Archive for category: Employment

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5 Initiatives Fighting Poverty in Uzbekistan

Poverty in UzbekistanThe Uzbek government continues to report progress in tackling poverty in the country. Over the past decade, the Central Asian nation has created new initiatives to improve living standards. According to World Bank estimates, poverty in Uzbekistan has reduced from 36% in 2015 to 17% in 2022. Poverty limits access to education, health care and job security, leading to inadequate housing and starvation. Here are five initiatives tackling poverty in Uzbekistan.

1. Tailored Social Support: “Assistant to the Hokim”

The main strategy to tackle poverty in Uzbekistan is the “Assistant to the Hokim” initiative. Trained representatives are put in every neighborhood to identify and support families that are struggling. Launched in 2021, these assistants are empowered to assess needs, connect people with government services and propose customized solutions. The organization does not just hand out aid, it also finds the causes of poverty for each family and works to support them.

So far, the program has improved 35 million people’s income level. For families lacking work, assistants can arrange job interviews or training. The program also provides support to those who do not have housing by helping them secure land or subsidies. The program works locally so every community can receive help.

2. Giving Rural Families a Stake

Uzbekistan’s government has launched an initiative to distribute unused land that the state owns to low-income families for agricultural purposes. The initiative recognizes that land is one of the most valuable assets in rural economies. Since 2020, the government has allocated more than 260,000 hectares of land to 800,000 residents, providing them with opportunities to engage in farming and generate income. It is a long-term investment in rural prosperity that breaks the cycle of seasonal or subsistence living. Farmers can take out loans to improve their production or upgrade equipment.

3. Women at the Centre

There have been efforts to tackle gender inequality. Women have had limited access to education and jobs, especially in rural areas. The government has created microfinance programs and vocational training tailored specifically for women to help address these issues. As of early 2023, women managed more than 39,000 small enterprises and micro-firms. These women-led businesses have shown remarkable growth, with a net income increase of nearly 9.2 trillion soums (more than $757 million) compared to the previous year. These programs provide women with the resources to support the growth of their businesses and contribute to the goal of tackling poverty.

4. Investing in Digital Skills for the Next Generation

Youth unemployment is a significant issue when it comes to poverty in central Asia. Therefore, the Uzbekistan government implemented the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030” strategy to promote digital literacy. The strategy has resulted in the training of thousands of young people who have been part of programs that develop skills in coding, graphic design and e-commerce. The programs are set up in rural areas where there has been an increase in internet access. The strategy aims not just to educate, but also to connect a generation to the global digital economy, setting young people up in careers that are of high value to the economy and supporting families in poverty.

5. Tax Breaks for Companies Hiring the Marginalized

Uzbekistan introduced tax incentives in 2023 for companies that hire people from low-income or vulnerable backgrounds. The incentives include underrepresented groups such as those who have been unemployed for a long time and the disabled.

Under the scheme, businesses can deduct a portion of their payroll taxes for every eligible worker they employ. These are not just temporary placements; most incentives apply only after employees complete a minimum tenure, encouraging companies to retain and develop talent over time.

Looking Ahead

In 2024, household income saw significant growth, with real income per capita increasing by 10.7%, reaching an average of 2.1 million UZS per month. The initiatives that the Uzbek government has led have proven successful in tackling poverty in Uzbekistan and will continue to support families across the country.

– James Harwood

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

Photo: Pixabay

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Bakeries Ensure Food and Job Security in Ukraine

Food and Job security in UkraineSince the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, poverty has increased across the country. In 2023, 20% of previously employed Ukrainians lost their jobs and struggled to access food and essential services. Displaced individuals report that employment opportunities are critical for their return home. The conflict has driven a sharp rise in food insecurity, with more than 7 million Ukrainians facing moderate to severe levels of food scarcity. This includes 1.2 million children. Along the frontlines, the crisis is even more severe—up to 27% of households experience food insecurity at extreme levels. Good Bread and Bake for Ukraine are working to address both food access and employment, particularly for vulnerable populations in Ukraine’s most affected areas.

Good Bread

Good Bread operates along the frontlines to provide mentally disabled Ukrainians with job opportunities and skills training while distributing food to those in need. The organization bakes 1,500 loaves of bread daily, along with cupcakes and hot meals.

A number of its active projects include Food Fighters, which distributes meals to homeless communities in Kyiv and Suspended Cupcakes, which delivers 900-gram cupcakes to military personnel and individuals in neuropsychiatric institutions. These ongoing efforts provide both nutritional and emotional support in difficult times. Good Bread also prioritizes job training and stability. Individuals with mental disabilities gain long-term skills through employment in the charity’s kitchens. An initiative, Hang a Cupcake, has become a routine and empowering task for many of the program’s workers.

Since 2022, the organization has delivered about 800,000 loaves of bread, employed more than 70 individuals with disabilities and distributed more than 200 hot lunches per week. The cupcakes—often symbolic of dignity and care—have also reached those most in need of encouragement. Good Bread relies entirely on donations to fund its mission. Its dual focus on food and employment has supported resilience in communities facing the daily realities of war.

Bake for Ukraine

Bake for Ukraine focuses on supporting local bakeries and delivering free bread to vulnerable communities, while also preserving Ukraine’s traditional bread culture, particularly the hearth-baked Palyanytsya. The initiative was launched to prevent bakery closures caused by war-related economic shocks. Through donor support, Bake for Ukraine supplies bakeries with funds, equipment and ingredients tailored to each business’s specific needs. An early project helped build a bakery in the basement of a local church. Similar efforts continue currently.

The organization also established mobile bakeries across Ukraine, including repurposed 1960s Swiss Army vehicles. These mobile units supply remote and underserved areas with fresh, shelf-stable bread, even where infrastructure is limited. Felicity Spector, journalist and author of “Bread and War,” emphasized the impact of the initiative. “At a time when people rely upon both hope and normality, workers and volunteers are delivering bread to those most in need and ensuring stability and job security for bakers across the country.” Despite challenges in maintaining funding, she described Bake for Ukraine’s work as far-reaching and essential.

Food and Job Security in Ukraine

Bread holds deep cultural significance in Ukraine, from ceremonial loaves to its role in wartime symbolism. Palyanytsya has even lent its name to military equipment during the ongoing conflict. Good Bread and Bake for Ukraine not only addresses immediate needs but also preserves a vital part of Ukraine’s identity. Their work reflects a broader effort to protect food and job security in Ukraine. Furthermore, they sustain livelihoods, provide dignity and ensure stability as the country faces continued displacement and economic strain.

– Macy Hall

Macy is based in Dover, Kent, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Foreign Aid To Iraqi Kurdistan

Foreign Aid To Iraqi KurdistanWith a population of more than 6 million, Iraqi Kurdistan (KRI) has long been an important partner for the international community. Since the Iraqi government formally recognized the KRI in 2005, it has remained a semi-autonomous region and acted as a home for refugees fleeing conflict in neighboring Syria. The region also played a vital role in the fight against the Islamic State between 2013 and 2017, but since the recent cuts in U.S. aid to Iraqi Kurdistan, worries about maintaining peace in the region have emerged. In spite of this, intergovernmental organizations such as the U.N. are implementing efforts to ensure the growth and well-being of the KRI and its people.

The Challenges Facing Iraqi Kurdistan

Of the 10 million people estimated to be living in poverty in Iraq, the KRI has a significantly lower proportion of that figure given the region’s semi-autonomous status and thus immunity from certain sanctions in previous years. But, waves of displacement and unemployment have contributed to the level of poverty in Iraqi Kurdistan.

As a result of the war on ISIS and the political instability in Syria since 2011, Iraqi Kurdistan has welcomed 1.8 million Syrian refugees and Iraqi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), which led to a 28% increase in the region’s population. Consequently, many individuals are enduring extreme poverty in these refugee camps in the north of the region.

Additionally, current estimates of unemployment in Iraqi Kurdistan are 13.6% for men and 29.6% for women, which is one of the leading reasons for poverty in the region.

In addition to the issue of unemployment, Iraqi Kurdistan is also experiencing the misappropriation of government funds. In 2023, a review of public spending in the KRI found that 42% of funds go towards employee salaries, which explains the severe underdevelopment of private sector industries. For example, Iraqi Kurdistan’s primary source of income is the oil industry, accounting for 99% of exports, which leaves the economy exposed to drastic shifts in global oil prices. Much of the work by NGOs and foreign governments operating in the region thus focuses on enhancing the growth of private sector industries and investing heavily in infrastructure projects.

International Contributions

In spite of the reduction in foreign aid to Iraqi Kurdistan, governments from around the world are coming up with innovative and diverse ways to boost employment in the region and advocate for those affected by conflict. For example, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has teamed up with the KRI’s Ministry of Municipality and Tourism in Erbil, to provide training programs for women and youth to create handicraft objects to boost tourism and cultural awareness in the region. So far, the program has taken place in nine locations across the region and delivered essential training to 170 participants, improving their job prospects.

In addition, the U.K. maintains its optimism towards strengthening British-Iraqi Kurdistan relations and has proudly delivered health care services to more than 6 million people across Iraq. The British government will also be sending £100,000 per year, for the next 3 years, to support the implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law, in the hopes of spreading awareness about the poverty and suffering of marginalized Kurds. 

Among plans to boost the tourism industry in the region, foreign aid to Iraqi Kurdistan is shifting towards the agricultural sector in order to diversify the KRI’s economy. In particular, delegations from the United Arab Emirates have conducted 10 research projects into rehabilitating the agriculture and livestock industry.

CABI’s Work in Iraqi Kurdistan

The nonprofit organization, CABI, has taken a more active role in boosting agricultural employment to alleviate the effects of poverty in the region. Through training programs, enhanced information, post-harvest services and processing plants, CABI is supporting potato production in the Duhok province. The project not only seeks to bolster food supply in this part of Iraqi Kurdistan, but also to offer jobs to IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable groups. Since its inception in 2021, CABI’s work in the KRI has already established a potato processing and storage plant, with hopes of offering 10,000 workers with job opportunities in harvesting.

The Future 

Currently, like many regions of the world, foreign aid to Iraqi Kurdistan has fallen short of previous years. The main challenges that the KRI faces are high levels of unemployment, over-dependence on the oil industry and managing the refugee crisis; all of which directly or indirectly contribute to poverty in the region. However, by expanding the economy into new sectors such as handicraft training and potatoes to boost tourism and agriculture sectors, the future is bright for Iraqi Kurdistan.

– Alfie Williams-Hughes

Alfie is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Hope for Haitians: Baking a Brighter Future

Hope for HaitiansCenturies of French colonization heavily impacted Haiti’s economy and human development, making it the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere. Political unrest and natural disasters continue contributing to negative economic growth and discouraging foreign investment. However, in 2024, Hope for Haitians started a baking project in Haiti with Au Bon Pain de Ton-Ro/Boulangerie et Pâtisserie, a for-profit bakery in Trou du Nord, Haiti.

This initiative, supported by the HELP Foundation and Village Leadership Councils (VLC), helps people in seven rural villages acquire jobs, providing job security while creating self-reliance in both the economy and food sources. This initiative can have a significant impact, as unemployment in Haiti affects about 15% of the population, nearly three times the global average.

Sustainable Partnership

Hope for Haitians and Au Bon Pain de Ton-Ro have similar goals, with Hope for Haitians respecting Au Bon Pain de Ton-Ro’s position as a locally owned business. Hope for Haitians provides the necessary funding to improve the bakery’s facilities, buy equipment and provide vocational training, ensuring the future success of this baking initiative in Haiti.

The bakery provides at least two jobs in each village, baking food for Hope for Haitians-VLC to sell and training employees to continue developing their skills. The main focus is long-term economic growth, which is accomplished through building job skills to keep the bakery operating while ensuring the success remains within the local economy.

Empowering Communities

This baking in Haiti project offers workers leadership roles and economic opportunities, fostering a sense of empowerment for people who struggle with poverty. Although Hope for Haitians-VLC provides operational and managerial support, each village has complete control over selling the bakery’s goods, helping workers earn locally.

The project uses a revenue-sharing system to support sellers and to give back to each community. Local sellers earn 5% of the sales; another 5% goes to schools, health care or public services. The project also creates jobs beyond the bakery, with workers receiving vocational training to acquire skills to participate in other business ventures.

This allows the workers to improve their baking skills while creating future opportunities in Haiti’s growing food industry. Infrastructure upgrades such as new ovens, milling equipment and distribution vehicles ensure the continued success of this initiative.

Overcoming Challenges

All parties involved understand that large projects come with risks and Hope for Haitians has pledged to use its resources to support the villages’ ongoing economic development. The organizations have implemented measures to ensure bakeries operate safely and efficiently, addressing challenges as they arise.

For example, if a village faces distribution issues, the bakery and Hope for Haitians-VLC work together locally to identify and resolve the problem, preventing it from affecting the broader operation. Additionally, contingency plans are in place for potential shutdowns or unexpected disruptions. This thoughtful approach reflects Hope for Haitians’s dedication to the community’s long-term success.

The Future

The bakery represents progress and hope for the future, showing how people living in poverty can become successful if given the right opportunities and support. Hope for Haitians is promoting a future founded on long-term growth by funding local companies rather than managing from outside.

As the project grows, its impact reaches beyond baking and distributing bread. It demonstrates how companies and nonprofits can work together to strengthen impoverished communities and help them escape poverty. The initiative allows Haiti’s rural areas to become more self-sufficient by focusing on local leadership and building community relationships.

– Rafe Photopoulos

Rafe is based in Gainesville, FL, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Adaro Energy and Its Impact in Indonesia

Adaro EnergyIn 2004, Edwin Soeryadjaya, a prominent Indonesian businessman from the wealthy Soeryadjaya family, founded Adaro Energy. The company was established to develop and manage coal resources, particularly in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. As one of Indonesia’s largest energy companies, Adaro Energy aims to provide thousands of jobs across mining, logistics and corporate functions. It focuses on rural regions where mining is a key livelihood, helping reduce poverty rates in these vulnerable areas.

About Coal Mining in Indonesia

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), in 2024, Indonesia’s coal sector reached a record high, with national coal production hitting 830.48 million tons, surpassing the target of 710 million tons by 116.97%. This statistic highlights Indonesia’s coal mining market achieving record-high productivity levels in history, including 2023, where production remained at an all-time high.

Indonesia’s government policies in the 1990s promoted eco-friendly, high-quality mining practices and reopened foreign investments. As a result, coal mining has remained a major economic driver, positioning Indonesia among the top five coal-producing countries globally for the past 20 years.

Coal Mining and Rural Poverty Reduction in Indonesia

East Kalimantan, the most intensively mined province, held 42% of Indonesia’s national coal reserves in 2020. Despite being a major coal hub, East Kalimantan’s poverty rate remained at 7.54% in 2021, placing it among Indonesia’s provinces experiencing poverty.

Despite persistent poverty in rural areas like East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and South Sumatra, Indonesia has made remarkable progress in poverty reduction. The country’s poverty rate has dropped from 11.9% in 2012 to 9.4% in 2023.

According to Jakarta Globe ID, this achievement stems from rapid economic growth driven primarily by mining, alongside improvements in agriculture and forestry, which are closely linked to mining activities. Despite challenges, Kalimantan’s rural areas maintain the lowest poverty rate due to coal mining investments from major companies like Adaro Energy.

Adaro Energy’s Impact on Rural Jobs

Adaro Energy employs more than 5,000 personnel, 70% of whom are of Kalimantan origin. While headquartered in South Jakarta, the company operates in South and Central Kalimantan, creating jobs in these regions and nearby rural areas.

The company emphasizes employee development through programs like the Adaro Mining Professional Program (AMPP) and sustainability training, focusing on technical and leadership skills. By actively recruiting fresh graduates and local community members, Adaro Energy addresses local job market challenges and engages local talent.

Additionally, Adaro Energy promotes a work-life balance culture, offering health and wellness programs, performance bonuses and opportunities to participate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ensuring employee well-being and community impact.

The Future

While the company focuses on eco-friendly coal mining, it also enhances employability through diverse job opportunities and training programs. An example is the Adaro Learning Management System, which offers management and technical skills courses.

Additionally, Adaro Ignites Education provides mentoring, scholarships and support for Islamic boarding schools, targeting rural and underrepresented communities. These initiatives aim to create extensive career prospects for all employees and locals. To date, the firm has offered scholarships to more than 250 students.

Adaro Energy’s investments in coal mining, education and employment have significantly contributed to rural development in Indonesia. By fostering economic growth, reducing poverty and creating career opportunities, the company continues to shape local communities. Its commitment to sustainable practices ensures long-term benefits for both the industry and the people it supports.

– Liubov Linnyk

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Addressing Poverty in Greenland 

Poverty in GreenlandGreenland is an autonomous country under Denmark’s rule. Half of the country’s public revenue comes solely from Danish aid and contributions and yet many citizens live below the poverty line. While other members of the Danish Kingdom flourish, including the considerably smaller Faroe Islands, the number of people living in poverty throughout Greenland is at a staggeringly high 17.4%. This is what the reality of Greenlandic poverty looks like.

The People of Greenland

The vast majority of Greenland’s population identify as Inuit and consider themselves to be ethnically Greenlandic, while the remaining are nearly entirely Danish. The impacts of Norse colonialism and rapid modernization throughout history have impacted the Inuit people’s livelihoods and ways of living have been threatened by the impact of Norse colonialism and rapid modernization throughout history, a threat which has not dispersed despite decades of being recognized as an autonomous territory.

Tourism Vs. Tradition

For many, traditional industries such as fishing and hunting were a means of survival as well as income, though the forced displacement of families and the Inuit people has meant that many have lost access or ease of access to the trades they once relied heavily upon. These industries have long been a staple within the communities, but are gradually being replaced with modern institutions, including mining and tourism.

From 1774 to 1908, the Royal Greenland Trading Department (KGH) were responsible for managing the Greenland government and trade, and throughout this period, they actively fought the urbanization of the native land. However, by the 1960s, the Danish government had introduced a modernization program. While the Danish government introduced it to help Greenlandic workers, particularly the fishermen, into work at modern fisheries, the program merely contributed to the collapse of existing fishers and thus the vital trades of many citizens, as well as prolonged unemployment. This was only one example of colonization contributing to a growing crisis of poverty in Greenland.

The Modernization Shortfall 

Despite being the world’s largest island, the country is home to only 57,000 citizens, making for a sparse population along the coastline and masses of uninhabited land. As a result of this dispersion, there is a lack of key infrastructure that would enable various areas of the economy to grow, such as mining or tourism. As of 2025, there are still less than 100 miles of paved roads across the island, making transportation difficult for workers, and thus limiting job opportunities and access to key sectors and services. For those who rely upon fishing, hunting and gathering to survive non-existent or difficult roads can lead to both job and food insecurity.

These rural areas are where poverty thrives; according to Project World, many Greenlanders have inadequate access to sanitation, food and clean water within their own homes. This is particularly prevalent within predominantly Inuit villages, where a lack of a national grid means that people cannot easily access the services they rely on. Where Danish modernization programs and projects largely failed, many native Greenlanders fell behind and, as a result, beneath the poverty line.

Rising Temperatures 

Like the majority of Arctic countries, rising temperatures is impacting Greenland. As the ice sheet began to retreat in 2023, the island became known for its untapped resources, the earth rich with minerals. However, the aforementioned lack of infrastructure makes it more difficult to access these resources and, therefore, create jobs within the sector.

While the discovery of these minerals has been widely deemed a good thing, the impact of the rescinding ice sheet is already disrupting the lives of many Greenlanders. Melting ice and global warming can make one of the island’s key exports – fishing – an even more unreliable source of income, as the changing weather conditions impact marine life. Climate-induced erosion is also hitting the already limited road structures, making journeys necessary for food, work or transportation more dangerous, more difficult and more insecure. This impacts poverty in Greenland.

The Future

While Greenland’s autonomy and ownership have become a recent political issue, there should be a greater focus on alleviating poverty in Greenland without the island and the people’s independence and autonomy being used as a price tag. In particular, the Salvation Army is recognized as one of the major charitable organizations in Greenland that is making a large everyday impact on the citizens, helping to end homelessness and improve the quality of life for those most vulnerable across the country. From 2012, the charity has been providing warm spaces, meals and drinks and support to those in need, including via the 2024 Self Denial Appeal, which aimed to improve lives across the country.

With eyes across the globe turned to the island, hopefully, there will be a greater focus on improving the lives of Greenlanders by fighting poverty.

– Macy Hall

Macy is based in Dover, Kent, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Being Poor in Kenya: Challenges and Solutions 

Being Poor in KenyaMillions of Kenyans live in abject poverty. In 2022, the overall poverty rate was approximately 40%, and the food poverty rate was around 32%. Kenyans suffer financially and lack the resources to live a stable and productive life, even as the country’s economy grows. To address this inequality, the Kenyan government and NGOs have implemented programs and initiatives to fight this problem. Here is information about being poor in Kenya.

Challenges

Several challenges exist that exacerbate poverty in Kenya. Here are some examples of those challenges:

  1. Limited Access to Basic Services: Limited access to quality education, health care and clean water affect many Kenyans. Overcrowded classrooms and poor learning conditions prevent educational development in many schools. Major health risks arise for families due to common poor hygiene habits. In the urban slum of Kibera, crowded shacks and contaminated water bring about typhoid and cholera.
  2. Unemployment: The World Bank Group estimates that 75% of young Kenyans (35 and under) have few employment opportunities. Being poor in Kenya leads to most people performing low-paying informal work with little job security. Many farmers also struggle with poor infrastructure and limited access to international markets.
  3. Food Insecurity: Rising food prices and regular droughts make it challenging for families to afford food. Rural Kenyans suffer from a lack of soil fertility and volatile weather. The Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation interviewed farmers in Yatta and found that food shortages negatively affected 87%, rising food prices impacted 76% and decreased water availability affected 72%.
  4. Gender Inequality: Being poor in Kenya leads many women to face social and economic barriers. These women are mostly limited to low-paying household employment. Cultural standards create very young mothers, which forces women into full-time childcare and discourages further education. Additionally, a 2023 report found that women are around 27% less likely to have the same opportunities as men, especially in political representation and decision-making power.
  5. Environmental Disasters: Environmental disasters severely impact Kenya. Unpredictable climate shocks prevent local communities from recovering, leading to forced displacement. Indeed, a farmer in Loya states that droughts and locust infestations are “missiles sent from the skies.” Lengthy droughts in Kenya’s arid regions have caused hunger for 23.8 million people.
  6. Crime: Rampant poverty leads to rampant crime. A Security Research and Information Centre study found that 98.8% of residents of urban slums had seen a crime within the past three months. Being poor in Kenya also drives people to commit minor crimes, such as illegally selling alcohol or wood.

Solutions and Initiatives

Despite the difficulties that Kenya is facing, several initiatives are working to address poverty in Kenya. Here are examples of some of those initiatives:

  1. Inua Jamii Program: The Inua Jamii Program is a government-led cash transfer program. President Uhuru Kenyatta started it in 2015; the goal was to fight poverty and help vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, orphans and disabled. This program provides bi-monthly cash transfers, helping more than 700,000 elderly people greatly improve their well-being.
  2. The BOMA Project: Kathleen Colson founded The BOMA Project in 2005 and it operates as a U.S. nonprofit and Kenyan NGO. BOMA’s Rural Entrepreneur Access Project provides cash grants and business training to Kenyan women in arid regions. It empowers these women to start small businesses and work towards escaping poverty. BOMA has launched more than a thousand businesses and hundreds of savings groups, helping more than 800,000 women and children overcome poverty.
  3. Waste Management: Alfy Ayoro and Yajub Jaffar founded the local organization Kibra Green in 2017. The organization allows Kibera residents, especially young people, to be involved in their community by establishing weekly garbage clean-ups and by collecting and selling recyclable items. The organization also trains locals in metalworking for future job opportunities, strengthening community engagement and helping them overcome poverty.
  4. Vaccine and Sanitation Initiatives: Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Shining Hope for Communities launched a vaccination campaign to fight Nairobi’s cholera outbreak. The outbreak started in 2022 and health officials acted fast by temporarily closing schools. Nairobi’s informal settlements were especially at risk due to a lack of clean water and poor sanitation, making it easier for a waterborne disease like cholera to spread. This initiative achieved a 99.2% vaccination rate and implemented over twenty new sanitary facilities and water ATMs, improving overall sanitation and reducing disease.
  5. Water Backpacks: Teachers gave students water backpacks to transport water to and from schools in Laikipia County efficiently. Teachers and health officials educated students on proper hygiene. These backpacks created more locations where students could access safe drinking water, greatly improving their health. Adding the backpacks in classes prevented students from overcrowding around one water source.

Looking Ahead

Millions of Kenyans struggle with limited access to essential services, unemployment and food shortages made worse by climate change and sanitary concerns. However, successful initiatives against poverty are possible through heavy investments in many government and international organizations. Overcoming this widespread issue involves long-term partnerships between many organizations to guarantee the complete elimination of poverty in Kenya.

– Rafe Photopoulos

Rafe is based in Gainesville, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Disability and Poverty in Bulgaria

Disability and Poverty in BulgariaAs of 2023, 13.6% of Bulgaria’s population was living with a recognized disability. While this is below the EU average, the intersection of disability and poverty in Bulgaria remains a pressing issue. Ongoing challenges have marked the country’s journey toward building a more inclusive society since ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012, as many individuals with disabilities continue to endure persistent systemic barriers and economic hardships.

The Realities of Disability and Poverty in Bulgaria

In 2019, Bulgaria introduced the Persons with Disabilities Act (PDA), reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the rights of individuals with disabilities. This legislation notably established an individual needs assessment to foster greater self-determination and active participation in society.

However, many individuals with disabilities in Bulgaria continue to face significant barriers to education, employment and health care. These challenges are particularly severe in rural and less-developed areas, where limited infrastructure, such as inaccessible transportation systems, exacerbates the difficulty of accessing essential services.

Despite the simultaneous adoption of the Personal Assistance Act, institutional care and dependence on family members remain prevalent among individuals with disabilities in Bulgaria, further isolating this group from community life. This ongoing lack of accessibility hinders personal growth and perpetuates a cycle of financial hardship and social marginalization. According to Eurostat, a staggering 42.4% of Bulgaria’s disabled population were at risk of poverty and social exclusion in 2023 – a significantly higher rate compared to the general population and other EU countries.

Disability and Economic Exclusion

Structural barriers in the labor market intensify disability and poverty in Bulgaria by preventing many people with disabilities from securing stable employment. Eurostat data from 2023 reveals that Bulgaria’s disability employment gap stands at 39.5%, nearly double the EU average of 21.5%. The inclusivity deficit in the education system contributes significantly to this disparity, leading to higher early school leaving rates among young people with disabilities. As a result, there is a shortage of skilled professionals with disabilities entering the workforce.

To address these challenges, the Persons with Disabilities Act (PDA) prioritizes equal access to employment, mandating that companies with 50 or more employees meet quotas for hiring permanent disabled personnel. However, organizations are failing to consistently implement these obligations,  resulting in a low number of individuals being hired. Discrimination, inadequate workplace accommodations and an inflexible labor market continue to hinder job prospects for persons with disabilities.

Progress Toward Inclusion for People With Disabilities

The National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 seeks to break the cycle of disability and poverty in Bulgaria. This comprehensive initiative aims to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities by prioritizing inclusive education, accessible public spaces and labor market activation—key drivers in reducing poverty and income inequality for people with disabilities. The strategy places a key emphasis on digital skills training to open up new employment opportunities for people with disabilities across the country, providing specialized programs to develop key competencies and increase both productivity and employability.

The Social Future Foundation, founded in 2017, is an NGO that actively connects job seekers with disabilities to employment opportunities in Bulgaria through its JAMBA Career for All initiative. Since its inception, JAMBA has built a talent pool of more than 2,500 candidates, established multidisciplinary training programs for more than 600 individuals, and provided diversity and inclusion training to 60 partnering organizations to help them effectively integrate employees with disabilities into their workplaces. JAMBA also runs awareness campaigns, reaching more than two million people, to combat social stereotypes and shift public attitudes toward disability inclusion.

Looking Ahead

Both governmental and non-governmental efforts are actively working to dismantle the deep interconnection between disability and poverty in Bulgaria, highlighting a strong commitment to advancing inclusivity and accessibility. Nevertheless, to effectively combat poverty for this vulnerable community, these initiatives must go beyond addressing the shortage of sustainable employment opportunities. 

– Charlotte Codd

Charlotte is based in Waterford, Ireland and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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endPoverty Creating Job Opportunities in Bangladesh

Job Opportunities in Bangladesh endPoverty is a charity that strives to alleviate poverty through resources and support related to entrepreneurship, enabling sustainable growth and creating job opportunities around the world and in Bangladesh. This foundation focuses on economic development rather than relief programs as they believe that the power of business opportunity can become a means of alleviating poverty, via the creation of stable income streams and job opportunities in Bangladesh.

Lack of Employment for Women in Bangladesh

Despite steady economic growth in recent years, a stark contrast between rates of male and female employment remains prevalent in Bangladesh. Women are significantly more likely to experience unemployment than men, with rates of labour participation at around 80% for men, and 37% for women.

Prejudice permeates much of Bangladeshi culture, which in turn influences how many women enter work. UNDP estimates that approximately 90% of the population hold a distorted view of women, according to the Light Castle Partners. This bias includes beliefs that suggest women should marry young and therefore rely financially on their husbands and become primary caregivers, rather than completing education and pursuing a career. For women who are employed, misogyny is common as male colleagues may hold a bias against their female peers, which can result in exclusion and a lack of progression opportunities.

Women may also not receive the same access to opportunities as men due to a lack of networks and available information. Many jobs are posted through informal networks that women do not often have access to, again because of prejudice and lack of social mobility which also means many women do not have phones or the internet. Similarly, as women are often stuck in the home they receive less information about potential jobs than their male counterparts, making finding work more difficult which impedes their ability to attain employment, further increasing the gender employment gap.

The 3C Model

endPoverty utilizes the 3C Model to assist small businesses in creating both viable and maintainable growth opportunities, spearheading positive economic progress.

The first C – capital – ensures that small businesses can access low-cost, malleable capital that allows for innovation and economic advancements.

The second C – coaching – offers small businesses support in the form of personalised coaching sessions that tackle the individual needs and skills of the business, intending to spark further economic development.

The third C – community – situates like-mindedness and people at the forefront of business development by prioritising a faith-based community where people can meet other local entrepreneurs.

The Harvest Project: Job Opportunities in Bangladesh

The Harvest Project is one of endPoverty’s campaigns, aimed at tackling poverty through business and job opportunities. Based in Bangladesh, the Harvest Project works with local female entrepreneurs and offers them the support and guidance needed to be leaders in their communities.

This project follows a holistic approach, meaning that it works with micro-entrepreneurs who are seeking help to kickstart a business and provide for their families. Through this initiative, endPoverty aims to create a community for vulnerable women who are seeking financial relief to improve their family’s quality of life, as well as to safeguard one another in cases of domestic abuse.

endPoverty has provided support to many women in Bangladesh, for example, Romesa, who is from Ramnagar in Bangladesh. Before she discovered endPoverty, Romesa had been experiencing financial worries for three years due to her husband’s poor health and inability to work. She then came across a microentrepreneur in her community, named Minara, who taught Romesa administrative and technical skills that allowed her to create an income for herself. Romesa now continues to share her knowledge and the work of endPoverty, as the skills learned from Minara allowed her to create a better life for herself and her family.

Alleviating Poverty

endPoverty’s Harvest Project contributes to the alleviation of poverty by offering sequential training and a support network that, when combined, comprise a web of microenterprises that enable vulnerable women to support themselves and their families and ultimately improve their quality of life.

– Ella Dorman

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

Photo: Flickr

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Training Centers and Vocational Education in Kenya

Vocational Education in KenyaVocational education and training centers in Kenya play a vital role in alleviating poverty. They are the backbone the country relies on to move towards becoming a middle-income country. The importance of technical and vocational education and training centers (TVET) is development and economic growth by producing a highly skilled workforce capable of implementing the goals outlined in Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is a strategic plan meant to transform Kenya from a developing country to a middle-income economy by improving the quality of life for everyone.

The Importance of TVET’s in Kenya

For a country like Kenya, economic development is dependent on the growth of the manufacturing industry through production of goods and services that can be imported to generate income. However, for this goal to be realized, technological innovation is important. Therefore, TVET’s come in to address the skills gap by producing a human resource fit for the job market or self employment.

According to The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA, 2025), Kenya has 12 accredited national polytechnics, 1,232 accredited technical and vocational colleges and 1,086 accredited vocational training centers. Furthermore, vocational education training centers have evolved from providing semi-skilled labor for white settlers to equipping students with skills that meet the needs of the local industries.

Curricula Transformation

Kenya passed the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act to modernize the TVET sector. The key focus was incorporating information and communication technology to increase access, enhance training capacity, improve delivery methods and support the long-term employability of graduates. Additionally, the act established the Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC) tasked with developing the curriculum and assessment standards.

The Outcome

The digitalization of vocational education and training centers in Kenya has benefitted from partnerships with institutions like the World Bank, the German government and organizations like Colleges and Institutes Canada.

With support from the German government, schools like St. Kizito, carried out an assessment of the automotive industry to update their curriculum for automotive courses to ensure the training is aligned with the requirements of the labor market. This partnership led to a revamped curriculum and on job training opportunities for students allowing them to gain practical experience.

Colleges and Institutions Canada conducted research to explore how innovation hubs could address community problems. This initiative has led to various innovations, such as energy-saving stoves and the development of flour using underutilized crops to address food insecurity and nutritional deficiency among vulnerable groups.

Commercialization of innovations has also been a key focus. The TVET curriculum is designed to equip students with skills relevant to the current labor market demands that technological advancement characterizes. To ensure the students are contributing to the manufacturing industries, vocational education and training centers are maximizing their potential for economic growth by commercializing their innovations.

Effect on Economy and Poverty Reduction

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks as one of the regions with the highest school drop out rates of children between the ages of 15 to 17. However, many often see education as a powerful tool in breaking the poverty cycle through empowerment, reducing child labor and providing people with the skills necessary to seek employment. One of the ways to increase access to education is making it affordable and accessible to everyone by promoting non-formal education pathways like vocational training and education.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) employment in the informal sector grew by 4.5% compared to a 4.2% growth in the formal sector.  

These statistics highlight the impact of TVET in alleviating poverty. Often overlooked as a viable academic option, their ability to transform lives at the community level by providing people with skills that help them to improve their lives is indisputable. Indeed, by focusing on skills such as electrical engineering, agriculture, building and construction they offer local industries with ready skills while meeting the needs of local communities. This also creates a pathway to economic independence through self employment.  Vocational education training centers are a powerful long term investment in the journey of transforming Kenya’s economy.

– Grace Ruria

Grace is based in Nairobi, Kenya and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr