Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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5 Facts About Education in Morocco

Education in Morocco
Since Morocco’s independence in 1956, its education system has typically been described as frustrating and disappointing. In recent years, Morocco has made numerous improvements and committed to solidifying the quality of its education system. Here are five facts about education in Morocco.

  1. The academic year begins in September and ends in June. The school system is structured into three separate parts. Primary takes students starting at the age of 6 and educates them until the age of 12. Secondary and tertiary last another three years each. Morocco also offers educational options beyond public schooling with higher learning institutions.
  2. Learning and knowledge are typically measured through literacy, the ability to read and write. Reading and writing are essential to reaching higher levels of education and scoring well on national performance tests. Morocco’s youth have made tremendous strides in increasing their literacy rates. The World Bank reports 95% of youth ages 15-24 years old can effectively read and write. This is an increase from 81.5% in 2011.
  3. Men in Morocco currently dominate the gross enrollment ratio for primary, secondary and tertiary education systems. The UNESCO chart for secondary education shows that male enrollment exceeded female enrollment by 10.8% in 2012. However, tables for 2015 show a decreased gap in admission ratio for primary and tertiary education.
  4. Public spending on education has been significantly rising in Morocco. According to the OCP Policy Center, government spending on education in 2014 was about 5.9% of GDP and 21.3% of total government spending. Since 2002, payments have been increasing by more than 5% per year almost every year. One analysis from the International Monetary Fund confirms a more organized use of this money has the potential to lead standardized test scores to increase by 53 points.
  5. Morocco suffers from low-quality education as reflected in performance indicators. In a 2014 update completed by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Morocco ranks in the thirtieth percentile for learning compared to other countries. The most recent PIRLS and TIMSS assessment results for 2011 showcase just how poor Morocco’s performance is. Test results reveal Morocco ranks second to last in math and last in reading compared to the 36 countries participating.

The good news is that experts and policymakers have fully recognized the remaining barriers for education in Morocco. A way forward has also been identified through their 2015-2030 Vision for Education in Morocco. The plan will address previous failures by targeting four specific areas including the priority for quality education. The country has already partnered with the USAID to make some of these goals a reality. So far 12,000 students have been reached with a new reading method and over 340 teachers have been trained on new reading instruction.

– Emilee Wessel

Photo: Flickr

Low and Stable, the Cost of Living in Botswana

Cost of Living in Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked nation located in southern Africa, surrounded by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Whilst having a small population of around 2.25 million it should not be underestimated as, according to the World Bank, “a development success story.”

Since its gaining of independence in 1966, Botswana has managed to have over four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, with progressive social policy and one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. With all this and more, it is no wonder the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has called Botswana “the most stable economy in Africa.”

Now with Botswana gaining a middle-income status, one may wonder what is the cost of living in Botswana. According to the Mercer’s 2015 Cost of Living report, Botswana was ranked at 189 out of 207 countries. As a whole, Botswana is ranked on the lower end of one of the most expensive places to live in the world. The average price for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around 3,000 Pula ($295) as opposed to living outside of the city center where rent would be 2,175 Pula ($214).

Naturally, the cost of living in Botswana changes depending on where a person is living, for example, according to ExpatsArrival, “For expats who choose to settle in Gaborone (the capital city), close proximity to local transport and schools pushes up the price of housing.”

However, we must also understand that while the cost of living may be comparatively small to other nations, the standard of living between the rich and poorer is visibly different. Botswana has a poverty rate of 19%, with the majority of poorer areas located in more rural areas. In addition, the unemployment rate in Botswana is 17.8%. As a consequence, the World Bank claims that Botswana’s income inequality “is among one of the highest in the world.”

The low cost of living in Botswana is just one of its several attractions. It has a great progressive political system, which has made leaps and bounds on its education system, educating more women and thereby decreasing the fertility rate in Botswana. It has a growing and stable economy much of which is attributed to its export of luxury goods in the form of diamonds. It’s no wonder InterNations claim that “Botswana holds plenty of opportunities for expatriates hoping to start a new life in Botswana.”

– Obinna Iwuji

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Refugees in Liechtenstein

Refugees in Liechtenstein
Located in Central Europe, nestled between Switzerland and Austria, lies the Principality of Liechtenstein. With only 62 square miles of territory and fewer than 38,000 citizens, one might assume that the country would refuse refugees, but this is not the case. Liechtenstein has willingly taken part in helping those fleeing from war-torn and oppressive regions. Here is what you need to know about refugees in Liechtenstein:

  1. World Data has reported that, in 2016, refugees sent a total of 52 asylum applications to Liechtenstein. A total of 39 decisions were reached.
  2. In 2016, 28% of all decisions reached were positive.
  3. As of 2015, the principality already accepted six refugee families from Syria, a sum of 23 persons.
  4. In 2014, Liechtenstein spent roughly $25 million on International Refugee and Migration Assistance and Development Cooperation, as well as Emergency and Reconstruction Assistance. In 2015, such expenditures were expected to increase significantly.
  5. Lichtenstein declared a willingness to participate in the EU relocation programs, not out of obligation, but out of its humanitarian tradition.
  6. The crown prince of Liechtenstein stated that, although they are willing to accept refugees, the principality must also “protect its culture.”
  7. Ambassador Fritsche of Liechtenstein stated that its small municipality is probably not a target for refugees because the country is not well-known. He theorized that this might be because Liechtenstein is not a full EU member.
  8. In 2015, it was made clear that if the principality did not allow refugees in Liechtenstein, the state would be booted out of the Dublin agreement, a cornerstone of asylum laws in the EU.
  9. Liechtenstein acceded to the Geneva Convention of 1951 and the Protocol of 1967, the world’s more recognized laws on refugees.
  10. Liechtenstein’s government protects against the expulsion of refugees in cases where their “lives or freedom” might be threatened.

Although Liechtenstein is a relatively small principality, their willingness to host refugees sets a clear example for nations around the world. Today, refugees in Liechtenstein are adjusting to a new way of life in a foreign land. In the future, perhaps they will come to call the country home.

– Shannon Golden
Photo: Flickr

The Steep Cost of Giving Birth

Cost of Giving Birth
For something as common and essential as the creation of life, delivering a child can come at quite the cost. Though the United States holds some of the steepest delivery-related costs in the world, many countries around the globe offer maternal healthcare at astronomical prices. These services cater to wealthier families and leave the poor and uninsured to struggle. In rural and low-income communities especially, the high cost of giving birth is very risky for women and newborns.

In many countries, there is a large quality gap between public and private hospitals. Even though there are public hospitals in South Africa, for example, that offer free healthcare services, these facilities often lack adequate equipment and accommodations for mothers and their newborns. One hospital outside of Johannesburg lost six infants around three years ago because it had run out of antiseptic soaps.

Private health facilities typically offer higher-quality healthcare services but at much steeper prices. On average, it costs a woman $2,000 to give birth at a private healthcare facility in South Africa. This is a cost that less than half of South Africa’s population can afford due to a large income inequality problem and a widespread lack of health insurance coverage. Families instead settle for menial care or, in some cases, forgo care altogether.

As an alternative to formal care, women commonly hire traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to help with deliveries in rural areas of developing countries like Ethiopia. TBAs lack official training but are more affordable than midwives, who can cost upwards of 2,000 Ethiopian birr, about $90, or even more if a Caesarean-section is necessary. The result is a population that is underserved when it comes to delivery-side medical attention. Only 2% of deliveries in rural Ethiopia are administered by a health professional.

Tadelech Kesale, a 32-year-old mother from Ethiopia’s Wolayta province, has suffered due to insufficient care and the exorbitant cost of giving birth. Kesale had her first baby when she was 18 and has since lost three of her six children, one of whom was stillborn. Kesale typically earns two to three birr, equivalent to a tenth of a dollar, each week and was unable to hire a qualified professional for any of her deliveries.

“I gave birth at home with a traditional birth attendant,” Kesale said. “If I could afford it, I would go into a clinic. One of my friends, Zenebexh, died in labor – she just started bleeding after breakfast and fell down dead. A healer came but couldn’t do anything.”

The cost of giving birth in private hospitals in India is similarly prohibitive. Although government facilities hospitalize women and assist with delivery for free, many expecting mothers opt for private facilities for the higher quality of care. These facilities typically charge around $1,165 for basic delivery services $3,100 for Caesarean-section deliveries.

The costliness of Caesarean-sections and other procedures can be deterrents for poorer mothers who are faced with complications during labor or pregnancy. The Guttmacher Institute estimates that only 35% of women in developing countries receive the care they need when faced with complications. When such needs go unmet, both mothers and their babies face life-threatening medical risks.

The costs of transport to and from health centers can also be discouraging for expecting mothers, forcing them to deliver at home or in other unsterilized spaces. In rural areas especially, transportation is necessary to travel the long distances to health centers, though it is not always readily available. Aside from being expensive, it can also be scarce; as a result, many women deliver in their houses. When complications arise during delivery, this can be especially perilous.

Though there is no one way to remedy the astronomical cost of giving birth in countries around the globe, organizations like Oxfam are calling on the U.S. and other developed nations to send increased aid to countries with high rates of maternal and infant mortality. This aid can serve mothers and their babies in a myriad of ways, from covering basic health care costs to making it more possible for new moms to take time off from work after delivery. Ultimately, it will mitigate the steep costs many families must meet during and after pregnancy, providing mothers with the assistance they need to have safe, successful deliveries.

– Sabine Poux

Photo: Flickr

Incomes Affect Cost of Living in Jordan

Cost of Living in Jordan
It may not come as a surprise to many expats in the city to know that the cost of living in Jordan ranked globally in the top 50. Prices are abnormally high for imported products, particularly for alcohol and other foreign-made groceries.

According to the 2016 Mercer Cost of Living Survey, the cost of living in Jordan ranks right up with major European countries; it is number 50 out of 209 countries surveyed in total. In another report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, the cost of living in Amman ranked number one out of the Arab nations. For what is considered to be a developing country, these numbers may come as a surprise to the average American. However, these numbers are largely due to the gap in the average salary versus the average cost of products.

Compared to the staggering cost of living ranking, Jordan ranks number 65 in the world when it comes to the average monthly salary, according to an article in The Jordan Times. The average monthly salary is around $637. This is problematic for many considering that the average cost of rent is above $500, and utilities for two people averages $129.

For tourists visiting the country, it is important to note that although some products may look as though they are the same price, there is the currency exchange to take into account. In fact, the dinar is currently equivalent to $1.41. This means a meal that is 10 Jordanian dinars will really cost around $14.

However, there are ways to keep costs down, as noted in a site for expats. Outside of rent, it is usually cheaper to buy local products. When buying fresh fruit and vegetables, it is advised to buy products that are in season. This way, the products will not be imported and therefore more expensive.

As of 2017, the unemployment rate in Jordan has climbed to just under 20%. This means that even more people are without the means to meet the high cost of living in Jordan. It will be interesting to monitor Jordan in the years to come to see how citizens and government respond to this gap in salary, employment and cost of living.

– Sydney Roeder

Photo: Flickr

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Common Diseases in Japan

Common Diseases in Japan
Known as the “Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is a group of islands off the eastern coast of Asia. In addition to being one of the most educated countries in the world, this nation functions as one of the world’s largest and most successful economies. It is also a hub for pop culture.

Japan boasts the third-highest life expectancy in the world and a universal healthcare system. The healthcare system also ranks as one of the world’s most efficient. However, like many other developed countries, its citizens primarily suffer from unbalanced nutrition and noncommunicable diseases. Additionally, high levels of smoking coupled with a rapidly aging population contribute to many of Japan’s health concerns. Here are some common diseases in Japan:

Cancer
Although cancer remains an increasingly prevalent health concern around the world, Japanese citizens, in particular, suffer heavily from the various forms of this disease. In 2010, over 353,000 people died of cancer in Japan: an incredible one-third of all deaths in the nation. In fact, heart disease led to half as many deaths as cancer did, even though it is the second most prolific killer in Japan today.

