Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Addressing HIV/AIDS in Morocco

HIV/AIDS in MoroccoThe HIV/AIDS epidemic in Morocco has had life-changing consequences for communities all over the world. International leaders have made significant progress over the past 30 years in improving awareness of the disease and accessibility to treatment, but countries must still take substantial action to fully eradicate it. Morocco has taken large strides towards this, launching various campaigns to do so. However, the extreme levels of poverty that the country is facing are forcing its residents into lifestyles that intensify their risk of contracting the disease, while the government’s lack of economic stability means prevention and treatment schemes are difficult to enact. Without U.S. support, the country lacks many resources which would be indispensable to its fight against HIV/AIDS in Morocco.

The Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Morocco

As of 2024, the number of people living with HIV in Morocco stands at 23,000. About 5.9% of HIV/AIDS cases are men who engage in sexual relationships with other men (MSM), 7.1% are drug users and 2.3% are sex workers. The socio-political climate of Morocco still subjects these populations to extreme levels of discrimination, which often prevents them from seeking treatment. Additionally, 9% of Morocco’s population live currently in poverty. These difficult conditions, alongside the prevalence of sex tourism and human trafficking, mean there are an estimated 4.3 million sex workers living in Morocco, 2.3% of whom (knowingly) suffer from HIV.

The prevalence of drug users is also intertwined with national poverty, with economic stress forcing many to turn to substance abuse as a form of relief. The country’s lack of free health care also stands as a barrier to impoverished individuals accessing diagnoses and treatment, further increasing the risk of infection for those affected. Offering schemes to help alleviate the pressure of national poverty may prevent those it affects from turning to high-risk modes of employment and dangerous drug use, while making treatment accessible to those unable to afford healthcare bills. 

Breaking Down the Stigma

In comparison to other Middle Eastern and North African countries, the rate of HIV/AIDS among the population is relatively low. This is due to Morocco’s unmatched ability in implementing testing, diagnoses and treatment programs within its vulnerable communities. 

Thanks to the introduction of self-testing methods, the population now have access to a more discreet method of diagnosis. However, hospitals must still confirm tests offering positive results, limiting their anonymity and leading to a relatively low use rate.

Morocco’s ban on homosexuality, sex work and injection drugs, alongside general societal disapproval, means that many people who engage in these activities do not attempt to seek treatment for HIV/AIDS. 

In 2024 at the Taragalte Festival, Moroccan artist OUM announced that she would be ascending to the role of National Goodwill Ambassador in Morocco for UNAIDS. As a popular artist and social influencer, OUM’s work in spreading awareness and encouraging education about HIV prevention will be vital in breaking down the intense stigma surrounding the illness. UNAIDS foresaw that OUM’s efforts in erasing negative narratives via her public influence would improve access to HIV/AIDS preventative knowledge, diagnoses and treatment, particularly among high-risk communities in Morocco.

The US’s Impact

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a campaign aimed at controlling the international HIV/AIDS epidemic, does not currently practice in Morocco. This means the country does not have access to U.S. funded resources that could have a significant impact on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and, due to the nation’s lower economic status, could not be financed by only their government. PEPFAR supports communities most vulnerable to the illness and with high-risk populations making up the majority of diagnoses in Morocco, the U.S. Department of State’s assistance could offer profound assistance in curbing the epidemic where it is most rife. 

HIV/AIDS in Morocco is preventable. Governmental strategies to combat the disease and its often poverty-rooted causes are already having a profound impact on decreasing its prevalence in the country. However, the epidemic requires further action to achieve total eradication. Reducing societal stigma is an important aspect of making treatment more accessible, but assisting those in poverty, through Moroccan and U.S. funded support, to obtain affordable healthcare schemes and engage in lower-risk lifestyles is by far the most crucial method of ending HIV/AIDS in Morocco for good.

– Amabel Smith

Amabel is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Malnutrition in Guatemala

Malnutrition in GuatemalaWith nearly half of the population unable to afford basic foods, malnutrition in Guatemala remains a critical barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. This global target aims to eliminate all forms of malnutrition by 2030, yet progress in the country has been slow. However, support from local organizations and international aid efforts offers a path forward.

The Current Situation of Hunger in Guatemala

Since 1960, Guatemala has struggled with high levels of food insecurity. At that time, 60% of children under 5 suffered from stunting. By 2023, that figure dropped to 46.5%, an improvement of just 0.21 percentage points per year over six decades. This slow progress reflects deep-rooted challenges. Malnutrition severely limits brain development in children, reducing educational outcomes and increasing vulnerability to illness. According to Seeds for a Future, malnourished parents often pass on these disadvantages to their children, reinforcing the cycle of poverty across generations.

More than 2.9 million Guatemalans face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Migrant flows also strain resources, with 223,000 people passing through the country between January and September 2024. Many of these individuals require food assistance, emergency nutrition and protection during their transit. Without swift humanitarian support, vulnerable populations face rising health risks. Aid groups urge donors to fund safe transit points and deliver nutritional support to prevent widespread health consequences.

Understanding the Root Causes

Systemic poverty continues to drive hunger in Guatemala. Environmental shocks, especially in the Dry Corridor, worsen the crisis. Many families rely on agriculture to survive, but droughts and erratic weather often destroy crops and slash incomes. As food prices rise and yields drop, households face greater difficulty feeding their children. In October 2024 alone, the Food Security and Nutrition Secretariat recorded 25,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under 5.

Short-term food distributions can save lives but rarely lead to lasting change. Many programs unintentionally create dependency by failing to build skills or resilience. Long-term strategies that focus on education, sustainable farming and economic empowerment provide communities with the tools to escape malnutrition permanently.

Organizations Supporting Guatemala

  • Seeds for a Future. Seeds for a Future is an organization that supplies rural families and communities with the training and essential resources to grow sustainable crops and understand nutritional health requirements for mothers and infants. Since 2009, the Seeds program has been addressing the issue of malnutrition in Guatemala with a 12-month program, mentoring families for their individual needs at a low cost. Currently, the organization has helped 5,400 families in 19 communities with its easily replicable food security and health training program. The program continues to implement its training strategies and hopes to expand to even more communities. 
  • World Food Programme (WFP).  The WFP has operated in Guatemala since 1974. Working closely with government ministries and United Nations (U.N.) agencies, the program assists with food security and nutrition for the country’s most vulnerable individuals and families. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2), the WFP is strengthening social programs to minimize food insecurity and malnutrition in Guatemala. Workshops and nutrition-sensitive interventions were put in place to detect and better the conditions of malnutrition, especially for children and pregnant women. Considering the struggles that families go through after climate shocks, the program also works to enhance resilience and provide access to affordable markets.

Looking Ahead

In 2025, humanitarian agencies plan to scale up operations in 60 of Guatemala’s 81 most food-insecure municipalities, including Alta Verapaz and Huehuetenango. These regions experience the highest rates of crop failure and child malnutrition and are in desperate need of food security interventions. Despite the high number of malnutrition cases in Guatemala, efforts are being implemented to improve the community’s resilience and health stability. The most vulnerable are receiving the necessary resources and support with the hopes of eliminating all forms of food insecurity by 2030. 

– Sarina Francis

Sarina is based in Tallahassee, FL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Rebuilding Khartoum

Rebuilding KhartoumKhartoum, the capital of Sudan, was once engulfed in civil war. After a hard-fought battle, the Sudanese Armed Forces reclaimed the city from the Rapid Support Forces on March 26. With the conflict subsiding, efforts are now turning toward rebuilding Khartoum and restoring hope for its future.

The Civil War

On April 15, 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an attack on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Khartoum. The RSF maintained control of the city until March 2025, displacing more than 13 million people in the process. While the current conflict is devastating, it is not unprecedented—Sudan has a long and painful history of violence. The Second Sudanese Civil War, which began in 1983, resulted in the deaths of more than 2 million people. The Darfur conflict, which started in 2003, claimed 300,000 lives and displaced approximately 2.7 million.

The ongoing civil war has caused more than 61,000 direct deaths, but the true toll is far higher. More than 150,000 people have died due to war-related effects such as famine and disease. The RSF has been accused of committing acts that may amount to genocide, echoing the violence seen in Darfur during the early 2000s. Reports of ethnically targeted attacks and mass displacement have raised serious concerns among human rights groups and international observers. This humanitarian crisis underscores the urgent need for both national reconciliation and sustained international support.

Khartoum in Ruin

The effects of the war and genocide have been catastrophic. Rebuilding Khartoum will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge, with Sudanese authorities estimating the process will cost around $300 billion. Natural disasters have only worsened the crisis, as rains and flooding have displaced thousands and contributed to a resurgence of cholera. Amid ongoing conflict, the Sudanese government is unable to adequately support displaced or sick individuals. Even before the war, Sudan faced a humanitarian crisis, with 15.8 million people in need of assistance; today, that number has more than doubled.

The famine in Sudan is now the worst the country has experienced in decades, and one of the most severe globally, according to Science. More Sudanese people are suffering from extreme hunger than in any other country in the world combined, marking a staggering humanitarian crisis. While food insecurity was already a major concern before the current conflict, the war has intensified the situation dramatically. Continuous bombing, indiscriminate shelling and the looting of markets and supply chains have devastated both rural and urban food systems.

The conflict has disrupted agricultural activity on a massive scale, as farmers have to flee their land. As a result, the production of staple crops has plummeted. Sorghum and millet have declined by 42% and 64% since 2023. In many regions, food is either unavailable or unaffordable, pushing millions closer to starvation. The crisis has reached a tipping point, with aid agencies warning that immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further mass loss of life.

The Road to Recovery

The process of rebuilding Khartoum could take an extensive amount of time. Recovery efforts will involve clearing unexploded ordnance, reconstructing critical infrastructure and restoring essential services such as health care, water and electricity.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has emphasized the importance of placing civilian well-being at the center of all recovery and peacebuilding efforts. The organization advocates for a unified diplomatic approach to ensure coordinated and effective action. Recognizing the many challenges ahead, the IRC continues to push for policies that address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term stability.

IRC has been providing aid to Sudan since 1981 through fundraising efforts and humanitarian initiatives. Its work spans several critical areas, including clean water programs, health services, and support for survivors of gender-based violence. Through these efforts, the IRC remains committed to improving the lives of Sudanese people amid the ongoing crisis.

Mercy Corps, another organization actively working to support Sudan, provides cash assistance to displaced individuals and those in urgent need. The organization has distributed financial aid to over 12,000 families, enabling them to purchase essential items such as food, water, and medicine. In addition to emergency relief, Mercy Corps supports long-term recovery by supplying seeds and farming tools to smallholder farmers; an especially vital effort, as the majority of Sudan’s population relies on agriculture for their livelihood. Like the IRC, Mercy Corps has been delivering critical aid in Sudan for more than two decades.

The Future

Rebuilding Khartoum marks the start of a long road to recovery. With widespread destruction, famine, and displacement, Sudan’s future depends on sustained humanitarian support, coordinated diplomacy, and a lasting commitment to peace.

– Abegail Buchan

Abegail is based in Johnstown, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty in Tajikistan: The Impact of Remittances

Poverty in Tajikistan: The Impact of Remittances The Republic of Tajikistan – a landlocked country bordered by Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan – is the smallest country in Central Asia. Although rich in natural resources, Tajikistan remains the region’s poorest country, with more than 2 million people living on less than $3.65 per day. Economic growth, driven largely by remittances, contributed to a decline in the poverty rate by around 9% in 2024, with GDP growth estimated at 8.4%. While these gains are encouraging, remittances alone cannot ensure long-term stability and ongoing efforts are necessary to improve living standards.

Remittances and Poverty in Tajikistan

Remittances—monetary transfers made by migrants working abroad—play a central role in Tajikistan’s economy. In 2024, remittances accounted for nearly half of the country’s GDP, with most funds sent by Tajik citizens working in Russia. These transfers help cover essential needs and drive domestic consumption. Tajikistan experienced an economic growth rate that averaged above 7% over the last decade, reducing the number of people living in poverty from 32% of the population in 2009 to around 9% in 2024. While estimates from 2023 suggested that more than 20% of Tajiks were still living in poverty, the decline in 2024 was particularly stark.

Although remittances have been effective in reducing poverty by bolstering private consumption and imports. The country’s reliance on economic success in other nations leaves its fragile economy vulnerable to disturbances and crises. As a result, endurable systemic changes within the country are critical to ensuring improved conditions for those experiencing poverty in Tajikistan.

Sustainable Development Strategies

In its National Development Strategy, the Government of Tajikistan set a goal to double or triple domestic incomes between 2016 and 2030; however, reaching this target will require a changed economic growth model centered around a dynamic private sector. Tajikistan maintains strong potential for economic growth due to a younger, growing population and the country’s potential for success in profitable sectors, such as agriculture, food processing, water, hydropower and tourism. In addition, the country is abundant in valuable natural resources and minerals like petroleum and natural gas, aluminum, gold, silver and limestone. The Tajik Aluminium Company (TALCO), one of Central Asia’s largest producers, is a major contributor to the national economy.

Despite this, weak institutions and limited business infrastructure continue to hinder growth. Labor force utilization remains the lowest in the region at just 44%, suggesting that many citizens are underemployed or unable to access productive jobs. To address these challenges, investments in education, transportation and digital infrastructure are key. Improving access to finance, strengthening energy sector efficiency and promoting inclusive economic competition can also support job creation and long-term poverty alleviation.

Looking Ahead

For 2025, the World Bank projects 6.5% GDP growth and an 8.2% decline in the poverty rate. While these numbers are promising, rising global uncertainty poses risks to economic improvement in the region. Officials can potentially expedite reforms in the private and public sectors to support job growth and remedy longstanding poverty in Tajikistan. Strengthening institutions, improving economic resilience and expanding access to opportunity could help ensure that recent gains in poverty reduction are not only maintained but expanded.

– Erin Hellhake

Erin s based in Old Bridge, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Beggars Corporation: Empowering Entrepreneurs in India

How the Beggars Corporation Empowers Entrepreneurs in IndiaThe Beggars Corporation (BC), incorporated in August 2022, offers a different approach to poverty alleviation in India. Instead of offering food or donations, BC invests directly in beggars through its Beggars-Turned-Entrepreneurs (BTE) program. The initiative aims to help people transition from street begging to owning and managing small businesses. Founded by Chandra Mishra, BC’s mission is to make India “begging-free” by helping the country’s estimated 413,670 beggars build sustainable livelihoods. Mishra’s concept, which he terms “Employonomics,” challenges traditional aid models. He argues that a small percentage of the $12 million donated annually to India’s poor can instead fuel long-term change through social investment.

The Beggars Corporation

BC operates under a “One Beggar, One Mentor” system. Rather than seeking support from the government or major NGOs, the company engages wealthier Indian citizens as mentors and investors. Selected participants receive training in vocational skills, such as tailoring or business management. For example, Rajni, BC’s first BTE, learned embroidery and went on to create two brands: Bagful of Dreams and Enchanted Shirts. Once trained, each BTE partner works with their mentor and BC to form a legal business entity called a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Each SPV allocates 24% ownership to the BTE, 24% to the mentor and 52% to BC. During training, participants also receive a monthly stipend of 10,000 INR.

Investment With Social Returns

In BC’s first investment round, 57 individuals each contributed and earned a 33.5% annual return on investment. Currently, mentors invest 200,000 INR over three years. The “handholding” phase follows training, where mentors help BTEs manage finances, navigate regulatory compliance and market their products. After three years, mentors recover their investment with returns and BTEs can choose to continue their business or pursue other employment.

Expanding Impact

To help create entrepreneurs in India, BC has expanded operations beyond the One Beggar, One Mentor scheme. Although BC began in Varanasi, it recently expanded to Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate begging in the city. There, BC will open another School of Life, an education program for child beggars. The program offers academic instruction up to the equivalent of the 10th grade, along with vocational training through a “Learn and Earn” model. BC also supports job creation beyond entrepreneurship. The Karma Cafe in Varanasi, launched under an SPV, has already created 12 jobs for former beggars. Other businesses, such as Helping Hands, a home cleaning service, have reportedly employed up to 100 former beggars.

Results and Real Stories

According to Mishra, 17 beggars became entrepreneurs in the program’s first two years. Including jobs created by BTE-owned businesses, the total number of beggars helped reaches about 1,000. In 2024 alone, 21 active BTE businesses generated more than $418,000 in revenue. Individual stories highlight the human impact. Rajni, once a street beggar, now works in a hospital and supports her son. Vishal, a 12-year-old formerly known as India’s “Mascot of Poverty,” now works as a tour guide and earns between $175 to $350 a month after graduating from the School of Life.

The Future

In less than three years, the Beggars Corporation has shown that sustainable business models can empower India’s poorest citizens. By altering the traditional model of charitable giving into a business venture, BC creates lasting, meaningful employment opportunities for India’s poor. By giving investors an interest in their donation in the form of a share in the SPV and by developing key business skills in their BTEs, the Beggars Corporation could help many individuals escape the cycle of poverty and may one day make India begging-free. 

– Charles Citron

Charles is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solar-Powered Clinics: Energizing Rural Health

Solar-Powered ClinicsIn many rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, health clinics often operate without reliable electricity. This lack of power limits their ability to provide essential medical services, especially during emergencies throughout the night or for storing temperature-sensitive vaccines. Now, a growing number of communities across the region are turning to an innovative and sustainable solution: solar-powered clinics.

The Challenges of Powerless Clinics

According to USAID’s Power Africa initiative, nearly 60% of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity and many others operate with unreliable power. This energy gap poses serious challenges to health care delivery, especially in rural regions such as northern Uganda and remote areas of Sierra Leone. Without dependable electricity, clinics struggle to store vaccines, power essential medical equipment or provide emergency services after dark- putting countless lives at risk during childbirth, disease outbreaks and other critical situations.

Powering Hope Through the Sun

Solar energy is increasingly being used to bridge the energy gap in health care facilities across sub-Saharan Africa. Through partnerships with national governments and organizations such as the UNDP, solar-powered clinics are getting the equipment that includes photovoltaic panels, battery storage and lighting solutions. In Uganda, for example, UNDP has worked alongside the Ministry of Health to provide solar energy systems to health centers, enabling continuous operation of critical services such as maternal care, vaccine refrigeration and the use of diagnostic equipment.

Real Impact in Remote Communities

Results show promise when looking at the establishment of solar-powered clinics and overall solar power to health facilities in Sierra Leone. In partnership with the Ministry of Health has commissioned solar energy systems in 25 primary health units (PHUs), as part of a broader initiative to electrify facilities nationwide. This investment is enhancing service delivery by ensuring constant power for lighting, vaccine refrigeration and essential medical equipment. With improved infrastructure, clinics can now operate around the clock, which not only strengthens health care outcomes but also increases public confidence in local health services.

Organizations Leading the Charge

One notable organization making a difference is We Care Solar, founded in 2010. It provides compact, solar-powered suitcases designed specifically for maternal care. These suitcases include high-efficiency lights, medical device outlets and phone chargers- all powered by solar panels. To date, more than 10,000 health centers are equipped with Solar Suitcases in more than 20 countries ultimately serving more than 18 million mothers and newborns.

In 2022, the African Development Bank (AfDB) launched the Desert to Power initiative, aiming to provide solar electricity to 250 million people across 11 countries. A significant portion of this effort focuses on health infrastructure in rural zones.

Solar-Powered Clinics: The Future

Solar-powered clinics represent a practical, scalable solution to improve healthcare access across sub-Saharan Africa. By ensuring round-the-clock care, safe vaccine storage and reliable diagnostics, these clinics are helping to reduce mortality rates and build resilient health systems.

As efforts expand, solar energy may prove to be not only a sustainable energy source but a life-saving one.

– Vasara Mikulevicius

Vasara is based in West Bloomfield, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Migrant Communities in Portugal: Gentrification and Deportation

Migrant Communities in PortugalGentrification in traditionally working-class neighborhoods in cities like Lisbon, Portugal, is increasing house prices. At the same time, the government’s recent plans to deport thousands of migrants are raising concerns. Together, these changes threaten multiethnic neighborhoods and immigrant identities across Portugal. However, many organizations are resisting this by empowering migrant communities in Portugal through a range of projects.

Deportation and the Rise of Populism

The recent rise in far-right populism and political strategy ahead of a general election has led to plans to deport 18,000 irregular migrants across Portugal. Luis Montenegro, leader of the center-right party Democratic Alliance and current Prime Minister, has faced criticism for announcing the deportation plans just before a snap election in May 2025 to gain voters. However, the Democratic Alliance didn’t win a majority. The head of the Socialist Party, Pedro Nuno Santos, resigned after winning the same number of seats as Chega, a relatively new far-right party rooted in anti-immigration rhetoric.

According to a Portuguese Migration and Home Affairs Office publication, attitudes toward immigrants among Portuguese people depend on their country of origin. Attitudes toward migrants from the Indian subcontinent, including countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, are more negative. Moreover, 68% of the public believe Portugal’s immigration policies are too liberal. They also think that the presence of immigrants impacts their salaries, despite the country’s economic growth depending on sectors where most employees are migrants (such as agriculture and construction).

Gentrification and Touristification

Like many popular destinations, Portugal has become a victim of its success within the tourism industry. Lisbon had 5.6 million visitors in 2023 alone. Thanks to the rise of Airbnb, house prices are rapidly increasing while the availability of public housing is diminishing. In addition to touristification, digital nomads arriving in Portugal with higher salaries have contributed heavily to gentrification.

Although rent and house prices have risen by 120% in cities such as Lisbon, wage levels have remained stagnant. This means many people cannot afford to continue living in the neighborhoods where they grew up. Moreover, some of the neighborhoods most affected by gentrification are home to some of the most multicultural communities in Portugal, meaning that immigrants and working-class people are being pushed to the peripheries of their cities.

Organizations Empowering Migrant Communities

Despite the deportations of migrants and the cultural erosion of their neighborhoods, some grassroots organizations are stepping up. They support and empower migrant communities while resisting the effects of mass tourism, digital nomadism and far-right politics.

  1. The Lisbon Project. One of the most notable organizations empowering migrant communities in Portugal is the Lisbon Project. It is a nonprofit organization (NGO) founded in 2016 to strengthen migrant and refugee communities across Lisbon and make them feel a sense of belonging. The charity currently has 5,952 registered community members from 250 countries, with the top nationalities being Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Algeria.

    Focusing on integration and empowerment, the Lisbon Project operates across various domains, including community life, education, employability and social care. Some of its specific projects include the Benevolence Program, which provides free items such as furniture and home appliances to new arrivals). Others include the Portuguese Welcome Course and free Community Dinners, among many others. Despite currently only operating in Lisbon, the organization aims to expand into three hubs across Portugal by the end of 2030.

  2. Renovar a Mouraria Foundation. Renovar a Mouraria is another Lisbon-based NGO. However, it focuses its support on the multicultural Mouraria neighborhood, which has become a home to multiple immigrant and refugee communities in Lisbon. However, due to the neighborhood’s abandonment and marginalization, residents have been affected by drug trafficking, rising social tensions and gentrification.

    Working with various stakeholders, including the Lisbon City Council, Renovar a Mouraria has been coordinating community-strengthening services since 2008. These include integrated social support, migrant regularization, Portuguese language courses and vocational training. In addition to providing practical services, the NGO has fostered creativity and communication in the neighborhood. One example is Secondary Residence, a collaborative project where a group of residents produced a collective reflection. It was based on their interactions with local people and their experiences living in Mouraria.

  3. The Portuguese Refugee Council (CPR). Similarly, the CPR is empowering migrant communities in Portugal and addressing their marginalization by deconstructing myths about refugees. It is also providing designated spaces, including three Refugee Reception Centers.

    Operating since 1991, the CPR has supported 14,640 refugees and asylum seekers in Portugal through advocacy, legal support, international protection and training sessions. Moreover, the CPR runs multiple services and projects specifically supporting child refugees, such as the CPR daycare and the Shelter for Refugee Children.

Final Remarks

Multiculturalism and the rich history of working-class neighborhoods across Portuguese cities deserve celebration and preservation. Thanks to the amazing organizations empowering migrant communities in Portugal, resettled populations can continue to thrive and network, fostering creativity, cultural exchange and positive integration.

– Clodagh Dowson

Clodagh is based in Wiltshire, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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4 Organizations improving education in Colombia

education colombiaAs of 2022, nearly 37% of Colombia’s entire population is living below the country’s poverty line. This large impoverished population is here due to multiple factors, including armed conflicts and displacements, especially within the country’s rural areas. However, there are ways to help these families, with one major way being to support the development of better education within the country. Helping with education is an important step for many families to get out of poverty, and helping prevent further poverty within families that have not been affected yet. Here are a few organizations that help strengthen education in Colombia.

Fundación Pies Descalzos

Founded in 1997 by famous pop-singer and songwriter Shakira, Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation in English) helps broaden access to education in Colombia. This includes training teachers, providing benefits to families in need, and building more schools. According to its website, it has helped more than 224,000 children all over the country. They also have worked with multiple other organizations during the years, including USAID, the Colombian Department of Education and Nestle. Recently, it also gave humanitarian aid to families affected by armed conflict within the country.

Education Cannot Wait

Founded in 2015 by Gordon Brown, Education Cannot Wait works to help refugee families provide better access to education for their children. Due to the large number of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, this makes a significant portion of the poverty population that needs better access to education in Colombia. It also helps local Colombian children who were internally displaced due to armed conflict as part of its programs to provide better educational resources. So far, it has built 215 schools around the country and trained over 5,000 teachers as of 2024.

Social Finance UK

An organization based in the United Kingdom and founded in 2007, Social Finance offers numerous humanitarian aid benefits both within and outside its country’s borders. In Colombia, it mainly focuses on children of displaced families and children living in rural areas, as those are the ones who suffer the most difficulties in maintaining an education and are most affected by poverty in Colombia.

Its current program for Colombia, Outcomes Fund for Education Results (OFFERS), focuses on taking data from different projects and sharing their findings with the Colombian education system to help them make informed decisions on improving policy and finding methods to give the impoverished better access to education. OFFERS is also funded by Global Affairs Canada, which is a governmental organization of the Canadian government.

Powerful Children Colombia

Founded in 2021 as a response to the number of families that fell into poverty during the global pandemic, Powerful Children Colombia focuses on empowering children in Colombia who are currently suffering from poverty. It does this by creating partnerships with other organizations that help Colombian children with educational and developmental opportunities, in hopes of giving them better avenues to escape the cycle of poverty. Its two current programs focus on helping children in rural areas to help them promote physical education.

Education in Colombia

Colombia could take a long time to fully heal from the problems it has, but with better education, poverty could greatly improve, leading to higher standards of living. These are also only a few of the organizations helping give better access to education in Colombia, and they are always willing to receive support from people all over the world.

– Jose Gabriel Lopez

Jose is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Advancements in Health in Kenya

Health in KenyaIn May 2025, Kenya established a National Public Health Institute to consolidate disease prevention, health research and emergency response services. The World Bank, Africa CDC, Amref Health Africa and more support the institute. The institute is the latest in a series of health advancements in Kenya. Here are some of the country’s recent health successes.

Increased Sexual Health Access

Unintended pregnancy and maternal mortality are common in remote regions of Kenya. In March 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) donated $100,000 worth of sexual and reproductive health kits to priority areas. The kits contained supplies for childbirth emergencies and miscarriage care. The kits delivered to Samburu County included oxytocin, a medicine to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, ending the county’s shortage.

The initiative also provided family-planning services to 260 people in Laikipia County. Esther Wamuhu, a 20-year-old Laikipia resident, had dropped out of school after an unplanned pregnancy, but the services allowed her to return. “I received a five-year family planning method for free,” she said. “Now, I can go back to school without the fear of another pregnancy.”

Efficient Cholera Response

In February 2025, Kenya declared a cholera outbreak in the Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori and Kwale counties, with an estimated 256 cases to date. In response, health officials and WHO partnered to deliver 1,100 cholera kits to Nairobi and 500 to Migori. The kits contain diagnostic tests, medicine and protective equipment for health workers. Health officials are working to ensure food vendors meet health standards and deliver water-purifying tablets to reduce the risk of further cases.

Digital System To Fight Disease

In December 2024, the Kenyan Ministry of Health and the WHO delivered medicines for tropical diseases, targeting 13 million children. As part of the campaign, 110 health workers used a data collection app developed by the Ministry, the WHO and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Workers uploaded patient information to a live-updated database that health officials could access anytime. Data collection had previously been done by hand, a slower method with a greater risk of errors.

Kenya has had great success in disease prevention. It eliminated Guinea-worm disease in 2018 and plans to eradicate Lymphatic filariasis by 2027 and all neglected tropical diseases by 2030.

Improved Newborn and Maternal Care

Kenyan mothers practicing exclusive breastfeeding have increased by 47% since 2003. Exclusive breastfeeding requires mothers to feed their children with only breast milk for the first six months after birth. Breast milk has positive benefits for physical growth, brain development and protection against diseases. However, some mothers and health workers in Kenya use other liquids instead.

The Kenyan Ministry of Health, supported by Irish Aid and the WHO, led a six-day training program on breastfeeding and maternal care in May 2024 to continue progress. Forty health workers from nine counties attended. At Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, the number of mothers breastfeeding shortly after birth increased by 33% between August 2024 and February 2025.

Conclusion

Kenya is making notable progress in public health through stronger systems, rapid disease response and better maternal care. The new National Public Health Institute marks a key step in unifying these efforts. With global support and local innovation, the country is on track to build a healthier future.

– Tyler Payn

Tyler is based in Allentown, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Rural Poverty in Lesotho

Rural Poverty in Lesotho Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in Africa. About 33.9% of the population lives below the international poverty line of $2.15 a day, while 56.2% lives on less than $3.65 a day. Despite having natural resources like diamonds and mineral deposits and a high literacy rate of 79.4%, widespread poverty persists. This is largely due to corruption, high unemployment and dependence on imported goods. In rural areas, these challenges are more severe. Around 70% of Lesotho’s population lives in rural areas, where 60% experience poverty. In the rural highlands, approximately 68% of people lived in poverty in 2017, a more than eight percentage point increase from 2002, making rural poverty a growing concern for NGOs and humanitarian groups.

Food Insecurity in Rural Communities

Lesotho’s reliance on imported goods—reflected in a trade deficit of 52%—limits the availability of essential products. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine worsened global agricultural prices, making food even harder to access for those living below the poverty line. In rural areas, the mountainous terrain restricts farming. As a result, only 40% of Lesotho’s farming households maintain a stable food supply. This has left 293,000 rural residents, 19% of the rural population, in a state of severe food insecurity.

Barriers to Education

Despite a high literacy rate, rural poverty in Lesotho persists due to a lack of educational resources. In rural areas, only one in five boys and one in four girls complete secondary Grade 12. Underachieving in school can be traced back to the stunted growth that affects many children in Lesotho, with 35% of all children between the ages of 0-5 having their growth stunted by a lack of food. This gives rural children little preparation for education, which they can never recover from. For girls, a teenage pregnancy rate of 17.8% nationally and 25% for those in rural areas means many have no choice but to drop out of an education system that cannot support them while they give birth. This is symptomatic of Lesotho having one of the highest inequality rates in the world. Many schools in Lesotho shut down during the pandemic and never reopened, leaving almost 500,000 children without access to learning.

Health Care Access Remains Limited

Studies have found that affordable health care remains out of reach for most rural citizens in Lesotho. Around 60% of rural residents say that they cannot afford basic health care, while 25% of residents lack any awareness of what health insurance schemes are available. There is no government mechanism to support them, so these people are left in the dark about health care options. Only 35% report having a clinic nearby. Those who do seek care often encounter long wait times, medicine shortages and poorly equipped facilities. As a result, 50% of surveyed residents said they would forgo treatment entirely when facing a medical issue.

Hope Through Investment

Lesotho often goes unnoticed in global poverty discussions, but targeted efforts are making an impact. Food insecurity remains a top concern. To address this, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) invested $64.3 million in seven programs aimed at strengthening food systems. These projects support improved farming techniques, irrigation development and decentralized governance. So far, 80,000 households have benefited. These ongoing efforts mark an important step toward ending rural poverty in Lesotho.

– Felix Hughes

Felix is based in Surrey, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr