Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

The Local Women Tackling Period Poverty in the Solomon Islands

Period Poverty in the Solomon IslandsManaging menstruation hygienically and confidently is a human right, but one that many living in poverty are not granted. Long-established cultural norms and social stigma have meant that many girls are living in period poverty in the Solomon Islands, and are left uneducated and unable to cope when menstruating.

Australian Aid’s recent initiative, the New Targets Project, aims to improve sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. In its 2019 report of the principal island, it was found that 63% of women stated that they didn’t have enough money to purchase disposable sanitary pads and that 52% of women interviewed “still have questions or worries about menstruation.”

The Impact of Period Poverty on Girls’ Education

The powerful social stigma surrounding menstruation as something shameful and taboo translates into a widespread lack of understanding surrounding women’s and girl’s health. Without the knowledge nor resources to manage their periods, a worrying number of girls often miss school when menstruating, further exacerbating period poverty in the Solomon Islands.

The advocacy group Plan International found that while 70% of girls finish primary school, this figure drops to just 7% for secondary school. Amongst other factors such as underage marriage and gender-based violence, period poverty is a likely contributor to this figure.

The Women of Kwaio Communities Form a Solution

After overhearing her daughters and their friends talking about the embarrassment of attending school while menstruating, a Kwaio leader named Dorothy Esau decided that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of local girls.

As part of the Baru Conservation Alliance which is a Kwaio-led initiative committed to improving education, sustainability and maintaining positive cultural relations, Esau partnered with Dr. Michelle Redman-Maclaren of James Cook University (JCU) to find a solution.

The team wanted to create a pad that was sustainable and reusable to minimize long-term costs for the girls in need, which also needed to be hygienic in the hot, tropical environment of the Solomon Islands. Once a design plan was constructed, Esau recruited her cousins and other local women to create colorful and patterned reusable sanitary towels using sewing machines funded by JCU.

Long-Term Change in Local Schools

Once Esau and her team had the physical resources to ensure that girls were able to manage their periods without having to miss school, they needed to tackle the lack of awareness and education surrounding menstruation.

With little to no discussion of menstrual health in most school curricula, Esau asked a nurse to assist her when handing out the pads in a local school to help the students understand the biological process and educate them about female reproductive health. By offering a support system and a space to ask questions openly and without shame or ridicule, Esau and her team made huge strides in educating girls and reducing the stigma.

The team’s work has been so beneficial in ensuring that more girls are attending school that the principal requested that new girls be given the pads when they start secondary school. Other schools in the area quickly began to show interest in the program, as Dorothy has continued to tackle period poverty in the Solomon Islands and improve the quality of education for young women.

When discussing the growth of the program, Esau notes how no one’s contribution is too small to make a positive impact on the lives of others. She tells the women in her team, “We can start small, and that’s okay. Because small is beautiful. And after we work on the small system, we can help make a bigger project for the future.”

– Maia Winter
Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Diseases Impacting Syria

Diseases Impacting SyriaSyria, a nation with a rich cultural history tragically torn apart by years of conflict, has faced a complex crisis that extends beyond the frontline. The devastation of war is evident in the physical destruction of cities and the displacement of millions, but what is less often mentioned is the destruction caused by diseases impacting Syria.

The Syrian conflict has caused widespread damage to health care and sanitation facilities as well as the resettlement of 5.7 million people into crowded refugee camps where poverty is rife. The spread of these diseases and poverty goes hand-in-hand for multiple reasons. Firstly, malnutrition associated with poverty compromises the individual’s immune system and can make people more susceptible to disease. Secondly, crowded, unsanitary conditions associated with poverty are ripe for the spread of disease. This, coupled with a lack of access to basic health care, has meant that diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis and leishmaniasis (a parasitic infection that sandflies spread) are common and widespread. The sheer number of recorded cases speaks for itself in terms of just how common these diseases impacting Syria are:

Obstacles to Tackle to Eliminate Diseases Impacting Syria

  1. Extensive Damage to Health Care Infrastructure. Hospitals across the nation have been subject to airstrikes, and medical professionals have fled the country, leaving essential medical supplies in chronic short supply. Syrian and Russian forces deliberately targeted hospitals as a war strategy, and U.S. bombing campaigns dropped 60 bombs per day on Syria and Iraq in 2016, causing severe damage to health care facilities. This kind of breakdown in health care infrastructure disproportionately affects the poor, who are often unable to access or afford even basic health care services. Organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders have provided vital aid since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011 by supporting existing health care facilities and delivering medical equipment. Its efforts have resulted in the treatment of more than 1,017,900 patients in Syria in 2022 alone. The fantastic work by organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, coupled with repairing health care infrastructure, will be a vital step in eliminating the diseases impacting Syria.
  2. Lack of Sanitation. Approximately 35% of Syrians lack access to safe drinking water, putting them at risk of waterborne diseases. The conflict in Syria has forced millions to become internally displaced or seek refuge in neighboring countries. Unsanitary living conditions in refugee camps provide fertile ground for the spread of diseases, as it is nearly impossible to maintain basic hygiene in such conditions. The lack of access to clean water, sanitation facilities and proper nutrition exacerbates the vulnerability of displaced populations to these diseases. However, concerted efforts are being made to improve sanitation and malnutrition in Syria. During the first half of 2019, UNICEF reached 2.1 million people in Syria with improved and sustained access to safe water. The World Food Programme (WFP) also provides food to 5.4 million people a month in Syria. By supporting organizations on the ground to improve sanitation in Syria, the crisis of disease could become a thing of the past.
  3. Economic Devastation. The economic impact of the Syrian conflict has been monumental. Syria’s GDP shrank by more than half between 2010 and 2020, and war has decimated the country’s economy, leading to skyrocketing unemployment levels of 9.6%. As a result, an estimated 90% of the population lives below the poverty line. Families who were once self-sufficient now struggle to meet their basic needs. Poverty is closely associated with malnutrition, weakened immune systems and limited access to health care. These conditions make individuals more susceptible to diseases and less able to recover when illness strikes. In turn, illness can lead to further economic hardship, as medical expenses and lost wages further strain already fragile budgets. Tackling diseases impacting Syria could involve remedying the great economic hardship facing the nation today.

Looking Ahead

While the situation in Syria is serious, international organizations and humanitarian groups continue to provide assistance. These organizations work tirelessly to deliver medical supplies, food and clean water to affected populations. Breaking the cycle of disease and poverty could require collaborative international efforts to provide aid and work toward sustainable peace in the region.

– Genevieve Martin
Photo: Pexels

Everything to Know About Poverty in Croatia

About Poverty in Croatia
Croatia is a crescent-shaped country located in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula. After the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the separation has been hard on the people of Croatia as they struggle to maintain a strong, unified identity in the face of governmental transitions and poverty. Here is everything to know about the current state of poverty in Croatia. 

Economy

In 1991, Croatia transitioned from a communist governmental system into a free-market system that changed social and political conditions in the nation. In 2022, 20.9% of people were at risk of poverty. Poverty often hits the elderly harder – citizens aged 65 and up are in the greatest risk group where the poverty rate is 32.4%. 

The elderly comprise one-fifth of the population, and the pension system Croatia has in place is considerably stressed and unable to fulfill the basic needs of retired people. This often means that retirees have to rely on their working relatives for financial support and, ultimately, survival.

Economic growth in Croatia has recovered a bit since the global financial crisis in 2008, but recovery is slow and weak because of the late start they had in constructing a new economic system. The crisis inflicted long-lasting effects on Croatia, leaving them vulnerable to further financial disrepair.

Work and Education

Aside from the elderly, poverty in Croatia most actively hits the unemployed and those with poor education. That being said, employed people are still at risk for poverty, considering almost half of them are hardly making ends meet.

Half of the people who make an average income cannot afford any unexpected or luxurious expenses, and 5.7% of them cannot afford to sufficiently heat their homes in the bitter-cold winter months. Having a job does not save people from the fear and the pain that comes from impoverished status – harming the quality of life and access to necessary resources like education, nutritious food and medical aid. 

When it comes to poverty in Croatia, education is a vital issue. Skilled professionals are largely seeking employment elsewhere in the European Union (EU), while those left behind are often lacking in the education/skills necessary to fill the positions within Croatia. While primary/elementary school is free and required of Croatian children, any secondary school is optional and often too expensive for those living in poverty.

Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is another issue plaguing Croatia as agricultural stunting runs rampant. Croatia relies heavily on food importation as a means of feeding its people, which raises the expenses of quality food provisions.

Over the past decade, Croatia’s food insecurity rate has steadily increased until 2021. As of 2020, those experiencing moderate/severe food insecurity stood at 11.4%, but the rate fell to 9.7% in 2021 thanks to Croatia’s Ministry of Agriculture implementing an emergency plan that provides more financial and land-management support to farmers.

Croatia’s population in rural areas continually decreases and leaves the plots to be small, fragmented and undeveloped. There is low productivity with extremely high labor costs and the administration in charge is currently slow and largely ineffective at solving the agricultural issues.

Looking Ahead

In 2022, the Croatian government adopted a national plan, the “National plan for fighting poverty and social exclusion,” to help ease the pain of poverty for their people. By 2030, the plan aims to reduce poverty in Croatia by 15% and to lower the percentage of those living at risk of poverty from 20.9% down to 17.8%.

The national plan is working to implement laws and policies that will support those living at the edge of poverty in Croatia, using methods like improving social welfare provisions and land management policy. Though the plan has kinks to work through in these beginning years, Croatia has already decreased the amount of youth that fall under the NEET (not in education, employment or training) category. 

Additionally, Croatia’s land has diverse and nearly perfect conditions to be lush with agriculture. After the outbreak of COVID-19 and the Ukrainian war challenged the global relationship with agriculture, Croatia has received the chance to rework how they use their land. Though the Ministry’s process to help farmers may appear to be slow, it is steady and already making a difference in the rate of food insecurity. 

Despite the political and social tensions affecting the lives of millions, Croatia’s people persevere. The poverty rate is declining as Croatia continues to work toward poverty relief. 

– Eden Ambrovich
Photo: Unsplash

How Renewable Energy in Pakistan Can Reduce Poverty

Renewable Energy in PakistanOn January 23, 2023, Pakistan faced one of its biggest energy crises yet. For nearly 24 hours, homes, schools and businesses lost power. This is simply the culmination of multiple smaller-scale power outages and an indication of the severity of Pakistan’s energy crisis. However, there is one source of hope — renewable energy. Renewable energy in Pakistan has plenty of potential, and to see that, it is necessary to look at the current situation and the possibility for transformation.

Energy in Pakistan

The International Trade Administration highlights that Pakistan’s energy issues are significantly hindering economic advancements in the country.  The ITA says, “Although Pakistan has managed to increase power generation since 2013 and mitigate power blackouts that plagued the country over the past decade, expensive fuel sources, a reliance on imported energy products, chronic natural gas shortages, major debt in the power sector and aging and insufficient transmission and distribution systems have prevented the sector from growing and modernizing.” Furthermore, the ITA says, “Weak governance, uncoordinated energy policymaking and a lack of long-term energy planning only add to Pakistan’s current energy woes. ”

Pakistan heavily relies on importing expensive fossil fuels — about 63% of Pakistan’s energy comes from fossil fuels, according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) 2021 report. The expensive nature of fossil fuel reliance is already catching up to Pakistan as the government is currently in $10 billion of circular debt.

Presently, 54.6% of Pakistani households are affected by energy poverty, with 91.7% of rural households in Punjab affected alone, says a research article by Kiran Batool and others published in 2022.

Due to energy overloads and Pakistan’s inability to pay, frequent power outages occur. These power outages can last for hours, even days. This is why the January 2023 power outage did not come as a surprise to locals considering Pakistan’s increasing debt and unrehabilitated, outdated infrastructure.

To reduce strain on the electricity grid and conserve energy, Pakistan implements load-shedding — cuts of power in several areas of the nation. This has affected quality of life and the economic activities of locals, pushing already struggling households further into poverty.

The nation’s economy is facing the effects of the energy crisis. For example, due to the nation’s electricity issues, Pakistan’s textile industry saw a loss of  $70 million. To reduce energy usage, Pakistan reduced work weeks from six days to five in June 2023. And, when 1,600 garment mills closed in October 2022 due to the withdrawal of power, 5 million workers lost their jobs.

Renewable Energy Potential

“Pakistan has several well-known wind corridors and average wind speeds of 7.87 m/s in 10 percent of its windiest areas,” the World Bank notes. Experts have theorized that Pakistan has the potential to generate about 50,000 MW of electricity through wind turbines. Pakistan also has strong potential for solar power with nine-and-a-half hours of sunlight. There are a number of factors in Pakistan that allow for sunlight, such as its location in a solar-rich belt, minimal cloud cover and low levels of air pollution. According to a recent World Bank study, “utilizing just 0.071 percent of the country’s area for solar [photovoltaics] would meet Pakistan’s current electricity demand.”

Pakistan recognizes that renewable energy can solve poverty in Pakistan and has made strides to implement it. Currently, 5.4% of the country’s energy comes from wind and solar energy. There are a few projects underway to guarantee an increase in renewable energy. Pakistan has made it financially attractive to switch to solar, with net metering, feed-in tariffs and tax incentives. The government plans to have wind and solar energy make up 30% of Pakistan’s overall energy by 2030. However, the large investments needed for renewable energy sources have not yet been reached.

Poverty Reduction Potential

Renewable energy is also more affordable. Renewable energy can cost $0.04 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared to the cost of fossil fuel energy, $0.22 per kWh. More affordable energy will relieve the nation of its energy debt. Renewable energy also spurs employment — Not only can old jobs be saved (as energy debt has softened) but the renewable energy sector will lead to the creation of new jobs, for instance, in repair and maintenance work.

An example of renewable energy projects benefiting the community is visible in the Jhimpir wind corridor. Until about 2010, this area in the Sindh Province of southeast Pakistan was nothing but a barren desert as the high forces of wind made the land unsuitable for agriculture. However, the strong wind power meant the area had high potential for renewable energy. Gul Ahmed Energy is one of the companies that invested in creating wind farms in the area.

After installing wind turbines and solar panels in 2016, the Jhimpir wind corridor is now a bustling community with roads, schools and homes that have access to clean water and electricity. Additionally, the installation of wind turbines and solar panels has created 1,000 permanent jobs for locals to maintain the energy infrastructure. Renewable energy in Pakistan can reduce poverty by creating new jobs and bringing electricity to impoverished families.

A Bright Future

If Pakistan continues down the path of renewable energy reliance, the nation’s energy crisis could resolve and the people could have a brighter future ahead of them. 

– Uzair Khan
Photo: Unsplash

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Helping Children and Women in Nepal

Women in Nepal
In 2015, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Nepal and surrounding countries, claiming the lives of thousands. This earthquake not only displaced millions but also plunged more than 1 million Nepali people into poverty. The most susceptible demographic, children and women in Nepal, bore the brunt of the impact. Many children found themselves orphaned, compelled to aid their remaining family members, which led to them forsaking school attendance and engaging in child labor full time. Among the tasks undertaken by many children was the labor of breaking rocks along the riverbed to sell the stones for monetary gain. After visiting Nepal and witnessing these circumstances, U.S. citizen Maggie Doyne made a commitment to help children and women in Nepal rise out of poverty.

About Maggie Doyne

Fast forward to 2008, when an 18-year-old American girl named Maggie Doyne, who had opted for a gap year after high school to travel, discovered a girl breaking rocks on the banks of a river in Surkhet, Nepal. This encounter prompted Doyne to establish a connection with the young girl and develop a friendship. Doyne proceeded to assist the girl by paying for the girl’s school books, uniform and school tuition fees.

The encounter with the girl prompted Doyne to contemplate the stark contrast between those who possess abundance and those who endure scarcity in the world. As time passed, Doyne extended her support to other disadvantaged children in Nepal. Doyne helped to send the children to school but soon recognized that some of these children required more than just access to education. The children lacked a stable and nurturing home environment. This realization compelled Doyne to take further action.

Kopila Valley Children’s Home

Doyne took action by using her savings to acquire a piece of land in Nepal. In collaboration with Nepali resident Top Malla and the support of the local community of Surkhet, Doyne brought Kopila Valley Children’s Home into existence in 2008. This establishment offers a stable and safe environment that now serves as the home for more than 40 children in Nepal.

Many of these youngsters come from backgrounds with profoundly distressing circumstances. They receive support not only from Doyne, whom they affectionately refer to as their mother, but also from a diverse group of caregivers they address as aunts and uncles. Doyne and her team have managed to deliver tailored assistance to these children. “Kopila Valley was born and soon blossomed into BlinkNow, a nonprofit foundation serving an ever-growing, ever-inspiring community in Surkhet, Nepal,” the BlinkNow website says.

Kopila Valley School

Eventually, Kopila Valley Children’s Home embarked on an expansion that included the establishment of Kopila Valley School in 2010. Currently, the school accommodates more than 400 students hailing from the neighboring community. Additionally, the school ensures that its students receive nourishing meals and access to health care services. The school infrastructure was upgraded to a “green campus” to place a focus on sustainability. For example, the implementation of solar power systems and the use of earthquake-resistant materials. Notably, all educators and staff members at the school are of Nepali origin and many other staff members are from the local community.

Kopila Valley Women’s Center

Kopila Valley has undergone further expansion, solidifying that it plays a fundamental role in the community it serves. In addition to the children’s home, school and health clinic, BlinkNow developed the Kopila Valley Women’s Center in 2013. This center is committed to empowering marginalized women in Surkhet by delivering vocational and empowerment training. With a mission to address issues like abuse, educational deficits and limited economic prospects, the center offers comprehensive assistance.

Many of the training participants are survivors of domestic violence and early marriages. The participants receive intensive instruction in valuable vocational skills like sewing, weaving and cosmetology. This training equips them to secure employment and undertake economic endeavors and enhance their overall livelihoods.

The empowerment courses also cover self-confidence skills, health and wellness, women’s rights, Nepali law, basic literacy, business and and maths skills. Trainees also have access to “counseling services, which provides mediation, legal support, and general stress and trauma care and management,” the BlinkNow website says. The Center’s influence reaches even further through its community workshops, fostering gender parity and women’s empowerment.

The training has enabled graduates to develop independent enterprises and cooperative endeavors. Beyond skill development, the Center fosters a nurturing atmosphere where women come together to heal, uplift and support each other. This nurturing environment catalyzes positive transformation within the community, effectively showcasing the profound impact of education and the formidable strength of women in Nepal.

BlinkNow has had a profound impact on children and women in Nepal. The work of Maggie Doyne and her team has helped lift many people out of poverty, allowing them to secure independence, strength and support.

– Ada Rose Wagar
Photo: Flickr

Addressing Poverty Through Renewable Energy in Laos 

Renewable Energy in LaosLaos, a Southeast Asian nation renowned for its abundant natural beauty and culturally diverse heritage, has grappled with the enduring challenge of poverty for several decades. As of 2018, a staggering 18.3% of its population lived below the poverty threshold, and this burden disproportionately affected those residing in rural areas. Moreover, 22.5% of Laos’s population lacked access to even basic sanitation facilities while 7.8% were deprived of access to clean, potable drinking water.  Despite these challenges, recent years have witnessed remarkable progress in poverty alleviation through the adoption of renewable energy, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable and prosperous future for Laos.

The Energy Landscape in Laos

Laos has abundant natural resources, including a vast network of rivers and forests that form the foundation of Laos’s renewable energy potential. The Mekong River and its tributaries traverse the country, offering immense hydropower potential. Additionally, Laos benefits from abundant solar energy resources due to its location in a region with high levels of sunlight. 

Harnessing Hydropower for Prosperity

One of Laos’ most remarkable success stories in addressing poverty is developing aggressive hydropower projects, many of which export electricity to neighboring countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, thereby generating substantial revenue. This revenue becomes a critical source of funding for social development programs aimed at reducing poverty. Electricity sales from projects including the Lao PDR’s Nam Theun 2 (NT2) generated more than $170 million for the government over the 25-year concession period, allowing the government to invest in priority development with education and health sectors receiving the largest investments.

The NT2 plays a crucial role in expanding Laos’ hydropower sector, which has minimal private involvement initially. Following its success, private financing led to the completion of five additional projects and 13 more projects achieved financial closure, creating a significant market. This surge in hydropower development directly and indirectly generates job opportunities for construction workers, maintenance technicians, administrators and others, substantially improving employment prospects and livelihoods for many Laotians.

Addressing Energy Poverty

Access to electricity is a fundamental driver of poverty alleviation. In Laos, rural regions often lack reliable access to energy sources, constraining economic opportunities and social development. Renewable energy in Laos, particularly micro-hydropower systems, bridges this energy gap in remote areas. Micro-hydropower projects are designed to provide electricity to small communities or villages in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. By electrifying rural areas, they enable the establishment of local businesses, such as small-scale agriculture and cottage industries, which can elevate income levels and reduce poverty rates. The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program helps bring power to 14,000 households in 230 villages through individual solar home systems and to 52,000 households in 570 villages through grid extension. 

Educational Opportunities

Access to education is a fundamental right that can break the cycle of poverty. Currently, however, a significant barrier stands in the way of their schooling as nearly 30% of Laos’ rural villages do not have access to electricity. In rural areas of Laos, lack of electricity can hinder students’ ability to study after dark, limiting their educational opportunities. While the presence of electricity is taken for granted by many across the world, its absence is preventing many citizens, especially girls and women in Laos, from pursuing an education that would in the long term, empower them to break the cycle of poverty.

Renewable energy, through the electrification of schools and the provision of solar-powered lighting, extends study hours and improves the quality of education by helping school children do their homework in the evening. Additionally, the availability of electricity facilitates the use of technology in classrooms, enabling students to access a wider range of educational resources. This enhances the learning experience while equipping students with skills necessary for future employment, further contributing to poverty reduction.

What’s Next?

Renewable energy in Laos is a technological advancement and a powerful tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. By harnessing the abundant hydropower and solar resources, Laos unlocks new opportunities for its people, providing them with access to clean energy, better livelihoods and improved education. As Laos continues to invest in renewable energy, it makes significant strides toward eradicating poverty, fostering economic growth and building a brighter future for its citizens.

–Marnie Woodford-Venables
Photo: Flickr

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7 Facts About Gender Equality in Lithuania

Gender Equality in Lithuania
Lithuania ranks ninth in the world for gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report for 2023. Here are seven facts about gender equality in Lithuania.

7 Facts About Gender Equality in Lithuania

  1. Women’s Day in Lithuania: Women’s Day in Lithuania is celebrated annually on November 2. It marks the day in 1918 when Lithuanian women received the right to vote. To acknowledge the momentous 100th anniversary since women gained suffrage, the capital city of Vilnius put up several female-inspired pedestrian crosswalk lights in 2018 in place of the traditional male symbol.
  2. The Effects of COVID-19: The spread of COVID-19 had a disproportionate effect on men’s and women’s involvement in household tasks. In particular, 2021 saw 57% of women in contrast to 13% of men in Lithuania holding the sole responsibility of childcare. This 44% divide exists as one of the larger gender gaps throughout the European Union (EU). Similarly, in 2021, 70% of women in comparison to a significantly lower 8% of men reported holding the responsibility of household caretaking duties. These duties were also more strenuous for women as 16% of women devoted more than four hours a day toward chores compared to 5% of men.
  3. The Gender Pay Gap: The gender pay gap still persists in Lithuania, despite the country being recognized for equality. Reports indicate that women earn approximately 14% less than men. In addition, according to the State Social Security Fund Board in 2021, women-dominated sectors still see a disparity in pay with their wages generally being lower than their male counterparts. Gender statistics provided by CreditInfo Lithuania also underscore 72 out of 81 professional fields in Lithuania where men traditionally earn more than women. While these statistics can be impacted by complex features including childcare leave and the number of men and women in an individual sector, it is evident that the country can do more to address this gap.
  4. Violence Against Women: Violence against women ranging from domestic abuse to femicide is a crucial matter to address throughout the EU with 788 women killed by a partner or relative across 17 member states in 2020, according to the European Institute for Gender Equality EIGE). Additionally, 13 women from Lithuania contributed to that total. To address violence against women, in June 2013, Lithuanian officials signed the Istanbul Convention — a human rights treaty dedicated to tackling violence against women. However, the convention remains unratified which demonstrates the need for more action to combat violence against women in Lithuania.
  5. Female Prime Minister: Lithuania elected the first female president of Lithuania in May 2009, almost a century after women had gained the right to vote. However, even the first national election in 1920 saw women alongside men occupying positions of power as parliamentarians. Currently, female politician Ingrida Šimonytė acts as the prime minister of the nation. Furthermore, female politicians Aušrinė Armonaitė and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen represent the Freedom and Liberal parties respectively.
  6. Gender Equality: Among the member states in the EU, Lithuania received a score of 60.6 out of 100 in the 2022 Global Gender Equality Index. The country’s highest scores in the index lie in the fields of work, a measurement of fair access to employment and work benefits between men and women, and health, which compares gender equality in access to quality health services. For the aspects of work and health conditions, Lithuania received scores of 73.9 and 82.7 respectively. However, in other indicators such as time, which measures the sum of time between men and women dedicated to domestic tasks, Lithuania scored only 50.6.
  7. The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men: For years, the Lithuanian government has enacted legislation to address gender equality. The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men was adopted in 1998 and the Law on Equal Treatment came into place in 2005. These laws worked to “forbid any discrimination – whether direct or indirect – on the grounds of sex.” Moreover, lawmakers amended these laws in 2016 and reflected changes including a ban on the priority given on the basis of gender, a prohibition on requiring job candidates to disclose personal class and familial information and a bar on discrimination against women as a result of pregnancy, childbirth or nursing.

Looking Ahead

While Lithuania is one of the top countries for gender equality, it still has some room to improve. With the continued efforts of the Lithuanian government, women’s rights should see even further improvements in the years to come.

– Katrina Girod
Photo: Flickr

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Achieving the SDGs in Guinea Bissau

SDGs in Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau is a country located on the west coast of the African continent. Despite having a rich culture and strong natural resources, it is one of the most impoverished nations in the world, the World Bank says. Guinea Bissau had a GDP of just $1.63 billion in 2022 and, in 2018, almost 22% of the population lived in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day. Progress toward the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is essential for global poverty reduction. And likewise, achieving the SDGs in Guinea Bissau is essential for the country’s overall growth, development and poverty reduction progress.

According to the Sustainable Development Report on Guinea Bissau, major challenges remain in 13 out of 17 SDGs. Also, significant challenges remain in SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities) but the country has achieved SDG 13 (Climate Action). For the remaining two SDGs, there is no data to assess.

UN Investment and Aid

In April 2022, the U.N. and the government of Guinea Bissau met to discuss the government’s implementation of the Cooperation Framework strategy, which runs from 2022 until 2026 and aligns with the country’s National Development Plan and the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The framework focuses on three outcomes: “Governance, economic transformation and human development.” Poverty reduction and wealth inequality fall into the first two focuses. The overall aim of this plan is for the U.N. to assist Guinea Bissau in meeting the 17 SDGs.

In the year 2022, the U.N. committed almost $87 million to help Guinea Bissau move closer to reaching the SDGs.  In 2023, so far, the U.N. has provided $75.3 million, mostly used in the areas of health and well-being (49.3% of the total value), peace, justice and effective institutions (11.6% of the total) and zero hunger and sustainable agriculture (17.1% of the total).

UNDP Aids Development in Guinea Bissau

Among Guinea Bissau’s development cooperation partners and organizations, UNDP is the main partner, and it already has an office in the country and projects aimed at specific local needs since the country’s independence in 1975.

The UNDP acts in the country and, consequently, for international development, supporting good governance in order to achieve equality and opportunity for all. The UNDP focuses on good governance to ignite progress in the development of other key areas. These other areas are democratic governance, efforts toward national social cohesion and peace, gender equality, poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and health.

With regard to methodologies and work strategies for development, the UNDP identifies and states that current development challenges are interconnected and interdependent. This means that an integrated approach is necessary rather than isolated efforts in order to bring about lasting change in development and poverty reduction in Guinea Bissau.

UNDP Projects in Guinea Bissau

To help Guinea Bissau move closer to achieving the SDGs, the UNDP has implemented several projects:

  • Building Forward Better in Guinea Bissau: This project began in January 2022 and will end in December 2024 with the aim of advancing progress on the SDGs overall.
  • Political stabilization and reform: Building trust and inclusive dialogue within the national political regime in order to make it more democratic and in line with U.N. principles.
  • Blue economy as a catalyst for green recovery: The project focused on leveraging the country’s blue economy through open and interactive dialogue involving the private sector and civil society, thus obtaining investment from multiple parties. The project began in January 2021 and ended in December 2022.
  • Stabilization of the justice sector: A proposal that seeks to achieve political stability, considering that the main cause of the difficulty of development is due to the existing political crises in the country, in order to support the justice sector in accordance with the principles of the system international human rights, resulting in the consolidation of internal peace.

Overall, the efforts of the U.N. and its agencies prove vital in helping Guinea Bissau meet the 17 SDGs with just seven years remaining.

– Letícia Lacerda
Photo: Unsplash

Water Scarcity in Peru: Nature-Based Solutions

Water Scarcity in PeruAlthough a country with diverse biodiversity and a rich supply of natural resources like copper, gold and lithium, water scarcity plagues Peru for many reasons, ranging from inadequate agricultural practices to climate change. With a humid and tropical climate, Peru has an increased risk of evaporation, meaning water and vegetation are more susceptible to drying out. However, there have been several domestic and international efforts to use nature-based solutions to tackle the problem of water scarcity. 

Problems of Water Scarcity 

From deforestation to political instability, Peru’s situation is dire. UNICEF found that 48% of Peru’s population (16 million) lacks access to reliable, safe water sources. Consequently, water scarcity restricts access to safe, drinkable water and the ability to practice basic hygiene. Moreover, this leads to further problems like sewage system failures, increasing the threat of contracting diseases like cholera. This increased threat takes a much more significant toll on women and children because they are responsible for collecting it. This issue raises further problems such as school attendance and lack of education. 

Innovative Nature-Based Solutions and Reforestation 

The Peruvian city of Moyobamba has tackled the problem of water scarcity in Peru through a tariff system in which locals are charged the equivalent of around $0.30 per month as part of their water bill. Moyobamba then uses the money to invest directly in watershed and rainforest conservation initiatives. As one of Peru’s first nature-based solutions (NbS) used for watershed maintenance, it has become the country’s model to copy. The project in Moyobamba has led the government to scale these NbS to a national level and, subsequently, a model for other Latin American countries with similar climates to imitate and use as inspiration to tackle water shortages. 

Other Humanitarian Efforts and Initiatives

Water.org has disbursed loans for indoor bathrooms, water and sewage connections and tanks for water collection and storage. Moreover, their future plans provide great hope for improving water scarcity in Peru. Expanding partnerships with local financial institutions will make water and sanitation systems more accessible to a broader population. UNICEF has also encouraged climate resilience through projects like the construction of flood-resilient ECOSAN latrines and the protection of freshwater sources in the Peruvian Amazon. 

Moreover, a community initiative to restore ancient water supplies in the Andes has successfully delivered increased water supplies from the tops of mountain slopes to increase water availability downslope during drier months.

This method of restoration of ancient canal systems, believed to predate the Inca empire, also known as mamanteos, has previously been used to combat water shortages in cities like Lima, the second-largest desert city in the world. 

Looking Ahead 

Although Peru is subject to an inherently humid, tropical climate, which subjects it to a higher chance of climate problems like drought and deforestation, nature-based projects like the one in Moyobamba open up many doors for other regions in Peru and countries across Latin America to look towards nature-based solutions as a way to combat water scarcity. 

More funding by international and domestic organizations for such innovative projects is crucial to fighting water shortages throughout Peru and Latin America. 

– Amber Hamed
Photo: Flickr

It Takes a Village: Uplifting Communities in The Philippines 

Uplifting Communities in the Philippines
Much like everywhere else in the world, poverty increased in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 2023, national poverty estimates show that poverty incidence rose from 16.7% in 2018 to 18.1% in 2021, translating to 19.9 million poor people as of 2021. Government and private groups alike are working to reduce poverty and uplift communities in some of the poorest areas in the country. Here are some efforts that are uplifting communities in the Philippines.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo

Arguably the most significant anti-poverty measure taken so far in 2023 has been the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the end of February. The program aims to counter the country’s rapid ongoing inflation, specifically inflation affecting the rising cost of food.

Kadiwa is a government-backed market chain that works by having local producers sell their products directly to customers. This reduces the impact cost of a middleman, which results in higher income generated by selling their produce directly to consumers but also means reduced cost to the customer. There are currently more than 500 Kadiwa stores operational.

Arteche Egg Production

In Arteche, a town with a 58.66% poverty rate, organizations have collaborated with local governments to form a community-uplifting project.

During 2022, Arteche’s egg production sufficiency was only 20%. To meet the high demand in local markets, 40 egg-laying machines with 4,000 chickens have been provided to the area to further establish a basic food source for low-income citizens. The program has been estimated to double the egg production in Arteche.

An early September 2023 update reports that at least 114 farming groups with about 2,250 members in eastern parts of the Philippines will receive support as an extension of the egg production program and as a way of uplifting communities in the Philippines. The Department of Agriculture will be evaluating these farming groups to conduct quality control and any at-risk parties in need of additional support.

The department will also be using this as an opportunity to develop the local economies in the area by teaching farmers how to engage in the market more productively. This program will directly benefit 10 of the poorest areas in Eastern Visayas.

Manila Caravan Program

In Manila, the local government has established a caravan with the purpose of establishing better local housing for the poor. Specific types of citizens mentioned were students, teachers, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and informal settler families — families who live in local substandard living or are homeless.

The end goal of the caravan program is to establish self-sufficient communities with proper housing projects that include electricity and clean water provided by refurnished water pipes.

One of the most important aspects of building these communities is relocating informal settler families to housing areas; preferably close to their respective sources of income.

Impact of These Programs on Filipinos

Poverty is not about numbers on a page over an area; it is about unclean water, poor food and substandard housing. It is about living in an environment where growth is stunted. The Filipinos understand this and are working to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. An estimated 4.7 million Filipinos have benefited from the aforementioned anti-poverty programs as well as other concurrent programs, such as the completion of 2,778 infrastructure sites, including roads, schools and health stations.

While the national inflation and significant poverty rate pose great challenges, people are working to alleviate the effects where possible and uplifting communities in the Philippines will result in a decreasing poverty rate in the next several years following the pandemic.

 – Eddie Dale
Photo: Flickr