More problematic, cancer appears to be striking with most frequency at the prime of life for the Japanese. Cancer is responsible for 30% of all deaths for men in their early fifties. This number increases to 45% for men in their late sixties. Additionally, cancer also causes an astounding 40 percent of all deaths in Japanese women in their late thirties. Moreover, this percentage jumps to 50% for women in their late forties. While there will always be concerns about the frequency of cancer in an aging society like Japan, these statistics depict a nation struggling to battle an often lethal illness. This is one of the common diseases in Japan that a specific cause is difficult to find.

Mental Health Issues
The stigma against mental health has prevented Japanese citizens from receiving quality care. Family members and employers alike see the need for therapy or treatment as a character flaw. Individuals with depression worry about losing their jobs if others find out that they are seeing a psychiatrist.

In Japan, suicide as a result of depression has become a serious issue. In fact, the nation now leads the industrialized world with the most suicides at a rate of 12.8 females and 35.6 males per 100,000. This translates to the suicide of over 30,000 Japanese citizens in the past few years. This may also be influenced by Japanese insurance companies’ surprising willingness to pay out for suicides, as it provides a potential source of money for the families of those who suffer from debilitating depression.

Although people have become more aware of depression, drug treatment remains the most commonly utilized therapy. However, medication doesn’t usually treat the underlying problem and instead focuses on repressing the symptoms. In many cases, patients are simply “kept sedated with large amounts of psychiatric drugs to pacify them,” so there needs to be a change in both the healthcare system and the Japanese perception of mental illness.

The current Japanese health care system rewards high-prescribing doctors and generally discourages physicians from spending too much time with patients. This type of behavior is not an ideal environment for properly addressing mental health. Of the common diseases in Japan, mental health issues receive the worst treatment.

There needs to be a stronger focus on removing the stigma on mental health as well as a push to reform the incentives in the healthcare system. These actions are necessary if Japan wishes to deal with increasing suicide rates and numbers of untreated mentally ill.

– Akhil Reddy

Photo: Flickr

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The World Health Organization’s Global Health Goals for 2030


There has always been an unfortunate imbalance in the level of health and health care received around the world. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) health goals for 2030 seeks to change things in 67 countries, both low and middle-income.

These 67 countries make up at least 75 percent of the world’s population. The WHO projections take into account increasing population and increasing health coverage in these 67 countries. When looking forward to 2030, the organization can see the potential costs and effects of such healthcare growth.

The WHO plotted out two scenarios with different levels of progress. The progress scenario entails many of these countries advancing toward their healthcare goals but hindered by various factors. In the progress scenario, the countries manage two-thirds or more of the way to these health goals for 2030.

There is also the ambitious scenario in which these 67 countries meet the healthcare goal. It would include employing at least 23 million health workers and building at least 415,000 new health facilities. If services towards universal health coverage in these countries expand as hoped for, these goals could prevent as many as 97 million premature deaths before 2030, and could add up to 8.4 years to the average life expectancy in some of these countries.

In order to accomplish these health goals for 2030, health services need investment. Most of these countries can afford the necessary investments with strategic planning, priority management, and realistic budgeting, but the poorest nations, as many as 32 countries, need assistance.

The WHO estimates that in order to achieve the ambitious scenario, the investments in global healthcare would need to increase from $134 billion to $371 billion by 2030. However, it calls for more than just funding; it requires respect for human rights and the political will to make it happen.

– Ellen Ray

Photo: Flickr

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The Struggle for Human Rights in Belarus

Human Rights in Belarus
Belarus, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, has dealt with external and internal oppression for decades. Alexander Lukashenko has been the president for 23 years and has held a tight grip on the country. Widely regarded as Europe’s last dictatorship, the government maintains power through intimidating those who would oppose them. Lukashenko controls a police force that is still referred to as the KGB, and political freedoms are stifled. Human rights in Belarus are often oppressed by the totalitarian government.

Activists working for human rights in Belarus are often arrested on baseless charges, and journalists endure oppressive sanctions and harassment. It is illegal to join an organization that is not formally registered with the government, and it is very difficult for groups not associated with the government to receive permission to register.

Last year, the European Union removed the sanctions meant to improve human rights in Belarus because Lukashenko released several prisoners who had been held unjustly. In October, Belarus created a plan to reduce human rights violations, but many critics say it is not specific enough to adequately improve the situation.

In March 2017, the police arrested almost 1,000 people who were peacefully protesting a law that taxes every citizen not working full-time. The suppression of this protest stands out as the worst human rights violation since the unjust election in 2010.

Belarus has also reinstated the death penalty and has executed several people without permission from the U.N. Human Rights Council. The next time the council meets, the country will endure a thorough evaluation and the U.N. will likely decide to take action to intervene on behalf of human rights in Belarus.

The EU has stated that it will not continue to support Belarus if the country continues to violate human rights. This move is meant to force Belarus to improve conditions, as its economy is largely dependent on imports from other countries.

Belarus does not meet the standards of human rights required for European countries by the U.N., but the events of the past couple years have shone a spotlight on the government’s misdemeanors. This spotlight has renewed the EU and U.N. focus on improving human rights in Belarus, and their work should improve conditions in the next decade.

– Julia Mccartney

Cost of Living in North Korea: Poor Vs Republic

Cost of Living in North Korea
Despite the prevalence of media censorship and manipulation, North Korea carries a reputation for widespread poverty and a less than competitive economy compared to the rest of the world. The growth domestic product (GDP), or market value of all final goods and service from a nation in a given year, is ranked at 197 in the world, and the country’s focus on military showmanship is contrasted with its desperate need for food aid and other forms of economic assistance.

Given such circumstances, the cost of living in North Korea is far below other regions of the world. According to the Korea Institute for National Unification, “the standard of living has deteriorated to extreme levels of deprivation in which the right to food security, health and other minimum needs for human survival are denied…” With more than half of North Korea’s population living in extreme poverty, resources to sustain a basic quality of life are nearly impossible to access.

Indeed, the cost of living in North Korea is unrepresentative of the economic hardship faced by most citizens. Workers typically earn between two and three dollars a month from the government, and mismanagement in currency caused inflation to rise to figures as high as 100%. The Public Distribution System (PDS) continues to be the main source of food for more than 18 million people, approximately 70% of the population as of 2016, and unreliable electric power and water supply is also common.

Prevalent starvation in the countryside is contrasted with seemingly higher quality life in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. There is a plethora of new high-rise apartments, cheap plastic surgery costing as little as two dollars, and foreign fashion trends. Beneath this lies forced labor as a cheap means to polish the external appearance of the city.

This past year, living conditions worsened as a dry spell from April to late June severely damaged the production of rice, maize, potatoes and soybeans, potentially leading to added food shortages. It was determined to be the worst drought the country has faced since 2001. The call for international intervention draws many complications, particularly in regard to the country’s recent activity in nuclear weapons development.

Although North Korea earns foreign currency from the trade of millions of tons of coal with China every year, accounting for a third of all its official exports in 2015, military expenditures remain high, worsening the cost of living in North Korea and suppressing overall quality of life. Ongoing nuclear weapons testing made several countries question whether or not to continue its foreign aid programs in the region. Despite the fact, the United Kingdom and the United States continue sending aid. North Korea received more than £4 million in foreign aid from the U.K. over the past six years, and more than $8 million to assist vulnerable women and children.

Nonetheless, the proliferation of private enterprise, though still officially illegal, made it possible for individuals to generate profit in 2017. Beyond production requirements given directly to the state, farmers and factories are able to seek customers of their own. Six taxi companies now operate in Pyongyang, and Minis, a home-goods store, became the first foreign chain to open in North Korea this past April.

This recent economic growth has broader implications for the North Korean government, potentially undermining arguments supporting socialist superiority over capitalist systems. Information combating widespread propaganda already started slipping in with foreign goods and products. The potential for a better cost of living in North Korea and higher quality of life is increasing, suggesting that the future may just hold fewer poverty constraints and broader human rights opportunities for the country’s citizens.

– Katherine Wang

Photo: Flickr

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5 Things to Know About Pakistan’s IDP Problem

 

Pakistan's IPD Problem
In recent years, Pakistan has become home to one of the world’s largest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs). A decade-long militant insurgency; many military operations in the northwest and natural disasters have displaced millions of people from their homes. As a result, Pakistan’s IDP problem is the greatest humanitarian crisis in the country’s history.

According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), “a total of 5.3 million people in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been displaced as a consequence of counter-terrorism operations since 2008, some of them multiple times.” Of these, 4.8 million to have returned, and the rest have yet to go back to their homes.

The state of Pakistan, with the help of international humanitarian groups, has responded to the crises. However, it has not fully met the post-displacement challenges of the displaced and returnees. Particularly, five things about Pakistan’s IDP problem warrant the immediate attention of national government and international aid agencies:

  1. Education: Tens of thousands of displaced children have their education disrupted as a result of religious militancy and military operations in FATA. Large numbers of them were still out of school after displacements because the state had no proper arrangements to help them resume their education. Before the start of operations, non-state armed groups (NSAGs) had destroyed many schools in the region. They only left behind madrassas (religious seminaries). Girls’ education was particularly affected. In 2012, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) attempted the assassination of teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai in Swat valley, aiming to scare girls away from school. The need for education after IDPs’ return is only greater, as most schools have been either destroyed or used as home shelters that need repair.
  2. Lack of Basic Necessities: A quarter of IDPs did not have access to basic necessities, such as food, clean drinking water and shelter. Most of them lost around a third of their food supplies during the displacement. Poor strategy and coordination have made it worse for relief operations to provide for the basic needs of IDPs. Moreover, the state’s rehabilitation services, as most IDPs have returned or are in the process of returning to their homes, are less than encouraging. The state provides a resettlement allowance that surely helps, but not enough to repair the destruction left behind. Most importantly, FATA is the poorest region in Pakistan. The area needs a comprehensive development plan, as it has been historically ignored.
  3. Second Class Citizens: The IDPs not only faced harsh circumstances in camps, but they have also received a very unwelcoming attitude from some host communities. In the recent past, the provinces of Punjab and Sindh have opposed the entry of IDPs from FATA because of the alleged fear of terrorists among them. Moreover, once the IDPs entered and settled temporarily, some host communities and even security agencies in Punjab labeled them as a potential threat of terrorism. The alienation of one of the largest ethnic groups, Pashtuns, only made it more difficult for IDPs to find work and live in peace. This double standard regarding the treatment of refugees is striking to watch; many in Pakistan are angry at the West for its treatment of refugees from Muslim lands.
  4. Health: Healthcare in Pakistan is the holy grail for the poor in normal circumstances. Mass exodus due to conflicts and insecurity have made it impossible for displaced persons to attain basic health care. The most common problems among IDPs are malaria, skin infections, diarrhea and colds. Very few mothers and children received assistance to fulfill their nutritional needs. Health services, though available in the area, already overstretched before the IDPs’ arrival.
  5. Insecurity: Instability and recurring violence is another challenge of Pakistan’s IDP problem. Despite the army’s claim of clearing the region from militants, the events on the ground indicate a different reality. Many FATA locals are suspicious of the army’s role in eliminating militants. The U.S. has also blamed Pakistan for playing a double-game by supporting groups like the Haqqanis as its long-term ally in Afghanistan where Pakistan considers the increasing Indian influence as a threat to its territorial integrity. Insecurity has also made it difficult for aid agencies to reach out to the affected people. The government requires most NGOs to get NOCs in order to function in the FATA.

The good news is that national and provincial authorities, military, civil society and community networks are all involved in Pakistan’s IDP problem. The government has made substantial efforts to address IDPs’ needs over the years. Immediate relief has generally included shelter, relief, cash grants, water, etc., but Pakistan has no national policy or legislation to cope with the recurrent crises of internally displaced persons.

– Aslam Kakar

Photo: Flickr