Archive for category: Food Security

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Musician Aim to Save One of the First Soup Kitchens in Uganda

uganda soup kitchensUgandan musician aims to raise £100,000 to save one of first soup kitchens in Uganda. Uganda is home to 48.66 million residents, however, the country faces serious food insecurity despite having major agricultural production. Ugandan musician-dancer, Grace Nakimera, started an organization that directly combats these issues.

People who live with serious food insecurity often eat one small meal and sometimes go days without food. However, the meals they do eat are not nutritious enough to support them. Children suffer the most as they are susceptible to stunted growth, anemia and cognitive delays due to the lack of proper nutrition. Unfortunately, to cope with this suffering, people pull kids from school to save money. They work on farms that do not provide a reliable income. Drought, poverty and disease are factors that plague farms’ potential to flourish. The communities that have support systems, such as local non-government organizations (NGO) help distribute food, but often the demand is far greater than the supply.

Helping to Feed the Streets

Feed the Streets Foundation, founded by Nakimera, is a small organization based in Kampala, Uganda, and it provides shelter to the homeless and hungry. Open every Sunday and Wednesday, they serve food to about 400-500 children and mothers, according to GoFundMe. Her efforts are exceptional considering that the national poverty line is at 20.03% and 42.12% of the population survives with $2.15 a day. Her foundation also administers counseling and rehabilitation that gives people with addiction the help they need.

Grace Nakimera grew up in the same area where her campaign lies. Born in 1985, the artist was introduced to music at a young age, performing at talent shows around her city at 7. With continuous hit singles penetrating the music scene, she became a household name in her home country. Her strong faith in God has allowed her to persevere through her childhood struggles, dealing with where to find her next meal and she has promised to help others in the same situation, according to GoFundMe. As she continues to raise £100,000 to save one of the first soup kitchens in Uganda, she is fulfilling her promise.

Her foundation has aimed to address hunger and malnutrition among the children of Uganda, serving many families. Through its soup kitchen in Uganda, they provide stability and shelter for the homeless and reach out to vulnerable children, ensuring they don’t go hungry. Moreover, they alleviate their general well-being by teaching instrumental skills to develop and sustain a small business. They offer training in baking, farming, mechanics, music and cosmetic care to equip them with helpful and independent prowess.

The Benefits of the Funds

Feed the Streets Foundation aims to use £100,000 to buy a farm and grow its own food, having proper shelter to accommodate the children and bringing in experts to teach people skills useful in their lives (farming, cooking, mechanical skills, etc.). It also hopes to feed up to 1,000 individuals, doubling the number they feed now, according to GoFundMe. The foundation’s current facility is rented and modest, which hinders their goals of expanding the program and serving that number of children. This creates significant challenges due to limited financial resources.

Sustaining a food bank in Uganda has difficult restraints that foundations like Feed The Streets often face. Uganda lacks a strong culture of structured food relief. It relies mainly on external funding, which can be inconsistent and unreliable. Also, NGOs struggle because of the limited government support, forcing them to rely on undiversified funding sources. The rising food cost, high demand and limited infrastructure make it challenging to provide consistent meals and soup kitchens are extremely vulnerable to inflation and food waste. Navigating through this constant struggle, even with projects with a deep community impact, is hard, causing a lack of awareness around food kitchens.

Soup Kitchens in Uganda

One of the first soup kitchens in Uganda is a rare lifeline for families in a city where hunger goes unseen. Its efforts create a defining spotlight on Uganda’s support system and systemic food insecurity, which highlights its major problems. Without its urgent donations and funding, it could be forced to shut down, leaving hundreds of individuals without the help they have come to depend on. Whether it be for food, shelter or overall health improvement, the loss of it could significantly damage them. Nakimera shows that caring enough to act can prove that lasting change doesn’t need to start in a large institution, which is why her work is so important.

– Kassandra Ticas

Kassandra is based in Gardner, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How the World Food Programme Tackles Malnutrition in Honduras

How the World Food Programme Tackles Malnutrition in Honduras In Honduras, about 60% of the population lives in poverty. The country continues to face persistent challenges surrounding malnutrition, especially among children in rural and low-income communities. Food insecurity stems from multiple factors, including economic instability, climate-related issues and limited agricultural resources. As a result, many families lack consistent access to nutritious meals.

In response to this issue, the World Food Programme (WFP) has launched several initiatives aimed at improving nutrition and food access across the country. Its school meal program stands out as a key effort, ensuring that students receive nutritious meals to support their growth and learning. Below is a look at the WFP’s impact in Honduras, including statistics on malnutrition and the effectiveness of its school-based efforts.

Understanding Malnutrition in Honduras

Malnutrition is a very serious issue in Honduras, with 48% of the population suffering from malnutrition and about half of the children aged 2 to 6 suffering from anemia. Poverty plays a significant role in this problem, with the majority of the population living below the poverty line. Additionally, Honduras is also susceptible to extreme weather events such as hurricanes and droughts, which can also disrupt food production and supply chains. These economic and environmental challenges make food security a regular concern, leaving many families unable to afford or access nutritious meals.

The World Food Programme’s Efforts

The WFP works to alleviate hunger and improve food security throughout Honduras. Its efforts include emergency food assistance during natural disasters, nutritional support for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children and longer-term programs aimed at strengthening local food systems.

The School Meal Program

Known as the Fresh Ration project, one of the WFP’s most impactful initiatives in Honduras is its school meal program. The program sources food from local farmers and delivers meals to schools across the country. In some areas, children also receive take-home meals to support family nutrition. The initiative has led to broader improvements beyond nutrition. For example, global WFP data reveal a 12% increase in girls’ school enrollment in areas where students receive daily meals.

The program continues to expand alongside the growing capacity of local food producers. As of 2025, the School Meals Coalition reported that the initiative serves 30,130 children in Honduras and sources food from 292 smallholder farmers. By supporting local agriculture while addressing child nutrition, the program contributes to both short- and long-term development goals.

Looking Ahead

The WFP’s efforts in Honduras, particularly through its school meal program, play a critical role in addressing child malnutrition and improving food security. Continued investment in these programs is essential to making long-term progress, especially in combating issues like childhood anemia. Addressing food insecurity requires collective effort across sectors. With sustained support and expanded outreach, WFP’s initiatives in Honduras could provide a scalable model for reducing malnutrition and improving economic resilience across the region.

– Joey Picolli

Joey is based in Boulder, CO, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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From Python to Plate: AI Fighting Food Insecurity in Thailand

AI Food InsecurityThailand is a country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 70 million in 2023. In the past few decades, Thailand’s population has been growing exponentially, with an increase of 9.1 million between the years 2000 and 2023. Thailand is a very significant player in the food processing industry, with exports valuing $39 billion in 2022 alone. Despite the country’s prevalence in the food production and export businesses, a 2023 study found that food insecurity impacts 28.6% of the population. Factors impacting this include the lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, geographical location and debt.

An Aging Population or a Call to Action?

Recently, Thailand’s population growth has started to slow, raising concerns regarding the prospect of an aging population. In fact, according to the World Bank, “Thailand is the second-fastest aging country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after Singapore, and it is growing old before it grows rich.” If Thailand’s population continues to age, shrinking the country’s workforce, the percentage of Thai citizens living under the poverty line and/or impacted by food insecurity could only continue to grow. To prevent this, it is essential to emphasize and support technologies and legislation that could increase productivity and allow Thai industries to thrive – even with a more limited workforce.

The Connection between AI and Food Insecurity

AI fighting food insecurity may be Thailand’s solution to their aging workforce. In recent years, the Thai government has presented several new programs and technologies to support the growth of AI. One example is the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model. The BCG model is an economic plan that emphasizes sustainability and productivity in several different spheres of industry, one being food and agriculture. According to the BCG model, the Thai agricultural industry could skyrocket in value if the country implements smart farming technology.

Smart farming tactics not only address issues of sustainability but also increase yield, preserve resources and minimize excessive labor. For example, predictive AI can alert farmers about potential pest outbreaks or droughts.

Ricult and HandySense B-Farm

One specific example of AI fighting food insecurity in action is tech start-up Ricult. Usman Javaid and Aukrit Unahalekhaka founded Ricult in an attempt to assist small farmers in their respective native countries, Pakistan and Thailand. One of the projects that the start-up has been developing is a free-to-use phone app meant to make AI-based agritech more accessible to small-scale farmers. Ricult’s website states that the app provides farmers with a “weather forecast, farm satellite, [and] expert advice to improve productivity and profit… [as well as] maximize yield and optimize operations with AI.” Approximately 400,000 farmers in Thailand are using the Ricult app.

Another notable AI agritech program is HandySense B-Farm, a beginner-friendly coding software that specializes in designing digital models for precision farming. The program is highly personalizable and can be adjusted according to crop type and farming conditions. The program includes “a variety of sensors such as real-time temperature, soil moisture, relative humidity, and light sensors, … [enabling] users to design control systems that meet the specific needs of their farms, such as automatic watering when the soil is dry or turning on supplementary lighting when there is insufficient light”

AI and Food Insecurity

According to Research and Markets, the Thailand AI in Agriculture Market stood at $80.33 million in 2023 and could reach $113.96 million by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 6.08%. This exponential increase in market value suggests that AI fighting food insecurity will have a very significant influence in Thailand.

– Helena Birbrower

Helena is based in Davis, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Food Systems in Brazil: Key Challenges and Opportunities

Food Systems in BrazilFood systems in Brazil are diverse, complex and influenced by the country’s size, geography and rich cultural heritage. With 90% of its food domestically produced, the country is a leader in agribusiness and one of the world’s largest producers of agricultural products such as soybeans, coffee, sugarcane, beef and chicken. Yet, Brazil still faces a paradox—despite these impressive numbers, the nation struggles with hunger and inequality.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Brazil faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable food systems and access to healthy food, particularly for low-income populations. In 2021, 36% of Brazilians experienced food insecurity, according to research by FGV Social, a crisis exacerbated by changing weather patterns—one of the world’s most pressing concerns today. Droughts and extreme weather events have severely impacted food systems in Brazil, while industrial agriculture, particularly soybean and cattle farming, has contributed to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, further escalating environmental challenges.

Regions dependent on industrial agriculture are continually suffering from soil degradation and water pollution due to intensive farming practices, which affect food availability and increase the vulnerability of rural communities, especially in regions like the Northeast and Central-West, where the Amazon and Cerrado biomes are located and under threat.

Government subsidies often favor large agribusinesses over small-scale farmers, creating economic disparities and hindering the growth of sustainable local food systems.

Challenges and Opportunities

Brazil has strong food security and school feeding policies, but their effectiveness depends on political priorities. Changing weather patterns, global trade dynamics and social inequalities will continue to shape food systems in Brazil. The country’s current food system comes with significant hidden costs, estimated at about $500 billion annually, mainly due to unsustainable practices.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized this issue, stating: “Hunger is not the result of external factors. It is, above all, the result of political choices. Today, the world produces more than enough food to eradicate [hunger]. What is missing is creating the conditions for access to food.”

Addressing these challenges and adapting to these changes requires building resilient food systems, which will demand a multifaceted approach, including policy reforms, sustainable agricultural practices and initiatives to improve food access and equity. This was a key focus in the Webinar from the Sovereignty and Climate Center in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), where experts analyzed the relationship between changing weather patterns and food security in Brazil.

PNAE & Bolsa Família

The Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE) ensures that more than 40 million students in public schools receive free, nutritious meals daily. Established in 1955, PNAE prioritizes local food procurement, benefiting small-scale farmers while improving children’s access to healthy meals. The program has played a crucial role in reducing malnutrition and promoting food security in low-income communities.

As for the Bolsa Família Program, one of the most successful conditional cash transfer programs in the world, it benefits more than 21 million families. Launched in 2003, it provides financial aid to low-income families under the condition that children attend school and receive vaccinations. Through the program, extreme poverty reduced by 15% and significantly improved child nutrition and school enrollment rates across Brazil.

Strengthening these programs can help further advance sustainable food systems in Brazil, ensuring food security, supporting local farmers and reducing economic disparities.

Looking Ahead

There is a growing push toward more sustainable agricultural practices, such as agroecology and organic farming, driven by concerns over health and environmental sustainability. Transitioning to more sustainable food systems presents great potential for significant cost savings and ecological benefits.

One example is ProVeg Brazil, an organization promoting plant-based diets and sustainable food choices in a country where meat consumption and production are widespread. In 2024, 14% of Brazilians identified as vegetarian, reflecting a shift in dietary trends. While the vegan and organic markets are expanding, challenges remain, as organic and plant-based products are often more expensive than conventional options. Additionally, small-scale organic farmers face difficulties in distribution and certification, along with cultural preferences favoring traditional diets.

Despite these challenges, the growth of veganism and the organic food market signals a transformation in food systems in Brazil, offering promising opportunities for sustainability, health and economic innovation.

– Rhasna Albuquerque

Rhasna is based in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Impacts of the Deforestation Crisis in the Congo Basin

Deforestation in the Congo BasinThe Congo Basin, located in western equatorial Africa, is one of Earth’s most important wilderness areas. It spans across six countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. At 500 million acres, it is the second-largest tropical forest. Although satellite images of Africa’s Congo Basin have shown that since 2000, deforestation has fallen by a third, the rainforest is still losing 2000 square kilometers every single year, which poses some serious concerns.

Impacts on Local Communities and Neighboring Countries

The deforestation of the Congo Basin significantly impacts local populations that rely on the forest for a living. Many of these local communities rely on the forest for food, water, medicine and income. As deforestation continues, the resources that these communities rely on steadily decrease, resulting in increased poverty and misery.

  • Loss of food resources: One of the most immediate repercussions of deforestation is the loss of food resources. The Congo Basin contains diverse food, from plants, fruits and nuts to wild animals, that local communities, containing more than 80 million people, rely on for nourishment. Deforestation disrupts ecosystems’ natural balance, making it more difficult for people to get food, leading to food insecurity and hunger. For many people in the Congo Basin, agriculture alone is insufficient to meet their nutritional needs; therefore, the forest provides an essential additional food supply.
  • Lack of access to natural medicines: In addition to food, the forest provides a significant source of traditional remedies. Many regions’ cultures use plants and herbs from the forest to heal various diseases. With the loss of these forests, their access to natural treatments becomes increasingly limited, making it more difficult for the surrounding residents to stay healthy. This dependence on traditional remedies is especially essential in rural regions with limited contemporary health care options.
  • Decreased access to economic opportunities: Additionally, deforestation directly impacts the availability of economic activities in these communities. The forest produces many resources, such as timber, which is frequently sold in local markets. As forests are removed, these sources of income disappear, pushing people further into poverty. Furthermore, tree loss causes soil erosion, which makes farming harder, which leads to reduced food production, further deepening the cycle of poverty.

Impacts on the Global Community

One of the main worries regarding deforestation in the Congo Basin is its serious environmental effects, impacting both the local ecosystem and the global climate. The Congo Basin, the second largest rainforest, is the largest carbon sink in the world, with the section of jungle in the Republic of the Congo alone absorbing 1.5% of the entire planet’s carbon emissions.

However, as deforestation occurs, the stored carbon escapes into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate instability. Furthermore, the loss of trees disrupts local water cycles, which results in altered rainfall patterns and recurrent floods and droughts. This greatly impacts the region’s biodiversity, putting species that rely on the forest at risk and diminishing the ecosystem’s overall resilience. These environmental consequences are far-reaching, affecting local communities and the world.

Final Remarks

Several initiatives and efforts are taking place to combat the deforestation crisis in the Congo Basin. For example, groups like the Congo Basin Forest Partnership are promoting more and more agroforestry, reforestation and ethical logging. Other programs, such as the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, whose main aim is to restore degraded land, make sure to include residents in their initiatives to highlight the critical role that local communities play.

Although the international community, such as the United Nations and European Union, gives financial and technical aid, stronger policies need to be implemented to guarantee long-term forest preservation.

– Zainab Saad Hassan

Zainab is based in Glasgow, Scotland and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Combating Malnutrition in Indonesia: New Free Meals Program

Malnutrition in IndonesiaIndonesia suffers from a triple burden of malnutrition (TBM) problem. TBM refers to a population at threat of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overnutrition. Other problems in the country, such as poverty, low education levels, gender inequities and poor infrastructure, alongside frequent natural disasters and environmental and climate-related factors, further aggravate these deprivations.

Stunting and Wasting

A 2022 survey conducted by the Ministry of Health reveals that, in Indonesia, one in 12 children aged less than 5 five is wasted. Additionally, one in five is stunted. Stunting and wasting are two major nutritional problems Indonesian children face that need to be detected and treated.

Wasted children have skinny appearances, are low in weight and have small upper arm circumference. It stems from poor nutritional intake, low food quality and frequent illness in children. Out of all problems with malnutrition, wasting has the highest risk of death. The mortality risk for wasted children is 12 times more likely than for children with adequate nutrition.

Stunting, on the other hand, develops in a short period and is often a sign of chronic malnutrition. Stunted children are relatively shorter than those around them. A child becomes at risk of stunting when they are malnourished from pregnancy until the child is 2 years old or has lived 1,000 days of life.

Wasting and stunting often correlate, with both problems having the same risk factors and one condition making the other worse. When left untreated, wasted children are three times more likely to develop stunting and stunted children are 1.5 times more likely to become wasted. Child mortality rates also increase when they experience both stunting and wasting at the same time, which many children in Indonesia do.

The first two years of a child’s life are the best time to prevent both problems; however, if preventative measures fail, health workers must give immediate care and treatment to ensure the child’s survival.

Maternal Nutrition

Maternal nutrition also contributes to malnutrition, as many micronutrient deficiencies start with the mother. It begins from preconception and continues to adolescence. Indonesia has a high rate of maternal malnutrition alongside high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. According to a malnutrition report published by UNICEF in 2018, one in two pregnant women is anemic, one in six is thin and one in three is short stature.

Indonesia’s government has been working hard to implement programs to combat malnutrition. Programs include postpartum vitamin A supplementation, supplementary feeding for undernourished pregnant women, nutrition education and counseling.

Obesity

The final major malnutrition problem faced by Indonesia is obesity. According to the Indonesia Health survey and the Family Life survey, the number of overweight adults in Indonesia has doubled in the past two decades. One in five school-age children is affected by obesity and overweight and obesity are among the top five death risk factors.

Genetics play a role; however, unhealthy diets and insufficient exercise are the primary causes. Individuals consume more calories than required and their bodies store them as excess fat. The high availability of unhealthy foods in schools and a sedentary lifestyle using phones and TV do not mix well regarding health.

Free Meals

Although combating malnutrition may seem challenging, Indonesia has made much progress. On Jan. 6, Indonesia’s President, Prabowo Subianto, launched a multibillion-dollar program to provide free meals to more than a quarter of Indonesian citizens, feeding around 570,000 on its opening day. This ambitious free meal program was the center of Subianto’s election campaign. However, it had no official launch date. The program initially involved only 190 kitchens that prepped meals for school children and pregnant women in no more than 20 provinces.

Subianto has big targets for the program and hopes that by 2029, 82.9 million of the country’s total 280 million will be reached and helped. The government and military will help prepare and distribute meals and the number of meal recipients hopes to increase to 3 million by March of this year, according to Dedek Prayudi, a spokesperson for the President’s office.

Spokespeople from the Office of the President have said that President Prabowo Subianto is considering ways to reach nearly 83 million of Indonesia’s population by the end of 2025, much earlier than the initial target of 2029. Subianto also stated that the program aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21.5% of Indonesian children younger than 5 and would raise farmers’ income. He hopes to develop the nation’s human resources so that they can achieve a “Golden Indonesia” by 2045.

Slow Progress

The government aims to reach 19.5 million schoolchildren and pregnant women in 2025. The budget is set at $4.3 billion to keep the annual deficit under a legislated ceiling of 3% of GDP. According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, the national stunting prevalence was 21.5%, down around 0.8% from the previous year.  Although some progress has been made, it is still slow. The Indonesian government hopes this program will speed up the success rate in lowering the rate of malnourishment. So far, feedback has been positive.

Catharina Yenny Indratno, the principal of an elementary school in East Jakarta, said there had been a positive response from families and students. “Our children don’t really bring their own food from home. Their parents come from mid-low income, so their pocket money is small,” she said. She said, “With this program, it’s very good because they’ll have enough nutrients.” Parents also welcomed the program, as it helps reduce their daily burdens. One parent in West Jakarta stated: “Thank God, this helps us.”

MUFPP Community

Indonesia has also implemented other policies to combat malnutrition, including active participation in the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) community. The MUFPP has collaborated with 15 cities in Indonesia to support the implementation of school meal programs. The Milan Pact is firmly committed to supporting the Indonesian government’s mission of implementing school meal programs via advocacy and facilitating learning exchange sharing. This is done with ASEAN, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Indonesia still has a long way to go regarding combating malnutrition. However, developing this new program, alongside other policies the government is undertaking, will help reduce the problem massively.

– Ayat Aslam

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Malnutrition in South Sudan

Malnutrition in South SudanSouth Sudan is believed to have one of the highest malnutrition rates among children, with an unsettling rate of 1.4 million. This problem extends to adults, as shown by the estimation that 7.8 million adults face food insecurity at some level. What makes the situation in South Sudan unique is that these are the highest levels of malnutrition in its history, making the nation a top priority for global aid agencies in the past years.

About Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a serious issue directly correlated to extreme poverty, making access to basic necessities like food essential when supporting developing nations. Tremendous steps have been taken in the global fight against malnutrition, largely driven by foreign aid. Foreign aid enables developing countries to invest in sustainable agriculture, ensuring food security until they can establish self-sustaining systems.

Efforts to combat malnutrition often start with direct food assistance, followed by investments in sustainable agriculture. While this approach is generally effective, some countries face external challenges that hinder progress, such as natural disasters and conflicts, which disrupt food production and distribution.

What Makes South Sudan’s Situation Different

South Sudan faces external challenges that complicate the fight against malnutrition, with one of the primary issues being widespread flooding. The region has endured severe flooding for several years, resulting in extensive damage. Areas affected by these floods often experience high levels of malnutrition.

The flooding hampers foreign aid efforts by preventing resources from reaching certain areas. For malnutrition, the issue lies in the inability of crops to produce sufficient yields. The combination of these problems makes the whole situation much harder to control. Another thing making things harder for South Sudan is the recent war. War has displaced millions of people in South Sudan, making the problem harder to track and keep control over.

Organizations Helping

The combined efforts of major organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have helped with damage control. WFP has supported more than 600,000 people in South Sudan with fortified biscuits, cash transfers and nutrition support for children and mothers.

Similarly, UNICEF has responded to the needs of people affected and displaced by floods by providing them with basic supplies, such as soap, drugs and education materials. The organization has also strengthened local communities’ flood resilience and preparedness efforts, “including pre-positioning supplies during the dry season when roads are still accessible.”

Conclusion

Addressing malnutrition in South Sudan requires sustained international support and innovative solutions to overcome the country’s unique challenges. While foreign aid and humanitarian organizations have played a crucial role in providing immediate relief, long-term strategies such as improving flood resilience, strengthening food security and restoring stability remain essential. As South Sudan continues to face the highest malnutrition rates in its history, ongoing global efforts will be vital in ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary resources to survive and build a more sustainable future.

– Kaleb Monteith

Kaleb is based in Greeley, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Sunny Days: Renewable Energy in Zimbabwe

Renewable Energy in ZimbabweAggressively changing weather patterns intensified the El Niño season in 2024, bringing a period of drought to the country of Zimbabwe. Already one of the countries susceptible to agricultural hardships, Zimbabwe is especially affected, making food security a top concern among the country’s leaders. The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka, urged immediate action and intervention in an attempt to prevent further hunger due to crop loss, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Looking at current initiatives for the future, it is evident that renewable energy in Zimbabwe is a preferred method for addressing the dilemma of agricultural struggles.

How Renewable Energy in Zimbabwe Can Address Hunger

The fight against the looming hunger and poverty crisis begins with the calculated cultivation and preservation of integral crops. FAO reports the most recent drought has shown a 77% reduction in cereal crops; 26% in soybeans, 74% in cotton and 89% in sunflowers. Stover, a primary source of livestock diet, is also suffering a sharp dip in growth thanks to the dry El Niño season. To combat the challenges that the drought brought on, Zimbabwe is focusing on a renewable energy-reliant future, which offers a hopeful solution for long-term success.

The plans took shape in March 2024 when the United Nations announced a partnership with the Zimbabwean government, focusing resources on renewable energy solutions and establishing the Renewable Energy Fund. Mr. Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator associated with the program, observed that putting resources into renewable energy in Zimbabwe would not only protect the environment, but it would also create jobs and instigate economic development. With an initial investment of $45 million USD, the country set the precedent that it is serious about being proactive in improving its economic and environmental future. As the partnership moves forward, one area of focus seems to stand above the rest: solar power.

Solar Power Initiatives in Zimbabwe

According to the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), Zimbabwe receives plenty of solar irradiation each day and 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Solar grids running off of this energy accumulation will allow for refrigeration, lighting, device charging and more. This will not only allow the extended storage of cultivated crops, but it will also provide opportunities for ongoing education, which then compounds the improvement of the agricultural system. Improvements have already occurred in many areas across the country. 

Ongoing efforts in the town of Gwanda exemplify solar power as a tangible solution in the dilemma of crop loss. Prior to current initiatives, defunct irrigation systems were not being maintained, leaving them inoperable. To make matters worse, the farmers were not educated in the storage and distribution of water for crop management. Practical Action, an international development organization working in Zimbabwe since 2011, found success through an active project that involves installing solar-powered water pumps. This new tool has allowed farmers to cultivate more land, effectively stabilizing the food supply.

With extra cultivation capabilities, the farmers are able to produce enough crops to feed themselves as well as selling the excess. Along with training farmers in water conservation techniques, Practical Action also provides education on maintenance processes, allowing them to keep the solar-powered water pumps working well into the future. An added bonus is that a solar-powered mini-grid, that can also provide electricity for schools, hospitals and businesses as the community develops, energizes these water pumps.

Looking Ahead

Though the future seems straightforward, there are still obstacles to overcome. According to the AECF, projects similar to these tend to lack the project financing needed to get the ball rolling. When they do make it past this first hurdle, their steam tends to dissipate due to improperly focused investments paired with minimal skills in maintenance.

However, with Zimbabwe’s newly refocused emphasis on energy stability and allocated funds dedicated to long-term success, the country has the opportunity to truly shine in its agricultural and economic progress. With broad opportunities for renewable energy in Zimbabwe including solar, wind and biomass power, this developing country has ample resources and the definitive tools that will allow it to overcome its agricultural obstacles and enter a brighter future. 

– Jacob Christopher

Jacob is based in Granite Falls, NC, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How the WFP Is Supporting Food Systems in Ukraine

eFood Systems in UkraineEntering 2025, one of the largest questions facing the West is how much more aid is going to be sent to Ukraine, as while the U.K. and other European states have remained steadfast in their support for Kiev, America’s change in administration has presented fresh uncertainty regarding Ukraine’s future support. For nearly three years now, Ukraine has relied on Western aid as a lifeblood in its defense against Russia’s invasion. However, President-elect Trump has made no hard promises to continue this policy. Ukraine is at risk of losing its largest financial and military donor at a crucial stage in this conflict.

For Ukrainians directly impacted by this war, the situation looks increasingly bleak as almost 4 million internally displaced refugees are still in need of humanitarian assistance since this conflict destroyed their homes and livelihoods. However, thanks to the World Food Programme (WFP), a sustainable method of delivering aid has helped streamline deliverance of humanitarian aid. This streamlining has helped maintain food systems in Ukraine and protect the increasing amount of refugees from food insecurity.

Ukraine: An Agricultural Superpower

Often referred to as “the Breadbasket of Europe,” Ukraine has a rich history as an agricultural superpower. Its fertile soil and flat ground create some of the best land on earth for farming, and have allowed Ukraine to become one of the largest exporters of grain in the world, making Ukrainian culture synonymous with the agricultural industry. But when Russia invaded in 2022, there were interruptions in exports of grain. The country’s major outlets in the Black Sea were either captured by the Russian army or blockaded by its navy. The actions significantly disrupted the food systems in Ukraine.

According to the Centre For Strategic & International Studies, 90% of Ukraine’s 60 million metric tons in food exports came from Black sea ports before the war, hence why the Russians were so quick to extinguish this economic asset. This not only had a catastrophic effect on global food prices, which rose by 13% at the war’s outset, but threatens the livelihood of thousands of farmers who have depended on Ukraine’s exports of grain for generations.

While there was some hope in 2023 when Russia, Ukraine and Turkey agreed on a shipping corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, allowing exports to return close to their pre-war numbers, this agreement has since been violated by the Russian Navy, as the Kremlin continues to squeeze Ukraine’s ability to economically fund its defense. So, while Ukraine has sought to export its produce through other means, such as through overland borders via solidarity trade routes that the EU has drawn out, Ukrainian rural communities have perhaps had the largest indirect impact since the start of the war. 

WFP’s Work to Address Food Systems in Ukraine

Traditionally, the humanitarian aid that the WFP has given out has come from a range of sources, such as the international market and regional assets. But since the start of the war, the WFP has adjusted its tactics so that 82% of the resources going to Ukraine are sourced locally. Not only has this ensured that the millions of internally displaced refugees are not food insecure, but it has meant that rural communities get an injection of $1.3 billion into the economy. Additionally, these communities are able to survive the economic hardships attached to a Russian trade embargo. This ensures the future of the Ukrainian rural economy not only survives but can also recover quickly after the conflict ends.

By sourcing products locally, it reduces the need to transport large amounts of aid from other major exporting nations such as the U.S. or China. Not only does this cut down on costs that can be reinvested into further aid, but it also cuts down on the country’s carbon footprint, as trucks and trains can be used instead of large cargo planes that emit thousands of metric tons of carbon over multiple flights. The food undergoes distribution through the Ukrainian Government, either through the Ministry of Education and providing free school meals that help protect Ukraine’s future generations, or by helping coordinate emergency telecommunication services for quick action response.

Other Initiatives

The WFP is further helping rural communities by removing mines in the Kharkiv region, an area that the conflict has disproportionately affected. By engaging with rural communities, the WFP has been able to both clear mines, and teach proper mine clearance techniques that can be distributed to the rural community, ensuring the risk to food systems in Ukraine is reduced and Ukrainian farmers have protection from collateral damage. As well as sourcing locally, the WFP can create a sustainable economy, as well as a more sustainable environment.

Replicating WFP’s Work in Other Countries

This model of sourcing aid locally is not always easy to replicate in other areas of food deprivation. Ukraine is a uniquely fertile country. As a net exporter, the country is less reliant on foreign imports for food security than other nations with lower agricultural output. A country such as Sudan, which is currently in the midst of a full scale civil war, has had a history of food insecurity before the conflict began, so it’s unrealistic that more than 80% of aid can be sourced from local producers.

Equally, the WFP has limited access to certain areas in need of humanitarian aid, so purchasing locally becomes near impossible. Afghanistan, for example, has an estimated 14.8 million people living without food security, yet the WFP is powerless to help due to the isolationist policies the Taliban government is currently undergoing. However, the WFP has proven that streamlining the deliverance of aid with local produce can create sustainable benefits that can establish long term growth for local food systems. 

Looking Ahead

With local producers sourcing just above 40% of global aid, there is definitely room for improvement as the multiple benefits speak for itself. The same model currently being used in Ukraine can be replicated in other states struggling with significant numbers of refugees. Economic investment and food security are crucial to ensuring a nation can recover sustainably after a conflict. In an interview, one Ukrainian farmer said that “food security means national security,“ the WFP understands this, and by continuing to locally source its humanitarian aid, growth in the economy and national security can be accelerated and sustainably achieved in other nations facing conflict and abject poverty.

– Caspian Davies

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

Photo: Flickr

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Malnutrition in Madagascar

malnutrition in madagascarMadagascar is a large, rural island country and has a relatively young population, with 41% of citizens aged 15 years and under. The predominant public health issue in Madagascar is malnutrition, with the region fourth highest in the world in terms of its rates of chronic malnutrition. Approximately 50% of the Madagascan population has stunted growth, a key indicator of chronic malnutrition.

Natural Disasters and Malnutrition

Madagascar is highly susceptible to extreme weather patterns, with an average of three natural disasters per year occurring, according to USAID. Studies indicate that natural disasters impact approximately 5 million people, with a further 8.8 million facing food insecurity. Natural disasters cause flooding, spread disease, and are one of the key precipitators of malnutrition in Madagascar, USAID reports.

Recently in 2022, Madagascar experienced two life-threatening cyclones – Batsirai and Emnati – which decimated infrastructure and destroyed crops through wind and flooding which significantly diminished living conditions The Batsirai and Emnati cyclones wiped out crops through high winds and devastating floods, with the majority of crops destroyed in areas hit by the cyclones. This significantly reduced the accessibility, availability and capacity of agricultural fields, food supply and production, resulting in food insecurity and malnutrition.

Floods also cause a spike in diarrheal infections as they increase the frequency of water parasites, according to Harvard T.H. Chan. Contamination of rivers as a result of flooding means that infections such as diarrhea and malaria are highly prevalent amongst rural populations, contributing to malnutrition as people do not have the resources to eat well following infection. In 2022 alone, 19,195 children aged 5 years and under were malnourished in Madagascar, according to Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF).

Frequent Disruption of Agriculture

Natural disasters in Madagascar are recurring, and so is malnutrition. The frequent disruption of agricultural fields and contamination of water culminates in extreme hunger, with very few people able to access hospitals or obtain medicine.

In the South of Madagascar, 340,000 children could be experiencing malnutrition in some form as a result of extreme drought. Precipitation in Southern Madagascar has been decreasing for the last two decades and researchers have predicted that drought will continue to increase in intensity, duration and rate of occurrence, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The constant lack of rainfall has disastrous implications on agriculture and food supply, with dried-out fields and vegetables common. The U.N. has found that many people have adopted coping mechanisms to subsist the drought, such as selling assets, cattle and houses in exchange for food and resources. According to UNICEF, 115,000 children in the Southeastern areas of Madagascar have acute malnutrition and require treatment.

Effects of Malnutrition

After 24 months of chronic malnutrition, the physical and psychological implications are irreversible. The effects of malnutrition on children include stunted growth, anemia, cognitive impairment and depleted resistance to disease. These effects are prolonged and will impact affected people for life, such as depleting the ability to concentrate and having a low height for their age. Those struggling with malnutrition may also have low energy levels, making it more difficult to attend school or work. As a result, their life prosperity is impaired and their already limited access to opportunity is limited further.

Fighting Malnutrition in Madagascar

The World Food Program (WFP) is helping to alleviate malnutrition in Madagascar through a series of support programs. Namely, the WFP supplies emergency food assistance to those who have experienced crises such as natural disasters like flooding and drought. It functions in the South and Southeast of Madagascar and aims to promote community building and help people prepare for emergencies.

To support regions vulnerable to natural disasters, the WFP provides short-cycle farming activities, cash transfers and disaster-resistant seed. The organization also distributes climate-related warnings to inform people of how and when to respond to natural disasters.

Additionally, the WFP offers technical and practical training and workshops that enhance the capabilities of communities across the country. It also issues national authorities with equipment to help in the event of an emergency. These schemes help to prepare communities for likely natural disasters so that they have the resources to survive and be properly nourished following climate changes such as floods and drought. In doing so, measures are in place to prevent malnutrition caused by natural disasters.

The WFP also supplies nutritional information and support to 42,000 children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women through the MIARO approach. This aims to act as a preventive measure for malnutrition, as the project offers feeding and activities that educate on market gardening and nutrition. This project strives to enhance community knowledge, access and availability of nourishing food and ameliorate malnutrition.

– Ella Dorman

Ella is based in Worcestershire, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr