Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Five Facts About Development Projects in South Sudan

Five Facts About Development Projects in South SudanSouth Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, sits along one of civilization’s oldest landmarks: the Nile River. On July 9, 2011, South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan. Its path to stability and sustainability has not been easy.

The South Sudanese government originally planned to use its oil-rich regions to stabilize and grow the country’s economy, but due to disagreements with Sudan, oil production was shut down in 2012. Since then, civil war and rogue militias have ravaged the people of South Sudan, causing a humanitarian crisis. However, this has not slowed the success of aid in the nation. Here are five facts about development projects in South Sudan.

  1. Development projects in South Sudan see long-term international aid. In 2014, the British government allocated 442 million pounds for the development of South Sudan. Instead of directly involving itself in the process, the government has allowed various international aid organizations to use the money to carry out their missions on its behalf. These organizations include the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Danish Refugee Council and the Norwegian Refugee Council. Over 60 percent of spending was allocated to providing food, medical supplies and material aid. The project is on track to end in 2020.

  2. The South Sudanese health services are overwhelmed and underfunded. According to the World Bank, the South Sudanese Ministry of Health is underfunded. As a result, the World Bank began a project in 2016 to help the South Sudanese government cope with its rising need to provide healthcare to its citizens, called the South Sudan Health Rapid Results Project. Funding has been set at $40 million. The project has succeeded in providing healthcare to South Sudanese citizens in the Upper Nile conflict area, an area that only a few development projects in South Sudan continue to work.

  3. Food security is in jeopardy. Food is in short supply in South Sudan, and the World Bank has attempted to alleviate the crisis with a food and agriculture project in 2016. The project is called Southern Sudan Emergency Food Crisis Response Project. Overall, this project has had mixed results when measured against its target goals. It has reached its target for farmers adopting new technologies to increase output and surpassed its goal of constructing new food storage facilities. However, less than half of the targeted families have been helped by their funding. Unfortunately, this project did not receive funding again in 2017, but the infrastructure it created and the new technologies introduced will help drive development in South Sudan for years to come.

  4. May 4, 2017, saw the approval of the South Sudan Emergency Food and Nutrition Project. The project was granted $50 million and is set to run until July 2019. Its goals are similar but more comprehensive than the previous food aid project. This time, more focus is being given to the re-engagement of farmers, which is exceedingly important for the stability of the country’s food supply. Using the infrastructure and technologies of the last project will help provide the basics for the beginning of this new development project in South Sudan. To compensate for the shortcomings of the last project, more funding has been given to focus on supplying food while the farmers begin to produce their new crops.

  5. South Sudan’s development has improved at the community level. USAID is providing support to South Sudan at the community level, focusing on the availability of safe and sanitary drinking water and the health and education of children. Manual water drills and pumps are being provided to villages around the country along with education on waterborne illnesses. To protect and educate children, USAID has implemented three programs. The first aims to protect the rights of children against child-labor and provide equal access to education for boys and girls. Encouraging nonviolent play is another implemented program that focuses on keeping children away from violence. Safe spaces for children are often hard to come by in war-ridden nations. With the third program, USAID seeks to provide more of these spaces for children to receive medical treatment away from conflict.

Conflict has displaced 2.2 million South Sudanese citizens. Fortunately, the world has not forgotten about its newest country. International aid will continue to help fund development projects in South Sudan, hopefully leading the nation and its people to a brighter better future.

– Nick DeMarco

Photo: Flickr

Women’s Empowerment in Namibia

Women's Empowerment in NamibiaSeveral law reforms were made in Namibia, post its independence in 1990, like abolishing discrimination on basis of gender, the Married Persons Equality Act granting equality to women in marriage, the Combating of Rape Act that outlaws marital rape, the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and the Maintenance Act.

To achieve women’s empowerment in Namibia, the Co-operatives Act was adopted which requires a substantial number of women to form cooperatives. The Employment Act, Communal Land Reforms Act and the Labour Act all favor women’s participation in the economic sphere. In addition, the government introduced the Build Together Programme to help single mothers. However, reforms in the area of reproductive rights for women have been slow and abortion is still illegal.

Notable gains have been made in increasing women’s representation in the national assembly up to 46 percent thanks to the South West Africa People’s Organization’s (SWAPO) “zebra list” system. The system indicates that if a minister is a woman then the deputy minister must be a man and vice versa. Another ambitious part of this system, for women’s empowerment in Namibia, is that the roles be switched in successive elections so that if a man is appointed president in one term then a woman should be appointed for the following.

In addition, Namibia is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (1995), the CEDAW optional protocol (2000) and the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development (2005).

Yet, high levels of inequalities exist that can be seen in women’s economic dependency, in the high levels of violence against women and children and in the feminization of HIV and AIDS. The path to women’s empowerment in Namibia is still a long way off. Legal Equality has not transformed into structural equality. Women remain at the lowest level of employment and struggle with practical impediments that limit their economic independence and self-sufficiency.

Women’s access to land is also limited, in spite of the absence of legal barriers, due to continuing discriminatory practices and limited implementation and awareness of existing laws and rights.

For women’s empowerment in Namibia to become a reality, serious changes have to be made in society. UNICEF has recommended the following:

  • All stakeholders (Government, Private Sector, Educators, the Media, civil society groups, NGOs and churches) must work together to create an enabling environment in which gender stereotypes can be openly discussed, challenged and redressed.
  • Men need to be active participants in the process of achieving gender equality for Namibian women.
  • Educators of the next generations of Namibian society hold the key to social change.
  • The roles of women within traditional authority structures need to be examined and harmonized.
  • To address both gender-based violence and HIV prevention as well as many other social ills, alcohol abuse needs to be systematically addressed as an underlying cause.

– Tripti Sinha

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Empowerment in Honduras

Women’s Empowerment in HondurasHonduras is a country in Central America that borders the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, according to the CIA. In 1821, Honduras gained independence from Spain. A freely elected democratic government came to power in 1982 after 25 years of military rule. Despite this achievement, Honduras still has obstacles to overcome.  In a May 2017 report, ABC news said Hondorus had been called the most dangerous place to be a woman. This makes women’s empowerment in Honduras an important issue.

Honduras is a country steeped in machismo culture which helps fuel gang violence and violence against women. Every 16 hours a woman is murdered in Honduras making the country’s femicide rate one of the highest in the world. Violence against women is an increasing problem in Honduras and many women are either afraid of going to the police or feel that it does not help their situation. Women are afraid of going to the police because they fear that it will only make matters worse for them or because, in some cases, their abusers are gang members and going to the police would mean retaliation from the gang.

Around 95 percent of crimes against women go unpunished in Honduras. This includes domestic violence, murder and rape. Despite this, there are women who gather enough courage to leave their abusive relationships which is an important step towards women’s empowerment in Honduras. Trócaire discusses Calidad de Vida (Quality of Life) in a December 2014 article. Calidad de Vida is a women’s refuge located in the capital of Honduras which supports women who have experienced sexual and physical violence or emotional abuse. They encourage them to leave abusive relationships and to learn to be independent.

Calidad de Vida is making strides towards women’s empowerment in Honduras. Women have access to legal help, psychological support from women who have had similar experiences and participate in occupational therapy. There is space for up to 30 women and children who have nowhere else to turn to when leaving an abusive relationship.

A number of women who have benefited from this refuge have, in turn, helped other women who are victims of violence to seek help. They participate in the DENMAH project (for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents) which Calidad de Vida is a part of. This project promotes women’s rights and violence prevention. It works with women in rural and urban areas to promote women’s empowerment in Honduras.

– Fernando Vazquez

Photo: Flickr

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The Success of Humanitarian Aid to Uganda

Humanitarian Aid to UgandaUganda is hosting over 1 million refugees. Thanks to its progressive solutions and open policies, the country, located in East Africa, has welcomed people from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. In 2017, the refugee population dramatically changed: close to 900,000 South Sudanese fled to Uganda seeking peace. This year, Uganda became host to the largest refugee camp in the world. Bidi Bidi is home to 270,000 refugees and is expected to get even more arrivals in December 2017. For that reason, humanitarian aid to Uganda has become essential to assuring that refugees’ needs are met. This includes shelter, healthcare and education.

Women and Children

Around 86 percent of the 900,000 South Sudanese refugees in Uganda are women and children. The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has provided different projects helping these groups. In 2016, 264,300 South Sudanese women received core-relief items, shelter kits and sanitary kits.

In addition, the international organization imparted help with Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) issues. The UNHCR aided 767 South Sudanese SGBV survivors to access psychosocial counseling.

Increasing Access to Education

Classes are difficult to hold in refugee camps, as most of the time there are not enough facilities and teachers. In Bidi Bidi, there are 5,000 students and only 38 teachers. Despite that, 130,600 school-age refugee children were enrolled in primary education. By the end of 2017, it is expected that 176,171 children will be registered.

Other educational efforts are being in Uganda’s Coburwas Primary School. One program ensures that refugee students receive food. Outside of the classroom, students learn how to farm, an activity that brings money to the school.

Health and Humanitarian Aid to Uganda

Humanitarian aid to Uganda has had large success in addressing health issues. It is expected that 100 percent of the people of concern, specifically refugees, will have access to national primary healthcare services in 2017. In addition, health organizations such as the Real Medicine Foundation (RMF), are developing projects in refugee camps. The RMF currently operates 30 health centers in Bidi Bidi.

Economic Improvements

Finally, the UNHCR implemented a project to improve refugees’ economic situation. The organization trained 9,300 refugee business owners in entrepreneurship and all of them received access to credit and financial services.

Humanitarian aid to Uganda is increasing as the refugee population grows. Uganda has one of the most progressive refugee policies in the world, but in order to ensure improved living standards for refugees, there is a need for continued contributions of humanitarian aid.

– Dario Ledesma

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Empowerment in Chad

Women's Empowerment in ChadLike in a lot of the countries in Africa, women’s empowerment in Chad is lacking immensely. Lack of freedom, child marriage, violence and mutilation are a few of the issues women must face in Chad.

A tradition that resides in many countries in Africa, in different tribes and families, is female genital mutilation(FGM), an act that young girls must go through as a rite of passage into womanhood. One type of practice is confined to the eastern parts of the country nearing Sudan, but FGM crosses ethnic and religious lines and is performed by Christians and Muslims all over Chad.

There is an estimate that 60 percent of the women in Chad have undergone the procedure and that it is even more prevalent in rural parts of the country. There is no law that makes these practices a crime, but the act is prosecutable as an involuntary physical assault against a minor. A new law, drafted in 2001, would specifically criminalize the practice of FGM.

Child marriage is extremely common in Chad and is the main reason why young girls have to leave school early. Over two-thirds of young girls will have been married before the age of 18. To add, it is a norm in the country for many of the men to have more than one wife and large extended families of wives and children. There are organizations that are trying to raise awareness about the higher health risks for young girls when they become pregnant and are also trying to encourage them to stay in school.

In Chad, there is inequality between the genders in three different dimensions. The different dimensions being reproductive health, empowerment and labor market participation. Reproductive health refers to maternal ration and adolescent birthright. Empowerment refers to the share of parliamentary seats held by women and the share of the population, who are women, with at least some secondary education.

With inequality of genders comes violence. Around 18 percent of women in Chad who have been in a relationship, ranging from ages 15 to 49, have had a partner commit some type of physical or sexual violence act against them at least once in their lifetime. Women in Chad are citizens who have full voting rights but lack the knowledge about certain rights including their right to protection from gender-based violence. Many women are unaware that rape is a crime and see it as just an indecency. Without more knowledge on rights, women’s empowerment in Chad is stifled.

To bring back women’s empowerment in Chad, organizations like UNICEF are uplifting women by informing them about their rights. They are confronting violence and consolidating peace in Chad. The women of Chad are protesting against the violence against them but they still need support while they continue to deal with the gender-based violence and abuse in their country.

– Chavez Spicer

Photo: Flickr

Road Infrastructure in the Dominican Republic

Infrastructure in the Dominican RepublicOver the past 25 years, the Dominican Republic (DR) has been one of the most successful countries for economic growth in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. In 2017 alone, the economy expanded by 5.2 percent. With that, poverty levels decreased from 42.2 percent in 2012 to 30.5 percent in 2016. Regardless of the fact that the DR economy is improving, some of their roads and highways are lagging behind the progress and causing questionable road infrastructure in the Dominican Republic.

With five highways connecting to all major cities of the country, there has been an emphasis on keeping the roads in good condition. These roads stay well-paved and maintained in order to keep driving conditions safer and to promote tourism. The well-paved roads are accessed through tolls. These toll payments range from RD$35 to RD$412, depending on which highway is taken. This amount is equivalent to USD$0.73 and $8.57 respectively.

Once off toll roads, though, road conditions are not maintained to the same standard. The roads may or may not be paved, but both present problems for drivers. On paved roads, poor lane markers, missing manhole covers, potholes or unmarked speed bumps are just some of the issues that drivers may face while they are driving during the day or at night. On unpaved roads, loose gravel and potholes test a car’s ability to stay on the road. It is recommended to drive with four-wheel drive on these roads because of their unpredictable conditions.

There is much room for investment for road infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. The construction of toll roads has improved driving conditions because of the ability to drive on well-kept roads, but there are still concerns about highways and rural roads that are not getting as much attention.

The Dominican Liberation Party has been a major investor in projects that aim to improve road infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. Towns such as Las Terrenas, which are not considered typical tourist towns, have seen some improvements to its roads in order to attract more tourists. The roads have become driveable and allow for easier travel for tourists.

Other improvements come in the form of public transit. Increasing public transportation methods takes more cars off the road and offers a safer way to get to and from destinations. Taxis, buses and metro stations are among the most common and easiest ways to get around the Dominican Republic. Until the poorly maintained rural roads receive better attention from the DR government, using public transit is a potential option for residents and tourists.

As the economy continues to improve, it is hopeful that road infrastructure in the Dominican Republic follows suit.

– Brianna Summ

Photo: Flickr

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Government Calls for Women’s Empowerment in Angola

Women's Empowerment in AngolaAs a country that experienced war until 2002, women’s empowerment in Angola was a neglected subject until recently. In 2009, the Angolan Executive began to implement the goals of the Beijing Platform for Action, which promotes gender equality and basic human rights.

Laws and Programs

In response to the Beijing Platform for Action and a desire to bridge the gender gap, Angola enforced several new laws. The Labour Code, the Family Code, the HIV/AIDS laws and the Nationality Law were all designed specifically to end the disparities in employment, land ownership, health and basic human rights between genders.

Following the laws, the National Development Plan for 2013-2017 was implemented in Angola to ensure equal opportunities were extended to men and women economically, socially, culturally and politically.

The government of Angola designed the Programme of Support to Gender and Women Promotion, Support to Victims of Violence, Valorization of the Family and Community Development and Rural Women Promotion. All programs are meant to target specific areas that act as barriers to women’s empowerment in Angola.

Literacy

Furthermore, beginning in 2013, USAID aided Angola through a project called Basic Education – Triumphant Women and Youth Project, which teaches literacy and strives to eliminate all illiteracy in Angola by 2025. USAID designated $1.2 million to the project, promoting Angolan’s access to the project’s classes.

In 2015 alone, around 500 Angolan women earned their two-year literacy diplomas. The Women and Youth Project has provided 5,600 women with adult courses, while also increasing the enrollment rates of students in primary schools. The project also supplies students with textbooks and other school materials.

Through literacy and education, women become much closer to ending gendered discrimination.

Ensuring Jobs

Since 2015, Africa has sought to include more females in the workplace. Through a project called Power Africa, female participation in the power and energy sectors has increased.

Women gain skills in business, electrical engineering, communication or salesman services. Power Africa is providing women with networking opportunities and a chance to rise to higher positions. Ending gender discrimination in the workplace throughout all of Africa is key to Angolan economic success.

Combining the equality efforts of the government, organizations like USAID and Africa’s overall influence, there has been a kickstart to the country’s goals of achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in Angola.

– Brianna White

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Women's Empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Located in Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced several decades of war, rebellions and civil strife between communities. While peace has been established throughout the majority of the country, the eastern provinces of the DRC remain areas in which gender-based violence frequently occurs. Recent nationwide surveys have indicated that 57 percent of Congolese women have suffered extreme physical or sexual violence, including rape. The issue continues to be exacerbated by a culture of impunity and gender-based violence; highlighting the need for women’s empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The issue of gender-based violence continues to be perpetuated through several key factors:

  1. Women care for an average of four children
  2. The average daily income of a woman in the DRC is $0.74
  3. 57 percent of women have no formal education
  4. Congolese culture perpetuates harmful gender discrimination

These factors place women at heightened risk for gender-based violence and exploitation as a result of their socioeconomic position and cultural norms.

What is being done to help

Women for Women International is an organization that works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to empower women through a yearlong program. Since 2004, the organization has served 91,000 women ranging in ages 31-40. Throughout the course of the program, Congolese women are taught skills in a wide range of fields including agribusiness, basket-making, restaurant and catering and small business. By teaching women these skills, Women for Women International saw an increase from $0.74 to $1.22 in the average daily earnings of women. While this is a small improvement, the organization is actively trying to improve the livelihood of the Congolese women they serve through skill building, education of their rights as women and advocacy.

The organization also attempts to engage Congolese men as part of the widespread social change that is occurring across the country. The team that works in the DRC has developed a program for men by providing them with knowledge about health, and social and economic issues that can negatively affect women. To date, they have had close to 10,000 men participate.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) understands the need for women’s empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UNFPA helps to aid survivors of sexual violence by providing them with medical care, economic and social rehabilitation and legal assistance. They also have trained thousands of armed forces on how to protect and care for survivors. Since the UNFPA arrived in the DRC, over 15,000 sexual violence survivors have received basic medical care.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also did a tremendous amount of work in 2014 and 2015 to encourage women’s empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They provided medical treatment, psychosocial support and life skills training to over 9,000 survivors of sexual violence. They also provided economic programming to improve economic capabilities for close to 16,000 women.

The work of these organizations and agencies have had profound implications for women’s empowerment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their efforts have helped to shift cultural norms and provide women with the necessary skills and services to overcome the violence they have experienced.

– Sarah Jane Fraser

Photo: Flickr

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The Success of Humanitarian Aid to Burundi

Humanitarian Aid to Burundi
The 10.4 million people living in Burundi suffered through civil war conflict that began in 1994 and lasted for 12 years. Ongoing violence has since kept Burundi one of the poorest and hungriest countries in the world. In 2015, the political and social unrest reached a tipping point when a contested presidential election plunged the country into its worst crisis yet. Humanitarian aid to Burundi was threatened after donors suspended funding to the government following human rights violations and negligent use of funds. Fortunately, organizations have been focused on finding other ways to aid Burundi citizens and refugees.

After suspending governmental aid in 2016, the European Union has been redirecting humanitarian aid to Burundi by concentrating its efforts on local populations and civil society. Over 90 percent of Burundi’s population depends on agriculture, based mainly on subsistence farming, one of the main contributors to its GDP. The European Development Fund has allocated $500 million in aid. The funding will be used to support sustainable rural development, benefiting nutrition, health and energy, and helping Burundi citizens support themselves.

The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with singer Beyoncé to launch BEYGOOD4BURUNDI, a partnership dedicated to providing safe water in Burundi. Over the next few years, the program will improve water sanitation facilities in schools, provide hygiene education and construct new wells equipped with hand pumps. Access to clean water will prevent transmission of water-borne diseases, one of the leading causes of death of children in Burundi. The risk of attack on young girls will also be lowered, as they will no longer have to travel for miles to find water.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has released an extensive regional response plan to organize global humanitarian aid to Burundi. After receiving aid from countries all over the world, the humanitarian response plan is already about 88 percent funded and is focusing its efforts on providing education, food, safety and economic growth in Burundi.

While providing humanitarian aid to Burundi without the full cooperation of their government is a challenge, organizations have found ways to directly help villages sustain themselves, help more children receive education, improve health and hygiene to help prevent disease, and give access to safe water.

– Jenae Atwell

Photo: Flickr

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Five Development Projects in Indonesia

Development Projects in Indonesia
Indonesia, a country known for its large economy and diverse population, is home to 243 million people. Previously, the country dealt with an autocratic leader and has had many issues with corruption. However, the country’s newest president, Joko Widodo, wants to make the country more democratic. With poverty affecting 11 percent of the population and many people living in “near poverty”, several development projects in Indonesia have been working toward solutions.

Here are five development projects in Indonesia that are addressing different issues in order to make the country better for its citizens.

The National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM Mandiri)

PNPM Mandiri works within the poorest communities in Indonesia to help develop villages. By engaging in these projects, community members have access to employment and help their community’s infrastructure. It is a flagship community organization for the government. The program also teaches others how to plan communities and apply the practices elsewhere in Indonesia. The program is now operational in 70,000 communities throughout 33 provinces.

Asian Development Bank’s Microfinance Program

As a way to invest in communities, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) started a microfinance program to help small businesses in North Sumatra. The program was originally intended to help businesses after the 2004 earthquake and tsunami. Instead of having a bank, representatives visit communities and give presentations where business owners can get loans. This enables businesses to expand and allows people to get loans that they thought they could not have gotten before. The microfinance program provides “finance that changes lives.”

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Jakarta

The MRT is an infrastructure development project aimed to relieve traffic congestion. It is being built by the Jakarta government and it will be completed in 2027 with a construction cost of over $1 billion. This project is going to impact almost 500,000 people daily so they can travel efficiently to their jobs and improve the economy.

IFAD in Indonesia

Similar to the ADB microfinance program, IFAD invests in the rural sector. IFAD focuses on investing in remote and vulnerable areas. It has invested over $400 million into Indonesia since 1980 and helps establish public-private partnerships. It places an emphasis on smallholders in these communities.

The Legal Empowerment and Assistance for the Disadvantaged (LEAD) Project

This program works to ensure that the most marginalized in Indonesia are given the proper rights and treatment. The LEAD Project aims to spread awareness of legal rights regarding government services and legal claims. As a result, policies have been strengthened and government officials have been more responsive to marginalized communities claiming rights and bringing up legal issues.

Indonesia has issues that span the rural and urban areas as well as in the spheres of legal and human rights. These 5 development projects in Indonesia will benefit the people as the country continues to progress.

– Emilia Beuger

Photo: Flickr