Archive for category: Food Security

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Updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela

SDG 1 in VenezuelaPoverty remains one of the most urgent challenges in Venezuela, making updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela an important topic to examine. Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) calls for ending poverty in all its forms, expanding social protection and reducing the vulnerability of people facing economic and social shocks. In Venezuela, that goal remains difficult to achieve. While some indicators suggest limited improvement in monetary poverty, recent evidence shows that many families still struggle with food insecurity, low purchasing power and barriers to basic services.

What SDG 1 Means for Venezuela

SDG 1 is broader than income alone. The goal includes reducing poverty according to national definitions, strengthening social protection systems and helping vulnerable populations gain access to essential services. In Venezuela, this matters because poverty is not only expressed through low wages or unstable income. It is also reflected in whether families can afford food, whether children can remain in school and whether households can meet basic needs with dignity.

That distinction is especially important in the Venezuelan case. A household may experience a small increase in income and still remain in a deeply precarious situation if access to health care, education and adequate nutrition continues to lag. For that reason, updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela must be understood through a multidimensional lens rather than through income data alone. UNICEF’s Venezuela social protection program links poverty directly to family income, unmet needs and structural inequality.

What Recent Data Shows

Recent data presents a mixed picture. According to ENCOVI 2024, Venezuela’s economic reactivation has contributed to a decrease in monetary poverty. However, the same report states that these changes have had only a limited impact on improvements in access to education and health care, where significant deficits remain. This means that while some households may be earning slightly more, broader living conditions have not improved at the same pace.

International SDG tracking also reflects these limits. The Sustainable Development Report 2025 gives Venezuela an SDG Index score of 63.8 and ranks it 115th out of 167 countries. The profile also notes that Venezuela completed one Voluntary National Review between 2016 and 2025. This suggests that overall progress toward SDG goals, including SDG 1, remains limited.

Social Protection and Humanitarian Support in Venezuela

Despite these challenges, there are still efforts underway that connect directly to SDG 1. UNICEF Venezuela states that its main objective in social protection is to ensure that children and adolescents have access to inclusive social protection and live free of poverty.

UNICEF implements programs such as:

  • Multipurpose Cash Transfers, which provide families with direct financial support to cover essential needs such as food, hygiene products and medicines.
  • Child Nutrition Programs, which deliver nutritional supplements in schools and community centers to support children’s development.
  • Institutional Strengthening, which helps improve poverty measurement and technical capacity for public policies aimed at reducing inequality.

These programs have reached thousands of vulnerable families and contributed to increased food security and household stability.

Humanitarian assistance also remains essential. The World Food Programme (WFP) began implementing its school meals program in Venezuela in 2021. According to WFP, 5.1 million people in Venezuela urgently require food assistance, and the agency reached 750,000 people in 2025. Its school meals program supports more than 330,000 people across more than 1,100 schools, helping reduce pressure on vulnerable households and improve child nutrition.

Why Progress on SDG 1 Remains Uneven

Even with these efforts, progress on SDG 1 in Venezuela remains uneven. ENCOVI 2024 makes clear that improvements in monetary poverty have not translated into equally strong advances in education and health. UNICEF also notes that low household income and unmet basic needs continue to limit long-term progress. This shows that poverty in Venezuela remains both economic and structural.

Recent 2026 reporting reinforces this fragility. Reuters reported that the IMF described Venezuela’s situation as “quite fragile,” citing inflation, currency depreciation, and persistent inequality. Additional reports indicate that rising oil prices may improve national revenue but can also increase food and fuel costs, placing further pressure on low-income households.

The Road Ahead for SDG 1 in Venezuela

The future of updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela depends on whether the country can move from short-term relief toward broader stability and inclusion. Better poverty measurement, stronger social protection and sustained humanitarian assistance remain essential. Organizations such as UNICEF and WFP demonstrate that practical support is possible even in difficult conditions.

Venezuela remains far from achieving SDG 1, but the country’s situation also highlights why the goal matters. Poverty is not only about income. It is connected to food security, education, health and the ability of families to live with dignity. Understanding these factors is key to building more effective responses and moving toward long-term poverty reduction.

– Adriana Carolina Herrera

Adriana is based in Mentor, Ohio, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Food Systems in Northern Ireland Are Growing Stronger

Food Systems in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a region of the United Kingdom (U.K.) made up of six counties on the northeast side of the island of Ireland. The Government of Ireland Act separated Northern Ireland from the independent Republic of Ireland in 1921. In more recent history, the region has struggled with issues of food insecurity. In 2010, an estimated 28% of Northern Irish adults and 23% of their children were experiencing food poverty. However, the situation has drastically improved, with only 9% of households in Northern Ireland reporting food insecurity concerns as of 2025. Here are some factors that have helped improve food systems in Northern Ireland in recent years:

1. Brexit 

In January 2020, the United Kingdom withdrew its membership from the European Union. The U.K. signed the Brexit referendum four years prior, in 2016. Brexit has caused a variety of financial effects, some positive and some negative. It has also enabled the U.K. to create more tailored legislation targeting the roots of food insecurity across the country.

The U.K. Department for Environment, Food & Rural affairs released a statement in July 2025 detailing plans for new food systems legislation to combat hunger and malnourishment specifically affecting children and rural populations. This food strategy aims to create a “good food cycle” by uplifting British farmers, improving agrifood trade relations with the European Union and combat biodiversity loss to allow for more balanced diets. After separating from the EU, the U.K. has shifted its focus to reprioritize food systems at a nationwide level that support its citizens financially and physically.

2. Increased Community Involvement

The Food, Farming & Countryside Commission (FFCC) has directed its attention to amplifying the voices of community members and local farmers in order to strengthen food systems in Northern Ireland. The FFCC has been operating as an independent commission since 2017. In the last two years, it has succeeded in bridging communication between the U.K.’s citizens and government through initiatives such as The Food Conversation and reports including “The False Economy of Big Food” and “Paying the Price.” The action items the FFCC is currently prioritizing include: 

  • Increasing trust between the FFCC, Northern Irish Farmers and Northern Irish people by assembling meetings across various sectors of government and community leadership.
  • Fostering relationships and networks of support between farmers across the region. This includes educational opportunities to increase Northern Ireland’s agricultural production.
  • Bringing citizens and government leaders together for important discussions on what the people want and need from their food systems.
  • Establishing and implementing a common Land Use Framework across Northern Ireland’s estimated 25,000 farms.

3. Technological Innovation 

Improving technologies in the agriculture and supply chain sectors have a high potential to continue improving the efficacy of food systems in Northern Ireland and globally. One example of a recent promising innovation for Northern Irish food security is the Food Co-Centre Conceptual Framework which Oxford University researchers developed at their Environmental Change Institute. The Institute launched this framework in 2025 and aims to deliver “environmental, economic and social stability by 2050” through tracking all stages of food production and distribution in Northern Ireland and optimizing the process by metrics of sustainability and affordability. 

Dr. Alice Gilmour is the lead author of the study responsible for designing the Food Co-Centre Conceptual Framework. When asked about what the framework will help to accomplish, she stated: 

“This framework will help policymakers and food systems stakeholders avoid a siloed approach as it provides the wider context of the entire food system. It brings together insights from industry, NGOs, government, and academia to guide smarter, more sustainable decisions.” This new technology is capable of identifying gaps in the food systems of Northern Ireland and the U.K. more broadly and problem-solving outside of the often “siloed” thinking of regulatory bodies. With this information, the Food Co-Centre Conceptual Framework will suggest more informed and optimally beneficial solutions for governmental, industry and research approaches to how the U.K. grows and distributes its food.

Looking Ahead

Food insecurity and malnutrition rates in Northern Ireland have improved by 14% for children and 19% for adult populations in the past decade. These positive margins come as a direct result of increased community involvement, implementation of new technologies and reformed socioeconomic policies that better reflect the U.K.’s specific interests. Initiatives like the ones highlighted in this article project to minimize and hope to eradicate food insecurity and strengthen food systems in Northern Ireland and across the U.K. within the next two decades.

– Natalie Naylor

Natalie is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Poverty Reduction in Cuba

Poverty Reduction in CubaWhile poverty reduction in Cuba has been at the forefront of its government’s policies since the 1959 revolution, poverty, food insecurity and inequalities in universal services still exist today. As of 2019, Cuba’s multidimensional poverty index score was 0.003, with only 0.7% of its population considered poor. Although one of the lowest in the region, certain indicators, such as the Cuban childhood poverty figure, have steadily increased since 2012. With an economic dependence on the tourism industry and imports, while also suffering under the United States’ strongest trade embargo; Cuba remains at risk for instability.

Since 1959, Cuba’s socialist program has addressed poverty by prioritizing food rations, healthcare, literacy and housing for all of its citizens. Despite hardships due to frequent natural disasters, a resource-poor environment and forced isolation from the world market; the Cuban people have remained both steadfast in their principles and adaptable in moments of crisis. As Cuba recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and fights against the United States’ oil blockade, unity and creativity are of the utmost importance when reducing poverty.

Healthcare

Cuba’s planned, state-controlled economy allows for much of the national budget to fund universal healthcare, education and food rations. During the Batista regime of the 1950s, nearly half of the country’s physicians were located in Havana. The centralization of healthcare in cities created severe disparities between quality of care for rural and urban citizens. At that time, Cuba had a single rural hospital, and the rural infant mortality rate was 100 deaths per 1,000 births.

In 1960, the government formed the Rural Medical Service, placing recent graduated physician volunteers in rural areas, and by 1970, there were 53 rural hospitals in Cuba. Through the Family Doctor and Nurse Program, every Cuban has had access to one of more than 13,000 teams of neighborhood doctors and nurses since 1999. These local doctors ensure that the Cuban Health System regularly engages with all of the country’s citizens.

It also gives the government access to aggregated community diagnoses that lead to greater analysis of risk factors and the nation’s most pressing needs. This has led to a reduction of the infant mortality rate from 38.7 per 1,000 live births in 1970 to 4.0 per 1,000 live births in 2018, and has strengthened women’s health services through the establishment and expansion of the National Maternal-Child Health Program. Furthermore, Cuba’s commitment to universal healthcare and public health exceeds its own borders. Since the end of 2018, approximately 400,000 Cuban health professionals have worked in more than 150 countries.

