Archive for category: Economy

Information and stories about economy.

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Poverty Reduction in Vietnam

Poverty Reduction in VietnamSince the Vietnam War, the country faced severe poverty, with major upheavals leaving many people struggling until around 1990. Since then, however, it has taken significant steps to transform itself into a dynamic and developing nation rather than one defined by poverty. Three key approaches to reducing poverty from the late ’90s to the present are economic growth, agricultural development and poverty reduction programs.

Economic Growth

Economically, Vietnam has reduced poverty over the past decades through several key strategies, including the introduction of the Đổi Mới reforms and increased participation in international trade. Initiated to shift the country from a centrally planned system to a more market-oriented economy, these reforms allowed individuals to start businesses, supported agricultural workers and attracted foreign investment.

International trade expanded significantly not only because of the Đổi Mới reforms but also because Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007. This move introduced new trading partners, including the U.S. and the European Union. It opened the door to new economic opportunities, advanced technology and business growth.

By transforming its economy in these ways, Vietnam created more financial opportunities and improved living conditions for its people. These changes helped many communities rise out of poverty and move toward a more stable and prosperous future.

Advancing Agriculture

Another way Vietnam has reduced poverty is by developing its agricultural sector. The government promoted household farming, which significantly increased productivity, created jobs and improved food distribution. These changes began with the Đổi Mới reforms and continued to expand in the years that followed. 

Vietnam transformed from an impoverished nation into one of the world’s leading rice exporters. As global demand for rice grew, incomes for agricultural workers increased. Access to personal land also made it easier for people to find work and earn a stable income, reducing barriers related to location and job availability.

Overall, the growth of agriculture played a major role in reducing poverty, with poverty declining by about 1–2% per year.

Poverty Reduction Programs in Vietnam

Vietnam has alleviated poverty by implementing various poverty reduction programs in recent years to prevent its recurrence. These include the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (2021–2025) and the National Targeted Program on New Rural Development (NTP-NRD).

Vietnam’s National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction focuses on reducing poverty among the poorest regions and ethnic minorities. The program aimed to halve the number of poor and near-poor households by 2025. It supports projects like infrastructure, livelihood programs, vocational training, housing and access to social services to improve living standards and reduce inequality.

The NTP-NRD is a program designed to modernize rural areas in Vietnam by improving education, healthcare, income and livelihoods, while also reducing poverty. It focuses on supporting communities that have not experienced significant economic progress over the past decade, particularly those in areas with limited access to resources and services. The program extends to more than 9,000 communes across all 63 provinces in the country.

Final Remarks

Over the past decade, Vietnam has made significant strides in improving living conditions, transforming from widespread poverty to a country admired for its progress. The nation has advanced across diverse sectors, including economic and agricultural development and the implementation of various social programs.

– Danielle Johnson

Danielle is based in Knoxville, TN, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis Recovery

Sri Lanka’s CrisisSovereign debt, the money a country borrows from international lenders, is an important source of financing for governments to invest in growth and development. Many countries rely on foreign borrowing, but if the debt becomes unsustainable, it can lead to economic crises and increased poverty. In 2023, the United Nations (U.N.) warned that some governments are now spending more on servicing debt than on essential sectors such as health and education.

Global public debt has risen rapidly, with almost 40% of the developing world in serious debt. As a result, many developing countries face a difficult choice between paying their debts and investing in public services such as health care, education and infrastructure. The situation requires greater transparency, stronger tools to ensure debt sustainability and faster debt restructuring agreements between governments, private creditors and international financial institutions.

Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis

Sri Lanka, a lower-middle-income developing country, experienced a severe economic crisis in 2022 when the government failed to repay its foreign debt for the first time in its history. Before this, Sri Lanka had maintained a perfect record of external debt repayment since gaining independence in 1948. The default triggered the worst economic crisis the country had ever faced. 

Prices increased dramatically and there were shortages of essential goods, including fuel, food and medicine. Fuel shortages meant buses, trains and medical vehicles struggled to operate, while gas and diesel prices rose sharply. Schools had to close and many people had to work from home to conserve fuel. The country also experienced long power cuts and widespread inflation, including food inflation that reached 95%. 

Additionally, taxes on goods were doubled, electricity prices increased and fuel subsidies were removed. As a result, poverty in Sri Lanka doubled, reaching 26% of the population, with millions of people pushed into hardship.

What Caused the Crisis?

One of the key causes of Sri Lanka’s crisis was a shortage of foreign currency. The country imported about $3 billion more goods each year than it exported, which gradually drained its foreign exchange reserves. By the end of 2019, Sri Lanka had about $7.6 billion in foreign reserves, but this rapidly fell to around $250 million, leaving the country unable to repay its sovereign debt. 

Government policy decisions also worsened the situation. In 2019, large tax cuts introduced by the government reduced public revenue by more than $1.4 billion per year. This weakened the country’s finances and made it more difficult to service its debt. 

How the Government Responded

To address Sri Lanka’s crisis, the government proposed using funds from workers’ retirement savings to help repay the country’s debt. The government also sought international support. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) determined that Sri Lanka’s debt was unsustainable and agreed to provide a $3 billion loan while helping design an economic recovery program. 

The government also sought financial assistance from other partners to mitigate the crisis’s impact on citizens, with its major creditors, including China and India, agreeing to extend the repayment timeline. As part of the recovery plan, Sri Lanka also introduced tax increases on products such as fuel and food. Furthermore, it announced plans to raise funds by restructuring state-owned enterprises and privatizing the national airline. 

In 2024, Sri Lanka’s national debt was formally restructured after negotiations with creditors. However, challenges remain. In 2025, a cyclone caused further devastation, prompting people to call for a suspension of the country’s debt repayments. 

What Happens Next?

By 2024, Sri Lanka’s economy had stabilized faster than expected, surpassing the performances of other debt-defaulting countries. Inflation fell to single digits, but stabilization alone is not enough. The country has often failed to introduce deeper structural reforms after past crises. For long-term recovery, it will need strong political commitment to implement policies that encourage sustainable growth.

Many experts argue that Sri Lanka will need debt relief or cancellation to recover fully. People need decent jobs, wages, rights, social protection, inclusion and equality. The outcome will also serve as an important test for international organizations such as the IMF in how they manage sovereign debt crises and it will demonstrate the urgent need to reform how debt crises are managed. 

– Jeanne Pellet

Jeanne is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Ambitious Plans: Poverty Reduction in Indonesia

Poverty Reduction in IndonesiaIndonesia has created a plan to reduce its poverty levels, with the goal of reaching nearly zero percent of citizens living in poverty by the end of 2026. Local leaders have set plans in motion to achieve poverty reduction in Indonesia. These plans include providing social assistance to struggling families to ensure they obtain access to funds and resources, opening tens of thousands of local schools across Indonesia to increase access to education, and adjusting budgets to provide room for new jobs, food aid and reducing carbon emissions.

Indonesia’s Economic Landscape

Composed of more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is the most populous country in Southeast Asia and the fourth most populous in the world. Indonesia has maintained a stable economy over the years, known for its role in managing imports. However, approximately 24.8 million people, or 8.7% of the population, were considered poor as of early 2025. Indonesia aims to target extreme poverty, planning to reduce the percentage to 7% by 2026 and 4.5% by 2029. Indonesia also plans for economic growth to increase by 5.4% to 6% over the next year to support poverty reduction in Indonesia.

Tracking Poverty Through Data

To ensure that these changes hold, Indonesia has launched the National Socio-Economic Single Data System (DTSEN), a method used to identify citizens who live below the poverty line and need social support so that assistance can be provided. The database allows for the distribution of resources to those who need them. The DTSEN provides access to food aid, health insurance and services to those who are struggling. This effort, which involves cooperation from the government as well as various social groups, seeks to benefit citizens’ well-being and increase poverty reduction in Indonesia.

Expanding Access to Education

One of the most notable parts of Indonesia’s plan is the construction of more than 70,000 school units over the course of 2026. Education is a strong focus within Indonesia’s goal to reduce regional poverty through the Indonesia Bright Program (PIP), which offers funding for hundreds of thousands of young students. The program intends not only to raise educational opportunities for young students but also to ensure that the units being built meet high-quality standards, addressing issues such as poor building structures, leaky roofs and a lack of sanitation within schools.

Budgetary Reform and Land Allocation

To make these changes work, leaders met in December 2025 to propose a new strategic framework that allows citizens to access more equal opportunities and provides those who are struggling with the resources they need. Indonesia also plans to allocate state-owned land to more than 1 million poor families in another effort to reduce poverty in the country.

Looking Ahead

Indonesia’s plan to reduce poverty by the end of 2026 is ambitious but has shown early progress. By investing in social assistance, education and economic reform, poverty reduction in Indonesia can move from a goal to a measurable outcome.

– Will Mancuso

Will is based in Lake Mary, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Angola’s National Development Plan

Angola's National Development PlanAngola is a large country located in southern Africa, currently bordered by Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Like many other newly founded countries, Angola had to fight to gain its independence from Portugal in 1975. The challenges that come with managing a recently established country, such as recovering from the aftermath of war and the side effects of malnutrition, would cause its community to struggle. 

Thankfully, Angola would be able to overcome its many hurdles because its land is a natural hotspot for vital resources, including gems, metals, petroleum and, most importantly, oil. Ranked among the highest oil producers in Africa, Angola has quickly become reliant on oil as a means of survival. While crucial at the time for residents to thrive in harsh conditions, this has eventually led to the depletion of the resource and, if not monitored, will decline to the point where no one can use it.

Structural Reforms in Angola

As of 2026, Angolan leaders are implementing measures that, if successful, will diversify the country’s economy and reduce Angola’s overreliance on oil, which accounts for more than 95% of its exports. These structural reforms also serve to improve upper management and create more jobs for citizens in Angola who are struggling to find work. The idea of reform in Angola also faces challenges related to debt burdens, owing money to countries such as its largest oil importer, China, which makes it difficult to earn and maintain a sustainable income. 

Angola’s national debt has also increased sharply due to its heavy reliance on oil, as fluctuations in oil prices shape the country’s economic performance. In general, oil is a finite, nonrenewable resource. If overexploited, it can lead to the depletion of resources such as heat, fuel and electricity, all of which are valuable and can actively harm or put Angolan residents at risk.

The National Development Plan

Angola’s National Development Plan is currently being implemented. Enacted in 2023, this plan, once fully implemented, aims to expand the economy by more than 3.5% and urges workers to spend less time extracting oil and more time in other sectors, including agriculture, fisheries and health services. At the core of this strategy are reforms to enhance the business environment, support small and medium-sized enterprises and invest in infrastructure. 

These efforts also include the progressive privatization of state-owned enterprises in collaboration with international partners, such as the World Bank. The intended end goal of Angola’s National Development Plan is to achieve significant positive results by 2027. 

Lobito Corridor Transport Initiative

The Lobito Corridor transport initiative is another economic reform intended to help diversify Angola’s economy. The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300-kilometer major economic railway that runs through various ports in Angola and neighboring countries, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This railway not only connects the three bordering countries but also facilitates the easier transportation of the land’s valuable natural resources. 

The corridor can unlock the country’s economic potential, increase export opportunities and promote regional integration.

Final Remarks

Despite Angola’s occasional economic conflicts stemming from its overexploitation of oil and other nonrenewable resources, the country’s leaders have successfully addressed instances of resource depletion. Solutions such as the National Development Plan and the Lobito Corridor are being implemented, offering the possibility of positive change in the future. However, long-term improvement cannot be achieved overnight. 

– Will Mancuso

Will is based in Lake Mary, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Informal Economy in Uganda Supports Poverty Reduction

Informal Economy in UgandaThe informal economy in Uganda plays a significant role in employment and household income across the country. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the majority of workers in Uganda operate in informal jobs, including street vendors, small-scale farmers, artisans and micro-entrepreneurs. While these activities provide income opportunities, many workers face challenges such as limited access to credit, training and legal protections. In response, the government and development partners have introduced initiatives designed to strengthen informal businesses and help individuals transition into more stable economic opportunities.

Parish Development Model

One policy initiative addressing the informal economy in Uganda is the Parish Development Model. Launched by the government of Uganda in 2022, the program aims to help subsistence households participate more actively in the country’s money economy.

The Parish Development Model focuses on delivering financial services, agricultural support and business development resources at the parish level. Through local savings groups and small business financing, the initiative encourages entrepreneurship among low-income households. By supporting small-scale economic activity within communities, the program aims to improve income stability and reduce rural poverty.

SENTE

Another initiative addressing the informal economy in Uganda is the Supporting Jua-Kali Enterprises to Transition into the Formal Economy (SENTE) Program. The SENTE Program provides tools, equipment and training to informal business groups such as mechanics, metalworkers and carpenters.

These programs focus on helping workers increase productivity and expand their operations. Access to improved equipment allows artisans to produce goods more efficiently and improve product quality. In turn, these changes help small enterprises increase income and create employment opportunities within their communities.

Affordable Empowerment Credit Program

Financial inclusion initiatives also play a role in supporting informal workers. The Affordable Empowerment Credit Program offers low-interest loans designed to help individuals start or expand small businesses.

Access to credit remains a barrier for many informal entrepreneurs who lack traditional banking relationships. Programs that provide affordable financing allow small business owners to purchase materials, invest in equipment and grow their enterprises. These financial tools can reduce economic vulnerability while encouraging long-term economic participation.

Skilling Uganda Program

Workforce training initiatives also contribute to strengthening the informal economy in Uganda. The Skilling Uganda Program focuses on vocational education and technical skills development for young people and unemployed workers.

Through training in trades such as construction, mechanics and tailoring, the program helps individuals gain practical skills that can support income generation. Many graduates use these skills to establish small businesses or secure employment in local industries. By expanding access to technical education, Skilling Uganda supports workforce development and economic mobility.

Looking Ahead 

Programs supporting the informal economy in Uganda demonstrate how policy initiatives can help strengthen small businesses and improve economic stability. Government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model, SENTE Program, Affordable Empowerment Credit Program and Skilling Uganda Program provide financial resources, training and equipment that support workers seeking to expand their economic opportunities.

As these initiatives continue to develop, they highlight the importance of supporting informal workers as part of broader poverty reduction strategies. Strengthening the informal economy in Uganda can help expand employment opportunities, increase household incomes and support long-term economic development across communities.

– Jason Hill

Jason is based in Fullerton, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Poverty in Lebanon

Poverty in LebanonPoverty in Lebanon has become one of the country’s most urgent humanitarian challenges. By 2024, around 44% of the population was living in monetary poverty, while almost 80% were suffering from multidimensional poverty. By 2025, nearly 80% of families were in urgent need of support and 31% of households lacked sufficient drinking water, putting them at risk of disease. 

The Economic Crisis

To understand poverty in Lebanon, it is necessary to revisit 2019, when the country’s financial system collapsed under years of mismanagement, massive debt and corruption. The economy had long depended on imports, remittances and high interest rates rather than domestic production. When foreign inflows slowed and confidence in banks crumbled, the fallout was severe. The currency crashed, savings disappeared, poverty escalated and basic services like electricity, health care and transport stopped working.

What followed was one of the worst economic collapses in modern history. Between 2019 and 2023, the Lebanese pound lost more than 98% of its value while food prices rose by 350%, the highest food price inflation recorded anywhere in the world. Families were forced to cut back on food, health care and basic expenses and the value of a lifetime of savings evaporated almost overnight. Years later, the crisis is far from over and has devastated daily life for millions of people. 

Social Protection Programs in Lebanon

Social protection programs help cushion people from poverty through cash transfers, pensions and school feeding schemes. The World Bank finances the two largest social protection programs in Lebanon: The National Poverty Targeting Program (NPTP) and the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN). In 2021, the NPTP reached only 1.5% of the population, which led to the ESSN in 2022. 

The ESSN now covers around 142,000 families, providing roughly $100 per month alongside support for schooling and health services. The ESSN, also known as AMAN, assists people living below the poverty line. Around 800,000 people now receive assistance through the ESSN. 

However, in 2023, the World Bank provided an additional $300 million to expand the ESSN, extending cash transfers to 160,000 households and covering school costs for students. Three years later, in 2026, it approved a further $350 million to support social protection, promote the economic inclusion of women and youth and accelerate the digitalization of key public services. The investment aims to strengthen Lebanon’s economic recovery, support job creation and improve the state’s long-term ability to deliver meaningful public services to all citizens.

Oxfam’s Response to Poverty in Lebanon

Oxfam has been working in Lebanon since 1993, providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people. Its current five-year (2023-2028) plan focuses on accessible financial solutions, renewable energy projects and helping businesses survive the economic crisis. Marwan Isaam, a researcher and policy advisor at Oxfam Lebanon, told The Borgen Project that the organization works at multiple levels.

On the humanitarian front, Oxfam provides cash assistance to households for food, rent or multipurpose needs. As he explains, “This is usually not done directly by Oxfam; we work with local organizations to deliver them. We always try not to impose our projects from above; we try to understand communities, to see what they need.” Its work also combines short and long-term interventions. “For example, we provide the family with $200 and at the same time, we train the youth on finding jobs and securing long-term employment. We answer the short-term needs and long-term needs,” Isaam says. 

Community Focus

Oxfam also collaborates with ministries to strengthen social development capacities. It works with municipalities on water networks and agriculture to secure resources for communities. It also produces research and policy reports on poverty and food security, which are sent to policymakers in an effort to influence them. 

What sets Oxfam apart is its approach to targeting. Rather than using proxy means-testing to identify the very most impoverished individuals, it focuses on reaching entire communities. “We try to push for more universal social production measures, like reaching an entire group or entire region instead of trying to pinpoint who is the poorest, which comes with a lot of targeting issues,” Issam explains. 

This also means extending support to groups that are excluded from government programs due to discrimination, including migrants, while prioritizing women and refugees who often lack access that other households might have. “What’s interesting about the work we do at targeting is that we often try to reach communities that are not reached by your mainstream social protection programs,” he adds.

Signs of Improvements

Lebanon’s government has made limited reforms, but some progress is visible. By 2025, signs of stabilization began to emerge for the first time since the crisis began, with inflation falling to double digits and the economy recording positive growth. Food insecurity also improved, driven by moderate inflation, remittances and continued humanitarian assistance. 

Politically, the election of a new president and prime minister brought renewed pledges to tackle the economic crisis. The cabinet approved a draft law to establish a mechanism for returning depositors’ funds lost during the crisis. The draft still needs to be approved by parliament to become law. 

However, it is the government’s first attempt to return funds to individual depositors whose bank accounts were frozen. Issam welcomes some of these developments but remains cautious. “There are some areas where adaptability and transparency have improved,” he says, “but the main model of how the country operates at an economic level, at the political level, so far remained unchanged.” 

He argues that the socioeconomic system still prioritizes protecting business and political elites and marginalizes underserved communities.

The Future of Poverty Policy in Lebanon

After years of crisis, something has shifted. A new government, a stabilizing economy and renewed investment in social protection signal cautious progress. While Lebanon has not yet fully recovered, recovery may finally be within reach for the first time in years.

– Jeanne Pellet

Jeanne is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Communal Living Benefits the Rural Poor in India

How Communal Living Benefits the Rural Poor in IndiaA single woman, a resident of Kambam near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, spoke about her family and friends organizing fundraisers. The funds went into assembling more than 1,000 grocery bags for low-income families living in the town. It is quite common for local communities in different parts of the nation to look after the rural poor in India.

India, while known for its overpopulated cities, is also prominently known for its vast rural landscape. Numerous small towns and villages where community living is the backbone still continue to exist. Kambam is one such town. On speaking to more locals in the region, there seemed to be several unofficial and low-key groups. These groups consistently reached out to the needy living in their area.

The Rural Poor in India

According to a recent SBI Research report, rural poverty has recorded a significant reduction. The report stated that in FY24, rural poverty accounted for about 4.86%, falling from 25% in 2011-12. This represents a notable reduction in rural poverty.

Taking a broader view of impoverished people in rural areas of the country brings several aspects to light. Similar to their surroundings, they more often tend to live as groups rather than individuals.

Secondly, experts state that there exists a notable disparity between homelessness in rural and urban areas. A recent census shows that 52% of India’s homeless live in urban areas, while 47% live in rural regions. Most of this population, however, lives in very inadequate and substandard housing situations. Nevertheless, studies show that they are less likely to be stranded on the streets like their urban counterparts.

On the other hand, access to health care and other basic facilities is often more difficult to reach in rural areas in India. These individuals, particularly those residing in remote parts, also face difficulties claiming the benefits of governmental schemes that can aid them in improving their lifestyles.

The Impact of Communal Living on the Rural Poor

India, similar to other Asian countries, exhibits a community-based lifestyle. This cultural approach has positive effects on people living below the poverty line. As mentioned earlier, casual conversations with locals in South India indicated the existence of several community outreach groups. 

One group of young women hosts a cooking-based group. Members gather for a day of cooking, chatting and working together. They cook large meals, pack them and distribute them to areas where low-income residents live. These women report a sense of fulfillment through such outreach activities and say it provides a break from their routine. 

Within the Muslim community in Kambam, following the rule of obligatory charity (“Zakath”), residents contribute regularly. Volunteers collect these funds and use them to help people who require health care assistance. This support can also extend to education and livelihood assistance.

These observations highlight the outcomes of communal living for people experiencing poverty. Studies also suggest that people living in rural India often approach the poor as members of their community.

As a result, individuals may help those who do not have access to basic life needs. For instance, it is common for a rural shopkeeper to give excess vegetables to a struggling person in the neighborhood.

Communities and Government Programs

In the last few decades, rural poverty has notably reduced. Several factors have contributed to this. While communal living and similar practices often provide short-term assistance, government schemes have focused on long-term solutions.

The central government’s housing schemes have contributed to reductions in homelessness. A research paper observes the difference between 2001 and 2011, showing a 28% decline in homelessness between the two decades.

In February 2025, the central government announced a new set of schemes focused on empowering rural communities. These initiatives aim to increase housing, employment, infrastructure and poverty alleviation efforts in rural areas.

Apart from governmental schemes and NGOs, projects often partner with local communities to enhance outreach and productivity. One such project was PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas). This large program began in 2001, with former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam playing an integral role.

The project involved governments working with businesses and local communities to implement long-term solutions in rural areas. Although there were challenges, private-sector PURA initiatives reported more effective results. These outcomes ranged across housing, transport, education and employment.

Urban Versus Rural Poverty in India

Multiple studies suggest that rural poverty reduction in India has occurred at higher rates than urban poverty. One report stated that of the 22% of people experiencing poverty in India, nearly 25% live in urban areas. When considering that 70% of the nation’s population lives in rural areas, this suggests a higher concentration of poverty in urban settings. Additionally, homelessness shows higher rates in urban compared with rural India. While multiple factors contribute to this difference, lifestyle may be one factor. Urban environments often involve more individualistic living conditions compared with rural communities.

Looking Ahead

Global poverty can take many forms and requires diverse responses. Rural poverty in India highlights the need for strategies that combine government initiatives with community participation. In recent decades, government programs and community-based efforts have contributed to reducing poverty in rural areas. These approaches continue to support rural communities by improving access to services and economic opportunities.

– Shafika Fathima

Shafika is based in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Spark Microgrants: Building Durable Livelihoods in Africa

spark micrograntSpark Microgrants is an organization working in Africa that provides cash grants and development support to small villages in order to encourage long-term economic growth. Through its two key pillars, durable livelihoods and collective agency, Spark Microgrants has helped more than 1,300 villages develop durable livelihoods in Africa. What started as a small initiative in Rwanda in 2010 has now reached more than 1 million people in Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, and Burundi.

The Three-Phase Method

Spark Microgrant’s method is particular, as it wants to avoid imposing its practices and ideas on the citizens of the villages, so it adopted a village-driven process. This means that the organization puts the decision-making for the projects in the hands of those who will be using it, allowing them to build on pre-existing indigenous practices.

In fact, the first phase of the development project requires the village to identify its local assets, so that the economic growth that follows stems from pre-existing resources and not external, unsustainable support. Then, through six months of village planning meetings open to all village members, they must develop a vision or plan for how to utilise these resources in their favour, and then must decide on a method through which to achieve this vision. Opening these meetings to the entire village is an essential component of this phase, as it shifts the power in the village from a small group of male elites to women and men of all ages and socio-economic status.

For the second phase of development, the village receives the first half of its microgrant to invest in its chosen project. Not only does this allow them to test the success of their chosen project before they receive the second half, but it also allows the village to begin a savings program. Both of these are crucial to the success of the program because they ensure that the village can become self-reliant and will be able to prosper long after Spark Microgrants stops supporting them.

For the final phase, Spark Microgrant monitors the success of the program for two years to ensure that the chosen investments are prosperous. Additionally, they ensure that the benefits of the program are experienced by all members of the village, allowing all members to emerge from extreme poverty and stay out of it for the foreseeable future.

Current Impact

In the last 15 years, Spark Microgrants has had immense success in building durable livelihoods in Africa. By partnering with other local organizations, it has been able to expand its expertise of the region’s indigenous practices and widen its impact. It uses its two key pillars to quantify its success thus far. For “collective agency,” it tracks growth in citizen engagement in the project, specifically in village meetings. This is invaluable to the program, as it fosters a deep trust in the collective action of the village. In fact, they have seen a 215% increase in women’s civic engagement, proving that the open village meetings have succeeded in encouraging all village members to participate, creating more diverse governing bodies.

For the second pillar of “durable livelihoods,” Spark Microgrants tracks economic factors such as growth in assets, savings, and food security. It reports a 249% increase in median household asset values in the villages they have worked with as well as an 160% increase in household savings. Whilst this data clearly demonstrates the charity’s success, the most impressive … is that each village has seemed to use its revenues and success to launch its own similar programs in other villages. This is significant because it creates an impact multiplier, essentially doubling Spark’s impact for every village it works with.

Spark Microgrant’s efforts in building durable livelihoods in Africa are not only immense in results and statistics, but they also encourage self-reliance and sustainable long-term impact. Its flexible systems allow its models to be adaptable and unique to each village, creating lasting change and breaking generational poverty.

– Vittoria Cortese

Vittoria is based in Washington DC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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A Race for Economic Stability at the Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain Grand PrixWhen the lights go out at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the world watches. Billions of global viewers tune in, and Formula 1 has transformed Bahrain into more than just a recognizable name in international sport. Beyond the roar of engines and celebrity spotlights, however, the Grand Prix has delivered more than media attention; it has strengthened the country’s economic stability. Since hosting its first race in 2004, Bahrain has generated an estimated $1.3 billion in economic impact from the Grand Prix.

During its first decade, a single race weekend generates hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue, filling hotels, restaurants and transport services. Each year, race week creates around 3,000 jobs across sectors such as hospitality, logistics and event management.

This is alongside permanent positions in logistics, catering and circuit management. For a country of 1.4 million people, whose dependency is on volatile oil revenues, these numbers matter to ensure a future of economic stability. 

A Balanced Perspective

Despite this macroeconomic growth, poverty remains a pressing issue. According to ESCWA, one in 13 Bahrainis (7.5%) live below the poverty line or approximately 54,000 citizens. The spending of the poorest 10% of families is 10 times lower than that of the richest 10%.

These figures also highlight deep inequality. However, Formula 1’s arrival has delivered tangible, though often short-term, solutions. One of the country’s most lucrative sporting and entertainment events now serves as a strategic tool in Bahrain’s poverty-reduction efforts. The Bahrain International Circuit has driven development in Sakhir, attracting new hotels, entertainment venues and real estate investment. These projects create employment beyond race week and help diversify the economy away from oil dependence.

However, important caveats remain. To ensure that global events like Formula 1 translate economic gains into inclusive growth, policymakers must link revenues directly to community programs, invest in workforce training and create targeted employment pathways for vulnerable job seekers.

Across the world, governments increasingly pair sporting mega-events with community development frameworks. Bahrain, with its global visibility and financial inflows, holds the platform to do the same. Before COVID-19, global extreme poverty fell below 10%, down from more than 35% in 1990. Although recent crises reversed some of those gains, history shows that sustained and intentional policy choices can drive real progress.

Looking Ahead

Bahrain’s story reflects a broader truth: economic branding alone does not eliminate poverty, but economic growth paired with inclusive financial strategies can drive meaningful change.

With sustained investment in fair employment expansion and responsible global partnerships, Bahrain can turn Formula 1’s global spotlight into long-term opportunity. When the checkered flag falls, the real race becomes the pursuit of inclusive economic stability and growth – and that race continues.

– Demetra Mykoniatis

Demetra is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Kosovo’s Diaspora Fueling Economic Growth & Poverty Reduction

Kosovo's DiasporaA small state in the Balkans, Kosovo has a complex history and is a relatively new political entity. The nation was part of Yugoslavia as an autonomous province for decades. However, with the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991, ethnic groups across the region declared independence, such as Slovenia and Croatia. 

Comprising a majority of ethnic Albanians, Kosovo declared its own independence on February 17, 2008. Today, Kosovo has defied economic expectations in many areas, largely due to its diaspora population across Europe and the world. About 800,000 Kosovars living abroad contribute a significant share of the country’s GDP through remittances.

Despite these economic successes, poverty remains a persistent problem. With poor educational performance, informal businesses, low salaries and high unemployment, Kosovo still has several institutional problems. While the rate of poverty has been declining over the past years, as of 2022, it still hovered around 25% or about one in four individuals. Along with several other factors, Kosovo’s far-reaching diaspora could help reduce these numbers.

Kosovo’s Diaspora Bonds

Over the past half-decade, Kosovo’s Ministry of Finance has issued bonds open to all nationals, particularly those living abroad. In 2021, for example, the government issued €20 million (about $23.6 million), with a guaranteed 100% return on investment and tax exemption. What this means, basically, is that the Central Bank of Kosovo offered to borrow about $23.6 million from Kosovar investors to fund infrastructure and government expenses. 

On the flip side, the Central Bank promises to repay its investors double the amount they invested. Nonetheless, by borrowing millions from its diaspora, Kosovo is better able to support important areas of the economy and education, thereby alleviating poverty and job insecurity.

How Local Governments Are Attracting Investment

After years of decentralization in Kosovo, attracting local investment to municipalities has become more difficult. Though these municipalities rely heavily on government grants, many are adapting their structures to support expatriate investors. The cities of Suhareka and Suva Reka, for example, have established a Directorate for Diaspora, which is dedicated to aiding Kosovo’s diaspora. 

This administration organizes relevant investment events and facilitates business registration and tax easements, to name only a few of the many services provided.

Real Estate Investment

Real estate makes up the largest share of diaspora investment in the Balkan country, accounting for about 70% of total investments from abroad. Investment in housing and apartments has sparked debate over the true economic impact. Some believe that investment in tourism and industrial development offers greater growth opportunities.

On the other hand, real estate investment increases employment opportunities, which in turn partially fuels the economy. With more jobs, more money circulates, benefiting everyone. Additionally, an IE University study found that a “rise of small investors increases the price-to-income ratio,” often leading to higher real estate prices. These higher prices, therefore, often indicate higher GDP per capita in the region.

In summary, it is unclear how much the Kosovan economy will benefit from these large real estate investments by Kosovo’s diaspora. Whatever the case, expatriate investors are pouring millions of dollars into the nation, ultimately growing the economy, even if by small increments.

How Is Poverty Affected?

The Kosovo diaspora offers potential economic benefits, including through government bonds, local municipal initiatives and independent real estate investment. This potential growth, however, could prompt shifts in the country’s poverty levels. Individuals are pushed above the poverty threshold as the economy grows and new jobs are created. 

While the influence of Kosovar foreign nationals is several steps removed from directly impacting poverty, their investment efforts spark a small chain reaction that eventually has the capacity to combat poverty.

– Ben Anderson

Ben is based in Madrid, Spain and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash