Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Speaking Books: A Dynamic Educational Antidote

Speaking BooksIn 2004, serial entrepreneur and mental health care practitioner Zane Maureen Wilson was scrolling through the headlines of the infamous international business newspaper, “Wall Street Journal.” As she was browsing, a unique story caught her attention. The story was about a talking book designed to provide health care education in Afghanistan. However, as she sifted deeper into the details, she discovered that each of these books cost $62.50, which was unaffordable for many Afghan families. Inspired by the article, Wilson launched the company Speaking Books in 2005. The company provides free audiobooks on health care to illiterate and struggling communities across the globe.

Wilson’s Eventful Journey

In 1969, Wilson embarked on her entrepreneurial odyssey when she moved to South Africa from her hometown in Lincolnshire, England. First, she introduced Top Girl, the first-ever female executive placement agency in South Africa. This business quickly skyrocketed and in 1975, she sold it. In 1994, she launched the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), which became Africa’s most recognized mental health initiative. However, as a hectic entrepreneur, Wilson encountered many panic attacks, which expeditiously escalated into an undiagnosed acute panic disorder. Wilson explained these attacks as, “They can be very unpleasant. I was feeling acutely suicidal in some stages.”

Nonetheless, her biggest concern of all was that she was not able to find a support system. At the time, South Africa was not exactly the country that welcomed people with mental illnesses with open arms. According to a SADAG study, 1 in every 6 South Africans faces mental health conditions. Consequently, around 22 South Africans commit suicide daily and 10 times this amount attempt it. Witnessing this problem first-hand, Wilson transformed SADAG into a support structure for both urban and rural underprivileged South Africans facing mental health diseases. Since then, the SADAG has formed more than 180 support groups and assisted 45,000 patients. Additionally, it operates a 16-line counseling and referral call center and spreads awareness of mental health issues.

Another booming issue in South Africa is teen suicide rates. Statistics show that 17.8% of teenagers in South Africa have attempted to commit suicide in 2011. The SADAG also tackles this problem by connecting with South African high schools and teenagers. Although Wilson experienced immense success through SADAG, she arguably made her most eminent impact through her next venture, Speaking Books, addressing a global solicitude.

A Global Predicament

In this modern day and age, reading is a superpower crucial to thrive. Words and letters are present ubiquitously everywhere. From guiding to self-security, reading offers many benefits, including providing the opportunity to interpret and extract information about the external world. However, 785 million people globally are unable to read. In other words, 1 in every 5 people are illiterate and two-thirds of illiterate people are women.

This inability prevents these people from accessing and comprehending many imperatives such as health care, education and job opportunities. Furthermore, people with low or no literacy abilities tend to face more diseases and adversities like poverty and have low life expectancy rates. As illiterate families expand and parents give birth to offspring, they may be unable to prevent or hinder the incessant cycle of growing illiteracy in the world. On the bright side, Speaking Books presents a simple yet potent solution to this evolving problem.

Speaking Books

Speaking books are an “edutainment tool” providing illiterate and low literacy families and homes with access to audiobooks typically spoken by local celebrities on global necessities, primarily health care. In addition, it targets mental health issues like depression, suicide, bipolar, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS and provides awareness as well as disease education. Each book utilizes the latest sound chip technology to provide a soundtrack spoken in a local language.

The books consist of 16 pages filled with flamboyant illustrations and easy-to-understand text. These multilingual learning tools are also tailor-designed for different countries and cultures. Most of all, it is affordable to low-income communities and families and interpreted by anyone despite their reading ability.

In 2005, the first and second speaking books were released at the Global Health Conference in Washington, D.C. After encountering success, Speaking Books expanded by supporting global health organizations such as The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children. It grew from a once South African solution to a global resolution, reaching 35 other developing countries. Speaking Books has launched more than 200,000 books on 100 topics in 40 languages.

– Sai Sidharth Kanyaboena
Photo: Flickr

Agriculture and Poverty in Mozambique

Poverty in MozambiqueMozambique is currently one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 181 out of 189 on the Human Development Index. Like many African countries, Mozambique’s political unrest and internal conflict stopped it from reaching long-term economic stability, contributing to the pervasive challenges of poverty. Additionally, repeated cyclones in the region destroyed infrastructure and efforts to rebuild. However, due to its coastal location, rich natural resources and biological and cultural diversity, Mozambique has had an important role in the maritime economy of the Indian Ocean. It has made progress economically since its independence, “with an annual GDP growth rate above 7% in the last five years.”

Political Context of Mozambique

A former Portuguese colony to whom it provided many agricultural products, Mozambique gained its independence in 1975 but quickly plunged into civil war afterward. The new government, under President Samora Machel, established a one-state party based on Marxist principles, receiving some military and diplomatic support from Cuba and the Soviet Union. Internal conflicts tore Mozambique as it “battled anticommunist forces funded by South Africa and the former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, for control of the country,” according to Britannica. This resulted in the displacement and death of many, and in turn, hindered economic development and discouraged foreign aid. “Despite having one of the fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa from 2000 to 2015, job creation, poverty reduction and human capital accumulation are still issues in the country,” according to the World Bank.

Poverty, Natural Disasters and Disabilities Mozambique

Of the 27 million people living in Mozambique, 60% live in poverty and more than 70% live in rural areas where access to basic resources is scarce, according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Farmers and fishers generally make enough to sustain their households, but incomes are limited. The agricultural sector represents 85% of people’s incomes and there is little opportunity outside of it, with the remaining 15% working in industry and services. Poverty is highly concentrated in these rural areas, creating a large divide between the rich and poor.

Natural disasters such as droughts, floods and cyclones have affected the country, especially in recent years. In 2019, tropical cyclone Idai caused catastrophic damage and created a humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The cyclone killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed around 100,000 homes. Since then, tropical cyclone Eloise and tropical storm Chalane have hit the same areas causing further damage to rebuilding progress since 2019.

According to a 2017 census, 2.6% of the population in Mozambique lives with a disability. According to UNICEF, 14% of children between the ages of 2 and 9 live with a disability and often experience discrimination at school and their everyday lives, such as their own families hiding them.

Solutions to Poverty in Mozambique

The agricultural sector remains the key to moving people out of poverty. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) study found that “a 1% growth in the agriculture GDP results in a 2.6% reduction in poverty, compared to 1% overall GDP growth resulting in only 0.25% reduction in poverty.”

While farming is the main source of income for the majority of those living in Mozambique, there is low productivity due to farmers still relying on traditional farming techniques, according to IFAD.

In Mozambique, IFAD “to integrate small-scale producers into profitable and accessible markets,” according to its website. Its result-based strategic networks focus on “improving access of smallholder farmers and artisanal fishers to technologies and services that increase productivity; increasing participation in markets for an equitable share of profits; and increasing access to sustainable financial services in rural areas.”

Similarly, USAID’s Feed the Future Mozambique Promoting Innovative and Resilient Agriculture Market Systems activity focuses on increasing agricultural-based income and market competitiveness to promote economic growth along the Nacala corridor of Northern Mozambique, according to its website.

Action on Poverty trained more than 600 farmers, 60% of whom are women, on how to grow sweet potatoes to increase nutrition. Additionally, it connects smaller farmers with local markets to earn more income, according to its website.

Looking Ahead

Mozambique’s rich resources and economic structure are inextricably linked. The 2023 IGM Annual Conference hosted in Maputo, Mozambique, brings hope to the future of inclusive growth and development and bridging the gap between the needy and the fortunate. Innovations in agriculture and market accessibility are key to promoting economic growth and stability, in turn lowering poverty.

– Elisenne Stoller
Photo: Flickr

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The Sanctuary Scholarship and Poverty Alleviation in Iraq

Sanctuary ScholarshipThe Sanctuary Scholarship program at the University of Exeter is actively contributing to poverty alleviation, particularly for individuals from Iraq seeking asylum or refugee status. This initiative, geared towards eliminating financial barriers to education, not only facilitates access to top-tier academic opportunities but also empowers recipients to play a crucial role in addressing poverty-related challenges in their home country.

Empowering Through Education

The Sanctuary Scholarship program at the University of Exeter is pivotal in empowering individuals facing asylum or refugee challenges and addressing persistent issues in Iraqi education. Despite advancements, numerous challenges persist, including limited access to basic education and high dropout rates, particularly among children from the poorest quintile, constituting 38% of all school dropouts. The program covers a broad range of academic disciplines, encompassing full-time undergraduate and doctoral programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. This comprehensive approach enables scholars from Iraq to pursue their academic passions, contributing to vital fields essential for their home country’s holistic development.

The initiative tackles these issues by providing valuable educational opportunities, contributing to poverty alleviation and empowering individuals to shape a brighter future for Iraq. The program equips recipients with essential knowledge and skills for meaningful contributions to Iraq’s socioeconomic development by imparting education. The significant disparity in global rankings between the University of Exeter (143rd) and Iraq’s leading university, the University of Technology Iraq (801-1000th), underscores the impactful role of international educational support in addressing educational disparities and fostering positive change.

Addressing Financial Barriers

The Sanctuary Scholarship significantly aids in poverty alleviation by addressing financial barriers hindering access to higher education, particularly evident in Iraq’s declining gross national income per capita, reducing from $5,940 in 2012 to $5,270 by 2022. Recipients, including those from Iraq, benefit from a full tuition fee waiver for undergraduate and doctoral programs. Additionally, living cost grants and supplementary bursaries ease the financial burden of pursuing a degree, enabling scholars to concentrate on their studies without the strain of economic constraints.

Building Future Leaders

The Sanctuary Scholarship program at the University of Exeter catalyzes developing future leaders in Iraq through strategic investments in education. With unemployment in Iraq nearly doubling from 7.96% in 2012 to 15.55% in 2022, the program plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge. Iraqi scholars benefiting from the initiative gain exposure to a global learning environment, engaging with diverse perspectives, innovative research and valuable networking opportunities. This international exposure equips them with essential skills to drive positive change and tackle the multifaceted challenges of poverty upon their return to Iraq.

Simultaneously, Iraq’s middle class has dwindled from 61% in 2007 to 30% in 2020, accompanied by rising poverty levels, impacting the country’s stability, fueling extremism and heightening ethnic and sectarian tensions. The Sanctuary Scholarship program actively counters these trends by fostering international collaboration among students from diverse backgrounds. This collaborative environment is a unique platform for Iraqi scholars to build global connections, leveraging them for collaborative efforts in poverty alleviation and sustainable development in Iraq.

Conclusion

The Sanctuary Scholarship at the University of Exeter stands as a beacon of hope for individuals from Iraq seeking refuge. This program empowers scholars to become agents of change in the fight against poverty by dismantling financial barriers and providing a world-class education. As recipients return to Iraq armed with knowledge, skills and a global perspective, the impact of the Sanctuary Scholarship resonates not only within the individual lives it transforms but also in the broader context of contributing to a more prosperous and equitable future for Iraq.

– Madeleine Norris
Photo: Flickr

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Rainwater Harvesting in Papua New Guinea

Rainwater Harvesting in Papua New GuineaAccess to clean water from a tap is a luxury that many people around the world take for granted every day. However, for millions, having easy access to drinking water remains a distant luxury. Making clean water sources available is a critical global priority, driving the creation and adoption of innovative technologies to supply water. This urgency has spurred the adoption of rainwater harvesting in Papua New Guinea, a technique for collecting fresh water that has the potential to transform lives globally. This method not only provides essential water but also represents a sustainable solution to water scarcity challenges.

The State of Earth’s Water

Water, essential for human life, is a basic need for survival. Despite 71% of the Earth’s surface being covered by water, water scarcity is a present reality, not a future problem, for many worldwide. Despite the large bodies of water on Earth, a mere 3% of water on Earth is fresh water. Even more startling, is that this statistic includes water inaccessible to humans, such as fresh water in the form of glaciers, icecaps, permafrost and water trapped deep within the Earth’s layers. With all of these barriers to freshwater access, it leaves humans with around 1-1.2% of the world’s water supply to supplement drinking water.

As the global population surpasses 8 billion, the quest for sustainable water sources becomes critical. This has led to innovative solutions like rainwater harvesting, a method that collects rain for various uses, demonstrating a practical approach to addressing the freshwater challenge.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, a nation on Oceania’s continent, consists of a mainland and numerous islands. Its surrounding waters and significant biodiversity rank it among Earth’s most geographically diverse locations. Nearly ten million people call Papua New Guinea home, with most living in the highlands and rural areas.

Living in rural areas largely contributes to water insecurity, with estimates indicating that only 40% of Papua New Guinea’s population can access safe water sources. This percentage reflects not only the individuals lacking access to clean drinking water but also those without proper sanitation facilities.

In Papua New Guinea, women and girls usually bear the responsibility of collecting water for their families, undertaking dangerous walks across rugged terrain. They carry thirty-pound jugs of water home in scorching temperatures. Waiting for nightfall might offer cooler temperatures, but it also increases the risk of exposure to violence. Despite the grueling journey that can take hours, they must fetch water for bathing, drinking, or even hospital visits.

Rainwater Harvesting in Papua New Guinea

To address these and other problems associated with water collection, rainwater harvesting is gaining popularity. It enables people to collect rainwater, creating a freshwater source right at their homes. Additionally, rainwater harvesting benefits the environment by reducing runoff, which in turn lessens erosion and contamination of other water sources typically resulting from standard rainfall.

Rainwater harvesting is transforming life for entire communities in Papua New Guinea. Individuals or families can implement it by channeling water from their rooftops into a collection system. With most people living outside urban areas, this method significantly reduces the need to walk long distances for fresh water. It also ensures that community resources like schools and hospitals have access to clean water, allowing them to operate in a higher-quality environment.

In the settlement of Kunu, implementing a rainwater harvesting system brought water to the community and completely changed the way of life for its residents. Before this, water for bathing, drinking, cleaning or any task that required water necessitated a three-hour walk in each direction. The women and children of the settlement responsible for this task would expose themselves to not only a physically difficult journey but one filled with potential for danger and violence.

To provide clean water access within Kunu, 14 water tanks holding 9,000 liters each were placed throughout the settlement, providing people with access to water in a way they have never had before. Residents of the settlement now have the ability to access water outside of their homes, without the risk of violence or victimization, something to be celebrated around the world. Rainwater harvesting in Papua New Guinea has continued to reach other settlements and hopefully, other settlements like Kunu will eventually have access to water through this system as well.

The Future of Fresh Water Access

The success of this project on a grand scale highlights the immense potential of rainwater harvesting to transform lives not only in Papua New Guinea but globally. In places like Kunu, reliable access to water has ushered in a joyous new way of life. Families no longer worry about the safety of their daughters and mothers and clean drinking water is now seen not as a privilege but as a fundamental human right. This shift marks a significant step toward ensuring that everyone enjoys the basic necessities of life, setting a precedent for similar initiatives worldwide.

– Alexandra Straumann
Photo: Unsplash

Community fridges: Feeding The Globe

Community fridgesCommunity fridges have taken the U.S. by storm. Following the lifting of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, the concept of community fridges was put into action nationwide. Community fridges are a concept where the community can come together and share food. Not only does this help solve the issue of hunger in the community, but also of food waste. Those with extra food, leftovers, donations, etc., can drop food off in the fridge/on the shelves and those in need can stop by to “shop.” The whole concept is free and the idea is that it is fully self-functioning. The U.S., however, is not the only, nor the first, country using this idea to invest in its community. Community fridges are found all over the globe. The following is a list of three different organizations facilitating these community programs.

Feeding India: Happy Fridges

Feeding India, a Delhi-based Nongovernmental Organization (NGO), is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of its community. The initiative’s mission extends beyond alleviating hunger to actively addressing and improving issues of malnutrition in India. Although “Happy Fridges” are just one small part of what this organization does, the organization is in charge of more than 500 fridges throughout more than 100 cities in India. These fridges reportedly help to provide anywhere from 1,500 to 20,000 meals a month for hungry people. The organization is also committed to environmental consciousness, discouraging the storage of food in plastic containers within their community fridges.

Fridge Restock Community SG

The Fridge Restock Community SG was an initiative started by Daniel Yap, an owner of a grocery store in Little India, Singapore. Upon finding two individuals going through his garbage bins one day in search of thrown-out vegetables to be “rescued.” These individuals were “freegans,” seeking edible food waste to reduce global levels of waste. Upon this encounter, Yap decided to educate himself on food waste and figure out what he could do to help eliminate it.

This launched his idea for the Fridge Restock Community, which began in 2018. The group collects what they call “ugly vegetables” or those that are unsellable and distributes them to community fridges throughout Singapore. Initially, they focused their collection on Yap’s store, but the initiative has grown to rescue food from wholesale centers. Currently, they distribute to more than 14 fridges in the community, meeting with 50+ volunteers to provide weekly distributions. In 2022, the group rescued more than 301 tons of produce from the trash and redistributed it to the fridges.

Freedge

Freedge is an organization working globally to mobilize people towards creating their community fridges. The mission behind the organization is to “promote equal access to healthy food” and “reduce food insecurity and food waste, building a stronger community.” The freedge team has installed more than 30 fridges in parts of the U.S., Brazil and Slovakia.

Additionally, Freedge offers a wealth of resources for individuals in need. Their website features a global map showcasing all the free fridges in various communities worldwide, including those established by other organizations or individuals. This serves as a valuable resource for those seeking access to free food. The organization also provides detailed information on starting up one’s own free fridge through a dedicated webpage.

– Sophia Lovell
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Ending period poverty in Low-Income Countries

Ending Period PovertyEvery month, 1.9 billion women experience menstruation, yet more than 500 million of them lack financial stability or access to both period products and food. Furthermore, among those who can, a large proportion report missing education, physical activity or other extracurricular activities due to menstruation. Health, self-esteem and social mobility are not only influenced by economic opportunities but also significantly impacted by issues like period poverty. The World Bank defines period poverty as “a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management and education.”

Rita Jalali, a CAS professor, states that “research has shown that period poverty exacts a heavy toll on education, income and physical and mental health, even in wealthier countries. The use of unhygienic materials can become a risk factor for infection and a lack of menstrual-friendly toilets at workplaces can increase absenteeism.” Improving access to quality menstrual health and hygiene services worldwide is a crucial step toward advancing gender equality by addressing and combating period poverty. That said, here are three low-income countries working toward ending period poverty.

Kenya

One study found that 95% of Kenyan school girls experiencing menstruation miss one to three school days per menstruation cycle. Despite the Kenyan Government’s removal of value-added tax (VAT) on period products and making other policy changes, the price reduction was minimal, offering limited relief to those facing economic challenges, the price reduction was minimal, offering limited relief to those facing economic challenges.

To address this, the Kenyan Government, in 2020, launched the National Menstrual Hygiene Management Policy (2019-2030). The policy provides a map to ensure that individuals experiencing menstruation have access to the information, products, services, facilities and disposal methods they need.

Mozambique

In 2019, Mozambique launched the Urban Sanitation Project, a marketing and hygiene promotion campaign to improve menstrual health and hygiene for girls and women in the country. Interventions in schools and education centers are also among the objectives of this project. As of May 3, 2023, the Urban Sanitation Project has made substantial progress, achieving key end goals ahead of its June 2025 deadline:

  1. More than 97,000 students were provided with access to improved school sanitation facilities.
  2. Five cities gained an operational sanitation entity compliant with the Government regulatory framework.
  3. Five municipal bylaws were approved and published.

Ghana

Ghana launched the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project in 2013. This initiative involved an in-depth qualitative study with the specific goal of understanding the impacts of menstrual health interventions in schools on the educational engagement of adolescent girls.

With major goals ending in December 2024, several goals have been achieved, with further goals well on their way to being fulfilled. One successful goal of particular interest in ending period poverty is the 261,922 females trained to improve hygiene behavior and sanitation practices, surpassing the goal of 260,000.

– Charlotte Campion
Photo: Pxhere

Mental Health in Tuvalu

Mental Health in TuvaluThe South Pacific island of Tuvalu stands as one of the most remote nations on the planet. The population of 11,000 has faced many challenges due to their remoteness and economic struggles, such as changing weather patterns and lack of access to resources to improve the quality of life for its people.

Threats of Isolation

A current and life-threatening issue for Tuvalu and its government in recent years has been the with impending effects of the weather changing patterns. Surrounded by nothing but the roaring sea, the worsening elements slowly rip Tuvalu apart. A study highlighted the direct links between weather issues and mental health, as a result of people fear toward the issue. The impact of such stress can cause an increase in heightened cases of psychological distress and increased rates of psychiatric disorder, alongside issues such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and alcohol abuse.

Lack of Access to Mental Health Care

Although direct informative links detail mental health statistics, there is limited knowledge and support for islanders affected by various mental health issues. Although laws exist protecting those suffering from mental health, medical support nears nothing. No mental health hospitals stand on the island, nor do mental health nurses or psychiatrists assist those suffering. The remoteness of the Island heavily contributes to the lack of resources. There is a great lack of nurses and doctors, specifically zero mental health nurses and psychiatrists to treat and administer help for mental health issues for the 11,000-strong population.

The rates of mental health issues in Tuvalu compared to other nations appear relatively low. The lack of support and medical financing likely causes lower rates of mental health conditions. For depressive rates, 3.1% of the population has received a diagnosis with depressive disorders as of 2015, a stark difference from a nation such as Australia which sits at 5.9%, a nation with much more support for those with mental health issues. Although no direct links seem to exist between mental health and poverty, the two fail to assist each other well. If the people struggle, the country continues to struggle. Due to the small size of Tuvalu, there is a risk of those with mental health issues being forgotten about, as there is a lack of resources to help them.

Mental Health and Poverty

Various studies have shown that there is a clear relationship between mental health and poverty; with there being various reasons pertaining to why, such as depression and anxiety being the most common. Due to Tuvalu’s geographical location, natural disasters heavily affect it. Due to the remoteness of Tuvalu, there is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding poverty and issues such as homelessness which is a contributing factor to mental health across the globe. However, some research suggests there is a strong correlation between these two issues.

Financial Aid for Tuvalu

Despite the harsh, current conditions that Tuvaluans are experiencing, largely related to a change in the weather patterns, in 2021, The World Bank directors approved a $17.5 million commitment which would give Tuvalu greater and important access to essential resources, which may alleviate mental stresses due to changing weather. The money also aims to improve access to education for the children of Tuvalu, specifically children with disabilities. Additionally, the aid will help improve public health, funding it appropriately.

New Zealand has a long friendship with Tuvalu, assisting it and its economy in many ways; particularly through trading and hopefully the help will allow Tuvalu to further thrive. The combined efforts of the Tuvaluan government, organizations and countries alike are slowly relieving the strain on the economy and may help address mental health challenges as well.

Initiative to Address Mental Health

Alongside the financial assistance, the nation has received $15 million in grants to fund its health service. The money largely aims to improve general health services but will also assist those who suffer from mental health issues in Tuvalu. The grant could allow the nation to build a new ward in the capital’s hospital and from that, possess the ability to help hundreds more people. Mental health issues are often worsened through general suffering, disease and stress. Hopefully, the financial support can alleviate these issues.

– Lily Thornhill
Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Innovations in Zambia

Poverty InnovationsZambia, a landlocked, sparsely populated country, defines “the poor” as members of society who cannot afford basic human needs based on their entire income and, therefore, experience consequences such as food insecurity. There have been several innovations in eradicating this poverty in recent years.

The Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP)

ZATP is an initiative with a focus on enhancing Zambia’s economy. This project provides financial aid through grants and business development services to make the country’s small-scale agriculture more competitive. It also aims to encourage partnerships between farmers and buyers. This allows smallholder farmers to have access to much larger markets. As of September 2023, the project has supported 98,000 beneficiaries directly, thus helping to eradicate poverty.

Availability of Safe Water and Sanitation

Out of Zambia’s population (19.6 million), 32% lack access to basic water services and 53% lack access to basic sanitation services. Hence, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) investments aim to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. This is part of an initiative called “The First 1,000 Most Critical Days Program”, referring to the first 1,000 days of life after birth, where access to water and sanitation is most vital for physical and mental development. USAID supports the research of this project, providing financial aid to water supply and sanitation companies to improve the efficiency of their delivery and the extent of their reach as an initiative towards poverty eradication in Zambia.

Benefitting Girls and Women

The Girls’ Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods Project (GEWEL) promotes societal inclusion for women. It has received trust fund grants from Irish Aid, the U.K.’s Foreign, Common and Development Office and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The second phase of the project runs from 2020 to 2024 and has, thus far, benefitted 75,000 women in 51 Zambian districts, providing them with life and business skills as well as a cash grant. Additionally, GEWEL will expand bursary coverage from 14,000 girls in 27 districts to 43,000 girls in 39 districts to provide girls with access to secondary education, helping to set up the future of Zambia’s fight against poverty.

Household Energy Usage

The Zambian government, with the aid of the World Bank, introduced initiatives to improve access to electricity across the nation. The Electricity Service Access Project (ESAP) has been active since June 2018 and has been operational since June 2018 and is slated to continue for five years. The ESAP aims to benefit 22,000 low-income households and 1,000 rural Small Enterprises by subsidizing the cost of grid connection. As of January 10, 2022, the ESAP successfully connected 40,346 beneficiaries, helping to aid poverty innovations.

The Power Africa project, funded by USAID, increases access to clean energy sources in rural areas. Zambia often experiences national power blackouts because 85% of electricity comes from hydropower, which is often impacted by droughts and flooding. As a result, the Government of Zambia has set a goal of universal electricity access for all Zambians by 2030. Therefore, Power Africa encourages investment in other energy sectors, for instance, solar energy use in health clinics. This initiative has aided the development of 208 megawatts of electricity generation projects in the nation.

Health Care

The Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project was established as a regional center to help those suffering from occupational lung diseases. The project supports laboratories in meeting regional procedure standards, thereby improving the efficiency of monitoring Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. The project also gives case notifications, which have been particularly vital in recent years, when tuberculosis case notifications rose from 27,700 to 29,700 per year (2021) in targeted geographical locations.

Zambia’s poverty innovations have also focused on eradicating undernutrition, which is responsible for 20% of maternal deaths and 45% of child deaths. With support from USAID, the 1,000 Most Critical Days Project aims to advocate the importance of good nutrition and integrate food security and economic growth into all community activities. This program has made vital progress in health and nutrition, as well as supporting the production and consumption of food, which provides nutrition in all of the 42 districts of Zambia.

– Eva McMonigle
Photo: Flickr

WHO’s Health Emergency Appeal 2024

Health Emergency AppealThe World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its Health Emergency Appeal for 2024 to raise funds to address severe humanitarian crises sparked by armed conflict and the changing climate. The WHO aims to raise $1.5 billion through the appeal. These funds will be utilized to respond to 15 Grade 3 (maximal WHO response) emergencies around the globe.

Threats posed, like outbreaks of infectious diseases, have left almost 300 million people in need of humanitarian protection globally. The appeal acknowledges that a lack of access to medical care places an economic burden on individuals during medical crises, perpetuating poverty. As a result, the appeal extends its consideration to people worldwide who require humanitarian care in general.

Decreasing Humanitarian Funding Around the Globe

Humanitarian care across the globe has been vastly underfunded in recent years. It reached its lowest point in 2023 when health cluster partners received only 12% of the funding they appealed for. According to WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, inaction by member states has put millions of lives at risk in the long term.

WHO’s Health Emergency Appeal for 2024 intends to reverse the cycle of humanitarian underfunding by requesting increased amounts of assistance from states like Germany and Saudi Arabia. Germany and Saudi Arabia have already contributed to the cause in significant ways.

KSRelief, a Saudi Arabian NGO that provides humanitarian care on the global level, has collaborated with the WHO in five instances to improve disease-prevention measures. In addition, Germany has already pledged $10 million for the appeal, with more aid coming in the shape of medical support for WHO regional missions in countries like Ukraine, Gaza and Egypt.

How the WHO Will Use Appeal Funds

To address humanitarian crises timely and robustly, the WHO hopes to optimize its use of funds secured through the appeal. The organization’s response consists of detecting medical threats in impoverished regions, deploying resources such as medical personnel and supplies and forming health systems that provide medical assistance against future threats.

This year’s appeal deals with an exceptional number of humanitarian crises. Armed conflict and/or repressive governments in countries like Isreal, Sudan, Ukraine and Somalia became more devastating in 2024. This situation makes these countries vulnerable to medical threats, further impoverishing their populations.

A key goal listed in documents connected to the WHO’s 2024 appeal is adapting to local environments within target countries. Adaptation to the local environment would ensure that important variables such as individual wealth and availability of medical facilities are considered when formulating a response to health emergencies. By working with a network of local partners in target regions, the WHO can succeed in its mission, which involves providing unique humanitarian assistance to communities whose needs and issues vary significantly.

Satisfying the quota of funds listed in the appeal ($1.5 billion) would allow the WHO to employ a larger medical workforce, deliver greater amounts of specialist supplies and ultimately form medical systems capable of providing long-term medical care in impoverished regions. Such assistance would lift millions out of health-related poverty in developing countries. Additionally, it will help provide jobs, contributing to the improvement of the economy in developed countries.

– Parth Mishra
Photo: Flickr

The Graduation Approach and Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh

Graduation ApproachBangladesh, a country with more than 170 million people, has long struggled with widespread poverty, limited economic opportunities and vulnerability to natural disasters. However, since the 2000s, Bangladesh has made huge strides in improving welfare and halving poverty rates. For example, the estimated poverty went from 13.47 in 2016 to 10.44 in 2022 (using the international poverty line of $2.15).

The innovative strategies of BRAC’s “Graduation Approach” have been instrumental in uplifting the impoverished and fostering sustainable livelihoods. Built upon the hopes of addressing multidimensional poverty, it has effectively contributed to the sustained alleviation of poverty in Bangladesh.

The Graduation Approach in Bangladesh

The Graduation Approach is a multifaceted intervention designed to empower the ultra-poor by combining asset transfer, skills training, access to financial services and coaching. In Bangladesh, this approach has been implemented through various programs, with one of the most notable initiatives being the Targeting Ultra Poor (TUP) program launched by BRAC. The TUP program has demonstrated the transformative power of the Graduation Approach.

Central to the approach is the concept of asset transfer, which involves providing participants with productive assets, such as livestock, tools or seeds, to kickstart income-generating activities. As agriculture in Bangladesh plays a central role in the economy, asset transfer has enabled participants to establish small businesses. Subsequently, rural areas have reduced poverty between 2010 and 2016, accounting for 90% of the poverty alleviation.

In addition to asset transfer, the Graduation Approach places a strong emphasis on skills development and training. In Bangladesh, this has materialized in the form of tailored training programs that equip participants with the knowledge and expertise needed to effectively manage their businesses or agricultural activities. This training has enabled people living in poverty to make informed decisions and optimize their resources. Such training initiatives have contributed to the long-term success of the Graduation Approach in alleviating poverty. It has been proven that combining large-scale asset transfers and skills training equips the ultra-poor with access to self-employment and increases earnings by 37%.

Access to financial services is another critical facet of this approach. In Bangladesh, the provision of microcredit and savings facilities has empowered participants to invest in their enterprises, build assets and weather financial shocks. Coaching and mentorship are also integral components of the Graduation Approach. For instance, 11,864 workers have received financial services and financial literary education across 30 factories in Savar, Tongi and Gazipur. This presence of coaches and mentors has not only offered practical assistance but has also empowered participants with the confidence to be self-sufficient.

The Positive Impact 

The poverty progress in Bangladesh has been striking, with the Ultra-Poor Graduation program reaching more than nine million people in two million households and helping 95% of participants escape extreme poverty. This level of success has allowed the BRAC Ultra-Poor initiative to be implemented in 13 other countries, including Ethiopia, Honduras and Pakistan. Such implementation has occurred through technical assistance to governments and NGO partners. By showcasing how national approaches by governments can drive progress in poverty reduction, the graduation approach has demonstrated a ripple effect.

One of the key strengths of the Graduation Approach is its potential for scalability and sustainability. The approach fosters self-reliance by equipping participants with the tools and knowledge to manage their livelihoods. In influencing policy change to support the uptake of the Graduation Approach, it is believed that up to 21 million people can escape poverty by 2026. The program’s encouraging success in Bangladesh paves the way for similar development worldwide.

– Chloe Zyko
Photo: Flickr