Archive for category: Food & Hunger

Information and stories on food.

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Boosting Food Security: The Golden Yolk Project in the Bahamas

The Golden Yolk ProjectThe Bahamas, an island country situated in the Atlantic Ocean, comprises approximately 700 islands and has a population of 399,440 as of 2023. With a tropical climate all year round due to the Gulf Stream, the Bahamas’ population continues to suffer from food malnutrition. The Golden Yolk Project initiative involves increasing sustainable egg production, boosting food security, decreasing malnutrition rates and improving employability rates in the country. It is a government-invested scheme which targets lower-middle-income families across the Bahamas.

Malnutrition Across the Bahamas

A very small number of the food consumed in the Bahamas is naturally grown and produced across the region, meaning the population is highly reliant on imported food sources. According to the Global Nutrition Report, obesity rates across the Bahamas are considerably high, with 41% of women (above the age of 18) and 27.4% of men living with obesity. According to the International Trade Administration, the Bahamas imports almost 90% of its food, totaling around $1 billion a year.

These include meat, beef, dairy, eggs, fruit, vegetable juices and oil products. These foods are highly processed and have led to unhealthy dietary challenges. Due to rising and fluctuating prices of imported food, low- and middle-income families are facing food insecurity. Hands for Hunger reports that one in 10 people in the Bahamas lives below the poverty line and experiences extreme food insecurity.

The Golden Yolk Project

Hon. Clay Sweeting (former Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs) launched an egg production project in February 2023. The initiative aims to boost egg production across the Bahamas so the country can achieve sustainable and affordable access to food. According to the Regional Statistics Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Government of the Bahamas invested more than $15 million in the project to:

  • Boost annual egg production and restrict imported eggs
  • Reduce malnutrition rates
  • Provide employability opportunities
  • Increase agricultural production rates through new infrastructural development

Ongoing Work/Targets

  • Implementation Across Islands: The project will be carried out on 12 islands in the Bahamas: Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini, Berry Island Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma, Cat Island, San Salvador, Long Island, Ragged Island and Inagua.
  • Job Creation: The project will create a total of 90 jobs, 51 of which will be across the islands.
  • Construction of a New Feed Mill: The government will finance a new state-of-the-art feed mill. A feed mill is a series of machines that use grains to produce nutritional animal feed for different animals.
  • Supportive Environment for Farmers: The government will contract the facility to farms, which will be required to sell eggs to different distributors in the Bahamas.
  • Increase in Egg Production: According to CARICOM, officials say the project will produce 13 million eggs annually across the islands while providing technical support and resources to farmers contracted to manage the facility.

Looking Forward

Malnutrition across the Bahamas remains an ongoing issue, particularly for low- and middle-income families experiencing fluctuating prices for imported food products. Obesity is also a visible problem across the country. Effective solutions, such as the Golden Yolk Project, will facilitate sustainable food production with newly funded technical equipment to enhance food security and reduce malnutrition across the Bahamas.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs told The Tribune Business that the goal is to raise egg production to 28 million from 700,000 per year once the project becomes operational.

– Zara Ashraf

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

Photo: Unsplash

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How Landmine Clearance and Food Security

How Landmine Clearance and Food Security Support Development in IndonesiaLandmines, cluster munitions and improvised explosive devices continue to threaten civilian lives and block economic progress long after conflicts end, making land unsafe for farming, travel or everyday life. These explosive remnants of war can lie hidden for decades and prevent people from safely accessing land for food production, shelter or infrastructure. They are one reason communities often cannot rebuild after conflict. At least 58 states and territories remain contaminated by these explosive hazards — 29 with cluster munition remnants and more than 60 with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) — endangering millions of people and limiting economic opportunities.

Because contaminated land is unsafe, farmers often cannot grow food where they once did, which reduces food production and household income and slows community recovery. This weakens food security and forces families to rely on outside support instead of producing their own food. Mine clearance makes land safe again so families can plant crops, raise animals and support their own food supplies — a key part of strengthening landmine clearance and food security and promoting long-term community well-being.

Clearing Land for Food and Growth

Mine action — the process of surveying, mapping, detecting and removing landmines and explosive remnants of war — does more than save lives. As teams clear contaminated land and certify it safe, farmers can return to productive use, reinforcing landmine clearance and food security. This work also supports broader improvements such as irrigation systems, water access points and improved roads, which help sustain agricultural productivity and support community development.

Clearing landmines also reopens roads and paths that were once too dangerous to use, allowing children to go to school, families to access health care and goods to be traded at markets. Safe infrastructure supports local economies and helps communities rebuild and connect with broader development opportunities.

Indonesia’s Role in Mine Action and Food Security

Indonesia frames mine action as both a humanitarian obligation and a development priority, particularly through its participation in international disarmament and peacebuilding frameworks. As a state party to the Ottawa Treaty, also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Indonesia links mine action to civilian protection, post-conflict recovery and long-term development, including food security.

While Indonesia is not among the most heavily contaminated countries, it plays a role in international mine action assistance through peacekeeping operations, South-South cooperation and regional leadership in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia has also expressed concern about the growing global threat posed by explosive remnants of war, particularly as climate change increases flooding and extreme weather, causing unexploded ordnance to move into previously cleared agricultural areas. These risks further undermine food production in climate-vulnerable regions and highlight the need for sustained international cooperation and innovation in mine action.

The Importance of Funding for Mine Action

Funding is essential for mine action because clearing landmines and supporting affected communities requires long-term investment. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) receives support through assessed contributions when mine action is part of peacekeeping or other United Nations missions and through extra-budgetary resources provided by member states to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action. The fund helps finance surveys, clearance, risk education and victim assistance.

Indonesia has repeatedly warned within the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly that declining voluntary funding threatens the sustainability of mine action programs worldwide, especially as global military expenditures continue to rise. Continued funding is needed to sustain clearance operations, support survivors, expand risk education and integrate mine action with broader humanitarian and development programming.

Indonesia and International Support

Indonesia supports international efforts to remove landmines and participates in global frameworks that encourage civilian protection and post-conflict recovery. Agreements such as the Mine Ban Treaty have led to widespread destruction of landmines and mobilized international cooperation to help countries and communities address contamination, including through risk education and assistance to survivors.

Mine action is not only about physical clearance. It also includes risk education, which teaches people how to recognize and avoid explosive hazards, and victim assistance, which helps those injured regain independence and participate in community life. These programs help communities rebuild confidence, participate in economic activity and focus on education and work rather than fear of unexploded weapons, though challenges remain as some regions recover more slowly.

Food Security and the Future

The relationship between landmine clearance and food security plays a critical role in helping communities rebuild after conflict and invest in long-term development. When land is cleared of explosive hazards, farmers can grow more food, households can invest in farming and other income-producing activities and communities can reduce poverty. Safe land also encourages investment in infrastructure such as irrigation, roads and local markets, strengthening resilience in agricultural communities and fostering economic growth.

Indonesia emphasizes that mine action directly supports global development goals such as ending hunger (SDG 2), promoting peace (SDG 16) and improving human security. Although progress can be uneven across regions, continued international support and cooperation help mine action reach more people, make communities safer and contribute to long-term development outcomes in Indonesia and around the world.

– Anaisha Kundu

Anaisha is based in Skillman, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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From Rice to Resilience: Food Systems in Laos

Food Systems in LaosAs the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) moves into the latter half of the 2020s, climate volatility, demographic growth and a rural development model anchored in subsistence agriculture are pushing food systems in Laos to a turning point. Though the country has achieved measurable progress in reducing absolute poverty and stimulating macroeconomic growth, the deeper transformation required for food system resilience remains elusive. In particular, the interconnected challenges of infrastructural isolation, market inaccessibility and nutritional insecurity continue to delimit the horizons of sustainable rural development.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that more than 7.5 million people live across more than 10,000 villages, many of them in topographically complex and infrastructurally marginal zones. Geography shapes food security in practical, immediate ways. As farmers increasingly experience “unpredictable weather patterns that affect their crops and livelihoods,” Laotians often depend on seasonal conditions to move food, farm inputs and essential services. As a result, households secure food not only through production or income, but through roads, rivers and rainfall.

A Rice-Based Rural Economy 

Most Laotians still depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, and rice remains both a cultural staple and the foundation of daily diets. The UN Common Country Analysis notes that the nation’s agricultural sector is “predominantly subsistence and rice-based.” This singular dependence creates vulnerabilities. When households and districts depend on a monocultural system, they reduce dietary diversity and weaken ecological resilience, which leaves rural communities more exposed to nutritional shortfalls and environmental shocks.

To supplement rice-based diets, many households gather forest products, cultivate home gardens and raise small-scale livestock or fish farming. These practices often improve nutrition, but environmental degradation, resource scarcity and changing weather patterns can quickly undermine them. National planning also tends to overlook these systems, and the poorest or most remote communities often cannot reap their benefits.

The Confluence of Changing Weather and Demographic Growth

Despite its economic momentum, Laos continues to struggle with entrenched food insecurity. Roughly one-third of children under five experience stunting. Demographic change will likely intensify these pressures: projections suggest the population will reach 9 million by 2035, increasing demand for land, water and food. 

Therefore, food systems in Laos face a distribution challenge as much as a production challenge. The country must deliver food reliably and affordably throughout the year, not merely grow more of it. Rising input costs, deteriorating soil quality and climate-induced variability in rainfall are already placing new strains on production, storage and distribution networks. Limited infrastructure exacerbates these stresses and turns climate shocks into prolonged disruptions.

Poverty and Market Disconnection

Food insecurity in Laos is strongly correlated with rural poverty and spatial exclusion. WFP estimates that 18% of the population lives on less than $1.25 USD per day, while the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) highlights the persistence of multidimensional poverty in the country’s mountainous north and east. In regions where roads are impassable for months at a time, where agricultural extension services are non-existent, and where markets are distant or unresponsive, households face a compound disadvantage. When crops fail or prices spike, these communities have few alternatives and limited buffers to absorb shocks.

Even as national poverty rates have declined, geographic inequality remains a defining feature of rural life. Almost one-third of rural Laotians are considered multidimensionally poor, with food insecurity operating as both a cause and a consequence of that deprivation.

Toward Integrated and Adaptive Food Systems

In response to these structural challenges, the Lao government and international development agencies have begun advancing a more integrated approach to food system resilience. Rather than treating agriculture, nutrition and infrastructure as discrete policy domains, current strategies increasingly view them as interdependent elements within a broader development framework.

Two initiatives that IFAD supports exemplify this systemic orientation:

  • Agriculture for Nutrition Phase II ($48.3 million USD): This is a multi-pronged initiative focused on enhancing household nutrition through diversified production and income generation.
  • Partnerships for Irrigation and Smallholder Agriculture ($166.27 million USD): It aims to strengthen irrigation networks, value chain linkages and climate-resilient farming practices.

Both initiatives depart from conventional aid models by recognizing that food security cannot be resolved in silos. Instead, they promote structural enablers such as market access, climate-smart agriculture and inclusive governance that can buttress systemic resilience.

Looking Ahead

Food systems in Laos capture many food security challenges that landlocked and climate-exposed countries across the Global South now face. The food system remains deeply local, rooted in subsistence farming and traditional ecological knowledge, while at the same time highly exposed to global market fluctuations and reliant on external aid.

The imperative now is to construct a food system that is not only productive, but adaptive. This requires all-weather infrastructure, diversified production systems and governance mechanisms that extend beyond national averages to address subnational disparities. It also necessitates a reorientation of food security policy from the distribution of calories to the cultivation of resilience.

– Lola Chambers

Lola is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Malnutrition and Poverty in India

Malnutrition and Poverty in IndiaIn Delhi’s crowded Seemapuri settlement, 32-year-old Savitri Devi begins each morning wondering whether she can feed her children more than one meal that day. “Sometimes we just eat rice and salt,” she says quietly. “I tell my daughter to drink water so she won’t feel hungry.”

For families like Savitri’s, malnutrition is not just a health crisis; it’s a poverty trap that limits learning, weakens productivity and keeps entire communities from escaping hardship. The issue of malnutrition and poverty in India remains deeply intertwined, particularly in urban slums where wages are low and food prices rise faster than incomes.

The Cycle of Poverty and Malnutrition in India

The world’s highest concentration of undernourished people is found in India. The Global Hunger Index 2025 states that 32.9% of children under 5 in India are stunted and 12% of the country’s population is undernourished. This crisis is made worse in Delhi’s urban slums by overcrowding, contaminated water and inconsistent incomes.

Daily-wage families frequently rely on the least expensive, high-calorie foods that are deficient in vital nutrients to make ends meet. Poor nutrition harms both economic and educational outcomes. Malnourished children are more likely to experience cognitive delays, poorer academic performance and lower adult incomes.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, chronic malnutrition can result in decreased productivity and lower a nation’s GDP by 2-4%.

A Mother’s Struggle in Delhi

The connection between food and survival is painfully obvious to Savitri, who sells plastic bottles gathered from trash heaps. “I can’t work if I get sick. We don’t eat if I’m not working,” she says. Similar experiences are shared by many Seemapuri women who juggle taking care of malnourished children while working long hours in informal jobs.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 24% of children under 5 in South Delhi are underweight and 27% are stunted. These figures underscore the severity of nutritional inequality, even in India’s affluent capital.

Government Efforts: ICDS and PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Through Anganwadi centers, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program remains India’s premier nutrition initiative, providing food, health examinations and preschool education. The Delhi government operates more than 10,000 centers serving children and pregnant women. Savitri states, “My daughter receives one hot meal per day from the Anganwadi, but occasionally they close early or run out of supplies.”

Delivery irregularities and infrastructure gaps continue to impact the access of the most impoverished families. More than 800 million people received 5 kg of food grains per person per month through the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This lifeline helped Savitri’s family and many other urban low-income families avoid hunger.

She remembers: “We got rice from the ration shop during those months.” “At least there was something, even though it wasn’t enough.” Under the National Food Security Act, the government continues to distribute free food grains, even though PMGKAY ended in 2023.

Why Nutrition Is an Economic Investment

Malnutrition and poverty in India deplete public resources as well as human potential. According to the World Bank, increased productivity and lower health care costs can result in up to $16 in economic returns for every $1 invested in nutrition. Women who eat healthily are more likely to keep steady jobs and take better care of their families.

Better nutrition could lower health care costs, increase work participation and improve school attendance in Delhi’s informal settlements. The nutritional status of the city’s most vulnerable communities can be improved by enhancing maternal education, ensuring consistent food supply chains and strengthening local Anganwadi infrastructure. India’s poverty and malnutrition problems demonstrate that investing in nutrition is a prudent financial decision, rather than a charitable endeavor.

Breaking the Cycle

More than just distributing food is needed to end malnutrition; social inclusion and accountability are also necessary. “Perhaps they would understand if officials came and asked us what we really need,” Savitri says. Community participation through local monitoring committees and women’s groups can help ensure that programs respond to lived realities rather than relying solely on statistics.

The cycle of poverty can start to end when individuals, governments and nongovernmental organizations collaborate to make nutrition a key component of development. Appropriate nutrition is not charity for the millions of people living on the margins in Delhi; rather, it is a basis for growth, opportunity and dignity. 

– Chhahat Kaur Gandhi

Chhahat is based in New Delhi, India and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Improved Food Security in the Sahel

Food Security in the SahelThe Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa are grappling with severe challenges, including poverty, food insecurity and the impacts of the changing climate. More than 300 million individuals endure chronic hunger, as agricultural systems struggle under soil degradation, unpredictable rainfall patterns and excessive dependence on basic staple crops. Launched in 2023 by the U.S. Department of State alongside the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) serves as a framework to bolster food systems through an emphasis on crops resilient to climate change and eco-friendly soil practices.

VACS addresses the demand for varied, nutrient-packed farming that can endure ecological disruptions while enhancing livelihoods in rural areas. The program highlights “opportunity crops” — resilient yet underused varieties such as millets, sorghum and cowpeas — alongside efforts to rehabilitate depleted soils. This evidence-based approach seeks to interrupt ongoing patterns of poverty and malnutrition across the region. By combining climate adaptation strategies, nutritional safeguards and farmer empowerment, VACS delivers a roadmap for enduring agricultural progress in at-risk populations, ultimately contributing to improved food security in the Sahel.

Exploring the VACS Initiative

VACS functions as a multilateral trust fund integrated within the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) Rural Resilience Program (2RP). It consolidates climate financing, adaptation resources and development funds into a comprehensive strategy designed specifically for small-scale farmers. Four primary strategies guide VACS:

First, the promotion of crop diversity to enhance climate resilience addresses Africa’s dependence on a limited range of staple crops such as maize, rice and wheat, which are susceptible to environmental stress. VACS advocates for cultivating underutilized indigenous crops such as fonio and teff, which thrive in arid conditions and offer strong nutritional benefits. Although research and policy have historically neglected these crops, they hold significant potential for improving food security in the Sahel.

Second, restoring soils and adopting sustainable land management practices address Africa’s widespread soil erosion challenges. More than 65% of the continent’s soils are degraded, leading to productivity declines of up to 30%.

VACS supports restorative practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry and the use of natural soil amendments to enhance water retention, nutrient content and long-term sustainability.

Third, empowering farmers and establishing knowledge networks ensures that smallholders have access to essential resources and education for climate-smart agriculture. VACS strengthens community-based seed systems, provides training on climate-adaptive farming techniques and improves financial access, facilitating transitions to more resilient agricultural practices.

Finally, developing markets for opportunity crops ensures economic incentives for farmers to cultivate adapted varieties. By connecting smallholders with buyers such as school meal programs and expanding access to local and international markets, VACS enhances income stability and promotes economic growth in rural areas.

VACS’s Impact on Breaking Cycles of Poverty and Hunger

In the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, food systems remain trapped in a damaging cycle: environmental disruptions reduce harvests, triggering shortages, undernutrition and financial instability. VACS intervenes by targeting the underlying sources of fragility. Nearly 40% of Sahelian children experience micronutrient deficiencies stemming from diets high in calories but low in nutrients.

VACS emphasizes nutrient-rich crops such as amaranth and pigeon peas, which provide iron, zinc and protein. Through diet diversification, the program addresses stunting, anemia and malnutrition, particularly among women and youth, contributing to improved food security in the Sahel.

Projections indicate that without intervention, climate change could reduce crop outputs by 20% by 2050.

VACS’s resilient crops, including drought-resistant sorghum and heat-tolerant millets, help shield smallholders from irregular weather. In Niger, where drought-prone rain-dependent farming prevails, those using mixed cropping have maintained consistent yields amid worsening climate conditions.

VACS also strengthens economic resilience by creating equitable supply chains for opportunity crops. The fonio supply network in West Africa, supported by entities such as Yolélé Foods, has generated employment, increased farmer earnings by as much as 30% and opened new export opportunities.

Soil health remains central to VACS’s strategy. Degraded soils reduce yields while worsening water scarcity and emissions. Through comprehensive soil nutrient strategies, including organic composting and eco-farming methods, VACS has demonstrated yield increases of up to 28% in pilot areas such as Ethiopia, further supporting food security in the Sahel.

Tools for digital soil analysis further support targeted farming by aligning actions with specific locations for optimal results.

Advancing VACS: Key Policies and Future Directions

Realizing VACS’s full potential requires coordinated action among governments, aid organizations and commercial entities. Increasing investment in climate-resilient agriculture remains essential. Currently, just 1.7% of global climate funding benefits smallholder farmers, limiting access to critical resources needed for sustainable practices.

Governments and international contributors should prioritize VACS-compatible initiatives in agricultural budgets and climate adaptation funds. Strengthening seed systems and advisory services will also accelerate adoption. Many opportunity crops lack improved seed varieties due to prolonged underfunding in crop research. Expanding research and development, alongside digital-based farmer education and collaborative learning, will help address this gap.

Emphasizing fair land tenure and gender equity remains vital. Women manage approximately 60% of African farms but often lack secure land rights, which restricts investment in long-term soil care. Legal reforms supporting equitable land ownership and targeted initiatives for women farmers are key to VACS’s success.

Private-sector involvement is also a key to success. Incentives such as tax reductions, subsidies and public-private partnerships can spur investment in processing and marketing opportunity crops. Examples such as Kenya’s “Super Porridge” program, which incorporates nutrient-rich crops into school meals, demonstrate how consumer demand can drive broader adoption.</span>

Embedding VACS within broader regional climate strategies will further amplify its impact. Alignment with initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 can strengthen collaboration on ecosystem restoration, nutrition security and poverty reduction, advancing food security in the Sahel.

Looking Ahead

VACS extends beyond technical fixes and represents a shift in agricultural development for climate-vulnerable regions. By integrating scientific research, policy coordination and community-driven action, the initiative outlines a pathway to disrupt cycles of poverty and hunger. With sustained commitment from governments, farmers and partners, VACS has the potential to strengthen resilience, improve nutrition and support long-term livelihoods across the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa.

– Christopher Pellant

Christopher is based in Evansville, IN, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Local2030 Islands Network: SDGs in Developing Island States

Local2030 Islands Network: Scaling up SDGs in Developing Island States The world’s small island territories and nations face unique development challenges and are collectively identified as Small Island Developing States by the United Nations (U.N.). These islands commonly experience high costs of living, limited financial opportunities, import dependence and climate vulnerability. Together, these factors create conditions for undiversified and vulnerable economies, contributing to high levels of poverty among island populations. With frequent climate hazards, these challenges become further exacerbated, disrupting both livelihoods and ecosystems that are essential for long-term island sustainability and income generation. The U.N. has emphasized the importance of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing island states, as these states are at the forefront of making sustainable transitions.

The Local2030 Islands Network

To help address these issues, the Local2030 Islands Network was developed as the first island-to-island network dedicated to locally scaling up the SDGs in developing island states. This network emphasizes implementing goals in ways that reflect the realities of individual island communities. Launched in 2019, the network facilitates cooperation between island governments, organizations and local leaders to scale up sustainable development. As of 2025, 28 island states have joined the network, and many more have engaged in planning efforts and identifying localized solutions. The network serves as a platform where islands can share experiences and best practices, identify local priorities and develop actionable plans.

With the network’s support, island members commit to four key objectives to help execute development agendas. These commitments include advancing political leadership to support climate resilience, strengthening public-private partnerships, transparently measuring SDG progress and implementing concrete initiatives that address local goals. The network also includes “communities of practice” (CoP) that focus on priority island-related issues such as sustainable income generation and climate resilience. These CoP serve as digital platforms that bring together experts, civil society members, stakeholders and community representatives to utilize a combination of technical assistance, Indigenous knowledge and modern technology to address multiple challenges and areas of focus.

Guam Green Growth Initiative

One of the network’s recently implemented projects is taking shape in Guam, a United States (U.S.) territory located in the western Pacific Ocean. Known as the Guam Green Growth Initiative (G3), it is part of the island’s 10-year plan for scaling up local SDGs. This plan includes a framework for addressing local goals related to creating circular economies, expanding opportunities in green jobs and building food system resilience.

Recent assessments of Guam’s poverty rate suggest that one in five residents live below the poverty line, a figure that is double that of the U.S.

As part of G3, decision-makers are combining conservation and economic opportunity to address this issue with long-term solutions, with efforts underway to transition the island to a diversified, circular economy that offers greater financial opportunities for residents. This work includes multiple skills development and job preparation programs, as well as efforts to enhance local cottage industries. One skills development program, known as the Conservation Corps, offers paid training for individuals to learn a wide range of skills within the green jobs sector, supporting the island’s transition to a green economy.

Additional programs support the development of small businesses and cottage industries. The G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub facilitates cottage industry growth by providing local entrepreneurs and businesses with access to specialized tools, technologies and training for sustainable business practices.

G3 also strengthens partnerships with local organizations, including Guam Unique Merchandise and Art, a local nonprofit that provides small businesses with training and grants to help them grow. This support creates additional small-business employment opportunities and reduces reliance on imported products.

Strengthening Food Security and Local Resilience

G3 promotes social and economic protections by enhancing local food security. Guam imports a large portion of its food, resulting in high prices and increased vulnerability to global supply shocks. G3 addresses this issue by supporting local agriculture, aquaculture and community garden projects. The G3 community gardens offer cost-efficient and sustainable solutions that promote local food security, contribute to food banks and support food access for vulnerable populations facing homelessness and poverty.

A focus on agriculture, aquaculture and aquaponics also contributes to food sovereignty and security in Guam. Through partnerships with local nonprofits such as Guåhan Sustainable Culture, G3 provides workforce development and resources for small-scale farmers.

Additionally, five aquaculture and aquaponics projects have been implemented on the island, providing resources for sustainable, year-round crop and fish production. Through educational initiatives, community members learn to manage these systems, building capacity for the expansion of local aquafarms.

Looking Ahead

The Guam Green Growth Initiative demonstrates how locally driven approaches can advance the SDGs in developing island states. By integrating economic diversification and sustainable food systems, Guam moves toward a more resilient future. As challenges persist for island communities, the Local2030 Islands Network continues to support initiatives such as G3, which offer lessons for other islands to replicate and adapt. Continued collaboration and locally based solutions remain vital to building sustainable futures for island communities.

– Quinlan Bohannon

Quinlan is based in Portland, OR, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Food Aid Theft Solutions

Food Aid Theft SolutionsFood aid theft is an issue with significant implications. It directly affects people in need who do not receive essential goods during critical times, worsening economic conditions and food insecurity. It also undermines trust among humanitarian organizations and can affect their funding levels. Repeated diversion of aid has been shown to lead to suspension of support, as seen in 2019 in Yemen. At that time, in the Yemeni capital, at least 10% of the World Food Programme’s (WFP) deliveries were diverted from people in need.

In some cases, this renders food aid less effective. For instance, in Yemen, despite increased levels of support in 2019, hunger persisted and even increased in some areas. However, innovative grassroots, structural or community-based initiatives have shown potential to reduce the problem in deeply affected places such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen.

Grassroots Initiatives

Action Against Hunger launched a grassroots campaign in Somalia by establishing community call centers to improve aid reporting measures. The approach helps track aid deliveries in areas affected by limited resources and conflict. Addressing these issues is essential because Action Against Hunger reports that limited road access and control of territory by non-state actors significantly contribute to aid diversion.

The organization hired and trained local volunteers in tracking and reporting aid deliveries. The team handles complaints and verification and also manages real-time crises. In 2023, the call center was alerted by community members about a cholera outbreak, allowing the organization to intervene immediately. In two years of operation, the call center has answered more than 30,000 calls regarding aid delivery verification, feedback on aid received and requests for emergency assistance. The calls are prepaid, meaning even people in remote regions can contact the center.

Structural Changes

A growing approach among humanitarian organizations is shifting from in-kind aid to direct financial assistance. According to the WFP, sending money is empowering because cash is often the most important asset during a disaster or crisis. It provides flexibility, allowing recipients to use it for food, medical bills, rent or school fees based on their needs. This has become an increasingly common practice. In 2023, the WFP sent about $2.8 billion to countries including Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan, directly supporting 51.6 million people.

The Poverty Action Lab, a research center founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professors, evaluated cash assistance positively. The organization reported that in Niger, financial support helped families eat more frequently. Delivery costs are relatively low, making this solution cost-effective. Their findings suggest that cash can improve economic conditions and have positive effects on mental well-being. For example, Afghan women who received cash transfers reported feeling happier and more confident about their economic situation. While the Poverty Action Lab notes the need for more research, it concludes that cash has a tangible, positive impact on food security. Provided an area has functioning markets, the organization suggests this type of assistance can support long-term stability by helping families build more secure futures.

Community Approaches

Community-based strategies are another of the solutions addressing food aid theft. Humanitarian organizations engage local residents in various ways, including empowerment projects in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and feedback desks in Sudan.

Omna Tigray, a nonprofit in Ethiopia, addresses food aid theft by involving residents in planning, implementing and monitoring food aid programs. The organization states that local engagement cultivates responsibility among community members. According to Omna Tigray, empowering residents helps identify and report aid diversion and strengthens relationships between donors and beneficiaries, which can be strained by theft. Community engagement is particularly important in a region where 5.4 million residents depend on aid deliveries.

Similar approaches have been implemented elsewhere, including feedback desks in refugee camps in Sudan established by World Vision. A committee of camp residents and World Vision staff selects and trains local volunteers who assist with reports and inquiries from camp residents. These desks help quickly address distribution issues and are recognized positively by locals. During a discussion session with World Vision staff, an anonymous female refugee said the “community help desk system is the best for food distribution.”

Looking Ahead

These various food aid theft solutions demonstrate multiple ways to address the issue. Ranging from grassroots initiatives to structural and community-based approaches, they show potential for reducing the problem. These measures have contributed to more equitable aid distribution in some areas. Furthermore, they have been positively received by local communities and researchers focused on food aid programs.

– Karol Hejduk

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

Photo: Flickr

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Being Poor in Afghanistan

Being Poor in AfghanistanImagine receiving the only nutritious meal of the day at school, or a mother finally having access to a skilled birth attendant after walking miles to reach a mobile health clinic. For millions of Afghans, these scenarios represent not just hope, but the tangible reality of one of the world’s most successful humanitarian responses.

Being poor in Afghanistan has reached unprecedented levels, with 64.9% of the population now living in multidimensional poverty and 85% surviving on less than one dollar per day. An estimated 15.8 million people face acute food insecurity, while 23.7 million people require humanitarian assistance to survive. Despite these overwhelming challenges and being poor in Afghanistan becoming increasingly widespread, international organizations created an unprecedented network of support that reached 22.4 million Afghans in 2024.

Revolutionary Food Programs Transform Lives

The World Food Programme (WFP) revolutionized food assistance in Afghanistan, reaching 11.8 million people through a groundbreaking approach that stimulates local economies while fighting hunger. Rather than simply distributing food, 42% of the 1.3 million monthly beneficiaries receive cash-based transfers, allowing families to purchase goods from local vendors and inject vital resources directly into Afghan communities.

The program’s school feeding initiative provides children their only nutritious meal each day. School feeding activities create powerful incentives for families to keep children in school with positive impacts on school participation and learning that help break cycles of poverty through education.

Medical Miracles in Remote Regions

Doctors Without Borders pioneered mobile health care solutions, bringing advanced medical care directly to Afghanistan’s most isolated communities. In 2023, the organization performed 15,200 surgical interventions and assisted 45,260 deliveries across nine projects in eight provinces, maintaining 130 to 200% bed occupancy rates due to overwhelming demand.

The organization’s teams extend life-saving medical services to populations who previously had no access to professional care, with very high bed occupancy rates, sometimes with two or even three patients sharing one bed due to overwhelming demand. More than 50% of MSF’s medical staff are women, creating culturally appropriate care that dramatically improved maternal and child health outcomes.

Children’s Health Revolution Shows Dramatic Results

UNICEF achieved remarkable success protecting Afghan children through comprehensive health and education programs. In 2024, humanitarian efforts expanded to treat 2.9 million acutely malnourished children and pregnant women, representing a significant increase from 2.2 million in 2023. The organization vaccinated 704,002 children against measles and treated 272,791 children for severe wasting in the first half of 2024.

Health care access has expanded significantly with 11.6 million people receiving primary health care services by 2023, up from 7.9 million in 2021. This is driven by the increase in humanitarian health facilities from 422 in January 2022 to 908 in December 2023.

International Commitment Drives Innovation

Major international donors maintained their commitment despite global economic challenges. The United States provided $280 million to WFP in 2024 through USAID, enabling the organization to support more than 3 million people with life-saving food assistance. The United Kingdom reached 2,715,000 people with humanitarian assistance, including water and sanitation, food, nutrition, health and cash transfers between April 2024 and March 2025.

The transformation occurring across Afghanistan proves that even in the world’s most challenging environments, coordinated humanitarian action can deliver extraordinary results. Through innovative programming, local partnerships and sustained international commitment, organizations are building foundations for long-term recovery while showing that with creativity, dedication and adequate resources, no community is beyond help. However, severe funding gaps remain, with only 31.4% of the required $3.06 billion received by October 2024.

Despite these challenges, the fact that humanitarian organizations reached 22.4 million people in 2024 demonstrates what is possible when the international community works together to address the crisis of being poor in Afghanistan.

– Jawad Noori

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

Photo: Pexels

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Trees That Feed Foundation: The Breadfruit Revolution

Trees That Feed Foundation:Communities across the tropics are proving that breadfruit is more than a promising idea — it is already a vital tool in reducing hunger and building resilience. Once described as a “super tree,” breadfruit is now being cultivated and consumed on a wide scale, turning possibility into reality. From school meal programs in Haiti to women’s cooperatives in Uganda and innovative food businesses in Puerto Rico, breadfruit is reshaping the conversation around global hunger. These stories show how breadfruit food security and breadfruit hunger solution efforts are changing lives today.

Feeding Communities

In Haiti’s Central Plateau, Klinik Sen Jozèf and the Trees That Feed Foundation have integrated breadfruit into school meals and malnutrition programs. Farmers were given saplings to grow their own crops, and breadfruit flour was added to feeding initiatives, directly improving children’s diets and reducing hunger.

Uganda has embraced breadfruit as both a household food and a source of income. Families grow orchards that provide hundreds of fruits per year, enough to feed households and sell in local markets. Entrepreneurs have also begun processing breadfruit into snacks and baked goods, creating jobs and supporting community health. Breadfruit’s role as a consistent harvest makes it a cornerstone of breadfruit food security in East Africa.

In Puerto Rico, breadfruit has become part of the island’s recovery and resilience strategy. After Hurricane Maria devastated traditional crops, breadfruit remained productive The company Amasar now uses the fruit to create pancake and waffle mixes, making breadfruit part of both local diets and the economy. This adaptability shows how breadfruit hunger solution projects provide stability during crises.

Agroforestry and Climate Resilience

In Hawaii, people are restoring breadfruit in traditional groves ‘ulu, where it regenerates degraded soil and supplies food to schools and food banks. In Uganda, farmers are planting breadfruit within agroforestry systems, where it strengthens ecosystems and improves harvests of other crops. Studies also confirm that breadfruit thrives under climate change conditions, with its growing range stable and expanding in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Global Expansion

Governments and NGOs are scaling breadfruit worldwide. The Trees That Feed Foundation and the National Tropical Botanical Garden have distributed tens of thousands of saplings across the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.

From Haiti’s classrooms to Puerto Rican kitchens and Ugandan farms, breadfruit is proving its value as a sustainable crop that feeds, employs, and restores. What was once talked about as potential is now visible in thriving programs and markets across the tropics.

The world is witnessing the real impact of the breadfruit revolution. With every orchard planted and every new product created, breadfruit hunger solution initiatives are bringing families closer to lasting breadfruit food security worldwide.

– Diane Dunlop

Diane is based in Alberta, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Force For Good Foundation and Nourish The Children Initiative

Nourish The ChildrenThe Skincare industry is often catered towards luxury buyers, utilizing bold, minimalist designs and cutting edge technology. Specifically, NU Skin, a leading global brand with more than $1.7 billion in revenue in 2024, has made an emphasis on philanthropy. With such earnings, NU Skin has formed two philanthropy organizations.

The Force for Good Foundation

The main organization, the Force For Good Foundation, is a comprehensive nonprofit that focuses on improving the quality of life worldwide. Despite working with disaster relief and coastline preservation, the organization focuses on lifting children out of poverty without geographical constraints. Having been active for over 20 years in 50 countries and impacting more than 100,000 children, the Force For Good Foundation has undoubtedly been a leading organization in poverty reduction.

The secondary organization, Nourish the Children, is a for-profit social initiative focusing on combating hunger and malnutrition. Hunger plays a major role in adolescent poverty, causing 3.1 million deaths under the age of 5. Recognizing that at the bare minimum, children need to survive, NU Skin dedicates additional effort through Nourish the Children.

NU Skin’s Impact

NU Skin’s organizations undertook significant projects in Africa. The Force For Good Foundation has three programs in Malawi centered around conservation, sustainability, and access to clean water. The programs include the School of Agriculture for Family Independence (SAFI), Seeds of Hope, and Wells of Hope. SAFI introduces residents to sustainable farming techniques, with an increased yield of 700% after implementation.

The Wells of Hope, which built clean wells in villages each serving 500 people, reduces waterborne illnesses such as dysentery. Paired with Seeds of Hope’s preservation of native vegetation such as the sacred Baobab tree, villages have become increasingly secure and stable.

Food Distribution

In addition to development, Nourish the Children provides direct relief through distributing food to malnourished children in Malawi. NU Skin partners with food manufacturers to create VitaMeal, a nutrient rich vegetarian meal designed for malnourished children. Based on customer’s additional donations when a product is purchased, meals are manufactured and sent to Malawi. As each unit can feed up to 30 children for a month, more than 70,000 children receive food a day.

So far, the impact NU Skin’s Force For Good Foundation has made is monumental. As of 2023, the organization has given more than $3.5 million to advance the missions of the foundation. In the same year, NU Skin chartered 30 grants. Nonprofits need a stable amount of funding to stay afloat. On top of donations, NU Skin is dedicating a share of revenue to fund the foundation demonstrates significant philanthropic commitments and a desire to create value for the impoverished.

Companies such as NU Skin are leaders in promoting philanthropy in a luxurious industry. With noticeable success and impact on impoverished children, other high-end companies may follow suit. After all, a wealthy consumer base holds the most power to transform living conditions in impoverished communities.

– Owen Wu

Owen is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr