Archive for category: disability and poverty

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A Brief Overview of Disability and Poverty in Angola

Disability and poverty in AngolaAngola, a Portuguese-speaking country located in southwestern Africa, records a history of prolonged civil conflict and high poverty rates. These two situations result in the phenomenon of war-based disability and poverty in Angola, which profoundly influences the development of Angolan society in the present day.

Background

In the 1970s, Angola fought a war of independence against Portuguese colonial rule, followed by a prolonged civil war between rival political factions until 2002. This extended period of conflict left behind a large population of disabled individuals and severely damaged the country’s infrastructure and potential for economic development.

As of 2018, approximately 53% of Angola’s population earns less than $3.65 daily. The majority of this vulnerable population resides in rural areas, which, incidentally, were also the most heavily impacted by military action during the Civil War period. The land still bears marks of physical destruction, including destroyed infrastructure and other dangers affecting the population.

The presence of unexploded ordnances such as landmines is of particular concern: between 60,000 and 88,000 Angolans have been injured by landmines. However, the number is likely higher due to underreporting. Reports suggest that there are as many as 1,000 minefields left in Angola. Given the lack of reliable data and access to survivors, it is even more challenging to ascertain the extent of war-related psychological disabilities, such as PTSD.

At the same time, compensation is practically nonexistent: military veterans are entitled to pensions equivalent to $67 per month. However, even this relatively minor payment is only issued to a small percentage of eligible recipients. The Angolan government has similarly failed to deliver housing and infrastructure development promises.

Addressing the Problems

International organizations and aid groups have worked to alleviate problems relating to disability and poverty in Angola. The HALO Trust, a British charity that works to clear away explosives in former conflict areas, has been active in Angola since 1994. It reported eliminating 123,000 landmines as of 2025.

These efforts have helped restore access to farmland, schools and roads, reducing injury risks and improving livelihoods, especially for communities where landmine-related disabilities remain common. HALO’s work also supports Angola’s broader goals of rural development, poverty reduction and rehabilitation for those injured during the conflict.

Mine clearing operations are directly connected to infrastructure work. For example, it would permit the development of the so-called Lobito Corridor, a railway project linking the resource-rich African interior to the Angolan port of Lobito, facilitating mineral exports and providing economic opportunities for Angolans.

Conclusion

Disability and poverty in Angola go hand in hand. Clearing landmines would not only reduce injuries and disabilities but also support rebuilding efforts. These advances may help to restore economic productivity across the country. At the same time, greater involvement from authorities, particularly toward investing in issues that originate from the war’s legacy, will help improve the life quality of Angolans.

– Rafael Saavedra

Rafael is based in San Antonio, TX, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Disability and Poverty in Kazakhstan

Disability and Poverty in KazakhstanKazakhstan, which gained its independence from the USSR in 1991, has been making efforts to operate on the world stage for many years. A country the size of Western Europe, it now has the biggest economy in Central Asia, thanks to huge reserves of oil, natural gas and minerals. Its first Constitution was created in 1993, but it was not until the 2010s under the “Kazakhstan 2050” program that it aimed to transform the country into one of the 30 most developed countries during the 21st century. How it compares to other developed countries in the implementation of things like government social security programs, particularly for those struggling with disability and poverty in Kazakhstan, however, has reportedly been lagging behind, though there are those who are trying to help.

The official report shows that 5.3% of Kazakhstan’s population is below the poverty line, though it is estimated that almost 50% of the nation survives just above the poverty line. Additionally, it shows that about 750,000 people are living with a disability in Kazakhstan, which includes 101,000 who are children under 18 years old. As of 2022, there were about 36,000 new cases of cancer, whereas 0.4% experienced blindness as of 2025 and about 150,000 people had hearing or hearing-related impairments.

Human Rights Watch: Holding Kazakhstan Accountable

A recent that the Human Rights Watch did looked into the condition of poverty and disability in Kazakhstan, particularly the role of Targeted Social Assistance (TSA). TSA is a state-led program that Kazakhstan implemented in 2001, which aims to give financial assistance to individuals and families with a monthly average per capita income below the poverty line. However, findings determined there were significant hitches to the TSA program.

TSA, which serves almost 1 million citizens of Kazakhstan, is designed to provide financial aid to the nation’s poor and disabled people through monthly payments and they have opened social centers which provide legal and financial services as well as free training programs. However, the 2022 study reported that there have been problems with widespread stigma for people with disabilities who seek aid from TSA, a lack of education (especially in rural areas) regarding the opportunities for TSA benefits and an application system that makes it hard to sign up.  

“A relatively prosperous country such as Kazakhstan should be able to step up and meet its human rights obligations to ensure that everyone has access to social security that offers an adequate standard of living,” Hugh Williamson, the Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch said. “At present, meager payments, bureaucratic hurdles, and stigma mean this is not happening.”

Stigma and Discrimination

Another recent study, a research study called “Disability, Livelihood and Poverty in Asia and the Pacific,” by the ESCAP Social Development Division, under the overall direction of Nanda Krairiksh, which included Kazakhstan among eight other countries, showed Kazakhstan doing favorably in comparison to countries like Fiji and the Republic of Korea. However, the study also highlighted that there are low numbers of people struggling with disability and poverty in Kazakhstan attending public or even private schools. According to a 72-page report entitled “On the Margins:” Education for Children with Disabilities in Kazakhstan” published in 2019, the education system segregates and isolates children with disabilities, teach children in separate classrooms, when they can make it to school and their closed psychiatric institutions receive very little or no education.

The ESCAP study generally showed that poverty in different countries often leads to disability and disability often leads to poverty, a compounding problem, and that access to social security benefits and gainful employment, when possible, is the key to stability—39% of people with disabilities are employed in Kazakhstan, with most of the people working in the research sector. Beyond that, “Policy should not only build and expand on the resources and opportunities that persons with disabilities have, but also remove the barriers that they face, including stigma and discrimination,” a rife issue that the Human Rights Watch found with Kazakhstan’s TSA program and society in general.

Solutions

There are those in Kazakhstan who are trying to use their experience with poverty and disability to better the conditions in the country for others in the same circumstances. Two such champions are Zhannat Yessmaganbetova, who lives in the western city Atyrau, and Roza Akzharkenova, who lives in the southeast. Zhannat, who considers that her own disability created the patience and fortitude to make her the perfect advocate, has been addressing issues like urban infrastructure and social space, dealing with details like access to state facilities by means of ramps, lifts and appropriate places for consultation. Roza is addressing the same issues in her region of Kazakhstan and also advocating for more research into a situation that she believes is more widespread and urgent than most people believe. 

The way advocates like Roza and Zhannat come at the issue from several directions in an effort to make social security programs like TSA more accommodating and accessible for people who struggle with disability and poverty in Kazakhstan, seem to be Kazakhstan’s road to keeping up with developed countries. Kazakhstan is catching up with modern expectations for how to deal with poverty and disability, after years of having almost no systematic research or international accountability. Studies by the likes of the Human Rights Watch and ESCAP, as well as figures like Zhannat Yessmaganbetova and Roza Akzkarkenova, have attempted to better the conditions for those dealing with disability and poverty in Kazakhstan.

– Gregory Walker

Gregory is based in York, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Disability and Poverty in Trinidad and Tobago

Disability and Poverty in Trinidad and Tobago Despite Trinidad and Tobago’s status as one of the Caribbean’s wealthiest nations, subpopulations of the islands continue to face impoverishment. While Trinidad and Tobago have financial assistance programs in place, these programs are not always enough to counteract disability as a determiner of socioeconomic status. The government of Trinidad and Tobago does however recognize this intersection of disability and poverty. Here is information about disability and poverty in Trinidad and Tobago.

Disability on the Rise

Consistent with international trends, an aging population in Trinidad and Tobago has led to an increase in individuals living with disabilities or chronic diseases. Recent figures show that roughly 5% of the nation’s population has a disability. For a small country of 1,300,000 citizens, that means that 52,000 individuals are living with a disability. About 6% of this figure is believed to be children, accounting for around 3,000 members of the population, although a lack of early detection likely skews these numbers.

Disenfranchisement of the Disabled

The medical or charity model is the persistent model for disability treatment in Trinidad and Tobago. The medical and charity model of disability largely ostracizes the disabled community. This is due to the conceptualization of disabled individuals as other and dependent. As a strategic analysis of disability in Trinidad and Tobago has suggested, disabled individuals experience consistent disenfranchisement and exist on the peripheries of society due to prevailing social, legal and economic barriers to social integration. This social positioning acts as a financial determiner, as there is a lack of systemic support for disabled individuals to be independent income earners. As the United Nations specifies in their strategic analysis, “poor access to essential services like health care, education, employment, and transportation[…]have led to poor economic outcomes and the inability of [people with disabilities] to live self-determined lives.”

Impact of COVID-19 on Disability and Poverty in Trinidad & Tobago

The COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 exacerbated these institutional and social barriers. While the entirety of the population was facing disruption to their employment and ability to receive an education, individuals with disabilities were particularly impacted. Many people with disabilities faced increased health risks from COVID-19 and during this time many support systems that are usually in place for the disabled community were unable to effectively function.

Government Assistance Programming

Trinidad and Tobago has several governmental ministries that provide assistance to individuals with disabilities, the most prominent of which is the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. This ministry includes the dedicated Disability Affairs Unit and provides the Disability Assistance Grant to disabled adults who are unable to earn a living due to their disability. In 2019, the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services also introduced a grant for minors with disabilities to assist families in receiving costly services related to their child’s disability.

Institutional and Governmental Improvements

In addition to these existing social services for disabled individuals, the government of Trinidad and Tobago made a commitment in 2018 to update their policies surrounding the disabled population. The National Policy on Persons with Disabilities stands as a prominent component of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s Vision 2030 National Development Strategy. This policy recognizes how disability and poverty are related and has a newfound focus on improving the quality of life and social experience of disabled individuals. The policy recommends education, awareness raising, improved health care and health care access, transportation, housing and employment opportunity among other systematic improvements. The goal of these reforms is to improve not only the quality of life for disabled individuals, but also provide social integration and a form of justice to a community that has historically faced disenfranchisement and ostracization.

Looking Ahead

Historically, disability and poverty have been deeply interconnected in the Caribbean. However, recent legal and social developments aim to change the experience of disabled individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. In the wake of COVID-19 and with a changing understanding of the disabled community, the nation seeks to reform their treatment of the disabled population. As the policy states, the primary goal of these changes is to “protect and promote the human rights of all persons with disabilities.”

– Gwyneth Connor

Gwynethis based in Kensington, MD, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Disability and Poverty in Yemen: What NGOs Are Doing Right Now

Disability and Poverty in YemenBombing, blockades and economic collapse have pushed Yemen into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Disability and poverty in Yemen are deeply intertwined with 82.7% of Yemenis now living in multidimensional poverty as of 2023. Amid this emergency, at least 4.5 million people (about 15% of the population) live with a disability, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. Poverty and disability interact in a vicious cycle: conflict injuries and chronic conditions raise household expenses while stigma and inaccessible services block income opportunities.

Intersecting Barriers

Destroyed roads, damaged bridges and collapsing health facilities isolate rural districts. Families often travel for hours to reach the nearest functioning clinic, only to discover medicine shortages or unaffordable fees. Children with disabilities rarely enter classrooms because buildings lack ramps, teachers lack training and transport costs exceed family budgets. A 2023 policy study found that the Ministry of Education and the Social Fund for Development must still reach 70% of rural areas with inclusive services. Exclusion starts early and lasts a lifetime, trapping entire households in chronic poverty.

Poverty and Disability by the Numbers

War continues to expand these figures. Landmines, air-delivered munitions and improvised explosives have caused thousands of amputations since 2015, swelling rehabilitation queues and deepening poverty gaps. Disability and poverty in Yemen continues to reinforce each other with every passing year of conflict.

NGO Response: Humanity & Inclusion

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) returned to Yemen in 2014 and built a nationwide rehabilitation network. Between 2015 and 2024, HI:

  • Delivered rehabilitation sessions to 42,500 people injured or disabled by the conflict
  • Fitted 660 people with prosthetic or orthotic devices
  • Supplied 43,200 mobility aids such as crutches and wheelchairs
  • Trained 820 Yemeni health workers in disability-inclusive care
  • Provided psychosocial support to 29,800 survivors of violence and displacement

HI teams operate inside hospitals in Sana’a, Hajjah, Aden, Lajih and Taizz. Mobile outreach units extend care to frontline villages where no other provider can travel safely. By pairing physical rehabilitation with mental-health counselling, HI helps survivors regain mobility, return to school or work and reduce their dependence on cash assistance.

Government and Donor Action

While NGOs rebuild individual lives, large-scale income support remains critical. The Emergency Cash Transfer Project, which Yemen’s Social Welfare Fund launched with support from UNICEF and the World Bank’s International Development Association in August 2017, channels quarterly payments to every district in the country. By May 2018, the program had reached 1.5 million of the poorest families—about 9 million people or one-third of the population.

Each household receives the local-currency equivalent of $30 USD, a sum that covers staple foods and basic medicines and keeps children in school. Because registration lists include people with disabilities, the project injects direct purchasing power into some of the most excluded households.

Inclusive Education

The Social Fund for Development works with the Ministry of Education to expand inclusive schooling. By late 2024, the partnership had integrated children with disabilities into 400 public schools through teacher training, resource rooms and small-scale infrastructure upgrades.

Although coverage remains uneven, the initiative demonstrates how low-cost adaptations—braille textbooks, sign-language modules and community-based rehabilitation volunteers—can open classrooms and reduce long-term dependency.

Toward an Inclusive Recovery

Conflict still blocks Yemen’s path to stability, yet targeted interventions prove that progress is possible. Humanity & Inclusion restores mobility and dignity one patient at a time. The Emergency Cash Transfer Project prevents destitution for millions and keeps the economy alive at neighborhood level. Government-supported inclusive education starts to break the link between disability and illiteracy. Donors and policymakers can scale these models by:

  • Funding additional rehabilitation centers and prosthetic workshops in underserved governorates
  • Increasing cash-transfer amounts to match inflation and prioritizing recipients with disabilities
  • Embedding accessibility standards in every reconstruction contract

Yemen cannot afford to rebuild without its most vulnerable citizens. A recovery strategy that places people with disabilities at its center will not only cut poverty but also strengthen social cohesion and economic resilience. The numbers show that inclusive solutions already work; sustained investment will multiply those gains and move Yemen closer to a future where disability and poverty in Yemen no longer dictate a person’s fate.

– Nafeesah Rahman

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Disability and Poverty in Senegal

Disability and Poverty in SenegalWith the international poverty line being at $2.15/day (USD), roughly 1.7 million Senegalese live below this margin as of April 2025. While this is alarming, it is important to note that the poverty rate is steadily decreasing. As of 2023, approximately 8% of those 15 and older experience some form of functional difficulty. In terms of being considered multidimensionally poor, 88% of people with “at least a lot of functional difficulty’ are classified as such, compared to 76% of people who experience ‘no difficulty.” With both disability and poverty in Senegal being common, accessing necessary health care, education and accommodations for individuals with disabilities becomes increasingly challenging.

The Creation of the Equal Opportunity Card

Disability and poverty in Senegal impact each other. Living with a disability may be more expensive due to necessary accommodations such as wheelchairs, health care or visual assistance. Therefore, intervention is frequently necessary. First implemented in 2012, The Carte d’Égalité des Chances (CEC) originated to provide accommodations to people with disabilities. These accommodations include the Family Allowance Programme, health care such as the Universal Health Coverage Plan, assistance with employment, vocational training, education, transportation and other services that may otherwise be challenging to access.

While receiving health care prior to the CEC was possible, it was extremely difficult – especially for individuals with disabilities – due to financial reasons.

As of 2019, Senegal issued at least 50,006 cards which resulted in 17,614 individuals registering in mutual health funds, 25,507 benefitting from a family security grant and 633 gaining free access to “Dakar-Senegal dem dikk,” a public transport network. Although further work is needed to fully implement this card in society, as the International Budget Partnership explains, this card has assisted many and has the potential to continue doing so.

Inclusive Schooling

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund encouraged the Government of Senegal to re-engage with a national policy draft that supports inclusive education. Lt. Aliou Badara Diallo Elementary School, with support from the Sensorial Handicap Cooperation, has given many children the opportunity to thrive, flourish and grow, all while getting a quality education in a supportive environment.

Advancing Equal Opportunities

Humanity & Inclusion’s (HI) program in Senegal encourages the integration of people with disabilities into the workforce and society through training, vocational and economic inclusion projects. Projects that HI is running include the creation of a Master’s degree in inclusive education, introducing sign language to inclusive employment spaces and a national campaign that’s dedicated to fight prejudices which prevent children with disabilities from going to school. In addition, HI works to spread awareness and improve the accessibility of infrastructure and services.

Access to Education

Statistics prove that most disabled people in Senegal have less than primary school education. The rate is higher among people who experience “at least a lot of functional difficulty” (82%), compared to “no difficulty” (66%).

This is likely because some standard schooling lacks inclusive programs that accommodate different ways of learning. Sightsavers’ inclusive education pilot project – launched in three mainstream schools in Dakar, Senegal – ensures children with disabilities receive a proper education that meets their needs. This project is a great example of an initiative that increases education access to those with disabilities. 

The Promotion of Awareness and Support

In 2010, Senegal signed the social orientation law n°2010-15 of July 6 into law to protect the rights of people with disabilities. This law is meant to put social measures into action that ensure fair treatment and equality, however, it is loosely followed. In order for people with disabilities to fully benefit from the social orientation law n°2010-15, the implementing texts must be signed and enforced.

Accommodating Sanitation Facilities

People with disabilities, particularly those who use wheelchairs, may find it challenging to use a standard sanitation facility. Including amenities such as universally accessible toilets and showers can promote the equal treatment of people who are disabled in public spaces. A four component project called the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Senegal aims to increase the accessibility of improved water and sanitation services in selected rural areas, benefiting all individuals.

Looking Ahead

With initiatives like the Equal Opportunity Card and Lt. Aliou Badara Diallo Elementary School, decreasing discrimination while promoting equality is clearly on Senegal’s agenda. Although disability and poverty in Senegal are prevalent, they do not go ignored. Despite being a developing country that fights widespread poverty, Senegal has shown its commitment to supporting disabled individuals and ensuring fair treatment. 

– Casey Relyea

Casey is based in Moneta, VA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Disability and Poverty in Paraguay

Disability and Poverty in ParaguayLandlocked between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, Paraguay is a small country located in the center of South America. Of the working-age population (all individuals aged between 18 and 65 years old) in Paraguay, 6.9% are disabled. A disproportionate number of these individuals, when compared to able-bodied individuals, are impoverished, a clear indication of the relationship between disability and poverty in Paraguay.

Discrepancies in Disability

Though disability rates remain relatively the same across rural and urban areas, a difference exists across gender. Disability rates are nearly doubled in women at 9.7% versus 4% in men. Women make up 71% of the total disabled population in Paraguay and only 49% of non-disabled individuals.

Regarding education and employment, disabled individuals fall behind when compared with their able-bodied counterparts. For one, individuals with disabilities typically complete 0.45 fewer years of education. Additionally, 56% of individuals with disabilities complete primary school versus 72% of able-bodied individuals.

Only 49% of individuals with disabilities are employed compared with the 65% of able-bodied individuals that are employed. This gap becomes even more apparent in rural areas, where 47% of disabled individuals are employed versus 66% of able-bodied individuals. Disabled individuals are also more likely to be self-employed than able-bodied individuals (68% versus 52%).

Disability and Poverty in Paraguay

There exists a relationship between disability and poverty in Paraguay. Households with disabilities typically own fewer assets than other households. Disabled households have an asset index of 48.23, while other households have an asset index of 51.73. Households with disabilities also face higher poverty rates than those without disabilities. In both rural and urban areas, households with disabilities face a 40% poverty rate while able-bodied households face a 29% poverty rate. Notably, 9.06% of impoverished households have a disability, while only 5.93% of non-impoverished households have a disability.

Making Changes

A meeting with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities revealed that Paraguay is taking strides to improve the conditions of life for its disabled population. For one, Paraguay has started compiling an atlas of disabled individuals. Additionally, Paraguay’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Marcelo Scappinni Ricciardi stated that Paraguay’s “National Secretary for the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities had implemented a biopsychosocial model of disability with a rights-based approach.” By this model, Paraguay has established a method to monitor its progress with regard to disabled persons.

Legal Changes in Paraguay

Paraguay’s government has made various legal changes to improve conditions for individuals with disabilities. Created in 2013, Law 5136, for instance, enhances education for disabled students. This is achieved by promoting the use of accessible resources (teachers, technology, etc.) and prohibiting discrimination from members of the educational community. Not only has this law formed a more equitable environment for learning, but it also has initiated further action, providing opportunities for gifted students.

Meanwhile, Law 5421, which Paraguay implemented in 2015, forbids discrimination against disabled persons in the workplace and mandates that training services must be at least 5% aimed at individuals with disabilities. In passing this law, Paraguay creates equal opportunity to disabled individuals to seek job training and employment.

Law 6354, which Paraguay created in 2019, ensures that at least one official trained to communicate with hard-of-hearing individuals is in every State entity. This was closely followed by Law 6530 in 2020, which officially recognizes Paraguayan Sign Language. Both 6354 and 6530 have spurred the inclusion of sign language in both its education and public service sectors. Paraguay has also taken additional steps to improve mental health care. 

By improving both its educational and working environment for individuals with disabilities, Paraguay promotes equal opportunity. Furthermore, this reduces the disparity in poverty rates between its disabled and able-bodied populations. In this way, the government fights disability and poverty in Paraguay.

Looking Ahead

While discrepancies in poverty, education and employment rates remain between individuals with and without disabilities, Paraguay has taken large steps to close this gap. By implementing change in the form of legal action and fleshed-out plans for the future, Paraguay is on its way to creating an equal playing field for its disabled population.

– Ariana Wang

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

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Everything To Know About Disability and Poverty in Andorra

Disability and Poverty in AndorraMany countries have developed plans and programs to help the disabled, be it through funding, services or a mix of both. For example, Andorra’s government provides many different benefits and social programs to help combat disability and poverty in Andorra.

An Overview of Disability and Poverty in Andorra

Andorra, as a country, has impressive anti-discriminatory laws when it comes to disabled groups in its nation. Andorra is a signatory of the 2006 United Nations (UN) resolution, “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).” In accordance with being a signatory to this resolution, Andorra offers numerous provisions to “general obligations of the public authorities with respect to the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities.” This includes “[improving] access to communication for all persons with disabilities,” providing protections for service dogs, and regulating that landlords will not charge renters for improvements to their dwellings with the intention of improving accessibility.

In addition, disabled members of Andorra’s population are allowed to access public funds—such as disability pensions and social insurance—in order to help them pay for food, rent and other basic necessities, provided they meet a certain number of criteria.

Disability Benefits

The government of Andorra gives much to the disabled community to combat disability and poverty in Andorra. For most, the government calculates the amount of a disability pension that someone is entitled to by “multiplying the insured’s total lifetime pension points by the value of the pension point.”

There are multiple pension types in Andorra as well, each corresponding to a specific disability benefit that the government offers. For example, Andorra offers social insurance to the disabled so long as the disabled are younger than the retirement age. Additionally, recipients must have an assessed earning loss of at least 60% due to their disability and have at least 12 months of contributions if they are under the age of 21.

The disability solidarity pension, meanwhile, offers disability benefits to those who are older than 18 but younger than the retirement age of Andorra. The income of the disabled must also be less than the “social cohesion threshold,” which is “100% of the legal monthly minimum wage for a person living alone[…] plus 50% for each dependent child younger than age 14.”

Once someone who is disabled reaches the Andorran retirement age, the Andorran government phases out of the disability pension program they are on, and phases them into Andorra’s old age pension system.

Looking Ahead

Studying how the Andorran government is combating disability and poverty in Andorra can be beneficial in numerous ways. For one, it can allow people to fully understand how Andorra can apply the social policies it has to help the disabled to the general population. Understanding the framework for how Andorra cares for its disabled can help to combat areas of social division where Andorra is lacking. One such example is coverage of essential health services, which, as of 2021, UNICEF marked as only average compared to other nations.

– Caelan Caukin

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Disability and Poverty in Rwanda

Disability and Poverty in RwandaPoverty is a worldwide issue; statistics show that 700 million people (8.5% of the population) suffer from extreme poverty. Rwanda has a poverty rate of 27.4%, with 5% of the population being disabled. Being impoverished causes disabilities due to inadequate medical care and long distances to hospitals for aid. Here is information about disability and poverty in Rwanda.

About Poverty in Rwanda

In Rwanda, poverty has decreased for the past two decades, with the Human Development Report (HDR) reporting that Rwanda’s Human Development Index (HDI) is ranked 159 of 193 countries. The gross network income is an estimated 2,971 in 2023, compared to 2013, which was 1,995. One of the direct causes of poverty in Rwanda is the corruption that has been prominent for 60 years. During the late 1950s to 1994, the genocide of Tutsi led to “thousands being displaced and forced to flee to neighboring countries.” Tutsis in Rwanda were unable to financially or physically provide care for themselves or their children due to the discrimination that they faced and the fear of being killed.

The genocide of Tutsis still impacts Rwanda because, according to journalists, Rwanda is “not free” regarding civil liberties such as freedom of speech, and points to a lack of free and fair elections. In addition to the genocide, there is no trust within the government and the people of Rwanda. Government corruption and lack of transparency damage public institutions by the misuse of funds, and the lack of equality between the government and its people, “reducing social trust.”

Disabilities in Rwanda

Poverty is a pipeline for disabilities. Physical work is essential to earning money in Rwanda as statistics from the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) “demonstrate that 90% of households are farmers and 83% raise livestock.” Certain physical and mental disabilities do not allow people to work in Rwanda. As statistics show, since 90% of households rely on physical labor, it is difficult for disabled individuals to financially provide for themselves. As a result, disabled individuals are likely to experience poverty unless they have a caretaker. 

Causes of Disabilities in Rwanda

A disease that is likely to cause mobility issues, which then turns into a disability, is malaria. Malaria was a prominent issue in Rwanda, with the CDC reporting that travelers should take prescriptions for malaria medication before, during, and after a trip. With Rwanda being impoverished, malaria is unlikely to be treated due to the lack of funding that medical care does not receive, and as a result, people lose their limbs. However, statistics from the Malaria Journal demonstrate that malaria, from 2018 to 2023, has significantly decreased, with only 50,000 people dying from malaria in 2023 in staggering comparison to 2018, where 500,000 people, including children, died of malaria.

Malaria has rapidly decreased due to the increase in medical care provided by medical professionals. Medical professionals are more accessible in Rwanda, including impoverished areas. As a result, they diagnose malaria early on, and consequently, this leads to proper health care and treatment, preventing death.

Ignorance of disabilities in young children who live in poverty-stricken countries such as Rwanda leads to malnutrition, mistreatment, diseases and death. Specifically, children with physical disabilities like cerebral palsy and craniofacial deformities such as a cleft lip and palate are more likely to suffer due to neglect.

Prosthetics in Rwanda

For decades, individuals who have lost their limbs due to those circumstances were not able to have the proper care or financial stability to have options of having a prosthetic limb. Recently, that has changed. In 2020, UNDP Rwanda and “non-profit Swiss Limbs and Home de la Vierge des Pauvres (HPV) Gatagara Centre in Rwanda established a technology that creates state-of-the-art prosthetics.” The collaboration between the organizations produced around 2,000 devices to provide for the people of Rwanda who had lost some or full mobility in specific body parts.

According to Emile Niyonkuru, one of the technicians who has helped with the process of prosthetics, “Producing a positive cast of a corset to correct the posture of Jolie Mwubahamana, a 12-year-old girl with scoliosis, only took us one hour using 3D milling technology.” The use of prosthetics in Rwanda improves people’s quality of life by allowing them to choose a prosthetic if needed. 

Disability and Poverty in Rwanda

Disability and poverty correlate in Rwanda because the lack of care for disabled individuals causes poverty in an already impoverished country. According to UNDP Rwanda, minorities, such as disabled people, are more likely to “systematically experience poorer health outcomes; lower educational achievements; less economic, political, and cultural participation; higher rates of poverty; increased dependency and less legal protection than others.”

The Development of Smart White Canes

The accommodations for disabled individuals have become more prominent over the last decade, with innovative inventions from other countries being imported to Rwanda, having a helpful impact on the disabled community. An example of this is smart white canes, a walking stick for people in Rwanda who are visually impaired. The UNDP Accelerator Lab, a local tech company in Rwanda called Beno Holdings and the Rwanda Union of the Blind developed the smart white cane in 2021. Amani Niyoyita, one of the pioneers and inventors of the cane, mentions that it is fully electronic, and that it “tracks where they are located because it has GPS of wherever they are. This means the stick can’t be stolen and go missing because it can be tracked using a mobile phone or machine using a software we have developed,” meaning that it is extremely reliable and convenient.

Looking Ahead

Rwanda still has the issue of poverty and the lack of social understanding from the government, but the country has taken many steps to elevate itself. Compared to the last decade since 2013, the life expectancy has increased by 3.1%, from 64.7 to 64.8. There is also an increase in care for disabled individuals via nonprofit organizations and collaborations to decrease poverty. With added resources for able people and to address disability and poverty in Rwanda, poverty in Rwanda is likely to decrease significantly over the next decade.

– Erin Lee

Erin is based in Queens, New York, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Economic Prospects: Disability and Poverty in Italy

Economic Prospects: Disability and Poverty in ItalyItaly’s young people with disabilities live at the intersection of two systemic failures: underfunded support services and a labor market that often views them as liabilities. A 2023 study by CBM Italia and Fondazione E. Zancan found that nearly nine in 10 families with a disabled member struggle financially, highlighting the link between disability and poverty in Italy. Instead of cash handouts, 90% of these families emphasized the need for “humanized” support such as home care, accessible therapies, mobility aids and social programs. Drawing from interviews with nearly 300 individuals aged 14 to 55, the survey highlights the persistent link between disability and poverty in Italy.

Poverty and Isolation Undermine Independence

Approximately 5.6 million Italians—about 9.7% of the population—live in absolute poverty. The study also found that one in six families received no institutional support and more than 70% had no friends or community network to help. Without access to day centers or assisted living, parents become full-time carers, which limits young people’s independence. Despite legal frameworks like Law 104/1992 and Italy’s 2009 ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, many young Italians with disabilities still face marginalization in both policy and practice.

Gaps in Education Access

Italy’s inclusive education reveals significant shortcomings upon closer inspection. About 338,000 students with disabilities (4.1% of pupils) attended school in 2022–23, but demand continues to outpace support. The student–aide ratio is 1.6:1 and one-third of support teachers lack specialized training. Additionally, 12% are assigned after the school year begins. Inclusion is highly discontinuous: some 60% of disabled students change their support teacher every year. Parents report that once children reach the age of 16–18, most free supports end abruptly. As a result, many families privately pay for therapies or aides, from physiotherapy to educational tutors. According to the European Commission, in the Piedmont region, only 2.9% of people with disabilities have attained a university degree, with most leaving the education system after lower secondary school.

Barriers to Employment

Limited qualifications restrict future opportunities. Only about 36% of Italians with disabilities hold paid employment, compared to 60% of their nondisabled peers. The unemployment rate for disabled adults sits at 20%, nearly double that of others. In the CBM/Zancan survey, 38% of respondents were declared legally unable to work. In the South, that figure rises to 46%. Law 68/1999 mandates companies to hire workers with disabilities, but participation remains limited. Many eligible youths do not register for job quotas and few secure long-term employment. Northern regions offer more services and placements, while southern youth rely primarily on disability pensions.

Toward Inclusive Solutions

Italy’s disability policy still has critical gaps. Public spending on social and support services is low and uneven and complex bureaucratic assessments fragment aid. To foster autonomy and inclusion, the OECD’s 2023 report recommends expanding day centers, improving training programs and enforcing quota laws with real incentives.

– Lucrezia Frascati

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

Photo: Flickr

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Disability and Poverty in Nicaragua 

Disability and Poverty in NicaraguaNicaragua is home to almost 7 million people and is known for its bewitching terrain of grand lakes and vibrant volcanoes. The Central American country is rich in agriculture and colonial architecture. However, disability and poverty in Nicaragua is a concern to many. The efforts to take action on these issues are very low, with political officials choosing to ignore them. People with disabilities often live in extreme poverty due to the lack of measures taken to protect them.

Roughly 10-15% of the population in Nicaragua is disabled, which is around 700,000 to 1 million people. People experience numerous types of disabilities, ranging from physical, mental and intellectual. The most common being limb amputees and individuals with paralysis. The causes can vary from conditions present at birth, chronic diseases such as noncommunicable diseases, or exposure to occupational hazards. A large contributor is deficiencies in pre- and post-natal care and not having proper access to medical resources during pregnancy. 

The Parallels Between Disability and Poverty in Nicaragua

About 12.5% of the population lived in poverty as of 2023. While it is unknown how many people with disabilities are living in extreme poverty, disability and poverty are exceedingly relevant to each other. Disabled citizens in Nicaragua often do not have access to employment opportunities, increasing their chances of living in poverty.

They often face nationwide discrimination and ridicule. The social stigma in Nicaragua perceives these people as “less than human.” People with disabilities in Nicaragua often do not have access to public health facilities and other institutions. In Nicaragua, in the absence of modern medical advances, those with disabilities struggle for services beyond basic care. Only 10%, who are classified as having severe disabilities, receive regular health care and are able to do home improvements.

Individuals with disabilities encounter inhumane treatment in their homes and in public. They experience neglect domestically and often cannot meet their basic needs, such as adequate shelter and food. Being isolated from their families because they are perceived as inferior can hinder their emotional development, causing serious effects on their mental health. Both their families and the government often abandon them, failing to protect their rights.

Political State of Nicaragua

In recent events, Nicaragua has amended its constitution to grant expansive powers to the president, Daniel Ortega. This comprises influence over media, extending the presidential term to six years, the vice president, Rosario Murillo, becoming a co-president, and permission to pick any number of vice presidents. These tyrannical sets of laws will block any Nicaraguan process. This also could be critical for the protection of persons with disabilities, which previously under laws were deficient.

Under the Nicaraguan law “Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” 2% of public officials should be people with disabilities, yet legislation does nothing to enforce this or meet the quota by any means. The law that aims to protect people with disabilities is not respected. The United Nations has stated its concerns about the measures “acted upon” under the law. On Apr.23, 2024, the UN, in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, expressed observations on the treatment of the disabled in Nicaragua. Some of the topics discussed were what legislation has done to recognize their discrimination, if there is a system in place for receiving grievances and action taken in this connection and the poverty among children with disabilities. With these repercussions from the government, the safety of these citizens will be endangered.

Efforts From the Community

There are rare services offering aid to disabled people in Nicaragua. In Juigalpa, Nicaragua, there is a small organization that helps protect disabled people. External funding and local efforts to create a safe haven for people supports Fundacion Cristiana Comunitaria para Personas con Discapacidad Ruach, translated Ruach Christian Community Foundation for People With Disabilities. It provides care and attention. Individuals participate in activities that boost social skills, self-esteem and overall happiness. It protects them from abuse and neglect that comes within their households.

Ruach has stated that its main goal is to change society’s perspective and remind others that these people, individually, have something positive to offer to the world—that they have skills and attributes that are capable of creation. The project currently works with seven adults but hopes to expand to support 24 disabled people across the nation. Today, it has raised enough money to give people with disabilities a home to be themselves. Its dedication shows that disability and poverty in Nicaragua are not hopeless.

Conclusion

Individuals with disabilities in Nicaragua face economic hardships, jarring discrimination and difficulty accessing health facilities. These pressing concerns showcase an intersection of poverty and political neglect. As the government continues to ignore the marginalized group, the social stigma of persons with disabilities worsens. This makes it essential for change in Nicaragua. Society, organizations and individuals should address discrimination, advocate for modern medicine and reinforce the laws that are intended to protect their rights. Ultimately, fostering an inclusive environment can benefit in recognizing the contributions and skills disabled citizens possess.

 – Kassandra Ticas

Kassandra is based in Gardner, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr