Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How Solar-Powered Mini-Grids Are Expanding Opportunity in Nigeria’s Oke-Oyi Community

People gathered around a solar-powered mini grid installation in Oke-Oyi, Nigeria.
Located on the western coast of Africa, Nigeria is home to diverse people and cultures. Nigeria’s population was estimated at 237.5 million in 2025, according to UNFPA. A country supporting a population this large, and covering more than 350,000 square miles, needs the ability to continuously expand infrastructure, agriculture and promote positive civilian life. There are numerous technological advancements that can help address many different barriers linked to poverty in Africa’s most populous nation. Here is information on how solar-powered mini-grids are expanding opportunity in Nigeria’s Oke-Oyi community.

What Are Solar-Powered Mini-Grids?

In 2024, nearly 40% of Nigeria’s population lacked access to electricity. According to the World Bank Group, the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) has been working on this issue. It supported the preparation and implementation of the Nigeria Electrification Project from 2018 to 2024. Investment in Nigeria’s solar hybrid mini-grids also increased. From 2018 to 2024, this project supported the establishment of 125 mini-grids and the sale of over a million solar home systems. More than 5.5 million Nigerians gained access to electricity. The African Development Bank-backed Nigeria Electrification Project aims to provide electricity to households, small and medium-sized enterprises and public institutions in a timely, cost-effective manner. Its planned completion date is Dec. 31, 2026. It also targets increased opportunities for women.

The Oke-Oyi Community’s Solar-Powered Mini-Grid Project

According to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the federal government has commissioned an interconnected solar mini-grid project in Oke-Oyi Community of the Kwara State in Nigeria. With support from the European Union, the project has installed 1,336 solar panels and 84 batteries to support the electrical distribution network. This intervention is already supporting economic activity in Oke-Oyi, with new businesses like welding, pure water companies and grain mills. Minister of Power Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe praised the project, “The purpose of electrification is ultimately to improve lives and create opportunities. What we are commissioning today in Oke-Oyi is an investment in the productive capacity of the community. When electricity enables a welder to expand his business, a grain miller to operate more efficiently or a new enterprise to emerge, we are seeing the direct connection between energy access and economic development.”

The Oke-Oyi community not only benefits economically, but the construction phase of the solar-powered mini-grid project also provided jobs for community members. Welders, bricklayers, iron benders, tilers, plumbers, borehole diggers and excavation laborers were engaged in this project. Tegbe explained how expanding electricity access directly translates into improved livelihood and economic opportunity.

The Oke-Oyi community expressed its deep gratitude to the REA, the federal government and development partners. A community leader said at the commissioning, “Today is a day of joy for the people of Oke-Oyi. We have longed for reliable electricity to improve our lives and economic activities, and we are already seeing new businesses emerge in our community. On behalf of our people, we assure all stakeholders of our full cooperation in protecting this project and ensuring that it continues to serve our community.”

Legacy and Impact

Projects like this will aid Nigeria’s effort to support sustainable energy for all. The REA and federal government serve as examples for the rest of the country. The Oke-Oyi interconnected solar mini-grid project is certainly a start. Its goal is to allow access to sustainable energy, create new jobs and foster stronger relationships between the federal government and local communities. This is not the only example. This is just the beginning of Nigeria’s journey for efficient, environmentally friendly and accessible energy for all.

– Joe Laino

Joe is based in Providence, RI and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Livelihoods and Cash Assistance in Mozambique

Cash Assistance in Mozambique
For 52-year-old grandmother Inácia Laquareta Abraão, social protection has meant more than receiving money. Caring for her three grandchildren, she once relied on irregular income and grew what she could to help feed her family. Through Mozambique’s Productive Social Action Program (PASP), Inácia earned income while helping restore the coastline at Zalala Beach. She later invested in a small farm, where she now grows tomatoes, rice and beans. Her experience shows one way that temporary support and paid public works can help a participant invest in a livelihood. It is an individual example, however, rather than evidence that every PASP participant makes the same transition. More than 300,000 people in Mozambique have participated in PASP since its launch in 2012, with women accounting for around 65% of beneficiaries. The program aims to reduce poverty and strengthen climate resilience through labor-intensive public works and income-generating activities. These have included coastal protection, erosion control, riverbank restoration and rural infrastructure.

Why Complementary Support Matters

Cash assistance in Mozambique can help households buy food, meet immediate expenses and avoid selling essential assets. Transfers alone do not guarantee a lasting source of income. Longer-term economic security can also depend on access to skills, productive assets, markets and financial services.

PASP combines cash assistance in Mozambique with public works and income-generating activities. Its broader aim is to help vulnerable households strengthen their livelihoods and resilience; the extent to which participants achieve lasting economic security will vary with their circumstances and the opportunities available to them.

It is important to distinguish PASP from a separate cash-plus pilot that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is evaluating. That pilot involves 700 households that previously participated in PASP and combines cash transfers with agricultural inputs and technical training. Evidence from this evaluation should not be presented as a finding about PASP as a whole. Instead, it may offer separate learning about whether an integrated package of support can help participating households strengthen agricultural production and resilience.

Opening Doors to Financial Inclusion

PASP may also contribute to financial inclusion. The World Bank reports that more than 200,000 e-money accounts have been opened through the program since it began in 2012. Digital payments can reduce the time and cost involved in collecting assistance and give households an entry point into formal financial transactions.

This pathway matters for women, who make up around 65% of PASP beneficiaries. But participation in a program or access to digital payments does not automatically translate into control over productive assets or higher income. Inácia’s experience should therefore be understood as one example, not a typical or guaranteed outcome for women participating in PASP.

Research also points to persistent gender-related barriers. The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) reported in a 2016 study using 2002-2012 surveys that female-headed households in Mozambique were, on average, around 20% less agriculturally productive than male-headed households. A 2020 UNICEF publication also raised concerns that women may remain concentrated in low-income households if social protection does not adequately address gender-specific constraints.

What Happens When the Support Ends?

Evidence from former participants offers examples of how skills and productive activities can continue beyond program participation. The World Bank reports that farming groups established through PASP in Sofala were still cultivating collective plots in 2025, producing around 14 metric tons of crops for household consumption and local markets. Another former participant used brick-making skills learned through PASP to build a more resilient home. These examples show what some participants have done after taking part; they do not establish that all participants will achieve lasting economic independence.

Important constraints remain. The International Household Survey Network reports that Mozambique’s 2025 PASP baseline sampling frame included 6,864 eligible beneficiaries across 285 communities in five provinces. The evidence should be interpreted carefully, with individual examples distinguished from conclusions about program-wide long-term impacts.

The International Labour Organization has also highlighted the importance of non-contributory social protection for poorer households while identifying challenges including limited coverage, underfunding and targeting problems, including gender disparities.

Building Pathways to Lasting Livelihoods

Strengthening PASP’s longer-term contribution will require attention to what happens during and after cash assistance and public works placements. Longer periods of support may give households more time to build assets and develop farms or small businesses. Stronger links to buyers, cooperatives, value chains and local enterprises could help participants connect production to reliable markets. Appropriate finance may help viable activities grow beyond subsistence levels.

Programs should also address gender-specific barriers so women can control assets, access land and finance and participate fully in economic opportunities. This is particularly important given women’s large share of PASP beneficiaries.

PASP illustrates how social protection and economic inclusion can support complementary goals. Cash assistance in Mozambique can help households meet immediate needs, while public works, skills, productive assets, financial services and market connections may help create opportunities to earn income over time. Inácia’s farm is one example of a participant investing in a livelihood. The wider challenge for PASP is to make pathways to employment and self-employment more accessible and durable, without assuming that every participant will experience the same results.

– James Moretti

James is based in United Kingdom and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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French Language Programs Help Refugees Find Jobs in France

Adults in a classroom setting, engaging in a French language program.
A Ukrainian journalist who once worked in television news took a job in a French warehouse. A former business owner who fled her country with her husband and three children found work as a cleaner. Both are refugees in France. A French language instructor who taught them told The Borgen Project that their experiences point to a barrier refugees can face: without strong French, professional experience gained abroad can be difficult to put to use. French language programs, from workplace classes to national training schemes, aim to help refugees overcome that barrier.

Refugees are part of a broader group of migrants who face employment barriers. Among non-EU citizens ages 20-64 living in the European Union, unemployment fell from 20% in 2015 to 12.3% in 2025, according to Eurostat, yet it still remains nearly two and a half times the 5.2% rate recorded for nationals.

In France, 36% of refugees who received their first residence permit in 2009 had a low level of French proficiency when surveyed in 2010, according to a 2018 study by DARES, the research and statistics department of the Ministry of Labor.

Outcomes also differ by group. Refugee women are more likely than refugee men to be unemployed in France, and many refugees who were employed in their countries of origin end up accepting lower-skilled jobs once they arrive, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency.

Inside a Workplace French Language Program

Workplace French language programs are one way companies support the refugees they hire. The instructor, who taught workplace classes for refugees employed by a private company in France, requested anonymity to protect the identities of the refugee employees and the company involved. The program combined language lessons with administrative support, including help with residence permits, transportation and employment contracts, the instructor said.

Each class centered on a practical theme, such as grocery shopping, paired with listening exercises, grammar games, short role-playing scenes and simple writing tasks tied to daily life. The company also organized “French déj,” or French lunches, where only French was spoken regardless of participants’ level, giving refugee workers a chance to hear everyday conversation and break the ice with colleagues they did not work with directly. The instructor said participants’ confidence grew day by day.

Employment Rises Over Time

One year after obtaining refugee status in France, 42% of refugees are employed, while 22% remain unemployed and 19% are inactive and not in education, according to a 2022 study that UNHCR cited. Another study published in 2024, which followed people granted protection in 2018, indicates that 63% were employed four years after obtaining status.

Isolation Compounds the Challenge

Beyond language, the instructor said navigating French bureaucracy, adjusting to a new culture and being separated from family create ongoing strain for refugees, who often seek out others from their home regions to combat loneliness.

Refugees face compounded disadvantages because of displacement experiences and legal uncertainties, on top of the language barriers, skill downgrading and legal obstacles that hinder migrants generally, according to a 2024 European Parliament policy study.

A National Program Expands Language Access

The HOPE program, launched in 2017 by AFPA, France’s national agency for adult vocational training, combines 400 hours of French instruction and an introduction to a trade with 450 hours of trade training. Training is delivered through a work-study or temporary-work contract, in fields where employers have unfilled positions. Participants also receive housing, meals and administrative, social and medical support throughout the program.

The program grew out of a May 2017 pilot project for 200 migrants from Calais, the site of the camp known as “the Jungle,” and expanded into a national initiative with an initial target of training 1,000 refugees. According to AFPA, two experiments that year in the Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France regions produced strong early results: 71% of participants earned a certification and 62% were employed by the end of training.

By October 2021, the program had trained more than 3,000 refugees across France, according to the Pays de la Loire regional prefecture. In that region, the prefecture reported a 93% job-placement rate, a regional result rather than a national one.

Both the workplace initiative and the HOPE program combine French language programs with practical support, ranging from administrative assistance to housing and meals in HOPE’s case. Without the language, the instructor said, refugees become invisible and lose recognition of their social standing. Even small acts of help can mean an enormous amount to people who often carry painful life stories, the instructor added.

– Naveeshaa Rengasamy

Naveeshaa is based in Lille, France and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Innovations in Poverty Reduction in Latvia Show Progress

Poverty Reduction in Latvia
Latvia has made progress in reducing some forms of deprivation, but poverty continues to affect a significant portion of the population. In 2024, approximately 404,000 people, or 22% of Latvia’s population, were at risk of poverty. For a person living alone, this meant having a monthly disposable income below €699. Poverty also varies greatly depending on where people live. In the Latgale region, 35.8% of residents were at risk of poverty, compared with 15.6% in the Riga region.

Alongside innovations in poverty reduction in Latvia, material living conditions have improved. In 2024, 10.9% of the population experienced material and social deprivation, down 2.6 percentage points from 2023. Severe material and social deprivation also fell to 5.3%, the lowest level recorded by Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau.

Current Status

Despite recent improvements in material deprivation, income inequality and poverty remain challenges in Latvia. In 2024, the average monthly disposable income per household member was €950. However, people in the poorest 20% of households had an average monthly disposable income of only €317 per household member, compared with €2,084 among the wealthiest 20%.

Certain regions and groups also experience poverty at different rates. Latgale, located in eastern Latvia, had the country’s highest regional at-risk-of-poverty rate at 35.8% in 2024. Meanwhile, Latvia’s national at-risk-of-poverty rate was 22%.

Children are another important group when examining poverty. According to Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau, 17.9% of children ages 17 and younger were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the 2024 survey, which refers to 2023 income. This was substantially lower than the 30.7% recorded in the 2015 survey, which refers to 2014 income, demonstrating measurable long-term progress while also showing that child poverty has not disappeared.

Addressing Minimum Wage

One of the innovations in poverty reduction in Latvia is changing how its minimum-income system works. Previously, minimum-income thresholds were set at fixed amounts and reviewed only once every three years. Under a reform introduced in 2023, Latvia established a minimum-income floor connected to the country’s median income and introduced annual indexation. This allows minimum-income support to be adjusted more regularly as incomes and economic conditions change. In 2025, the guaranteed minimum income threshold was increased from 20% to 22% of median income.

The Social Climate Plan

Another approach combines poverty reduction with improvements to housing and transportation. In July 2026, the European Commission endorsed Latvia’s €617 million Social Climate Plan. Running through 2032, the plan is designed to support low- and lower-middle-income households that are particularly affected by energy and transportation costs.

One major part of the plan focuses on energy poverty. Vulnerable households will be able to receive support of up to €15,000 for energy-efficiency improvements to apartments and up to €20,000 for houses. Municipalities will also be able to improve the energy efficiency of social housing. Latvia’s plan identifies approximately 351,000 households as vulnerable to or already experiencing energy poverty.

The program also takes an innovative approach to transportation poverty, particularly in rural areas where public transportation can be limited. Plans include transportation-on-demand services in rural and remote communities, five new battery-electric trains and free bicycle-sharing programs at 97 schools. By 2032, the plan aims to move nearly 10,000 vulnerable households out of energy poverty and close to 83,000 vulnerable transportation users out of transportation poverty.

European Social Fund Plus

Latvia is also using European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) funding to address poverty through employment, education and social services. The European Union is investing €721 million in ESF+ funding in Latvia. The funding supports affordable social services, health care, community-based long-term care, education and training. It also supports programs for job seekers and people at risk of unemployment.

The program specifically includes efforts to integrate people at risk of poverty and provide food and basic necessities to vulnerable populations. These investments are intended to contribute to Latvia’s goal of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by nearly 95,000 by 2030.

Conclusion

Recent statistics show measurable improvements in some aspects of poverty in Latvia. Material and social deprivation fell to 10.9% in 2024, its lowest recorded level, while the share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion declined from 30.7% in the 2015 survey to 17.9% in the 2024 survey. However, 22% of Latvia’s overall population remained at risk of poverty in 2024, and substantial regional differences remain.

Innovations in poverty reduction in Latvia address several dimensions of poverty rather than focusing exclusively on income. Annual adjustments to minimum-income support can make social assistance more responsive to economic conditions, while new investments target energy-efficient housing, transportation access, employment, education and social services. The €617 million Social Climate Plan and €721 million in ESF+ funding represent two large-scale efforts aimed at vulnerable households and communities. Their long-term results will depend on implementation, but their specific targets provide measurable benchmarks for tracking Latvia’s progress in reducing poverty.

– Smira Chowdhary

Smira is based in Sammamish, WA, USA and focuses on Good News, and Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Against All Odds – Supporting Women’s Education in Afghanistan

Women's Education in Afghanistan
Education for girls and women in Afghanistan has seen a dramatic reversal since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. During the previous two decades, access to education had expanded considerably. By 2021, almost one million girls were enrolled in secondary education. Since then, girls have been prevented from attending education beyond grade six, and women have been excluded from attending university since December 2022. Afghanistan is now the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is closed to girls and women.

This problem continues to grow in both scale and scope. UNICEF reported in August 2026 that more than 2.6 million girls had been denied secondary education since 2021. An April 2026 UNICEF analysis estimates that in 2024, 3.8 million girls aged 7–18 were out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. Such restrictions illustrate the scale of the challenge facing aid organizations in providing women’s education in Afghanistan.

Efforts by UNICEF and UNESCO

UNICEF is one of the largest organizations supporting education in Afghanistan. For children unable to attend school, UNICEF supports community-based education, temporary learning spaces and other forms of alternative education. These programs allow children to continue learning outside formal school settings.

UNICEF also supports teachers, learning materials and education infrastructure. Its programs are particularly important for children living in rural or conflict-affected areas, where access to formal schools can already be difficult. In January 2026, UNICEF and UNESCO reported that approximately 2.2 million adolescent girls had been prevented from attending secondary school and emphasized the need to maintain access to primary education and alternative learning opportunities.

UNESCO has similarly developed community-based education, literacy, skills-development and vocational programs that can provide women’s education in Afghanistan. These are particularly important for women who have been excluded from universities and other formal education. UNESCO reported in 2026 that nearly 70,000 learners had benefited from its programs, with women representing approximately 73% of participants.

Local Initiatives and International Support

These initiatives provide an important educational lifeline, but they cannot completely substitute for formal secondary schools and universities. A girl studying through a community program does not necessarily receive the same qualifications or opportunities as someone attending a recognized secondary school.

Alongside large international organizations, Afghan-led groups have developed more discreet methods of keeping girls and women in education. Some operate virtual classrooms, while others provide small-scale community or underground education. These organizations can be difficult to identify publicly because revealing the identities of students, teachers or locations may expose participants to risks.

The Initiatives and Their Accomplishments

An Afghan activist and former teacher established Afghanistan Education Action (AEA) following the Taliban takeover. Its online school was established in 2021 and operates undercover due to restrictions on girls’ education. The school currently reports around 820 students attending daily lessons and more than 84 subjects. These include mathematics, science, computer science, English, Persian literature, art, philosophy, women’s health and calligraphy. Approximately 70% of its students are women and girls. Its international school also helps students work toward formal qualifications.

Other Afghan-led organizations use similar approaches. LEARN Afghan, for example, operates digital and community-based education programs, while Gahwara has developed virtual and in-person educational opportunities for girls and women. The discreet nature of some of these programs means that publicly available information about their scale is necessarily limited.

U.K.-based charity Children on the Edge (COTE) has played an important supporting role in Afghanistan Education Action. Following the establishment of the online school, Children on the Edge helped AEA develop its organizational structure, fundraising and administration. It also supported AEA in becoming an independent U.K.-registered charity and helped establish additional educational programs.

Children on the Edge reports that AEA’s online school provides daily education to more than 800 students. AEA reports more than 84 subjects and a network of more than 400 volunteer teachers and administrative staff. This type of support is significant because it attempts to go beyond simply providing lessons. AEA’s programs aim to preserve a pathway toward formal qualifications, higher education and international scholarships.

Community-Based Learning and Future Prospects

Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN global fund for education in emergencies, has also supported education programs in Afghanistan. Its approach focuses heavily on community-based learning, enabling children excluded from education to continue studying. Programs supported through ECW have reached hundreds of thousands of children, with girls making up a substantial proportion of those helped.

Large organizations such as UNICEF and UNESCO provide community-based education and support for primary-age children, while organizations such as AEA, LEARN Afghan and Gahwara attempt to reach older girls and women who have been excluded from formal education. Children on the Edge demonstrates how smaller international charities can support Afghan-led initiatives with funding, administration and international connections.

Ultimately, organizations working to provide women’s education in Afghanistan face many challenges which demonstrate both the importance and limitations of international intervention. Organizations operating on the ground help provide education, qualifications, technology and hope to thousands of girls, but they do not provide the same scale or recognition as a functioning national education system could. The long-term solution therefore remains the restoration of girls’ access to secondary and higher education, while organizations such as UNICEF, UNESCO, Afghanistan Education Action and their partners continue to provide alternative routes to learning in the meantime. Therefore, continued funding of such programs is vital in order to bridge that gap while restrictions on formal education for Afghan women remain.

– Mark Hooley

Mark is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything You Need to Know About Poverty in Serbia

A child stands in a dilapidated area, highlighting poverty in Serbia.
Despite improvements over the last decade, poverty in Serbia remains a persistent problem. Once a constituent republic of Socialist Yugoslavia, the country sits in Southeastern Europe and had a population of about 6.6 million in the 2022 census. Based on Serbia’s income and living conditions survey, the national at-risk-of-poverty rate decreased from 21.4% in 2021 to 19.7% in 2024. The most recent official release placed the rate at 19.6% in 2025. The at-risk-of-poverty rate is a relative measure based on household income below 60% of median equivalized disposable income. Although that figure remains worryingly high, it demonstrates strong progress in reducing poverty in Serbia. Economic growth, increased employment and international assistance may have driven these improvements.

Groups Most Affected by Poverty in Serbia

The number of Serbians who are either in or at risk of poverty varies significantly across demographics and regions. Poverty in Serbia is closely related to regional divides. In 2025, Belgrade’s at-risk-of-poverty rate was 8.4% compared to 27.7% in Southern and Eastern Serbia and 21% in Vojvodina.

The education figures below are not directly comparable to Serbia’s national at-risk-of-poverty rate. Although Serbia measures the at-risk-of-poverty rate based on household income below the national poverty threshold, the education statistics shown below use the World Bank’s international poverty line. This is set at $8.30 per person per day in 2021 purchasing-power-parity terms. Education also plays a major role in differing poverty rates. A World Bank brief using 2023 survey data found that poverty rates for people aged 16 and older without formal education are as high as 35.7%, compared with 9.1% for those who have completed secondary education.

Poverty rates also differ clearly by age. In 2025, people aged 65 and older were at the highest risk of poverty at 25.8%. This is much larger than the 14.9% for those aged 25-54.

Why Poverty Remains in Serbia

Poverty in Serbia persists for several reasons. Poverty rates in Serbia differ considerably between urban and rural communities. The World Bank acknowledges that lagging regions face several challenges, such as attracting and retaining young people, supporting local businesses and providing high-quality public services. These issues may limit economic opportunities and widen regional inequality. Young people may face constraints that further fuel poverty in Serbia. This is visible in rural areas, where poor mobility, geographical isolation and limited employment opportunities are often associated with limited access to education, jobs and vocational training. These factors may contribute to rural-urban disparities.

Efforts to Reduce Poverty in Serbia

Recent data demonstrate clear reductions in poverty in Serbia. International partners have provided key financial aid to Serbia, while the government has also made domestic changes regarding spending and legislation. Since 2014, the European Union has invested more than €91 million (about $102 million) to improve education, employment and social protection, particularly among marginalized groups. This is alongside Serbia’s participation in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, where the country could receive nearly €1.6 billion (about $1.8 billion). This is to support initiatives that tackle energy poverty, develop labor skills and increase economic opportunities. In 2024, Serbia experienced real GDP growth of around 3.9%, with unemployment reduced to 8.6%.

One of the European Union’s initiatives in Serbia is the EU Support for Social Housing and Active Inclusion (EU SHAI) program. This targets Serbians who are most vulnerable, including Roma families, domestic violence victims and those with disabilities. The program combines housing assistance with education, employment and social services. It has been implemented across 19 cities and municipalities in Serbia, with housing and inclusion support planned for 381 families. In the municipality of Raška, the program has helped more than 80 people receive permanent housing.

Domestically, the government has increased the minimum wage and pensions to provide improvements to Serbians’ living standards. Increased funding for employment initiatives, social protection and education has aimed to improve the standard of living for vulnerable groups and reduce poverty across Serbia.

The Future for Serbia

Poverty in Serbia is still an ongoing issue, especially for rural communities in the east and south. Despite this, recent data demonstrate clear improvements, with fewer people in or at risk of poverty. Poverty in Serbia can further be reduced with sustained investment from international partners and domestic reforms. These could contribute to reducing regional inequalities, increasing social protection and enhancing educational opportunities. Continued support from various actors could further decrease poverty and develop opportunities for Serbians.

– Oliver Doole

Oliver is based in Ipswich, Suffollk, United Kingdom and focuses on Business and New Markets, and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Climate Insurance in Zambia Helps Protect Families

Close-up of green plant sprouting from dry, cracked soil. Climate Insurance in Zambia.
In Zambia, recent droughts as well as the threat of future natural disasters cause significant financial strain on 2 million smallholder farmers. This comes in a country where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. As a country that mainly relies on rain-fed agriculture, the major loss of income and food that comes with crop failure can be detrimental. A possible solution to recent challenges is climate insurance in Zambia, which can aid farmers and countries who have experienced financial challenges from natural disasters.

Recent Natural Disasters

Recent natural disasters include droughts in 2023 and 2024, which were ruinous to food production and income. According to the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), 11% of Zambia’s people are affected by droughts every year. GIZ projected that 25% could be affected by 2050.

Climate Insurance Response

One response to the financial effects of crop failure is climate insurance in Zambia, which protects farmers and countries against financial hardships resulting from natural disasters such as drought. The World Food Programme (WFP) is a provider of this type of insurance.

WFP supplies three different insurance levels of climate insurance in Zambia. The first, microinsurance, protects individuals and households. According to an email sent to The Borgen Project from Chileshe Chilambwe from the WFP, microinsurance protects households and productive assets.

There is also meso insurance, which strengthens agricultural value chains and financial service providers, according to Chilambwe. Meso insurance covers institutions and groups serving farmers.

The largest tier is macro insurance, which caters to countries and larger regions. Macro insurance enables governments and humanitarian actors to respond rapidly to major climate shocks, said Chilambwe.

According to Chilambwe, the most effective approach is a layered risk financing system that combines micro, meso and macro insurance mechanisms. By utilizing all three types of insurance, Zambia can build resilience against natural disasters and crop failures.

WFP works with the Government of Zambia to provide financial and humanitarian assistance. WFP provides technical assistance to the Government of Zambia to strengthen national climate risk insurance systems, including agricultural and livestock insurance schemes, wrote Chilambwe.

Past and Present Impact

This type of insurance was in practice before the 2023-24 droughts. In 2014, WFP partnered with insurance companies to create weather insurance for smallholder farmers in Zambia’s Southern Province. As a result, the government successfully scaled agricultural insurance coverage to more than 1 million farmers nationwide, according to Chilambwe.

This impact was felt again during the 2023-2024 droughts, in which 721,969 smallholder farmers received insurance payouts. Separately, through the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Replica programme, WFP received a payout of $3.3 million, while the Government of Zambia received $9.9 million under the sovereign drought insurance coverage, wrote Chilambwe. This kind of macroinsurance payment allows people suffering from climate-related food shortages to meet immediate needs and protect their livelihoods.

Collaborative Efforts

WFP is not the only organization creating access to climate insurance. Through a project running from 2020 to 2023, GIZ partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture to train insurance and government employees and give companies advice on how to use insurance to protect Zambia.

According to the GIZ website, the project recognized that women face greater disadvantages in agricultural and financial systems and are more severely affected by climate change. By acknowledging women’s disadvantages in agricultural and financial systems, climate insurance can become more effective.

Future Prospects

As for the future, Zambia is working on expanding climate insurance in order to improve resilience against future droughts and other natural disasters. By improving agricultural and livestock insurance as well as financing mechanisms, Zambia can become more resilient than ever.

WFP will be helping too, by expanding access to on-demand insurance products and scaling up complementary financial inclusion and integrated resilience-building initiatives, according to Chilambwe.

Through multiple organizations working together with the Government of Zambia, climate resilience can grow stronger, and more people can meet immediate needs following natural disasters.

– Julia Cholerton

Julia is based in Gig Harbor, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Child Marriage in Serbia: Programs to Protect Roma Girls

A young Roma girl looks pensive, symbolizing child marriage issues in Serbia.
Child marriage in Serbia affects Roma girls the most, and legal protections still have gaps. A November 2025 UNICEF report states that a complete legal ban has not been achieved. Serbia’s Family Law sets the minimum marriage age at 18. An exception allows a court to approve marriage for a minor aged 16 or 17 after examining the minor’s free will and physical and mental maturity. Most child marriages occur as informal unions. According to UNICEF’s November 2025 report, most child marriages occur in a “gray zone” as informal unions. In March 2026, authorities released a draft for public consultation that would remove the court exception and prohibit marriage before age 18. A July 2026 coalition newsletter still described the measure as a draft, rather than an enacted law.

Why Roma Girls Face Higher Risk

Poverty is a major driver of child marriage and can affect children’s future development. Nikola Maletić of the UNICEF Serbia Youth Board stressed the need for youth development opportunities, adaptive education and active participation in policymaking to create a more equal future for Serbia. The November 2025 UNICEF report states that 22.6% of women from the poorest households in the general population married before age 18, compared with 0.7% in the richest households. A July 2025 UNICEF country program document cites Serbia’s Statistical Office data showing that 19.5% of children were at risk of poverty in 2023. The same document, citing the MICS6 survey, states that 83% of households in Roma settlements reported three or more material deprivations, compared with 25% of households nationally.

Social Norms

UNICEF Serbia research found that the decision to arrange child marriage in Roma communities is influenced by poverty within a closed circle of social norms and a lack of education within communities. The same research found that young Roma who face obstacles in wider society often choose to follow their community’s models. Community leaders and UNICEF reject the idea that the practice is a tradition. In late 2025, UNICEF Serbia stated that child marriage is not a cultural issue but a violation of children’s rights. The agency described the Declaration on the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, adopted by the Roma National Council, as a good example of leadership from within the community.

Marginalization Limits Roma Girls’ Options

On April 15, 2026, experts on the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination raised concerns about structural discrimination against Roma in Serbia. Committee expert Bakari Sidiki Diaby, speaking on behalf of country rapporteur Ibrahima Guisse, said Roma communities reportedly faced structural discrimination and socioeconomic disadvantages, including low school attendance, high unemployment, poor housing and limited access to health services. Nearly one in five Roma households lacked regular access to safe drinking water. Experts also noted that child marriage disproportionately affects Roma communities.

The Effects of Child Marriage

Child marriage can have lasting consequences for girls and young women, affecting their mental well-being, education and future opportunities. Girls who marry early may experience mental health challenges, have less control over decisions about their futures and face barriers to education and economic opportunities. These disadvantages can increase their vulnerability to harm and perpetuate cycles of poverty.

Programs to Protect Roma Girls

Here are some programs that are working to protect Roma girls.

Roma Women Center Bibija

The Roma Women Center Bibija has worked for more than two decades to protect the rights of Roma girls. With support from the U.N. Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls, the organization leads an initiative in 10 municipalities. On Oct. 10, 2025, a story published by the U.N. Trust Fund reported that the initiative had organized 320 workshops and 320 community discussions, reaching more than 590 adolescent girls and 700 Roma community members. In the initiative’s target areas, the share of Roma girls making informed education choices rose from 30% to 55% in one year. Three out of four girls demonstrated improved knowledge of their rights and the effects of child marriage, more than double the previous year’s figure. These results come from the target areas and do not show a national decline in child marriage.

National Coalition to End Child Marriage

UNICEF and the Coordination Body for Gender Equality launched the coalition in 2019, bringing together a wide range of actors around a shared goal. UNICEF Serbia, which hosted the coalition’s meeting on March 23, 2026, said the group has pushed for stronger legal protection for children. Initial proposals to amend the Criminal Code and the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence were submitted in 2021 and repeated in 2025. The agency also welcomed the Ministry for Family Care and Demography’s announcement that it will review the Family Law.

Progress Led From Within

These initiatives show how community-led programs and advocacy can support efforts to prevent child marriage. Reported improvements in girls’ knowledge and educational decision-making are encouraging, but they do not establish a nationwide decline in child marriage. Continued community engagement, access to education and stronger legal protections remain essential.

– Gabriella Jazzy Jason Junior

Gabriella is based in Jakarta, Indonesia and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Serbia

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Green Hydrogen to Green Harvest in Namibia

Green Hydrogen in Namibia
Facing persistent challenges of poverty and food insecurity, Namibia is implementing industrialization and agricultural expansion initiatives to foster economic development and improve food access for its population. Namibia has a population of approximately 3.1 million, with 46% of residents living outside urban areas. These less-dense areas often struggle with food production because of the harsh and unstable desert climate, infertile soil, limited access to agricultural supplies and severe economic inequality. These challenges have made food insecurity an ongoing struggle for many Namibians.

In 2024, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that 1.15 million people faced severe acute food insecurity and required urgent action to reduce food gaps and protect livelihoods. Cropping conditions in Namibia are generally poor—marked by erratic rainfall, frequent floods and droughts. Namibia is also highly dependent on imports, leaving the country vulnerable to external price increases. The cost of imported goods, food, fuel and agricultural supplies has made it expensive for local farmers and businesses to obtain fertilizer and meet agricultural demands, increasing the need for domestic solutions.

Saving Agricultural Production

Over the past five years, Namibia has become a hub for green industrialization as businesses and organizations tap into the country’s solar, wind and biomass resources. The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village is an agricultural initiative spearheading greenhouse production and green hydrogen to support agriculture, food security and community livelihoods on a 15,000-hectare site in the Erongo Region. The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village was established in 2023, and its pilot phase commenced shortly thereafter, in 2025. Throughout this period, the initiative required substantial community collaboration, creating employment opportunities for 376 Namibians and 23 small and medium enterprises. Additionally, the project engaged research partners from the University of Namibia and the University of Stuttgart, who participated in on-site research activities with both Namibian and international students, focusing on sustainable energy through green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen in Namibia is produced using renewable energy, distinguishing it from conventional hydrogen production that relies on fossil fuels. Its versatility makes it a clean energy carrier with the potential to reduce carbon emissions within agriculture. By leveraging green hydrogen for fertilizer production, energy supply and resource management, the agricultural sector could reduce its environmental impact while strengthening domestic food production. The organization has already reported success in its agricultural endeavors. The facility has harvested cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, with produce sold to local retailers in the Erongo Region.

Managing Food Insecurity

Namibia’s food security situation improved in 2025 compared with the previous year, largely because of better rainfall, crop production, rangeland conditions and coordinated assistance. IPC reported that from July to September 2025, approximately 456,000 people experienced high levels of acute food insecurity, a sharp decrease from 1.15 million during the same period in 2024. IPC credits this improvement to “above-average rainfall during the 2024/25 season, increased crop production, improved rangeland conditions, and coordinated interventions by the government and development partners.”

However, food insecurity remains a concern in the country, with many areas still facing a food crisis. The IPC projected a deterioration during the October 2025-March 2026 lean season. The country forecasts an increase in grocery prices while food production decreases. The decline is projected to affect 612,000 Namibians (20%) already experiencing a food crisis. This worsening is attributed to the government’s discontinuation of the countrywide drought relief in August 2025, reduced labor opportunities, high unemployment and poor livestock conditions in drought-prone areas.

The Comeback

The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village aims to combat food insecurity through green production. Its goal is to produce 18 tonnes of green hydrogen in Namibia and 100 tonnes of green ammonia over the course of the project. Green ammonia will be used to produce fertilizer locally, reducing reliance on imported agricultural products. The project aims to reduce dependence on imported fertilizer and support lower-emission agricultural production. As of June 2026, the United Nations reported that the facility was producing approximately 40,000 cucumbers each month, demonstrating the potential for food production even in one of the world’s most challenging agricultural environments.

As the initiative continues to expand in phases, its ultimate goal is to develop Africa’s first green hydrogen village on a semi-industrial scale, thereby establishing a model for a ‘green circular economy’ and green industrialization. If successful, Dâures’ progress could represent a transformative step for Namibia’s agricultural sector, providing evidence that integrating green hydrogen technology can substantially reduce carbon emissions, enhance local fertilizer production and lessen dependence on imports. This approach may not only improve Namibia’s food self-sufficiency and resilience to climate variability but also serve as a replicable blueprint for other regions across Africa facing similar environmental and economic challenges.

– Ashley Woody

Ashley is based in Atlanta, GA, USA and focuses on Good News, Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Higher Education in the Maldives is Changing

Higher Education in the MaldivesGoing to class for American university students may require crossing campus. However, in the Maldives, it may require crossing the ocean. The Maldives’ scattered island geography creates barriers to where students can study, which programs they can apply to and whether they need to leave their home to pursue higher education. The Maldives’ unique geography is influencing how higher education in the Maldives is developing. On March 8, 2026, Maldives National University held a groundbreaking ceremony for a planned new campus in Eydhafushi, Baa Atoll. The new campus, valued at approximately $5.2 million, is scheduled to take 720 days to complete. Once finished, it should give students the opportunity to attend university closer to home and reduce the costs associated with studying elsewhere. At the same time, new programs and scholarships are creating additional pathways into postsecondary education.

Education Across an Island Nation

The Maldives’ geography sets its education apart from many other countries. The challenge arises because communities are spread across more than 180 inhabited islands while many educational opportunities are concentrated in larger population centers. This affects students long before they even enter university. UNICEF reports that disparities in access to services, including education, remain between Malé and remote islands. It also reports that the country’s monetary poverty rate is about 8% and that 33% of children experience multidimensional poverty. For families with limited incomes, the additional costs of traveling or relocating for education can make geographic barriers more difficult to overcome.

Geography is not the only challenge. UNICEF identifies limited upper-secondary opportunities in remote islands and teacher shortages as additional barriers facing students in smaller communities. In some remote areas, students must leave their home islands simply to complete upper-secondary education.

For certain students, moving off their home islands before commencing university might be necessary for them to pursue further education. These geographical disparities are among the reasons why the establishment of regional campuses has been a key feature of the education system in the country. This is not an isolated case of such a development. Maldives National University (MNU) has announced agreements to develop additional campuses, including one in Naifaru in Lhaviyani Atoll. These agreements represent planned developments rather than campuses that are already operating. MNU said both projects will expand access to tertiary education for students living in the atolls.

When Online Classrooms Bridge Gaps

While building more campuses offers one way to reduce distance, technology can offer another. Taking advantage of this opportunity, UNICEF and the Maldivian government have expanded digital and hybrid learning initiatives that allow students to attend classes online. UNICEF identifies online learning as a method of reaching students in rural areas. The TechPath program, which the Ministry of Education developed in partnership with UNICEF and Google for Education, focuses on students’ digital skills and expanding remote learning. In 2024, UNICEF reported that TechPath was being piloted with more than 1,600 students in 15 schools across the Maldives.

The program also supports the Maldives’ satellite school model, which connects students in rural and remote communities with educational opportunities that may not exist locally. UNICEF said the initiative aims to strengthen the satellite school model and expand remote-learning options to grades 11 and 12. This remains a school-level initiative rather than a university program, but greater access to upper-secondary education can help students prepare for higher education.

For students in rural communities, these school-level programs can help create a pathway toward higher education before a student reaches a university campus. Access to upper-secondary courses can determine whether students are able to meet the requirements for further study.

Beyond the Islands

For other students, pursuing higher education may require leaving the Maldives entirely. The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development announces international scholarship opportunities that allow Maldivian students to pursue higher education abroad. These have included opportunities connected with countries such as India, Hungary, Indonesia, China and Australia. For example, in April 2026, the ministry announced an Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarship (ICCR) through the Aid to Maldives Scheme. The scholarship gives Maldivian applicants opportunities to study at participating universities in India. ICCR’s 2026-2027 scholarship guidelines provide financial support that can include tuition and compulsory fees, monthly stipends, housing allowances and annual contingency allowances depending on the student’s level of study and program rules.

International scholarships can therefore reduce some of the financial barriers associated with studying abroad while giving Maldivian students another route into higher education. Combined with planned regional campuses, school-level digital learning programs and international scholarships, these developments show that higher education in the Maldives increasingly extends beyond a single type of location or institution.

Systems Moving Outward

The planned campus in Eydhafushi highlights how higher education in the Maldives is changing. Once completed, the project is expected to allow students in Baa Atoll to pursue higher education closer to home while reducing some of the costs associated with studying elsewhere. Other planned regional campuses, including Naifaru, show that Maldives National University is also working to expand higher education beyond the country’s main population centers. Digital-learning initiatives and international scholarships provide additional pathways for students whose location or financial circumstances may otherwise limit their educational options. In a country where home and school can be separated by miles of ocean, the location of education matters. Although several of the new campuses are still in development, their expansion, along with digital programs and scholarships, shows how the map of educational opportunity in the Maldives is beginning to change.

– Inika Chemuru

Inika is based in Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash