty.”

There is also an 8% difference between disabled and non-disabled groups in reported access to safely managed sanitation. Among respondents, 96% of those experiencing “no difficulty” reported full access, compared to 87% of those with “at least a lot of functional difficulty.”

Access to the Job Market and Education

People with disabilities in Suriname also face several barriers to social mobility compared to the non-disabled population.

According to 2020 International Labour Organization (ILO) statistics, 39.9% of the disabled population was employed in Suriname, compared with 53.2% of non-disabled people. Similarly, there was a difference of almost 15% between rates of economic activity, with 42.3% of disabled adults ages 15-64 considered economically active compared to 57.9% of non-disabled respondents.

Access to education also varies between disabled and non-disabled groups. Out of a group of surveyed children ages 6-14, 69% of those experiencing “a lot of difficulty” attended school, compared with 82% of those with “some difficulty” and 94% of non-disabled children.

Disabled populations in Suriname are therefore particularly vulnerable to cycles of poverty, especially given their increased likelihood of unemployment, which is a major contributor to poverty.

Action Toward Addressing Disability Poverty

In 2024, a project spearheaded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was approved to strengthen the country’s social protection system. $40 million was allocated to the initiative, which aims to protect the most vulnerable Surinamese populations, including people with disabilities. The IDB pledged to support 20,000 disabled people and their families.

Several organizations also continue to provide services and support to people with disabilities in Suriname.

Opo Doro, an institution providing home-based services to people living with disabilities in Suriname, expanded its impact with recent funding support. As a result, it established a day care and workshop service that provides disabled communities with practical skills.

Surcare is another project founded to raise funds for a residential care home for people with disabilities in Suriname.

An American organization launched in 2024, Surcare supports the In de Ruimte care home by helping address funding gaps not covered by local donations or government support. The foundation also works to raise awareness about the work of the home.

Looking Ahead

Although there is still work to be done to address the interconnected challenges of disability and poverty in Suriname, the scale of investment from the IDB suggests increased attention to supporting disabled communities. Both international projects and community initiatives indicate progress toward improving conditions for this vulnerable population.

– Phoebe Lang-Clapp

Phoebe is based in Montréal, Québec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr