Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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The Global Change-Maker: What Has the United Nations Accomplished?

United Nations
Established on October 24, 1945, the United Nations (U.N.) brought the world the values of promoting peace, combatting hunger, spreading democracy and other noble issues. Although critiqued by many, the United Nations has a positive record of bringing change to various lands, and leaving behind its all-encompassing mission. But what has the United Nations accomplished? Below are three of its key achievements:

1. Keeping The Peace

The role of “peace-maker” was one of the United Nation’s first large accomplishments; in fact, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations currently has 15 peacekeeping operations throughout the globe. By responding to crises — such as Haiti’s 2010 earthquake — and providing basic security commitments, each U.N. operation has reinforced political transitions and helped support fragile new state organizations. The U.N. has helped countries to cease large sectors of conflict and move towards regular development, regardless if peacebuilding challenges are present.

 

2. The Fight For Children

In 1953, the United Nations added UNICEF as a permanent affiliate of their organization. The U.N. General Assembly acquired the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which explains children’s rights to education, health care, shelter, protection and good nutrition. What has the United Nations accomplished since then? In 2017, the organization created the goal of saving 1.5 million children’s lives through sufficient vaccinations; since 1990, these vaccinations have saved the lives of 122 million children and counting.

 

3. Human Rights

Announced in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly for the first time, a document would set out fundamental human rights to be protected universally. The declaration has been translated into over 500 languages. Within the United Nations, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has the main responsibility in the system to protect and promote human rights. The OHCHR also supports the peacekeeping missions in several countries through engaging in human rights via active reports and conducting investigations.

 

Although there are other accomplishments, these are the three that stick out in answer to the question: “what has the United Nations accomplished?” Pushing for growth as a whole for our future is key. The future is brighter for us all with the spread of peace, children having a chance to reach adulthood and all beings understanding human rights.

– Tara Jackson
Photo: Flickr

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Sustainable Water Solutions in Jordan Also Fuel Diplomatic Progress

Sustainable Water Solutions in Jordan Also Fuel Diplomatic Progress
Scientists and officials worldwide project that shortages of safe, potable water will be one of the biggest global problems of the 21st century. As the world population continues to expand, water shortages have the potential to drive conflict and to stress systems of regional power. In areas where peace and stability are already tenuous, anxieties about access to safe water threaten to upset these fragile balances.

The Middle East and Water Insecurity

The Middle East is a focal point for potential conflicts about water insecurity. Fortunately, nations in this generally arid region are investing in solutions to the vital problem. The Kingdom of Jordan, for example, is turning a few unconventional solutions to gain water security for its citizens.

Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project

The cornerstone of developing sustainable water solutions in Jordan is the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project. Alongside desalination and gaining access to unusually deep aquifers, the Read-Dead project, as it is commonly known, is hailed as a “perpetual” solution to water supply in Jordan. The program has the ambitious goal of connecting the landlocked Dead Sea with the Red Sea, the large body of water separating Asia from Africa.

“The national water carrier project is a mid-term solution to the country’s water crisis, but the desalination of Red Sea water under the Red-Dead project is the country’s long-term solution to water scarcity,” said Omar Salameh, from Jordan’s Water Ministry.

Continuous Supply of Water for Jordanians

Once complete, Jordanian officials will be able to resupply the Dead Sea nearly continuously from an oceanic source. Along with modern desalination methods, this achievement will unlock a nearly continuous supply of water for the arid, rapidly growing country. Despite other immediate efforts, the Red-Dead project is the capstone of a suite of sustainable water solutions in Jordan.

The project also stands to have important diplomatic results for the region. Besides the relief in tensions that can come from one nation in the region having better water security, the Red-Dead project stands to benefit other nations besides Jordan as well. Israel and the Palestinian territories border the Dead Sea also, and the Sea has been losing volume for decades. With the solidarity that can come from sharing a common resource, sustainable water solutions in Jordan could have inordinately positive impacts on regional relations as a whole.

– Paul Robertson

Photo: Flickr

Sustainable Agriculture in Chad

Sustainable Agriculture in Chad

In Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, nearly 63 percent of the 12 million population lives in destitution. Developing sustainable agriculture in Chad poses a challenge for its people and economy.

In addition to poverty, Chad scores very low for many humanitarian indicators, suffering from environmental degradation, political instability and internal conflict. Chad ranked 186 among 188 countries surveyed in the United Nations’ 2016 Human Development Report.

Agriculture is an integral part of the economy and of community life. Agriculture and livestock production accounts for more than one-fifth of Chad’s GDP. The agriculture sector employs nearly 80 percent of Chad’s working population. However, food shortages are widespread. Close to 40 percent of Chadian children under age six suffer from chronic malnutrition.

The Impact of Climate Change on Sustainable Agriculture in Chad

Developing nations are more susceptible to climate change than developed nations. In a recent survey of climate vulnerability, Chad ranked the most vulnerable country to climate change out of 186 countries. Sustainable agriculture, as an adaption strategy to climate change, is also a good practice for increasing agricultural productivity and alleviating poverty and food insecurity.

Most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern regions of Chad, where extreme climate conditions, from drought to flooding, have made the region inhospitable. Other challenges to sustainable agriculture in Chad are poor infrastructure and environmental degradation. It is difficult for farmers to restore the productivity of the degraded land, as there is limited access to agricultural services and other productive resources, knowledge and technology.

Recently, the development of sustainable agriculture in Chad has progressed. For example, farmers have adopted a sustainable rainwater harvesting technique, called Zaï, to overcome desertification and increase productivity. Though Zaï is labor intensive, it could help Chad achieve food security and safeguard it against a changing climate.

In 2016, the government of Chad unveiled its national development plan addressing the need for increased agricultural production and industrialization. By developing new or enhanced techniques for sustainable agriculture, like Zaï, the country is taking practical steps toward achieving a goal that will improve the resilience of agriculture for food security and economic growth.

– Gabrielle Doran

Photo: Flickr

Improvements of Sustainable Agriculture in Malawi

Sustainable Agriculture in Malawi
The Malawi government, along with aid from the World Bank and others, has spent the past few years creating a new and improved agricultural policy for sustainable agriculture in Malawi. The main purpose in the new agricultural policy is refocusing smallholder subsistence farming to commercial approaches and as a result, sustainable agriculture in Malawi has significantly improved.

Economic Impact of Malawi’s Agricultural Industry

Malawi’s agricultural industry affects their economy directly, as one third of their gross domestic products come from agriculture. The industry provides employment, reduces poverty, ensures food security and contributes to nutrition. With this wide-reaching presence, the country has clearly taken this development project as being one of high-priority.

Malawi is also working towards becoming a secure, mature, sustainable and technology-driven country and has numerous goals the nation hopes to achieve by the year 2020. These goals involve a variety of foci, such as droughts, economic expansion, education, health care, environmental protection and financial stability.

 

New Agricultural Policies

The country’s new policies have developed through the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach Support Project (ASWAp-SP). Malawi’s new policy comes with three different sub-policies that all work to strengthen the agriculture sector. These three sub-policies are:

  1. The National Agriculture Policy (NAP)
  2. The Revised National Seed Policy
  3. The Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR)

With such attention to detail through these more specific policies, the hope for Malawi is more than bright.

 

The National Agriculture Policy

The National Agriculture Policy is centered on commercialization to promote growth in the agriculture industry. The policy transitions farming communities from subsistence production to non-traditional high-value agricultural chains that will generate more money, as well as create the necessary actions to ensure that these efforts are successful.

The enforcement of this policy includes: sustainable irrigation development, mechanization of agriculture, market development and much more. The government of Malawi hopes with NAP that management of agriculture resources improves and incomes increase — results that would lower the country’s poverty rate and improve nutrition levels.

The Revised National Seed Policy

The Revised National Seed Policy is Malawi’s policy to realize the crop production and productivity goals, and the importance of the quality of the seed. The revised seed policy will provide regulation and control of all seeds, while also protect consumers and dealers to improve to a responsible seed industry.

 

The Strategic Grain Reserve

The Strategic Grain Reserve will protect the country from maize production deficits, as maize is the major grain for food in Malawi. The new policy will require an early release of funding to procure grain during harvesting and will have a member-committee oversee the maize in both emergency and non-emergency circumstances. The policy also addresses grain storage issues, quality control problems and recycling of the stock.

As of 2017, Malawi’s GDP growth rate is expected to increase from 2.5 percent in 2016 to 4.5 percent. Overall, the new policies installed work to incite the hope of an increase of the sustainable agriculture in Malawi. With the new policies, the agriculture sector of the country will increase — an effort that should also improve the economy, increase employment and reduce hunger and poverty.

– Chloe Turner

Photo: Flickr

A Hostile Environment: The Struggle for Sustainable Agriculture in Syria

sustainable agriculture in Syria
With its Mediterranean climate and location in the ancient Fertile Crescent, Syria was once the region’s only self-sufficient country in food production. Before the civil war that began in March of 2011, Syria’s main agricultural exports included wheat, barley, cotton, sugar, tomatoes, potatoes, oranges, apples, olive oil, sheep, cattle, poultry and eggs. Up to 40 percent of the population’s livelihoods were connected in some way to agriculture.

A Nation Ravaged by Food Insecurity

By 2016, though, the country’s agricultural infrastructure had largely been destroyed. Approximately 8.7 million people suffered from food insecurity, and much of the land was parched and dusty. Agricultural woes were both contributors to and results of the current humanitarian crisis.

According to writer Steven Starr, drought and food shortages were the most important factors leading to the 2011 revolt. That sentiment was echoed by Evan Fraser and Sylvain Charlebois, professors at the University of Guelph, who explained that “Throughout history, agricultural problems have acted as catalysts that trigger widespread social and humanitarian crises.”

Drought’s Role in Syria’s Agriculture

2006 was the start of four consecutive years of drought, which had pushed three million people into extreme poverty by 2010. The negative effects of the drought on sustainable agriculture in Syria destabilized the country and caused rural inhabitants to flee to cities lacking adequate infrastructure for such numbers. The result was unrest due to corruption, inequality and increased competition for jobs and resources.

Francesca de Chatel referred to the current humanitarian crisis as “the culmination of 50 years of sustained mismanagement of water and land resources.” Chemical fertilizers and monoculture led to soil degradation, while a poor irrigation system contributed to salinization. Unrestricted grazing turned the fragile Syrian steppe into an eroded desert.

Hostilities Impact Syrian Sustainable Agriculture

The onset of hostilities in Syria only intensified the struggle for sustainable agriculture in Syria. Both sides used food as a weapon, initiating starvation sieges and scorched earth policies. Open warfare put farmland off-limits, and the fear of being shot prevented shepherds from grazing their flocks on roadsides. Less land was cultivated due to power cuts, damage to irrigation canals and the high cost of food.

The rotation of cereal and legume crops was neglected, leading to nutrient-deprived soil and increased pests. Syria’s once vibrant and productive food processing and packaging sector had its productive capacity cut in half. The number of sheep and goats dropped by at least 40 percent, while poultry production was cut by a staggering 70 percent.

Bread is a staple food in Syria, and with the wheat deficit, the price of bread increased by 45 to 95 percent. As access to quality food deteriorated, families were left without fresh produce and forced to skip meals. The U.N. warned that Syrian children faced irreversible health problems in the wake of food shortages.

Seeds of Growth and Hope

Although the situation in Syria is dire in many respects, hope still remains. For instance, 15th Garden – Seeds for Syria is a “civil cooperative program ensuring post-war food sovereignty in Syria.” A network of urban gardens serving bombed and besieged Syrian cities, the work of 15th Garden involves family gardens, rural farmers and agricultural initiatives in refugee camps. Participants swap and reproduce seeds as well as attend workshops and courses that teach skills for gardening and sustainable agriculture in Syria.

Initiatives like 15th Garden are increasingly important for Syrian civil society and serve to demonstrate how anyone can help improve sustainable agriculture in Syria, even just by donating seeds.

– Anna Parker

Photo: Flickr

Efforts Towards Sustainable Agriculture in South Africa

South Africa
Sustainable agriculture in South Africa is on the rise. Sustainable development can take many forms, but it always requires financial support that often comes from nonprofit organizations or the government.

In developing countries, the government is often too scattered or too ineffective to actually create change. However, in South Africa, the government is beginning to build the sustainability of their agriculture industry and combat nationwide hunger through loans, grants and food security programs.

South African statistics state that over half of the country currently lives in poverty (59 percent). Of the employed population of South Africa, only 68,000 people worked in agricultural industries in 2016, and of the total South African population, 6.9 percent die of nutritional or metabolic diseases in 2016. Numbers indicate that not only is there a lack of sustainable agriculture in South Africa, but also that malnutrition and diseases that correspond with malnutrition are a large percentage of causes of death in the country.

 According to the South African Government’s website, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has four main support programs that they are making available to the South African people:

1. The Micro-Agricultural Financial Institutions of South Africa (MAFISA)

Micro-Agricultural Financial Institutions of South Africa (MAFISA) is a micro-loan operation which offers local farmers and business owners the opportunity to purchase equipment such as fertilizer, seeds and wheelbarrows, which may not have otherwise been available to farmers. MAFISA also offers savings mobilization capabilities, so that the small business owners can begin to build their own savings for the future.

2. The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Grant (CASP)

Comprehensive Agricultural Support Grant (CASP) is a grant offered to businesses whose main focus is on the growth of agriculture and land reform in an area. The grant focuses on six major areas, including technology and systems management, regulatory services, marketing and business development, training, farm infrastructure and financial support groups; it is offered in hopes that these local and national companies can help build a more sustainable society in their region.

3. The Ilima/Letsema Grant

The Ilima/Letsema grant is offered only to smallholder farmers and agricultural producers to increase production of food for especially impoverished regions. This grant focuses on food security through the production of food for donation, without immediate return of profit.

4. Fetsa Tlala Initiative

Fetsa Tlala is the newest food security initiative, and it presents much like the Ilima/Letsema grant, but with a much more narrow focus. According to a 2014 News24 article, Fetsa Tlala was created to take unused land in different provinces of South Africa and begin producing food for it. This initiative focuses on producing staple foods (grains, vegetables, etc.) for populations that cannot afford them, and to create job sustainability for those who work in food production.

These four financial support initiatives are the beginning of a national recognition of the lack of food security in South Africa. Sustainable agriculture in South Africa, and the legislation that surrounds it, can reduce poverty and increase the upward mobility of the working class in South Africa. Fortunately, the government is working hard to make that happen.

– Molly Atchison

Photo: Flickr

The Challenges of Sustainable Agriculture in Libya

Sustainable Agriculture in LibyaAs a country that consists mostly of the Sahara Desert, Libya has a brutally dry climate that does not lend itself to agriculture. Between the lack of natural resources and low rainfall levels, freshwater supply in Libya is limited. Water for the agriculture industry has to be sourced from dams and aquifers, but it also has to be shared for domestic use. Only 5 percent of the land is farmable and it is easily exhausted, making sustainable agriculture in Libya a challenge.

The physical and economic climates of the country do not support a healthy agriculture industry. Fortunately, the oil industry makes up the majority of the country’s income now. Though sustainable agriculture in Libya used to make up a third of the country’s gross revenue, as of 2008 agriculture only accounts for 1.87 percent of Libya’s income.

The country’s economy does not depend on agriculture, but the population is starting to face the threat of food insecurity without a sustainable agriculture industry. The Libyan crisis forced the emigration of many laborers in the country. Agricultural production dropped and resulted in a major increase in food imports.  The residents who have remained in Libya during the crisis are experiencing life in a food desert, forcing them to forgo necessities like medical care in order to pay for food.  

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the U.N. has been attempting to combat these threats by providing resources such as pest control, quality seeds, technical assistance and education to Libyan farmers. In 2017, the FAO supplied a $3.5 million grant to strengthen the capacities of the agriculture industry.

Additionally, water pockets found throughout the desert have spurred the government to sanction new agriculture projects to utilize the hidden desert resources.

While the Libyan government and the FAO focus on resurrecting sustainable agriculture in Libya, organizations like the World Food Programme are helping families get the food they need in the meantime. Continued focus on maximizing the available resources will help sustainable agriculture in Libya reach its full potential.

– Anna Sheps

Photo: Flickr

Sustainable Agriculture in Kosovo Promoting Unity

sustainable agriculture in kosovo

Kosovo’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture and related industries, which are estimated to be the biggest sector of the economy. At a broad level, Kosovo’s agricultural sector is doing well, but there are some key challenges holding it back. That being said, external aid, particularly from the U.S. and the European Union, is helping to rectify some of these issues in conjunction with many local activists whose efforts to promote sustainable agriculture in Kosovo cannot be overlooked.

The main challenge facing Kosovo’s agricultural sector amounts most fundamentally to a lack of competitiveness. This results from a variety of factors, ranging from outdated techniques and equipment (with regards to both production and processing) to difficulty with market access. Additionally, Kosovar farmers are facing increased pressure to switch to more sustainable practices before the environment can no longer support their current ones. Encouragingly, many small farmers are open to doing this, but may lack the means to do so, which is why support from outside actors promises to be wildly successful in promoting sustainable agriculture in Kosovo.

Many groups are hard at work trying to modernize the Kosovar agricultural sector and make it more internationally competitive. The EU’s mission to Kosovo has made a point of working with small farmers and providing them with grants to make necessary improvements. Additionally, the EU mission is also working closely with Kosovo’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development to ensure that all of the work being done is helping to bring Kosovo in line with the EU’s common agricultural policy and all of its associated regulations.

The EU has made a point to prioritize providing grants to farmers who are also advocates for sustainable agriculture in Kosovo. Saffron Team, one of the EU grant recipients, lobbies against the use of artificial pesticides and works to sustainably produce saffron, a highly valuable crop that is well-suited to the local climate.

The story of Saffron Team is also a good example of how money put towards sustainable agriculture or other seemingly-irrelevant efforts can also have unintended positive effects elsewhere. The owner of Saffron Team, Nexhmedin Kahrimani, is currently negotiating with an ethnic Serb from northern Kosovo, and the two are considering going into business together. When describing this latest venture, he emphasizes the importance of mutual trust in all aspects of daily life. It is quite possible, then, that efforts to promote sustainable agriculture in Kosovo can also play a role in helping to encourage reconciliation between the multiple ethnic groups who call this country home.

USAID is also heavily involved with promoting sustainable agriculture in Kosovo. The U.S. is currently focusing on helping Kosovar farmers improve their production and processing techniques while opening up new links to markets around the world. USAID is working to bring in new investors and generate economically sustainable partnerships that will foster long-term growth in this sector. The U.S. is also working to provide improved equipment and training to help farmers increase volume and achieve greater economies of scale. Additionally, USAID is emphasizing improved food quality to help Kosovar products compete on the international market. The United States is also helping to fund initiatives to encourage young people to enter careers in agriculture, ensuring the promotion of sustainable agriculture in Kosovo in the long term as well as the short term.

As with many aspects of international development, significant challenges are present and it will take time for sustainable agriculture in Kosovo to become firmly entrenched. It will be difficult for all farmers to adopt these techniques at the same rates, and market access may continue to be a problem. That being said, those parties working on these issues in Kosovo are to be commended for their efforts, which are already making a major difference.

– Michaela Downey

Photo: Flickr

Sustainable Agriculture in Tanzania

Sustainable Agriculture in TanzaniaIn order to address existing social and environmental problems, there is a need for sustainable agriculture in Tanzania.

Problems are caused by factors such as environmentally-destructive and unsustainable farming practices. These practices lead to food insecurity, poverty and climate change including cycles of drought. Malnutrition is also a result of environmental degradation through the loss of topsoil, water supplies and forests.

Sustainable Agriculture in Tanzania with SAT

The organization Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) seeks to address these issues. It works with small-scale farmers face-to-face and uses impact-proven strategies which are based on four holistic pillars:

  1. Dissemination of Knowledge
  2. Application and Marketing
  3. Research
  4. Networking

SAT works with farmers, educators, researchers and government and operates a Farmer Training Centre (FTC).

Large-Scale Successes with Small-Scale Farmers

Since 2011, the SAT has successfully linked 2000 small-scale farmers in Morogoro. Thus far, the movement has reached over 70 groups from 50 villages. 

Through SAT’s Innovation Platform, all these gained experiences from the field are made accessible to a national community of more than 50,000 farmers, public and private stakeholders.

Soil management is also a key issue. Farmers fight erosion, reduce water consumption and plant trees to reduce the dependence on adjacent forestlands that are under harvest pressure.

Farmers are able to successfully produce organic vegetables and fruits. They also learn how to process food as well as how to store it longer. The FTC is closer to becoming financially self-sustained and continues to host over 1600 farmers, extension officers and youth in East Africa.

SAT also collaborates with universities to link young researchers with the farming communities. Some of SAT’s Core Values include:

  1. We Empower
  2. Practice Equity
  3. We are Ethical
  4. Anti-corrupt

These values promote a good work ethic and lead to successfully implementing sustainable agriculture in Tanzania.

Through working directly with the farmers and recognizing their knowledge and experiences, sustainable agriculture in Tanzania can thrive as these programs become improved and refined.

– Julia Lee

Photo: Flickr

Sustainable Agriculture in Zambia: Creating Green Entrepreneurs

Sustainable Agriculture in ZambiaFarmers in Chongwe, Zambia, are reverting to traditional techniques and green farming methods to promote sustainable agriculture in Zambia. Chongwe’s farming communities are experiencing low crop yields due to unpredictable precipitation patterns and decreased soil fertility.

According to a 2010 report by Zambia’s government and the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD), the following practices significantly impact agriculture in Chongwe:

  • Deforestation due to charcoal and wood fuel production
  • Logging for timber
  • Expanding small-scale and unsustainable agricultural practices

Most farmers in Zambia focus on monocropping, but delayed payments and poor yields have forced inhabitants to rely on charcoal burning and trading to make ends meet. These methods result in erosion and desertification, locking Zambia into a perpetual cycle of poverty and environmental degradation.

The Green Entrepreneurship Project trains and empowers farmers to undertake sustainable farming practices. These practices combat land degradation and increase crop productivity. The Dutch organization HIVOS coordinated the project with Kasisi Agricultural Training Center, the Dairy Association of Zambia and Micro Bankers Trust.

The Green Entrepreneurship Project aims to promote:

  • Integration of agroforestry
  • Dairy farming
  • Clean energy
  • Agroprocessing
  • Microfinance provision

The Green Entrepreneurship Project hopes to encourage farmers to practice sustainable farming, which would improve their productivity and incomes. Agroforestry improves crop yields, soil cover and water retention. Farmer-managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) allows trees that grow naturally to be retained and pruned so that farmers benefit from a shelter for their crops, better soil conditions and erosion control.

The collaboration between the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has resulted in nine agricultural camps utilizing conservation farming. Conservation farming decreases dependence on chemical fertilizer and pesticides while increasing access to the organic market.

Chongwe’s growing middle class and proximity to Lusaka means that farmers can supply organically grown crops and animals to a reliable market. The Green Entrepreneurship Project was started in 2013 and is currently implemented in Kanakantapa, Kasenga, Mpango, Njolwe and Chinkuli areas of the Chongwe district.

Over 180 farmers have received training for sustainable agriculture in Zambia. Farmers who receive training become eligible for loans, and the majority of loan recipients go into dairy farming.

Sustainable agriculture in Zambia and creating green entrepreneurs may be the first steps in ending the country’s cycle of poverty and environmental decline.

– Carolyn Gibson

Photo: Flickr