Archive for category: environment

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The Erudites Movement Using Weeds in the Fight Against Poverty

Erudites Movement For decades, water hyacinth has choked the waterways of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and the lifeline for tens of millions of people across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The floating weed forms dense green mats that block boats, starve the water of oxygen and provide breeding grounds for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. According to Outbox Uganda, a Lake Victoria Basin Commission report from the early 2000s estimated that water hyacinth covered around 30% of the lake’s surface. Outbox reported that by 2021, the hyacinth covered up to 90% of the lake’s surface, making its removal a massive undertaking estimated to cost about $15 million annually.

In Uganda, where 18% of the land surface is covered by water bodies, the hyacinth has also spread across Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert and stretches of the River Nile. Its presence reportedly cut fish stocks in Lake Victoria by up to 46%, a serious blow in a country where fishing communities are already among the poorest. As the weed decomposes, it also drives up methane emissions by as much as 20% to 22% in infested zones compared to hyacinth-free waters, adding a climate cost on top of an economic one.

For a group of young innovators in Kampala’s Bwaise, this crisis appeared less like a dead end and more like raw material.

The Erudites Movement

The Erudites Movement is a team of four young Ugandans, ages 15 to 24, who came together in 2023 through a climate change competition for youth run by the innovation hub Outbox alongside United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Uganda. The program paired them with mentors and provided seed funding for more than four months to turn their idea into something that actually worked, not just a concept on paper.

The team includes a university graduate in agriculture, a law student and a resident of Bwaise who had watched the neighborhood struggle with energy costs firsthand. Together, they devised a plan that solves two problems at once: they pay local fishermen a small fee for every kilogram of water hyacinth they remove from the lake, then feed the collected plant matter into a simple digester, a sealed tank where the hyacinth breaks down without oxygen and releases gas that can be burned for cooking, the same basic process used to produce biogas from cow manure or food waste.

The numbers work out. One kilogram of hyacinth can produce around 376 liters of gas, and just 10 liters of the crushed plant is enough to power up eight hours of cooking. What remains after the gas is extracted does not go to waste either: the leftover makes an effective organic fertilizer, and the team also tested it on livestock feed. So a single boatload of weeds from the lake can end up as cooking fuel, fertilizer for a farm, or feed for animals, turning a plant that used to just cost the community money into something that earns it.

Why This Matters

The stakes go beyond a clever recycling idea. Globally, it is estimated that somewhere between 700 million and 800 million people live in extreme poverty. About two-thirds of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda is a clear example of such imbalance. More than half of Ugandans live on less than $3 a day.

One of the biggest factors in this imbalance is energy; only 42% of Uganda’s population has access to the electricity grid. Even in the capital, Kampala, 77% of households still cook over charcoal or firewood, fuels that are costly, cause smoke-related health problems and are often linked to deforestation.

This is the gap the Erudites Movement is trying to close. The team estimates their biogas system could cut a household’s dependence on firewood and charcoal by as much as 80%. In an early test, working with a local partner and a Bwaise homeowner named Kimbugwe Hussein, the team built a digester that started producing usable gas after two weeks. Piped into Hussein’s kitchen, it cooked meals for his family of 12 for up to eight hours a day without backup fuel, and saved him roughly 7,000 Ugandan shillings (UGX) daily, money he used to spend on charcoal and firewood.

The project also creates paid work for fishermen already squeezed by declining catches, and clearing the weed helps restore fish stocks and reduce mosquito breeding grounds tied to malaria.

Erudites Movement’s approach will not, on its own, lift Uganda’s millions of poor households out of poverty. But it shows how youth-led innovation can turn an environmental liability into an economic and energy asset at the community level, one boatload of weeds at a time.

– Alana Breslin

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Growing Climate Resilience in Kiribati and Vanuatu

Climate Resilience in KiribatiOver the past decade, a changing climate has increasingly affected the Pacific island nations of Kiribati and Vanuatu. In response, local communities and aid organizations are working to build resilience.

This effort has drawn support from global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), along with government agencies from South Korea and the European Union. Together, they have taken a range of steps to strengthen climate resilience in Kiribati and Vanuatu.

Changing Climate in Kiribati and Vanuatu

Small, developing island nations like these contribute little to global emissions. According to the IFRC, Kiribati and Vanuatu together produce just 0.02% of global emissions, yet they face some of the most severe consequences of a warming climate. In 2025, Vanuatu’s gross domestic product was $1.35 billion, while Kiribati’s was $350 million. None of Kiribati’s 33 islands rise more than four meters (about 13 feet) above sea level at their highest points, leaving them vulnerable to flooding and saltwater intrusion. Rising seas also make drought more common.

These nations rely heavily on the sea for food and income, particularly fishing. When ocean temperatures rise, however, fisheries suffer, as has been the case in Vanuatu. Increasingly severe storms have also damaged food supplies. In 2015, Cyclone Pam destroyed much of Vanuatu’s food crop — an estimated 96%. Many families in these nations live in extreme poverty and cannot afford enough food. As food scarcity worsens, so does malnutrition among the most vulnerable. Damage to infrastructure also reduces tourism, cutting island-wide income and further straining the economy.

With a population of around 135,000, Kiribati recorded about 4,000 displacements from natural disasters across 2023 and 2024, according to the nation’s 2024 household income and expenditure survey. More than a quarter of the population reported either damage to their homes or a sharp drop in agricultural output. These figures underscore the urgency of climate resilience efforts in Kiribati and Vanuatu.

Recent Climate Resilience in Kiribati

In 2021, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), part of the Government of the Republic of Korea, provided $6 million to the WHO and the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services to drive the Te Mamauri project.

Te Mamauri aimed to improve conditions at health centers, schools and other public buildings on Marakei, one of Kiribati’s outer islands. Because the outer islands are especially exposed to natural disasters, their health care systems have suffered. Over four years, the WHO installed solar lamps at health centers to provide reliable lighting, as many had lacked a sufficient power supply.

Environmental health teams also inspected water systems at schools and other community sites, repairing faulty pipes to improve Marakei’s water access during droughts. By the project’s close in 2025, the WHO reported that 800 health workers benefited directly, with further effects reaching across the outer islands.

Coming Together

In 2025, the IFRC joined the Vanuatu and Kiribati Red Cross Societies to launch a locally led climate resilience program funded by DG Clima, the European Union’s climate action department. The program emphasizes local participation and community knowledge. Vanuatu Red Cross Secretary-General Dickinson Tevi said a risk-assessment process would guide the partners toward “risk-informed solutions to the challenges” their communities face.

The program follows a risk-informed, ecosystem-based approach intended to remain effective and adaptable across both nations. Community members and volunteers help identify local risks and set priorities, including island-council climate policies, integrated climate-and-health assessments, and broader efforts to build safety and resilience across the Pacific.

The IFRC reports that the approach has encouraged collaboration both between the two nations and among local residents, supporting their capacity to act and, in turn, advancing poverty reduction. The IFRC has also said it plans to expand the program to Belize and Guyana.

– Aren Lau

Aren is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Fiji’s Coral Restoration Economy Reducing Poverty

Fiji's Coral Restoration EconomyHealthy coral reefs are more than environmental assets in Fiji; they are economic lifelines for thousands of families. People, the environment and cultural heritage are deeply interconnected, but the changing climate, overfishing, coastal development and pollution are putting pressure on reefs that support food security, tourism, fisheries and local economies.

The stakes are particularly high for people living in poverty. According to the Asian Development Bank, 29.9% of Fiji’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2019. For low-income coastal households, a decline in reef health can mean fewer fish to catch, less income from fishing and tourism, greater exposure to storms and coastal erosion. These households often have fewer financial resources and fewer alternative livelihoods to fall back on when marine resources decline.

Fiji is responding by developing what can be described as a coral restoration economy: an approach that treats healthy reefs as economic infrastructure and invests in businesses and conservation projects that protect them. The goal is not simply to restore ecosystems, but to create jobs, strengthen food security, diversify incomes and make coastal communities more resilient.

Why Coral Reefs Matter to Communities Living in Poverty

Coral reefs are closely tied to Fiji’s food supply and livelihoods. Island communities obtain about 75% of their dietary protein from the ocean, while small-scale fishing provides food and income for coastal households. Reefs also support tourism and protect communities, infrastructure and farmland from storms and erosion.

When coral ecosystems deteriorate, fish habitat can decline, reducing catches and making fishing less reliable. Tourism businesses can also lose income when reefs become less attractive to visitors. For households already living on limited incomes, these losses can mean reduced access to food, lower earnings and greater financial insecurity.

The connection between reef health and poverty is particularly important because many coastal households depend on several benefits from the same ecosystem. A healthy reef can provide food for a family, income from fishing and tourism, and protection from coastal hazards. Losing those services simultaneously can leave vulnerable households with few alternatives.

How Fiji’s Coral Restoration Economy Is Creating Jobs

Investing in coral reefs can create employment in conservation, tourism, fisheries, agriculture and other parts of the blue economy. The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the United Nations (U.N.)  Joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund back Fiji’s Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy program, which uses blended finance to fund reef-positive businesses and sustainable livelihoods.

The program has set targets including hundreds of new jobs, benefits for tens of thousands of people and improved management of coral reef ecosystems. These are projected impacts, not outcomes the program has already achieved.

One example is Beqa Adventure Divers, which works with Galoa Village around Fiji’s Shark Reef Marine Reserve. The company employs local villagers as commercial divers and supports marine conservation, while a reserve levy from dive customers provides a recurring income for the village. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports that fish populations have increased within the reserve and neighboring reefs have experienced increased fishing yields.

Beqa Adventure Divers also reports contributing more than 500,000 Fijian dollars (about $220,000) directly to grassroots communities and training more than 50 diving professionals. Its youth program has helped school leavers develop skills for employment in the tourism industry.

Investing in Reef-Positive Businesses

Fiji’s coral restoration economy extends beyond tourism. GFCR-supported businesses are addressing the causes of reef degradation while generating commercial activity.

Fertile Factory & Co., for example, is developing a natural fertilizer from green waste and manure to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and agricultural runoff that can damage reefs. Mango Fish is developing land-based aquaculture to increase domestic fish supplies while reducing pressure on coral reefs, with revenue supporting coral gene banks and locally managed marine areas.

The financing model aims to attract further investment. The Joint SDG Fund program has allocated about $5.5 million alongside approximately $4.7 million in co-financing to leverage up to $50 million in additional investment.

Lessons for Other Countries

Fiji’s experience shows that conservation can deliver economic benefits when local communities have a direct interest in protecting natural resources. Indonesia and the Philippines are developing similar approaches through ecotourism, sustainable aquaculture, marine protected areas and other reef-positive enterprises.

Coral restoration alone cannot eliminate poverty, but Fiji shows how environmental investment can address several development challenges at once. For other coastal nations facing changes in the climate and persistent poverty, the lesson is clear: protecting nature does not have to compete with economic development. When investment centers on the people who depend on ecosystems, healthy reefs can become the foundation for stronger and more resilient communities.

– Anna Morin

Anna is based in Fairfield, CT, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Helping the Survivors of the Algerian Wildfires

Algerian WildfiresAs temperatures rise and summer heat waves strengthen, wildfires inevitably spread. From Spain to France to Canada, intense and dangerous flames are destroying forests and homes, forcing millions to evacuate. Algeria, located in Northern Africa, is among the countries affected by these wildfires. Despite extensive coverage of wildfires in European countries, Algeria’s fires have received limited attention.

How It Started

A severe heat wave across North Africa, with temperatures reaching 55 degrees Celsius in some areas, left Algeria’s northern forests dangerously dry and facilitated the rapid spread of wildfires.

On July 18, 2026, wildfire emergencies reached a high point as 154 forest, vegetation and farmland fires were recorded within 24 hours. Recent reports indicate 138 fires have been extinguished, while others are being contained. Annaba, Souk Ahras, Skikda, Guelma, Bouira and other areas in the country’s northern and northeastern forest regions are most affected.

The Ministry of the Interior, Local Authorities and Transport reported six fatalities, more than 100 evacuations and about 150 homes affected or threatened in the July fires. Many people have been injured and left homeless, particularly those living in poverty, as food scarcity increases with fields and crops reduced to ashes, displacing farmers and livestock.

Response to the Algerian Wildfires

The government responded quickly by deploying first responders and emergency services to protect lives, contain fires and support affected communities. Meanwhile, many NGOs provided support and assistance to those impacted by the fires.

  • Algerian Red Crescent: The Algerian Red Crescent (CRA) is Algeria’s oldest humanitarian organization, a volunteer-based disaster-relief society that serves as an auxiliary to the state in emergencies. Founded in 1957 with about 3,000 volunteers, its services include medical and financial support, access to public hospitals and psychological support. According to its 2025 annual report, CRA provided 3,700 hot meals and large-scale relief to families affected by the wildfires, including vaccines and professional medical assistance.
  • Médecins Sans Frontières: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, is an independent medical humanitarian organization founded in 1971 that provides medical care to people affected by conflicts and natural disasters. With a global network of more than 67,000 staff, MSF has the medical and logistical capacity to respond to disasters like the Algerian fires, particularly for people suffering burns or respiratory complications from the smoke.

The Algerian wildfires have significantly impacted lives through injuries and home destruction. However, organizations and NGOs are available to support recovery efforts through donations and awareness initiatives.

– Michalitsa Kontogianni

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

Photo: Flickr

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How Mangrove Restoration Reduces Poverty in Kenya

Poverty in KenyaPoverty continues to affect millions of people in Kenya, particularly in rural and coastal communities that depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. According to the World Bank, about one-third of Kenyans live below the national poverty line. Along Kenya’s coastline, many families rely on fishing and small-scale agriculture, making them especially vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation. Mangrove restoration in Kenya is helping address these challenges by protecting coastal ecosystems while creating new economic opportunities for local communities.

Why Mangroves Matter

For many families living along Kenya’s coast, healthy mangrove forests directly support daily life. Fishermen depend on mangroves because they provide nursery habitats where young fish and shellfish can grow before moving into open waters. When mangrove forests decline due to deforestation or coastal development, fish populations decrease, making it more difficult for families to earn a living. Restoring these forests helps protect both the environment and the livelihoods that depend on it.

Community-Led Restoration Creates New Opportunities

One of Kenya’s best-known restoration efforts is Mikoko Pamoja, a community-led conservation project located in Gazi Bay, a coastal village in southeastern Kenya, that launched in 2010. The initiative protects 117 hectares of mangrove forest while restoring more than 8,000 mangrove trees each year. Instead of relying only on outside funding, the project generates revenue by selling blue carbon credits, which allow organizations and businesses to financially support projects that store carbon while protecting natural ecosystems. The project reinvests this income into community programs that improve daily life for local residents.

The project has produced measurable benefits beyond environmental conservation. Revenue from carbon credits has helped provide clean water to approximately 3,500 people, educational materials for more than 700 schoolchildren and funding for roads and other community infrastructure. According to Mikoko Pamoja, local residents also participate directly in mangrove restoration by collecting seeds, maintaining tree nurseries and monitoring forest health, creating paid employment opportunities while protecting the environment.

Reducing Poverty in Kenya Through Conservation

Mangrove restoration supports local economies in several ways. Community members earn income by collecting mangrove propagules, raising seedlings in nurseries and participating in restoration and monitoring activities. Healthy mangrove forests also improve fish populations, helping sustain the fisheries that thousands of coastal families depend on for food and income.

The project demonstrates that environmental conservation and economic development can work together. By protecting natural resources, communities strengthen their fishing industry while generating additional revenue through blue carbon financing. Although long-term funding and climate change continue to present challenges, community participation has helped keep restoration efforts active for more than a decade.

Looking Ahead

Mangrove restoration in Kenya demonstrates that nature-based solutions can improve both environmental and economic outcomes. Community-led initiatives such as Mikoko Pamoja protect biodiversity, strengthen coastal resilience and generate funding for education, clean water and local development. As the changing climate continues to threaten vulnerable communities, investments in mangrove restoration offer a sustainable way to reduce poverty in Kenya while protecting the coastline for future generations. The project’s success also shows how local communities can lead conservation efforts while improving livelihoods, providing a model that other coastal regions can adapt to meet their own environmental and economic challenges.

– Violette Bardouil

Violette is based in Paris, France and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Climate Instability Affects Pastoralism in the Sahel Region

Pastoralism in the Sahel RegionClimate instability is slowly but consistently making life in the Sahel harder for herders, whose livelihoods depend on rainfall, pasture and mobility. Rising temperatures, erratic rains and longer dry seasons are shrinking grazing land, drying water points and forcing pastoralists to move farther and more often in search of survival.

A Fragile Way of Life

For centuries, pastoralism has been a strategy for adapting to the dry environment of the Sahel region. Herders move livestock across wide areas so animals can find new pasture and the land can recover. However, that system only works when mobility remains possible and water is not scarce.

Changing climatic conditions in the Sahel are disrupting both. Rainy seasons are less predictable, droughts are becoming more severe and springs and streams that once sustained herds are disappearing. These changes do not just reduce income; they threaten an entire social and economic system.

In the Sudano-Sahel region, more than 20 million people depend on pastoralism for survival and livestock is often the main source of food, cash and status. When grass fails or water holes dry up, families lose animals, nutrition worsens and their ability to recover from shocks weakens. These difficulties affect not only people who live off livestock but also farmers who grow crops for the animals.

Drought and Loss

The human and economic costs of drought can be devastating. One major drought in Niger in 2010 killed more than 4.8 million cattle, roughly a quarter of the country’s herd, causing losses of more than $700 million. For herding families, such losses are not abstract statistics. 

They translate into lower school fees, less milk for children and the collapse of savings built up over years, if not generations, through entire flocks. Pastoralism in the Sahel region is also harmed by diseases and herd weakness caused by climate stress. As animals are concentrated into smaller areas with less fodder, they become more vulnerable to illness and malnutrition.

At the same time, governments may impose tighter controls on animal movement due to concerns about livestock disease, making it even harder for herders to follow the rains and preserve their herds. Additionally, longer transhumances may expose animals to stress, disease vectors (such as ticks and flies) and consequential zoonotic diseases. This is not only an issue for animal health but also for humans, increasing the transmission of infectious diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis.

Tensions Over Land

As pasture disappears, herders are increasingly pushed into zones where farming is expanding, especially in the southern Sahel. This creates competition over land and water between farmers and herders, a pressure that can turn local disputes into small armed conflicts when land-use rules are weak or unenforced. Climate emergency does not cause every conflict in the Sahel, but it intensifies competition over scarce resources and makes peaceful coexistence more difficult.

Mobility, once a strength of pastoral systems, is becoming harder to sustain. Fragmented landscapes, insecurity and armed groups on transhumance routes can trap herders in unsafe or overused areas. This is further worsened by the growing availability of weapons and by political entities in the region exploiting these issues. 

When families can no longer move freely, they face more grazing pressure, more conflict and fewer ways to adapt.

The PRAPS-2 Strategy 

Sahelian governments and regional stakeholders are already collaborating to address shared environmental and economic challenges that endanger pastoralism in the Sahel. In addition to flagship efforts like the Great Green Wall, smaller-scale initiatives such as the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission aim to improve the management and restoration of transboundary natural resources.

The most important of these initiatives, specifically designed to address pastoral needs, is the PRAPS-2 project. It is based on strengthening national responses while reinforcing regional coordination. Its objective is twofold. First, it seeks to enhance regional coherence in natural resource governance, support the implementation of national regulations and facilitate cross-border trade.

Second, it aims to generate and disseminate scientific and technical knowledge that supports sustainable pastoral practices and informs both national and regional strategies, recognizing their economic, social and environmental significance. Regionally, the program is implemented by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS). The CILSS oversees coordination under the political leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). 

At the national level, implementation is led by the relevant ministries responsible for livestock or rural development across the six participating countries. PRAPS-2 is structured around five core components:

  • Improving animal health and veterinary drug control
  • Promoting sustainable landscape management and governance
  • Strengthening livestock value chains
  • Enhancing social and economic inclusion, particularly for women and youth
  • Supporting project coordination, institutional capacity and crisis prevention and response

Progress is being made, but this crisis highlights how rising temperatures can deepen insecurity and instability in already fragile regions, making the protection of pastoral livelihoods essential for sustaining resilience, dignity and peace.

– Riccardo Chiaraluce

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

Photo: Pexels

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Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon Turned Shark Predators into Prosperity

Fiji's Beqa LagoonFiji’s Beqa Lagoon was once a hotspot for shark fishing, as shark fins and oil provided profitable returns for local fishermen. An abundance of bull sharks feeding in the nearby river mouths made Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon a reliable target in the region, with heavy fishing efforts leaving the reef system in a decimated state.

Once depleted of marine life, the lagoon now hosts one of the world’s leading shark diving experiences, with a vibrant and healthy reef ecosystem. The marine reserve is not only an environmental success story — it is also a model for community development.

Local communities are thriving beyond the shark fishing economy, using eco-tourism and marine conservation strategies to rebuild the economy, infrastructure and spiritual connection alongside Beqa Lagoon.

Shark Reef Marine Reserve

Fiji waters support a known 75 species of sharks and rays, with 66% of these species globally threatened or near threatened according to the IUCN Red List. Established in 2004, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve uses a community-compensation model where local villages, including Galoa and Wainiyabia, legally yielded their fishing rights to the reef, also known as Qoliqoli, in exchange for monthly funds deposited directly into village bank accounts to support local infrastructure and education. As a result, every diver pays a mandatory marine park shark levy of approximately FJD 20. This provides a steady income compared to the fluctuating returns of overfishing. The marine reserve also creates a spillover effect, with fish populations spilling into neighboring unprotected reefs and increasing fishing yields in those areas.

As part of the agreement, the community receives 100% of the marine park levy with full autonomy over how the funds are allocated. Development projects have included:

  • Infrastructure and facilities maintenance, with funds providing critical income to more than 6,000 fishermen during the COVID-19 pandemic when tourism stopped.
  • Education support for local schools, with specific allocations including school fees, supplies and maintenance of educational buildings in Galoa.
  • Health and welfare, with the steady cash flow providing a social safety net, especially during fluctuations and declines in fish yields in unprotected areas.

In the past 20 years, the shark diving industry generated more than $42.2 million annually, with $3.9 million in salaries, contributing to funding schools, health care and infrastructure while providing a stable income. The partnership with Beqa Adventure Divers and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office has trained 10 official community members as fish wardens. Under the Fisheries Act, these wardens have the authority to protect the reserve from poaching and illegal activity. The organization has also trained qualified divers in the eco-tourism industry, providing long-term employment.

The reserve has attracted international partnerships, including the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the UNDP. Through these partnerships, the community founded the first nonprofit elasmobranch research project, Fiji Shark Lab, developed coral nursery programs and restored more than 50 hectares of mangrove forests. These institutions provide employment and educational resources to local communities and continue to engage with community members in climate resilience projects.

Cultural Significance

Beyond the local economy, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve is tied to a long-standing spiritual connection between Beqa divers and sharks. According to oral tradition, Cakaubalavu, a chief fisherman, transformed into a shark after returning from a fishing trip to find his food eaten. He left Beqa with other traditional fishermen, traveling across several islands and eventually assisting another group in a reef battle, forever tying him to the island of Benau. Through this story, he became known as Dakuwaqa, the protector of divers and a shark deity for the Rukua people. Currently, the legend extends beyond Benau, with Dakuwaqa spoken of as the protector of divers in the Beqa Lagoon, providing a sense of safety and spiritual connection to many divers and visitors.

Looking Ahead

This approach, tying marine conservation to economic and community prosperity, highlights how conservation can become a pathway to reducing global poverty. With low-elevation coastal zones (LECZ) harboring a significant portion of the world’s poverty, coastal communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to environmental hazards and climate change. The success of Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon continues to serve as a model as community ties to marine health support a growing movement toward sustainable development.

– Alyssa Forget

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

Photo: Unsplash

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How Charities Are Responding to Flooding in Kenya

Flooding in KenyaFlooding in Kenya has displaced more than 412,000 people since September 2025. Unprecedented levels of rainfall, following the El Niño rainy season, triggered the flooding, recording one of the heaviest rain seasons in Kenya’s history. These torrential rains have now led to floods across 33 out of Kenya’s 47 states, and the situation has only been worsened by the prolonged drought that has resulted in ruined infrastructure and farmland, almost irreparably damaging thousands of people’s livelihoods. These extreme weather events are not just extraordinary occurrences, but evidence of how natural disasters can affect the country.

The Effects of Flooding in Kenya

The flooding in Kenya has resulted in displacement, deaths, damaged or lost infrastructure and farmland, with destruction across all sectors: 11,311 losses in livestock, submergence of 61 key roads and the destruction of nearly 2,000 schools and 62 health centres nationwide, according to Help.NGO.

One personal testimony comes from Felista, who states: “Flooding has taken away my livelihood source.” Felista is a displaced mother and business owner as a herbalist, who looks after her daughter and grandchildren owing to her daughter’s mental health issues, and now “[she] can no longer access herbs.”

Unfortunately, the combination of flooding in Kenya and the ensuing fast-onset drought has not only hurt individuals’ and families’ incomes, but also people’s health and access to basic necessities such as food, water, and education.

Public Health Concerns

According to Dr Pius Mutuku, a medical epidemiologist from the Ministry of Health, flooding made 14 facilities close down and affected a major water treatment facility, resulting in a shortage of clean water for 3,000 people. Tana River County alone reported 44 cholera cases, which is one of the most flood-affected regions and in displacement camps that are rapidly filling up, medical emergencies such as this are significant worries to public health.

Poverty is a multidimensional issue, affecting not only the economy but also creating a poverty of knowledge and independence. Schools across the country have closed due to water damage, postponing term for two weeks due to the disruption and lost infrastructure that prevents staff and students travelling to school. The Kenyan government has chosen to demolish houses, specifically informal settlements near the major rivers – the worst affected flood zones- to reduce future flood damage. However, this means destroying nearby infrastructure also, which puts families in the worst socio-economic situations at greater risk, removing their access further to facilities for health care or education.

The Response

Kenya Red Cross (KRCS) has traditionally been the centre of emergency response efforts, but the organization found itself stretched beyond capacity in this crisis and in need of additional man-power and financial support. County emergency funds had been depleted, and local authorities were unable to respond to the flooding in Kenya alone until Help NGO joined KRCS, offering field support and new technology.

The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has also contributed to the crisis team, allocating $3 million US dollars to humanitarian partners to support the assistance of 190,000 people across 10 counties severely ruined by the flooding in Kenya.

Funding is a silent but crucial element of resolving national and international crises like this one, and this money from CERF went toward organizations like the World Food Program (WFP), which is providing cash assistance to affected families, to help them meet their most urgent needs in the time of disruption and loss. This cash assistance aimed to reach those most vulnerable in society, and those most harshly affected by the floods and drought, such as the disabled, chronically ill, or the urban poor population.

Another method of cash assistance and funding is the Adaptation Fund, which finances projects worth more than $49 million to reshape infrastructure so it can withstand natural disaster-influenced events like shock floods and droughts. This aid is especially significant to those living in urban poverty, whose informal settlements are most vulnerable to extreme weather events.

The Results

Part of Help.NGO’s action has been providing new advanced drone technology to work alongside satellites, and survey the extent of damage done to Kenya’s landscape. Without this level of surveillance, the government would not be able to accurately implement aid to the regions and communities that are most in need. These drones have provided invaluable data for “recovery and reconstruction,” according to a Help NGO spokesperson.

The images and data from Help.NGO’s technology helped a multitude of missions, including organizing medical assistance. The Ministry of Health has immensely benefited from this information, and have been able to set up medical camps with the support of KRCS for continuity of services for the more than 4,000 people hurt by hospital closures.

In addition, WHO deployed more than 720 first responders to flood-affected zones to offer on-site recovery and attention, and attend to patients across Kenya’s 192 medical camps. The mission also distributed cholera kits and treated approximately 10,000 people.

The Future

Funding can change an individual’s life, like Felista, who has now been able to reopen her business and return her grandchildren to school. CERF provided her with KES 10,000- equivalent to $80, which has enabled her to pay school fees, buy food, and, significantly, the herbs and materials she needs to get her business up and running again. With the help of KRCS and Help NGO, financial aid and technology are reshaping Kenya, socially and physically, building a safer and more stable country for generations to come.

– Jaya Noonan

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

Photo: Flickr

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Comoros’ Ylang-Ylang Industry: Why Greener Growth Matters

Comoros’ ylang-ylang industryComoros ranks among the world’s leading perfume producers, alongside Madagascar and Mayotte. In the country, the ylang-ylang flower does more than produce luxury fragrances. It supports thousands of rural households and provides a steady, environmentally conscious source of income and economic growth.

This industry also strengthens the national economy. Agriculture accounts for about one-third of Comoros’ GDP and export crops such as ylang-ylang, vanilla and cloves drive much of that growth.

Greener Practices, Stronger Incomes

Ylang-ylang creates direct economic opportunities for many families in Comoros. Around 10,000 producers cultivate the crop, particularly on the island of Anjouan. Farmers and workers earn a steady income from harvesting and selling the flowers. Women play a central role, spending long hours collecting blossoms to sell by the kilogram.

Because producers can harvest ylang-ylang flowers multiple times each month, the crop provides income year-round. This cycle of greener growth helps households manage expenses and reduces income instability. The industry also supports broader economic activity.

Small distilleries purchase flowers from independent farmers, allowing even small-scale producers to participate in export markets. These businesses create jobs and strengthen local skills in processing and production. Licensed exporters help maintain quality standards and connect Comoros to global markets.

As a result, even remote communities benefit from international trade. In 2022, ylang-ylang exports generated about $5.56 million, making the crop one of Comoros’ most valuable export products. Major markets include France, Switzerland, the U.S. and the U.K. This global demand brings valuable foreign income into the country.

Comoros’ Ylang-Ylang Industry

Recent developments are improving both sustainability and economic resilience in Comoros’ ylang-ylang industry. Producers are upgrading distillation equipment to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Improved ovens and stainless-steel alembics use less wood, lowering production expenses and making operations more sustainable.

Farmers are also planting trees such as mango and breadfruit to secure fuel sources while protecting natural forests. These efforts support long-term productivity and help preserve the resources on which livelihoods depend.

A Future Rooted in Prosperity

New environmental programs are also creating additional income streams for rural communities. NGOs now pay farmers, known as “water guardians,” to restore forests and protect water systems. These initiatives provide financial incentives while strengthening local ecosystems.

By linking conservation with income generation, these programs help reduce poverty and build economic security. Ylang-ylang already generates export revenue, employment and steady income for rural communities. Now, greener production methods are improving efficiency, protecting natural resources and creating new opportunities.

With these changes, the “flower of flowers” can continue to drive economic growth while helping communities move out of poverty. Looking ahead, greater investment in ylang-ylang production could further accelerate poverty reduction in Comoros. Training farmers in improved harvesting techniques could increase yields and raise incomes without requiring more farmland.

Expanding local distillation capacity would also allow communities to capture more value before export, creating additional jobs. Improved infrastructure, including transport and storage, could reduce waste and increase profitability. As international demand for sustainable fragrances grows, Comoros is well-positioned to establish itself as a premium, ethical supplier.

This shift could strengthen export earnings while supporting rural livelihoods. By combining sustainability with productivity, ylang-ylang production offers a practical path toward inclusive economic growth and long-term poverty reduction.

– Demetra Mykoniatis

Demetra is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Towards Climate Collaboration: The U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact

U.K.–Pakistan Green CompactPakistan, consistently ranked among the top 10 nations most vulnerable to climate emergencies, has experienced an increasing frequency of floods, droughts and heatwaves in recent decades. As a result, its population remains in constant flux, facing the dual challenges of poverty and a deteriorating ecological system. Like other climate-affected nations, an increasingly volatile environment poses a significant barrier to sustained, wholesale development.

In response to these challenges, the U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact stands as a landmark agreement in global climate cooperation, marking a critical step toward safeguarding one of the world’s most at-risk nations.

The Deal

The U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact offers Pakistan a collaborative means to ameliorate some of the most pressing ecological challenges that it has faced in recent years. The agreement unlocks more than $35 million in targeted U.K. funding for projects that support the development of green energy and promote preventative solutions, such as the investment in expanding mangrove conservation. 

The compact is centered around five pillars:

  • Clean energy transition
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Innovation and youth empowerment
  • Climate finance and investment
  • Adaptation and resilience

Stabilizing Pakistan’s Vulnerable Regions

The accessibility of finance to support sustainable climate projects is one of the major barriers to progress in Pakistan, a central concern that this compact hopes to address. The climate development that this will facilitate will, in turn, stabilize the regions in Pakistan most directly impacted by the floods, droughts and heatwaves that claimed more than 1,000 lives in 2025 alone. In particular, greater efforts in mangrove conservation made possible by this deal will help protect coastal communities from ongoing flooding risks. 

These floods weaken local economies, destroy homes and infrastructure and threaten the lives of both people and their livestock. More than 18 million Pakistanis were affected by the 2025 monsoon floods. The disaster led to widespread displacement and the destruction of vital public assets.

Essential cropland exceeding 2.23 million acres was either submerged or destroyed. This loss erased critical resources that support regional food security and an economy partly dependent on agriculture. The macroeconomic effects of the disaster are severe. It is projected to reduce the nation’s GDP for 2025–26 by up to 2%, posing a significant barrier to development.

The targeted solutions that the U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact provides hope to the roughly 60 million people living in poverty in Pakistan. The highest concentration of national poverty is found in the most rurally situated districts. As a result, it is the communities most reliant on agriculture that are made the most vulnerable by the impacts of changing climatic conditions. 

Final Thoughts

Collaborative action between international powers, such as the U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact, is essential for building a global framework for climate cooperation. This approach enables the sharing of data, resources, systems and expertise to address the climate crisis and its direct link to high poverty rates.

The future of climate action and poverty reduction is closely interconnected. It depends largely on sustained, large-scale international collaboration. The Green Compact deal stands as a strong example of the kind of coordinated economic action needed to support a more environmentally stable and economically resilient future.

– Evan Meikle

Evan is based in Kingston Upon Hull, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr