Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How to Help People in Tonga

Help People in Tonga

There are many ways to help people in Tonga thanks to the wide variety of organizations taking action and accepting donations from the public.

Here are a few of the organizations that are making changes and contributing to the well-being of citizens in Tonga.

  1. One of Tonga’s biggest struggles is its high threat for experiencing natural disasters. The Australian Red Cross works with the Tonga Red Cross to help provide relief to disaster victims who live in Tonga.
  2. A Catholic agency in New Zealand by the name of Caritas works with Tonga to help citizens adjust to the effects of climate change. Caritas also supports a Caritas Tonga Climate Change Officer by the name of Amelia Ma’afu, whose area of focus is on the island of Ha’apai. As a Climate Change Officer, her responsibilities include conducting training sessions to raise climate change awareness, researching information to build a plan of action to help citizens deal with climate change and visiting communities to talk to inhabitants and gather data.
  3. The World Bank is not only helping the people in Tonga with the aftermath of former disasters, but it is also working to protect the future of the community. The World Bank has helped Tonga by assisting the government with building cyclone-proofed homes on safer areas of land. Supporting The World Bank is a great way to help people in Tonga.
  4. The Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) volunteers are helping in Tonga by working to bring more variety in employment and help ensure citizens have a dependable income. Tonga supports itself with agriculture, exporting products such vanilla, kava and coconut. Volunteers through VSA are helping make sure that Tonga’s agricultural department thrives.
  5. The Asian Development Bank/Japan Scholarship Program (JSP), offers scholarships to people in Tonga. This creates opportunities for many young citizens in Tonga – those who are 35 years old or younger, of good health and hold a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for these scholarships.

By donating and volunteering with organizations such as these, everyday citizens are able to help people in Tonga, bringing hope and changing lives for the better. Consider taking the time to check into these organizations and make a contribution today.

– Noel Mcdavid

Photo: Flickr

Central African Republic’s Poverty Rate

Central African Republic Poverty RateThe Central African Republic is among the poorest countries in the world. In 2017, the country had the lowest reported GDP per capita, at $656, and the average person lives on less than $1.80 per day. The Central African Republic’s poverty rate is among the highest in the world, with 62 percent of citizens living on less than $1.90 per day when the data was last taken.

The incredible poverty rate is due to a variety of factors, perhaps none more important than the Central African Republic’s history as part of the French Empire. As a country rich in natural resources that have been in demand throughout history, the Central African Republic has been exploited by western nations from the beginning of the Age of Imperialism to the modern day.

Internal conflict has worsened the problems originally begun by western imperialism. Since the Central African Republic gained independence in 1960, the major Christian and Muslim factions in the country have rarely ceased in-fighting. Alongside religious rivalries, multiple ethnic groups and political ideologies have contributed to widespread violence and instability throughout the country.

Longstanding political instability has led to a severe lack of development, one of the greatest reasons behind the abysmal Central African Republic’s poverty rate. Widespread poverty has allowed the country to wallow in incredibly low rates of development for years, ranking 179th out of 187 countries.

In a population of just over four million people, nearly 370,000 children will grow up without one or both of their parents, and more than 50 percent of the population can neither read nor write. Almost five percent of the population carries HIV/AIDS, one of the highest rates in the world.

Numerous groups worldwide are providing necessary aid to the Central African Republic, but many focus on providing emergency relief. While any and all aid is needed throughout the country, short-term solutions do little to assuage the Central African Republic’s poverty rate. In order to provide a long-term solution to poverty, the International Rescue Committee is, alongside emergency aid and health services, creating programs that help both men and women receive education and set up businesses. This program will allow Central Africans take the first steps out of poverty themselves.

– Connor S. Keowen

Photo: Flickr

Facts About the Tajikistan Poverty Rate

Tajikistan Poverty RateAs of 2017, the Tajikistan poverty rate is 32 percent, meaning that 32 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line. Additionally, 3.7 percent of people live on less than $1.90 a day, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Tajikistan has one of the highest poverty rates of central and west Asian nations. It is currently third, following Afghanistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

The current poverty rate is only slightly higher than that of 2015, when it was at 31.5 percent. Over the last five years, the Tajikistan poverty rate has hovered around the low 30 percent range.

Notable strides have been made since Tajikistan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. According to UNICEF, the Tajikistan poverty rate was above 70 percent in the early 2000s. However, it remains one of the poorest countries in western Asia.

Poverty in Tajikistan has a particularly significant effect on children, large families with multiple children, and families in rural areas. For every 1,000 babies born, 39 die before their first birthday.

The poorest people in the country live in the rural Khation region. Here, 78 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line. The primary cause of rural poverty is a reliance on agricultural activities that do not provide an adequate income.

Tajikistan is currently the largest remittance-dependent country in the world. In 2012, it was the top receiver of remittances from Russia. Today, remittances make up over half of Tajikistan’s GDP (52 percent in 2013). The majority of families in Tajikistan have a migrant member of the household. In general, remittances have had a positive impact on reducing child poverty. They have been shown to improve living conditions for children, especially in terms of nutrition and morbidity rates.

The World Bank’s solutions for reducing poverty in Tajikistan are geared primarily towards private sector development, specifically private investment and private sector-led growth. An increase in both areas, and especially in agriculture, are represented in the World Bank’s ongoing Country Partnership Strategy (CPS). The organization has highlighted the need for a more “competitive” and “transparent” business environment. The movement of goods across borders to regional markets needs to be made easier as well.

Several achievements in the fiscal years of 2011 and 2013 have helped combat poverty in Tajikistan. This includes the implementation of a “single window” that simplifies import and export procedures, as well as the implementation of a revised tax code simplifying tax reporting procedures. These results and others are evidence that growth and solutions are underway in Tajikistan.

– Melanie Snyder

Photo: Flickr

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Human Rights in Nicaragua: Three Issues You Should Know

There are many components to consider when evaluating how well a country is promoting human rights. On many fronts, the government of Nicaragua is failing its most marginalized populations: women and indigenous people. Human rights activists and journalists are also subject to government harassment. Here are three issues of human rights in Nicaragua:

Violence Against Women and Girls
The lack of legal protections for women in the case of domestic violence is a huge issue for human rights in Nicaragua. Studies estimate that one out of every two women in Nicaragua has experienced violence. Though a comprehensive law addressing gender-based violence was passed in 2012, many of the major advances in the law were overturned in subsequent years. In 2014, President Daniel Ortega issued a special decree shifting responsibility for the law’s implementation to the Ministry of the Family and mandated the establishment of neighborhood-based counseling as the first step to resolving “family conflict” prior to filing a legal complaint.

In 2016, this decree made it more difficult to access legal justice in cases of domestic abuse. The already under-resourced police units in charge of handling gender violence cases were shut down altogether. There is an emphasis on “family values” within Nicaraguan culture which makes it difficult for women to be taken seriously when coming forward with cases of domestic abuse. The actions of the government are only exacerbating the problem.

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
In the past several years, there has been a wave of violent attacks against the Miskitos, the largest indigenous group on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. According to CEJUDHCAN, a non-governmental indigenous rights organization, 21 indigenous men have been killed since 2014 and dozens more wounded or kidnapped. Women have been raped, and armed men have attacked several villages. The Miskitos blame the attacks on settlers coming from other parts of the country. Thousands of Mestizos (Nicaraguans of Spanish descent) have moved into the rainforest, enticed by cheap, fertile land and timber and gold. Tensions have erupted into violence, and almost 3,000 Miskitos have fled their homes since 2015. The government’s failure to properly address this conflict has been a huge blight to human rights in Nicaragua.

The Miskitos say the government has done little to stop this violence. The army was only deployed once in December 2015, and once stationed, they did little else to help the locals. President Daniel Ortega has publicly backed the Miskitos’ right to their land but has initially denied any connection between the violence and the land conflict. The Miskitos accuse the president of only using the conflict for political gain around election time, and of taking no concrete action to protect the Miskitos or their land.

Mistreatment of Activists
The Nicaraguan government has been accused of unfairly targeting, detaining and deporting activists. In June 2016, six foreign environmental activists were detained and expelled from the country. There was a human rights hearing last year in regards to the killing of Francisco Garcia, whose family claims that he was targeted due to his wife’s work in the field of indigenous rights. His family alleges the government failed to diligently investigate the incident. Several other indigenous activists have reported cases of harassment and intimidation, with little response or support from authorities. Governmental targeting of activists leaves these citizens vulnerable and is a hindrance to human rights in Nicaragua.

In Nicaragua, the government is failing to protect the human rights of women and indigenous people. Activists are being unfairly targeted and left without legal protection. Without fair legislation and concrete action by the government, these groups will continue to struggle.

– Hannah Seitz

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Paraguay

How to Help People in ParaguayFor years, Paraguay has been one of the poorest countries in South America. The poverty rate in Paraguay is 40 percent. Its population is 6.7 million and many people in Paraguay have no regular income. Water, electricity and housing are very scarce in Paraguay. With all of these issues, people in other countries often wonder how to help people in Paraguay.

Paraguay is a predominantly young nation. Youths make up 35 percent of the population, and a large number are orphans. Because of the lack of parental care, many children resort to robbery or prostitution to stay alive. These children do not get a primary school education, and approximately 210,000 people in Paraguay are illiterate.

Children are forced to do hard labor and some are trafficked to larger cities like Asunción. The children are treated as sex slaves when they are trafficked. Street children are targets for human trafficking because they do not have any family support.

Many organizations are helping those in need. SOS Children’s Villages have been created in different locations to help Paraguayan children. The villages provide day care, education and vocational training. The Project for the People (PPP) was created to help people in Paraguay by providing health and dental care, education and human development. The organization helps implement self-development programs in communities. Project for the People has many opportunities to volunteer and donate to the cause.

Habitat for Humanity have been working since 1998 to help provide support to families with inadequate housing conditions. Out of every 100 families in Paraguay, 43 live in poor housing conditions. In 2016, Habitat for Humanity served 176 families that live in poor housing conditions. Habitat for Humanity has plenty of volunteering opportunities and donations are accepted. Events take place during the year to raise awareness and mobilize volunteers.

The answer to how to help people in Paraguay starts with you. Make a change by volunteering to raise awareness about the issues in Paraguay.

– Treasure Shepard

Photo: Google

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Reducing Non-communicable Diseases

Reducing Non-Communicable DiseasesNon-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and mental illness, are responsible for 70 percent of all deaths globally. Despite their prevalence, NCDs receive less than 2 percent of all global health aid funding.

The percentage of NCDs among the global population is expected to rise. It is estimated that in the next two decades, $47 trillion will be lost globally to non-communicable diseases.

There is disparity between disease burden and funding. The recent Ebola epidemic that impacted primarily West African regions caused 11,000 deaths and received nearly $74 million from U.S. funding by 2016. NCDs make up half of the global disease burden. U.S. Congress has no specifically designated funding to address NCDs in low- and middle-income countries.

Why are NCDs disproportionally underfunded?

  1. Evidence of cost-effectiveness. Prevention and treatment efforts of many communicable diseases provide concrete data— vaccines, for example, boast a very substantial, quantifiable value for lives saved. On the other hand, prevention and cure rates are far more difficult to quantify with NCDs, making it far more difficult to measure cost-effectiveness.
  2. Treatment is long-term. Few non-communicable diseases are easily cured or prevented by one treatment. Most require monitoring and medication administered over a lengthy period of time. Health issues with no guarantee of resolution (such as cancer) often struggle to find funding.
  3. Research is limited. Both the treatment and research of NCDs are underfunded, making research less accessible and comprehensive global approaches unestablished.
  4. Lack of media coverage. “The media tend to focus on rare and dramatic events,” says Meredith Young, a former graduate student in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University. ” Due to the nature of infectious diseases, like HIV and Ebola, these diseases are more likely to receive in-depth media coverage. A story on heart disease (which is developed slowly, is more common and has more subtle side effects) do not receive the same emphasis.
  5. The connection between lifestyle habits and NCDs. While the development of NCDs can have a myriad of genetic, geographic and socioeconomic factors, their prevention and treatment are often connected to lifestyle changes and habits. “If we look at interventions taking place in the NCDs space, many are outside of what might be strictly referred to as ‘health aid’,” reports WhyDev. A sports program may be used to reduce the impact of NCDs, demonstrating the need to understand the types of interventions that positively impact the impact of NCDs.
  6. Few hands. The majority of global healthcare aid comes from a small handful of wealthy donors, and the realities and stigmas surrounding non-communicable diseases have a major impact on funding allocations.

Reducing Non-Communicable Diseases

There is promise for reducing non-communicable diseases. Since there are many factors that contribute to developing an illness like heart disease—including diet, exercise and smoking habits—there are many opportunities to lower risk through a wide range of interventions.

Take, for instance, tobacco control. There is a strong correlation between tobacco use and the development of non-communicable diseases. Increasing funding for smoking prevention and cessation programs could dramatically decrease cancer and heart disease rates.

Additionally, incorporating exercise into schools and daily routines can have enormous benefits in improving cardiovascular fitness and reducing obesity.

Movements demanding greater acknowledgement of NCDs have also gained traction in recent years. In February of 2013, the World Bank published a paper titled ‘Non-Communicable Diseases Series’, building on the previous Millennium Development Goals that excluded NCDs as a global issue. The aim of the new series is to contribute to reducing the NCD mortality rate by 2025.

While there are obstacles in the way of effectively distributing healthcare aid, the momentum for reducing non-communicable diseases is gaining attention and traction, paving the path for long-term, global solutions.

– Kailey Dubinsky

Photo: Flickr

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Why is Nicaragua Poor?

Destruction from ten years of The Contra War (1980-1990), as well as a 1987 economic crisis, led to the collapse of Nicaragua’s economy. Among the almost half of the population that is rural, about 68 percent live on less than a dollar a day. Why is Nicaragua poor? Nicaragua’s population currently stands at 6.1 million with two million school-aged kids. Here are four primary answers to the question “why is Nicaragua poor?”

  1. Lack of public services such as education
    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) logged that 500,000 Nicaraguan kids aged 3 to 17 are not in the education system. Most of these children cannot access education as they are of indigenous descent live in poor, rural areas.Children are more active in the workplace than in the classroom. In 2005, the national child labor survey calculated almost 240,000 child workers aged 5-17. One in three employees is under 14 years old. Nicaragua’s education system is not federally supported, for only a small portion of the government budget is allocated to education. Moreover, teachers in Nicaragua are among the worst paid in the world.
  2. Obstacles to market access
    Nicaragua’s economy is driven primarily by agriculture. Cassava is the main crop grown by local farmers who do not have access to technical support and profitable markets, in turn creating a distortion of commodity prices in the international market. They sell it to local markets at low prices and struggle to earn a profit. Indebted farmers in the coffee-dependent region of Nicaragua are paying off loans even with the increase in coffee prices.
  3. Fragile ecosystems
    In November 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused the destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes, lives and crops, and infrastructure suffered severely. In Posoltega, 2,000 people died in a mudslide. Much land has been overexploited, lessening agricultural productivity, and there is high population density on that same land. In addition, most families live on marginal lands where water is scarce.
  4. Physical isolation
    In 2001, only one out of five poor, rural households had access to electricity. In addition to the damage caused by natural disasters, Nicaragua had previously lacked adequate infrastructure such as roads, water accessibility and electricity supply.

Governmental negligence has left Nicaraguans independently surviving to the best of their ability, and this lack of support goes some way toward answering the question “why is Nicaragua poor?” Consequently, children must enter the workforce, farmers navigate an unfamiliar international market and locals struggle to live without access to transportation, water and technology.

It is the responsibility of the government to expand access to fundamental resources to Nicaraguans in isolated locations. While keeping the geography of rural locals in mind, it is also important for the government to be attentive of Nicaragua’s overall geographic disposition.

– Tiffany Santos

Photo: Flickr

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Technological Advancements in Kenyan Education

Technological Advancements in Kenyan EducationNew technological advancements in Kenyan education are attracting students and parents to schools in the area. Such advancements not only aid the students’ learning, but also get them excited about going to school and getting a basic education.

Amaf Primary and Elim Academy in Kawangware, a low-income settlement in Nairobi, have already reaped the benefits of such technology. Since advertising their new computers, these schools both have waiting lists and excited students.

The M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika is also establishing itself as a benchmark for Kenyan education reform. Every student has their own iPad, allowing for free use of the Internet to nurture discovery and an interest in learning.

These efforts can be attributed to the eLimu project, which selected these schools to integrate interactive tablets into the classroom to allow them to use modern and advanced teaching methods.

Plan International Kenya is another organization that works alongside projects such as eLimu to advance literacy among children through the use of technology. After being piloted in 25 schools, Plan International Kenya is set to put its technological resources in 300 schools across the country.

With the help of such famous technical partners as Nokia, British Telecom and Lenovo, OSL works to help teachers create more interactive and inclusive learning methods and environments through information and communication technologies.

The main idea behind these new technological advancements in Kenyan education is to help teachers make school more exciting and interactive to attract more students.

After recognizing the success of the 16 pioneer teachers selected for training, the Kenyan government is now supporting the implementation of a project to work with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to train teachers to integrate modern technology into their teaching methods.

– Tucker Hallowell

Photo: Google

The Grenada Poverty Rate Is the Country’s Biggest Challenge

Grenada Poverty RateGrenada prime minister Keith Mitchell said that the greatest challenge he faced was bringing down the Grenada poverty rate. This is with good reason. Although the government has implemented many developmental programs, Grenada remains poor. However, with the right determination and effort, Grenada may have hope.

Currently, the Grenada poverty rate stands at 32 percent. The country also has the highest extreme poverty rate in the eastern Caribbean, with a rate of 13 percent. It has one of the highest unemployment rates in the Caribbean as well. About 15 percent of people are out of work in Grenada.

The economic situation in Grenada is fragile. Agriculture and tourism are very important economically. Approximately 90 percent of the farms in Grenada are less than 2 hectares. This has caused the Grenada economy to fluctuate over the past couple of years. For example, in 2008 the economy grew by 2 percent, only to shrink by 8 percent in 2009.

In response to lower agricultural production, the Grenada government has implemented the Cocoa Revitalization Program. The goal of this program is to commercialize over 1,000 acres of land. The government is also planning on launching the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Rural Enterprise Programme in 2018. The goal of the program is to increase agricultural productivity through better information about climate change. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) also implemented the Grenada Rural Enterprise Project to combat Grenada’s rural problems.

The government also has several economic development programs underway. The government received $10.8 million from the IMF under the Emergency Assistance Program, which they invested into the Bridges and Roads Investment Project.

If the Grenada government continues to be dedicated to ending poverty, the Grenada poverty rate will go down. As Prime Minister Mitchell said, “The future is promising but challenging. However, together with the CDB and our non-borrowing members, we are assured that we can achieve the future we want for the people.”

– Bruce Edwin Ayres Truax

Photo: Flickr

Energy in Tanzania

Energy in TanzaniaAlong the coast of eastern Africa sits Tanzania, home to the continent’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Beside Kilimanjaro resides a population of 45 million people; the majority of them live in a rural setting- a full 74 percent. Yet, despite this rural majority, only two percent of rural residents have access to electricity – an issue which has contributed both to the rise of environmental issues and the cementation of cyclical rural poverty. A disconcerting 93.6 percent of rural residents are forced to use wood as fuel for cooking, which is a time-consuming necessity that has enabled deforestation and robbed individuals of time that could be spent in other ways had there been a different and viable energy option. Consequently, the issue of energy in Tanzania is one which requires efficient and diverse solutions.

Into this scenario walks a Dutch energy company called Devergy, whose innovative approach makes clean energy accessible to rural Tanzanians across the nation. Devergy works on a pay-as-you-go model, relying on mobile banking – a financial practice which is already widely used across many African nations.

This model allows consumers to control their energy consumption and their financials; one uses as much or as little as necessary based on his or her need and financial situation. It is a financially accessible option – energy “credits” cost as much as phone credits and less than kerosene lighting – that gives the consumer complete control. This ultimately empowers individuals by giving them the (literal) power to light their homes and businesses as much or as little as they need, all within the confines of their personally-dictated financial arena.

Importantly, the energy provided is also clean. Most rural areas do not have access to electrical grids, and the cost of expanding those grids is currently not economically feasible, which is why 90 percent of all energy consumption comes from biomass materials such as wood. Instead of trying to create access to the general energy grids already in place, the company instead installs solar micro-grids in villages. These micro-grids generate renewable energy, which is connected to homes by locally-trained technicians and accessed by the village inhabitants through the aforementioned model.

In the last two years, more than 150,000 lives have been impacted by implementing these micro-grids across the nation. Though there is still much work to be done to solve the energy issue in Tanzania, the future is looking bright as Devergy paves the way by providing clean, efficient energy to citizens of the country.

– Kailee Nardi

Photo: Flickr