Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Healthcare Access in Mayan Indigenous Communities

Mayan indigenous communitiesRecent data highlights that access to health care poses a significant challenge for Mayan indigenous communities in Mexico, especially in rural areas. The absence of comprehensive programs and policies tailored to improve culturally appropriate health care exacerbates this issue.

Mayan Cultural Context

In Mexico, traditional Mayan communities continue to uphold distinct perspectives on healing, which sometimes conflict with Western medical ideologies. In Mayan culture, people intricately link ill health to deities and ancestors. Mayans perceive physical well-being as interconnected with the celestial, terrestrial and subterranean realms. Consequently, health care within Mayan communities follows a communal approach, where medical decisions are not solely individual but collective decisions involving extended family members and Mayan spiritual healers known as H-men.

The Impacts of Globalization

Globalization has ushered in profitable trade and investments for numerous nations worldwide, improving public health and increasing life expectancy. However, it has also had adverse effects on the environment, exacerbated wealth disparities and fueled consumerist behavior, thereby posing threats to indigenous communities.

Mayan communities, often situated in jungle environments, grapple with limited access to health care and social services, inadequate infrastructure and substandard sanitation facilities. Consequently, many community members seek employment in the tourism hubs of Cancun or Tulum, drawn by economic opportunities.

However, the arrival of tourists brought three confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 10, 2020, prompting the implementation of social distancing measures on March 30, 2020 and ultimately resulting in the closure of the tourism industry. The Mexican government disseminated leaflets and radio announcements in the native Mayan language. However, the absence of community health centers and limited transportation options hindered the provision of adequate health care and education.

Obstacles to Health Care

Many members of Mayan communities have voiced concerns about the affordability of health care, whether from a doctor or private healer. For example, a doctor’s visit costs approximately $10 to $42, whereas a healer or herbalist typically charges between $0.5 and $26. Individuals needing medical care resorted to selling livestock to cover the costs. In contrast, hospital admissions were deemed unaffordable due to transportation expenses. Additionally, despite the proximity of several Mayan communities to health care centers, communication barriers persisted as many providers needed help to speak the Mayan language.

Moving Forward

Members of Mayan indigenous communities have emphasized the critical necessity for expanded health care resources, including additional medications, nursing staff and specialized health care providers adept at catering to rural indigenous and marginalized populations. In a pivotal move reflecting a commitment to holistic care, Zoe Robledo, the esteemed leader of Mexico’s most significant public hospital network, announced a transformative initiative in 2023 during a widely covered news conference. Under her guidance, the system pledged to recruit 753 practitioners skilled in traditional massage and herbal treatments. Furthermore, the hospitals and clinics will welcome midwives and practitioners versed in a traditional variant of chiropractic medicine.

This groundbreaking decision underscores a profound acknowledgment of the rich ancestral knowledge embedded within indigenous healing practices. Despite lacking formal licensure, these practitioners will use centuries-old wisdom to guide their therapeutic interventions. The Office of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador affirmed this approach, highlighting the intent to prioritize cultural heritage and community-based healing methods in health care services.

– Eva McMonigl
Photo: Unsplash

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Education for Sustainable Development: The Renken Onlus Story

Education for Sustainable Development: The Renken Onlus Story In 2006, a transformative journey began when a group of young friends, inspired by a chance encounter in Senegal, decided to establish Renken Onlus. Emerging from a serendipitous idea to fight global poverty through education, it led to the simultaneous creation of sister associations in Italy and Senegal. Claudia Nicola, the president, reflects on its dual foundation: “It all started somewhat by chance, sparking a shared mission to empower communities.” Education for sustainable development became a central theme of its mission.

At the moment, Renken Onlus embodies a pioneering approach to education for sustainable development that extends beyond traditional classrooms, aligning closely with UNESCO’s global citizenship education (GCED) framework. By integrating these principles, which focus on preparing learners for inherently global challenges, the organization’s initiatives promote a sense of interconnectedness across cultures and geographies.

From scholarships to cultural integration and ecovillage development, Renken has unveiled a spectrum of projects that not only illuminate the path to sustainable development but also exemplify the profound impact of integrating education with actionable change across communities.

Local Leadership and Sustainable Development

Central to Renken’s success is its commitment to local leadership and community-driven initiatives. Ms. Nicola emphasizes the importance of equality in partnership and the avoidance of external imposition, ensuring that “everything is managed by the very communities they aim to support.”

This approach has led to significant strides toward financial autonomy, with a noteworthy shift from reliance on international funding to substantial local support, underscoring the effectiveness of local management in fostering sustainable outcomes. The World Bank and OECD recognize the impact of community-driven development and local empowerment as crucial to achieving sustainable development goals.

3 Community-Driven Development Goals

  1. From Scholarships to Building A School in Malika. In Malika, a suburb of Dakar, Renken Onlus has made remarkable strides in improving educational access and quality. From initiating scholarship programs to constructing a school managed by the local Senegalese Renken, the organization has established a sustainable framework for long-term academic support, even welcoming internships for teachers from other nations and student exchanges (despite critical challenges with the current VISA system). Renken embodies the global recognition of the importance of family engagement and comprehensive support systems in achieving sustainable development and economic independence – as highlighted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and UNICEF. Renken’s holistic approach to education for sustainable development extends to building strong family relationships and providing comprehensive support systems – including health and welfare assistance such as mosquito nets, mattresses, microloans and rent assistance, to ensure that economic challenges do not hinder educational development. “We personally know all 100 children…as well as all 40 mothers and all 40 fathers,” Ms. Nicola shares.
  2. Cultural and Culinary Integration in Turin. Meanwhile, Renken promotes African culture and cuisine in Turin. “We began by wanting to bring a more truthful image of Africa to Italy than what is commonly portrayed. We started inviting artists of various types, filmmakers, musicians, writers, to tell their own stories about the Africa everyone talks about.” The Jigeenyi circle was born from these cultural events, offering professional cooking training to African women and organizing cultural festivals. These initiatives not only facilitate job integration but also challenge stereotypes, promoting a nuanced and authentic perspective of African cultures. “Another objective is job integration and inclusion” through professional training courses mainly for foreigners, especially Afro-descendant women. This constitutes a crucial step in the current cultural diplomacy framework, whereby fostering cultural understanding via place-based arts and cultural practices, or creative placemaking, plays a crucial role in driving economic independence and leadership, employing education for sustainable development. In fact, it is by highlighting the economic significance of cultural diplomacy and creative industries that Renken’s initiatives support job creation and gender equality.
  3. The Ecovillage and Agroecology. Since 2017, Renken’s ecovillage in southern Senegal has intertwined tourism, job creation and environmental sustainability. This project, in a region called Casamance, not only fosters job opportunities and practical training in sustainable agriculture but also enhances awareness through immersive experiences that differ markedly from typical tour operator offerings. Aligning with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) efforts to embed environmental sustainability within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Renken is set to demonstrate the crucial role of environmental stewardship in holistic development. By engaging in activities like agroecology and the cultivation of Moringa—a plant heralded for its nutritional properties against malnutrition—Renken extends its educational mission. “In Senegal, malnutrition is not due to lack of food but to lack of food variety”: the initiative addresses malnutrition with innovative solutions, serving as a permanent training center for sustainable practices and offering practical lessons in sustainable agriculture that resonate with a growing European interest in agroecology.

Looking Forward

Renken’s model offers a compelling blueprint for development that prioritizes economic independence, local leadership and sustainable growth. By centering the voices and leadership of those directly impacted, Renken not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term resilience and empowerment, demonstrating how innovative educational strategies can address the multifaceted challenges of global poverty and foster interconnected, sustainable communities.

As the organization looks to the future, making the ecovillage independent and stabilizing the new school in Malika, its commitment to education for sustainable development and community empowerment remains a guiding light. In an interconnected world, Renken stands as a testament to the transformative power of education in building more equitable communities.

– Matilde Liboni
Photo: Courtesy of Renken Onkus

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Successful Programs From Foreign Aid to Guatemala

Foreign Aid to GuatemalaWhile Guatemala is home to the largest economy in Central America, 55.2% of Guatemalans lived in poverty in 2023. Because of the country’s high poverty rate, foreign aid to Guatemala is essential to reducing instability and providing Guatemalans with the resources to establish essential services and agricultural production. Guatemala’s high poverty rate could be due to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and droughts, causing agricultural setbacks. Additionally, political instability and violence have hindered Guatemala’s otherwise decent economy. The country is still recovering from a civil war that lasted for 36 years between 1960 and 1996. Without major investments in education, health and agriculture, Guatemalans continue to live in poverty.

US Foreign Aid to Guatemala

According to the Brookings Institute, foreign aid  “aims to support security, as well as the economic, social and political development of recipient countries and their people.” The United States spends about 1% of the annual federal budget on foreign aid. Additionally, the United States is the top contributor of foreign aid to Guatemala, alongside Spain, South Korea and the European Union.

In 2022, the United States provided $117.9 million in foreign aid to Guatemala per a Congressional report. Much of that funding was dedicated to development assistance. In 2023, the United States provided $121.3 million in foreign aid to Guatemala with a focus on humanitarian needs. President Biden has requested $164.5 million in foreign aid to Guatemala for 2024, according to Congressional Research Service.

Foreign aid to Guatemala funds programs aiming to improve the livelihood of Guatemalans and reduce poverty.

World Bank Country Partnership Framework (CPF)

The World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) is a project that aims to increase human capital, resilience to natural disasters and climate change, and improve job opportunities in Guatemala. Over four years from 2024 through 2027, the World Bank’s CPF program will spend $2.5 billion to address Guatemala’s wide-ranging issues, according to the World Bank. These initiatives include infrastructure development, greater access to basic services, improved responses to natural disasters and greater access to economic opportunities in urban and rural areas.

Project Concern International (PCI) and USAID

Barrio Mio, a collaboration between Project Concern International (PCI) and USAID aims to reduce disaster risk in Guatemala by “improving urban infrastructure, housing and livelihoods.”

USAID and PCI launched a prototype of the project between 2012 and 2015 with great success. This included safeguarding homes against landslides through structural changes. The project also identifyed high-risk neighborhoods throughout Guatemala to reduce “vulnerability to crises before they happen.” In phase one alone, Barrio Mio improved nearly 3,000 shelters and provided clean water and sanitation for nearly 800 individuals.

While the first phase of Barrio Mio was launched in 2012, the project’s third phase concluded in 2020 with the expansion of the program in Guatemala City. A goal of the third phase was to increase the effectiveness of responses to urban emergencies, according to the ALNAP case study. Guatemala’s government adopted Barrio Mio’s methodology for emergency response and urban upgrading policy for communities that lacked stable infrastructure and essential services, Global Communities reports.

UN Guatemala Humanitarian Response Plan

The United Nations’ 2023 Guatemala Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) targeted 2.3 million people. The plan focused on protection, food security and nutrition. The HRP targeted four primary groups including children affected by malnutrition, Indigenous and rural families facing food insecurity, people “in situations of human mobility” and people with disabilities.

Of the 4.6 million Guatemalans facing food insecurity in 2023, the HRP targeted roughly 500,000. Additionally, under the HRP, 117 schools were refurbished, allowing over 20,000 children to attend school with “improved educational conditions.” The plan also developed health services across Guatemala.

The Takeaways

Guatemala has faced several setbacks that have negatively affected its population, including climate-related disasters, political instability and economic mismanagement. Foreign aid has greatly helped Guatemalans facing food insecurity, malnourishment and a lack of health and education services.

– Marley Wilson
Photo: Flickr

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Child Poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines

Child Poverty in Saint Vincent and GrenadinesChild poverty is prevalent on small Caribbean islands like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines where support to help with this issue is not always available. Saint Vincent and Grenadines is a small island located in the Southern Caribbean. According to 2021 UNICEF data, around 38% of children between the ages of 0 and 17 are living in poverty in the area, alongside 37% of adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19. Child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines also affects certain genders more than others. UNICEF also states that 41% of adolescents who live in women-run households live in poverty, compared to male-led households’ poverty rate which stands at 31%.

The island of Saint Vincent and Grenadines has few options for creating income causing a majority of children to fall into poverty. According to the U.N., Saint Vincent and Grenadines is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) which means it faces certain unique social and economic challenges that other countries do not face. The country has limited economic resources and is also prone to natural disasters striking the area.

Economy and Child Labor

In an area that is already very vulnerable, the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the issues surrounding child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The country went through lockdowns, which hugely affected tourism, one of the most important economic sectors in the Caribbean. In 2020, tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP declined by 67%, leaving many women unemployed.

According to UNDP, another vulnerability that the country faces is very unstable informal employment, which represents around 38% “of the entire economy and includes family businesses and self-employed owners of the businesses.”

The high levels of child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines have led to other issues within the nation, such as child labor. According to a 2021 United States Department of Labor report, children of very young ages often start to work street vending selling items like fruit and vegetables, with laws for hazardous work are not up to international standards.

Helping the Children

Despite the many hardships that child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines causes, many initiatives and groups are working to solve the problem. In 2012, UNICEF launched the Child-Friendly Schools (CFS) concept in Saint Vincent and Grenadines, introducing 13 pilot schools in the area. Child-Friendly Initiative includes many facets to help children in Saint Vincent and Grenadines, like public education and shedding light on children’s rights.

The country also joined the School Meals Coalition in 2023. The Schools Meals Collation is a program that aims to improve school nutrition and bring healthy meals to children in impoverished areas. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was one of nine new countries to join in 2023 and is the first in the Eastern Caribbean. The coalition has reached 418 million children, as of 2023.

Global Gateway Strategy

The European Commission has had great success with the Global Gateway strategy. In July 2023, it announced a global investment of €45 million to implement this plan in Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside Asia and the Pacific.

Saint Vincent and Grenadines is also working to use more sustainable practices, such as the government’s decision to move toward more nature-based tourism, including a larger focus on fisheries and ocean development. In July 2023, the World Bank provided a $30 million policy credit through the International Development Association (IDA), that is going to be used to help finance policies supporting fisheries and provide relief for any pandemic like COVID-19.

– Madison McCray
Photo: Flickr

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Unveiling Lithuania’s Foreign Aid

Lithuania’s Foreign AidIn international affairs, Lithuania may not be the foremost name that springs to mind when discussing foreign assistance. Nevertheless, this Baltic nation has quietly expanded its global outreach through foreign aid programs. Here are some noteworthy insights into Lithuania’s foreign aid efforts.

From Recipient to Provider

The United States (U.S.) and Lithuania share a longstanding history of cooperation and partnership, deeply rooted in shared values and mutual respect. Despite Lithuania’s forcible annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940, the U.S. established diplomatic relations following Lithuania’s declaration of independence in 1990. Since then, the U.S. has supported its democratic and economic growth. This partnership culminated in Lithuania’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) in 2004, underscoring the country’s steadfast commitment to democracy and international collaboration.

Since 2004, Lithuania has officially been a provider of development cooperation and became a member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2022. Lithuania’s foreign aid efforts notably promote and safeguard democratic values. It is drawing from its history of political repression during Soviet times. Lithuania emphasizes advancing Eastern Partnerships within the EU framework through channels like the EU. Additionally, it focuses on select priority countries in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, primarily focusing on digitalization initiatives.

Steady Growth of Lithuanian ODA

In 2022, Lithuania’s total Official Development Assistance (ODA) amounted to 0.29% of its Gross National Income (GNI), totaling $197 million. Compared to the previous year, this marked a substantial increase of 121.4% in real terms, with its share of GNI rising from 0.14% in 2021. This upward trajectory in Lithuania’s ODA volume has been consistent since 2017, reaching a peak in 2022. This growth primarily stems from the nation’s increase in bilateral grants to Ukraine and its expenses for hosting refugees within the country. In 2022, Lithuania ranked 21st among DAC countries based on its ODA to GNI ratio. Lithuania distinguishes itself by allocating a significant portion of its bilateral ODA to Europe, accounting for 48.2% of its total.

Furthermore, Lithuania’s experience navigating political and economic transitions and its commitment to institutional reform has positioned it as a valuable partner to the EU. Actively engaged, Lithuania leverages its expertise in the public sector to bolster reforms and capacity-building endeavors in other nations through EU-sponsored initiatives.

Current Focus Areas of Aid

In 2021, Lithuania pledged $1.3 million, accounting for 8.3% of its bilateral allocable aid, to enhance trade-related assistance and foster the integration of developing countries into the global economy. Additionally, during the same year, Lithuania allocated $0.9 million toward addressing the root causes of malnutrition in developing nations across various sectors, including maternal health, water, sanitation, hygiene and agriculture. Finally, in 2021, Lithuania dedicated $0.2 million of its bilateral aid to development cooperation projects and programs to promote the inclusion and empowerment of disabled individuals.

Lithuania’s ODA for Ukraine

Since the outbreak of the war with Russia in February 2022, Lithuania has actively engaged in supporting its neighboring country, Ukraine. The profound impact of Russia’s militarism on Lithuania’s national history and other former Soviet countries has fueled a steadfast commitment to providing foreign aid to Ukraine. The government allocated $45.8 million in gross bilateral ODA to Ukraine in response to the conflict, with $37.1 million earmarked for humanitarian assistance. The Bank of Lithuania also transferred $2198.99 to the National Bank of Ukraine for humanitarian aid. The Lithuanian government and its municipalities collectively spent 70 million euros accommodating Ukrainian refugees. Moreover, Lithuania has taken a proactive role in initiating rebuilding projects focused on restoring Ukraine’s infrastructure.

Lithuania’s ODA for COVID-19

Amid the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, international assistance for developing countries reached an estimated $165 billion.

Within this context, Lithuania, despite its relatively modest size, provided crucial bilateral support totaling $3.8 million to aid these nations in their fight against the virus. However, demonstrating a significant increase in its commitment to global solidarity a year later, Lithuania substantially bolstered its contributions, allocating a notable $1.5 million in ODA targeted explicitly for combating the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in developing countries.

Furthermore, in a gesture highlighting the urgency of vaccine equity, Lithuania participated in the global effort to address vaccine inequality by donating excess vaccine doses valued at $1.5 million as part of its ODA allocation. These actions underscore Lithuania’s evolving role in international aid efforts and its recognition of the importance of collective action in addressing global issues.

– Naomi Ronner
Photo: Flickr

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IFAD’s Plans to Transform the Rural Economy of Uganda

IFAD's Plans to Transform the Rural Economy of Uganda In 2020, reports indicated that 84% of Uganda’s population lived in rural areas, with the majority earning their livelihood through farming. Despite being the primary food producers for their nation, rural residents disproportionately face poverty. In 2022, about 30% of the rural population, approximately 10 million men, women and children, lived below the national poverty line. The rural economy of Uganda is pivotal to the nation’s overall economic health.

A continued focus on agricultural productivity is essential to sustain and accelerate Uganda’s economic growth, for a large amount of Uganda’s population agriculture is the main pathway out of poverty. The International Fund for African Development (IFAD) is dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries. IFAD plans to transform the rural economy of Uganda and involves multiple projects working to increase the income and livelihood of the rural population.

The National Oil Seed Project

The National Oil Seed Project (NSOP), which will span from 2019 to 2028, has an estimated total cost of $160.69 million, with IFAD financing $99.56 million of it. This project represents IFAD’s commitment to transforming the rural economy of Uganda by reducing oilseed and their product imports. It aims to address the domestic production shortfall of oilseeds used in making vegetable oil and other by-products.

By reducing imports, the project boosts national production to satisfy demand. It targets at least 120,000 smallholder farmers to foster rural transformation by sustainably developing the oilseed sector. Additionally, the initiative will create opportunities for private sector investment in oilseed and by-products like animal feed. This effort seeks to build a competitive oilseed industry in Uganda, significantly benefiting the rural economy.

The National Oil Palm Project

IFAD’s plan to transform the rural economy of Uganda also includes the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP). This ongoing project will run from 2018-2029 and has a total project cost of $216.2 million, with IFAD financing $77.03 million. NOPP aims to support inclusive rural transformation through strategic investment in oil palm.

Establishing an efficient oil palm industry will sustainably boost rural livelihoods through generated opportunities. The National Oil Palm Project is estimated to directly benefit 30,800 poor and vulnerable rural households. Additionally, the project aims to minimize market risks for smallholder oil palm growers by ensuring their access to investment credit, technical expertise and quality inputs.

Rural Development

Investing in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa proves up to 11 times more effective in reducing extreme poverty compared to other sectors. This effectiveness stems from small farms hiring unskilled laborers, generating income that boosts rural communities and strengthens the rural economy.

IFAD’s plans to transform Uganda’s rural economy are pivotal in alleviating poverty. Central to efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, rural development encompasses not only economic transformation but also social change and the promotion of gender equality and inclusiveness. This holistic approach aims to enhance the overall well-being of rural communities.

Looking Ahead

With initiatives like the National Oil Seed Project and the National Oil Palm Project, Uganda is on the cusp of an agricultural revolution that promises to uplift its rural population. IFAD’s targeted investments aim to transform the rural economy, fostering a sustainable pathway out of poverty for millions. In addition, these efforts, centered on enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting inclusivity, herald a brighter future for Uganda’s rural communities, driving economic growth and improving lives.

– Arabella Wood-Collins
Photo: Flickr

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Digitizing Salary Payment: Impacts of WHO’s Digital Health

Digitizing Salary PaymentThe World Health Organization (WHO) is actively working to enhance the conditions and motivation of African frontline health workers. Through digital innovation, the African health sector benefits from implementing financial technologies such as digitizing salary payment. It facilitates direct cashless income transfer to workers. They created bank accounts and digital bookkeeping collaborating with other Better Than Cash Alliance members, a partnership comprising 80 United Nations (U.N.) members.

WHO has launched this initiative in 24 African countries, digitizing salary payment for more than two million health workers. Spearheaded by WHO’s Department of Digital Health, these payments ensure African frontline health workers’ steady and timely incomes. These innovations foster a cashless society and empower women to access and participate independently in the financial system, aligning with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Cashless Payment Facilitation

Cash payments for incomes have been deemed “Unwieldy” and represent the challenges in Africa. For instance, the physical handling of cash poses security risks for workers. There is a higher likelihood of salary discrepancies if manual counting methods are not rigorous. However, digital innovation is revolutionizing the African health sector by implementing mobile money systems. These systems have significantly accelerated the pace of payments to workers, offering numerous benefits. Previously, managers bore the burden of physically storing cash at payment sites and distributing funds to disbursement sites for employees to collect their salaries. This process often involved considerable time and effort for workers. With mobile money systems, workers can receive their payments in as little as 30 minutes after completing their work, streamlining the payment process and enhancing efficiency across the board.

Between 2014 and 2021, the global proportion of adults engaging in digital payments rose by 35%, reaching 57% in Sub-Saharan Africa. This surge has played a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion in the region. The president of the World Bank Group underscores the importance of robust policies to facilitate access to formal accounts and financial services, particularly in the wake of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital Accounting

Digital innovation revolutionizes the African health sector by emphasizing digital payments, streamlining business operations and reducing cumbersome paperwork. Organizations, often managing payrolls with hundreds of employees, can now improve efficiency in payment verification and meticulous bookkeeping. Instead of manual calculations and record-keeping, systems automatically log transactions and swiftly generate precise accounting documents. However, achieving this efficiency requires comprehensive reform of the financial system as a whole within the nation. This entails innovating processes to automate manual tasks, integrating employee information seamlessly, verifying hours worked and implementing effective dispute-resolution mechanisms for payment-related issues.

Motivation Boost for Workers

Various programs have witnessed detrimental impacts on health services due to cash payments. For instance, in Côte d’Ivoire in 2019, delayed cash disbursements resulted in employee attrition and the postponement of a polio immunization project. Additionally, researchers identified disruptions in immunization patterns among recipients attributed to a lack of incentives for frontline health workers, including door-to-door vaccinators and campaign organizers.

According to the WHO, delayed and incomplete payments adversely affect the morale and satisfaction of frontline workers, leading to decreased motivation and challenges in retaining health campaign workers. However, digital innovation is transforming the African health sector. Through the World Health Organization’s Mobile Money digital payment system for health campaign workers, 99% of workers engaged in the polio immunization campaign in Mali and Ghana were paid on time, resulting in improved retention rates and successful program delivery across multiple districts.

Furthermore, the gender wage gap has narrowed as women gain greater autonomy and privacy over their financial affairs through advancements in digital finance. This progress promotes financial empowerment for women and fosters greater economic independence. Furthermore, digital innovation significantly enhances health care in Africa by improving the effectiveness and retention of health workers. These advancements yield notable results in critical health initiatives, such as immunization programs, ultimately contributing to improved health care outcomes across the continent.

– Tevin Mundo
Photo: Unsplash

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Educate Girls’ Drive for Education Equality in India

Educate GirlsWith the persistence of socioeconomic disparities, Educate Girls has decided to fight for education equality across India’s rural populations. This nonprofit organization, was founded with a vision to bridge the gender gap in education. It works hand in hand with the government, communities and a dedicated team of volunteers known as “Team Balika.” Educate Girls is committed to ensuring that every girl, even in the remotest parts of India, has access to primary schooling and receives a quality education.

The Genesis of Educate Girls

Educate Girls was established in 2007 by Safeena Husain to address the stark gender disparities prevalent in India’s education system. Husain was inspired by the belief that educating girls positively impacts families, communities and the nation. This has led the initiative to take its place among strong global organizations. Husain created the organization to stand out from other foundations. He added that “while there are other credible nonprofits in India and globally that are doing credible work for girls’ education, our program model and approach are entirely different. Educate Girls perhaps is the only NGO that has systemic reform as its program model.”

Educate Girls has enrolled more than 1.4 million young girls in school. All this while encouraging 18.6 million children to gain an education through the Indian government’s education system. Over the years, the organization has collaborated with more than 21,000 gender champions in various disparaged villages. The team has worked in more than 24,000 villages in numerous Indian states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Using the government’s education funding, Educate Girls’ team members identify girls who cannot receive an education and help enroll them in community schooling to gain basic literacy skills.

Team Balika – The Force of Change

At the heart of Educate Girls’ operations lies Team Balika, a network of community and village-based volunteers. They passionately work towards the organization’s goals. These volunteers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to engage with families, schools and local authorities, acting as catalysts for change. Team Balika fosters community involvement and ensures the transformation is sustainable and ingrained in the social fabric.

Development Impact Bonds

Development Impact Bonds were a product of Educate Girls’ partnership with UBS Optimus Foundation and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. The project, launched in 2015, links monetary funds to tangible results, offering an innovative investment approach backed by evidence of outcomes. Under Husain’s leadership, the team agreed to improve literacy and numeracy and school enrollment rates among girls aged 7 to 14 in Bhilwara, Rajasthan.

Based on Educate Girls’ success rate, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) would pay the organization’s funders $270,000 in addition to extra returns. Over three years, Educate Girls surpassed both target goals, achieving 160% of its learning and 116% of its enrollment targets. Education levels for students studying in program schooling increased by 79%, with 768 young girls enrolled.

Project Pragati

In India, 66 million girls aged 15 to 25 are at risk of never pursuing an education beyond 8th grade. A host of factors hinder many girls’ education past a certain age. These include child marriage, early motherhood, poverty and lack of access to higher education. Project Pragati aims to build pathways for girls to complete at least a 10th-grade education to push towards employment, job training or university education.

Geetika Tondon, Project Pragati’s leader, builds upon the girls’ agency to make their own decisions, stating that “we do this by enabling access to quality education through open schools and by connecting them to skilling and livelihood opportunities. We conduct learning camps in the villages at the doorstep of the girls.” Camps provide exam preparation and a safe space for girls to be themselves while aspiring for more than a traditional role.

Collaborations and Future Endeavors

Educate Girls aligns its efforts with various government initiatives and programs, seamlessly integrating its strategies with existing frameworks. The organization maximizes its reach and effectiveness by leveraging the strengths of both nonprofit and governmental sectors. India, with one of the highest poverty rates globally, presents unique challenges to education equality.

Educate Girls navigates through these hurdles by employing a multi-pronged approach. This includes community mobilization, awareness campaigns and innovative teaching methods to make education more accessible and appealing to girls. As the program continues to break barriers and transform lives, its impact resonates far beyond the boundaries of the classroom, creating a ripple effect that reverberates through generations.

– Megha Gupta
Photo: Flickr

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How LFAM is Helping in Liberia

How Life for African Mothers (LFAM) is Helping in LiberiaMaternal mortality rates in Liberia exceed regional averages, significantly impacting infant survival. Yet, recent years have seen a decline in these rates, from an average of 777 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 652 births in 2020. An initiative like Life for African Mothers (LFAM) is helping Liberia contribute to this positive trend by providing crucial support for mothers in the country.

Challenges for Midwives

Midwives in Sub-Saharan Africa face severe challenges due to outdated equipment, lack of training and insufficient drugs. They struggle without the necessary tools and knowledge to save mothers’ lives during pregnancy and childbirth complications. This is where the vital support of nongovernmental organizations like LFAM becomes crucial in reducing maternal mortality rates and impacting the lives of both midwives and mothers positively.

Life for African Mothers

Since 2005, LFAM, a United Kingdom (U.K.)-based nongovernmental health organization, has been saving the lives of mothers and babies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Angela Gorman, a neonatal nurse, founded LFAM to address the region’s high maternal mortality rates. LFAM achieves its mission through various means, including distributing medication to prevent post-partum hemorrhage and conducting skill-sharing workshops to provide essential training to hundreds of midwives.

In 2007, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) partnered with LFAM to support Liberia in reducing its high maternal mortality rate. Since then, LFAM has actively collaborated with four hospitals in Liberia, conducting clinical skills-sharing workshops and distributing medication to address the critical situation.

LFAM’s Impact on Liberian Communities

LFAM is helping in Liberia by training midwives and distributing maternal medication across multiple counties in Liberia. Furthermore, it has enhanced maternal health in Liberia by distributing more than $250,000 worth of medication at no cost. LFAM stands as the exclusive provider in Liberia of Misoprostol, a drug to prevent hemorrhaging. Pharmaceutical companies in the U.K. donate much of the medication with the stipulation that it be distributed free of charge.

Furthermore, LFAM collaborates with charities like IHP and Muntada Aid to secure medicine donations and finance midwifery trips. By supplying medications for childbirth complications, LFAM supports hospitals and health centers across Liberia, significantly reducing maternal mortality rates. Additionally, LFAM distributes infant clothing to underprivileged mothers. As of January 2023, it was noted that since 2016, LFAM has trained more than 500 traditional and medical midwives throughout Liberia.

LFAM facilitates visits to Liberia by clinical staff to share clinical experiences and provide additional resources to hospitals and communities. Overall LFAM is helping in Liberia, making significant contributions to maternal health care and helping lower the maternal mortality rate.

Looking Forward

The remarkable efforts of LFAM in Liberia are paving the way for a future where maternal mortality is not a foregone conclusion but a challenge to overcome. Through training midwives, distributing essential medications and fostering international partnerships, LFAM is crafting a legacy of improved health care for mothers and their infants. Moreover, this trajectory of progress promises not only healthier futures for families in Liberia but also serves as a beacon of hope for similar communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.

– Arabella Wood-Collins
Photo: Unsplash

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Save the Children and Princess Anne’s Charity Efforts

Save the Children and Princess Anne's Charity EffortsHer Royal Highness (HRH) the Princess Royal, accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, visited Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking the 75th Anniversary of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom (U.K.). As Patron of the Save the Children Foundation, HRH Princess Anne’s charity efforts included a visit to the organization’s main office, where she unveiled a plaque commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Save the Children working in Sri Lanka. In addition, HRH took part in the tradition of lighting a ceremonial oil lamp symbolizing hope and prosperity.

Long-standing Commitment to Child Welfare

During the last 50 years, The Princess Royal’s work with Save the Children has gained a great deal of insight concerning the needs of children throughout the world. Having served as President since 1970, HRH became the Patron of Save the Children in 2017. The Princess Royal devotes time to visiting Save the Children’s projects, overseas and in the U.K. Princess Anne also serves as patron or president to more than 300 organizations including WISE, Riders for Health and Carers Trust. Countries included in her trips include Uganda, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina. HRH’s work centers on health, sports, people with disabilities and science in developing countries.

Initiatives and Innovations in Pediatric Care in Sri Lanka

HRH visited Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for Children in Colombo, the largest pediatric hospital in Sri Lanka that serves more than 340,000 patients annually without charge. Princess Anne witnessed innovative health care approaches from Kangaroo Care to Little Hearts during her visit. She engaged in discussions with pediatric consultants and Save the Children’s child protection experts about the organization’s support for children affected by the dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis. Save the Children has focused on identifying vulnerable children in need of support for their physical, social and emotional well-being.

Kangaroo Care (KC) is a successful practice of using skin-to-skin contact between infant and parent. In developing countries, KC for low-birthweight infants reduces mortality, severe illness, infection and length of hospital stay. KC is also beneficial for preterm infants in high-income countries.

Little Hearts, a government-approved national fundraising project exceeding 2 billion, to build a 12-story cardiac and critical care wing expanding Lady Ridgway Hospital’s capacity to serve. In Sri Lanka, congenital heart disease is the leading cause of infant mortality, with 10 out of 1,000 infants dying before their first birthday.

Future Goals and Achievements of Save the Children

In 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Rooted in Eglantyne Jebb’s initial declaration, this convention now stands as the most universally accepted human rights treaty in history.

In 2024, with the support of donations, volunteers and ambassadors such as Jennifer Garner, Enrique Iglesias and Ms. Rachel, along with Patron Princess Anne, Save the Children aims to increase vaccination coverage in 15 countries, enhance the quality of programming and health equity actions in at least 10 countries and support 15 million children, adolescents and mothers across 15 countries in preventing and treating malnutrition.

Looking Ahead

Sri Lanka Country Director of Save the Children, Julian Chellappah stated “As Save the Children marks its 50th anniversary of operating in Sri Lanka, we couldn’t be more thrilled that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has chosen to return here to witness first-hand our life-changing work – and see something of the impact we’ve had over the past 50 years. Her presence is vital to raising awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable children and their families here.”

Looking forward, Save the Children is poised to continue its vital work, inspired by the support and recognition that such high-profile visits bring, including Princess Anne’s charity efforts, driving further progress in the years to come.

– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Unsplash