Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Reducing Poverty in Grenada: Social and Economic Reforms

Poverty in GrenadaNestled in the West Indies of the eastern Caribbean Sea, the small island of Grenada is home to approximately 117,300 people. Affectionately known as “Spice Island” for its nutmeg, cinnamon and mace export, Grenada is a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean. However, it is not widely recognized that Grenada has a staggering poverty rate of 25%, which has shown little reduction over the last 15 years. According to the World Bank, despite some progress, poverty levels have remained relatively unchanged since the early 2000s, with the most recent development indicators estimating that one in four Grenadians continues to live below the national poverty line.

Grenada’s Economy and the Face of Poverty

Grenada spans just 132.8 square miles, making it smaller than the United States’ tiniest state, Rhode Island. Its economy is primarily driven by the services sector, especially tourism, which accounts for most of its GDP and employment. Agriculture still plays a role, especially in rural areas, where spices, cocoa and bananas are key exports.

Yet, high unemployment and underemployment continue to drive poverty. Unemployment remains at 11.1% as of 2023, with informal work, seasonal jobs and low-wage employment common across the island. Many Grenadians engage in informal sectors such as tourism services, market vending, salons, agricultural labor and small-scale entrepreneurship. Agriculture employs 13.8% of the labor force, contributing only 2.75% of GDP.

Infrastructure, Social Protection and UN-Led Development

Grenada has partnered with international institutions on several large-scale development projects to address systemic poverty. Infrastructure development is a key pillar in the island’s poverty reduction strategy. In 2015, the World Bank approved a $15 million Development Policy Credit and Loan. It aimed to improve disaster resilience, upgrade public sector management and boost the economy through improved agricultural and tourism networks.

Social protections have also been expanded. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grenada implemented an emergency stimulus package with unemployment benefits, tax relief and support for small businesses. These efforts were backed by more than $28 million in financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Caribbean Development Bank.

Rural Development and the SEED Program

In rural communities, targeted interventions have shown promising outcomes. One major initiative is the Market Access and Rural Enterprise Development Program (MAREP), co-funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Grenada. With a total budget of $7.5 million, this project helped train and fund small-scale rural entrepreneurs, especially among youth and women.

The Support for Education, Empowerment and Development (SEED) Program is critical to Grenada’s social safety net. This program provides conditional cash transfers to low-income families, especially those with school-aged children. SEED supports vulnerable populations by ensuring continued access to education and basic needs while incentivizing school attendance and health checkups. According to The Borgen Project, SEED has been central in reducing short-term poverty and fostering long-term social development in Grenada.

The United Nations Country Implementation Plan (CIP) 2024–2025 also recognizes the SEED program as a pillar of Grenada’s social protection network. The CIP supports Grenada in enhancing climate resilience, economic stability and social inclusion, with 38% of plan funding directed toward economic resilience and 10% toward social and justice systems.

Conclusion

Grenada’s efforts to combat poverty reflect a multi-pronged approach—addressing infrastructure gaps, improving social safety nets and supporting rural livelihoods. International aid and government programs have made measurable impacts, from the World Bank’s investment in the nation to the SEED program’s day-to-day support for families. Yet, challenges remain. Persistent unemployment, informal labor and climate vulnerabilities still threaten progress on the Spice Island.

– Jamaya Newton

Jamaya is Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Reasons For Venezuela’s Displacement Crisis

Venezuela’s Displacement CrisisSince 2014, Venezuela has faced a major displacement crisis. With limited access to basic rights, food, medicine and other essentials, many Venezuelans have turned to extreme survival strategies, the most common being to flee the country.

Around 8 million people have left Venezuela, making it the world’s second-largest displacement crisis. Of these, about 6.7 million migrants and refugees remain in Latin American and Caribbean countries, with Colombia hosting the largest share at 2.8 million. 

Economic Collapse

Venezuela’s displacement crisis is fundamentally rooted in a devastating economic collapse. Triggered by a perfect storm of plummeting oil prices, mismanaged state policies and weakening sanctions. With oil accounting for 95% of Venezuela’s export earnings, the 2014 collapse in global oil prices wiped out the country’s main revenue stream.

As inflation soared to hyperinflationary heights, with annual rates exceeding 344,510%, Venezuela lost access to essential services. Around 90% of the population cannot afford food, which has led to widespread breakdowns in health and nutrition.

Analysts have described Venezuela’s economy as “free fall,” with GDP shrinking by roughly one-third between 2013 and the mid-2010s. Adding to these pressures, U.S.-led sanctions, described by Tricontinental as “Unilateral Coercive Measures,” have deepened Venezuela’s economic collapse. Between 2017 and December 2024, they wiped out oil revenues equal to 213% of GDP, a staggering loss of more than $200 billion.

This economic failure has forced millions into poverty and desperation. Unable to meet basic needs at home, Venezuelans were compelled to flee in search of security and subsistence, which makes the country’s economic collapse one of the main drivers of its displacement crisis.

Political Instability

Political instability in Venezuela has become a powerful catalyst for Venezuela’s displacement crisis, propelled by authoritarian repression, democratic erosion and systematic violence. Since the July 2024 election, state forces and pro-government colectivos have carried out pervasive abuses and killings. They have enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture specifically targeting protesters, opposition members and innocent bystanders.

In 2025, Freedom House classified Venezuela as “not free,” citing the collapse of democratic structures and the elimination of dissent, while a recent U.N. Fact-Finding Mission confirmed ongoing crimes against humanity involving political persecution. This political violence has stripped Venezuelans of safety and legal recourse. When peaceful protest leads to detention or disappearance, families see exile as the only option.

The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) 2025 crisis response cites political persecution alongside all the violence as core drivers of migration. Together, systematic repression and institutional collapse have made political instability a central force behind Venezuela’s displacement crisis.

Human Rights Violations

Human rights violations are another major force behind Venezuela’s displacement crisis, with thousands of people facing violence, mistreatment and fear for their safety. Reports from Amnesty International describe widespread arbitrary arrests, in which individuals are detained without explanation or access to legal support. Many detainees are held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, facing beatings, denial of medical care and psychological abuse.

The U.N. Fact-Finding Mission and other human rights groups have also documented enforced disappearances where individuals vanish, being taken away by security forces. This leaves families in a state of uncertainty for weeks or months. The U.K.’s June 2025 Statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council reports more than 900 individuals arbitrarily detained or forced to disappear. Legal safeguards have been gutted, with civil society stifled under “Anti-NGO” legislation.

Moreover, enforced disappearances have continued into mid-2025. Amnesty International reports at least 15 cases of forced disappearances, of which eight remain unsolved. Victims include children, Journalists and everyday citizens who have simply spoken out about shortages, poor services or safety concerns.

These abuses have caused deep emotional trauma, family disruption and a constant climate of fear. For many, the risk of being targeted is so high that leaving Venezuela becomes the only way to protect themselves and their loved ones.

What’s Being Done To Help?

A combination of international agencies, humanitarian organizations and regional governments is leading efforts to address Venezuela’s displacement crisis. Indeed, the U.N. Refugee Agency and IOM coordinate large-scale assistance through regional refugee and migrant response plans. These organizations deliver emergency shelter, food, health care and documentation support to Venezuelans across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Nongovernmental organizations like World Vision and Amnesty International are working to protect vulnerable groups, provide psychological support and ensure displaced children can continue their education. Additionally, the Quito Process, a regional initiative involving more than a dozen countries, is helping harmonize policies on temporary protection status, enabling migrants to work legally and access public services.

With sustained global attention, coordinated aid and fair treatment for those displaced, there is hope to ease the suffering and help millions rebuild their lives beyond the borders of Venezuela.

– Charlie Wood

Charlie is based in West Yorkshire, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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How Violating Women’s Rights in Afghanistan Worsens Life for All

Women’s Rights in AfghanistanOn August 15, 2021, the lives of the Afghan people underwent a stochastic lifestyle shift. It marked the establishment of a Taliban-governed Afghan state for the first time since 2001. This theocratic regime has been characterized by humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as oppressive toward women, with documented restrictions on their rights to work, education, freedom of movement and public participation. Additional documented human rights concerns include religious intolerance, persecution of minorities, suppression of press and speech freedoms, extrajudicial killings and denial of due process.

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, coined “The Fall of Kabul,” was a far more hastened onslaught of events than American intelligence and even the Taliban themselves anticipated. The United States military completed its withdrawal by August 30, 2021. ​​It took the Taliban just 10 days to retake Afghanistan. The only thing to change as impetuously in Afghanistan as the system of government change was the constitutional rights of Afghan women.

Impact of Women’s Rights Restrictions

The current restriction of women’s rights in Afghanistan represents a significant regression in what the United Nations (U.N.) defines as “Equality and Nondiscrimination.” It statistically correlates with broader socioeconomic decline affecting all Afghan demographics, including men.

Afghan Taliban policies include bans on women’s education, female employment in the private sector, women’s suffrage, female representation in government, female access to trial rights, medical training for women and women’s right to speak in public. These practices have been documented to impact the broader population through decreased access to services, reduced household incomes and legal system imbalances.

Additionally, women face restricted rights in divorce and marriage, including an increased incidence of forced marriages, as well as a rise in femicide cases since 2021. International justice organizations have reported these as systemic issues enabled by the current legal environment.

Economic Effects of Banning Female Employment

Under Taliban governance, Afghan women have been banned from working with NGOs and other sectors. Women comprised approximately 17% of the workforce in 2021, a number that declined to 5.1% by 2024. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) projects this exclusion could result in annual economic losses of $1 billion.

The U.N. notes Afghanistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted by 27% from 2021 to 2023. Research from the IMF and World Bank demonstrates that equal labor participation improves GDP per capita and increases national wealth. These economic impacts are mirrored in reported wage declines affecting 80% of Afghan households since 2021.

Socioeconomic Effects of Banning Female Education

The Taliban has banned education for girls after the age of 12. Evidence indicates that adolescent female education directly supports GDP growth, with a 10% increase in girls’ school attendance associated with a 3% increase in GDP. Each additional year of girls’ secondary education raises future earnings by 10–20%.

The World Bank has found that education improves outcomes in health, marriage age, fertility and child well-being, all of which contribute to a more resilient economy and society. The ban on women’s medical training further exacerbates deficits in health services and public health knowledge dissemination.

The Cost of Silencing Women in Politics

The Taliban has revoked Afghan women of their political and legal rights. Elections have been suspended, women are barred from holding office and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been dismantled, removing all avenues for female political participation. Academic studies have found that expanding women’s voting rights increases the passage of socially beneficial policies and contributes to broader economic growth.

According to the World Economic Forum and U.N. Women, countries with high female political participation show stronger wage equality, labor protections and economic performance outcomes. Furthermore, denying trial rights to women undermines due process protections and may incentivize exploitation by removing legal accountability mechanisms. The rise in femicide and forced marriages has been documented as a direct consequence of these legal imbalances.

The Taliban’s prohibition on women speaking in public continues to reduce their civic visibility and participation. Indeed, this gender-based exclusion contributes to widespread psychological strain, with 80% of Afghan women reporting symptoms of clinical depression.

Organizations Fighting for Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

The curtailment of women’s rights in Afghanistan is not going unchallenged. Many organizations are actively on the ground trying to restore the constitutional rights of Afghan men. The Malala Fund offers digital learning programs that provide access to education to more than two million girls in Afghanistan. The organization also assists Afghan women activists advocating to make gender apartheid a crime under international law.

Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a pro bono organization that offers mental health treatment to 13,455 women and 3,515 girls in 14 provinces across Afghanistan. WAW also provides safe shelters to Afghan women-led households, an impactful cause because 80% of the citizens in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan are women.

Razia’s Ray Ray of Hope Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to expand female educational enrollment. It also runs nutritional programs that distribute school lunches to female students. The organization’s Menstrual Health and Hygiene Program provides more than 2,000 girls and women with essential items, including menstrual products, laundry and body soap, shampoo and new underwear.

Conclusion

According to development studies, a return to the constitutional rights Afghan women held before 2021 is believed to ameliorate the standard of living across Afghan society. Implementing inclusive gender reforms could provide Afghanistan with a similar trajectory toward sustainable development.

– Danial Osmani

Danial focuses on Politics for  The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Arukah Network: Uplifting Communities Through Collaboration

Arukah NetworkIn the Himalayan Mountains of India during the early 2000s, community members worked passionately in small groups to cultivate community health and humanitarian programs. Some of their efforts were successful, but there was a problem: the groups usually worked in isolation. After noticing the need for a solution to boost the effectiveness of organizations through partnerships, Dr. Ted Lankester co-founded Arukah Network in 2004.

The Arukah Network Model

Arukah Network aims to help establish and nurture independent local groups or “Clusters” that collaborate to serve their communities by improving health and well-being. Clusters are teams of people with diverse skills and backgrounds from a common geographical or themed interest. Arukah Network’s broader organization creates and supports Clusters by connecting with, supporting, mentoring, training and encouraging local community leaders to equip them with tools to be advocates for their communities.

In effect, Cluster leaders educate and support local members by building relationships, mobilizing resources, developing support networks, conducting training and hosting events. Some groups have improved sanitation and maternal health, provided emergency aid, reduced sexual violence, increased disability inclusion and promoted community reconciliation.

A Different Kind of Aid

When nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) come into communities, they often decide what the people need and fund those projects, said Brian Wainana, Arukah Network’s Communications & Network Engagement Lead, in an interview with The Borgen Project. Because that approach rarely leads to sustainable solutions, Arukah Network chose a different method.

The organization believes communities know more about their needs and possible solutions than most outsiders. Therefore, Arukah’s aid model emphasizes the need for people to identify their challenges and devise solutions as a community. Due to this framework, Clusters can be self-sufficient and sustain operations through entrepreneurship, fundraising and sourcing grants. For instance, after the Ekari Cluster in Malawi created a farmer co-operative to restore community confidence and cultivate resources, the Cluster received $85,000 from a U.S. government grant in 2024.

The Arukah Network uses the Support and Stimulate, Appreciate, Learn and Transfer (SALT) approach to help transformative community conversations occur. SALT visits, where a team of people visit a community to speak with local people about their experiences, lead to discussions about ways to address relevant challenges in that region. “So, it’s much more than a way of working: it’s a way of thinking and being that values the strengths hidden within a neighborhood,” said Wainana.

A benefit of this model is that it allows civilians to collaborate with local governments, Wainana said. Arukah believes that the government’s primary responsibility is to support its citizenry’s health systems and public health priorities, along with preventative and curative care. In resource-poor areas, where government services are under strain, Clusters have worked to cultivate partnerships with their governments to amplify social safety institutions.

Arukah Network’s Multinational Operations

Arukah Network has 15 Cluster organizations throughout Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and India. Each Cluster works in response to the health and humanitarian needs unique to that area.

Clusters in India work mainly to improve access to health care and advocate for disability inclusion. In contrast, the Cluster in Tanzania prioritizes human rights. Clusters in Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Rwanda focus primarily on agriculture. Wainana said additional areas of interest to most Clusters include entrepreneurship, mental health, women’s empowerment and creative arts.

Arukah Network’s Crisis Response

A clear example of a Cluster group offering effective humanitarian support during times of need is the one operating in Goma, DRC. Although the Cluster in Goma was disempowered after the M23 rebel group captured the city in early 2025, Arukah Network members still stepped up. They supported 47 unaccompanied children in refugee camps each week and ran conflict awareness campaigns.

The Cluster in Goma is supporting child-led families who lost their parents in the war, training other groups on “the Arukah model of collaboration” and continuing a chicken-raising project that helps sustain the group, Wainana said. The group also raised funds to provide school supplies for orphans and food for older people. At one point, communication lines were cut and rebels were committing violence against civilians. “Despite safety concerns, the Cluster has kept going, seeking to help those around them,” said Wainana.

The Future of Arukah

After the Goma Cluster proved the impact of its training and community engagement, a new Cluster was launched more than 300 kilometers away in Uvira, DRC. The Uvira Cluster aims to support survivors of gender-based violence in the region. Arukah Network receives funding from yearly trust grants and monthly donations. However, due to decreased funding, Arukah Network’s ability to provide quick emergency relief funds to needy Clusters, such as the Goma Cluster, is affected.

“We think global priorities are shifting, hence the decrease in funding,” Wainana said. In addition, worldwide inflation results in higher bills and decreased people’s likelihood to donate to charity.

USAID officially ceased operations in July 2025, while the U.K. is reducing its aid output to focus on defense spending. These cuts are beginning to harm nonprofit humanitarian organizations like Arukah Network. Increased investments in global public health are necessary to sustain groups like Arukah Network and their ability to provide support to communities in need.

– Erin Hellhake

Erin is based in Old Bridge, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Tourism and Wealth Inequality in Costa Rica

Wealth Inequality in Costa RicaCosta Rica enjoys a reputation as one of Latin America’s success stories, largely thanks to its thriving tourism industry and political stability. Despite this, 5.9% of Costa Rica’s 5 million people live in extreme poverty and wealth inequality is increasing across the country. Though historically it has generated many advantages, tourism is now one of the most significant factors contributing to wealth inequality in Costa Rica. The World Bank’s recent aid provision for the country sets out a program of inclusive growth designed to tackle this issue.

Wealth Inequality in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small Central American nation with many impressive development indicators. It ranks 62nd (globally) on the Human Development Index and its people live longer on average than those in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Costa Rica’s welcoming image is shaped by the government’s decision to dissolve its military in 1948 and its reputation as a global leader in rewilding and ecotourism. It contrasts sharply with many of its Latin American neighbors, especially its troubled border nation, Nicaragua.

Yet, as well as those living in extreme poverty, 25% of Costa Ricans live below the poverty line. The country’s GINI Coefficient, a measure of wealth inequality, increased more than any other country between 2010 and 2021. This makes Costa Rica one of the most unequal countries in Latin America.

Wealth inequality in Costa Rica disproportionately affects those with African heritage, indigenous peoples, single mothers and Nicaraguan immigrants. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of Nicaraguan migrants living in poverty became 50% higher than that of any migrant group in Costa Rica, such that they are considered to live with a “structurally higher poverty rate.”

Tourism in Costa Rica

Costa Rican tourism has flourished since the ’90s, with popular sites such as the Monteverde cloud forest and Manuel Antonio National Park attracting millions of visitors yearly. Tourists from the U.S., Canada and Europe bring vast amounts of money into the country.

Around 8% of Costa Rica’s total GDP is attributed to tourism, making it one of the country’s largest economic sectors besides foreign investment. The industry employs about 550,000 people, more than 10% of the population and has lifted many out of poverty. Costa Rica also attracts large numbers of expatriates, many of whom stay longer to work remotely.

Impacts on Locals

Tourism in Costa Rica is presenting serious challenges. The emergence of the so-called “Gringo Market” highlights the sharp rise in food and rental prices in popular tourist areas. In these places, the cost of living reflects the purchasing power of tourists rather than residents. These prices overspill into the rest of the country, compounded by the sheer volume of Costa Rica’s land area on the tourist circuit.

Locals are often priced out of their homes and only 16% of the population can financially access the typical living costs of a short-term tourist, reflecting a stark divide. While many benefit from being employed in tourism, many lose out on the distorted living costs that tourism generates.

Visitor numbers declined in the last year, owing to the rising strength of the Costa Rican colon against the dollar and the consequently lower exchange rates afforded to visitors. This foreshadows a long-term tourism climate where only the wealthiest visitors can afford to come. As a result, food and rental inflation will continue, driving out middle-class tourists on whom Costa Rica’s tourism industry and thousands of affiliated jobs depend.

Wealth inequality in Costa Rica is exacerbated by many factors other than tourism. These include import taxes on basic foods, clothing and electronics and governmental bureaucracy slowing economic growth. Yet the overarching concern surrounding Costa Rica’s tourism dependence is that its government and businesses continue to prioritise the needs of tourists ahead of its people. Opposition to tourism in Costa Rica is feared by stakeholders who are cautious of discouraging foreign investors.

Taking Action: The World Bank

The World Bank supports several aid programs in Costa Rica, with a combined value of more than $1.6 million, mainly through U.S. funding. Its 2024 Country Partnership Framework (CPF), administered in cooperation with the Costa Rican government, focuses on pursuing inclusive economic growth to address the country’s rising wealth inequality.

Acknowledging the rising wealth inequality created by Costa Rica’s foreign investment and tourism-driven economy, the CPF has introduced several initiatives. These include diversifying the economy and strengthening the country’s social protection systems. These measures will directly benefit disadvantaged groups such as Nicaraguan migrants, indigenous peoples, single mothers and Afro-descendants.

By 2026, the scheme anticipates reducing Costa Rica’s poverty rate from 25% to 19.5% and its GINI coefficient from 0.509 to 0.493.

Conclusion

Tourism is vital yet challenging for Costa Rica, creating many job opportunities while also deepening wealth inequality. However, initiatives such as those supported by the World Bank offer a chance to address some of this dominant industry’s drawbacks and provide disadvantaged groups with a more inclusive economic outlook.

– Joseph Webb

Joseph is based in Norwich, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Health Improvements in Malawi: A Revised Health Care Budget

Health Improvements in MalawiMalawi is a small country near the Eastern coast of Africa, nestled between Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. The nation found freedom from Britain on July 6, 1964 and has since become an agricultural nation. The country itself is nearly 46,000 square miles, boasting mountains and lakes. The most well-known lake is Lake Malawi, the ninth-largest lake in the world and the third-largest in Africa. As of 2025, Malawi has a population of 19 million and an expanded health budget, leading to significant improvements in the country’s health care system.

Why Did the Budget Increase Now?

Several organizations focused on financial assistance and health financing supported the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs in drafting Malawi’s 2025/2026 health budget. Their involvement extended beyond health and contributed to shaping the entire national budget. Key organizations included the Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD-ARO), the Advancing Domestic Health Financing (ADHF) project, well-equipped civil society organizations (CSOs) and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP).

Another factor behind Malawi’s increased health budget is the Lusaka Agenda, launched on Universal Health Coverage Day, after a 14-month global consultative process. It outlines five strategic shifts to better align external support with a single national plan, budget and monitoring framework. Indeed, as the foundation of Malawi’s new budget, it is expected to drive sustainable health improvements nationwide.

The Scale of the Health Budget Increase

The overall health care budget for Malawi for 2025 and 2026 has risen by 8.5%, from $421 million to $456 million. Funding for family planning commodities rose by 10%, increasing from about $404,000 to $445,000. Direct Facility Financing saw a sharp 150% rise, from around $115,000 to $288,000.

The government also pledged roughly $11.5 million to build 55 new health posts. Meanwhile, the national drug budget expanded by 25%, reaching nearly $40.4 million and the vaccine budget grew substantially by 150%, climbing from about $577,000 to $1.44 million.

What New Programs Will Be Added?

According to the AFIDEP, the newly improved budget will focus on sexual and reproductive wellness, family planning and strengthening things on the administrative side. However, these improvements are not the only steps being taken; general health care in Malawi will also improve. These efforts will assist people wanting to start families and keep themselves safe.

Other Ways the Increased Budget Will Help

The increase in Malawi’s health budget is expected to improve health care nationwide. Young people are mobilizing to learn more about health issues, equipping themselves to make informed decisions and influence how the system serves them.

Furthermore, through the READY Movement, an organization focused on youth empowerment, young people are being educated about HIV prevention and the funding gaps in this area of the new budget. They are better positioned to influence their communities and advocate for stronger health care responses by raising awareness.

– Zoe Felder

Zoe is based in Charlotte, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Ending Extreme Poverty by 2050

Ending Extreme PovertyEnding extreme poverty globally is not a new goal. The United Nations set in motion the formal goal of Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” by 2030. The World Bank has upheld this hope with the goal of reducing extreme poverty to 3% or less of the globe by 2030, which is no longer feasible.

Some experts contend that broadening the horizon to end extreme poverty by 2050 could provide a more feasible pathway forward to overcome structural inequalities, climate pressures and economic impediments. Similarly, 2050 provides countries additional time to enact systemic changes that include enhancing health care access to education, increasing infrastructure development and improving climate adaptation, all of which are important steps toward sustainable poverty reduction.

Global Poverty

According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2022 report, almost 700 million people still live on less than $2.15 a day. This is even after a historic low since 1990, which has lifted more than one billion people out of extreme poverty. Climate instability is one of the biggest threats to people and livelihoods while also impacting economies, especially in low-income countries.

Weather disasters such as extreme weather, flooding and droughts primarily affect low-income countries. Environmental disruptions can easily push economic growth in countries where communities have shown economic growth back into extreme poverty. Income inequality is another complex challenge to global, regional and local progress.

As the wealthy in a region benefit from growth, the vulnerable become further entrenched in poverty. Public health systems and preventive care remain weak, even as income levels rise. Meanwhile, billions of people still lack access to clean water and sanitation.

Issues such as high energy prices, the war in Ukraine, global conflicts and rising inflation can stall poverty reduction and strain both public and private resources. This underscores the need for leaders to consider how national strategies can be supported and extended into long-term sustainable initiatives.

Organizations Driving the Fight Against Poverty

Many organizations are working to address these challenges. The United Nations (U.N.) continues to lead global efforts through its 17 SDGs. The World Bank provides funding, technical assistance and progress measurement. UNICEF works to expand access to education, health care and clean water for children in developing countries. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) delivers food assistance to more than 150 million people each year, targeting hunger as one of the root causes of poverty.

Regional development banks, NGOs and private foundations also contribute funding, expertise and innovation to programs that support livelihoods and foster inclusive economic growth. Yet it is concrete collective action, from these actors and others, that has made it clear that ending extreme poverty is not only a moral necessity but also a global economic and political priority.

Final Remarks

Investments in renewable energy, climate-resilient development, infrastructure and universal education will all be integral to establishing systems that permanently move people out of poverty.

The benefits of achieving this goal would be global: stronger economies, larger markets, greater social stability from a better-educated citizenry and improved health for all.

– Sophia Scelza

Sophia is based in Lindenhurst, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Elderly Poverty in the Marshall Islands

Elderly Poverty in Republic of the Marshall IslandsFor those living in elderly poverty in the Marshall Islands, the challenges and hardships they face may have roots in the country’s economy and society. People within the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) view economic insecurity as a problem as it controls the availability of social security or pension systems. These systems are very limited or inadequate, leaving many of the elderly vulnerable. For example, although health care has improved in RMI, it may be difficult for elders in poverty to access it as a great number of the population is dispersed around the islands.

Elderly poverty in the Marshall Islands also has links to food insecurity. Droughts and increased storms impact the RMI, with both causing a decrease in natural food and water supplies, as well as limiting imports of food and triggering disease outbreaks. Those living in elderly poverty may also experience inadequate housing or loss of coastal homes due to the sea levels rising and storm patterns.

The main cause of elderly poverty in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is due to the dependence on the United States for jobs. Due to the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the citizens of the Marshall Islands can live and work in the U.S. without visas.

This dependence on the U.S. to provide jobs creates no gainful employment opportunities for Marshallese citizens on-island. Some citizens rely on those migrating out for jobs to send out goods as their support.

Changing Weather Patterns

Major natural hazards due to changing weather patterns in the Marshall islands are sea level rise, droughts and tropical storms and typhoons. Threats from droughts and saltwater intrusion make freshwater scarce throughout the islands. This lack of water undermines food security, which increases reliance on imports to supplement nutrients. The imported food can often be unhealthy and are a risk for those already living with certain health risks such as diabetes, obesity or other infectious diseases.

Limited Health Care Access

The RMI population is strewn across the various islands, making it difficult to provide the citizens with proper health care. Stigmas surrounding illnesses and a trust in traditional healing also encourages the Marshallese to delay seeking proper care.

The Marshallese hold certain cultural values that prevent them from receiving proper medical aid as they may not seek treatment until symptoms become severe. Illnesses such as leprosy, HIV and tuberculosis can cause the afflicted Marshallese to experience discrimination due to the severe stigmas surrounding the illnesses. This also causes the afflicted to avoid seeking proper care. 

Lack of Formal Social Security

While the Marshall Islands has a social insurance system providing old-age benefits, it is not the same as the universal old-age benefit system. The key difference is the availability to all residents regardless of contribution. The old-age pension benefit system within the Marshall Islands outlines a qualifying age of 61, each qualifier would receive a three-month period of coverage earned by a certain amount of work under social security.

Solutions

The Senior Citizens Act of 2018 in the RMI establishes a government policy of supporting senior citizens and promoting elderly well-being as well as societal participation.

Developing formal social security as a solution can help elderly poverty in the Marshall Islands, as eligible retirees receive regular payments that will supply a crucial source of income. Along with this, benefits can extend to a wider range of people in vulnerable groups such as older women, those with lower income and those with less access to private retirement savings or pensions.

A wider availability of benefits will also provide more freedom when it comes to retirement choices. A formal social security system will also incorporate life insurance and disability insurance components. This system would also extend to the younger population, as well as to individuals with severe disabilities.

– Eva Wakelin

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Addressing the Cholera Outbreak in Kenya

Cholera Outbreak in KenyaSince late February 2025, six counties in Kenya have been facing a cholera outbreak. Active transmission is occurring in four counties: Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Turkana.

Cholera Outbreak in Kenya

The first cholera outbreak in Kenya started in 1971, with current challenges such as displacement and poor infrastructure in rural and flood-affected areas intensifying the issue. Cholera outbreaks mainly stem from two significant factors: changes in climate and inadequate access to sanitation and clean water.

Changing climatic conditions have been connected to cholera outbreaks, including rainfall variations, temperature and extreme weather events. Some Kenyans living in areas impacted by severe weather, such as floods or drought, experience displacement, leaving many without access to clean water and sanitation. Due to the complexity of these cross-border influences, it is increasingly challenging to manage cholera outbreaks.

Cholera remains a serious concern, with the most recent long-term outbreak in Kenya lasting from October 2022 to September 2024. During this period, more than 12,000 cases were reported, resulting in more than 200 deaths. With the fatality rate exceeding the global expectation of 1%, coordinated actions are essential to preventing the spread of cholera and to reducing the severity of future outbreaks.

Solution

To combat the cholera outbreak in Kenya, volunteers at the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) are leading emergency response efforts addressing flooding. Flood response teams focus on search and rescue operations and providing relief to those affected.

In addition, the KRCS partnered with the Ministry of Health to engage community members in tackling the issue. Initiatives include programs that improve knowledge and access, such as Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) deployed rapid response teams to three counties in Kenya to support local health care workers. Their work includes managing active cases through contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis and water testing. WHO also supplies cholera kits to affected areas, containing testing materials, medical equipment and essential medications. In Nairobi County alone, these kits treated an estimated 1,100 mild and severe cases.

To reduce the burden on health officials ahead of potential future outbreaks, the WHO and the Ministry of Health in 2024 trained and deployed 120 workers to high-risk counties, equipping them with the tools to treat cholera cases.

Conclusion

With recent history showing prolonged outbreaks and devastating weather events, the ongoing cholera outbreak in Kenya highlights the need for urgent and sustained action. Displacement, lack of access to sanitation and clean water, along with insufficient infrastructure, continue to drive the spread of cholera, particularly in rural and underserved areas. However, coordinated efforts from organizations like the KRCS and the WHO offer hope.

Kenya is taking meaningful steps toward managing this crisis through emergency response and long-term efforts. These include community engagement, training health workers and improving water and sanitation systems. Continued support and investment can help Kenya and surrounding countries break the cycle of recurring outbreaks to build resilience against future public health threats.

– Grace Johnson

Grace is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Diseases Impacting Barbados

Diseases Impacting BarbadosBarbados is a small island nation located in the Caribbean. It is located in the Lesser Antilles, specifically the Windward Islands chain. It has a population of a little above 220,000 people. Barbados is known for being the home country of singer Rihanna, its beautiful, pristine beaches and its rum. However, many diseases are impacting Barbados, making life difficult for its citizens.

Noncommunicable Diseases in Barbados

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in Barbados. According to the Global Food Research Program, NCDs accounted for 83% of all deaths in 2016. The primary reason for this is the high consumption rate of sugary drinks. Diseases such as obesity are rising in Barbados.

However, the country is taking steps to fight against the prevalence of NCDs. In 2015, the country implemented a 10% tax on sugary drinks, which increased to 20% in 2022. The country also passed the National School Nutrition Policy, which improved the food quality in Barbadian schools, added measures relating to proper physical activity for students and promoted community health.

In 2023, an estimated 6.9% of Barbadians aged 15 and older used tobacco and 67.2% of people in this age group were either overweight or obese. Nearly 43% of the population reported insufficient physical activity. About 34.6% of Barbadian women and 17.1% of Barbadian men were overweight or obese.

Additionally, 24.4% of the population aged 18 and older reported high blood pressure in 2015. And in 2014, 12.2% of the population 18 and older reported having diabetes mellitus.

Infectious Diseases in Barbados

Barbados also deals with infectious diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists Barbados as a country with a frequent or continuous risk of dengue. There was a dengue outbreak in the country in 2023-2024, with 3,303 cases. There were also eight confirmed cases of chikungunya in 2024. Diseases caused by mosquito bites (such as dengue and chikungunya) are prevalent across the Caribbean.

Since Barbados is a small island nation, outbreaks of infectious diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika can have particularly big impacts on the country’s health care system and its economic productivity.

Barbados’ economy relies on tourism. An outbreak of infectious diseases might discourage tourists from visiting, causing economic loss for the country and its locals. Diseases impacting Barbados impact not just the country’s public health, but also its economy.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness of Barbados has taken steps to combat these infectious diseases. The ministry engages in public mosquito control and active disease surveillance to prevent/manage outbreaks.

Conclusion

Barbados is currently dealing with both communicable diseases and NCDs. A significant percentage of Barbadians are dealing with obesity. In addition, the country periodically experiences outbreaks of infectious (primarily mosquito-borne) diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These diseases impacting Barbados might adversely affect the country’s health care, economy and quality of life.

However, the government has programs to fight these diseases. The government has instituted a 20% tax on sugary drinks and implemented school programs promoting proper nutrition and physical activity. It also engages in programs such as mosquito control and disease surveillance to fight infectious diseases.

– Samriddha Aryal

Samriddha is based in Centreville, VA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr