Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Women’s Empowerment in the Central African Republic

Women's Empowerment in the Central African RepublicThe landlocked Central African Republic has a population of about 4.7 million and a land area of 623,000 square kilometers. Women’s empowerment in the Central African Republic is a challenging task in this nation, known as the unhappiest country in the world. The Human Development Index ranks this country as the lowest among 188 nations.

Similar to a few other undeveloped nations, economic and social discrimination are common barriers to women’s empowerment in the Central African Republic. Single women are not regarded as the heads of households and are often denied family subsidies to which they are entitled. While the constitution guarantees equal rights, many women, especially seniors and those without families, had been accused of being witches. The proportion of women in government ministries and female seats in parliament remains relatively low, at 12.5 percent as of 2015.

While equal inheritance and property rights are enshrined in civil law, women are vulnerable to discriminatory customary laws, especially in rural areas. There is no penalty for spousal rape, nor a minimum sentence for rape. Incomplete statistics suggest that one in seven women had been raped during the previous year, while the true incidence of rape could be even higher. Of women surveyed, 22 percent claimed physical harm by a member of their household. Also, there is no set of penalties on sexual harassment till then.

A 2013 report found that access to primary school was not equal for girls and boys. While 65 percent of girls were enrolled in the first year of school, this number sharply declined to 23 percent after the sixth grade. Many girls left school in their early teens to marry and have children. The illiteracy rate of females was also much higher than that of males.

A recent study reported that this nation has the second-highest rate of child marriage in the world, where 68 percent of teenage girls got married before the age of 18 and 29 percent were married before the age of 15. There is no prohibition against polygamy and bride-trading, which poses significant barriers to women’s empowerment in the Central African Republic.

A few global institutions such as U.N. Women and the International Rescue Committee put great effort into the protection of women’s empowerment in the Central African Republic. Their officials appealed to the international community to mobilize for the peace and security of women.

While some notable progress had been recognized on women’s empowerment in the Central African Republic, gender inequality and other related issues persist, demanding patient global advocacy on closing the long-existing gender gaps for this nation.

– Xin Gao

Photo: Flickr

Project Begins to Improve Road Infrastructure in Laos

infrastructure in laosLaos is completely landlocked, with Vietnam standing between the small country and the Gulf of Tonkin. As a result, road transport is an essential form of transportation and the only means of improving economic development through infrastructure.

Unfortunately, road infrastructure in Laos is limited, underdeveloped and particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. According to the World Bank, 50 percent of the roads observed were in fair or good condition and only 56 percent of the rural population in Laos has access to an all-season road.

In 2017, The World Bank and Laos Ministry of Finance signed an agreement to dedicate $25 million to the Second Road Sector Project in Laos, which is mainly designed to create climate-resistant road infrastructure and to improve road connectivity in parts of Laos that are susceptible to natural disasters.

As a country, Laos is no stranger to natural disasters such as landslides, floods, earthquakes and cyclones. For villagers in rural areas, floods are the biggest detriment to crops, which are not only a source of income but also a source of sustenance for many farm families.

The six provinces at the center of the Second Road Sector Project are particularly defenseless in the wake of natural disasters. The central provinces face issues with backwater flooding while the northern provinces are most susceptible to flash floods and landslides.

Ensuring climate resilience in these provincial roads involves routine road maintenance. Spot maintenance is also needed to improve the poorest sections of existing road infrastructure in Laos.

These maintenance changes include increasing drainage, decreasing or stabilizing large slopes, elevating low roads that are vulnerable to flooding and re-graveling existing roads. The upgrades aim to lessen the effects of different forms of flooding and will help maintain the accessibility of more roads following natural disasters so that people in the most rural areas may attend work and school and have access to important services.

On the institutional level, the project called for critical changes in policy and the public sector, such as providing training and technical assistance which ensure proper and timely implementation of the roadwork projects. In the case of the highly probable natural disaster, project proceeds are re-allocated to an emergency response for the poor northern and central provinces. The emergency response includes a specified list of goods, services and infrastructure work that are to be implemented following a natural disaster.

While the project was only implemented a year ago, the World Bank and the Lao Ministry of finance have made tangible steps toward progress. By October 2017, the World Bank collected a large amount of data on the conditions of road infrastructure in Laos and the climate-resilient road maintenance component is already in motion, making certain parts of Laos better prepared than they were in 2016 for the next flash flood or earthquake. The World Bank projects that these changes will give 57 percent of people access to all-season roads by 2022 with the hope that this number will continue to increase.

– Danielle Poindexter

Photo: Flickr

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Uplifting Women’s Empowerment in Uzbekistan

women's empowerment in uzbekistanThe fight for gender equality is an old battle. Countries struggle to benefit each citizen equally due to prejudice in educational practices, outdated work demands and cultural biases. Uzbekistan shares these tendencies in regards to women and equality.

Before declaring independence in 1991, Uzbekistan’s gender roles were influenced by Soviet policy regarding equality and traditional Uzbek values and culture. These factors caused difficulties while transitioning into an independent, sovereign state, limiting growth and empowerment for women in Uzbekistan.

Soviet Union traditions tended to provide formal equality for men and women when it came to education, health and political offices. However, women were largely segregated to unpaid work or lower-paying jobs because of household tasks and childcare. This unequal division of labor remains in existence. The government of Uzbekistan has developed projects to increase women’s empowerment in Uzbekistan.

The government of Uzbekistan took action to address gender issues through legislation, ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The government also proceeded to work to improve women’s economic status by allowing special credit access to female employers and business that employ women. In an effort to maximize women’s political roles, the government requires political parties to include a certain percentage of female candidates.

The Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan and UNPD partnered for the “Empowering Women to Participate in Public Administrations and Socio-Economic Life” project. Beginning in November 2017, this project’s motive is to enable women to participate in drafting laws and policies in regards to international human rights treaties. Women, through this project, perform workshops and conferences to influence societal prejudices.

UNICEF representative in Uzbekistan Robert Fuderich brought awareness during the November 20 annual campaign “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World” to the idea that violence against women causes grave consequences that affect the society as a whole. Organizations such as the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan and the National Association of NGOs and Uzbekistan-India Friendship Society are all working to uplift women’s empowerment in Uzbekistan. U.N. agencies (UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNV) developed the U.N. Joint Programme, which includes the socio-economic standing of women and how to empower women through Uzbekistan.

Several agencies are taking significant roles in addressing gender inequality in Uzbekistan. Achieving a legislative foundation for women’s empowerment in Uzbekistan will help enable women to improve their socio-economic standing while bettering all of society.

– Bronti DeRoche

Photo: Flickr

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5 Development Projects in Sudan to Know About

development projects in sudan
Sudan has been rife with conflict for most of its existence. The country is dealing with economic challenges, health concerns, a large population living below the poverty line and the ever-present threat of violent conflict. Many organizations are working in Sudan to help improve conditions for those living there, and progress is being made. As an example, the life expectancy in Sudan has risen from 58.4 in 2000 to 64.2 in 2015. Ahead are five development projects that are making a difference in Sudan.

  1. Earlier this year, the Sudanese government and the African Development Bank launched the ENABLE Youth Program. This project helps youth in the country get involved in agriculture and learn business skills that will help them make a living. This is an important step in diversifying Sudan’s economy and decreasing its reliance on oil.
  1. The Strengthening Sub-National Fiscal Policy Management project is seeking to promote greater equity in Sudan’s public resource use and increase government transparency. There is a large disparity in resource allocation between different regions within Sudan and this project is working to level the playing field.
  1. The second phase of the Sustainable Livelihoods for Displaced and Vulnerable Communities in Eastern Sudan project (SLDP2) is continuing to help people living in Sudan’s poorest region identify labor needs and find workers to complete these tasks. This creates new jobs that do not require a great deal of training and work toward the betterment of the community.
  1. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has made development projects in Sudan a priority since 1979. Today the organization focuses its programs on agriculture and livestock. It is working to enhance crop productivity and increase access to financial services in Sudan’s rural farming communities.
  1. The United Nations Development Project (UNDP) is confronting many key issues in Sudan. UNDP projects in Sudan focus on poverty reduction, establishing and stabilizing democratic institutions and fighting HIV, malaria and other diseases.

Development projects in Sudan have played an important role in improving the quality of life for those living in the country. With continued investment from the global community and regular evaluation of projects’ effectiveness, there is hope for a more stable and peaceful Sudan.

– Aaron Childree

Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Senegal

infrastructure in senegalInfrastructure in Senegal is on its way to being efficient and up-to-date. Senegal currently spends $911 million on infrastructure each year, but $312 million is wasted due to inefficiencies. According to the World Bank, Senegal cannot meet standards of efficiency because it has an annual funding gap of $578 million which could be closed by increased investment by the private sector.

In terms of physical infrastructure, Senegal has 19 airports, a total railway line length of 906 km and road connectivity of 0.07 kilometers per square kilometers of land. While these statistics are far better than a couple of decades ago, Senegal still falls behind the rest of the world. Senegal’s road connectivity of 0.07 is far below that of the world average of 0.46. Additionally, only 61 percent of the population has access to electricity.

In order for Senegal to catch up to the rest of the world, they will need major increases in funding. According to the World Bank’s Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), which assesses the “competitiveness landscape” of a country’s economy, Senegal came in with a score of 3.7 for the 2015-2016 year. The score is also an indicator of the level of transport, electricity and telephone infrastructure. Senegal compares poorly to other countries, but it must be noted that the highest-scoring countries are developed nations with access to greater funding.

A number of developmental agencies, such as the African Development Bank (AFDB) have projects in Senegal. Between 2008 and 2012, the AFDB conducted the Road Development and Transport Facilitation Project, which focused on improving road infrastructure in the Southern Bamako-Dakar Corridor between Senegal and Mali. While the main goal of the project was to make Senegal’s main port more accessible to Mali, the improved road has provided better access and transportation to the people of Senegal as well. Transportation has become much more convenient for villagers in the region, and there have been major reductions in flooding and erosion of the road.

Ultimately, infrastructure in Senegal is much better than that in other developing countries, but it still needs a lot of improvement. Most of this work cannot be completed without significant increases in funding that will have to come from private and foreign investment. Senegal has the potential to raise its GCI score through improvements to its infrastructure and should do what it can to garner more financial support from other nations and independent organizations.

– Liyanga de Silva

Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Nepal: Gaps Between Mountains and Plains

infrastructure in nepalNepal’s landscape is shaped by the Himalayas, which run along the country. The snow mountains and blue skies are recurrent pictures in the land. These geographic conditions divide the country into three different regions: the plains, the elevated flatland and hills and the mountain region.

Infrastructure in Nepal is also shaped by these features, with gaps in infrastructure between the plains and the mountains. In some areas, it is difficult to build roads and provide citizens with basic services such as electricity and water.

These gaps are visible in water infrastructure. For instance, only 83 percent of the population in Nepal has access to basic water services. Even though most Nepalese have water access, the quality of water varies by region.

Terai, located in the plains, has good water access but in the Western hills region sanitation is the principal concern. Only 16 percent of Nepalese have access to higher/medium quality water service, a percentage which shows the main problem with water infrastructure in the country.

Regarding electricity, only 76 percent of the population has access to energy. The electrical power infrastructure has not improved since 2002. In addition, Nepal faces 18 hours’ load shedding a day, which means that energy generators have to be shut down in order to prevent malfunctions of the power system.

Communications infrastructure also has gaps between the plains and mountain regions. More than 60 percent of the road network in Nepal is concentrated in the lowland areas of the country, specifically in Terai. There are 29,031 km of roads, 53 percent of which are paved roads, and 1,952 bridges in the South Asian country.

This situation affects the Nepali industry and economy. In this way, Nepal’s infrastructure depicts a dual problem. Whereas just 20 percent of Nepal’s population lives in urban areas, Nepal also has the fastest urbanizing indicators with a growth rate of five percent on average since the 1970’s. With these parameters, Nepal has to start to improve its infrastructure in order to improve urbanization in most of the country’s regions.

The infrastructure of Nepal was impacted by an earthquake that occurred in 2015. Around eight million people were affected and 250,000 houses damaged. Despite that, Nepal’s government and the private sector are working to relieve infrastructure in Nepal.

Government capital expenditures in infrastructure have exceeded four percent of Nepali GDP since 2015. This money has gone towards water, communication, transportation and electricity infrastructure.

In addition, the private sector is contributing to upgrading the country’s infrastructure. Transportation and communication infrastructure received an investment of 365 billion Nepalese rupees this year. Whereas water and energy infrastructure got 48 billion Nepalese rupees.

International organizations are providing assistance to Nepal as well. Since the 1970’s the World Bank has founded 12 road projects and recently it has developed the Road Maintenance Groups (RMG) program that employs local Nepalese labor in road infrastructure tasks.

With these advances, Nepal looks to the future. With growing urban areas in the country, infrastructure in Nepal has to reduce the gaps it has in the mountains regions, where access is difficult. However, the government, the private sector and international organizations are all contributing money to the country in order to boost infrastructure in Nepal’s three regions.

– Dario Ledesma

Photo: Pixabay

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Access to Education in Uganda Improves With Exam Ban

access to education in ugandaIn the country of Uganda, education is of high concern. Given that there are over 100 students in some classes, the quality of education is severely lacking. In an attempt to focus on quality and learning retention, Uganda has done away with primary entry level examinations. As opposed to the examinations, the focus will now be aimed at ensuring that the quality of teaching is up to par. Any school found violating the ban will face strict repercussions.

The country’s Ministry of Education found that the quality of education on a primary level was lacking. With the country’s overall literacy rate at 70.2 percent, the ban is the result of a desire to shift focus away from exam results and improve teachers’ instruction skills. This step provides a ray of hope for access to education in Uganda.

Because teachers are so crucial in the quality of education, the first focus for access to education in Uganda is teaching capabilities. The Ministry of Education has embarked on massive training program of teachers at all levels, called the Teacher Training Education Project. The project aims not only to train the teachers, but also to make sure that they have the necessary equipment for teaching, and that they are able to be supportive to their colleagues, according to a report on the project by the Ministry of Education.

The ban on entry exams is good news, but there are still other factors that Ugandans must overcome in order to attend school, such as finances. Tuition at the primary level is free; however, families tend to struggle with paying for school-related expenses such as books. Tuition to secondary-level schooling is free only if a student does well on his or her Primary Leaving Exams.

The dissolution of the entry exams is a step in the right direction regarding access to education in Uganda, but there are still many more steps to take in the future. If the country wants to ensure that quality of education endures, further measures, such as continuous teacher training and free schooling and supplies, must be taken.

– Dezanii Lewis

Photo: Flickr

Mental Healthcare in Ghana Improving Lives

mental healthcare in ghanaGhana’s healthcare system deals with many obstacles relating to disease and discrimination. The West African country faces many diseases common in Africa, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, which plagues some of its 27 million population. It is the poor access to mental healthcare in Ghana, though, that has set it apart from its sub-Saharan neighbors.

A 2012 study showed that the Ghanaian government spent $0.12 per capita for mental health treatment. This is less than half of the average expenditure of other lower-middle income countries. It is roughly two percent of spending toward mental healthcare by upper-middle-income countries.

Challenges to Mental Healthcare in Ghana

Unfortunately, a lack of spending is not the only hindrance to receiving adequate mental healthcare in Ghana. A number of other challenges have prevented Ghanaians from receiving help, including a lack of qualified professionals. A scant 18 psychiatrists practiced in Ghana in 2011.

The number of mental healthcare outpatient clinics is far greater. However, the majority of these clinics are located in Accra, Ghana’s capital. Rural areas of the country have far fewer resources, such as the Ashanti region. There are only 12 outpatient services available to its population of 4.8 million.

Introducing the Mental Health Act

The international recognition regarding poor mental healthcare in Ghana forced the country to look more closely at its practices. To this end, Ghana introduced the 2012 Mental Health Act.

The goals of the scheduled 5-year plan were to create a baseline to ensure quality reform and to compare it to the performance of other countries. The poor access to treatment in rural areas of Ghana was also addressed. Programs were initiated to bring awareness of mental health programs and resources all over the country.

With the support of the World Health Organization, the Mental Health Act implemented previously ignored practices. Furthermore, it ensured the rights of people with mental disabilities. Mental health in Ghana has always been highly stigmatized, and the Act sought to create anti-discrimination provisions and safeguards for the vulnerable.

In the years since the approval of the Mental Health Act, Ghana has taken a number of steps to increase access to mental healthcare. This has included steps to decentralize programs and integrate them into the general healthcare system. Ghana is also beginning to downsize its three largest psychiatric hospitals in order to spread access to mental healthcare throughout the nation.

Ghana’s mental healthcare system has seen incredible progress. The country recognized the need to transform the highly underfunded and stigmatized system. Now, the system offers patients better access to treatment that is free of discrimination and negative consequences. Challenges remain, but the steps taken to reshape its future have already made a difference to mental healthcare in Ghana.

– Eric Paulsen

Photo: Flickr

Improving Infrastructure in Colombia

In 2013, the World Economic Forum reported that the infrastructure in Colombia was among the worst in Latin America. Colombia ranked 10th out of 12 Latin American economies considered in the infrastructure quality-gap index.

Many citizens believe that the lack of infrastructure is a danger to both Colombia’s domestic and international economic competitiveness. Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, elected in 2010, also recognizes that improving infrastructure in Colombia is key. Improvements to infrastructure would boost the country’s competitiveness. The threat posed by Colombia’s poor infrastructure led Santos to create the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) during his first year in office.

The National Infrastructure Agency

The ANI was designed to catapult projects that are key to Colombia’s economic growth. Out of the 33 planned roads, the ANI awarded 32 concessions as of 2017. Given that most problems with the country’s infrastructure relate to the transport sector, this progress is notable.

To remedy some of the issues faced in Colombia’s transport sector, Law 385 was introduced by the Financial Sector Reform in 2009. The law allowed for up to $14 billion to be invested in the transport sector. However, less than $1 billion was actually invested. This number is much lower than the $9 billion allocated to other sectors, such as electricity and telecommunications.

Additional Improvements to Infrastructure in Colombia

The Fourth Generation (4G) investment program provides large investments for infrastructure projects. In particular, the investments provided by 4G are enough to nearly double the length of the roads throughout Colombia. This program is among the most ambitious investment programs in the country’s history. 4G includes a total of 47 projects, including the construction of 8000 kilometers of roadway in Colombia.

Further to the government’s focus on improving roadways is the project to better maritime transport. Colombia aims to improve this sector, with a goal to double its exports. In the future, Colombia aims to promote itself as a tourist destination for those who travel on cruise ships.

Despite the areas of infrastructure in Colombia that still require improvements, considerable progress has been made. In the first three years of Santos’ presidency, Colombia invested $11.7 million in infrastructure development. Its work does not stop there: in the next few years, Colombia’s government expects to spend over $1 billion on airport modernization projects alone.

– Haley Rogers

Photo: Flickr

Efforts Continue to Rebuild Infrastructure in Lebanon

Infrastructure in LebanonThe country of Lebanon has experienced years of domestic instability and conflict. However, prior to the civil war that began in 1975, the former French colony was a luxurious tourist destination. Its capital, Beirut, was commonly known as the Paris of the Middle East. With the significant rebuilding of infrastructure in Lebanon, many hope that Beirut may once again be in the international spotlight.

Rebuilding Infrastructure in Lebanon

Following the 2005 peace agreement, Lebanon’s economy grew at an extraordinarily fast rate for a number of years. Growth exceeded 8 percent within a four-year period, from 2007 to 2010. However, even at that time, the country’s needs were immense.

Lebanon’s current gross domestic product is $47 billion, yet the 2010 estimate of necessary spending on infrastructure in Lebanon topped $20 billion. At that time, one government minister suggested that the most valuable development efforts would include projects to connect areas outside the capital with Beirut and the completion of a transportation corridor across the country’s north-south axis.

A 2013 report detailed the results of one $30 million program to repair and enhance infrastructure in Lebanon. Coordinated through the World Bank, the program resulted in the rehabilitation of 175 kilometers of roads as well as reconstruction of 17 public buildings. It benefitted an estimated 178 municipalities across the country.

Recent Developments

More recently, the country’s improved trajectory has been somewhat obstructed by the civil war in neighboring Syria. Lebanon has hosted the largest number of refugees from that conflict and this burden has strained the country’s resources.

As a result, economic growth has also slowed. Fortunately, growth has not turned negative, and some infrastructure projects continue as the international community addresses the refugee crisis. The United Nations Development Programme and the U.S. Agency for International Development each have numerous ongoing projects in Lebanon. Additionally, international travelers are again recognizing Lebanon as a desirable vacation destination.

Improved stability and rebuilding have the potential to return Lebanon to its former status as an international hub. Such an outcome would greatly improve the lives of its six million citizens. It could also make this Mediterranean nation, with historical ties to both Europe and the Arab world, a valuable trading partner in future years.

– Paul Robertson

Photo: Flickr