Archive for category: Employment

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Vocational Education Training Centers in Bulgaria

Vocational Education Training Centers in BulgariaAccording to the Berks Technical Institute, a vocational education training center is “often a community-based organization that offers short-term classes, workshops, or certifications aimed at specific job-related skills.” Organizations like these are vital to training the next generations of skill based workers that keep a society functioning and prosperous. A factor in the lack of development of a nation can be that it lacks the facilities and institutions that allow for the cultivation of skill based jobs that can work to give back to their societies. Bulgaria has spent the past 40 years trying to transition away from a state-run command economy under communism to a more free-market economy under a free democratic republic. Here is more information about vocational education training centers in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s History

Recent history of not just Bulgaria, but the entire region of the Balkan peninsula has not been in the favor of the people living there and provided a substantial obstacle for the reform and redevelopment of these institutions. After World War 2, Bulgaria became part of the Soviet Union and it imposed its same communist ideology onto its new puppet. As described in Christopher J. Smith’s thesis on the subject “A centrally planned economy was one of the main tenets of communist ideology. Working ‘for the good of society,’ industrial and agricultural output was determined not by supply and demand, but by central administrators.”

Essentially, they were to shield the negative effects of business from the economy by having the government centrally plan the entire thing. While that seems all right on paper, in reality, it diminishes peoples’ incentive to learn the skills they need for a job when the government will just assign someone to it. That philosophy resulted in the vocational institutions of Bulgaria and it worked well during that time.

Vocational Education Training Centers in Bulgaria

When communism fell and the nation was looking to transition into a free-market economy, it just couldn’t keep up. Inflation rose to historic highs, making the currency almost worthless, and people in general just couldn’t afford to get groceries or heat up their homes. However, as the years of the regime recede further and further into the past, reforms have gradually made their way into the system and the results can be seen from the databases the European Center for the Development of Vocational Training keeps on the member states.

It describes drastic measures that the Bulgarian government took in recent years to establish “centers of vocational excellence” and they are described as “funded by the Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and are located in leading VET schools across the country. Their aim is to equip students with high-demand skills for the evolving labor market and to foster regional innovation ecosystems.” Bulgaria has established 28 of these CoVEs already and the result is to strengthen the collaboration between education and businesses and local communities.

Mission Possible and the Bulgarian Industrial Association

A specific school in Bulgaria called Mission Possible is actively offering courses for trades such as internet maintenance and hotel services, while also serving disadvantaged communities. In June 2025 alone, 20 women in the city of Sliven who have lost their factory jobs enrolled in the program. These women never had experience with information technology before enrolling and they eventually completed their certification. The course helped these women find jobs and be able to provide for their families.

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association runs a more national program. It has bases providing vocational training in every major city in the country, including training in industries like business management/administration, production and architecture/construction. Students completing courses at these centers receive the equivalent of a college degree in their respective industries. This provides a fresh start for those that wish to renew their lives and have a new chance at life. 

– Alexander K. Petrov

Alexander is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Job Training for Refugees in Turkey Strengthens Communities

Job Training for Refugees in TurkeyTurkey hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with more than 3 million registered Syrian refugees, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. Economic pressures have made access to stable employment difficult for many displaced individuals and vulnerable citizens alike. In response, job training for refugees in Turkey has become a strategy to strengthen livelihoods while promoting shared economic participation.

Many refugees in Turkey face significant barriers when they try to enter the formal labor market, including limited access to certified vocational training, challenges with skills recognition and work permit requirements. The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that regulatory and structural obstacles push many refugees into informal employment, increasing their vulnerability and limiting long-term stability. At the same time, rising inflation and labor market instability have placed growing economic pressure on Turkish citizens, particularly workers in lower-income sectors. In response, policymakers and development organizations design programs that align vocational training with employer demand and encourage businesses to hire workers formally.

Aligning Skills With Industry Demand

From November 2022 to January 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) implemented a workforce initiative focused on Turkey’s textile sector. The project aimed to expand employment pathways for Syrian refugees and members of host communities through targeted vocational training.

The initiative, titled “Decent and Sustainable Job Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities in the Turkish Textile Sector,” aligned training directly with labor market needs. Turkey’s textile industry remains one of the country’s major export sectors and a significant source of employment across manufacturing and supply chains. The Government of the Republic of Korea funded the project with $178,620. In 2023 alone, the program directed $131,522 toward training and implementation activities.

Rather than offering generalized training, the program developed sector-specific curricula in collaboration with textile industry partners to address identified labor market needs. It provided on-the-job training at employer premises, strengthening participants’ practical skills and increasing their chances of securing formal, sustainable employment. By working closely with private-sector actors, the project connected skills development directly to hiring pathways.

Promoting Shared Economic Participation

The project targeted both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Turkish citizens, aiming to strengthen social cohesion by expanding access to vocational training and formal employment pathways.

Access to formal employment plays a key role in economic stability. Formal jobs often provide regulated wages, safer working conditions and access to social protection systems. For displaced individuals, stable employment can reduce reliance on informal labor markets, which frequently offer inconsistent income and limited worker protections.

In addition to UNDP’s textile sector initiative, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has implemented broader employment and vocational training programs to improve refugees’ access to formal labor markets in Turkey. The ILO works with government institutions, employers and worker organizations to expand skills development, promote formal hiring and strengthen labor market governance.

Economic Integration and Long-Term Impact

The World Bank emphasizes that integrating refugees into labor markets can contribute to long-term economic growth when programs align skills development with employer demand. Workforce initiatives that connect vocational education to employer needs can reduce reliance on short-term assistance while strengthening national economies.

Beyond employment-focused initiatives, international agencies have also invested in strengthening the textile sector itself. The United Nations Environment Programme’s InTex Programme trained 230 industry representatives and supported 32 small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting eco-innovation and circular production practices in its first phase. By building technical capacity within the textile value chain, such programs demonstrate how skills development can improve both environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness in refugee-hosting countries.

Employment programs are increasingly recognized as a key component of refugee response strategies. International development agencies note that long-term displacement requires economic solutions that move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance. When refugees gain access to skills training and formal employment, they contribute to local consumption, industrial productivity and broader economic activity. Host countries may also benefit from addressing labor shortages in specific sectors.

Concluding Thoughts

The UNDP textile sector project concluded in January 2025 after completing its planned activities. By combining targeted skills training, industry partnerships and inclusive enrollment, the initiative demonstrated how job training for refugees in Turkey can contribute to poverty reduction, economic resilience and shared prosperity in refugee-hosting countries.

– Isil Ertas Senturk

Isil is based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Boosting Career Independence for Women in Kenya

career independence for women in KenyaAcross the globe, women remain at a significant disadvantage in terms of employment, with an estimated 606 million working-age women around the world considering themselves unavailable for work, compared to 41 million men.

A Care Economy refers to a system that encompasses care work that is both paid and unpaid, with roles of workers that are involved in: education, childhood care and domestic work, amongst several other roles. According to the Gates Foundation, women overwhelmingly bear the brunt of caring for children and other family members, spending nearly three times more hours on unpaid care work than men do. Strengthening the care economy is of vital importance for career independence for women in Kenya.

Kenya’s Fourth Medium Term Plan

Kenya’s Fourth Medium Term plan from 2023 to 2027 calls for addressing unpaid care and domestic work. This plan has seen success. For instance, Kenya has recently marked a milestone in Care Reform. Lumos Kenya hosted a Care Reform Reflection and Learning Session, which saw government officials and child practitioners from across the country. The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Services, CPA Carren Agengo, demonstrated the success made so far, stating there had been training of thousands of social workers and caregivers, who have been developing child protection case management tools and scaling up family-based care interventions. Lumos summarised the session as follows: detailing how care reform has moved from policy to practice.

Legal Advocacy as a Tool Against Gender Inequality

The story of Dr Stellah Bosire, a physician, human rights activist and author at the intersection of women’s health and economic power, demonstrates the importance of legal advocacy as a tool against gender inequality. Her work helps boost career independence for women. For example, according to The Gates Foundation, Dr Bosire developed a circular approach, where she held weekly discussions on health and nutrition, and community dialogues to challenge restrictive gender norms.

HerConomy

Dr Bosire introduced the HerConomy initiative, which connects communities of women with diverse global opportunities that focus on promoting career advancement, entrepreneurship and financial growth. Her story demonstrates great progress, for instance, many women in the program have had the opportunity to engage in multiple income-generating activities such as running kiosks, making soap and selling juice. The community has seen an increase in the scaling of business, with one woman now owning a shoe company.

Dr Bosire told the Gates Foundation: “It’s about giving women ownership, independence, and the tools to build better futures for themselves and their families, while impacting their health.” The Gades Foundation has noted that she is fundraising to launch Kenya’s first women-led Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation, where members will be able to borrow money to invest in businesses and education.

Strengthening the Care Economy and continuing to invest and optimise legal advocacy can both help combat gender inequality in the workforce. The story of Dr Bosire and her fundraising work to increase financial security and independence for female-led businesses is inspirational and exciting, marking a step towards the increasing number of women in working roles and boosting career independence for women in Kenya.

– Joe Langley

Joe is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Coffee Shops Fight Global Poverty

immigrant entrepreneurs“Local businesses give warmth,” claim Coffee Links owners Leon and Ellie Araujo. “When you see [food] chains it feels like a cold city.” Leon and Ellie are proud owners of Coffee Links, an immigrant-owned business.

Ellie and Leon’s success story with their business is an important story to highlight. Originally from Mexico City, they immigrated to a new country in 2009 with their three kids. In 2013, they opened their first coffee shop, and today they have two thriving Coffee Links locations.

Entrepreneurship an underlying factor in fueling local economies. In other words, this is a pattern seen all over the world in assisting the economy. Entrepreneurs bring more than 50% to GDP and more than 60% of employment.

Furthermore, 25% of entrepreneurs are immigrant-owned and are positively influencing the economy, including job growth, unemployment, home values, and reduced vacancies.

Improving the Economy

Small businesses are a leading driver of poverty reduction. This is an alternative sector in socio-economic development that is alleviating poverty. According to the International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences (IJRSAS), small businesses have had significant positive effects in both developing and developed countries.

Leon truly believes his business has contributed to the local economy, “The taxes give back to the community. All of it stays here in the community.”

When talking about why it is important to create local jobs, Leon Araujo answers, “The team is 50% of the support.” According to the Immigration Policy Center, immigrant entrepreneurs can contribute to local communities by modernizing neighborhoods and public areas, rejuvenating cities and towns.

More specifically, establishments like Coffee Links, a cafe/coffee shop, are the backbone of communities. Coffee Links, like many immigrant-owned businesses, attracts more local business and creates jobs. For example, it can generate direct hires, delivery drivers, cleaners, and suppliers. It can draw attention to collaborations with vendors, coffee roasters, florists, or bakers.

Barriers

“It is more difficult to be an immigrant entrepreneur,” says Leon, compared to being a native-born entrepreneur. Common barriers immigrant entrepreneurs face include language barriers and cultural differences. For example, learning a new language is difficult enough; trying to clearly communicate business ideas and follow regulations in a new language adds to the difficulty.

Leon claims there is one barrier immigrant entrepreneurs face that commonly goes unnoticed. It is a barrier to receiving financial assistance or loans. Leon Araujo is a legal resident of the country where he now lives, and he has had difficulty obtaining credit assistance from banks and credit unions, even though he is fully qualified. Many Hispanic entrepreneurs struggle to access financing and investors due to potential language and cultural barriers. According to The Statement, Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurs are more likely to rely on their savings than to take out a loan, seeking minimal funding. However, if they were to maximize their banking resources, they could potentially ”generate $1.4 trillion in additional revenue.”

Remittance

Many immigrant entrepreneurs send money to loved ones in their home countries. This is called remittance. Migrants who send money home have a significant impact on developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In 2023, global remittances were estimated at over $800 billion.

“I do not send remittance to family in Mexico,” explains Leon, “I am invested in where I am now.” Although Leon may not send money home to family or friends, it is not uncommon for Mexican immigrant entrepreneurs to do so. Remittances sent home fund many Mexican households; about 4.5% of families rely on them. 

What does success look like now?

Mexican immigrant entrepreneurship, such as that of Leon and Ellie, strengthens local economies and contributes to global poverty reduction. Around the world, immigrants play a major role in launching new businesses, generating jobs, and stimulating local economic activity — all key components of long-term economic development. Additionally, remittances sent by migrant families provide more financial support to developing countries than traditional foreign aid, making them one of the most effective tools for reducing global poverty.

“When I first started the business, it was tough,” Leon says. He had to remember that success is not linear and there would be many ups and downs with the business. The most important thing was that he had to believe in himself.

Today, Leon has redefined what success means to him. He claims that he and his family have reached success and are open to anything that will expand the business. He continues to strive to develop a 3rd location

– Mireya Aguilar

Mireya is based in Layton, UT, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Flickr

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From Farm to Factory: Kenya’s EPZ Strategy for Better Jobs

From Farm to Factory: Kenya's EPZ Strategy for Better JobsIn Kenya’s arid north, where raising livestock in a drought-ravaged landscape has long defined economic survival, Acacia EPZ Limited is transforming reality. The gum arabic processor, based in the Athi River Export Processing Zone (EPZ), provides a stable, climate-resilient income for more than 7,000 collectors, most of them women, turning a scattered forest product into a source of household earnings.

This micro-level success highlights a national dilemma. Kenya is a major agricultural producer, yet a net importer of processed foods. Reliance on raw commodity exports has kept manufacturing’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) stagnant at around 10% for decades, limiting the formal job creation essential for poverty reduction. Kenya’s strategy is a focused industrial policy centered on Export Processing Zones (EPZs), a structural mechanism designed to reinvent the economy and alleviate poverty en masse by creating better urban manufacturing jobs while providing stable, higher-value markets for rural farmers.

The Economic Imperative Driving Kenya’s EPZ Strategy

Kenya’s push for agro-processing tackles economic vulnerabilities resulting from its trade deficit. The country remains stuck exporting “primary commodities with low value addition,” like tea and coffee, capturing a fraction of its final value while leaving the economy exposed to global price swings.

This reliance on raw exports fails to create quality jobs, even as agriculture employs more than 40% of the population in often informal, low-wage work with a proportionally low contribution to GDP. With nearly 16% of Kenyans living in hardcore poverty, the need for transformative economic strategies is acute. Simultaneously, Kenya spends billions annually importing the very processed goods for which it possesses the raw materials to make itself. In 2023 alone, Kenya imported $3.81 billion in agricultural and related products, including $583 million worth of consumer-oriented foods like soups, processed fruits and baked goods.

This “primary commodity” trap also limits Kenya’s share of the lucrative and rapidly expanding regional market to a mere 7% of the estimated $11 billion East African consumer base. Kenya, now at this critical crossroad, must move beyond the cycle of exporting low-value raw materials and importing high-value necessities, which has for so long perpetuated reliance on volatile global markets while forgoing the jobs and enterprise growth that processing creates.

EPZs as the Engine of Industrial Upgrading

To bridge this gap, Kenya has deployed EPZs as its primary vehicle for industrial upgrading. Operating under the legal framework of the EPZ Act, these zones offer firms incentives like tax holidays and duty-free imports to attract investment toward export-oriented manufacturing. The government’s intent, as stated in its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is for EPZs to play a “critical role in achieving… employment creation, investment attraction, value addition of local products, especially the agro-based and foreign exchange earnings.”

The latest data on Kenya’s EPZ strategy reveals a sector of significant scale, yet one exposed to volatility. In 2023, capital investment in EPZs grew 10.9% to KSh 112.2 billion ($840 million), while exports generated KSh 105.5 billion ($790 million). However, direct employment fell to 75,598 jobs from 82,771 the year before. The official EPZ Annual Performance Report attributes this drop to reduced United States (U.S.) apparel orders and, crucially for agro-processing, a “disruption of the global macadamia market.” While the evolution of EPZs has come a long way, it is apparent that even within these protected zones, Kenyan manufacturers are not comfortably insulated from global commodity shocks and shifting trade winds. 

The Double Dividend: Direct Poverty Alleviation Outcomes

The impact of Kenya’s EPZ strategy delivers on two fronts: its double dividend, tackling poverty at both ends of the supply chain.

The first dividend is urban and peri-urban job creation. EPZ employment is a crucial step into the formal economy, offering wage-based predictability that contrasts with the precarious informal sector, where more than 17 million Kenyans work. While apparel dominates, agro-processing niches are growing. In 2023, food manufacturing saw a significant 16.4% expansion in dairy processing and and 11.6% increase in preserved fruits and vegetables. Each new plant adds jobs in production, quality control, logistics and management, creating a ladder to higher-skilled, better-paid work.

The second, even more transformative dividend is the strengthening of rural livelihoods, establishing a direct linkage between national industrial policy and smallholder farmers. Acacia EPZ is an exemplary demonstration of this connection, as it provides a stable market for more than 7,000 gum arabic collectors, turning a scattered, low-value product into a reliable household income in drought-prone regions. This model, where an EPZ firm anchors a local supply chain, is a blueprint for poverty reduction in rural Kenya. Agro-processing factories act as high-volume off-takers for agricultural produce that raises and stabilizes farm-gate prices, moving farmers from subsistence into a predictable commercial relationship with stable, increasing incomes. The government’s BETA agenda explicitly targets this link, aiming to improve livelihoods through “increased employment” and “more equitable distribution of income” by developing agro-value chains.

A Test Case for Structural Transformation

Kenya’s EPZ strategy is a measured and ambitious attempt to use industrial policy for structural poverty alleviation. It targets the economy’s architecture, aiming to transform low-value agricultural work into higher-wage manufacturing jobs and connect subsistence farmers to commercial value chains. The path is fraught with obstacles and undoubtedly troubled by all the growing pains of a developing economy.

Yet, the simple logic is compelling: capture more value domestically to create a cycle of formal jobs and rising rural incomes. The progress of firms like Acacia EPZ has already demonstrated the micro-level potential. Scaling this model successfully, while sure to be a formidable test, appears to be a promising and worthwhile venture that could offer vital lessons on how developing nations can industrialize their way to shared prosperity through inclusive economic upgrading.

– Georgio Moussa

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

Photo: Flickr

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Youth Skills Projects in Kenya: Employment and Economic Mobility

Youth Skills Projects in KenyaKenya’s youth skills are transforming how young people transition from education to stable employment. In Kenya, youth unemployment continues to limit economic mobility, particularly among those aged 18 to 34. Despite being the largest working-age group in the country, young people have significantly higher unemployment rates than older workers.

Youth skills projects in Kenya are increasingly tailoring training to corporate demands, entrepreneurial opportunities and emerging industries. These programs are helping reduce poverty by creating stable income opportunities for vulnerable households.

Youth Unemployment in Kenya Limits Economic Mobility

According to Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics, the bulk of young people employed are in low-wage, informal jobs. Youth unemployment remains close to 13%, with young women facing higher rates at around 18%. These labor inequities undermine long-term economic resilience and exacerbate household poverty.

To address this issue, Kenyan youth skills programs increasingly focus on hands-on training that leads directly to employment and the establishment of businesses.

Government Training Programs Expand Workforce Readiness

Kenya’s government boosted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to align classroom better learning with labor market demands. Enrollment at public TVET institutions has increased from more than 345,000 to more than 565,000 trainees between the academic years 2022–2023 and 2024–2025. This represents a 63.8% increase as the Ministry of Education improved access, quality and industry alignment.

Officials are also implementing a Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework that closely aligns courses with real-world, industry-relevant skills. This method aims to help graduates enter the workforce with the skills businesses require and focuses on practical training valued by employers. The government announced plans to boost the number of young people participating in TVET programs to two million by the end of 2025.

To broaden access, it allocated additional funding for facilities, equipment and the recruitment of trainers. This expansion is expected to significantly reduce poverty by equipping youth with marketable skills that generate sustainable income.

Digital Skills Programs Connect Youth to Global Markets

The Kenyan government’s Ajira Digital Program, which collaborates with partners such as eMobilis and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, provides free digital and online job training. The initiative has trained more than 250,000 young people in Kenya, with modules covering digital marketing, transcribing and other internet skills. According to a tracking poll commissioned by Ajira, nearly one-third of participants report earning money online after completing the course.

By connecting youth to online income streams, the program tackles poverty and expands economic opportunity nationwide.

Green Energy and Agribusiness Training Create Local Jobs

Kenya’s renewable energy expansion has boosted demand for solar technicians and electrical installers. Training facilities like Strathmore Energy Research Center offer solar certification courses to prepare young people for jobs installing and maintaining off-grid energy systems. Moreover, TechnoServe Kenya funds youth agribusiness training and market access programs.

The training has helped tens of thousands of young farmers boost productivity and incomes, particularly in rural areas. These initiatives reduce poverty by increasing household earnings and fostering entrepreneurship in local communities.

Conclusion

Kenya’s youth skills programs show how coordinated investments in technical education, digital training, renewable energy and agriculture can transform classrooms into economic growth engines. Youth skills projects in Kenya, government initiatives and nonprofit partnerships are helping young people gain practical skills, income opportunities and entrepreneurship pathways. They are now providing young people with practical skills, income opportunities and entrepreneurship pathways.

These initiatives improve household stability, lower unemployment and increase Kenya’s long-term economic resilience.

– Madison Brown

Madison is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Education in India: Access, Challenges and the Path Forward

Education in IndiaIt’s no secret that education opens up pathways and opportunities for those able to attend school. Countless organizations and activists fight for education access worldwide every day. Unfortunately, the reality is that thousands of children worldwide are unable to attend school and receive the education they deserve.

In India, an estimated 1.17 million children aren’t attending school as of 2025. The lack of educational access stems from various reasons, including the uncertainty of the job market after graduating. Unemployment rates for Indian college graduates are staggeringly high. One graduate’s perspective attempts to shed light on this issue and the education system in India as a whole.

Who Has Access to Education in India?

Despite the challenging job market, education in India remains a powerful tool for combating poverty and inequality. Education and poverty are closely linked. Education helps reduce poverty by creating job opportunities and driving economic growth, while poverty limits access to education by restricting resources and opportunities for low-income individuals.

A family isn’t likely to prioritize the education of their children if they are forced to choose between putting food on the table and purchasing school supplies. These children face fewer opportunities in life than their peers and much higher chances of lifelong poverty. Children belonging to marginalized groups are more likely to face educational adversity.

Socioeconomic status, gender and residing in rural areas have been proven to negatively affect education levels. Due to cultural expectations of household chores and marriage, nearly 30% of girls in India do not finish their elementary education. Teacher shortages and a lack of an updated and usable facility to hold classes affect those in less-populated areas.

Yet, this problem is not limited to adolescents, as more than 19% of adults are illiterate.

Education and the Workforce

Though education in India is of high quality for those who can access it, a degree does not guarantee employment. In fact, 13.4% of college graduates struggle to find jobs that offer fair wages. More than half of unemployed young people are educated, some holding multiple degrees.

An estimated seven million jobs will need to be created over the next decade to meet the demands of India’s growing workforce. The bleak outlook of post-graduate employment, often earning as little as $2.40 per day, discourages many students from continuing their education.

Making Education Accessible

Many organizations are making efforts to make education more accessible to all. The issue of children facing barriers to education isn’t solved in its entirety. However, these acts are a step in the right direction and offer thousands of children opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

  • The Right to Education Act makes education for children 6-14 years old free and compulsory. This act prevents children from being expelled or dropping out of school before completing elementary school, as well as providing teachers with the right training and qualifications in every school. This act guarantees children years of free education, which will help a large portion of the children in low-income families. If there are no associated costs with obtaining a basic education, parents are more likely to send their children.
  • Furthermore, India launched the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020, in an effort to revamp the education system and offer quality education on all levels. The main focus is on a new system of a 5+3+3+4 pattern of education. In other terms, dividing education into four stages, with an emphasis on development, language learning, vocational skills and holistic development.
  • Pratham is one of the largest nongovernmental organizations working to make education accessible to all children in India. Founded in 1995, the organization began by providing education to children living in the slums of Mumbai. Pratham developed the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, which places children in learning groups based on what they know rather than their age. This method has significantly improved student learning outcomes, as well as classroom organization and management. Today, Pratham is widely recognized for its impact on education access and has received numerous awards for its work.

Final Remarks

Working to solve India’s job crisis will work in tandem with increasing education rates; if pursuing education and degrees results in higher-paying jobs, then more individuals and families will prioritize education. With the growing use of AI, many entry-level positions once available to new graduates are no longer accessible.

To address this issue, school curricula are beginning to shift toward incorporating skills such as digital science, robotics, data science and applied AI to better prepare students for the workforce. Education is an incredible tool that opens doors for many people. It can continue to change lives and create a lasting impact, regardless of an individual’s country of residence.

– Sydney Uhl

Sydney is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Poverty Reduction in Kashmir

Poverty Reduction in KashmirIn many parts of Kashmir, income does not flow into households monthly. It depends upon tourism seasons, harvests, weather conditions and the access to markets that can disappear without any warning. For decades, this inconsistency and instability drove families through cycles of debt and unemployment. Today, poverty reduction in Kashmir is centered around rebuilding livelihoods that last more than a single season.

India has consistently and significantly reduced extreme poverty nationwide, according to the World Bank, but regions experiencing political tensions and geographical isolation face slower progress. In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, poverty stems from economic vulnerability, limited employment options, weak education systems and even weaker access to financial services. Development programs now focus on strengthening local income sources rather than relying on temporary assistance.

Farming and Handicrafts Anchoring Local Economies

Agriculture and handicrafts remain central to rural life in Kashmir. Small farmers and artisans often rely on narrow profit margins and informal markets. To address this, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) supports projects that improve irrigation, better crop diversification and connect producers to more assured markets.

These initiatives help farmers reduce losses due to climate variability while increasing productivity. IFAD reports that similar rural livelihood programs across India have raised household incomes and improved food security, especially among smallholder farmers.

Women’s Self-Help Groups Promote Savings

Women lead self-help groups that have proven to be effective tools in poverty reduction in Kashmir. Through Jammu and Kashmir’s Rural Livelihoods Mission, women gain access to services such as savings accounts, low-interest loans and overall entrepreneurship training. 

Many women pioneer tailoring businesses, food processing units and other local shops. These enterprises guarantee a steady income and therefore, the household does not solely depend upon informal lenders. Government data demonstrates that the households involved in self-help groups experience greater financial stability and better access to social services.

Education and Skills Create Pathways for Youth

For young people in Kashmir, limited employment opportunities often reflect gaps in skills and education rather than a lack of ambition. Education disruptions and unemployment perpetuate the unending cycles of poverty. UNICEF works alongside local partners to reinforce school attendance, making digital learning more accessible and vocational training in underserved districts.

Skills programs target sectors such as information technology, hospitality and renewable energy maintenance. UNICEF reports that education interventions in conflict regions increase long-term earning potential and help to reduce economic vulnerability boosting resilience.

Employment Guarantees Offer Income During Uncertainty

Social protection programs provide critical support during periods of job instability. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) provides wage employment to households while funding community infrastructure projects. 

In Jammu and Kashmir, this program supports families during the agricultural off-seasons and economic and political disruptions. Official data indicate increased participation in recent years, helping households maintain a stable income all the while improving local infrastructure.

Entrepreneurship Expands Local Opportunity

Beyond the traditional rural livelihoods, entrepreneurships play a major role in poverty reduction in Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute promotes small businesses through training, seed funding and mentorship.

These enterprises offer food processing, tourism services and handicraft exports as few of their services. Officials report that small businesses have grown significantly which has created local employment and reduces reliance on public assistance, multiplying the economic impact within said communities.

Building Resilience One Livelihood at a Time

Poverty reduction in Kashmir increasingly depends upon coordinated efforts that link livelihoods, education, financial inclusion and social protection. Challenges remain, but consistent and sustained investment in people and local businesses continue to help the economy build resilience across the state. 

Development experts emphasize that continuous progress requires sustained efforts and market access. As these initiatives expand, they offer a stable and steady path towards greater economic success for such affected families across Kashmir.

– Parthivee Mukherji

Parthivee is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Education and Training in Samoa

Vocational Education and Training in SamoaSamoa was added to the UN’s least developed country (LDC) list in 1971. Membership to this list is determined by gross national income, health and education outcomes and other factors. While landing a place on this list is intimidating, doing so gives many countries a path to graduate from it.

In the case of Samoa, high levels of general education coupled with a limited amount of formal employment opportunity can be a conundrum. While Samoans are well educated, for many years the country lacked a structured system of job training that aligned education with local labor market needs. As a result, young people often moved overseas where larger economies rewarded their existing skillsets.

Although migration has declined slightly in recent years, Samoa continues to expatriate more people than it gains. Because of this, the country maintains one of the largest overseas diaspora populations in the Pacific. This reality speaks to the urgency of creating new pathways to encourage working-age Samoans to remain in-country. Retaining talent is not simply a demographic concern—it is essential to sustaining economic growth, strengthening local  industries and reducing long-term dependence on remittances.

Recognizing this challenge, deliberately building vocational education and training in Samoa or TVET has become a priority in the last 15 years. These reforms are beginning to show results, but their long-term successes depend on sustained investment and continued policy support.

How the System Was Built

A major turning point came in 2010 with the passage of the Samoa Qualifications Authority Act. This legislation established a national framework to define training standards and qualifications across all levels of education, from certificate programs to doctoral degrees. For the first time, clear and nationally recognized standards governed vocational education and training in Samoa. After years of progress, the country was able to graduate from the LDC list in 2014 only four years after the re-structuring of vocational education and training in Samoa.

This framework provided the foundation for expanding TVET programs across the country. By formalizing qualifications and aligning training with industry needs, Samoa began to address long-standing gaps between education and employment. The goal was not only to improve skills, but to ensure those skills were relevant to local economic priorities such as construction, agriculture, tourism and skilled trades.

Building on this foundation, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture introduced the National School TVET Policy in 2018, covering the period through 2023. This policy focused specifically on integrating vocational training into the national education system and promoting TVET as a viable and respected pathway for young people. It emphasized employability, workforce readiness, and economic growth, while also aiming to shift public perceptions that had long viewed vocational training as inferior to academic education.

What Progress Looks Like

Samoa is now seeing encouraging signs that these reforms are working. Participation in formal TVET programs has increased, and the stigma surrounding vocational education is gradually fading. Young people are increasingly viewing trade and technical training as practical, respected routes to stable employment.

These changes are beginning to translate into broader economic gains. Employment in the formal sector is growing, and tertiary education enrollment has increased. While it takes time to measure the full impact of workforce reforms, early indicators are promising. Samoa’s adult unemployment rate stands at approximately 2.8%, and the country has experienced steady GDP growth in recent years.

Although TVET reforms are not solely responsible for these outcomes, they suggest that aligning education with labor market needs is contributing to improved economic resilience.

The Path Forward

Despite this progress, vocational education and training in Samoa is a system that remains under-resourced. Expanding access, maintaining quality standards and keeping programs aligned with evolving industry needs will require continued investment. Without it, the gains made over the past decade risk stagnation.

Strengthening TVET is ultimately about more than skills training. It is about giving Samoans meaningful opportunities to build livelihoods at home, reducing the pressure to migrate, and ensuring that economic growth benefits local communities. With sustained commitment, vocational education can help Samoa retain its young workforce and position itself as a stronger, more self-sufficient participant in the global economy.

– Nicole Miller

Nicole is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Poverty Amid Currency Discrepancies and Inflation in Egypt

Inflation in Egypt

Egypt is starting to recover from what was, in 2023, a widening gap between its official currency exchange rates and black-market rates. With a record high inflation rate of 38% documented in September 2023, Egypt’s economy remains caught between the two exchange rates. To facilitate an understanding of the timeline, these figures reflect the peak of the crisis in 2023, followed by developments in 2024 and 2025 as reforms continued to unfold. Although the peak of inflation in Egypt has passed, recorded as 13.6% in March 2025, food prices continue to surge and remain an area of difficulty for the population. Meanwhile, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) continues to withhold poverty data, feeding fears that although there is an apparent phase of stabilization, worsening hardship and poverty may be masked.

Currency Dynamics and Discrepancies

Egypt has long held the problem of what can be known as a dual-rate system. While the Central Bank of Egypt sets an official currency rate against the U.S. dollar, the black-market rate continues to fluctuate based on supply and demand. As Egypt is heavily dependent on imports, many businesses and individuals need access to dollars to purchase goods and services. However, when the dollar supply becomes insufficient through official channels, many have to turn to the black market, where the exchange rate is significantly higher.

This reveals a widening gap between those who have access to foreign currency and those forced to rely on depreciating and unstable Egyptian pounds. Although this gap has narrowed in 2025, businesses still struggle to access dollars, driving up both import and consumer prices. These developments reflect gradual adjustments since 2023 instead of focusing solely on a single moment of change.

Inflation in Egypt and Purchasing Power

Although a recent decline in inflation in Egypt has been observed, pressure remains. In January, inflation in Egypt increased by 1.6% after having been stable in December. Despite this, the cost of health care services continues to rise by 4.6% monthly, with sustenance costs increasing by 2.1%. This continues to drive poverty and decrease the purchasing power of individuals, as the prices of goods erode real wages.

Egypt’s reliance on Russia for wheat, and the impacts of the war in Ukraine, have doubled bread costs. The government has tried to reduce these increases through subsidies and price restrictions, and many protests have occurred over the years regarding the price of bread. Even with slower inflation and subsidies, purchasing power remains weakened, with many still below the poverty line, although this is beginning to decrease.

There are also concerns regarding how CAPMAS defines poverty. The latest report classifies extreme poverty as 550 pounds per month per person, and poverty as 857 pounds per month. These definitions are not in line with global poverty standards. Therefore, what appears to be a decrease in poverty may partly reflect shifts in definitions.

Disproportionate Impacts on Business and Living Standards

Various groups of people are being affected in different ways by the economic crisis. One example is young people giving up on education and resorting to any available work to sustain themselves and their families. This includes redefining what a decent life means, as many are no longer able to uphold previous standards. This has also led to a decrease in confidence regarding the future, with concerns about stability. Many Egyptians have moved back in with family, delayed marriage or given up on private further education.

Businesses are also struggling, as many rely on higher unofficial exchange rates to operate. This leaves them with higher running costs and makes it difficult to stay afloat. With fluctuating inflation, instability and record import prices, many businesses operate at a loss or at reduced capacity. As individuals lose purchasing power, they are less able to afford goods and services that once fit within their budgets.

Policy Response and Recommendations

In recent years, Egypt has been heavily reliant on loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its Gulf allies. In 2024, the IMF approved a $3 billion loan for Egypt with the condition of “a permanent shift to a flexible exchange rate regime.” With effective implementation, Egypt may be able to improve economic stability and build resilience. This would require measures that boost investor confidence, increase transparency and reduce incentives for black-market activity. Investor confidence could be strengthened through clearer public communication of monetary policy, more frequent publication of economic data and improvements in financial governance that make procedures easier for businesses and households to navigate.

To do this, Egypt needs to strengthen its foreign currency reserves by increasing and diversifying foreign investment and exports. Foreign currency reserves could also receive support through the encouragement of investment in infrastructure that improves transport and shipping efficiency, which would lower import costs and encourage export competitiveness. A focus on greater flexibility of the official exchange rate would go a long way toward this stable future, in which market forces play a more influential role, keeping in mind that adjustments need to be gradual to inhibit shocks and destabilization. Gradual adjustments paired with targeted fiscal measures would support small and medium-sized businesses during periods of volatility, which would also support employment and production.

Looking Ahead

In clarifying the progression from 2023 through 2025 and devising practical steps for reform we can see how stabilization may eventually translate into improvements, namely the alleviation of poverty, felt across society. While current data indicate a decline in poverty and unemployment, many Egyptians have not yet felt improvements in daily life. The country could benefit from intentional efforts toward a more stable and transparent economic landscape for a future where the positive impacts reach every household.

– Maryam Qutbuddin

Maryam is based in Reading, UK and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash