Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Relieving Poverty in Tunisia Through the AMEN Program

Poverty in TunisiaTunisia, a country in northern Africa, supports those experiencing multidimensional poverty through its AMEN social program. Those eligible receive monthly cash transfers and an additional stipend for families with school-aged children to offset the costs of school supplies. AMEN was established in 2019 with the assistance of the World Bank and Tunisia’s Ministry of Social Affairs.

What Does the AMEN Money Go Toward?

AMEN targets poverty in Tunisia through transferring money to its most vulnerable citizens. More than 333,000 households currently receive these cash transfers. Multidimensional poverty levels determine eligibility. In other words, income is not the only factor; access to health services, education and housing is also considered.

Free or subsidized health care is also offered through AMEN. About 620,000 people receive subsidized health care in addition to those receiving free health care. Accessible health care is one of the many ways AMEN goes beyond a “poverty relief” program; it invests in Tunisian’s health and futures to target inequality.

The economy has suffered greatly since the spread of COVID-19 in 2020. Economic growth was at 0% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2024. Unemployment rates reached 16% in 2024, which is quite high. During the pandemic, AMEN provided temporary money transfers to 900,000 households to help families stay afloat.

Empowering Women Through Financial Freedom

Women are often some of the most vulnerable in a population, particularly in low-income areas and those in traditional households who may depend on men to provide financially. AMEN provides opportunities for single women or those whose husbands can no longer work due to illness, death, imprisonment or any other factor.

Mothers no longer have to stress about feeding their children or keeping the household running with AMEN. Women make up more than 50% of households that receive cash transfers. The peace of mind that can only come from financial freedom is invaluable and a necessary step in breaking generational cycles of poverty and inequality.

Sponsoring Children’s Education

Poverty in Tunisia directly affects a child’s ability to attend and excel in school. School supplies can be expensive, an extra cost that families can’t afford. In other circumstances, some low-income families do not prioritize education for their children; instead, they expect them to help earn money for the family instead of attending classes.

AMEN recognizes the importance of education and supports children’s learning through their stipends. One hundred forty-eight thousand children are currently supported by AMEN and encouraged to go to school through the $10 per month stipend.

Moving Forward

AMEN seeks to improve its ability to help those experiencing poverty in Tunisia by revising its systems to determine who is eligible for the program. Ongoing research to strengthen knowledge around social protection is also being done. Continuing to improve AMEN will undoubtedly increase the quality of life for these individuals.

– Sydney Uhl

Sydney is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Education Training Centers in the Dominican Republic

Vocational Education Training Centers in the Dominican Republic“On the one hand it’s crazy because when you take a course at INFOTEP, if it’s not in Santo Domingo, you can’t get a job, just a diploma… but if you do it online you get a job,” said Berkis Mateo, a former INFOTEP student from San Cristóbal, in a phone interview with The Borgen Project in September 2025, reflecting the uneven opportunities that define vocational education training centers in the Dominican Republic.

The basic premise of vocational training is simple: by equipping people with skills that the labor market rewards, it reduces unemployment while higher skill levels raise wages. But in the Dominican Republic, the effectiveness of these programs is mixed.

Dominican women face persistent inequality. According to the World Bank, they earn just 60% to 80% of men’s wages and make up nearly half of all informal workers, where jobs are unstable and underpaid. The U.N. World Food Program reports that nearly 23% of Dominicans live in poverty, with 3.5% in extreme poverty, while youth unemployment hovers above 13%.

In 2009, youth unemployment reached 28.1% among young women compared to 16.6% overall. To respond, vocational education programs like Juventud y Empleo (PJyE) trained more than 72,500 at-risk youth between 2002 and 2013, 57% of them women. However, the results highlight the urgent need for reform.

The Role of INFOTEP

Founded in 1980, the Instituto Nacional de Formación Técnico Profesional (INFOTEP) has become the country’s leading authority on vocational training. It operates independently, with input from government, employers, and labor unions. By law, every formal company contributes 1% of its payroll to INFOTEP, creating a reliable financial base unmatched by most public institutions.

INFOTEP offers more than 150 career paths, ranging from automotive mechanics and IT to hospitality, health care, construction and refrigeration. General Director Rafael Santos Badía announced in August 2024 that more than 3.8 million Dominicans have graduated from its programs since its creation, including 1.77 million young people between 2020 and 2024 alone.

Limits of Digital Access

Leunam Trinidad, the Academic Director at the Dominican Institute of Art and Design (COS) of INFOTEP and a licensed operator of a virtual INFOTEP training center, explained to The Borgen Project in an interview on September 2025 how technology is helping expand access.

“From what we offer, digital marketing works best because of the content format,” he explains. “The office software package is the hardest…because many students don’t have computers and must use their phones, which makes it very difficult.”

Virtual vocational education training centers allow people to study from anywhere in the country. Yet, the digital divide undermines the promise of digital learning. The Internet Society gave the country an overall Internet resilience score of 40% in 2024, indicating a medium capacity to withstand unexpected faults.

Many poor households lack reliable Wi-Fi, and electricity insecurity remains widespread, particularly outside major cities. This means that while online courses technically expand access, the poorest Dominicans are often excluded again. In other words, whether in person or online, poverty itself limits the benefits of even free vocational training.

How INFOTEP Programs Help

Leunam noted that his operation trains around 5,000 people each year. Like all INFOTEP programs, courses require minimum class sizes, typically 35 participants. Free programs are often oversubscribed, and thousands of applicants are turned away annually.

Since courses are free courses, they are often oversubscribed, and thousands of applicants are turned away each year. The very communities most in need are often the least able to benefit.

Vocational training contributes beyond employment. Dominican Today reports that in Puerto Plata, INFOTEP recently graduated 44 new park rangers, strengthening conservation in a country facing deforestation, erosion, and tourism pressures. It also certified 173 brigadistas, volunteers who bolster disaster response in a nation vulnerable to hurricanes, floods and preventable emergencies.

Vocational education training centers in the Dominican Republic can also play a crucial role in narrowing inequality, including the gender gap. Programs like PJyE show that women gained higher expectations of life success, greater self-esteem and improved wage demands long after training.

Stories From the Ground

But the path is uneven. Mateo’s story underscores the gap between training and opportunity. “I did a two-month internship and did not get a job because the pay was so low it only covered my bus fare from San Cristóbal to Santo Domingo,” she told The Borgen Project in a phone interview. In effect, commuting costs erased the benefits of her training and kept her trapped in underemployment, a challenge that thousands face outside the capital.

The Road Ahead

Despite its accolades, INFOTEP reflects the contradictions of Dominican society. Most advanced programs are concentrated in the most urbanized provinces, Santo Domingo and Santiago. This leaves rural provinces—where poverty is the deadliest—without access.

Institutions like the Loyola Polytechnic Institute (IPL) in San Cristóbal demonstrate another path forward. Though smaller in scale, IPL offers high-quality programs in electronics, mechatronics, and industrial design, while embedding values-based training. It highlights how partnerships beyond INFOTEP can diversify opportunities and address gaps in access. The challenge lies in scaling this success, so that opportunity extends beyond the cities to the poorest provinces.

– Shannon Garrido

Shannon is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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HIV/AIDS in Slovenia: A Case of Universal Treatment

HIVAIDS in SloveniaSlovenia is a success story in many aspects of development, and their success in keeping HIV prevalence low is no different. Universal access to treatment, a focused prevention strategy and gradually decreasing stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS have coalesced to form a unified approach.

HIV/AIDS in Slovenia has failed to escalate into a dominant issue, largely thanks to significant progress in addressing broader inequality, with Slovenia having one of the lowest income inequalities in the European Union. With this foundation, Slovenia is a great illustration of how reducing social and economic inequality has helped to mitigate HIV/AIDS rates.

A Foundation of Effective Treatment

As of 2022, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of the Slovenian population between 15-49 was 0.1%, with the most affected group being men who have sex with men (MSM). While there was a rapid increase in MSM cases by 2008, prevalence has remained low due to strong, universal access to treatment which encompasses Slovenian citizens and migrants with employment status.

Strong public health frameworks across the country ensures access to treatment is viable for most of the population with citizens, migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees receiving comprehensive medical services, including HIV care.

The Infectious Disease Clinic at the medical faculty for University of Ljubljana leads the way for active antiretroviral therapy with voluntary clinics and testing centers available across the country to ensure treatment can be effective through early diagnosis.

Prioritizing Prevention Key to Success

Alongside universal access to treatment, continuous focus on prevention has enabled transmission rates to be continuously low, promoting safe behavior regarding sexual activity. The Institute of Public Health in Slovenia has continued to promote educational messages annually to align with World AIDS Day, encouraging awareness through mainstream public health messages to destigmatize the issue.

Initiatives in primary and secondary schools have also contributed to an effective prevention strategy, distributing HIV education materials and encouraging condom use more broadly. A significant increase in condom use in Slovenia demonstrated that, at least in heterosexual contexts, HIV related promotion surrounding condom use was effective. Despite the culmination of these disparate efforts succeeding in maintaining low HIV prevalence, deep-rooted stigmas remain that threaten to entrench social inequalities.

The Power of Stigma

There is an evident stigma attached to HIV/AIDS in Slovenia, which relates to broader conservatism in the country. While that has gradually receded, it is still prominent. A significant number of people in Slovenia conceal their HIV-positive status out of fear of discrimination. Lingering stigma and discrimination are one of the primary barriers in completely eradicating HIV infections, including discrimination within public health care settings.

Slovenia holds solutions to these issues though and one includes the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Legebitra is an NGO based in Slovenia’s capital city of Ljubljana. It has spearheaded programs surrounding HIV prevention and treatment since 2009, opening multiple HIV and STI testing clinics across Ljubljana and other major cities in Slovenia.

It is not only testing where Legebitra has made an impact, but its educational programs are vital at addressing stigmatized issues. Its “HIV+” program has provided counselling to people living with HIV, as well as increasing awareness of taboo subjects which endanger marginalized groups. Crucially, Legebitra offers its testing services and educational programs for free, ensuring that people living in poverty do not suffer the intersectional consequences of low socio-economic status and discrimination.

A Nation Moving Forward

Grassroots, community-based educational messaging and maintaining accessible treatment for deprived groups has softened stigma surrounding HIV. There is a correlation between poverty rates and HIV prevalence, stemming from socio-economic inequalities affecting vulnerable populations such as migrants and the unemployed. Slovenia’s health care policy of providing comprehensive HIV care to migrant workers and asylum seekers has enabled marginalized communities to have access to sufficient care, demonstrating that Slovenia’s progress towards social progression has helped to mitigate HIV infections.

Focusing on cases involving MSM has proved a prudent strategy, with HIV prevalence remaining low despite the initial increase in cases from 2006. Efforts made to psychologically support vulnerable groups at risk from HIV and provide free treatment has supplemented Slovenia’s broader trend of mitigating inequalities and ensuring that while HIV/AIDS in Slovenia is not a universal problem, everyone has the universal right to access help.

– Oscar McClintock

Oscar is based in Cambridge, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Early Childhood Education in Bosnia: Creating Brighter Futures

Early Childhood Education in BosniaWith its war-torn past and multi-ethnic population, Bosnia has faced challenging economic and social conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed weaknesses in the country’s educational system, especially at the early grade levels. Recognizing that future economic and social stability begins with children, the European Union (EU), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organizations are investing in programs aimed at improving early childhood education in Bosnia.

A Systemic Problem

Bosnia is divided into three separate entities, largely split along ethnic lines: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), Republika Srpska (RS), and the Brčko District, an autonomous, self-governing municipality. These entities are divided further into districts and cantons. As a result, the three systems fragment school curricula, financing and attendance requirements.

This decentralized and disparate organizational structure makes it particularly challenging to implement a uniform set of educational standards for children across the country. Likewise, tracking the effectiveness and quality of current curricula across 14 government bodies is challenging and inefficient, making early childhood education in Bosnia a vulnerable and shaky institution.

Bosnia spends more than its Western Balkan neighbors on education: about 4.4% of its GDP. However, under the current educational structure, 90% of allocated school funding for the entire country goes into staffing expenses, compared to an average of 77% in EU countries, according to World Bank figures. This leaves just 10% for other elements such as textbooks, school supplies, teacher training, modernization and upgrades critical to a quality education. 

The results are telling. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 41% of 15-year-old students scored as “low performers” in the core subjects of math, reading and science. This is a direct result of the lack of early childhood education in Bosnia.

Access to School

Pre-primary school education, which is the bedrock for strong childhood development and links to higher wages in adulthood and an overall reduction in poverty, is considerably deficient in Bosnia. Though preschool is mandatory in FBiH and Brčko District and free of charge in all three states, only about 42% to 46% of children aged 3 to 6 have access to it. This falls heavily short of the EU target of 95%. 

Limitations are different depending on the area. In cities like Sarajevo, there is a high demand for preschool enrollment, which the existing infrastructure and funding cannot meet, resulting in long waiting lists. In the rural countryside, higher unemployment, lower wages and more traditional approaches to child-rearing contribute to low enrollment rates. 

Investment and Support

Determined to reform and revitalize early childhood education in Bosnia, UNICEF, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have launched the ‘Reimagine Education for Marginalized Boys and Girls during and post COVID-19’ project. The project focuses on four pillars: to build cooperation between the various disparate government entities of Bosnia, to improve the quality of teaching, to modernize classroom infrastructure and to develop new e-learning platforms. 

Further, these groups sponsored a series of formal conferences, drawing 1500 participants from both the government and education sectors, aimed at charting a path forward together. In this collaborative spirit, participants produced a declaration of commitment to establishing Bosnia’s first-ever uniform education policy, which all 16 of the country’s education ministers from the various cantons signed. Work on this policy has begun in earnest, with the United Nations (U.N.) funding and support. 

This commitment has also spawned a ‘Nurturing Care Framework’ focused on expanding access to early childhood education in Bosnia, specifically targeted toward those lacking water access or who are otherwise marginalized, like Roma or the poor. FBiH, RS and Brčko District, in conjunction with UNICEF and the EU, are scaling up preschool services across the country and modernizing currently existing facilities. 

As of 2025, the EU has provided €16 million in support and grants targeting Bosnia’s schools, including preschools. Currently, 20 preschools across Bosnia are undergoing renovations with the help of these funds, which will enable these schools to reach more children with higher-quality programs and support.

Toward a Brighter Economic Future

The influx of investment and cooperation by Bosnian authorities and aid organizations is a boon to Bosnia’s future. By expanding and improving early childhood education in Bosnia, these entities are laying the groundwork for continued social and economic development. Children who receive a network of care, support and education from an early age statistically become larger contributors to their society.

– Nikola Stojkovic

Nikola is based in Villa Park, IL, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Syria’s Infrastructure Crisis: Health, Education, Jobs and Energy

Syria's infrastructure crisisSyria slumped into a period of turmoil far before the fall of Assad. However, it continues to struggle despite the inception of the interim regime. Health care infrastructure, education, general employment and the energy sector have been downtrodden for years. The long-term effects of such a catastrophe have begun to compound. While significant efforts have been made to revive Syria’s infrastructure crisis, the consequence of their existence remains a consistent conflict.

Health Care

According to UNICEF, “Half of the primary health care system in Syria remains offline. Two out of five sub-districts do not have functional primary health care facilities.” As of February 2025, more than 40% of Syria’s hospitals and more than 60% of primary health care facilities are offline. According to the U.N., as of December 2024, two million people live in Aleppo, yet fewer than eight hospitals remain operable.

On top of that, only around 20,000 medical staff are left in Syria. This leaves the ratio of health care workers to patients at 2.4 per 1,000, as opposed to the international standard of 4.5 per 1,000. Moreover, Al Jazeera has reported that there are currently more than five million people in Syria living with cancer. However, there are only three oncologists throughout the entire nation.

The hospitals remaining in operation are consistently full and hundreds of names are withering on waitlists waiting to receive prosthetics. Most health care facilities in northern Syria do not possess the equipment necessary to perform intensive surgeries, let alone have access to cancer and heart disease medication.

As of April, the Aid Fund for Syria reported distributing more than $18 million to support health care projects in northern Syria. The funding has assisted more than 65 medical facilities serving 1.9 million people, trained about 2,000 health care workers and contributed to more than 863,000 consultations.

Education and Employment

UNICEF stated that one in three schools in Syria has either been damaged, decimated, converted to military installations or repurposed into civilian shelters. Thousands of educators have fled the country and nearly half of all children ages 5-17 do not attend school. Despite these figures, UNICEF reported in June that 365,000 children had received educational support and 27,000 teachers were trained across all 14 governorates.

Regardless, many of these children may still join the ranks of their compatriots, 37% of whom were unemployed as of June 2024, with 85% facing disguised unemployment, according to the BBC. However, that number may rise as the new regime announced the public sector will require only 550,000–600,000 employees, less than half its previous size. While mass layoffs have not yet occurred, many workers have already been placed on leave.

According to the Tahir Institute, the remaining employees will receive a 200% salary rise, bringing the average monthly wage to $68, just above the poverty line. In March, it was estimated that a family of five living in Damascus would require monthly earnings totaling $666. Of course, this also relates to the depreciation of the Syrian pound. From 2019 to 2024, the currency fell by more than 3,680% against the U.S. dollar, coupled with a rise in inflation. However, it also rose when Assad’s regime collapsed. However, it’s feared that this boost will be temporary.

While progress is made in small amounts, it is still made. In May, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported implementing the Employment-Intensive Investment Program, which has created short-term jobs in infrastructure rehabilitation; in Aleppo, 140 jobs were generated through this system.

Energy

According to the Tahir Institute, overall infrastructure repair for Syria is estimated to cost between $250 billion and $400 billion. However, Reuters reports that the electrical grid will only cost the nation around $11 billion. Since the start of the civil war, energy production has reduced by 80%, partly because 70% of power plants and electrical lines are damaged. As of October 2024, more than 50% of Syria’s electrical grid is offline.

Power has long been rationed to less than four hours per day for those still connected. Setting aside structural damage, the main factor in this equation is a lack of oil and gas. Syrian Minister of Electricity Ghassan al-Zamel reported that while the ministry requires 23 million cubic meters of gas daily, it receives only 6.5 million. Similarly, only 4,500 of the 10,000 tons of fuel required per day are available.

Moreover, under Assad, the regime had developed plans to install 2,500 megawatts of solar energy, 1,500 megawatts of wind power and 1.2 million solar water heaters. However, it’s uncertain whether or not these projects will ever come to fruition under the new interim government. Regardless, as of June 30, President Trump has lifted sanctions on Syria. While oil and gas may still be inexplicably expensive, it’s a step in the direction of being able to rebuild and reduce Syria’s infrastructure crisis.

In addition, Syria has committed to a deal with Qatar for $7 billion to construct four gas-fueled power plants and a single solar plant. According to Reuters, the energy generated from these facilities is expected to produce 50% of Syria’s electricity and create 50,000-250,000 jobs. However, the deal states that Qatar will own and operate these facilities once completed.

Final Remarks

Perhaps once elections occur, Syria’s infrastructure crisis can be improved and the country can focus on areas that increase its GDP, creating more opportunities for its overwhelmingly impoverished. However, the future remains unclear.

– Owen Armentrout

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

Photo: Flickr

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Digital Midwifery in Bolivia: Rural Mothers and Mobile Tech

Digital Midwifery in Bolivia

In the remote highlands of Bolivia’s Andes, where health care facilities are scarce and distances vast, accessing postpartum care has long been a challenge for new mothers. However, since 2023, a transformative initiative has been underway: midwives equipped with mobile devices and WhatsApp provide virtual postnatal check-ins. They offer guidance on breastfeeding, wound care and infant development, all from the comfort of home.

Bridging the Gap With Technology

Bolivia’s mountainous terrain often makes traditional health care services inaccessible to rural populations. For mothers in these regions, reaching the nearest clinic can mean walking across rugged landscapes for hours or even days. Recognizing this challenge, the Bolivian government, in collaboration with organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Plan International, has been integrating traditional midwives into the formal health care system.

This integration involves training midwives and equipping them with tools to enhance maternal and neonatal care in indigenous communities. For many, this training includes learning how to use mobile technology as a bridge to connect isolated mothers with professional advice. By introducing WhatsApp consultations, midwives can now conduct remote check-ins, answer urgent questions and provide ongoing support to families who would otherwise remain cut off from timely medical care.

A New Era of Maternal Care

The use of mobile technology has revolutionized postpartum care in these communities. Midwives, who are often deeply rooted in the culture and languages of the Indigenous populations they serve, are uniquely positioned to build trust and reduce barriers to care. WhatsApp has become a lifeline for mothers, allowing them to communicate efficiently through voice notes, video calls and photos.

Through these platforms, midwives provide personalized advice on topics such as breastfeeding techniques, recognizing the early signs of postpartum depression, monitoring wound healing after childbirth and ensuring proper infant nutrition. These conversations go beyond clinical checklists—they validate traditional practices while introducing evidence-based recommendations, striking a balance that resonates with local families.

Importantly, this method of care strengthens emotional bonds. Mothers report feeling less isolated and more confident, knowing someone is “just a call away” to answer questions or provide reassurance. This culturally sensitive approach, rooted in both tradition and innovation, ensures that health advice is not only accessible but also trusted.

Impact and Future Prospects

The early results of this initiative are promising. Communities that once faced high rates of postpartum complications are seeing improvements in maternal and infant health. Mothers express greater confidence in caring for themselves and their babies. They report that quick access to midwife guidance helps them resolve health concerns before they become emergencies.

Beyond individual families, the ripple effect is significant. Fathers and extended family members are also included in digital consultations, learning how to support new mothers more effectively. Midwives are gaining professional recognition and increased status within the health care system, bridging the divide between traditional knowledge and modern medicine.

This initiative also reduces the financial burden on families. Without the need to travel long distances, mothers save time and money, resources that can instead be directed toward food, childcare or household needs.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its successes, digital midwifery in Bolivia still faces challenges. Connectivity remains unreliable in some areas; not every household can access smartphones or stable electricity. Training programs will need to be ongoing to ensure midwives are confident using digital platforms and adapting to updates in technology.

Nevertheless, the growth potential is substantial. Policymakers and health organizations are considering ways to expand this model to other rural regions of Bolivia and even across neighboring countries in Latin America. By continuing to blend traditional midwifery practices with digital health tools, Bolivia is setting a precedent for culturally sensitive, accessible and scalable maternal health care.

If successful, digital midwifery could serve as a blueprint for addressing maternal health gaps in other parts of the world with similar geographic and cultural barriers to Bolivia. The initiative highlights how low-cost, user-friendly technology, when placed in the hands of trusted community leaders, can reshape health care systems and save lives.

– Marina Martin

Marina is based in Rapid City, SD, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Free Schooling in Sierra Leone Is Keeping Girls in Class

Free Schooling in Sierra LeoneFree schooling in Sierra Leone began in 2018 and is removing cost barriers so more girls can enroll and stay in school. By abolishing tuition and admission fees in government-approved schools, the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) program makes classrooms more accessible for low-income families.

How Free Schooling in Sierra Leone Works

Launched in August 2018, FQSE covers admission and tuition for primary through senior secondary in government-approved schools. The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) implemented FQSE alongside a World Bank–supported Free Education Project that strengthens system management, teaching practices and learning conditions.

To reduce the everyday barriers that keep girls home, the government and its partners are expanding school meals and other support. In 2023, WFP provided meals to 238,000 pupils in five districts and expanded its home-grown school feeding from 28,000 to 53,000 in early 2024.

The Ministry of Finance has also transferred funds to local councils to operate FQSE school bus services, easing family transport costs. Budget documents further note resources for school feeding and hygiene pads for girls to support attendance.

What’s Changing for Girls

Enrollment has surged since FQSE. UNICEF’s 2024 Situation Analysis reports a 58% increase in enrollment across all levels since the program began. By 2022, gross enrollment rates (GER) were high across primary (157%), junior secondary (106%) and senior secondary (86%). Girls’ GER was higher than boys’ at all levels—a sign that policy shifts are bringing girls into classrooms.

Completion and transition rates are improving. UNICEF reports current completion levels of 64% in primary, 44% in junior secondary and 22% in senior secondary—baseline figures that FQSE and allied programs aim to raise.

Keeping girls in school also means putting enough trained adults before each class. The 2023 and 2024 Annual School Censuses counted 90,073 and 91,224 teachers, respectively (78,325 in public schools in 2024), reflecting growth in the workforce. Furthermore, the World Bank-supported reforms are making teacher deployment more evidence-based, guiding where new hires go to reduce overcrowding.

After lifting its ban on visibly pregnant girls attending school, Sierra Leone took a major step toward expanding access to education. It adopted a National Policy on Radical Inclusion in Schools to ensure marginalized learners—pregnant girls, young mothers and children with disabilities—remain in class.

Why This Adds Up

Free schooling in Sierra Leone is removing fees, feeding students, getting them to school and staffing classrooms—the mix that keeps girls learning. Indeed, with enrollment surging and girls’ participation now meeting or exceeding boys’, the next step is turning time in school into strong learning outcomes through continued teacher support and inclusive policies. Ultimately, free schooling in Sierra Leone keeps girls in class today, positioning them for better jobs and incomes tomorrow.

– Riddhi Sharma

Riddhi is based in Richmond, BC, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Programs Driving River Cleanups in India

River Cleanups in IndiaHome to approximately 1.5 billion people, India has the highest population of any country in the world. Stretching more than 1.269 million square miles (3.3 million square kilometers), it is the seventh-largest country in the world by area. It is home to several climates, including snowy mountain ranges, deserts, flat plains and tropical rainforests.

India’s Pollution Crisis

Due to its large population and industrialization, India has consistently ranked as one of the most polluted countries in the world. In 2024, India ranked fifth on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and 120 out of 122 on the Water Quality Index. Only one-fifth of India’s industrial waste is processed and disposed of properly, leading its citizens to dump waste into rivers.

Every year, millions of tons of waste, sewage and runoff collect in these rivers, resulting in terrible smells, contamination and health issues from water-borne illnesses like cholera, hepatitis A, dysentery and typhoid.

India’s Water Scarcity Challenge

Despite being home to 18% of the world’s population and 400 rivers, India remains one of the most water-stressed countries globally. About 600 million Indians, nearly half the population, face water-related challenges such as contamination and limited access. Around 70% of rivers are polluted with sewage and industrial waste, while 75% of rural households, totaling 63.4 million people, lack access to safe water. Environmental experts in India warn that by 2030, the country’s water demand could be twice the available supply.

The lack of clean water affects all aspects of life in India, especially agriculture, on which 70% of households depend for their livelihoods. About 52% of the sector still relies on rainfall, as groundwater is rapidly depleting across the country. Given India’s intense monsoon season and high rainfall, rainwater harvesting remains the only reliable method for many farmers to secure clean, usable water for food production.

However, India’s agricultural industry doesn’t just affect the country itself. India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of milk and legumes and the second-largest producer of cattle, rice, fruit, cotton and sugarcane. The lack of clean water impacts every part of the environment, hindering domestic crop production and global food accessibility.

River Cleanups in India

Fortunately, several initiatives in India and beyond are working to clean up the country’s most polluted rivers and expand access to safe water for its citizens. Below are some key programs tackling India’s water crisis:

  • The River Cities Alliance (RCA): Launched in 2021 by the United Nations, the RCA invests in river cleanups across polluted cities worldwide and in India, it works closely with the Namami Ganga Mission, a government-led effort to restore the Ganga River, the country’s third-longest river. The RCA program is scheduled to end by March 2026.
  • Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation: Founded in Mumbai, a city burdened with 13 of the world’s 144 most polluted river systems, the foundation partners with global organizations to achieve two main goals: removing plastic pollution from rivers and oceans and preventing further plastic inflow into Mumbai’s waterways.
  • The Ocean Cleanup: Founded by Dutch innovator Boyan Slat, this initiative deploys fleets of riverboats to collect plastic waste from rivers and oceans. Since 2024, in partnership with the Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation, The Ocean Cleanup has intercepted millions of tons of plastic from Mumbai’s rivers before entering the Indian Ocean.

Conclusion

India’s water crisis stems from rapid growth, industrialization, and agricultural pressures, but progress is possible. Initiatives like those above prove that collective action can restore rivers, protect health, and secure livelihoods.

– Zoe Alatsas

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

Photo: Flickr

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Drones in Nepal Delivering Hope via Medical Supplies

Drones in Nepal

Nepal’s mountainous terrain and fragile road network create severe challenges for medical access. In Dudhauli Municipality’s Ward 12, residents face hour-long drives on rocky roads prone to landslides and flooding during the monsoon season, often cutting them off from urgent care. In such regions, delays in medical delivery can be the difference between life and death. That is why medical drones in Nepal are vital to local communities.

Amma: The Drone Project Bringing Medicine to Villages

In response, a collaboration between Storming Universe, Kathmandu University and partners in Portugal is pioneering a new solution. The project, called Amma, meaning “mother” in Nepali, focuses on using drones to deliver life-saving supplies such as blood and essential medicines directly to isolated villages.

A recent test flight transported supplies from Sirthauli Hospital to Ward 12, demonstrating drones’ potential to bypass treacherous terrain. Locals and medical teams expressed optimism, seeing medical drones in Nepal as a reliable and faster alternative to traditional transport methods.

Partnerships Driving Innovation

The Amma project benefits from wide-ranging support. Turkish Airlines has provided transportation backing, while Madhuka Drone Services, a Nepali company specializing in drone services, is exploring integrating the technology into regular operations. With local adoption, the initiative could scale nationwide, offering thousands of communities a safer path to health care.

This effort builds on earlier partnerships with groups like Options Consultancy Services and Nepal Flying Labs, which worked with the Government of Nepal to test drones for delivering tuberculosis samples and COVID-19 vaccines. These trials highlighted the role of medical drones in Nepal in addressing health system shortages and bringing “last mile” health care to underserved populations.

Global Context and Local Solutions

Globally, drones are gaining recognition for their role in health care logistics. From carrying sputum samples in rural India to delivering emergency medicines in sub-Saharan Africa, drone technology is transforming access to essential care. In Nepal, 80% of the population lives in rural areas, with many communities several hours away from hospitals. Drones could play a vital role in reducing preventable deaths.

Moreover, local innovators such as Prokura Innovations, supported by UNICEF’s Innovation Fund, build low-cost drones domestically, ensuring technology is adapted to Nepal’s unique terrain and needs. These efforts emphasise sustainability, training local operators and embedding services within national health systems.

A Beacon of Hope

Though challenges such as limited payload capacity and regulatory hurdles remain, the Amma project represents a hopeful shift in Nepal’s health care delivery. By harnessing drone technology, isolated communities gain faster medical care and renewed trust in the possibility of timely health care.

As Amma and similar initiatives expand, medical drones in Nepal carrying blood, vaccines and medicines could soon become common across the country’s skies. Ultimately, they could offer lifelines of hope and survival.

– Robert Darke

Robert is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Thailand and Cambodia Ceasefire: How Their Civilians Are Affected

Thailand and CambodiaSince May 2025, Thailand and Cambodia have been embroiled in a conflict over their disputed border, however, on July 28, a ceasefire was declared. Although tensions are still high, a truce is still a good sign for peace in the future. As the ceasefire continues to be negotiated, one of the most important questions is how the civilian population of both countries will recover from the damage of the conflict. Here’s an overview of the effects on the civilians and what Thailand and Cambodia can do to ensure their welfare going forward.

Thailand and Cambodia’s Border Dispute: An Overview

The war between Thailand and Cambodia flared up in May after decades of tensions over their border. The dispute dates back to the ’50s, when Cambodia gained independence from France and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded it part of the contested territory. This is not the first time the conflict has turned violent; the first open clashes occurred in 2008. Fighting subsided after the ICJ intervention in 2013, but flared again in May of this year.

The specific area being fought over lies in northwestern Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and the adjacent northeastern region of Thailand. The current conflict has mostly been fought over a distance, with strategic bombing campaigns rather than ground invasions. The first shots in this particular conflict were fired on May 28, 2025. Official military conflict lasted five days in July 2025 and a ceasefire was announced shortly afterward.

The Civilian Toll

Given the brief nature of this conflict, civilian deaths have been relatively low. However, it is estimated that around 175,000 civilians have been displaced due to bombing campaigns from both parties. The civilians have been able to remain in their home countries, but still have to deal with large-scale property destruction.

Civilian displacement is one of the most common sources of quality-of-life reduction in war. It typically occurs as a result of large-scale property destruction. This property destruction can accelerate poverty due to worsened living conditions. It can also lead to overcrowding issues in the areas where they are being relocated, making supplies more scarce. With such a large number of displaced persons, Thailand and Cambodia’s ceasefire arriving as soon as it did was vital.

Moving Forward

To prevent civilians from falling into impoverished conditions, rebuilding in Thailand and Cambodia will be needed. The process of moving displaced civilians back to their homes has not begun yet. Logistically speaking, this rebuilding and relocating process will be expensive. However, this rebuilding process is vital to the health and well-being of both countries.

Both countries have a long way to go before establishing lasting peace. Even after this ceasefire was declared, both Thailand and Cambodia have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire. Even still, this ceasefire is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, this can lead to a more lasting peace between the two nations.

– Thaddeus Konieczny

Thaddeus is based in Williamston, MI, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay