Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Updates on SDG 2 in China to Address Hunger

SDG 2 in ChinaIn 2015, the United Nations replaced the eight Millennium Development Goals with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to track countries’ progress in eliminating poverty. SDG 2 focuses on eliminating hunger and China has several updates in this area. Here are the updates on SDG 2 in China.

SDG 2 in China: A General Trend

China observes a low rate of hunger in most of their population and a general downward trend, where fewer people suffer from this issue. In 2000, around 20% of the population was undernourished, but in 2025 that number was less than 2.5% and it continues to decline; those who are malnourished are often located in rural, mountainous areas where they have limited access to infrastructure and government support.

Updates on SDG 2 in China

Hunger challenges in rural areas decrease China’s SDG rating and one can associate most of these issues with local climate.

Rural provinces Gansu and Qinghai observe the highest rates of hunger in China. Earthquakes, droughts and other unpredictable weather events make farming a challenge for people living in Gansu. The most famous earthquakes have reached 7.8-8.5 on the Richter scale and destroyed more than 20,000 square kilometers of land, leaving the people of Gansu struggling to find sufficient resources.

The people of Qinghai experience similar issues and their high altitude often poses agricultural obstacles. Farmers have several adaptive behaviors to ensure sufficient food supply despite environmental challenges. These strategies include adjusting crop planting time, modifying planting structure, using plastic coverings to protect crops, buying agricultural insurance and seeking other sources of food, such as animal meat, eggs or milk, which are easier to protect from environmental events.

The Good News

The vast majority of Chinese people do not have hunger concerns. In 2017, China launched a Rural Revitalization Strategy to combat hunger in rural regions. The policy focuses on developing rural regions and improving farming technology to allow the people living there independence and stability. Methods include: diversifying economic resources of the region beyond farming and handicrafts as well as developing online presence to advertise goods and invite commercial traffic. The policy has already helped more than a billion people and remains a vital source of relief.

Since the challenges in these areas are mainly environmental and not political, the Chinese government becomes a cooperative and powerful actor in this situation. The Chinese Communist Party continues to expand on its strategies to improve the lives of those in more rural regions.

Gansu has rich mineral resources, including coal, iron, copper and various rare Earth metals. The province also has major sources of renewable energy. Hydroelectricity provides most of the power in this area, meaning that the province has an environmentally stable source of energy.

Qinghai is sparsely populated and not heavily developed, but has many natural resources and tourist attractions that hold potential for revenue that could improve the lives of residents. High-quality honey has also become more sought after in recent years. In only the first four months of 2026, exports of honey have increased by more than 20%, largely exporting to countries such as Greece, Singapore and Poland.

China has an extensive railroad and bullet train system which helps transport people and goods over long distances. This can give people living in rural areas more autonomy and allow more connection and development. China could use its railroad system to transport freight and develop the areas and the high-speed bullet trains may function as efficient transportation for people in rural areas to commute or even move to the city to seek more lucrative opportunities as well as allow them to travel to different rural areas with possibly more fertile land.

Conclusion

Although hunger in China persists, solutions are available for people living in these regions. Continued development with maglev and using this technology to focus on rural revitalization can have major impacts on people living with limited access to major infrastructure. Leveraging valuable natural resources and tourist attractions may also increase revenue and improve living conditions.

– Amber Mantiply

Amber is based in Silver Spring, MD, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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3 Notable USAID Programs in Mongolia

USAID Programs in MongoliaEven with its significant economic growth in recent decades, poverty remains a serious issue in Mongolia. According to the Asian Development Bank, 27.1% of the population—about 900,000 people—lived below the poverty line in 2022. The World Bank reports that while Mongolia’s economy grew by 6.9% in 2025, inflation also increased from 6.8% in 2024 to 8.6% in 2025. Higher food and energy costs have made everyday essentials more expensive, while global trade disruptions and the Third Gulf War could further slow economic growth.

The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) recent launch of the five-year Mongolia Strategic Framework in 2023 aims to facilitate the country’s economic growth. As stated in a GoGo Mongolia article, the framework’s primary goals are to improve how democracy functions in Mongolia, strengthen its independence and expand its economy—goals that directly address the root causes of poverty in the country. Here are three specific USAID programs in Mongolia operating under this framework:

1. BEST

One of the key USAID programs in Mongolia is called the Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) Program. USAID created this program in 2019 to help the country’s smaller businesses grow. The BEST program received $15 million in USAID funding to teach business owners how to handle their money, market their products and fill out loan paperwork. USAID especially wanted to reach two groups: businesswomen and business owners living in Mongolia’s countryside.

By December 2024, a news release from the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia stated that 5,397 small businesses acquired loans totaling $100.4 million through the program. These loans helped create more than 4,000 jobs. Women-led businesses received more than half of all loan funding, benefiting 3,005 female entrepreneurs. Another $500,000 went to 176 rural businesses, helping them buy new equipment and hire more workers.

By helping small businesses access financing and expand operations, the BEST program creates income opportunities for Mongolians. Its focus on women-led enterprises and rural businesses is particularly important because these groups often face greater barriers to economic opportunity and financial services. The creation of more than 4,000 jobs demonstrates how the program can help impoverished families improve their financial stability.

2. MEG

Another of the USAID programs in Mongolia focuses on the country’s struggling energy sector. Mongolia relies heavily on old coal plants that cannot keep up with demand, forcing the government to buy power from Russia and China. Though the nation has plenty of sun and wind for clean energy, the coal industry has blocked progress. This has contributed to the rising air pollution in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar. In 2022, USAID launched the Mongolia Energy Governance (MEG) activity in collaboration with Abt Global to fix these issues.

The program works with the government and energy companies to make the power sector more secure by encouraging private investment, developing contingency plans and adopting clean energy technology. So far, MEG has shown real results. The Abt Global 2024 report says 1,727 people have received direct help from the program, 40% being women. With MEG’s help, Mongolia strives to make all of its own electricity by 2030 and sell clean power to neighboring countries by 2040.

Reliable and affordable electricity is integral to poverty reduction. When power shortages occur, households and businesses face higher costs and fewer economic opportunities. By advocating for cleaner, more reliable energy sources, the MEG activity strengthens access to dependable electricity, minimizing disruptions to the economy and reducing pollution that disproportionately affects lower-income communities.

3. CRC

A third USAID program in Mongolia is the Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) project, which helped Mongolians prepare for climate-related disasters through improved disaster planning and climate-smart agriculture. Funded by USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, the project operated in Ulaanbaatar and the provinces of Dornod, Dundgobi, Dornogobi, Gobi-Altai and Uvs before ending early in March 2025 due to a U.S. government Stop Work Order.

Despite the early shutdown, the project directly benefited 65,666 people and supported 29 community-led disaster preparedness projects involving 4,217 participants, according to World Vision Mongolia. The project also helped herders grow their own animal feed through soil-free planting methods. Four herder groups received training and $201,576 in equipment, harvesting more than 40 tons of livestock feed that helped animals survive harsh winter conditions.

Climate disasters can push vulnerable families deeper into poverty by killing livestock and reducing agricultural production. Because many rural Mongolians depend on herding and farming for income, improving disaster preparedness can help protect households from economic setbacks. The CRC project preserved an important source of income and food for rural families, ensuring that they won’t be susceptible to poverty-causing weather conditions.

Why It Matters

These three programs demonstrate the benefit of a long-term effort like the Mongolia Strategic Framework. For Mongolia, a country facing challenges in jobs, energy and climate, this support makes a real difference. That is why USAID programs in Mongolia matter. They help the country build a more resilient future that can benefit the U.S., opening new markets for American products and maintaining a stronger standing for democracy in Asia. With continued funding, Mongolia can thrive.

– Melody Ruiz

Melody Ruiz is based in the Bronx, NY and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Food Systems in Iran: Persisting Through Crisis

Food Systems in IranIn the bazaars of Tehran, a shopkeeper sees his aisles grow quiet as food price inflation reaches 40%. He describes a bleak moment when children enter the store to ask for basic snacks with only 10,000 tomans, which is equal to nearly $0.05 USD. This price point has seemingly disappeared from most local markets. For many families in the capital, the immediate crisis does not involve empty shelves, but rather a collapse in purchasing power that impacts the stability of food systems in Iran. 

Iran, a nation with more than 85 million people, faces significant economic hurdles that impact its ability to maintain a stable food supply. Strengthening food systems in Iran remains a core priority for the state, especially as international sanctions and changing weather patterns place pressure on domestic production. Despite these hurdles, the country continues to implement strategies to enhance the resilience of its agricultural sectors and protect vulnerable populations.

Key Facts About Food Systems in Iran

While challenges clearly exist, the domestic agricultural sector maintains several key strengths:

  • Iran equips approximately 50.1% of its arable land with irrigation systems, which is more than double the global average.
  • The value of food imports accounts for only 10% of total merchandise exports.
  • Per capita food production variability stands at 9.6, indicating a level of production strength that significantly exceeds the global average.

Overcoming Economic and Climate Hurdles

In recent years, two major challenges to food systems in Iran have emerged: intensified international sanctions and severe drought. Unlike many other nations facing insecurity, Iran does not suffer from a physical food shortage. Store shelves across the country remain fully stocked with a wide variety of goods, but international sanctions have reduced foreign exchange earnings, leading to a 40% rise in food price inflation within a single year. 

Such a sharp increase in costs places abundant food out of the financial reach of many families. These economic pressures caused staples like green lentils and vegetable oil to triple in cost. Additionally, water scarcity remains a critical threat as only 2.6% of the land is naturally suitable for agriculture. This makes a nation facing severe drought heavily dependent on irrigation. To ensure citizens have reliable access to food, the government balances domestic farming with necessary imports from abroad.

Government Support for Agriculture

To counter these challenges, the Iranian government provides significant support to the agricultural sector. Currently, the government pays more than 75% of the total cost of chemical fertilizers through subsidies. This financial aid helps farmers maintain output despite the rising costs of equipment and raw materials.

Furthermore, the government offers guaranteed purchase prices for strategic crops like wheat. By allocating energy and fuel at lower prices, the state also reduces the overall operational costs for rural producers. These actions encourage farmers to keep producing during difficult times.

Implementing the Food Voucher Program

One major solution to current challenges within food systems in Iran is the government-led food voucher program. This initiative provides targeted support for the purchase of essential commodities for low-income households. Additionally, earlier this year, officials also raised the monthly minimum wage by 60% to approximately 166 million rials to help families manage rising costs.

While inflation remains a challenge, these cash and non-cash initiatives increase consumer purchasing power and improve the equitable distribution of income. Data shows that these fiscal interventions are necessary to ensure that households can still afford necessities as prices fluctuate.

Looking Ahead

While challenges remain, government efforts drive progress within food systems in Iran. The nation clearly demonstrates its commitment to modernization by prioritizing innovation to increase self-sufficiency in the face of extreme international sanctions. Additionally, government programs like food vouchers and a higher minimum wage protect vulnerable families to ensure that everyone can afford the abundant supply.

– Nikki Rasoulian

Nikki is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Migration to Ecuador: An Untapped Economic Potential 

Migration to EcuadorWith a total population of approximately 18 million and an area of 276,841 square kilometers, Ecuador is one of the smallest countries on the South American continent. Due to its geographical location, it is also one of the largest host countries for hundreds of thousands of migrants. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), migration to Ecuador is significant as more than 123,000 irregular migrants cross the Ecuadorian-Colombian border each year.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR estimates that nearly 500,000 refugees, asylum seekers, or people in need of protection have remained in Ecuador in the hope of a better life. Most of these are irregular migrants from Colombia and Venezuela. These groups are at risk of marginalization due to stigmatization, discrimination and a lack of valid documentation—yet new data shows that a well-organized strategy for integrating refugees has immense potential to boost the country’s economic growth. However, since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 the country has been struggling with serious crime issues. Drug cartels and gang crime are causing an increasing exodus of young and productive Ecuadorian workers. The result: no economic growth and a rising poverty rate.

Emigration of Productive Labor

Ecuador, once known as the “Island of Peace,” attracted immigrants from around the world due to its comparatively low homicide rate. As the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported, Ecuador’s homicide rate in 2019 stood at 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it one of the lowest among Latin American countries. 

During the pandemic, the situation shifted dramatically: Lockdowns forced businesses to close, tourism declined and oil exports fell. Ecuador’s central bank reported a 7.8% decrease in gross domestic product (GDP), while unemployment rose rapidly. Three out of 10 workers lost the jobs they held before the pandemic; half of them remained unemployed. The homicide rate jumped to 50.91 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025.

As a result, income levels in Ecuador have changed: according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), income poverty rose from 25% in 2019 to nearly 33% in 2020—1.4 million people fell into income poverty.

At the time, an undesirable but already well-researched phenomenon plagued the country: the positive correlation between poverty and crime. In other words: rising poverty leads to a higher risk of violence and crime, which, according to Ecuador’s Ombudsman’s Office (DPE), has resulted in the displacement of more than 300,000 Ecuadorians in recent years. Demographically speaking, most of them are young men of working age. A paper by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) calculated the direct cost as an average of 3.44% of the GDP annually. Indirectly, the exploding crime rates slow down economic growth.

Ecuador as a Host Country

Ecuador serves as a transit and entry country for groups from Africa, Cuba and Haiti. The country has, for decades already, been experiencing an influx of refugees from countries plagued by armed conflict and violence. Nonetheless, two main groups mark migration to Ecuador: 

Migrants from Colombia who have fled an armed conflict between guerrilla groups and the government that has been ongoing for more than 50 years. There are an estimated 130,000 to 200,000 Colombians living in Ecuador; according to the UNHCR, 94% of the more than 80,000 recognized refugees are Colombians.

In addition, Ecuador is home to Venezuelans who fled the humanitarian crisis under the Maduro regime. Around 440,000 migrants have applied for asylum, but only a small number of Venezuelans in Ecuador have valid residency documents. For Venezuelans, it takes months or even years to obtain a document such as an ID card or a passport. These delays are due to very high financial barriers, political restrictions, and the general collapse of the Venezuelan bureaucracy.

Migrants in Ecuador Face Legal Obstacles and Discrimination

The status of undocumented refugees creates significant barriers and contributes to the marginalization of these groups. At the same time it opens the door to systemic discrimination, exposes them to the risk of crime and violence, and traps refugees in a cycle of poverty. Access to housing, healthcare, education or employment appears to be significantly more difficult. Although an estimated one-third of refugees in Ecuador hold a college degree, the vast majority end up in the informal sector, with some earning a per capita income of only about $175 or less.

People in host countries often stigmatize minorities. They frequently project the violence and poverty prevalent in refugees’ countries of origin onto those seeking protection, which hinders their cultural and socio-economic integration. In crisis and conflict situations, politicians exploit fear and uncertainty for propaganda against migrants, in the hope of achieving better election results by stoking fears of competition for jobs or a strain on public finances.

Migration to Ecuador Can Boost Economic Growth

However, contrary to all the clichés, propaganda, and hate campaigns, recent statistics from the Center for Global Development (CGD) show that Venezuelan migrants are underrepresented among those detained for criminal offenses in Ecuador. In 2025, Venezuelans made up 2.4% of Ecuador’s population but accounted for only 1% of all detainees. Studies even suggest that refugees are more likely to be victims of crimes committed by their hosts than the other way around, but most of these cases remain unreported due to lack of trust in Ecuador’s authorities.

Given the country’s precarious security and economic situation, the integration of migrants is a crucial factor for economic growth and the well-being of the Ecuadorian population. As the International Organization for Migration (IOM) notes, Venezuelan migrants contribute an estimated $900 million annually to the Ecuadorian economy—simply through their consumption of goods and services. A well-thought-out bureaucratic strategy and a liberalized refugee policy could benefit the country and generate additional resources to combat gang violence and crime.

Migration and Poverty

Humanitarian aid plays a crucial role in integrating migrants into Ecuador’s society. The situation in Colombia is a prime example of how vital financial support can be for the stabilization and integration of refugees: the country has taken in over 2 million Venezuelans. Through programs such as the “Humanitarian Cash Transfer” (HCT), which was funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), households received $100 per month over a six-month period.

A study conducted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated the total cost of health care, education and other services for this period of assistance—assuming a total of 2 million refugees—at $1.3 billion. The IMF’s analysis highlights that host countries are under significant financial pressure. However, the study found a surprisingly positive impact on the countries’ productivity. Due to the growth of labor force and a better match between migrants’ human capital and available jobs, these countries are able to achieve meaningful productivity and growth gains in the medium term. The study estimates that GDP could grow by 2.5 to 4.5 percentage points by 2030. Furthermore the authors assume that the costs of integrating migrants and refugees would decrease if they gained access to the labor market due to increased economic activity and the expansion of the tax base. 

Projects such as HIAS’s Economic Empowerment Program aim to educate Venezuelans about their economic opportunities and help them develop a greater awareness of their skills and how to apply those skills in a business setting. By offering training, mentoring programs and start-up capital, Venezuelans can be integrated into the labor market. In this way, refugees are provided with a sustainable livelihood—while simultaneously contributing to a net benefit for Ecuadorian society and economic growth.

Conclusion

Migration to Ecuador plays a major role in the country’s middle-term and long-term development. In order to boost economic growth, Ecuador must tackle its national crime rate explosion. Therefore, the country needs to break its cycle of poverty, especially amongst migrants from Venezuela and Colombia. Moreover, the Ecuadorian population should recognize the potential that refugees bring to their country. Foreign aid and assistance combined with a consistent socio-economic integration strategy can provide long-term solutions for downsizing poverty and minimizing the negative effects on Ecuador’s economy.

– Oliwia Kowalak

Oliwia is based in Berlin, Germany and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Tuvalu

Poverty Eradication in TuvaluTuvalu is a small island country in the West Pacific Ocean with a small population and faces unique climate-based challenges with its development. The current basic needs poverty rate in Tuvalu is 21.5%, due to the lack of fertile land and climate-related issues affecting the local population such as many homes and crop farms consistently being damaged from storm surges. The country is especially at risk from rising sea levels and has to rely heavily on outside aid which makes development difficult due to its remote location. However, the government as well as organizations like the UN, has made considerable progress in supporting and funding innovations in poverty eradication in Tuvalu.

Land Reclamation Efforts

One of the ways Tuvalu is tackling climate issues is through reclaiming land. As Tuvalu at its highest point is only 15 feet above sea level, many communities are at risk of coastal erosion because they are too low-lying and a sea level rise as low as 8 inches could make the country uninhabitable in 100 years. A measure to solve this problem organized by the national government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project which began in June 2017.

The project aims to implement protections against coastal erosion and increasingly intense storm and wave activity. This will involve creating 7 hectares of new land designed to withstand storm surges and stay above forecast sea level rises until at least 2100. The project is set for completion in September 2026 and so far has already seen the construction of a 2,500 foot platform on the island of Fongafale to protect essential infrastructure and coastal homes. The new land can be used to relocate the most vulnerable residents and to provide government and community services on safe ground. 

Improvements in Food Security

On the island of Nui, violent hurricanes make traditional crop farming difficult and food security very uncertain. Innovative solutions are essential to ensuring food security for the small community living there. 

One of these innovations in poverty eradication in Tuvalu is the introduction of food cubes on the island, where people can plant crops in movable containers instead of in the vulnerable soil by the shore. The UNDP and International Organization for Migration (IOM) has implemented these and provided them to residents as part of the Climate Security in the Pacific Project.

The food cubes have proven to be especially effective and have provide much needed security for the crops of the 500 residents on the island of Nui. The cubes are simple to set up and are easy to move to a safer location more inland by the residents in the event of a storm. The cubes have also been successful on other Tuvaluan islands such as Nukulaelae and Funafuti where food security has also improved.

Fostering Connections to Global Institutions

Tuvalu is a very remote country, it is very reliant on aid from international institutions. With the impending risk of changing weather patterns exacerbating the poverty level in the country, Tuvalu is prioritizing forming connections with organizations that can assist with tackling climate poverty.

An example of this is the Tuvalu Second Climate and Disaster Resilience Development Policy Financing from the World Bank. While the previous initiatives have been for specific projects, this loan from the World Bank to the Tuvaluan government is to ensure the fiscal resilience of the country amidst the risks of changing weather.

The loan, as well as the strengthened ties between Tuvalu and the World Bank and other monetary organizations, provides much more financial security for Tuvaluan citizens and allows local entrepreneurs and business owners to contribute more to the island state’s economy.

Looking Ahead

These innovations in poverty eradication in Tuvalu, such as cultivating connections with international organizations, can help to ensure a safe and secure future for the country and its citizens.

– James Holder

James is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Equatorial Guinea

Gender Wage Gap in Equatorial GuineaDespite being one of sub-Saharan Africa’s wealthiest nations per capita, Equatorial Guinea has long failed to translate its oil-driven prosperity into equal economic opportunity for women. The gender wage gap in Equatorial Guinea persists due to a combination of deep-rooted social norms, educational disparities and legal gaps, but a landmark 2024 government initiative signals a genuine turning point.

A Wealth Gap Hidden in Plain Sight

Women hold only about 40% of positions in Equatorial Guinea’s total labor force, earning less than their male counterparts across sectors. Men overwhelmingly dominate the oil industry, which drives the country’s economy and commands significantly higher wages, leaving women concentrated in lower-paying agriculture and informal service work.

Informal social norms compound these structural barriers. According to the OECD’s 2023 Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI), 55% of the population believes men make better business executives than women, and another 55% agrees that when jobs are scarce, men should have more right to employment than women. These attitudes narrow women’s economic opportunities even where formal legal protections exist.

Education and Opportunity

The gender wage gap in Equatorial Guinea also reflects a persistent educational gap. Girls, particularly those from rural and lower-income households, face significant barriers to completing secondary school. A high rate of child marriage contributes directly: the OECD SIGI reports that 30% of women aged 20 to 24 were married or in a union before age 18, compared to a world average of 26% and a regional African average of 31%.

Early marriage interrupts schooling and limits women’s lifetime earning potential, funneling them into lower-paying sectors while men gain access to the higher-wage positions that oil wealth generates.

Gender-Based Violence as an Economic Barrier

Gender-based violence further restricts women’s economic participation. The OECD SIGI finds that 46% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced intimate partner violence at some point in their lifetime, which is above the African regional average of 33%. In the past 12 months alone, 26% of women reported experiencing such violence, compared to a regional average of 17%.

Legal gaps reinforce the problem. Equatorial Guinea does not criminalize domestic violence, and its definition of rape does not rest on the absence of consent. These shortcomings leave many women without legal recourse and undermine their ability to remain safe, productive and economically active.

Agenda Igualdad: A Historic Turning Point

Significant progress is underway. In May 2024, Equatorial Guinea held its first-ever National Forum on Gender Equality, titled “Agenda Igualdad.” Prime Minister Manuela Roca Botey chaired the three-day forum, which the Ministry of Social Affairs and Gender Equality organized with United Nations support. Government officials, civil society organizations, women activists and UN representatives all participated, building a unified roadmap for change.

The forum produced the Djibloho Declaration, a concrete action plan committing the government to combating gender-based violence through education and improved data collection, protecting the rights of women with disabilities and strengthening women’s economic capacities in commerce. The declaration also calls for mainstreaming gender considerations into all national policies.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) played a central role, reaffirming the U.N.’s commitment to gender equality initiatives in the country. Just weeks after the forum, UNFPA led a five-day training workshop that equipped public officials with gender-based violence case management and victim referral skills.

Closing the Data Gap

One of the Djibloho Declaration’s most consequential commitments involves improving gender data collection, a critical step toward closing the gender wage gap in Equatorial Guinea. The OECD SIGI notes that a lack of gender-disaggregated data on social norms and economic outcomes currently prevents a comprehensive understanding of women’s rights and opportunities in practice.

Better data enables better policy, and better policy means a more equitable economic future. With the Agenda Igualdad framework now in place and UNFPA, UNICEF and civil society organizations working alongside the government, real momentum exists to close the gender wage gap in Equatorial Guinea for good.

– Amanda Draznin

Amanda is based in Fairfax, VA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Homelessness in Tokelau: Where No One Sleeps Without Shelter

Homelessness in TokelauAccording to the Government of Tokelau’s 2016 Census of Populations and Dwellings, there is no data available regarding homelessness in Tokelau. The lack of public statistics does not translate to a lack of knowledge; it instead indicates that the region’s basic housing needs are met through a combination of community values and subsistent economic life.

Tokelau, a dependent territory of New Zealand, is one of the most remote places on earth. The secluded non-self-governing region in the South Pacific comprises three coastal atolls – three rings of sandy beaches and lush green foliage surrounding beautiful turquoise lagoons – and has a combined population of 2,700 residents.

How Community and Subsistence Make a Difference

Homelessness in Tokelau is a foreign concept due to each atoll’s strong sense of collective responsibility. This Polynesian cultural norm greatly dictates Tokelau’s land management and dwelling allocation. 

Subsistence is a major pillar of the region’s economic lifestyle. Since the three islands have a joint area of 12 square kilometers, how the residents use their land is crucial to housing accessibility.

Tokelauans do not farm with the intent to mass-export or produce beyond basic means. The Government of Tokelau says that residents cultivate only one cash crop (coconuts) and take advantage of local fisheries instead of dedicating mass amounts of land to animal husbandry. Geo Factbook notes that industrial efforts remain small-scale and construct mostly traditional handicrafts. 

​In addition to the island group’s minimalist way of life, homelessness in Tokelau is avoided due to a social safeguard. According to Tokelau’s governing system, all three islands have a complex social structure that emphasizes the value of community and sharing, making it rare for someone to be left without access to shelter or communal resources.

In the territory, people do not see land as a commodity; individuals do not buy and sell land for profit. Instead, the culture’s familial and communal obligations take charge, creating a distribution system in which ownership of and access to land are chiefly determined by family and ancestral ties, and the portion excluded from that generational handoff is reserved for collective use.

Addressing Overcrowded Homes Without Sacrificing Community

The same generosity that extinguishes homelessness in Tokelau also causes overcrowding in households across all three islands. The Tokelau National Statistics Office’s “2016 Census of Populations and Dwellings,” the most recent one available, found that across the whole of Tokelau, the most common number of rooms per dwelling was three (around 27%), and 14.5% of dwellings had eight or more occupants. The cultural tradition of extended families and multiple generations living together in single homes leads to serious health risks and poor housing quality. The Tokelau Community Housing project aimed to solve this problem.​

Researchers at the Wellington School of Medicine and the Wellington Tokelauan Association in New Zealand approached the territory’s overcrowding problem in a unique way: they designed housing that could accommodate large numbers of people per dwelling, rather than disrupting the complex social and cultural system that values community and sharing.

The Tokelau Community Housing project successfully constructed a single demonstration home that accommodated 11 occupants and stayed warm, dry and well-ventilated. The Tokelauan family that lived in the house during the research period responded positively, reporting they felt healthier and happier after just a couple of months

Concluding Thoughts

​The demonstration home from the Tokelau Community Housing project was never mass-produced, and neither New Zealand nor Tokelau has stated that the research paper’s published findings have influenced their housing policies. Yet, the project proved that overcrowding is not an inevitable consequence of Tokelau’s way of life. Researchers showed that communities do not have to choose between homelessness and unhealthy living conditions.

– Mia Puleo

Mia is based in Park City, UT, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Projects Combatting Food Insecurity in Eritrea

Food Insecurity in EritreaEritrea is a small country with a population of approximately 3.6 million, located in the Horn of Africa and divided into six administrative regions. Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti border Eritrea, which has an arid and semi-arid climate with limited and erratic rainfall. Agriculture contributes to around 25% of GDP and provides employment for almost all rural households, with 70 to 80% of the population depending on farming and livestock for income and food production.

Food Insecurity in Eritrea

Because Eritrea relies heavily on unpredictable rainfall for agricultural production, the country remains one of Africa’s most food-insecure nations. The Eritrea Food Security Strategy reports that Eritrea produces only 60% of its national food requirements during favorable rainfall years. However, during drought years, production can fall to 20 to 25% of national food needs.

As a result, an estimated 66% of Eritreans, around 2.36 million people, cannot obtain sufficient food and essential goods to maintain a healthy standard of living. Approximately 37% of the population, or 1.31 million people, live below the food poverty line. Around half of all households require food assistance in usual years, and that figure rises to 80% during years of poor harvests.

Food insecurity in Eritrea has particularly severe consequences for children. The Global Nutrition Report estimates that 52.5% of children under five suffer from stunting, significantly above the African regional average of 30.7%. The Eritrea Food Security Strategy also found that 44% of children are underweight, while malnutrition causes anemia in nearly 50% of children.

Eritrea’s Human Development Index score of 0.503 places the country firmly in the low human development category.

Projects Combatting Food Insecurity

Despite these challenges, a range of initiatives are working to strengthen Eritrea’s food security from the ground up. Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture launched the Small and Productive Farm Plot initiative, locally known as Nirqah, under the national framework “Safe and Nutritious Food for Everyone, Everywhere.”

The Small and Productive Farm Plot’s concept is that each participating household works and manages a 1,000-square-meter plot, roughly a quarter of an acre, growing cereals, pulses, vegetables and sweet potatoes. Farmers then use crop residues to support livestock. This model is adapted to Eritrea’s diverse agroecological zones, allowing households to cultivate multiple crops throughout the year.

The early results are encouraging. During the first phase across the Maekel, Anseba, Debub and Gash-Barka regions, more than 12,000 households participated. These households produced yields of up to 970 kg of wheat, 950 kg of maize, 730 kg of sorghum and 420 kg of barley per 1,000-square-meter plot.

To date, farmers have cultivated more than 33,000 plots under the program. In the Gala-Nefhi region alone, the program reached 4,421 plots, while introducing 1,641 modern beehives and distributing 40,000 village chickens. In Serejeka, 4,700 farmers took part in the Small and Productive Farm Plot program. Looking ahead, Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture has set a national production target for 2028 aimed at balancing output across cereals (50%), pulses (25%) and oil crops (25%).

Environmental Threats

Alongside long-term agricultural development, Eritrea has contended with environmental threats. In December 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture identified a serious escalation in desert locust activity along Eritrea’s Red Sea coastline. The locust outbreak threatened 50,000 hectares of cropland and 450,000 hectares of rangeland, land that supports the livelihoods of approximately 600,000 people.

More than 700,000 sheep and goats, as well as 200,000 cattle, faced losing access to their primary feed sources. The United Nations (U.N.) Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated $500,000 to FAO for a rapid response program. Between Jan. 16 and July 15, 2025, FAO worked alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and distributed 20,000 liters of Deltamethrin pesticide, 330 protective masks and 20 walkie-talkies to the ministry’s Plant Protection Unit.

By the end of the project, response teams had treated 21,450 hectares of infested land and safeguarded 38,770 tons of standing crops and 100,000 animals. Beyond treating infested farmland, the program directly reached 30,000 people, 55% of whom were women and girls. Radio broadcasts, community meetings and information sessions also reached another 600,000 people across five targeted regions.

The program trained more than 1,030 people, including 30 extension agents and 1,000 community volunteers, in locust monitoring, early detection and safe pesticide handling. Officials also reserved the remaining supplies for the 2025 locust season to strengthen future preparedness.

Water Infrastructure

Eritrea’s long-term investment in water infrastructure also underpins agricultural growth and food security. When Eritrea gained independence in 1993, the nation had approximately 130 dams, a figure that has since grown to 800. The expansion has enabled irrigation, reduced reliance on erratic rainfall and improved the stability of food production.

The dairy sector, constrained by fodder and water shortages resulting in a low-quality national herd, has historically underperformed. To combat this, Self Help Africa launched the DESIRA initiative, the Climate Smart Agriculture Research and Innovation Support for Dairy Value Chains program. This initiative works across the Debub, Anseba and Maekel Zobas districts and aims to improve dairy productivity and profitability, develop dairy value chains and increase national dairy consumption for nutritional benefits. The program expects to directly benefit 800 producer households, or around 4,000 people, along with approximately 50 academic and scientific staff.

Improving food insecurity in Eritrea also requires knowing where the needs are greatest. In 2025, the U.N. system in Eritrea supported the screening of 312,269 children ages 6 to 59 months for nutrition-related symptoms.

Looking Ahead

Food insecurity in Eritrea remains a challenge, shaped by decades of conflict, an unforgiving climate and limited resources. However, the projects taking shape across the country demonstrate how lasting solutions can emerge by building resilience from the ground up. These programs signal that Eritrea is taking meaningful steps toward a more food-secure future.

– Helen Turnbull

Helen is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About Hunger in Sri Lanka

Hunger in Sri LankaSri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean with a population of 23.3 million. Of these residents, 7.4% are malnourished, and the country currently holds a “moderate” rating on the Global Hunger Index (2025). Many of the hunger issues in Sri Lanka stem from environmental and climate-related challenges. Programs like the ENOUGH campaign are advocating for change and seeking practical solutions to address this crisis. Below are more details about hunger in Sri Lanka and potential ways to help.

Reasons for Hunger in Sri Lanka

Understanding hunger in Sri Lanka arises from the country’s location and the local living conditions. Agriculture is one of the main sources of employment in the country, and the country depends heavily on the harvesting of crops as the industry contributes 6.9% of the GDP of the country. This heavy reliance on agriculture makes the country vulnerable to severe weather that can damage crops. Rainfall in Sri Lanka varies drastically, ranging from 1,000 millimeters to 5,000 millimeters depending on the area. Floods and landslides cause crops to break down or be completely flooded.

In 2025, Cyclone Ditwah – a tropical cyclone that hit Sri Lanka in November 2025 – caused a devastating impact on both local households and the agricultural system. The rainwater buried vegetables such as paddy, and the income of farmers as well as other residents decreased. Prices of agricultural products increased due to a decrease in quantity, causing hunger in more households. Fortunately, the country stored available food sources immediately and provided soft loans to farmers who were having difficulties recovering their land from the crisis.

Lack of imported goods and price inflation also contribute to hunger in the country. Within the total caloric consumption in the country, 22% comes from imported goods. Some agricultural products, such as wheat, do not grow in Sri Lanka due to the soil conditions. The shortage of foreign exchange limits the country’s ability to import food, which causes a deficiency in food storage in Sri Lanka.

These disadvantages force locals to rely on a bland diet. This diet causes many to suffer from malnutrition, and also acts as a barrier to children’s physical development. 

Reduction of Hunger in Recent Years

Despite the unavoidable environmental damages, improvements are happening in Sri Lanka, and significantly fewer people are suffering from hunger every year. In 2025, the population that is “in moderate acute food insecurity” has decreased by 15% as of last year, and this is thanks to the World Food Programme (WFP) and other organizations. 

WFP assisted international governments in providing food rations to 1.2 million children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students from low-income families depend on the school meals provided during lunch. To address this issue, the government of Canada redirected $200,000 USD to assist Sri Lanka in providing rations for children during the pandemic.

Farmers are also taking scientific measures to resist the harsh weather conditions. Scientists are developing climate-smart agriculture by testing flood-tolerant crop varieties. Canals and reservoirs are also being built to promote water management and to ensure water distribution and control.

Looking Towards the Future

While challenges remain, the government as well as locals are making a lot of progress to support the hunger crisis in Sri Lanka. Resolving the situation depends on developing new varieties of crops against the disadvantaged growing conditions. The nation continues to have support from the government and other nations, and it continues to make important progress in sustaining sufficient food for locals, the population suffering from hunger in Sri Lanka could be greatly reduced. 

– Jiayu Wang

Jiayu is based in Beijing, China and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Migration to Guatemala: The Struggle of Deported Migrants

Migration to GuatemalaSince the beginning of this year, the American immigration authorities have forcibly returned more than 24,000 Guatemalans to their homeland after years of building lives in the United States. For most, the trip back home represented a tragic end to their pursuit of the American dream. However, repatriation is only the beginning of their struggle, as the return is often the first chapter in the broader story of unwanted migration to Guatemala and the challenge of reintegration in a country still suffering from the very issues they fled.

Such is the story of Marvin, who lived for 20 years in the United States – where he left behind a wife and children – and now struggles to make ends meet in Guatemala, despite having owned a successful business before his deportation. Then there is Hector, a former manager in a larger American company. Having crossed the border as an infant, he spent his entire life in the U.S. before a prison stint led U.S. officials to deport him to a foreign homeland. Data and statistics often obscure individual stories like theirs. Stark examples of the struggle that Guatemalan deportees face as they try to rebuild their lives.

The Labor Barriers 

When deportees land at La Aurora International Airport, government officials receive them with snacks and beverages, before leading them into an office for a quick medical check. For the vast majority, this is the only form of support they will know. Once they leave the reception gates, they must fend for themselves.

For people like Hector and Marvin, the immediate struggle is to integrate into a low-income economy where skilled individuals often struggle to find work that fits their profile. The structural constraints are the result of a scarcity of high-productivity jobs and a mismatch between the skills acquired abroad and the domestic demand. This results in inactivity levels in the returnee population that reaches 50.3% in rural areas and 45.7% in urban areas.

Most of the deported population – 79% – are working-age men who are unable to find a stable job in a country where 68% of employment remains informal. Economic necessity often forces them to rely on low-paid, temporary and informal work in construction and agriculture.

For female deportees, reintegration can be more challenging, as they must navigate gender-based discrimination regarding women’s role in society, particularly in rural communities. For children, the experience can be traumatic, having been pulled from the only life they knew while facing the harsh realities of an underfunded education system and enduring child labor.

The Social Struggle

Some deportees must face the social stigma that comes with deportation. After years spent abroad, many struggle to reconnect on a social and cultural level while their own communities often stigmatize them, leading to social isolation.

Exposure to Guatemala’s endemic violence also threatens returnees. Street gangs often extort them under erroneous assumptions that they possess wealth. In the worst case, deportees borrowed money from usurers in order to pay smugglers, meaning that upon their return, they remain in debt with dangerous human trafficking networks, while being unable to earn a stable living due to the country’s economic conditions.

The Institutional Gaps

For most migrants, rebuilding their life in those conditions is like climbing a steep mountain of economical and social hardship. Historically, there has been an institutional vacuum regarding migration to Guatemala, reflected in the lack of coherent policy and long-term reintegration strategies, especially regarding deportations.  For the affected population, this means an absence of support in areas such as employment, housing and mental health.

Following the tightening of immigration policies in the United States, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced in January 2025 the launch of a program designed to assist deported migrants upon their arrival. Known as “Plan Retorno al Hogar,” it is intended to provide immediate assistance to deportees, ensure individualized support, and connect them with services such as healthcare and education, as well as job opportunities or training programs.

However, the actual impact of the program remains questionable. In a document that Pop No’j shared with The Borgen Project – a Guatemalan association working closely with returned migrants – the organization noted that since its implementation, no noticeable changes have been observed beyond the basic reception and the creation of a registration center in Guatemala City. In their view, state support remains limited, failing to adapt to the returnee’s changing profile, now including entire families and individuals who have spent their entire lives abroad.

How Civil Society Is Filling the Void

The vacuum the government left has pushed grassroots organizations and civil society groups to fill in the gaps regarding return migration to Guatemala. Pop No’j, for instance, provided support to more than 400 returned migrants in indigenous regions between 2021 and 2024, focusing on some of the country’s most vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Similarly, organizations like Casa del Migrante, originally founded to assist the displaced population during the Guatemalan civil war, have expanded in order to meet the current needs of migrant communities. Today, Casa del Migrante provides help for transient migrants, as well as deportees. 

The work of these civil society organizations and individuals shares a common holistic approach. According to Pop No’j, it offers not only economic and social reintegration support, but also legal counsel. Its efforts are also focused on coordinating with other organizations and state institutions as much as possible.  

Support comes also from social initiatives that stem from concerned citizens. Such is the case with la Red, a restaurant and cultural center located in Guatemala’s second-largest city, Quetzaltenango. Willy Barreno, a chef and former migrant, founded it upon his return, in an effort to create employment opportunities for returned migrants, and teaching locals some of the skills he learned abroad.

Looking Ahead

Reintegration remains a struggle for deported Guatemalans. In light of the recent developments, the government responded with a program to assist returned migrants, with the results yet to be seen. Meanwhile, deported Guatemalans will always find a safety net in the solidarity of their fellow citizens.

– Mateo Montes Asturias

Mateo is based in Montpellier, France and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels