Archive for category: Food Insecurity

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A Hard Look at Food and Water Scarcity in Afghanistan

Water Scarcity in AfghanistanFor many years, millions of people in Afghanistan have been facing severe levels of food insecurity compounded by critical water scarcity. Despite improvements in the winter season of 2021-2022, the crisis has remained mostly stagnant.

This results from drought, flash floods, dependence on other nations and damaged or insufficient infrastructure.

Water Scarcity

Afghanistan has been in the midst of a crippling drought since 2021. As of March, it’s estimated that 33 million Afghans do not have reliable access to water, according to the Red Cross. In 2023, 25 out of 34 provinces in Afghanistan were experiencing drastic water scarcity due to drought conditions. Similarly, UNICEF has reported that 80% of Afghans drink from unsafe, unregulated sources.

About 93% of children in Afghanistan reside in areas with high water vulnerability. The primary water source for Afghans is wells, of which there are more than 310,000. Mercy Corps has also reported an additional 120,000 borewells in and around Kabul alone. However, many of these wells have become unreliable. As of 2023, nearly half of Kabul’s borewells have run completely dry, while the remaining operable ones are deficient, retaining only 60% of their capacity.

In addition, Al Jazeera reports that “up to 80% of groundwater [in Kabul] is believed to be unsafe, with high levels of sewage, arsenic and salinity.” Furthermore, according to the U.N., in early 2024, many of the country’s northern and eastern regions experienced only 45–60% of the average precipitation. Mercy Corps reported that “Kabul’s aquifer levels have plummeted 25–30 meters in the past decade, with extraction exceeding natural recharge by a staggering 44 million cubic meters annually.”

By 2030, Kabul is predicted to become the first major city in the world to completely deplete its water sources, leaving six million people in dire need. However, there have been initiatives to combat this nationwide issue. In 2024, the Red Cross reported that its efforts to rebuild infrastructure in urban areas such as Kabul, Herat and Kandahar improved access to water for more than 1.1 million people. It also repaired more than 1,300 pumps and supplied villages with more than 1,800 sand filters, ultimately helping more than 275,000 Afghans. In May, the U.N. allocated $16.6 million to the Afghan government to help reduce the effects of drought in the north and northeastern regions.

Food Insecurity

As of 2023, 45% of Afghans were employed in the agricultural sector. However, flash floods, drought, earthquakes and poor infrastructure have proven catastrophic to crop yields, further worsening the nation’s dwindling food supply. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, as of April, an estimated 12.6 million Afghans were experiencing high levels of food insecurity. This is more than a quarter of the population. Of this group, 10.6 million were classified as emergency cases, while 1.95 million were in the crisis category.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 4.7 million women and children in Afghanistan currently need treatment for malnutrition. UNICEF also reports that one in three adolescent girls is anemic and only 12% of children aged 6–24 months receive the appropriate variety of nutrition for their age. This issue has been exacerbated by recent earthquakes, which have put 37,000 children at even greater risk.

The U.N. has also reported that “desertification has affected more than 75% of the total land area in the country’s northern, western and southern regions, reducing vegetation cover for pasture, accelerating land degradation and affecting crop farming in the last four decades.” Furthermore, the WFP was forced to halt aid distribution in May due to funding shortfalls. The nonprofit also stated that more than $560 million would be needed to continue its efforts.

However, UNICEF still provides aid. As of 2024, it reported supplying more than 62,000 families with micronutrient powder to combat malnutrition, with that number continuing to rise into this year. The organization also supports pregnant and lactating women, as well as children, in 34 regions. In total, UNICEF said it helped more than 630,000 children combat malnutrition in 2024 alone.

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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How Urban Agriculture in Morocco is Tackling Food Insecurity

Urban Agriculture in MoroccoMorocco has struggled to feed many of its 38 million people. The country, nestled on the northwestern coast of Africa, has more than 2.1 million people who are considered malnourished. Malnutrition rates are particularly high among already vulnerable populations like children and refugees in Morocco.

The problem is particularly acute in rural areas but has also been affecting urban areas. In Morocco’s largest cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Tangier, thousands of families lack proper nutrition. Even when government programs and charities provide these families with food aid, their food is often unhealthy, lacking fresh fruits and vegetables. The evident food insecurity—lack of access to healthy, sufficient foodstuffs—across Morocco has caused millions of dollars in lost economic productivity and health care costs.

A Fitting Solution

The enormous toll of food insecurity in urban Morocco has given rise to a novel solution: urban agriculture. Urban agriculture refers to farming on dedicated plots of land within urban areas. The practice most commonly occurs within community gardens, rooftop farms and vertical farms in cities. These gardens and farms typically grow fresh fruits and vegetables that are then sold or donated to families in the community.

Across Morocco’s largest cities, several stakeholders have successfully deployed urban agriculture. In Casablanca, the country’s largest city, rooftop and community gardens have emerged in the neighborhoods of Hay Mohammadi and Sidi Moumen. The produce from these urban agriculture projects is sold in local markets at cheap prices, allowing needy Moroccans to access fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables they may not have otherwise been able to access.

Similarly, Morocco’s capital of Rabat has witnessed the proliferation of community gardens across public parks. These gardens largely produce “vegetables and herbs” for nearby families, alleviating local food insecurity.

Limitations Persist

Despite the success of urban agriculture in Morocco in providing fresh, healthy and affordable produce to families in need, there remain limitations to its broader effectiveness. They are few in number and small in size, especially compared to Morocco’s rural farms. This limits the amount of urban agriculture-sourced produce directly available to food-insecure Moroccan families.

Moreover, urban agriculture in garden spaces in Casablanca or on rooftops in Rabat is generally spearheaded by private—not public—stakeholders. It received only limited government sponsorship until 2025. The lack of sufficient government support for Moroccan urban agriculture may hamper the expansion of the practice.

Urban Agriculture’s Potential

Despite the limitations of urban agriculture in Morocco, it can continue to enhance food security for Moroccan families in need. The country has numerous families that do not have enough food to eat. Yet, private individuals and stakeholders have managed to create urban farms across cities like Casablanca and Rabat, to feed needy families fresh and healthy produce at an affordable cost.

The fresh, healthy and affordable nature of urban agriculture yields makes them an integral component of any viable plan for food security in urban Morocco.

– Pranav Kanmadikar

Pranav is based in Louisville, KY, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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9 Initiatives Boosting Progress on SDG 17 in Brazil

SDG 17 in BrazilIn the midst of an arid rural environment, many Brazilians who once struggled with poverty and lack of opportunity are now having support through Brazil’s progress in achieving SDG 17 in Brazil. Communities that were once overlooked are not only gaining access to a steady income but also receiving the long-deserved recognition they deserve.

Brazil’s Sustainable Development Goals

This success story shows Brazil’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 global aims that the United Nations created in 2015  to create a more equitable and sustainable future. This drive emerged as countries around the world faced growing global issues of poverty, changing weather patterns and ecological damage internationally. Each goal addresses a specific priority.

SDG 17 specifically aims for the implementation of “partnerships to achieve objectives.” The government, civilians and the private sector work together to bring economic stability, improve international trading and advance sustainable initiatives for resource allocation. By examining the nine ways that Brazil is advancing SDG 17, one can clearly see its commitments to the cause. 

1. FAO-IDB Brasília Action for Rural Resilience 

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) partnered with Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to launch the Brasília Action for Rural Resilience.

Environmental Ministries from nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, along with civilians, development banks and multilateral organization specialists, joined the effort. They focused on strengthening social protections and promoting policies that improve rural lives and address climate justice. 

By coordinating economic, social and environmental sectors more efficiently, this partnership advances the goals of the SDGs. Two of its major successes include the Sustainable and Inclusive Piauí Project, which enhanced the lives of 210,000 rural families by increasing farmers’ income, expanding access to basic services like water and sanitation, and reducing food insecurity, and the Planting Climate Resilience in Rural Communities of the Northeast project, which boosted rural families’ climate resilience by installing solar-powered irrigation and pushing for low-emission agricultural technique. 

2. The Bolsa Verde Programme

The Bolsa Verde programme combined sustainability and economic development by providing technical training and generating income for rural civilians living in environmentally protected areas. In exchange, civilians actively maintained efforts to protect the surrounding nature. 

Brazil achieved astonishing progress on SDG 17 in this initiative, reducing CO2 emissions by 415 million UAS, four times the program’s cost. Additionally, 51,000 rural families gained proper knowledge on how to sustainably make agricultural practices. 

This example demonstrates how Brazil has turned SDG 17 in Brazil from theory into concrete actions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits to local communities. 

3. Together for Health

Brazil’s national bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) launched the Together for Health initiative, and the Institute for the Development of Social Investment (IDIS) coordinated its efforts. It aims to fundraise to strengthen the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil’s North and Northeastern regions. 

Through match-funding, the initiative plans to allocate BRL 200 million to health projects in the region by 2026. So far, the program has issued BRL 96 million and reached 300 cities. 

Brazil faces considerable challenges, especially in the North and Northeastern regions, where hospitals struggle with understaffing and high disease burdens leave many communities underserved due to limited infrastructure. This initiative is aimed at bridging these gaps through funding projects and expanding access to essential services, creating  a more equitable and effective health care system for those who need it most.

4. Catalyst 2030 

Brazil advanced SDG 17 through the “Catalyzing Fund Challenge,” which implements projects to expand clean water access for Brazil’s Munduruku Indigenous people. The initiative installs water filters, educates communities on safe water practices and boosts collective action by tackling the critical lack of clean drinking water that affects many Indigenous households. 

Additionally, three Brazilian B-Corps including MagikJC, Gaia Group and Din4mo jointly created the Organized System for Affordable Housing, a nonprofit that provides social housing to marginalized urban populations. This collaboration raised BRL 15 million through real estate receivables certificates (CRI) on São Paulo’s Stock Exchange. The project clearly demonstrates how SDG 17 in Brazil boosts innovation and tangible solutions to serve both rural and urban communities.

5. IFAD’s 13th Replenishment

This UN fund supports farmers and helps them achieve sustainable, productive capacities. Under Brazil’s leadership, G20 leaders committed to fighting global poverty and starvation to advance social inclusion. So far, Brazil has pledged $13 million USD to IFAD in its three-year work program.

The newest reports confirm that Brazil has successfully reduced hunger, according to the UN Hunger Map, demonstrating solid results from both international and domestic partnerships.

6. Caatinga Restoration Through PPI

Brazil formed a partnership to oversee the regions of Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco. The government aimed to boost sustainable food production and generate income for nearly 5,000 rural families. 

This collaboration was done as a way of tackling food insecurity in the region, due to the limited resources and degraded land that threaten proper nutrition and the livelihood of rural families. Brazil’s advanced SDG 17 in this case by actively bringing together the private sector, government and local communities, while empowering women in rural businesses in the Caatinga. 

The partnership implemented the Production, Protection and Inclusion (PPI) mechanism, which provided rural families with access to credit, created market opportunities for women in farming, promoted environmental protection and supported sustainable agriculture. 

7. Envision Energy

Brazil and China jointly announced a $1 billion investment from China’s Envision Energy to boost eco-friendly aviation fuel made from Brazilian sugarcane. This collaboration boosts sustainable low-carbon fuel production, as well as promotes innovative energy technologies that target industries and their ecological footprint on the atmosphere. China’s Windey Energy Technology and Brazil’s Senai Cimatec are actively advancing this innovative initiative together. 

8. Brazil-France Amazon Partnership

Brazil and France joined forces to protect the Guyanese and Brazilian Amazon forest by launching a four-year investment program of EUR €1 billion using both public and private funds. Brazil demonstrated its SDG 17 progress by pledging through the partnership to stop deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, while also supporting sustainable development through payments for environmental services, financing and market-based joint frameworks that actively engage both private and public actors. 

9. BNDES Green Investment Lead

To attract foreign investment in sustainable developments, Brazil launched a platform that begins with BRL $5 billion in private sector actions, with a final aim to raise 18 billion reais in investments. Brazil selects initiatives that align with their environmentally focused priorities, including mobility, industry and “nature-based solutions.” The state’s development bank, BNDES, manages the project and leverages the capital to provide funding. This program becomes essential for Brazil’s SDG 17 goals, since it will increase the country’s reputation on environmental governance and bring a collaborative strategy for sustainable development of the nation.

Lessons Learned

These examples summarize what Lula’s administration has actively pursued, showcasing Brazil’s SDG 17 progress in advancing a greener and more equitable future. Indeed, when examining SDG 17 in Brazil, one can see that building partnerships lies at the core of the country’s strategies for achieving its SDG goals. From Indigenous water projects to billion-dollar Amazon agreements, SDG 17 in Brazil demonstrates how the government, local communities and international partners can actively shape a sustainable future. 

By advancing SDG 17, Brazil is addressing poverty inequalities and, through collaborations with the private sector, civilians and government, creating opportunities that promote the sustainable livelihood of marginalized communities. 

– Liz Mendes

Liz is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Causes and Solutions to Hunger in Kenya

Hunger in KenyaPoverty is on the rise. It is a worldwide problem, but Africa’s hardest hit area is the sub-Saharan region. According to the World Food Program (WFP), about half of those living in extreme poverty live in this region. Kenya is among the nations in that region.

Poverty and Hunger in Kenya

Poverty manifests in many ways, including hunger. Around 30% of Kenya’s population lives in poverty. Households headed by women have a poverty rate of 35.3%. Male-headed households, in comparison, have a poverty rate of 32.6%. According to the Kenya Poverty Report, a third of the children in Kenya are food poor. Poverty rates for youth are higher in rural areas. According to the WFP, 29% of the children in rural Kenya are stunted due to malnutrition.

The causes of poverty in Kenya include natural disasters and economic shocks. Lower-than-average rainfall has affected Kenya’s agricultural and pastoral areas for several years. This drought has affected livestock as well as crop production. On the other end of the pendulum, flooding destroyed whole towns and villages, displacing more than 280,000 people. It killed more than 260 people in 2024. Livestock and other crops were lost.

These climate crises affect adequate food availability, increasing prices and sending more people toward poverty. Another factor affecting Kenya’s ability to feed its people is the conflict in Ukraine. Kenya is dependent on fertilizer imported from Russia. When the conflict began, Russia no longer sent fertilizer to Kenya. COVID-19 also affected Kenya’s economy, as it relies heavily on tourism.

The Kenyan government has committed to addressing the problem through agriculture. It has lifted the ban on open cultivation of genetically modified crops, eased food import restrictions and imported animal feed to reduce hunger in Kenya.

Boosting Kenyan Agriculture and Food Security

The Borgen Project interviewed Sterling Brown, a senior at Southern University majoring in Agricultural Business. He traveled to Kenya to learn about different agricultural methods and share knowledge with local farmers. According to Brown, agriculture is the largest sector of the Kenyan economy. He highlights the following solutions to address food insecurity and hunger in Kenya:

  • Integration farming. Using all available resources, including livestock and organic matter. This includes using manure as fertilizer (instead of importing fertilizer).
  • Microorganism growth. The inclusion of microorganisms in the soil enhances soil quality. Better soil leads to better crops.
  • Intercropping. This farming practice involves growing multiple crops in the same field. Different crops have different strengths, which helps improve soil quality.
  • Agroforestry. This is a sustainable agricultural practice and land management system. Farmers plant trees and then grow crops between and beside them. It creates a farming ecosystem. The trees counteract the effects of flooding, soil erosion and biodiversity loss.

In addition to the farming practices highlighted above, he and his team encouraged local farmers in Chuka and East Chuka, Kenya, to export their native crops, including avocados. This could boost their economy and provide another path out of poverty. They also held workshops and provided rootstocks, demonstrating how to plant and maintain them.

Brown is part of a program called the 1890 Center of Excellence, a collaboration between Southern University, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB), Chuka University and Kenyatta University in Kenya. According to Brown, this collaboration, combined with the Kenyan government’s interventions, new sustainability mandates and significant agricultural investment, is a step in the right direction.

– Danielle Milano

Danielle is based in Pineville, LA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Rebuilding Syria Post-Assad Era

Rebuilding SyriaIn December 2024, Syria’s ruler, Bashar al-Assad, was chased out of the country, bringing an end to the country’s 14-year-long civil war. In the first 10 years following the Syrian revolution, the conflict displaced 13 million people both within Syria and abroad. Continuous bombing, political instability and disease outbreaks have devastated Syria for more than a decade, leading to the destruction of thousands of buildings, including homes, businesses, hospitals and schools.

As a result, 16.5 million people across Syria require humanitarian aid, making it one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. Urgent action is needed to repair the damage and provide adequate food, water, shelter and medical care to the displaced in Syria. Fortunately, humanitarian organizations like UNICEF and World Vision, the United Nations (U.N.) and government organizations like the European Union (EU) have been supplying these needs, albeit with struggles.

Syria’s Current Crisis

Syria ranks among the most food-insecure countries globally, with 14.5 million people requiring food assistance. More than seven million people are internally displaced within Syria, of which two million live in refugee camps that fail to meet basic needs. More than half the population lacks stable access to water.

Children are among the most victimized by the ongoing crisis. More than seven million children require humanitarian assistance. Six million children need protection services from forced labor, human trafficking, child marriage and child recruitment in local militias. Thousands of schools within Syria have been destroyed and those still standing have turned into encampments or emergency medical centers. As a result, 2.4 million eligible children are out of school, leaving them at increased risk of child labor, recruitment and trafficking.

Additionally, fewer than 50% of hospitals and medical facilities in Syria are either half-functioning or non-functioning. The lack of medical care has led to an increase in cases of waterborne, respiratory and vaccine-preventable diseases such as cholera and pneumonia, especially among children.

Rebuilding Syria

When factoring in the cost of rebuilding infrastructure, providing humanitarian aid and military spending, it is estimated that the recovery of Syria could take $1.2 trillion. The international community is assuredly investing in crucial aid to Syria. The largest donor is the EU, which has provided more than $37 billion since the beginning of the war in 2011 and pledged to invest more in 2025. The United Kingdom (U.K.) announced it will spend more than $216 million on humanitarian aid in Syria.

UNICEF has been providing aid to Syria since 2011. Over the years, it has given 4.6 million people access to clean water and vaccinated millions of children. It has also delivered additional medical care to 2.2 million women and children. Since the escalation of violence in July, UNICEF has deployed 14 mobile health and nutrition teams, offering medical care to 4,000 children and women and safe drinking water and fuel for pumping stations that benefit more than 30,000 people.

Similarly, World Vision has managed to aid more than 1.2 million Syrians, providing them with food and natural disaster relief. After a devastating earthquake in 2023, World Vision provided shelter and medical care.

Final Remarks

Reaching the millions of Syrians in need will require significant effort to ensure aid is delivered effectively. Meeting these needs is crucial and imperative, demanding that humanitarian organizations continue investing time and resources in rebuilding Syria.

– Zoe Alatsas

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

Photo: Flickr

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Collapsed Food Systems in Sudan: How 80 Cents Can Help

Food Systems in SudanAs Sudan’s civil conflict enters its third year, health conditions have sharply deteriorated as the collapse of the food systems in Sudan has overwhelmed them. The country is currently facing the world’s largest hunger crisis, with 24.6 million individuals experiencing food insecurity. The civil war has devastated the Sudanese economy, agricultural livelihoods and food markets, particularly in North Darfur and the Western Nuba Mountains. The level of internally displaced people, an estimated 9 million people, fleeing an extreme threat to life, has further exacerbated the famine.

Inside the Crumbling Food Systems in Sudan

The food systems in Sudan heavily rely on local agricultural production, with two-thirds of the population relying on self-sufficient farming. Destruction of agricultural infrastructure and the forced displacement of individuals have halted the population’s ability to plant and harvest, often fleeing to food deserts to escape the violence of civil war. In 2024, reports indicated that many farmers were consuming the grain they would typically use to sow their land to alleviate starvation. The stark economic decline and government-enforced trade restrictions with neighboring countries have further increased food scarcity, driving up the price of food and limiting access. 

More than 8.1 million Sudanese are currently facing emergency levels of famine on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classifications (IPC), meaning households are experiencing large food consumption gaps reflected in higher mortality and acute malnutrition. Cholera cases have also skyrocketed due to a lack of access to clean, safe drinking water. Officials have recorded an estimated 32,000 cases of the illness since the beginning of the year. UNICEF has determined these findings alarming as they come during harvest season, when malnutrition is traditionally at its lowest. Children are the most at risk of health complications from acute malnutrition and cholera, as many have lost their parents or guardians. IPC has warned that authorities must take action now, as observers expect the crisis to deteriorate further due to the rainy season from July to September, which causes hindrances to travel.

Dangerous Humanitarian Conditions

Since the beginning of the conflict, man-made blockades, logistical challenges, lack of security in high-conflict areas and restricted access have disrupted vital humanitarian access. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urge a ceasefire in the region and urge world leaders to scale up their spending on humanitarian operations. The cease-fire would allow humanitarian workers to safely reach the five regions currently experiencing famine, and hopefully deter this with an impending threat of spreading to an additional 17 regions in Sudan. The WFP is currently supporting more than 6.5 million Sudanese suffering from food insecurity; however, its operations require an estimated $642 USD to continue until November 2025.

ShareTheMeal, A Smartphone App Fighting Hunger

In 2015, WFP staffers Sebastian Stricker and Bernhard Kowatsch founded ShareTheMeal to make fighting hunger accessible to everyone. The application enables users to crowdfund as little as a donation of $0.80 USD to share a meal, made in their respective currencies and languages, to support WFP’s various humanitarian aid operations. In 2020, ShareTheMeal gained global recognition when it won Google’s App for Good award and Apple’s Making a Difference category. Currently, people have shared more than 250 million meals and contributed to 126 WFP operations. The UN’s micro-donation app is presently spearheading a Sudan initiative to help families fleeing the conflict. Since the conflict escalation in 2023, donations have already reached 98% of the 5 million meals shared goal. These meals are nutritionally focused, featuring rice, flour, vegetable oil, lentils, beans and salt.

Looking Ahead

Despite recent improvements in Sudan, the escalation of violence, the rainy season and the pullback on foreign aid, due to other crises like the famine in Palestine, have created harsher conditions in the third year of this civil war. Humanitarian organizations urge that the quiet famine will continue without the bolstering and continual funding of aid programs, which aim not only to reverse the widespread malnutrition but also to rebuild the inner food systems in Sudan, creating sustainable change.

– Elsa van Blokland

Elsa is based in Quebec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Belize’s National Healthy Start School Feeding Program

National Healthy Start School Feeding ProgramThe National Healthy Start School Feeding Program (NHSFP) is a government initiative that provides free, nutritious meals to primary and secondary students in Belize. The program began as a pilot in 2021 and a nationwide expansion in 2023 ensured all children could access healthy meals. Food insecurity affects a significant portion of the population, making the program a vital intervention. This change improved school performance by eliminating hunger in Belize’s school system. The impact of Belize’s NHSFP has been significant, helping to improve the health and education of students across the country.

How the National Healthy Start School Feeding Program Began

Before the NHSFP, a catering system provided school lunches. Private contractors or catering companies prepared meals off-site and then delivered the food. Many schools also had cafeterias where private vendors prepared and sold food to students. These catering companies followed some guidance but were free to prepare whatever food they wanted, regardless of quality or nutritional value. The lack of oversight often resulted in meals that were low in nutrients, contributing to health issues among students and offering no support for the local agricultural sector.

Schools now prepare fresh meals on-site. National menu handbooks with standardized nutrition requirements, developed by a team of nutritionists, ensure all children get healthy meals regardless of income level. The new program encourages schools to purchase food directly from local farmers, which boosts the local economy and provides fresher ingredients. The program has also trained all staff in food safety and nutrition, ensuring students get nutritious meals so they can focus on learning.

Fueling Academic Success

There are now two years’ worth of data on the Impact of Belize’s NHSFP. Some schools participating in the program reported increased student enrollment and decreased absences. School principals and educators have noted that healthy meals allow students to be more focused in class and have more energy to learn.

The program’s success has also spurred the development of a broader National School Food and Nutrition Policy to guide all schools. The program has also provided substantial training to school cooks and administrators since its start, ensuring they know how to do their jobs properly and safely.

Funding the NHSFP

The government of Belize funds the program, with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology managing and disbursing funds to schools to purchase food provisions. Additionally, international grants are a major contributor to the NHSFP’s funding and the government of Taiwan is a substantial supporter.

Mexico is another major contributor to the program, with its Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to provide financial and technical support. This support, which was key to the program’s design and sustainable model, has been crucial to the program’s success, installing new school kitchens, providing appliances and training school staff.

The Next Serving

What began as a small pilot program has quickly expanded into a national initiative to ensure every student in Belize can be hunger-free while in school. The scaling up of this program in stages is a testament to its effectiveness. The long-term impact of Belize’s NHSFP may soon be an example to the rest of the world, showing the importance of this issue and its influence on the success of a nation.

– Jeff Mathwig

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

Photo: Pxhere

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A Nation in Poverty: An Analysis of Being Poor in Syria 

Being Poor in SyriaSyria has been engulfed in a civil war since the Arab Spring of 2011, eventually culminating in the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024; however, despite the collapse of the dictatorship, conflict has labored on, and the poverty rate refuses to budge. As it currently stands, 90% of Syrians are impoverished, surviving on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Food Program (WFP); this level of destitution is primarily reliant on water scarcity, food shortages, disheveled health care infrastructure, lack of education and insufficient energy production.  Here is more information about being poor in Syria.

Water Scarcity 

Today, 14.6 million Syrians do not have regular access to clean drinking water, according to UNICEF. The year 2021 marked the beginning of the most severe drought Syria has seen since 1997, with the first quarter of 2025 producing only 94.9 millimeters of rainfall compared to the average of 165.4mm, according to Syria Direct. 

As a consequence of burning fossil fuels, from 2020-2023, temperatures in Syria increased by an average of 1.2 degrees Celsius, taking this level of drought from a one in 250-year event, down to one in 10, according to World Weather Attribution.

In 2010, Syria’s water pumps produced around 1.7 billion cubic meters of water; in 2022, that number had dwindled down to a mere 600 million cubic meters, according to The Century Foundation. The Century Foundation also reports that between 800,000-1.2 million Syrians access water from the Euphrates. However, between the drought depleting the supply and Turkey not allowing the allotted share of water to pass through to Syria, there has been a significant deficit in what the river can provide.

Water Treatment in Syria

Even then, nearly two-thirds of water treatment facilities, half of all pumping stations, and one-third of water towers have suffered catastrophic damage as a result of the ongoing conflict. Almost half of all Syrians are dependent on unsafe drinking sources, and 70% of the nation’s sewage goes untreated, according to UNICEF.

Furthermore, in the governorates of Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, virtually all of the untreated sewage goes directly into the Euphrates, supplementing the ever-growing sanitation dilemma, according to The Century Foundation. The combination of low water levels and destitute sewer infrastructure has become a breeding ground for disease, with 60,000 people suspected of contracting cholera between August 2022 and January 2023, according to The Century Foundation. 

By October 2023, suspected cases of watery diarrhea had increased to more than 215,000, according to Relief Web. While this affliction may sound generally harmless to those in the Western world, if left untreated, patients may die from fluid loss within a matter of hours. However, Syria has made monumental advancements in water infrastructure in recent months.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Emergency Children’s Help Organization and the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, in late July, Aleppo saw the rehabilitation of three water systems, which had previously become inoperable due to earthquake-sustained damage. These facilities have now guaranteed access to free water for thousands of Syrians, according to Relief Web. However, the remaining exhausted water sources have taken a heavy toll on farmers and, in turn, the overall domestic food supply. One of the contributing factors for this strain has been that the methods Syria uses in cultivation require more water than the climate was capable of producing, even prior to the drought. Frankly, groundwater cannot even sustain these methods.  

Food Shortages

Food shortages are a significant part of being poor in Syria. In Daraa’s 2025 harvest alone, farmers lost 50% of irrigated wheat, but it pales in comparison to the near 100% of rainwater-fed crops that became defunct. For context, this equates to a measly 14% of 2024’s crop, according to Syria Direct. Additionally, the wheat that Daraa has maintained is suffering from increased competition and the possibility of subsidies being removed.  

Syria’s interim government has lifted customs duties and restrictions on Turkish imports. Since the beginning of 2025, these imports have increased by 47%, and the powers that be are also mulling over the alienation of wheat subsidies, according to the Tahir Institute. 

Bread subsidies are already on the sidelines. On top of that, gas canisters used to cook sextupled in price by January 2025, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. That being said, nearly 13 million Syrians are at risk of extreme hunger, with an additional 2.6 million at risk, according to Relief Web. As a result, UNICEF has said that more than 3.5 million children have become victims of stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies. However, earlier in August 2025, UNICEF announced that it had deployed 14 mobile health and nutrition teams throughout southern Syria, claiming that supplies would be allocated to an estimated 4,000 women and children in need.  

Looking Ahead

While it may seem like a drop in the bucket, efforts like this begin to compound in addressing being poor in Syria. With the help of like-minded organizations, it’s only a matter of time before the situation improves. Even if it’s little by little, these initiatives are saving lives. 

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USAs and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Greening the Desert: Updates on SDG 2 in Egypt

SDG 2 in EgyptIn 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 goals. Among them is SDG 2, which aims to create a world free of hunger by 2030. Nations around the globe have already started to take steps towards achieving SDG 2 and Egypt is among them. Here are some updates on SDG 2 in Egypt.

Updates on SDG 2 in Egypt

One of the significant projects that aligns with the UN’s SDG 2 is the Egypt’s Future project, which promotes sustainable agriculture, which President Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi inaugurated on May 21, 2022. This project is a vital step towards achieving SDG 2 in Egypt. According to 2022 Global Hunger Index, Egypt ranks 57 out of 121 countries, which means it is at a moderate level. However, its dependence on global markets in more than half of its staples makes food affordability and quality very challenging.

Project Overview

Egypt’s Future project is the first phase of the New Delta Project, a mega project in the Western Desert of the Nile, which aims to achieve self-sufficiency. The project focuses on providing citizens with high-quality products at affordable prices, boosting exports and reducing imports. It costs 8 billion EGP and targets the reclamation of 1,050,000 feddans of the total 2.2 million feddans that the New Delta project covered. 

The project land depends on treated wastewater and three groundwater reservoirs. The implementation process includes paving roads, digging wells, building two power stations and an internal electricity network. Additionally, the project provides lots of job opportunities and improves the economy. Here is a brief list of the project’s major accomplishments. The project:

  • reclaimed and cultivated 350,000 feddans during the period 2021 to 2022.
  • built 2,600 pivot irrigation systems across the 350,000 feddans.
  • cultivated 70,000 feddans during the period 2024-2025.
  • implemented 1,800 Spanish greenhouses covering an area of 16,000 feddans. 
  • built two electric power stations and an internal electricity network.
  • completed phase 1 of an industrial city on May 21, 2025. The city includes grain storage silos, cooling and packaging stations, dehydrated product factories and an animal feed factory.

The Impact of the Project on Citizens

According to the State Information System, the project provides nearly 10,000 direct job opportunities and 360,000 indirect ones. Despite the huge progress made in this project, the country is still encountering food insecurity issues. According to a study published in 2024, Egypt’s food insecurity level remains unaltered as the country encounters major threats, including severe changing weather patterns, poor quality agricultural land and rising global food prices. According to Trading Economics, in June 2025, food prices increased 6.90%, compared to the same month in the previous year.

Enhancing Collaboration and Future Recommendations

International collaboration is crucial to strengthening the impact and longevity of the project. In 2022, Egypt built the MisrSat -2 satellite, using China’s $92 million grant. This satellite supports Egypt’s objective for sustainable development by employing space technology in different areas, including agriculture, searching for mineral resources and exploring of surface water sources.

In 2023, with cooperation with the World Bank,  the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conducted a study that shows several climate-smart policy actions at COP28. Similar partnerships could enhance the agricultural land quality under Egypt’s Future project.

– Eiman Elsawy

Eiman is based in Kirkland, WA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Top 10 Facts About Poverty in Zimbabwe

Poverty in ZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordering Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Despite its high literacy rates and abundant natural resources, Zimbabwe continues to grapple with chronic poverty, hyperinflation, unemployment and food insecurity.

The 2024 El Niño-induced drought further pushed the country into a dire humanitarian crisis. However, a favorable 2025 harvest has offered some respite, improving livelihoods and food security for millions. Despite these recent positive developments, underlying issues remain, underscoring the need for sustained support and long-term solutions.

Facts About Poverty in Zimbabwe

  1. Extreme Poverty. As of April 2025, approximately 60% of Zimbabwe’s population lived on less than $3.65 a day, placing the country among the most impoverished in Southern Africa.
  2. Food Insecurity. Poverty in Zimbabwe is closely intertwined with food instability, as most households depend on agriculture. Zimbabwe’s fragile economy, marked by hyperinflation and reduced purchasing power, coupled with the El Niño drought, left more than seven million people facing food shortages during the 2024-2025 lean season. Despite improved harvests in mid-2025, food security remains fragile, underscoring the vulnerability of Zimbabwe to economic and climate shocks.
  3. Food Price Inflation. Persistent currency instability has made necessities unaffordable for many households. By July 2025, the year-on-year rate soared to a staggering 120.70%.
  4. Severe Child Malnutrition. About 24% of children aged less than 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, with merely 10% of babies aged 6 to 23 months receiving an adequate minimum diet. Rising waste rates in both rural and urban areas highlight the widespread nature of Zimbabwe’s poverty.
  5. Rural Poverty. Rural communities, containing about 67% of Zimbabwe’s population, are the most vulnerable to drought and food insecurity, as their livelihoods depend mainly on rain-fed agriculture. However, economic shocks in recent years have started to narrow the rural-urban gap, with poverty also affecting urban areas.
  6. Water Scarcity and Disease. More than four million people lack access to safe water, a critical situation exacerbated by the El Niño drought. Dependence on unsafe sources has led to outbreaks of waterborne diseases, including cholera. Children aged 5 and below are the most vulnerable.
  7. A Fragile Health Care System. Zimbabwe’s public health care system faces critical challenges. About 87% of Zimbabweans lack medical aid coverage. The sector struggles with shortages of medicines, medical personnel, high costs and a significant “brain drain” of health professionals.
  8. Limited Social Safety Nets. While the government provides some grain and cash transfers, social protection coverage remains low. This leaves the most vulnerable citizens dependent on humanitarian aid from NGOs and international organizations. The halt in U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS programs, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has disrupted the provision of life-saving antiretroviral medication to more than a million Zimbabweans dependent on it. This disruption has raised fears of a potential resurgence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the future.
  9. Unsustainable Public Debt. Zimbabwe’s public debt reached $21.2 billion in 2023, representing 96,6% of its gross domestic product (GDP). This high debt burden limits the country’s access to international financing, further hampering economic recovery.
  10. Women’s Increased Vulnerability. Women bear the hardest consequences of poverty and climate shocks. Many work in the informal sector, lack social protection and live in precarious conditions. The drought has exacerbated their vulnerability, leading to a surge in child and school dropouts among girls. Dependence on their husbands for subsistence increases the risk of women becoming victims of gender-based violence.

Organizations Providing Aid

Despite these challenges, organizations like Action Against Hunger (ACF) and the World Food Program (WFP) are stepping up their efforts to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable Zimbabweans.

ACF provides cash transfers to farmers and households with malnourished children, while ensuring these children receive the necessary medical referrals. Its actions benefited a total of 8,000 people. The organization has also prioritized access to clean water, constructing and refurbishing boreholes and mini water systems that now serve water to more than 19,000 individuals.

Meanwhile, WFP strengthens rural farming communities by training farmers on climate-smart farming techniques, encouraging traditional small grain cultivation, diverse horticulture and animal farming. WFP also introduces agricultural risk insurance, alongside savings and credit products.

Final Remarks

While the successful 2025 harvest has provided a temporary relief, it highlights Zimbabwe’s acute vulnerability to climate shocks. Continued funding and collaboration between the government and international partners are critical for building long-term resilience, ensuring sustainable development and preparing for future crises linked to climate instability.

– Juliette Delbarre

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

Photo: Flickr