Food and Housing

Although to varying amounts, food rations have been a staple of poverty reduction in Cuba. Recently, limited access to foreign currency for imported food, natural disasters such as Hurricane Melissa and fuel shortages have led to increased food security issues for the island. As the government-issued food baskets are almost entirely imported, Cuba has partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) for assistance in reducing imports and increasing food self-sufficiency. 

This partnership seeks to improve assistance in maintaining food access amid natural disasters, and to strengthen nutrition systems for vulnerable groups, such as expanding school lunches for children. In 2025, 1,540,107 Cubans benefitted from the World Food Programme’s aid—particularly through food assistance and disaster relief from Hurricane Melissa.

Cuba’s 2019 Constitution reiterates these goals. It defines healthcare, education, food security and shelter as human rights, and upholds the state’s goal to achieve food security and housing for all of its citizens. The Cuban government plans to increase shelter construction programs and food rations to accomplish this. By deeming these basic necessities as natural rights, the Cuban government seeks to create both a baseline of security and a healthy, well-educated workforce.

Future Strategies 

Due to the recent oil blockade, Cuba has turned to solar power. In 2025, Cuba, with financial help from China, installed around 1,000 megawatts of solar generation. As of February 2026, the Cuban government announced it would waive personal taxes for up to eight years for business people investing in renewable energy. Even local taxi drivers have installed solar panels on the roofs of their vehicles in response to the scarcity of oil. While the oil blockade presently harms Cubans, they are already preparing for an alternative future.

Leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has begun preparations for poverty reduction in Cuba amid increased sanctions and economic instability. Alongside investments in renewable energy, Díaz-Canel has prioritized a decentralization of authority—giving more power to local municipalities and state-owned enterprises—with the goal of expanding local production and reducing reliance on imports. Above all, Díaz-Canel cites “cooperation and collaboration…based on principles of solidarity, integration and complementarity,” as the core principles necessary for Cuban prosperity.

– Josh Megson

Josh is based in Albemarle, NC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Supporting Rural Communities in Tonga

Rural Communities in TongaThe 104,175 citizens who inhabit the Kingdom of Tonga’s archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean face a multitude of challenges caused by environmental volatility, seismic activity and isolation from the rest of the world. These challenges disproportionately affect rural communities, which make up 53% of the 20.6% of the overall population living in poverty. However, in response, several international development projects have been conducted as part of efforts to strengthen food and economic security and enhance education, communication, climate and disaster resilience to support rural communities in Tonga.

Connectivity and Communication

The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai underwater volcano and subsequent tsunamis in 2022 severed 55 miles of the underwater data cable that connected Tonga to the world via Fiji. While most countries have multiple data cables, the U.K. has 50, Tonga has only one. During the five weeks it took for repairs to be conducted, the island nation was cut off from the internet and the wider world.

The damage from the once-in-1,000-year eruption highlighted the fragility and importance of internet connectivity. Of the 130 people over the age of 10 on Hunga, only 44 had access to the internet in 2024, a trend seen across the Asia-Pacific region, where only 47% of individuals in rural areas use the internet compared with 82% in urban areas.

In response, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as part of a Joint Program to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its Smart Villages and Smart Islands Initiative (SVSI), established Hunga’s Digital Hub. The hub provides locals with high-speed and reliable internet access, which has reshaped the island’s education and agricultural sectors. Teachers at the two primary schools on the island now have access to online resources, while older students, whose attendance at high schools on the main island of Vava’u was previously affected by ocean conditions, are now able to learn online. Fishermen and farmers can also market online and arrange sales before costly trips to the mainland.

Community Empowerment and Food Security

The most well-known development project in Tonga is the Tonga Rural Innovation Project (TRIP), which has had two phases — Phase I from 2012 to 2017 and Phase II from 2018 to 2025 — with a third phase agreed upon in February 2026. The project is a collaboration between the government of Tonga, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other key stakeholders.

The success of TRIP II was apparent in the project’s recent Completion Report, which highlighted the ways the program exceeded targets in several key areas. With a total budget of $12.66 million, the project reached 9,291 households and more than 32,000 people across 122 communities, exceeding targets by 93%. Post-project surveys revealed that 99.8% of households surveyed reported knowledge of TRIP II, with a participation rate of 97.4% in Community Development Planning.

The project was not without difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai eruption presented challenges for the program. In response, increased funding and a time extension were allocated to ensure success, with an additional grant of $0.7 million financed by the IFAD and the Australian government. Overall, TRIP II helped support rural communities in Tonga by increasing the volume of crops cultivated and incomes generated by agriculture, with yam, sweet potato and Tonga taro yields rising by 52.9%, 59.4% and 54.3%, respectively.

Climate Resilience and Infrastructure

The financial implications of natural disasters are often severe for Tonga, with the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai eruption contributing to a decline in real GDP of almost 6% in 2021 and 2022. Combined with the threat such events pose to the lives of Tongans, the need to act is apparent. This led to the establishment of the Tonga Australia Resilient Communities Program (TARCP), agreed in December 2024 between the Australian government and the MORDI Tonga Trust (MORDI).

With a budget of AUD $9.7 million, the project aims to work alongside other initiatives and align with several U.N. SDGs to establish greater economic and climate resilience, as well as build climate infrastructure and improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene supplies through local approaches and international funding. The project remains in its early stages, with targets to improve resilience and quality of life for around 39,300 Tongans across five of Tonga’s main island groups: Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua and the Niuas.

Looking Ahead

Progress has been made to support rural communities in Tonga and projects continue to expand. Indeed, the recent agreement of TRIP III represents a continuation of the work begun under previous phases. Together, ongoing international development projects offer pathways to strengthen rural communities in Tonga and reduce the financial and social impact of natural disasters and economic isolation.

– Sean Patrick Welsh

Sean is based in Haywards Heath, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Haiti’s Irrigation Canal Fights Food Security Crisis

Haiti's Irrigation CanalHaiti is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere and continues to face challenges that lead to severe instability. As of early 2026, armed gangs control an estimated 80-90% of the capital and are expanding into surrounding areas. This instability has significantly reduced international aid, disrupted supply chains due to frequent looting of imports and caused the cost of essential goods such as food and oil to skyrocket. Port-au-Prince receives a majority of the country’s imports; therefore, the capital’s issues affect all other cities. 

Building From the Ground Up

With insecurity persisting and food shortages worsening, local agricultural production has become increasingly critical to economic stability. The Kanal la Pap Kanpe (KPK) initiative sits at the center of Haiti’s irrigation canal movement, a grassroots effort to bring water to one of the country’s most fertile and underserved farming regions. By expanding access to water, the project could strengthen food security and support the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.

A Shared Island, a Contested River

The island of Hispaniola is split into two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which inevitably share common natural resources. However, issues persist between the two countries. A clear example is the Massacre River in the north of the island. 

The river not only carries significant historical importance, but is also essential to the livelihoods of the surrounding communities. In 1929, officials from the two countries signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Arbitration. Article 10 of the treaty stipulates that both countries may use the water “justly and equitably,” provided its use does not interfere with the river’s natural flow.

In August 2018, Haiti’s irrigation canal project took shape with the start of construction on the Pittobert canal. The project is designed to irrigate more than 7,000 acres of fertile land on the Maribaroux Plain at a total operating flow of about 1.5 cubic meters per second. In a 2021 report, the Dominican National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) counted 10 irrigation canals on the Dominican side. 

Together, they had a total operating flow of 3.22 cubic meters per second, while the Pittobert canal would be the first on the Haitian side. Progress on the canal halted in 2021 with the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse. However, grassroots efforts led local farmers to resume it in August 2023. 

Dominicans strongly opposed this move, framing it as a unilateral act that threatened shared resources and border agreements and claimed that the canal would divert water. This disagreement created a transnational dispute with significant consequences for both sides. On September 11, 2023, President Luis Abinader unilaterally announced the complete closure and militarization of the border, prohibiting the migration of people and goods. In response, the Haitian government announced that the construction of this canal would not halt.

According to the popular Haitian media outlet AyiboPost, this canal has sparked one of the biggest grassroots movements uniting Haitians in decades. Both local Haitians and the diaspora mobilized resources and forces to aid in the construction of the canal and in “the recovery of national dignity,” as stated by Gaston Étienne, the treasurer of the project.

From Irrigation to Export: KPK Rice Making Its US Debut

Although completion of the canal has not yet been confirmed, it has already begun benefiting surrounding communities. In November 2024, a new rice brand named after the movement, KPK, was launched. It uses water from the newly built Haitian irrigation canal to irrigate its rice fields and exports to the U.S. have already begun.

Additionally, construction of a second canal in the Fort-Liberté area, the Malfety canal, is well underway, with support from local and diaspora communities. It is estimated that this canal will irrigate approximately 17,000 acres upon completion. Although imports still account for more than 70% of total cereal consumption in Haiti, mainly wheat and rice, the KPK movement also has implications for other countries.

Why the World Should Pay Attention

First, initiatives like KPK have economic lessons that go beyond Haiti’s borders. As local agricultural production increases, new trade and investment opportunities emerge both domestically and internationally. In Haiti, increased domestic production can reduce its heavy reliance on imports and create new export opportunities. Internationally, this can create more opportunities for actors to partner with local farmers to improve and increase production. 

Second, for aid and development organizations and policymakers, projects like KPK highlight the importance of supporting locally driven solutions to economic challenges rather than relying solely on foreign aid. These initiatives demonstrate how targeted infrastructure investments can unlock productivity, strengthen rural economies and improve food security, especially in poverty-stricken areas. Supporting these efforts through technical assistance, financing and market access could further amplify their impact and contribute to long-term stability for these communities.

Final Thoughts

Global attention is increasingly turning toward sustainable development and economic resilience, even as international aid declines and economic challenges persist. In this regard, Haiti’s experience offers valuable lessons. While Haiti navigates ongoing instability, projects like KPK demonstrate how Haiti’s irrigation canal movement and grassroots movements more broadly, can contribute to long-term economic resilience and poverty reduction.

By investing in local production and empowering communities, these initiatives show how countries can build more self-sufficient economies while creating new opportunities for global partnerships. KPK rice reaching U.S. shelves is only the beginning. It is proof that communities do not need to wait for stability to start creating it and that supporting grassroots movements may be one of the most effective investments the international community can make.

– Chloe Bonnefil

Chloe is based in Miami, FL, USA and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikipedia

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How Community Grains Banks Reduce Hunger in Rural Nepal

Hunger in Rural NepalIn rural Nepal, where geographic isolation, limited infrastructure and seasonal agricultural cycles restrict access to food, community grain banks have emerged as a practical way to reduce hunger and strengthen food security.

Food Insecurity in Rural Nepal

In rural regions of Nepal, food insecurity remains a significant challenge for many families. Geographic isolation, limited infrastructure and seasonal farming cycles often leave communities without reliable year-round access to food. During the months between harvests, many households face shortages that can lead to malnutrition, debt and deepened poverty.

According to the journal “Food Insecurity, Food Grain Imports and Agricultural Exports in Nepal: A Data Analysis Comparison (1990–2023),” “Food insecurity persists as a pressing issue, particularly in rural areas where undernutrition and food shortages remain prevalent.”

The Impact of Post-Harvest Loss

One major factor contributing to food insecurity in Nepal is post-harvest loss. Limited access to proper storage facilities and technologies leaves stored grain vulnerable to pests, moisture and spoilage. As a result, a substantial portion of harvested crops is lost before they can be consumed or sold.

According to research, “Farmers in Nepal lose up to one-third of stored grain to pests and diseases.” This significantly reduces both household food availability and income.

A Community-Based Solution

To address these challenges, some communities have turned to an innovative and locally driven solution: community grain banks. Grain banks are cooperative systems in which villagers collectively store surplus crops such as rice, wheat or maize after harvest. Each household contributes a portion of its yield to a shared reserve.

When food becomes scarce, families can borrow from the bank and repay the grain after the next harvest, often with a small additional amount to sustain the system. This approach provides a critical safety net. By ensuring access to food during difficult periods, community grain banks in rural Nepal help prevent hunger and reduce the need for high-interest loans, which many families would otherwise rely on to purchase food. In doing so, they play a direct role in breaking cycles of poverty.

In one rural community in Nepal, a grain bank was established to support families vulnerable to seasonal flooding and food shortages. Households contribute grain during harvest and those in need can borrow supplies during emergencies, repaying slightly more after the next harvest. The system follows a structured policy: “If people take 40 kilograms of paddy from the bank, they must return a total of 50 kilograms once they harvest their farm.” 

Community leaders emphasize the program’s impact, with Urmila Rishidev, president of Shanti Nari DMT, stating, “The grain bank has been a boon for our community because our children do not have to starve when a flood comes.”

Improving Storage and Long-Term Resilience

In remote areas where access to markets is limited, the role of community grain banks in reducing hunger in rural Nepal is further demonstrated through their ability to stabilize local food systems. Instead of depending on fluctuating food prices or distant supply chains, communities can rely on their own reserves. This increases resilience and allows families to better manage economic uncertainty.

Additionally, improving storage practices is essential to maximizing the impact of these systems. Research highlights that improved technologies can significantly reduce losses and strengthen food security. According to findings, hermetic storage methods are viable, chemical-free alternatives to traditional methods and pesticides used by smallholder farmers for grain storage.

They effectively control pests of stored products, maintain seed quality, improve food security and increase the income of smallholder farmers. This demonstrates how better storage solutions can directly support both food availability and household income.

Conclusion

Community grain banks represent a practical and community-driven approach to addressing food insecurity in rural Nepal. By reducing post-harvest losses, improving access to food during seasonal shortages and strengthening local cooperation, these systems help mitigate key drivers of poverty. While challenges remain, continued support for grain banks and improved storage solutions can help build more resilient, food-secure communities.

– Grelby Santos

Grelby is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Eliminating Food Scarcity in Nigeria With Mechanized Agriculture

Food Scarcity in NigeriaAgriculture is the lifeblood of Nigeria. The country has vast fertile land, perfect for raising livestock and cultivating crops such as yams, maize and cocoa. Agriculture makes up more than 20% of the country’s GDP and farming is the number one source of employment. Nigeria’s agricultural output potential is massive, but it is rarely realized due to high poverty rates.

However, this is changing. Through recent programs, mechanized agriculture is reaching Nigeria’s hardworking farmers, enabling them to vastly increase their yields. With the continued success of these programs, food scarcity in Nigeria is set to decrease exponentially.

The Unique State of Nigeria’s Agriculture

Out of Nigeria’s population of 232 million, more than 60% are multidimensionally poor. This means that farmers are forced to operate on a community scale rather than expanding their work to a commercial level. About 80% of Nigeria’s farmers operate on this smaller scale and still, they account for more than 90% of agricultural output.

Usually, farmers in Nigeria can barely provide for themselves and their communities. Their work is essential, but never enough. The domestic demand for farm products in Nigeria is so large that, despite being Africa’s top rice producer, the country still imported 2.9 million tons of rice in 2014. As a result of poverty, Nigerian farmers rarely have access to basic modern farming inputs, such as fertilizer, pesticides or mechanization, including tractors.

How Mechanized Agriculture Is Making a Difference

In 2018, a deal was made between John Deere, the American tractor company, its distributor, the Tata Group and Alluvial, a Nigerian agricultural company that works with smallholder farmers. Together, the two companies formulated an agreement that has been revolutionary for Nigeria’s small farmers.

At Alluvial’s request, John Deere has agreed to begin leasing 300 tractors to smallholder farmers of Nigeria within the Niger Delta region, an area of significant food scarcity that is home to more than 100,00 farmers. These 300 tractors are now available to lease at only $100 per acre of land for use in their everyday farming duties.

With this project, Alluvial’s goal is to unite Nigeria’s smallholder farmers into a commercial workforce. Furthermore, the aim is to supply them with the materials needed to expand their agricultural operations. Alluvial’s owner, Dimieari Von Kemedi, hopes to raise these farmers to a level where their crops can be sold across Nigeria and, eventually, beyond Africa.

What Is Next?

The Nigerian government has begun investing more in its farmers. In May of 2018, the government bought 10,000 more tractors to lease to farmers. Alluvial’s initiative has already inspired more change than was ever anticipated. 

And even now, the initiative continues. Nigeria’s federal government has been continuously purchasing more tractors and other farming equipment to sustain agricultural growth. In September of 2025, the government distributed 2,000 more tractors and 9,000 other pieces of machinery.

Many people in Nigeria are still going hungry and farmers are still struggling to keep up with demand. But this initiative, which began in 2018, has introduced a potential solution that is still being implemented today. As long as projects like this continue, positive change is inevitable.

– Lucas Cain

Lucas is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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SDG 14 in South Africa: Fisheries and Sustainability

SDG 14 in South AfricaMore than 3 billion people depend on the ocean for food and work. Nearly 60 million people have direct employment in fisheries and millions more work in processing and distribution. Fish and seafood account for more than 20% of the dietary protein intake for more than 3 billion people worldwide. Protecting these marine resources is the primary focus of Life below water (SDG 14), one of the United Nations’ 17 goals in the 2030 Agenda.

In South Africa, where unemployment rates are among the highest globally and poverty rates remain widespread, the health of marine ecosystems provides an undeniable economic opportunity. Efforts to protect life below water and reach SDG 14 in South Africa have not only become environmental priorities, but a broader strategy to support livelihoods for all generations.

Marine Resource Management Challenges

South Africa’s marine environment continues to face growing pressure through the exploitation of marine resources, changing weather patterns and plastic pollution. Overfishing remains one of the most significant threats to ocean ecosystems, with 34% of South Africa’s fish stocks either depleted or heavily depleted. Nearly half of South Africa’s marine sources are already fully exploited with another 15% overexploited, putting substantial pressure on key economic species like rock lobster and tuna. Local marine ecosystems are being reshaped along the country’s expansive coastline, driven by changing weather patterns. Fisheries are highly dependent on ecosystem health as the food web drives biodiversity and biomass.

Sardines play a crucial role in the region’s marine food web supporting a large portion of the country’s pelagic fishing industry. However, sardine biomass declined 25% of its historical maximum since 2004 along South Africa’s west coast, significantly impacting fish stocks up the food chain. As populations decline, annual catch quotas are reduced with significant decreases in employment opportunities in fisheries, processing plants and export sectors.

Only 46% of South Africa’s 122 million tons of plastic waste is recycled, leaving an estimated 79,000 tons every year to enter rivers, oceans and the environment. This makes South Africa one of the largest contributors of land-based marine plastic pollution. Beyond plastics, 86% of sewage treatment did not meet safety standards and continues to release effluent contaminants into rivers. These environmental pressures have consequences beyond biodiversity by threatening coastal economies that rely heavily on ocean resources. With unemployment in South Africa reaching around 32%, fisheries and marine tourism provide important sources of income.

How SDG 14 Initiatives Are Combating Challenges

In response to SDG 14, South Africa continues to invest in research and collaboration efforts to improve scientific understanding, expand marine protection efforts, and promote sustainable resource management. Most notably, South Africa has increased marine protected areas from 0.4% to 5.4% of its Exclusive Economic Zone, protecting more than 1.5 million hectares of marine critical habitat. 

Researchers at the University of Cape Town play a key role in this effort by tracking ocean conditions to inform fisheries policies. One major initiative is the Marine and Antarctic Research for Innovation and Sustainability (MARIS) program. The Benguela Current system alone supports fisheries valued at more than $1 billion annually, highlighting the importance of research programs such as MARIS in guiding sustainable marine policy. Another key focus is the implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Benguela Large Marine Ecosystem through three primary objectives:

  1. Capacity and skills for research, management and compliance
  2. Sufficient finances for research, management and monitoring 
  3. Effective data management between the monitoring and legal enforcement teams

The nutrient-rich Benguela current supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods across southern Africa. To ensure sustainable fisheries policies and regulations within the marine park is critical. As Melrus managing director Tomas Kjelgaard states: “It’s very important for us to have a long-term business. If we overfish like they have done in many places during the last 20 years, then we don’t have a business the day after tomorrow.” To protect the livelihoods of future fishermen, continued cooperation between government agencies, local stakeholders and neighboring countries such as Namibia and Angola is essential.

Government-led education campaigns continue to spearhead community-driven initiatives in South Africa. Particularly, coastal cleanup programs removed 111.85 tonnes of waste from beaches and waterways during volunteer cleanup campaigns in 2024 and has employed more than 200,000 volunteers across the country. Additionally, academic programs such as SEAmester have helped train more than 500 students from 15 institutions, supporting next generation of marine scientists and securing employability across the sector.

The Future of South Africa’s Life Below Water

As South Africa continues to strive towards reaching the SDG 14, oceanic health and prosperity are becoming increasingly important toward reducing poverty and supporting sustainable economic development in South Africa. Despite universal challenges of overfishing, the changing climate and pollution, ongoing targeted research, informed policy decisions and community initiatives show that progress is possible. With expanding marine protected areas, stronger fisheries management, and education programs training the next generation of ocean stewards, South Africa is charting a course toward a healthier ocean and stronger coastal communities.

– Alyssa Forget

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Food Systems in Russia: A Taste of Success

Food Systems in RussiaRussia has 11 time zones, 140.13 million people and 17.1 million km2 of territory, which is an incredible logistical challenge but one that the Russian people have faced with optimism and endeavor. Ensuring that people’s food needs are met is one of the core commitments of the state and Russia has enshrined this in a dedicated Food Security Doctrine (as of 2010). In a world of struggle and setbacks, take a look at these feats regarding food systems in Russia for inspiration and resolve.

Key Statistics Regarding Food Systems in Russia

  • Russia covers 95% of its grain demand from homegrown produce.
  • The state provides significant monetary and institutional support for agriculture; this has grown to R300 billion a year (2018 figures)!
  • The ruble value of domestic food production has gone up in leaps and bounds since 2000, with roughly a 600% increase by 2018; output has matched economics, with domestic production showing significant success (e.g. meat has doubled).
  • The focus is on sustainable development with a ban on all GMO products and seeds, except for research in the laboratory.

What’s the History?

Following the breakdown of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a period of collapse internally. Mass poverty and malnutrition struck the population. When it came to food production, output declined in the organized farms sector and shifted to home production and imports: by the mid-1990s, Russia’s cities depended on foreign imports for more than 80% of all meat stocks, for instance.

People also became vulnerable to price increases in the international trading system. What happened is that as imports became progressively more expensive, so domestic producers became progressively more competitive. This was the germination of domestic advantage and recovery, but state aid hugely bolstered it following the falling out from 2014 events in Crimea. For the first time in post-Soviet history, Russia had the impetus and will to bring about change from within – on a massive scale. Investment had already started in 2000, with a strategy for agricultural development, but now it was a critical need.

The Russian Federation itself “[r]ecognizes that hunger and malnutrition are the perverse manifestations of persistent, structural poverty and inequality, and recognizes the need to end poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions.”

The Food Security Doctrine

Interwoven in all this is the Food Security Doctrine, which at its heart commits to self-sufficiency; quality of life through reliable provision of food; sustainable development and modernization of the agriculture and fisheries sectors, including infrastructure; good management of the environment; food safety, including adequate regulation, as well as sanitary, epidemiological, veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance; specialist skills and sector training. It presents extraordinary ambition and the results have followed: currently self-sufficiency measures show that Russia produces 165.6% of its necessary grains (making it an exporter); 100.1% of meat and meat products; 84% of milk and dairy products; and 97.4% on eggs.

The Food Bank Rus Charity

Where poverty does exist, NGOs are working to fill the gap. The Food Bank Rus charity is an organization that collects food and products and distributes them to people in need: people who have had to leave their homes, living in isolation, or simply going without. That includes families in difficult situations or pensioners. It also helps people in emergency situations such as those suffering natural disasters or accidents. About 673,000 kg of food and essential goods were donated to refugees from Donetsk and Lugansk in just a few months in 2022.

Looking Ahead

Food systems in Russia are protected through a highly organized institutional set-up, with action on assessment of food needs, the needs of farmers (especially large farms), and distribution networks to get food out there to people who need it. It is especially laudable in a country with challenging climatic conditions and a world where people profit from food. The key goals of “safe, quality and affordable” products are good news for the nation. So, whether it’s blini, pelmeni or beef Stroganoff, you know that food miles are minimal, food safety is paramount and the government is making sure you have food for the future.

– Gergana Manassieva

Gergana is based in Bristol, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Hunger in Kericho: Nishkam Projects’ Feeding Program

Tackling Hunger in Kericho: Lessons from Nishkam Projects’ Feeding Programme For a young child in Kericho, Kenya, tackling hunger can make the difference between success and opportunity within the education system or being trapped in a cycle of poverty. For many, days start without breakfast and school meals may be their only meal in a day, highlighting the urgent need for these meals to be fulfilling and regular. Without this, learning becomes more difficult, attendance dips and concentration wanes, reinforcing cycles of disadvantage that children themselves have no power to escape.

This systemic challenge is reflected in recent regional data. Kenya’s regions of Kericho and Tharaka Nithi experienced sharp increases in poverty from 2021 to 2022 and the figures have been slowly climbing since. Poverty in Kericho County increased from 39.8% in 2021 to 47.8% in 2022.

Time and time again, a pattern emerges where children are frequently the first to suffer the consequences of this economic instability.

The Importance of School Meals

Simply put, school meals can hold the key to unlocking a truly accomplished education and a pathway out of poverty. School meal programmes protect households from hunger and mitigate the effects of rising food costs by offering a consistent supply of food at no cost to families, saving 10–20% of their yearly food expenses.

The development of jobs is another indication of the economic potential. Globally, for every 100,000 students fed, school lunch programs provide around 1,591 cooking job opportunities. Every $1 invested in feeding programs yields $7 to $35 in economic benefits, making them widely recognized as high-return investments in decreasing poverty.

Hungry children are less likely to attend school on a regular basis and are more likely to fall behind when they do, according to several studies. Hunger impairs focus, memory and engagement, which undermines the very education that would provide a means of escaping poverty. Therefore, food insecurity not only reflects existing inequality; it actively perpetuates it. School meals are increasingly understood as being much more than a simple plate of food.

Nishkam Projects Kericho

Against this backdrop of rising food insecurity, Nishkam Projects Kericho has become a locally based response to child hunger that prioritises community and humanity. The organisation collaborates with local communities and schools to provide children from low-income homes with regular meals so that hunger will not deter them from attending school.

The Sikh values of communal duty and sewa (selfless service) have shaped a larger humanitarian legacy that encompasses Nishkam’s work in Kericho. Instead of seeing hunger as a temporary crisis, the organization approaches it as a structural issue that requires ongoing dedication and long-term presence.

This philosophy is articulated by Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ji, Chairman of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha and philanthropist, recently honored by Kipsigis elders in Kericho for his leadership in peace and service.

He explains the deeper motivation behind the initiative: “When people become disconnected from God, they become disconnected from creation — and when that happens, compassion disappears.” Nishkam Projects’ work seeks to bring back these connections, foster community and place compassion at the forefront of action. By incorporating its feeding program within educational institutions such as Highlands Primary School, the organization promotes a broader ethic of care while addressing pressing nutritional needs.

It centers around notions of mutual responsibility. Poverty exists when wealth is not shared, and inequality increases when individuals and communities no longer feel obligated to one another. As Bhai Sahib Ji illustrates: “When people lose that connection, greed takes over. They want more and more, and they stop wanting to share.”

In a world where widespread poverty and food waste coexist, this insight resonates strongly. Each year, a significant amount of food is wasted, despite the fact that millions of children lack access to even one consistent meal. By basing its feeding programs on seva, Nishkam Projects frames hunger as a societal issue that can be addressed through collective action.

Positive Impacts

The classroom at Highlands Primary School in Kericho demonstrates the effects of regular school meals. As Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh explains: “Children are the most vulnerable, and they are our future. If you want a good future, you must look after the children.” He adds that hunger affects children with particular force because of their dependence on others. “If there is no compassion, they are the first to suffer.” By embedding feeding within the school day, Nishkam’s programme protects children from the immediate effects of food insecurity while also supporting long-term development goals.

A basic daily meal acts as a stabilising factor, supporting education, strengthening households and helping interrupt cycles of hunger that can pass from generation to generation. Nishkam Projects Kericho sees education as the key to long-term development, while feeding programs address urgent hunger. In this way, food serves as a foundation rather than an endpoint. It stabilizes children’s lives so learning, growth and future opportunities become possible.

Without education, efforts to alleviate hunger risk becoming recurrent. With it, communities can begin to escape chronic poverty. Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh emphasizes that “good education, value-led education,” must accompany material support.

The Principle of Langar

This legacy of sharing food is embedded at the heart of another Sikh tradition: Langar. A centuries-old practice, Guru Ka Langar began in Punjab in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Langar embodies the Sikh virtues of sharing, community, inclusivity and the fundamental oneness of mankind.

Food is prepared collectively, shared freely and consumed side by side, with no distinction between those who give and those who receive. As Bhai Sahib Ji explains: “We prepare langar and everyone sits in the same line, at the same level, sharing the same meal.” By eliminating social status symbols, langar reframes food distribution as a gesture of solidarity rather than charity. No hierarchy places one group above another. Instead, the shared meal affirms Bhai Sahib Ji’s idea: “The wealthy person and the poor person are brothers.”

In the context of tackling hunger in Kericho, this approach carries particular significance. Food insecurity is often associated with stigma, reinforcing feelings of shame and exclusion among those who are struggling. By maintaining dignity and encouraging a sense of belonging, Langar actively counters this trend.

By basing its feeding programs on the philosophy of langar, Nishkam Projects provides more than just food. It provides a framework for addressing poverty that prioritizes equality, respect and shared humanity.

Nishkam Peace Festival, Kericho

Beyond schools and feeding programs, Nishkam’s dedication to ending hunger in Kericho reaches into the community’s broader social fabric.

This was particularly visible during Kericho’s Nishkam Peace Festival, when children from different schools gathered for a day of performances. Spoken-word, dance and music brought families and community members together.

The langar practice was central to the celebration. A free community meal, prepared and served in the same spirit of equality that guides Nishkam’s broader work, was extended to all children. The reasoning behind such initiatives is straightforward, as Bhai Sahib Ji observes: “Helping others becomes natural if we see all of humanity as one family.”

The Peace Festival in Kericho demonstrated how community, culture and langar can come together to promote harmony.

Looking Ahead

The demand for solutions that address both the material and social dimensions of poverty continues to grow. Nishkam Projects Kericho illustrates how combining values-driven action with practical programs can support children and communities facing food insecurity.

– Prubleen Bhogal

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

Photo: Needpix