Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Addressing Diseases Impacting South Africa

Diseases Impacting South AfricaIn 2023, data that the World Bank published showed that 55% of South Africans as living below the poverty line. Of those South Africans experiencing poverty, a 2023 national study found these citizens were twice as at risk of the communicable disease HIV. For the southernmost nation on the African continent, existing diseases are separated into two categories: communicable and non-communicable. Despite easy transmission of communicable diseases, 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that non-communicable diseases account for 51% of all national deaths. With high prevalence rates of both infection varieties among those experiencing poverty, the stifling effects of Apartheid policy remain central within the national struggle to curb diseases impacting South Africa.

Communicable Diseases 

The three most prevalent communicable diseases impacting South Africa are malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. Malaria mitigation strategies have been largely successful. In line with the 2021 Global Technical Strategy (GTS) for Malaria, WHO found that the number of South Africans at risk dropped to a low 10% of the population that same year. In South Africa, particularly the Kwazulu-Natal district, which contains one of the highest incidence rates of TB around the world, TB impacted 427 of 100,000 people in 2023. Positively, this incidence rate has fallen since 2021, where TB affected 512 per 100,000 citizens.

Following the United Nations (UN) AIDS 95-95-95 target, South Africa has also made promising strides in HIV/AIDS mitigation. Though 2023 figures show that 16.3% of South Africans are living with HIV, screenings and treatment have improved. Striving towards this 95-95-95 UN target, 94% of South Africans living with HIV knew their diagnosis, 79% were receiving treatment and 91% were being virally suppressed in 2021.

Non-Communicable Diseases 

The other half of diseases impacting South Africa are non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes. In 2021, the collective incidence rate for these particular NCDs stood at 1,301 per 100,000 people. Obesity, which increases the risk for these NCDs, represents another health indicator impacting South African morbidity. Along with WHO’s other findings, it found that 30.8% of the adult population suffered from obesity in 2022, up from 2021.

Health System

The national healthcare system mainly initiates response to diseases impacting South Africa. The Department of Health’s inadequate health care response is typically pinpointed to policy carried over from the nation’s apartheid era. After the 1994 end to apartheid law, the government faced the ongoing challenge of restructuring the health care system. Despite this, the WHO has projected that 6.2 million citizens should experience universal health coverage by the end of this year. This number represents a steady, sharp increase from 2021 where only 1.8 million retained universal health care access. 

Impact of Poverty 

A 2023 study conducted with support from the South African government articulated that HIV, one of the most nationally prevalent communicable diseases, affects those living in townships twice as severely as those living elsewhere. Townships are South African neighborhoods inhabited primarily by those experiencing poverty. The study found that socioeconomic factors like access to stable housing and quality education do increase the odds of HIV infection and reduce the likelihood of access to testing and care. The researchers recommended a mitigation strategy that includes policy towards improving education and living quality.

Another national study from 2021 asserted that to address the reality of health care inaccessibility due to societal inequities, there needs to be cohesive efforts from multiple actors. The study calls on the necessity of both government and non-state intervention.

Doctors Without Borders

One international organization working diligently against the spread and prevalence of disease in South Africa is Doctors Without Borders (MSF). With the United States currently slashing its funding of South Africa’s TB and HIV/AIDS research programs, MSF has been vital in calling upon international donors, organizations and philanthropists to direct funds towards these life-saving research initiatives. Actors like the South African Department of Health and MSF rely on these funds to help develop promising vaccines and treatments for those experiencing these diseases impacting South Africa.

In addition to MSF’s TB and HIV/AIDS research, where funding is unsteady, it recently introduced a new project aimed at addressing South African NCDs. In collaboration with South Africa’s Department of Health, MSF has been training health care organizations across the Eastern Cape province of Butterworth. Reaching more than 1,500 people within the region, the project has increased the screening and medical management of NCDs like diabetes and hypertension.

Progress

Though funding cuts from the United States have caused uncertainty about the future of national research and mitigation response, strides in health care coverage and the involvement of organizations like the MSF are promising for the future of eliminating the diseases impacting South Africa. National initiatives for screening and improvements in treatment technologies have greatly improved and have been key in addressing and reducing incidence rates, particularly for the highly prevalent TB. In 2019 alone, testing for TB caused a 28% reduction in incidence.

With organizations and donors allocating funds towards national efforts to fight disease, South Africa will further mitigate the spread and prevalence of such harmful illnesses, particularly for those living in poverty.

– Piper Aweeka

Piper is based in Reno, NV, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Ecuador

Poverty Eradication in EcuadorPoverty eradication in Ecuador remains a significant challenge. As of mid‑2023, approximately 27% of the population lived below the poverty line (earning less than $89.29 per month), with 10.8% in extreme poverty (under $50.32/month). In rural provinces, those numbers climb sharply—46% live in poverty and 22.6% in extreme poverty. Furthermore, Ecuador’s poverty disproportionately affects Indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian communities, with Indigenous children experiencing poverty rates as high as 67% and Afro-Ecuadorians more than 45%.

Life for those in poverty often involves insecure employment, inadequate housing, poor sanitation and higher rates of child malnutrition. Informal employment is widespread, with 58% of workers lacking formal protections, and access to health care and education remains limited in rural areas. Women, Indigenous peoples and youth are especially vulnerable. These systemic inequalities highlight the urgent need for targeted innovations in poverty eradication. 

Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment

One prominent example of impact-driven entrepreneurship is Salinerito, a collective enterprise based in Salinas de Guaranda. Since the 1970s, this network of more than 20 cooperatives has generated sustainable income by producing cheese, chocolate and alpaca wool textiles. What sets Salinerito apart is its commitment to reinvesting profits in community services, such as funding schools, health clinics and microfinance programs, to uplift entire local economies and foster a solidarity-based growth model.

Another success is the Bio Warmi initiative, a women-led cooperative based in the Napo province of Ecuador’s Amazon region. Launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Bio Warmi empowers Indigenous Kichwa women to grow native medicinal plants and transform them into certified organic cosmetic and wellness products. The initiative forms part of Ecuador’s broader transition to a green and inclusive economy. By leveraging Ecuador’s national “green loans” strategy to support environmentally sustainable microenterprises, Bio Warmi has generated consistent income for its members while promoting the conservation of biodiversity and ancestral knowledge. Notably, this initiative contributes to a nationwide policy effort that has mobilized more than $800 million in small-business financing tied to nature-based solutions and community resilience.

Community-Based Economic Resilience

In parallel, Ecuador’s ECOSIMIA stands as a compelling and resilient model of a non-monetary, community-based economy. Originating in 1992 under the name SINTRAL, it was developed within the Fundación Educativa Pestalozzi, an alternative educational project in Tumbaco. This system was inspired by the Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) framework and introduced barter-based markets where members exchanged goods and services without money, using a mutual credit system. Each transaction was assigned a numerical value purely for recordkeeping, with no monetary or debt-based implications. By the early 2000s, as Ecuador’s economic conditions deteriorated following dollarization, SINTRAL evolved into a broader, decentralized trading network. Under the guidance of educator and activist Mauricio Wild, the initiative expanded rapidly in rural areas, where communities sought autonomy from unstable monetary systems and limited access to formal markets.

In 2006, during a national gathering of participating groups, the network formally adopted the name ECOSIMIA, an acronym for “El Ecosistema es Responsabilidad Mía” (“The Ecosystem is My Responsibility”), emphasizing its ecological and communal values. Today, ECOSIMIA links more than 140 local groups across 13 provinces, forming a dynamic network of grassroots economies. These groups organize regular barter markets and coordinate exchanges at both the local and regional levels. ECOSIMIA not only facilitates access to essential goods and services without reliance on cash, but it also strengthens social ties, preserves ancestral knowledge and promotes economic resilience in marginalized and remote communities.

Government and International Collaboration

The Ecuadorian government, in collaboration with international partners, is modernizing its social protection systems to better reach vulnerable populations. In 2024, the “Innovating for Equality: Transforming local social protection mechanisms through digitalization” initiative, a joint project by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), allocated approximately $864,000 to strengthen local social assistance frameworks. The project focuses on digitizing beneficiary registries and creating interoperable digital platforms that link various government services. By improving data accuracy and coordination, the initiative ensures that critical services, such as food aid, cash transfers and employment support, are delivered more efficiently to informal workers, youth and Indigenous communities, who often fall through the cracks of traditional safety nets. This digital transformation reduces bureaucratic delays, expands the reach of social programs and helps lift underserved populations out of poverty by making support more timely, accessible and inclusive.

Furthermore, in early 2025, the World Bank approved an additional $110 million to reinforce Ecuador’s social safety net by integrating climate vulnerability, enhancing child development services and supporting refugee-inclusive cash transfers. Strengthened social protection is crucial for addressing structural poverty and preventing chronic malnutrition among young children.

A Holistic Path Toward Poverty Eradication in Ecuador

From solidarity-based cooperatives and barter networks to digital inclusion programs and eco-entrepreneurship, Ecuador’s efforts show that poverty eradication in Ecuador is most effective when rooted in community strengths, inclusive finance and smart public policy. By empowering women, youth and Indigenous peoples through innovative social enterprises and digitized safety nets, Ecuador is fostering a resilient, equitable path forward, demonstrating that poverty reduction can be achieved when innovation meets community.

– Tu Anh Ha

Tu is based in Hanoi, Vietnam and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Positive Progress for Renewable Energy in Mauritius

Renewable Energy in MauritiusRenewable energy in Mauritius faces major advancements in the coming years. The island is located off the East coast of the African continent, and is home to 1.2 million people. Of those people, more than 80% agree on the negative effects that energy gained from burning fossil fuels has on their quality of life. Transitioning to renewable energy will combat these negative effects.

Fossil Fuels Worsen Quality of Life for Mauritians 

More than 80% of the country’s energy comes from imported fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases become trapped in the atmosphere through burning fossil fuel, and affect weather patterns. Mauritius feels this through flooding, tropical storms, coastline erosion, changing tides and rising temperatures. Natural disasters and drastic changes to weather patterns affect low-income communities more drastically than others. These individuals typically do not have the resources to prepare for or recover from these disasters as they occur. The average monthly salary is $1,013, with the lowest-earning Mauritians living off of about $250. Many work in tourism-related professions and outsourcing roles such as IT support and the manufacturing industry. The downside is the unpredictable demand for these jobs and the resulting unreliable income.

Energy Poverty

Steep costs for basic necessities like heat and electricity for cooking exacerbate the struggles of those already experiencing energy poverty. Energy poverty describes a situation in which someone does not have access to reliable, safe and affordable energy to meet their daily needs. A $250 monthly budget does not leave much room for expensive electric bills. The cost of importing fossil fuels to Mauritius drives up the price of power for consumers. The price of electricity for residential areas is MUR 6.140 per kWh, or 0.135. That is about 6% more than the average price of electricity in Africa.

Government Plans Pave the Way for Renewable Energy Use

As of 2019, the Ministry of Public Utilities enacted the Renewable Energy Roadmap 2030. It contains plans and proposals for various renewable energy programs, as well as objectives for total renewable energy use for the entire country. The Renewable Energy Roadmap strives for renewable energy in Mauritius to be 35% of the country’s total power source by 2025. They are on track to meet this goal at the end of the year.

The Roadmap also includes goals of severing reliance on burning coal by 2027, as well as 60% of Mauritius’ energy coming from renewable sources by 2030. Strategies such as investing in solar energy and biomass projects are outlined, as well as careful coordination to ensure this energy will be accessible on all levels: households, commercial and industrial use.

Mauritius is well underway with its renewable energy goals. In 2021, a 14-Megawatt Grid-Scale Battery Energy Storage System funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) finished construction. The $5 million storage system is equipped to stabilize the electrical grid frequency, furthering the capabilities of renewable energy in Mauritius.

Solar Energy Helps Mauritius Reach Energy Goal and Provides Jobs

The hot climate and reliable sunlight make solar energy an ideal candidate for renewable energy in Mauritius. About 10,000 rooftop solar systems have been approved by the Central Electricity Board and the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities. The installation prevented 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Not only do the solar systems provide tangible progress towards the Renewable Energy Roadmap goal, but offer reduced electricity bills for the Mauritians who have participated in the project. This allows them to spend more of their hard-earned money on food and other necessities. The renewable energy efforts will create 7,000 jobs, stimulating the economy and providing employment opportunities for Mauritians.

Renewable Energy Is the Future

Mauritius’ steady advancements towards renewable energy demonstrate the government’s dedication to contributing to a greener planet and access to affordable power. The country is on track to meet its renewable energy goals for the coming years. Each additional project will continue to improve the lives of Mauritians.

– Sydney Uhl

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

Photo: Flickr

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Wind Farms for Sustainable Energy – Updates on SDG 7 in Egypt

SDG 7 in EgyptOn July 1, 2025, ENGIE, a global energy company located in France, announced the full operation of Egypt’s Red Sea Wind Energy project. This 650 MW wind farm is considered the largest one in the Middle East and North Africa region. The project is located along the Red Sea in the Ras Ghareb district.

The first operational phase of the project started in December 2024 and the last phase was in June 2025. The project reduces the emission of CO2 by approximately 1.3 million tons per year. Additionally, it supplies more than 1 million homes with electricity generated from wind power.

Significance of the Project

For a long time, Egypt’s exports were dominated by chemicals, petroleum products, cotton and textiles. With the evolution of the global energy landscape, Egypt works to strengthen its renewable energy potential. The current administration’s goal is to make Egypt a leader in clean energy export, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet domestic demands. To achieve these goals, internal challenges should be addressed, including underdeveloped renewable energy infrastructure and the reliance on natural gas for electricity production.

In 2024, the North African region suffered from an electricity shortage due to the increase in cooling demand during summer. Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly referred to the fact that natural gas supplies have shrunk as power demand increased, highlighting that the daily power consumption increased 12% from the previous year. However, in summer 2025, Madbouly confirmed that there would be no electricity cuts, affirming the country’s preparedness for any increase in electricity.

SDG 7: Ensuring Affordable Energy for All

In 2015, the United Nations (U.N.) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 goals. Among them is Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which refers to the fact that modern and sustainable energy should be affordable for all by 2030. Indeed, the wind energy project is a significant step in achieving SDG 7 and reducing the reliance on natural gas in Egypt.

The Role of Partnership and Foreign Aid

The Red Sea Wind Farm project was implemented by a group of development companies, known as the Red Sea Wind Energy consortium. This consortium is 35% owned by ENGIE, 25% by Orascom Construction PLC, 20% by Toyota Tsusho Corporation and 20% by Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation.

It was financially supported by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in coordination with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the Norinchukin Bank, Société Générale and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Final Remarks

This achievement demonstrates the significance of partnership and foreign aid in implementing such projects. Investing in such renewable energy projects is critical to achieving SDG 7 in Egypt. Overall, Egypt’s Red Sea Wind Energy project is a significant milestone. However, there is still an urgent need for more renewable energy projects to ensure sustainable and affordable energy for all.

– Eiman Elsawy

Eiman is based in Kirkland, WA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Solar Power in Yemen Eases Energy Crisis

Solar Power in YemenIn many ways, the civil war has plunged Yemen into darkness. Over a decade of conflict has resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths, severe economic downturn and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. As of 2021, 82.7% of Yemenis were living in multidimensional poverty. Yet the country’s future is not entirely dark. Here are three ways solar power in Yemen is bringing literal and figurative light to communities nationwide.

Clean Water in Al Maqatirah

Finding clean water has been a challenge for many Al Maqatirah District residents. An outdated system lacking functionality and the high cost of diesel fuel created a difficult choice: pay for expensive and potentially unsafe local water or travel long distances to buy it from somewhere else.

Thanks to a 2025 project sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and several partners, 5,827 Yemenis no longer face this dilemma. The old pipelines have been replaced by a solar-powered water system that provides immediate access to reliable drinking water and sets Al Maqatirah toward long-term sustainability. This project is a clear example of the humanitarian potential of solar power in Yemen.

Powering Livelihoods in Al-Ghaydah

Meanwhile, the city of Al-Ghaydah struggled with an entirely different problem. Climate instability, rising fuel prices and energy shortages threatened the Bawazier Ice and Fish Preservation Factory operations. The facility is a critical part of the coastal community, which relies heavily on fresh fish for sustenance and employment. Without a way to preserve their catch, fishermen risked losing their livelihoods and families their dinners.

Recognizing the urgency, the World Bank, UNDP and Yemen’s Small and Micro Enterprises Promotion Service stepped in with a solution. In 2023, they gave the factory a grant, allowing it to transition 25% of its energy to solar power. This reduced reliance on diesel has enhanced efficiency, lowered monthly energy costs by $875 and created new job opportunities. As a result of this successful model of solar power in Yemen, higher-quality fish is now sold at lower prices and a community vulnerable to changing climatic conditions has become more sustainable.

Keeping the Lights on in Hospitals

Ensuring hospitals remain operational is essential, particularly in a country where 21.6 million desperately need humanitarian aid. However, 46% of Yemen’s health care facilities are either partially operational or completely out of service. A driving force behind this number is a long-standing energy crisis, which has significantly inhibited hospitals from giving patients the care they desperately need.

Once again, solar power in Yemen provides a source of hope. Through a partnership between the UNDP and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, four hospitals have been provided with renewable energy systems. This project hopes to see Yemeni patients receive high-quality health care by installing solar panels that keep the lights on. Enabling their communities to become cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

A Brighter Future for Yemen

As these examples show, solar power in Yemen has the potential to make a substantial difference in the lives of some of the world’s most impoverished citizens. It could help provide clean drinking water to the 18 million people without access. It could put food on the table for the 17 million suffering from severe malnutrition. Furthermore, it could also curb outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases that fuel the humanitarian crisis. In a country plagued with hardship, renewable energy illuminates a path forward.

– Caroline Clark

Caroline is based in Needham, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How AI Is Improving Education Systems in the DRC

Education in the DRCThe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is enduring one of the most complex humanitarian disasters of modern times. Amid a brutal conflict, political corruption and the pursuit of natural resources, the children of the DRC currently face a raft of life-threatening challenges.

A Nation of Paradox

Despite the DRC being the world’s largest cobalt producer and rich in many natural resources, 28 million Congolese civilians are experiencing acute food insecurity. At a time of great struggle, the people of the DRC suffer at the hands of one of the most persistent and far-reaching conflicts in Africa. An estimated 7.8 million civilians have been internally displaced. At the same time, schools, homes and public infrastructure are destroyed in pursuit of land and resources.

Following years of colonial rule, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is accused of contributing to a status quo that perpetrates human rights violations against his people. Hence, DRC ranks among the highest globally in corruption, where wealth fuels conflict and extraction rather than public and economic development. Not only have these issues created an ongoing humanitarian crisis, but they also contribute to unemployment and poverty. More than 70% of the Congolese population lives on less than $2.15 per day.

Education Systems in the DRC

These immense challenges have shattered the education system in the DRC. Around 7.6 million children and half of all girls between the ages of 5 and 17 no longer attend school. Many struggle to complete their studies due to barriers like resource shortages, long distances or economic challenges.

With many schools and education systems destroyed, those operating in the DRC often struggle with overcrowding and underfunding, severely limiting education quality amid ongoing economic and social instability. These compounded challenges lead to low enrollment rates and expose children to serious risks. These include forced recruitment, child labor, violence and deepening poverty, harsh realities in a country where daily survival is already a struggle.

The AI Revolution in Africa

In a changing Africa, AI is set to play a significant role in addressing the challenges faced within public education. By bridging the digital divide and increasing access to quality schooling, AI platforms could prepare students more fully for the demands of a fairer workforce. African EdTech startups have grown rapidly in recent years, offering content that supports learning and teaching in diverse settings. Many now provide materials in African languages and dialects, helping re-empower local communities during uncertain times.

Yet, regardless of AI’s undeniable potential, the DRC ranked 181st globally on the AI Government Readiness Index between 2023 and 2024. This low ranking reflects widespread concerns about government effectiveness and the scalability of AI in underserved rural areas. Despite these hurdles, AI-powered tools now facilitate opportunities for basic educational tools tailored with digital platforms such as Schoolap. These platforms show promise at a time when the DRC’s education system is facing existential threats.

Schoolap

Since its founding in 2017, Schoolap has expanded rapidly, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital learning. The platform now features more than 20,300 educational resources, 6,000 partner schools, 1.9 million registered students and around 105,000 participating teachers across six provinces.

In the face of these many great challenges, by engaging students with innovative adaptive learning platforms, AI is providing children with new and efficient means of education. These means are easier to access and less dependent on their location or socioeconomic status. The app requires users to complete an account form to access its content. This form identifies the learner’s level of study, after which they can access online courses in multiple formats, designed for both primary and secondary students and educators.

Conclusion

The Schoolap platform offers a simple solution as Congolese schools continue to close. It combines digital curriculum management with interactive tools that can address the growing needs of the faltering education systems in the DRC. While the road to long-term safety and security is dangerous, platforms such as Schoolap reveal promising new pathways. They offer more accessible education for the children of a nation deeply affected by war, corruption and the mismanagement of public resources.

– Gabriel John Gunn

Gabriel is based in Paisley, Scotland and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Agricultural Technology: Food Systems in Vietnam

Food Systems in VietnamFood systems in Vietnam have seen massive change in recent history. The country has witnessed significant agricultural growth over the last 30 years, which has undoubtedly alleviated the nation’s socioeconomic status. It has massively reduced food insecurity, contributed to a decline in poverty and also fostered an increasingly export-oriented economy – a major source of labor opportunities for the wider population. That said, food systems in Vietnam are not immune to the general plights of global agriculture in today’s world.

About Food Insecurity in Vietnam

Although Vietnam is a major food exporter, around 10–11% of its population still faces moderate or severe food insecurity, mainly in rural and ethnic minority communities. The impact of changing weather patterns – causing fluctuating weather, saltwater intrusion and exposure to floods or droughts – is a culprit guilty of destabilizing Vietnamese agricultural production.

An aging workforce and declining productivity among its labor pool. In Vietnam, the average age of farmers has risen significantly in recent years, and its general agricultural labor force has been shrinking.

Challenges in supply chain issues, which the agricultural industry is particularly susceptible to due to fragmented production, frequent changes in season or weather, issues with storage and food maintenance, etc. This is especially true in Vietnam where, in 2017, the World Bank put out a report detailing the weaknesses of Vietnam’s agricultural supply chains and the costly consequences for the nation’s GDP. The report stated that, “the main constraint on Vietnam’s agriculture supply chains is the lack of an integrated, end-to-end supply chain model, according to Mr. Julien Brun, Managing Partner at CEL Consulting.” These all disrupt production and access to nutritious food, leaving vulnerable groups at risk despite the nation’s agricultural growth.

The Rise of AgTech

What the World Bank recommends – and what is generally becoming not simply a need, but a requirement for a competitive agricultural market – is a rise in agricultural technology: to increase productivity, to keep track of and forewarn of market or natural fluctuations and to facilitate logistical efficiency.

Fortunately for Vietnam, while it is not immune to global agricultural issues, it is also not immune to global agricultural solutions. Agrifoodtech investment in developing markets reached $3.7 billion in 2024, surging a remarkable 63% year-over-year (YoY) and bucking the 4% decline observed in the agrifoodtech sector at the global level.

Techcoop

One of the leading firms in this Agtech revolution is a small startup by the name of Techcoop, which sees 2025 as its year of stardom—both in terms of funding and public recognition. According to the website TechInAsia, “This Series A round is one of the largest in Vietnam’s agritech sector, reflecting the growing demand for tech-driven agriculture solutions.”

What Techcoop does is address one of the main hindrances to supply chain issues in Vietnam’s agricultural industry, which, as aforementioned, the World Bank reported to be one of the sector’s major issues: namely supply chain and logistics inefficiency. Techcoop enables an integration of data into the agrarian world of farming through, among other things:

  • Codifying purchase agreements between the agribusiness, farmer-owned cooperatives, and the farmers, including key clauses such as advance payment, payment terms, committed volumes, price, quality standards, etc.
  • Facilitating fund distribution from partner financial institutions to agribusinesses, cooperatives and farmers for specific purposes.
  • Monitoring and enforcing contractual commitments through field and transactional data collection.

Techcoop is on the forefront not simply of Agtech, but also operates at its intersection with financial and legal technology facilitating the movement of financial funds and the drafting of contracts. 

Supply Chain Efficiency

This work of easing and improving supply chain efficiency has allowed Techcoop to address Vietnam’s logistical shortcomings. With how small-scale farming can be, agribusiness and local farmers have often been fragmented or lacking in their communication. Techcoop offers data analytics and tracking to mediate between them – allowing for a quantification of production to track the progress of contractual obligations, with data offered as an efficient and understandable language between various actors in the supply chain. This is increasingly important to consumers who more and more want greater farm-to-shelf traceability. Techcoop enables this through allowing for easier tracking of actors and processes within the complex agricultural supply chain. 

AgTech’s Role in Vietnam’s Trading Shifts

Startups like Techcoop that are participating in and forming this agritech revolution are going to be increasingly vital given the global shock to trade that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs represented. Vietnam, having recently made a deal with Trump, opted to reduce U.S. tariffs on most goods to 20%, down from the previous 46% – but only in exchange for a 0% tariff on U.S. exports to Vietnam. This represents a major shift in Vietnam’s agricultural sector, which now has to compete with U.S. agricultural goods on home turf. Now, more than ever, Agtech matters in ensuring Vietnam’s agricultural productivity remains at a competitive level – particularly when facing U.S. goods paired with their own surge in agricultural technological innovation. Techcoop and companies like it will increasingly become the go-to solution for sustaining food systems in Vietnam – one of the nation’s most vital sectors.

– Inaam Munsoor

Inaam is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Addressing Mental Health in Guinea-Bissau

Mental Health in Guinea-BissauIn the small West African country of Guinea-Bissau, rich culture and strong tradition mask a growing crisis, mental health neglect. Among the most prevalent conditions are depression and anxiety, often left unaddressed due to systemic gaps and social stigma.

A System Without Specialists

As of 2017, Guinea-Bissau had zero practicing psychiatrists. The country’s ratio of just 0.13 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants falls far below global standards for basic health care. This shows that mental health support is almost absent from the primary care setting. Additionally, a screening of adults attending general health facilities in Guinea-Bissau revealed that at least 12% had a diagnosable mental disorder. This shows the urgent need for integrated mental health services in the nation’s fragile health system.

A baseline study found that general practitioners correctly diagnose only one in three patients, meaning that the people in Guinea-Bissau’s rural communities are unknowingly struggling with mental disorders. They carry a silent weight that forces them to push through each day with far greater effort than others, struggling in isolation just to survive.

Poverty and Psychological Strain

Things such as rising climate anxieties and pandemic poverty are worsening mental health in Guinea-Bissau. In 2021, the poverty rate was reported to have increased by 2.8 percentage points, adding an additional 80,000 poor. Research shows that mental illness reduces employment and therefore income.

Cultural Beliefs and Stigma

Mental health in Guinea-Bissau is often interpreted through a spiritual lens. Communities blame mental issues on things like curses and ancestral wrath. As a result, individuals often look down upon seeking help from medical professionals. Sixty-three percent of rural mothers go to the witchdoctor, and 65% believe that curses have the power to kill. While traditional healers play a vital role in this community, their methods can delay access to cures. Stigma remains a barrier to those suffering silently.

Lending a Helping Hand

This West African nation faces a mounting crisis that demands international attention. Every person deserves access to necessities like mental health care. Guinea-Bissau’s struggle is a global problem; poverty, trauma and neglect reflect broader challenges that low-income countries face worldwide.

Progression Efforts

Mental health in Guinea-Bissau is beginning to see a glimpse of hope in this landscape. International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have stepped in to support the country. Guinea-Bissau’s fragile health system has improved as groups are working to train general health workers in basic psychiatric care.

The NOVAFRICA Knowledge Center is working to strengthen health care in Guinea-Bissau through an inclusive and culturally sensitive approach. Its model brings together modern medical practitioners and traditional healers, including witchdoctors, to bridge trust gaps and improve access to care. By acknowledging and respecting spiritual traditions deeply embedded in the community, NOVAFRICA promotes the acceptance of modern medical practices and helps lay the groundwork for more effective health interventions, including in mental health.

The Path Forward

In collaboration with NGO VIDA, NOVAFRICA supported the launch of a community health insurance program that allows residents to pay affordable premiums in exchange for access to medical care, transportation and essential medicines. Though the country still lacks a national suicide prevention strategy, collaborative efforts between NGOs and local health authorities are laying groundworks for a future policy reform.

Guinea-Bissau’s challenges are steep, but the people are resilient. With continued international support and growing local engagement, the nation is taking its first steps toward a future where the silenced have a voice. Acknowledging, treating and respecting mental health is not just the goal, it is the path to a future defined by dignity and resilience.

– Marissa Schoth

Marissa is based in Benton, LA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Nepal for Dalit Women

Gender Wage Gap in NepalThe gender wage gap is a continuing problem for women in the workforce of Nepal, particularly Dalit women. Like many South Asian countries, the caste system has a significant influence on the socioeconomic makeup of Nepal. This is despite the fact that the Nepali government outlawed caste-based discrimination in 1963. This hierarchical system, originating within Hinduism, divides society into different hereditary castes. At the bottom of this system are the Dalits, who face substantial economic and social barriers in accessing fair employment. Dalit women particularly face dual discrimination based on both caste and gender, compounding their economic and societal exclusion.

Barriers to Wage Equality

The Nepal Labor Force Survey in 2022 found that women earned on average 23% less than men. Specific up-to-date statistics on the gender wage gap in Nepal by caste are chronically lacking; however, an overrepresentation of Dalit women in low-paying, informal positions will likely compound the already existing gender wage gap. This means employers often neglect to give them the same wage protections and labor rights as those in more formal employment.

Furthermore, the Haliya system forces a specific community of Dalits into bonded labor from birth, making them work off ever-increasing debt. Although the government banned this system in 2008, it still traps thousands from lower castes, often women, in agricultural slavery. This has contributed to a poverty rate of almost 42% amongst the Dalit population, almost double the national average of 21.6%. This pattern of poverty and wage discrimination can trap Dalit women in a generational cycle of systematic oppression.

Legislative Victories

In spite of these persistent challenges, a growing body of legislation is helping to lay the groundwork for greater gender and caste wage equality. The 2015 constitution itself marked a huge stride in eliminating the gender wage gap in Nepal. Article 18 sets out the right to equality from gender and caste based discrimination, with Article 38 also specifically outlining the rights of women, which include rights to special opportunities for employment based on the principle of positive discrimination. This move by the Nepali government represents meaningful legislative progress and demonstrates at least in principle, support for wage equality.

The 2017 Labor Act reinforced this by outlining a “prohibition on discrimination in remuneration for equal work.” However, it is also true that while ground-breaking, lawmakers and government institutions have not been able to comprehensively enforce this legislation. Nepali society still has not fully accepted these legislative changes, and in many rural communities, authorities have struggled to enforce equality, leaving a regional divide in the gender wage gap. Despite this, these laws provide a critical foundation, giving advocates, communities, and Dalit women themselves the legal tools to push for lasting change.

ADWAN: Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal

For those fighting against wage inequality in Nepal, there is no greater tool than education. If marginalized groups can access education, then they are substantially more likely to escape the generational gender and caste-based cycles of poverty. Bisjnu Maya Pariyar and other advocates for Dalit Women set up the Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN) in 1998 as a vehicle to fight against this discrimination. At the core of its work is the principle that “equality is unfeasible without education.” This is the idea that economic emancipation begins with education. This is why ADWAN funds a variety of adult literacy and scholarship programs aimed at women and Dalit women specifically.

There are signs that programs like this are having an impact. In 2001, the literacy rate for Dalit women stood at just 7.2%. By 2015, this had increased to 34.8% reflecting the work that organizations like ADWAN are doing to further women’s education and thus increase the economic opportunity available to Dalit women. 

Looking Ahead

Despite the persistence of the gender wage gap in Nepal, there is substantial evidence suggesting its effect is weakening. The government has made significant legislative progress in outlawing wage discrimination. In fact, the 2024 Women, Business and the Law index, which measures the laws that affect women’s economic opportunity, scored Nepal 80.6/100, higher than all its neighboring countries. While these legislative victories may not yet have trickled down to affect Nepali society fully, the direction of travel is undoubtedly positive. The tireless efforts of Dalit women organizing, educating and advocating for their rights has made much of this progress possible. From grassroots initiatives like ADWAN to national legislative change, a growing movement is demanding a more equitable future. If this momentum continues, the next generation of Dalit women may enter a workforce where equal pay is not an aspiration, but a reality.

– Adam Walsh

Adam is based in Nelson, Lancashire, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Project HOPE: Improving Syria’s Health Crisis

Project HOPEThe end of the 24-year regime of Syrian president Bashar Al–Assad has led to the conclusion of a decade of civil war. It has also exposed major gaps in humanitarian and health care needs. Impacted areas across Syria are facing significant gaps in health care, nutrition, water supply, hygiene and sanitation. Specialized medical staff, essential medications, functional infrastructure and psychosocial support remain in short supply. At the same time, malnutrition, inadequate shelter and logistical challenges continue to hinder delivery.

In the middle of Syria’s health crisis, Project HOPE, in coordination with the Jordan Health Aid Society-International (JHASi), is delivering essential medical supplies and working with local partners to assess health and humanitarian needs. The team has identified shortages of medicine, basic medical supplies and staff. 

Problems Facing Health Care Infrastructure

Diseases, such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea, are spreading due to Syria’s health crisis. According to Dr. Altaf Musani, the U.N. World Health Organization Director of Health Emergencies, more than 1,444 suspected cases of cholera and seven associated deaths have been recorded. He said, “We know that when cholera gets hold in camps, it can serve as a brush fire, increasing both morbidity and mortality.” He also warned that more than 416,000 children in Syria are at risk from severe malnutrition and that at least half of children under 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition are not receiving treatment. Dr. Musani also noted that more than 50% of the maternity hospitals in northwest Syria have suspended operations due to underfunding since September 2024.

Dr. Musani said that Syria’s health crisis is partly because the country’s health facilities lack funding and face shortages of skilled workers and equipment. The war forced 50% to 70% of the health workforce to leave the country to look for other opportunities and the health infrastructure still needs investment.

The Impact of Syria’s Health Crisis

Syria’s health care system has undergone a lot of changes in the past decade. The conflict itself devastated the health care system due to loss of health infrastructure, systematic attacks on health care facilities and the mass exodus of health care workers. Parallel governance structures resulted in a fractured and inconsistent health care landscape. 

The full impact of Syria’s health crisis falls most heavily on vulnerable populations. Women in need of maternal care face restricted access to maternal health care facilities. Children experience disrupted vaccine schedules and a shortage of pediatric care. Refugees and internally displaced people lack even basic medical services. Older individuals and people with chronic conditions experience inconsistent access to necessary medications, which intensifies preventable health complications. 

HOPE in Syria

Project HOPE delivered the first nonprofit shipment of medical supplies to southwestern Syria with the support of JHASi and the Al Yusr Charity Organization. The shipment included essential medicine and medical supplies for more than 5,000 people. This part of the country had previously been inaccessible to aid organizations following the end of the Assad regime, contributing to Syria’s health crisis.

Project HOPE has been operating in southern Syria and has assessed 13 hospitals and medical centers in the Daara and Suwayda Governorates since mid-December to identify the greatest health needs. The assessment found significant gaps in health care, nutrition, mental health support and water, hygiene and sanitation services. “Southern Syria desperately needs humanitarian attention, including food aid, health sector support, clean water and mental health care services, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, children, older adults and people with disabilities,” said Laith Salman, Project HOPE’s Team Lead in Syria.

Looking Ahead

Project HOPE has made accomplishments in the field by working to relieve the complications caused by Syria’s health crisis. “A large portion of the population is experiencing trauma, depression and anxiety due to the effects of war. While there are efforts from NGOs to provide mental health and psychological (MHPSS) support, there is a significant lack of trained mental health professionals, specialized facilities and MHPSS programs in the area to help those suffering from the psychological aftermath of decades of conflict,” says Laith Salman. Syria will require continued support from NGOs to recover from its post-conflict health crisis. Project HOPE is one example of an organization providing ongoing assistance to help address the impact of the conflict.

– Abirame Shanthakumar

Abirame is based in Markham, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr