Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Top 20 Countries with the Lowest Life Expectancy

countries with the lowest life expectancyThere are a lot of factors that contribute to a country’s life expectancy. Some of these contributing factors are economic conditions, diet, public health, access to medical care, wars, crime rate etc. Because of this, a lot of the countries on this list are African countries plagued by poverty.

According to the CIA’s World Factbook, these are the top 20 countries with the lowest life expectancy as of 2017.

  1. Chad – 50.6
  2. Guinea-Bissau – 51.6
  3. Afghanistan – 51.7
  4. Gabon – 52.1
  5. Swaziland – 52.1
  6. Zambia – 52.7
  7. Central African Republic – 52.8
  8. Somalia – 52.8
  9. Lesotho – 53
  10. Mozambique – 53.7
  11. Nigeria – 53.8
  12. Burkina Faso – 55.9
  13. Niger – 55.9
  14. Uganda – 55.9
  15. Sierra Leone – 58.6
  16. Cameroon – 59
  17. Cote d’Ivoire – 59
  18. Republic of the Congo – 59.8
  19. Zimbabwe – 59.8
  20. Angola – 60.2

The overwhelming majority of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. According to Africa Check, the top five causes of death in 2017 in Africa were lower respiratory tract infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, stroke and Ischemic heart disease. The major reasons for these causes of death are unsafe water, poor sanitation, insufficient hygiene, lack of resources and economic conditions. Living conditions dramatically affect life spans and are a major reason why these countries have the lowest life expectancy.

However, there has been a significant improvement in a lot of these countries and their life expectancy numbers. For example, Zimbabwe and Zambia’s longevity has increased by 38 percent since the year 2000. And, overall, of the 37 countries that have seen increases in their life expectancy numbers by more than 10 percent since 2000, 30 are in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, not even one sub-Saharan country had its life expectancy fall between the years 2000-2014.

There is still a lot of progress that needs to be made in order for these countries with the lowest life expectancy to increase their numbers, but regardless, there has been a substantial improvement in these struggling countries.

– McCall Robison

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Empowerment in Vietnam

Women's Empowerment in VietnamVietnam is a Southeast Asian country. During the past few years, gender inequality has been an issue that has increased noticeably. Women’s empowerment in Vietnam does not seem to be a prominent topic at first glance. This is because, within the Asian’s country society, it is traditionally portrayed the fact that women are supposed to become mothers.

Nowadays, Vietnamese society does not empower women as much as it once did. During the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975, women left their households, and along with men, became soldiers to fight in battle.

From this, women became greatly respected in Vietnam. But the portrayal of women as mothers has overcome the once-powerful vision of these female soldiers. Now, Vietnamese women do not take part in the constabulary, government and state positions.

Most women become stay-at-home mothers whose only duty is to take care of their house, children, and husband. It is for this reason that practically all Vietnamese women become pregnant. They believe, as well as the other people in that same society, that it is the one and only duty and service that a woman has to and can successfully accomplish.

In addition to becoming mothers and housewives, most women perform jobs within the agricultural sector, one of the biggest parts of the Vietnamese economy.

It is clear that gender equality and women’s empowerment in Vietnam are concepts that have yet to be fully developed. Women of all ages are physically and mentally abused every day. Whether it is within their households, workplace or elsewhere, Vietnamese women do not seem to be in a safe position nowadays.

Along with such abuse, Vietnam’s human trafficking nets grow day by day at an extremely concerning growing rate. Women are abducted and sold from Vietnam to other Asian countries. The victims are usually sold in order to become sex workers or wives.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been working toward women’s empowerment in Vietnam for now decades. By creating women’s clubs, the UNDP has created safe spaces for Vietnamese women to share their stories and get to know other women in similar positions.

The UNDP is also working on a four-year project that will work with women and girls in order to advance gender equality in the public sector and to boost female representation in leadership positions.

The United Nations has created awareness in regard to violence towards women in the Asian country. Through initiatives such as “Delivering as One,” that promotes empowering women within their households, society, and others, gender equality is soon to become a reality in Vietnam.

– Paula Gibson

Photo: Flickr

Success of Sustainable Agriculture in Costa Rica

Sustainable agriculture in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has become a developed country success story, according to the World Bank, with steady economic expansion and smart government spending over the last 25 years. Costa Rica is now a global leader for accomplishments and policies involving the environment, building a Green Trademark and pioneering the Payments for Environmental Services Program (PES), which promotes forest and biodiversity conservation, as well as working to improve sustainability in its agriculture.

Sustainable agriculture in Costa Rica is vital to this country’s success as it depends on agriculture for about 6.5 percent of its gross domestic product and 14 percent of its labor force relies on it for work. In 2012, Costa Rica’s agricultural system was threatened by farming practices that overexploit natural resources in order to maximize short-term profit.

Since the mass-produced cash crops of Costa Rica are popular exports such as coffee, bananas and pineapple, all of which required a extensive amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, Costa Rica’s agricultural situation created problems. The consequences of poor farming practices include depletion of soil, contamination of freshwater, deforestation and dangerous conditions for workers. Addressing this crisis led the country to put sustainable agriculture in Costa Rica at the forefront of change.

Organic farming has now become increasingly popular. Organic agriculture relies on specific technology like crop rotation, natural fertilizers and biological pest control. This is safer for the environment and the workers, solving both problems at the same time.

In November of 2017, new public-private alliances were formed in Costa Rica to open access to international markets with a focus on biodiversity and strengthening rural economies. These alliances included a Green Growth Program signed by the Costa Rica USA Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA). The CRUSA five-year strategy will promote sustainable models for economic development that will “improve the quality of life of Costa Ricans while reducing environmental risks as a way to face the effects of climate change in our country.”

With the Green Growth Platform, the focus will be on converting 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into green businesses, exporting food products, including organics and superfoods, to markets including North America, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.

Although classified as a developed country, Costa Rica is far from perfect, with poverty rates neither declining or rising. But with sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture on the rise, Costa Rica is marching toward its place as a great and prosperous nation.

– Kailey Brennan

Photo: Flickr

Progress in Developing Infrastructure in Albania

infrastructure in Albania

In 2008, Albania managed to develop its economy, rising from its position as the poorest European nation to middle-income economic status. This growth was possible because of international aid to develop infrastructure in Albania, and as a result, poverty decreased by half. Infrastructure projects have increased the prosperity of Albanian society.

Roads in Albania are one of the country’s largest projects, concentrated on the highway Corridor Durrës – Kukës – Morinë, known as the “The Nation’s Road.” This road connects key sections of the nation, linking the capital and the port of Durres to the state of Kosovo. Another project underway is Corridor VIII, which will connect the Albania port of Durres with Bulgaria, joining Tirana, Thana Neck, Skopje, Deve Bair, Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas. This will fuel trade, being the main east-west transportation route between the Mediterranean and Balkan countries.

Another key part of infrastructure in Albania is electricity and the development potential within this sector. Albania’s potential capacity to generate power from hydro (water) resources, wind, solar and biomass is immense. In 2011, 98.57 percent of the total energy produced was from hydroelectric plants. Investments in energy production help the development of Albania and reduce poverty by allowing more individuals access to affordable, reliable energy.

Providing clean and sanitary water to people is another crucial service in running a functional state. The water supply is at the forefront of providing for citizens and a measurement of an effective government. Albania increased its investments in order to enhance the water supply sector. The government passed a budget increase to boost tourism projects and supply water to areas facing difficulties. In 2010, $10 billion went to water supply improvements, with $6 billion coming from the state budget and the remainder from foreign aid.

Entities such as the municipality of Tirana and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are working together to upgrade the municipal infrastructure in Albania. Their plan is to make the capital more environmentally conscious and promote sustainable growth and development. The municipality of Tirana and the EBRD are working through a memorandum of understanding for the development of urban transport, roads, water and wastewater services, solid waste management, street lights and improving energy efficiency.

Albania shows the great benefits of international aid: poverty reduction, roads being built, developing cities and providing for the people of the state. However, improvement growth models need to represent sustainability, investment-strong and export-led ideals.

Focusing on macroeconomic and government fiscal sustainability fuels reform and development for Albania. This, in turn, will benefit all sectors within infrastructure in Albania. Foreign aid in the form of investments will allow Albania to continue to decrease its poverty rate and boost the economy enough to further state development.

– Bronti DeRoche

Photo: Flickr

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The Struggle for Women’s Empowerment in Gabon

women's empowerment in GabonHome to about 1.7 million people, the small West African country of Gabon is wealthy from oil exports and boasts impressive environmental diversity. An authoritarian government and family dynasty led by President Ali Bongo keeps wealth in its hands and contributes to high levels of inequality. Under the Bongo dictatorship, many legal and cultural obstacles remain that challenge and limit women’s empowerment in Gabon.

According to the U.S. State Department’s Human Rights Report for Gabon released in 2017, Gabon provides limited legal rights for women, and when laws do exist, they are poorly enforced. Marital rape remains legal, and women are often too ashamed or afraid to report a rape to the local police. Women’s empowerment in Gabon is promoted by several NGOs that work with the government to respond to incidents of domestic violence and harassment. Some positives include a very low rate of female genital mutilation (FGM), which is prohibited in Gabon.

While FGM has not taken root in the country, other traditions like polygamy are still practiced and act as a barrier to women’s empowerment in Gabon. Current laws limit the number of wives a man can have to four, and despite full legal rights on paper, many women still suffer discrimination based on customary laws relating to marriage, divorce and inheritance.

According to Amnesty International, the promise of gender equality in Gabon’s constitution is not borne out by the country’s laws and legal practices. The legal code continues to discriminate against women in child custody and crucial elements like the minimum age of marriage for women and girls, significant barriers to women’s empowerment in Gabon. Female domestic workers also suffer high levels of sexual harassment and have fewer avenues to legal help than other women suffering abuse in Gabon.

The World Bank is investing in a project to foster women’s business development and women’s empowerment in Gabon. The Investment Promotion and Competitiveness Project seeks to boost female employment, as the current female unemployment rate is at 27 percent — 11 percent higher than the male rate. The project will create a one-stop shop to register businesses with a central web-based database, empowering female entrepreneurs to receive training, access financial services and open small and medium-sized businesses. Projects like these are a key part of alleviating poverty for women in Gabon and helping them achieve empowerment.

– Giacomo Tognini

Photo: Flickr

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10 Shocking Facts About Child Soldiers

facts about child soldiersAlthough improvements have been made to end the use of child soldiers, it is believed that close to 300,000 child soldiers are still being recruited and forced into war across the world today. Child soldiers are children under the age of 18, some even as young as seven years of age, who are used for any purpose in a military or armed group. Child soldiers can act as cooks, messengers, informants, soldiers, suicide bombers or even sex slaves.

Why do people use child soldiers? Armed forces can manipulate children easily, they do not eat very much food, and they do not have to be paid. Soldiers take advantage of this and use children as pawns in their dangerous battles.

10 Child Soldier Facts

  1. Forty percent of the world’s armed forces use child soldiers.
  2. Though child soldiers are often associated with African conflicts, they have been used throughout history in armies all over the world.
  3. Children who are poor or have little access to education have a higher chance of being forcibly recruited.
  4. Some children choose to enter the military to escape poverty or because they believe they will be offered safety and security by doing so.
  5. Sometimes, as part of their recruitment, child soldiers are forced to kill family members or neighbors to desensitize them and make it so the children cannot go back to their homes and communities.
  6. Children are often used to man checkpoints when there is no active combat taking place. The soldiers will stand several meters back so if anyone starts to fire a weapon, the child soldiers will be the first ones to get hit.
  7. Girl soldiers are often used as “wives” and are sexually abused. Human Rights Watch has reported girl soldiers being impregnated by their commanders and having to fight with their child strapped to their backs.
  8. Child soldiers are known to be fighting in at least 14 countries, including Afghanistan, India, Iraq and Thailand.
  9. If child soldiers are released, they often lack basic survival skills because they were supplied food and shelter in battle. This makes it difficult for them to survive if and when they become free.
  10. When child soldiers are released, many are shunned and given little if any support to reintegrate into their communities. If there is a lack of rehabilitation support, children are frequently recruited back into the military.

These are only a few of the most disturbing facts about child soldiers. Children from all around the world are ripped from their youth and thrown into a merciless world of battle. In order to help these children return to a normal life, UNICEF has established rehabilitation centers in current and former conflict areas. The support these centers provide is crucial to healing former child soldiers and reintegrating them into their communities. This work combined with international pressure to end the practice can make these facts about child soldiers part of the past instead of the present.

– McCall Robison

Photo: Flickr

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Sightsavers Protects Vision in Developing Countries

vision in developing countriesOver 90 percent of visually impaired people worldwide live in developing countries. Sightsavers partners with local entities to protect vision in developing countries from the Caribbean to Africa and Asia. The organization has treated over 200 million people for potentially blinding conditions.

To date, Sightsavers has facilitated seven million eye operations in 30 countries to prevent blindness. The organization has also trained almost 500,000 medical providers in eye care and has rehabilitated 91,000 visually impaired people.

Sightsavers specifically treats neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), cataracts and refractive errors that negatively affect vision in developing countries. The nongovernmental organization also advocates for disability-inclusive development.

Neglected Tropical Diseases

Over one billion people globally are impacted by neglected tropical diseases. Sightsavers targets five NTDs that affect eyesight – trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, intestinal worms and schistosomiasis.

In 2016, the organization distributed almost 47 million treatments for river blindness. Further, it treated over 16.5 million people for intestinal worms and treated over 5.7 million people for schistosomiasis. Sightsavers aims to totally eliminate trachoma and lymphatic filariasis from its covered countries by 2020.

In 2016, Sightsavers and its partners distributed 154 million treatments for NTDs. Sightsavers facilitates initiatives that fight neglected tropical diseases in 29 developing countries.

Cataracts

Worldwide, 20 million people have lost vision due to cataracts. In some of the African countries covered by Sightsavers, 60 percent of cases of blindness are caused by cataracts.

Since the organization’s inception in 1950, Sightsavers has facilitated 6.6 million cataract surgeries. Furthermore, it has trained over 1,000 healthcare professionals to treat the condition. A child’s cataract surgery costs Sightsavers only $78.

Refractive Errors

Globally, 124 million people have untreated refractive errors like nearsightedness and astigmatism. Sightsavers has distributed almost three million pairs of eyeglasses in developing countries. Additionally, the organization trained 726 optometrists.

In 2016, Sightsavers’ School Health Integrated Programming (SHIP) initiative checked school-aged children in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Senegal and Ghana for poor eyesight. The program examined 57,400 children and provided 1,000 pairs of eyeglasses.

Advocacy

Worldwide, one billion people — 15 percent of the population — live with a disability. Eighty percent of disabled persons live in developing countries. In addition to protecting vision in developing countries through medical care, Sightsavers advocates for disability-inclusive development.

The organization’s “Put Us in The Picture” program has campaigned for incorporation of disabled persons in the development process since 2013. The initiative works to ensure that the needs of disabled residents of developing countries are considered in global development.

Sightsavers also advocates for equal access for disabled people to quality education and healthcare. The organization also works to ensure disabled people can find employment and participate in their political systems.

– Katherine Parks

Photo: Flickr

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5 Development Projects in Malaysia

development projects in malaysiaOne of the most vibrant economies in Southeast Asia, Malaysia consists of two regions separated by 640 miles of water. Though it is relatively peaceful, occasionally there is racial tension. To address issues of income inequality, several development projects in Malaysia are active.

Less than one percent of Malaysians live in extreme poverty. However, more than 40 percent of the population is impoverished. Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, income inequality is relatively high in Malaysia. Despite these issues, there are many projects that hope to fight this inequality issue. 

Below are short descriptions of five development projects in Malaysia.

Scatec Solar Project

Scatec Solar, a company in Malaysia, recently won a grant to construct a 40 MW plant. Located in northwest Malaysia, it expects to deliver 65 GWh of solar power and earn about $6 million a year. Construction is due to begin in 2018 and finish in 2019.

This is not Malaysia’s first solar plant grant win, which makes its renewable energy commitment evident. Furthermore, this continuous string of solar power growth shows a definitive market in Malaysia.

Program for Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation II

The Program for Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation was created by JICA in 2001. The project focused on the biodiversity and conservation of ecosystems in the Sabah region of Malaysia. It implemented the Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SaBC) and managed the river basins of the Kinabatangan and the Segama rivers. Further, it created state park activities in the Sabah region.

Development Projects in Malaysia: Green Cities

The Green Cities project is also known as the Sustainable Urban Management Support for Follow-up Activities in Melaka, Malaysia. It builds on previous Green Cities development projects in Malaysia implemented by the Asian Development Bank.

The original Green Cities projects focused on improving climate resilience in Malaysia. The plan addressed economic growth and sustainability in an urban environment.

Kota Kinabalu Composting Project

In 2008, the World Bank approved the Kota Kinabalu Composting Project. It created this project to avoid further methane and greenhouse gas pollution from a landfill in Telipok, Malaysia. By diverting waste to a sorting and compost plant, workers recover the recyclable parts of the waste and convert the biodegradable portion into a large-scale compost.

To fully reach its goal, the World Bank constructed a 500 tonne/day sorting plant. Although it has yet to reach completion, the goal is still possible in the coming few years.

Global Knowledge and Research Hub

In March 2016, the World Bank Group officially launched its Global Knowledge and Research Hub in Malaysia. Focused on Malaysia’s aims to become a high-income economy through sustainable and inclusive growth by 2020, it will support their economic plans, and share lessons with developing countries.

The first of its kind, this Hub will address skill shortages, help implement Malaysia’s SME plan, unlock the potential for Malaysia’s digital economy and many other plans.

By pursuing these development projects in Malaysia the nation will continue to grow. As a result, it will bring a larger percentage out of poverty and reach its national economic goals.

– Nick McGuire

Photo: Flickr

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Government Supporting Women’s Empowerment in Tonga

Women's Empowerment in TongaIn recent years, Tonga has taken action to bridge the gap in gender equality by improving women’s livelihoods and attempting to stop domestic violence against them, while also improving their economic power. They believe that in order to eliminate poverty in their country, women’s empowerment in Tonga needs to improve.

Tonga’s government is determined to promote gender equality. On December 9, the Pacific Community’s Regional Rights Resource Team and the Ministry of Justice helped create a new Access to Justice Project for Tongan residents. The plan’s aim is to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence and offer them the services that they need.

The plan projects to open a community center in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, in early 2018. The center will provide assistance that will increase survivors’ abilities to apply for protective services under the Family Protection Act. It will also include free legal assistance. For women who are not in Nuku’alofa, the center will provide assistance over the phone.

An earlier development created in 2016 to improve women’s empowerment in Tonga is the Talitha Project. With assistance from Australian Aid and U.N. Women, the project organized a drop-in center as a safe place for women to come and get support and discuss any difficulties they may be having. This center provides counseling and empowerment courses to help women become independent members of society.

The Talitha Project also launched a campaign this year, supported by the Ministry of Justice, to end child marriage in Tonga. The campaign is called “Let Girls Be Girls!” and plans to increase awareness of child marriage in Tonga, as well as repeal sections of the Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration Act of 1926. The current legal age to marry in Tonga is as young as 15 years of age if the child has the consent of a parent.

The campaign is hoping to change the age minimum for marriage to 18. The founder of the Talitha Project, Vanessa Heleta, says this is an essential step to ensure that women realize their full potential.

More recently, Heleta has used the Talitha Project to partner with the Bank of the South Pacific and a telecommunications company to encourage over 50 women to empower themselves financially. The project ensures that these young women are provided guidance on how to become financially independent entrepreneurs.

The project’s main purpose is to increase women’s empowerment in Tonga. With the help of the bank, these young women in Tonga will get assistance in opening a bank account. The project also works with the women to use any talents they may have to create or make goods they can sell, such as handicrafts or fabric printing. Then, when cruise ships come in, the women go to these locations and set up a tent where they can sell their products.

These young women having a functioning bank account and earning an income from the work they have done themselves empowers them and gives them leadership skills. The purpose of all of these projects is to improve women’s empowerment in Tonga and give them the confidence and support they need in order to continue striving as individuals.

Although a persistent effort is needed to further increase women’s empowerment in Tonga, there are numerous projects and plans in place to ensure that this improvement continues. These projects are only some of the influential ones taking place in Tonga and empowering women daily.

– McCall Robison

Photo: Flickr

Sustainable Agriculture in Madagascar Has a Worldwide Impact

sustainable agriculture in MadagascarMadagascar is one of the world’s most biologically diverse areas, but only 10 percent of its original rainforests are intact. These remaining pockets of vegetation are highly fragmented due to local and small-scale destruction. Conservation must be combined with sustainable agriculture in Madagascar.

The Madagascar Flora and Fauna Group (MFG) has joined forces with Dr. Christof den Biggelaar, Associate Professor at Appalachian State University, North Carolina, to develop the MFG Ecoagriculture Project. The program works by teaching farmers agricultural techniques that encourage sustainable development and food security while conserving biodiversity. For instance, composting is an easy and effective method for combating the universal issue of soil infertility in Madagascar. Other MFG activities include research and the creation of new markets.

Human population growth in Madagascar has led to severe deforestation, largely due to the implementation of tavy, or slash-and-burn agriculture. Tavy is used primarily in the clearing of land for rice paddies and cattle grazing. It leads to erosion and productivity losses by exposing fragile soil. Runoff into the ocean is bad for fish health, which harms the local fishing industry. Deforestation also contributes to planet-wide climate change. Farmers understand the problem, but in their daily struggle for survival feel powerless to stop it.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), or the Madagascar Method, has contributed to sustainable agriculture in Madagascar by increasing food security while decreasing environmental damage. For the last 25 years, Malagasy farmers have grown rice using intermittent wetting and drying of paddies rather than continuous flooding. Irrigating rice by flooding paddies suppresses weed growth, but at the expense of huge quantities of water. SRI uses less water, less land preparation and less fertilizer. With this method, young seedlings are planted individually with nutrients into wide rows of healthy, aerated soil. SRI results in rice with deeper roots that do not suffocate. These stronger roots create larger plants with heavier grains, thereby producing more grain per hectare while conserving water and reducing the environmental impact.

Madagascar is the world’s leading producer of vanilla, accounting for 80 percent of world production. Haagen-Dazs has partnered with General Mills to invest $125,000 over two years to encourage sustainable agriculture in Madagascar. General Mills buys most of the vanilla that goes into Haagen-Dazs ice cream from the Sava region. It has prioritized vanilla as one of the ten most important ingredients to source sustainably. Smallholder vanilla farmers have benefited from education and training aimed at the production of a more sustainable and higher quality crop. The resulting improvements in yield quantity and vanilla curing have increased the incomes of local farmers, which in turn has had a positive effect on entire communities.

The problems facing Madagascar are daunting, but the Malagasy people are becoming better equipped to tackle them. People around the world can contribute to sustainable agriculture in Madagascar by enjoying the nation’s famous shade-grown chocolate and vanilla.

– Anna Parker

Photo: Flickr