Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Economic Improvements in Jamaica

Economic Improvements in Jamaica
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaica’s economy grew after its gross domestic product suffered a 10% decrease. It has done so by producing goods, such as food, beverages and tobacco, with the help of the goods and by self-producing industries such as restaurants, fishing, transportation, communication, construction, hotels, mining, agriculture and forestry. As a result of this, the country garnered its eighth consecutive period of economic growth during the March quarter of 2023, advancing 4.2% year-on-year after making it toward 3.8% growth during the previous quarter. Here is some information about the economic improvements in Jamaica.

Current Growth

After the 2022–2023 fiscal year had passed, the Bank of Jamaica Governor, Richard Byles, reported that the country’s economy grew in the range of 4% to 5.5% and that this outturn is up to par with the outcome that was said to come true by the institution itself. In addition to this, Byles has commented that the economic growth could be indicated by the estimated outturn for the period between the months of January and March 2023, which had a faster growth rate that quarter, ranging between 3.5% and 4.5%, than the period that had the previous fastest growth rate between October and December 2022, where 3.8% was recorded instead.

Predictions about Jamaica’s Future Economic State

Byles added that there were indications that the economy would continue to grow for the April to June 2023 period as a result of the advancements in agriculture and manufacturing production that support the resumption of production at the JAMALCO alumina plant. He further stated that as of May 18, 2023, Jamaica’s gross international reserves remained at a decent rate of $4.7 billion and that the Jamaican dollar increased in value against the U.S. dollar by 0.4%, in contrast to a 3.3% loss over the same time last year. He also commented that the Bank of Jamaica has so far sold $398.3 million through its foreign exchange intervention trading, the B-FXITT program, and an additional $10 million to certain state firms, including Petrojam, resulting in a net purchase of $470.3 million when offset by the bank’s purchases that it made.

How Economic Improvements in Jamaica are Occurring

Byles also stated that despite recent volatility in the banking industry abroad, the domestic financial system is strong with appropriate capital and liquidity. He added that the gross reserves will continue to be adequate in the medium term. Furthermore, he noted that deposit-taking institutions have maintained compliance with prudent liquidity standards and that the quality of the system’s loan portfolio has remained stable in itself.

Conclusion

To continue to combat the economic downturn and ensure economic improvements in Jamaica, Jamaica has progressively integrated climate change adaptation into its policy framework and reinforced its social protection system, which has led to an increase in fairness, a decrease in poverty and a better social structure.

– Deon Roberts
Photo: Flickr

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The Czech Republic’s Foreign Aid

The Czech Republic’s Foreign Aid
The Czech Republic, also known today as Czechia, has a current GDP of about $290.92B, with a GDP per capita of $27,638.40 and a total population of more than 10 million people. The country has undergone decades of development, leading it to rank among the richest countries in the world. Because of this, the Czech Republic has developed foreign policy objectives to assist developing countries in need. The objectives include programs such as the Development Cooperation, which promotes development projects and offers humanitarian aid. 

Development Cooperation

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the country’s development cooperation aims to support projects that bolster the Czech Republic’s foreign aid by providing scholarships to students and humanitarian aid and participating in global organizations that help developing nations. The Czech Republic is the 26th member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD’s) Development Assistance Committee, or DAC. In addition to providing assistance to other countries, the Czech Republic is able to pursue development projects in order to strengthen its own relations with other countries at a political and economic level. In doing so, the country improves its security on a global as well as regional scale. Overall, the Czech Republic’s national interests involve strengthening security, building international trade, international investment, climate adaptation and reducing disaster risk. 

The Czech Republic’s foreign aid programs in the development cooperation include shifting a centrally planned economy to a market economy and transitioning an existing political system to that of a democratic one. The country is keen on getting involved with the aforementioned programs so that it may utilize its own knowledge of government reform, justice reform, tax system modification, societal transformation and the development of market environments. 

According to the OECD, the Czech Republic’s development cooperation is a vital aspect of the country’s foreign policy. It aims to reduce global poverty and inequality by prioritizing economic growth, managing natural resources in a sustainable manner, developing democratic institutions and inclusive social transformations and promoting agricultural and rural growth. 

Official Development Assistance Allocation

In 2022, the Czech Republic allocated around 0.36% of its GNI to ODA, or official development assistance. Just a year prior, the country ranked the highest as a contributor to multilateral organizations and has had one of the highest shares of bilateral assistance for CSOs, or civil society organizations, further bolstering the success of the Czech Republic’s foreign aid. In 2021, the Czech Republic utilized 11.5% of its allocable bilateral aid to strengthen trade performance in developing countries and 8.9% toward reducing malnutrition. By allocating aid funds to developing nations, the Czech Republic allows countries to integrate into the world economy while also providing assistance and growth opportunities. 

Priority Countries

According to the OECD, the Czech Republic’s foreign aid initiatives concentrate its bilateral assistance in Mongolia, Ethiopia, Moldova, Afghanistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. An estimated 35% of the Czech Republic’s bilateral ODA assisted these five countries in 2011. The Czech Republic further provided programs whereby the country could strengthen and establish democratic institutions, civil society, the rule of law and good governance. In order to get involved with the “Arab Spring” events, the Czech Republic extended its program countries to include those in Northern Africa: Tunisia and Egypt. 

The Czech Republic’s assistance in Afghanistan, for example, involves agriculture, education and water and sanitation, with sectors of the Czech development cooperation dedicated to these efforts. The Czech Development Agency implements bilateral project cooperation while also supporting national funds in Afghanistan. In turn, this support funds programs and projects of international Afghan organizations.

In February 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic signed a memorandum with the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation highlighting the bilateral Development Cooperation Program, which offers support for trade projects, humanitarian aid, smaller local projects and government scholarships. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a significant partner in the Czech Republic’s development cooperation. The country underwent a post-war transformation and gained humanitarian assistance, which evolved into joining the European Union. This conveys the great impact and knowledge that the Czech Republic possesses when it comes to providing powerful resources for struggling countries. The agenda of the Czech Republic’s development cooperation for Bosnia and Herzegovina involved sustainability goals and democratic governance, including assistance with economic growth in relation to providing renewable energy, clean water and efficient political guidance. 

Agenda 2030 and Humanitarian Assistance Expansion

For the years 2018-2030, however, the country’s foreign aid program countries include Cambodia, Ethiopia and Zambia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova. Cambodia, Ethiopia and Zambia are categorized as the least developed countries by the OECD/DAC. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova are categorized as middle-income countries. 

In 2016, the Czech Republic’s bilateral assistance reached $10.97 million in least-developed countries, $19.98 million in lower-middle-income countries and $0.33 million in other low-income countries. Additionally, during this time, the Czech Republic’s ODA was worth $260 million, with the ODA/GNI share at 0.14%. In comparison to the year prior, the volume and GNI in 2016 were significantly higher. 

According to the Development Cooperation Strategy of the Czech Republic, 2018-2030, Agenda 2030 addresses the goals for global development as well as the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the agenda lays out the aspects of development regarding economic, social and environmental sectors. In order to achieve development and humanitarian aid objectives, the Czech Republic sets out to collaborate with financial institutions as well as international organizations. 

The Czech Republic’s Foreign Aid Growth

All in all, the Czech Republic’s foreign policy initiatives employ the use of development cooperation in order to provide assistance to developing countries. At the same time, the country’s humanitarian aid acts as an opportunity for the Czech Republic to strengthen ties with its allies, further prompting social, economic, environmental and security growth. 

– Bianca Roh
Photo: Flickr

Gender inequality on China’s donation platform

Gender inequality on donation platformsThe “Spring Bud Project” is a well-known charity platform in mainland China, with the goal of sponsoring women in poor mountainous areas. However, it has recently been exposed by the media that the “Spring Bud Program” uses photos of poor girls in poor areas for publicity, but in fact, the recipients are boys, and most of them are adult males that are more than 20 years old and fully capable of working, accounting for 47% of the total number of recipients. Unfortunately, this issue of gender inequality on donation platforms appears to be widespread. 

Good Reputation

In 1989, under the leadership of the All-China Women’s Federation, the China Children’s and Teenagers’ Fund initiated and organized the implementation of the Spring Bud Project. According to its official website, the Spring Bud Project has sponsored more than 3.69 million girls, supported the construction of 1,811 Spring Bud schools, provided vocational education and training to 527,000 girls and prepared and distributed 2.17 million sets of manuals for the care of girls. Many girls have grown up and become successful under this program. As a result, the word “spring bud” carries extra weight in the hearts of many people.

The Beginning 

However, in December 2019, the “Spring Bud” program was discovered and questioned by netizens that 453 of the 1,267 high school students sponsored in this batch were boys, triggering widespread discussion and coverage. The Foundation confirmed this and said that the program was funded for reasons such as “local boys from poor families are also in need of help,” and said that the Spring Bud Program will always target girls for funding in its future implementation and that if there is a need for boys to be funded, it will be prominently featured in the fundraising literature.

This response did not quell the doubts, and some netizens believed that it violated the principle of “specific use of funds” for charitable aid, blurred the target group of the charity program and violated the relevant regulations of the Charity Law that the use of funds should not be changed without authorization. In the ensuing controversy, netizens pointed out that it was unreasonable to donate the “Spring Bud Program” special fund, which was intended to help out-of-school girls, to a 19-year-old “boy” in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a photographer.

Is It Fair?

As a country that prizes traditional values, there is still serious gender discrimination in Chinese society in 2023. This phenomenon is more and more serious in rural areas, where the majority of rural families are only willing to let boys go to school. It is for this reason that the general public has chosen to donate to this fund, which was set up especially for girls. However, the money from these donation platforms, which claim to “support girls in poor areas to study and change their destiny,” goes to adult men who also live in poor areas but only wish to own new iPads and cameras. This incident has also caused a large number of netizens to question whether it is fair to donate an equal amount to each of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries when resources are already unequally distributed.

– Jiayi Liu
Photo: Flickr

The Relationship Between Poverty and Premature Aging

Poverty and Premature Aging
Aging is a natural, continuous process that occurs from the moment one is born and becomes more pronounced in middle age and beyond. Aging involves a gradual decline in both physical and mental capacity and is marked by an increased risk of disease and ultimately death. While everyone ages, this process is not linear and can be influenced by a multitude of factors including genetics as well as differences in physical and social environments. While it is less discussed, poverty is another circumstance that impacts this phenomenon. Further exploration of poverty and premature aging is needed in order to understand this issue.

How Premature Aging Affects Those in Poverty

People in poverty may experience several symptoms related to premature aging, including:

  • Limited physical capability: A study that the European Journal of Ageing published in 2019 assessed the association between poverty and premature aging through several tests frequently used to measure physical capability, including chair rise performance, hand grip strength and balance aptitude. Jump height was also measured for supplemental data. Researchers found that adults who lived below the relative poverty line for four or more years had less favorable scores in each measure of physical capability compared to financially stable individuals. This research supports previous studies that illustrated associations between poverty and reported limitations in performing basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence and eating.
  • Poorer cognitive functioning: Poverty has persistently been linked to cognitive functioning deficits. For example, middle-aged people who have experienced poverty score lower on cognitive function assessments which analyze verbal memory, performance, speed domains and executive skills, according to a study conducted by Al Hazzouri in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in 2016. Moreover, cognitive performance, particularly processing speed, grows worse with further cumulative exposure to economic hardship.
  • Increased inflammatory levels and biological risk: High inflammatory levels and biological risks correlate with an increased risk of disease and mortality, all of which are associated with aging. Inflammatory levels can be assessed by calculating the number of immune cells in the blood that trigger systemic inflammation. High levels of inflammatory cells such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were detected in people experiencing economic hardship for four or more years. Similarly, a study published by the National Library of Medicine found that poverty status between the ages of 20-70 is marked by increased biological risks such as high blood pressure, pulse rate, total cholesterol, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, c-reactive protein and albumin. In this study, Eileen M. Crimmins states that “a person in his or her 40s who lives in or near poverty has a level of biological risk similar to that of a person about 60 in a better-off family.”
  • Early onset of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): While the relationship between communicable diseases and poverty has been well established, researchers have recently established an elevated risk of developing NCDs such as diabetes, stroke, heart attack and cancer in populations with lower socioeconomic status. Moreover, poverty increases the risk of death and disability from these diseases.
  • Early death: Premature aging among impoverished people ultimately results in early onset mortality. Even when biological risks are similar between those in poverty and the nonpoor, the former has a life expectancy of approximately 20 years shorter than the latter. Research conducted by the National Institute of Health in 2022 found that premature death risk in impoverished people increases even more when combined with other types of adversity in early childhood such as crowded housing or parental separation. Individuals with two adverse experiences have a 27% higher risk of early death, while those with four experiences have a whopping 45% higher risk.

Combating Poverty and Premature Aging

One way to combat premature aging in impoverished communities is to elucidate how poverty itself speeds up the aging process. This area of research has been relatively understudied, though several hypotheses have been offered. Researchers at the American Journal of Preventive Medicine propose that people in poverty may lack the proper resources to follow healthy lifestyles and access health care services, thus resulting in unfavorable health outcomes. Other studies suggest that the chronic stress that often accompanies prolonged poverty drives premature aging.

Despite the importance of researching these topics, studies can be hard to fund. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is one organization that provides more funds for biomedical research than any other organization in the world. In 2022 alone, the NIH invested nearly $45 billion in appropriations to researchers working to improve human health. For example, the NIH provides 75% salary support to working researchers for a minimum of two years and up to $50,000 to interdisciplinary teams. This has benefited people like Rita Hama, a clinician and instructor at Stanford University, who is trying to “better understand how the social, psychological, political, cultural and economic circumstances of those living in poverty influence their chances for a healthy life.” Hopefully, supplementing research efforts with poverty reduction tactics will sever the link between poverty and premature aging altogether.

– Olivia Welling
Photo: Flickr

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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Poverty Reduction in South Africa

Poverty Reduction in South AfricaIn 2015, all United Nations (U.N.) members adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which outlines 17 Goals in an urgent call to action by all states. The primary focus was on poverty reduction, sustainability, hygiene education and quality education. In 2019, the South African government finalized the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2020-25, which includes a multidisciplinary approach to tackling poverty in South Africa through consultation with civil society, academia, the private sector and others.

No Poverty

Goal 1, No Poverty, is a priority for many nations because of its pressing nature. Goal 1 includes eradicating all extreme poverty, to ensure people are living on at least $1.25, the benchmark, per day. In South Africa, there has been concern, as elsewhere in the continent, that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more people into poverty and has created more inequality between the rich and the poor.

The World Bank estimates that poverty in South Africa was 63% in 2022, based on the upper-middle-income country poverty line. Severe electricity shortages caused by ‘power rationing’ by the government of up to nine hours per day have also impacted and halted the economy since many sectors such as IT, water and service delivery cannot function. Alongside this, South Africa’s history of Apartheid still lingers today through inequality and poverty. For example, the 2020 multidimensional poverty report by UNICEF revealed that Black children were almost seven times more likely to live in poverty.

Taking Action

The South African government has taken some steps toward poverty reduction in South Africa. In 2012, the government adopted Vision 2030, a National Development Plan (NDP) aiming to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. In the NDP, 74% of the SDG targets are directly addressed, showing a good alignment of the plan in tackling poverty in South Africa.

Focus areas of the National Development Plan included poverty reduction in South Africa, alongside the creation of employment and sustainability. The government administered financial assistance to around 17 million people, including grants to pensions, child support, disability and more, within the NDP. Despite these attempts, poverty continues to persist.

The Intervention of Charity Organizations

Charities have also been extremely important in realizing and helping to implement the SDGs. The Borgen Project spoke with Iris Salemi, an International Intern for the charity Where Rainbows Meet, who spent a month working in South Africa and witnessing first-hand the impact of poverty. Where Rainbows Meet provides weekly computer, sewing, gardening and business lessons, alongside CV and child education workshops to increase the employability of young people in the Vrygrond area in Cape Town. Daily power cuts have hindered the ability of charities such as Where Rainbows Meet to carry out crucial work that impacts poverty reduction in South Africa. For example, charities cannot provide computers during power cuts, the kitchen is out of use and the education programs cannot happen without electrical power. For Iris, charities need more government support in order to fight unemployment in a community-based manner.

Other charities also operate and work to reduce poverty in South Africa with the SDGs in mind. These include Nkosi’s Haven, which supports HIV-infected mothers and children through residential and holistic care and provides education to affected communities. For example, it developed Nkosi’s Haven Village, a 2.5-acre plot of land south of Johannesburg that accommodates 22 mothers and 121 children. Operation Hunger also operates in the country and provides food parcels all over South Africa for the most vulnerable. While these are just a few examples, they show the meaningful and crucial ongoing work to address poverty-related issues in South Africa in line with the SDGs.

The Interlinkage of the SDGs

The connection and overlapping of the SDGs are extremely important in addressing multidimensional poverty. For example, quality education (Goal 4) is linked to reducing poverty (Goal 1), as is decent work (Goal 8) and reduced inequalities (Goal 10). Salemi outlined this during her work in the Vrygrond community, saying that “tackling youth education is, as I see it, the most effective way to fight poverty”.

In South Africa, the 2020 multidimensional poverty report revealed that, as of 2021, 50% of individuals aged 15 to 24 were without employment. In her research, Salemi discovered that many individuals grappled with issues related to self-confidence, belief in their abilities and a lack of understanding about what constitutes success. For instance, some young learners struggled to discern the value of education, while others found themselves drawn into negative influences such as gangs. Additional factors contributing to this predicament encompass subpar educational opportunities and skill development, insufficient career guidance within educational institutions and the financial burdens associated with job-seeking, particularly for those residing in rural regions.

Where Rainbows Meet set up workshops in order to help more young people realize their ambitions and see their own value. With better work opportunities and quality education, there is hope for achieving poverty reduction. The role of the government and the work local charities do are consequently imperative in helping South Africa achieve the SDGs.

Taytin’s Experience

The interlinkage of the SDGs is shown in the case of Taytin, whom Iris met during her internship. Coming from a family engaged in drugs and gangs, Taytin’s only option to avoid engagement in this was the street, where he, his brother and father spent all of Taytin’s childhood. Taytin went to Where Rainbows Meet and is now a computer teacher at the charity, and Iris states, “he has helped so many kids and so many adults find a brighter path.” This personal story allows one to observe the importance of achieving the SDGs, all of which influence each other.

Looking Ahead

The pursuit of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a complex and urgent task. Exacerbated by the pandemic, its historical inequalities and electricity shortages, South Africa faces challenges in reducing poverty. Charities have made meaningful and impactful strides toward addressing poverty-related issues, in line with the SDGs. In addressing poverty and implementing the framework necessary for its alleviation, South Africa can work toward meeting many of the other SDGs simultaneously, as underscored by the work of charities in the country.

– Rosie Lyons
Photo: Flickr

How National Parks in Chile Can Help Tackle Poverty

National Parks in ChileChile lines the West Coast of South America. At 4,270 km long, the country hosts a diverse and unique set of ecosystems, with many of the plants and animals being found only in those regions. These ecosystems are at risk though with the threat of droughts, desertification, devastating wildfires, deadly heat waves, sea level rise, coastal erosion and the increasing intensity of extreme weather events ruining them.

The threat of the collapse of these ecosystems not only affects the plants and animals in Chile but also the people. It has been proven that the preservation and conservation of these lands have helped to reduce poverty in Chile; therefore, it is imperative that efforts are made to ensure the continuation of these ecosystems. The Tompkins Foundation has made it their mission to both conserve land in Chile by creating national parks and rewild Chile by reintroducing native species that have already disappeared from these lands. These efforts directly impact poverty reduction, allowing the Chilean people to thrive.

The Tompkins Foundation

In the 1980s, both Douglas and Kristine Tompkins decided to sell their shares of the companies they owned and operated from the United States down to Chilean Patagonia. Douglas had started the multimillion-dollar companies The North Face and Esprit, and Kristine was the former CEO of the company Patagonia as well as a lifelong conservationist.

Using their funds, they founded the Tompkins Foundation and over the next 30 years they were able to purchase and preserve over 14 million acres of land in both Chile and Argentina. They felt a duty to give back to an earth that they had grown up in, explored and enjoyed. The couple then worked tirelessly to convert the lands that they had purchased into parks.

In 2017 they reached an agreement, in collaboration with the Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, to transform many of these privately owned parks into national parks for the Chilean people. Douglas, unfortunately, passed away in 2015 before he was able to see their plan to fruition. Kristine and the rest of the Tompkins Foundation continue to be dedicated to the mission of “preserving [the] land and sea, restoring biodiversity, and helping communities to thrive.”

Poverty Reduction and National Parks

One of these aforementioned parks donated by the Tompkins Foundation in 2017 was Patagonia National Park. Subsequently in 2020, the Conservation Strategy Fund conducted a study commissioned by The PEW Charitable Trust that found that living near these protected areas has helped Chileans avoid poverty. The research done by the Conservation Strategy Fund highlights a broader conversation on how conservation is obtainable while fitting in with economic development and human well-being.

This study focused on the economic indicators of poverty in Chilean households both close to Patagonia and far away, by looking at access to running water, electricity and if the household had a refrigerator. Over a 20-year period, they found that people living near protected areas had higher access to these economic indicators in comparison to people living far away from them.

Although the study took place over many regions both protected and unprotected in Chile, they found that the greatest positive impact was in the Patagonia region, which was the region with the largest amount of newly protected land added during the study. The reasoning for this is still unclear. Overall though, the study found two reasons as to why a decrease in poverty was seen for people situated near public lands; tourism and infrastructure.

These two factors go hand in hand. As the beautiful lands of Chile are turned into National Parks, tourism increases boosting the economies of both these regions and the country. Furthermore, as more tourists flow into the country federal funds are directed towards creating and updating infrastructure to accommodate them. One of the most influential additions to infrastructure is road connectivity, allowing the flow of goods and services, as well as people, to reach these areas further benefiting the economy.

Continuing Debates

Regardless of the apartment positive attributions public lands make to poverty reduction, they are still controversial. Many see conservation as a roadblock to economic development and poverty reduction because it does not allow access to lands that could be used for their natural resources. The two contrasting viewpoints regarding the purpose of protected areas, one that emphasizes conservation without direct socioeconomic benefits and the other that advocates for using protected areas to contribute to local well-being, are not new.

A Conversation With The Tompkins Foundation

Regarding this debate, The Borgen Project was able to speak with Carolina Morgado, the Executive Director of Rewilding Chile, a legacy foundation of Tompkins Conservation continuing the work in Chile today. Her take on the aforementioned debate was that “The notion that conservation doesn’t yield direct socioeconomic benefits relates to a failure to appreciate nature’s inherent value and its services to communities, relegating it solely to considering its instrumental value.” This comment contributes to the aforementioned study demonstrating a different and more sustainable perspective on how lands can contribute to human well-being. Both humans and the planet are taken into consideration and are able to thrive simultaneously.

Morgado underscores the importance of “framing access to public lands in Chile as advantageous for its citizens, highlighting benefits beyond the failure of valuing nature as an unlimited resource.” Notably, these insights align with the United Nations’ 2015 agenda, aiming to achieve global sustainable development by 2030 through the harmonization of human well-being and ecological preservation.

The amalgamation of the Conservation Strategy Fund’s recent discoveries with preceding research forms a compelling argument advocating for heightened financial support from the Chilean government to effectively manage the nation’s protected areas. Beyond demonstrating the societal merits of safeguarded regions, the presented findings hold the potential to attract fresh investments and crucial financial backing for presently underfunded Chilean protected areas.

– Ada Rose Wagar
Photo: Flickr

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Gender-Based Violence in Politics

Gender-Based Violence in Politics
According to the World Bank, nearly one in three women has endured gender-based violence (GBV). While intimate partner violence is one of the more common forms of GBV, sometimes GBV can occur in the public sphere because of a woman’s level of political involvement. Here are some things to know about gender-based violence in politics.

What is Gender-Based Violence?

Gender-based violence or GBV is “sexual, physical, mental [or] economic harm inflicted [upon women and girls] in public or in private.” For a long time, violence against women was accepted and normalized in society. It wasn’t until 1992 that gender-based violence was legally considered by the U.N. to be a violation of women’s human rights.

GBV in Politics

The right to vote and the right to hold office are civic duties that everyone should have the opportunity to utilize. Yet, in many countries, women are receiving backlash for being heavily involved in democratic processes. Whether it be running for office or voting, the number of women who are politically engaged has recently increased. Due to the very public nature of politics, however, many women who live in places that aim to suppress women’s rights have been in danger of being harmed and sometimes even killed for their political engagement. 

In What Countries Do Women in Politics Experience the Highest Rates of Gbv?

Women in politics are said to experience violence at higher rates in the countries of Mexico, China, India and Afghanistan. There have been several instances reported in these countries of gender-based violence being inflicted upon women who are politically engaged. For example, in May 2021, a Mexican woman who was running for local deputy was shot at while holding a rally. A similar scenario took place in Afghanistan in January 2021 when two Afghan women who were judges in Afghanistan’s Supreme Court were shot and killed. 

Looking Ahead

Many organizations are working to eliminate the violence that not only women working in politics but all women must endure. For example, CARE has been working towards its mission of “sav[ing] lives, defeat[ing] poverty, achiev[ing] social justice, and fight[ing] for women and girls” since 1945. CARE is specifically addressing the issue of GBV by aiding survivors mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and legally. Additionally, CARE integrates ways to combat GBV across all of its initiatives. By recognizing GBV as a complex and widespread issue, CARE aims to fight it in all of the many places in which it appears. Thus far, their initiatives have reached millions of people, with 2.4 million survivors of GBV receiving help and 92 GBV initiatives being implemented in 34 countries.

CARE is not the only organization working towards fighting back against gender-based violence. The Foundation for Civic Education and Social Empowerment (FOCESE) has similar goals. FOCESE is an organization based in Malawi whose mission is to help vulnerable communities, specifically young women and girls, and advocate for “gender-equitable social norms, attitudes, and behavioral change at both community and individual levels.” Additionally, FOCESE claims to “work tirelessly to prevent violence against women and girls.” In addition to their desire to combat GBV, FOCESE is also encouraging young girls to become more politically engaged. 

The Youth for Inclusion, Participation, and Empowerment (YIPE) in Local Governance is a project aimed at increasing the amount of women’s representation and involvement in local government. This project, coupled with the organization’s constant desire to combat GBV, is a step in the right direction. Hopefully between organizations such as CARE and FOCESE, gender-based violence in politics — and elsewhere — will not only decrease but, eventually, come to an end.

– Nicole Alexander
Photo: Flickr

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China’s Advancements in Vertical Farming

Advancements in Vertical Farming 
Among the biggest issues families in poverty face are the lack of access to nutritional foods and the fatigue that follows extreme hunger. Vertical farming is a modern agricultural advancement that may be able to greatly increase accessibility to healthy, natural food for lower-income families and China is a leading investigator into this new idea. In April 2023, Chinese scientists managed to make one of the biggest advancements in vertical farming. They grew a previously unheard-of yield of cabbages and lettuce — 2,500 — in a single 9 by 5.5-meter tower in Singapore. The tower was in the shape of an “A,” and its yield was about 10 times that of a traditional farm with about 5% of the ground space. 

China’s Vertical Farming Efforts

China is one of the top investors in vertical farming. The farms require high-technology equipment to regulate temperature, making the production of them an expensive endeavor. However, China is confident in its ability to provide food to urban areas and has so far invested in more than 250 farms across the country. The country was even one of the first to officially invest in the farms in 2002, and its popularity has increased steadily since then. 

One of the largest farms set to be made in China is the Jian Mu Tower, which is designed to be 218 meters tall and use 10,000 square meters to grow indoor crops. This amount of space would yield almost 300,000 kilograms of crops each year, meaning it would be able to feed about 40,000 people. This is set to be one of the biggest advancements in vertical farming and many other agricultural practices. The tower is not only intended to be a farm but an experiment center for techniques like solar shading and microclimate control. The production of this building in Shenzhen will set the bar for vertical farms across the globe, alongside being a huge agricultural and architectural advancement. 

The Benefits of Vertical Farming

One of the biggest benefits of vertical farming is that it simply takes up less space and water. Vertical farming is built upward, not outward across acres of land, and thus can yield thousands more crops with only a fraction of the ground space of traditional farming. The farms are also able to eliminate water waste within farming.  

Another huge advantage to vertical farming is that the farms’ yields are not susceptible to bad weather conditions. In traditional farming, entire acres of crops can be wiped out by tornadoes or windstorms, yields can be ruined because the climate is too hot or cold and certain crops can only be grown in season. Indoor vertical farms can grow almost all crops year-round independent of weather conditions. The indoor farms are able to simulate any climate to properly nurture crops and save them from harsh weather conditions that would otherwise wipe them out, yielding high-quality, healthy food consistently and without high waste. 

Finally, plants are also able to grow without bugs eating away at them, meaning agrochemicals that are used to control weeds or repel insects do not need to be used. This benefits both the crops, keeping them natural and unaffected by chemicals, and the environment, through the decreased use of aerosols. 

The Downsides of Vertical Farming

Unfortunately, vertical farms can be very expensive. Many of the benefits that come along with vertical farming are a direct result of the cost of creating vertical farms. The equipment required to simulate outdoor conditions and properly monitor the growth of the crops is high-tech and high-priced, making countries less likely to invest in the farms. 

The Future of Vertical Farming

Traditional farming is high-maintenance, strenuous work, and young people are becoming less interested in traditional farming as a career path. As of 2017, around 60% of farmers were more than 50 years old, and fewer and fewer young people are willing to participate in manual labor as the world becomes more technologically advanced. Vertical farms could grow in popularity because of this, as their controlled environment and smaller-scale individual production make working conditions much more comfortable. 

– Allison Groves
Photo: Flickr

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UNICEF’s Make a Splash! Expands Hygiene Access for 5.6 Million

UNICEF's Make a Splash
Since 2018, UNICEF’s Make a Splash! campaign has sought to expand access to clean water for those who need it most. The partnership with LIXIL has managed to improve sanitation conditions for 5.6 million people in 2022 alone. Here is some information about this campaign and how it is changing the lives of countless people in developing countries.

What is the Make a Splash! Campaign? 

UNICEF’s partnership with LIXIL, a Tokyo-based organization of companies manufacturing plumbing equipment, has proved wildly successful since its initial launch in 2018. The campaign aims to increase the accessibility of clean water in six countries: India, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. 

The Make a Splash! campaign pursues a number of different avenues to accomplish its goals, including the endorsement of government policies expanding access to clean water, the installation of plumbing fixtures and sanitation training. The partnership is designed to take definitive action toward the World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in access to sanitation services. 

By the Numbers 

In 2022, Make a Splash! provided nearly 3 million people with access to sanitation services and 2.7 million with access to hand-washing facilities. Much of this was accomplished through the installation of SATO equipment, a subsidiary of LIXIL focused on manufacturing accessible hygiene products

Additionally, the program trained more than 300,000 stakeholders on safe and effective sanitation practices. Make a Splash! also improved a number of information systems relating to sanitation and endorsed government policies increasing sanitation access, and strengthening hygiene infrastructure in the long run. 

Long-Term Impacts

The program emphasizes innovation in sanitation technologies, with the goal of increasing sustainability in the hygiene industry. The partnership with LIXIL sets a standard of accessibility and affordability of sanitation products and services, making a large impact not only on the quality of life in these areas but also on the sanitation industry itself. LIXIL has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the campaign, helping to support these endeavors and provide clean and sanitary facilities in some of the world’s poorest countries. 

Why it Matters

UNICEF’s Make a Splash! partnership was founded in order to push the world closer to achieving SDGs for the year 2030. These dramatic efforts are intended to accelerate global attempts to reach these targets in the area of sanitation. The campaign sets an example for companies in the hygiene industry to help push these efforts further toward SDG targets, which are in desperate need of increased attention. 

SDG Targets 6.1 and 6.2 focus on expanding and improving sanitation services around the world. Access to hygienic facilities significantly increases the quality of life in affected areas, including reduced spread of disease, decreased severity of malnutrition and improvements in safety, particularly for young girls. 

The impact of these services is so notable that the World Health Organization (WHO) states that for each dollar invested in increased access to sanitation, $5.50 is returned in productivity, decreased health costs and increased lifespan. 

Conclusion

The results of UNICEF’s Make a Splash! campaign has changed the lives of millions in the world’s poorest regions. Through its partnership with LIXIL, UNICEF has managed to make sustainable improvements in sanitation access and infrastructure for those who need it most. 

– Mary Burke
Photo: Flickr

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Cuba’s Growing Economy and its Effects on Poverty

Cuba’s Growing Economy and its Effects on Poverty
In 2018, Cuba’s economy was slowly increasing at a GDP growth rate of 2.2%, recovering from the economic instability the country was experiencing at the time. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Cuba’s economy regressed significantly as its industries, such as the service industry (which composes 75% of the national GDP), were drastically affected. The effects of the pandemic were further exacerbated as Cuba’s currency was changed to the Cuban Peso in 2021, leading to hyperinflation at an estimated 500%. The outcomes of these events have drawn attention to Cuba’s growing economy and its effects on poverty.

Despite its economic regression, Cuba’s economy has been revitalized ever since 2021. Inflation has reduced from 500% to 39.07% in 2022 and public debt decreased from 151.1% of Cuban GDP in 2021 to 118.9% of Cuban GDP in 2022. This is largely in part due to the Cuban government opening its economy to private businesses, many of which originate from the U.S. As Cuba welcomes private business, the people of Cuba, especially those in poverty, have significantly benefited. 

US Companies Entering Cuba 

One example of how Cuban industries have been impacted by U.S. companies is the Cuban tourism industry. In January 2021, Cuba had 84,000 tourists, down 80% from January 2020. In January of 2023, however, Cuba recorded 246,000 tourists. This surge is mainly due to companies that have sped up Cuban tourism’s economic recovery. One such company is Airbnb. 

A popular characteristic of Cuba for tourists is the Casas Particulares, which are homes of Cuban residents that are shared with tourists. Airbnb rose to prominence in Cuba because it promotes these casas and makes it easier for tourists to locate them. In Airbnb’s first year in Cuba (2015), the company generated business for more than 4,000 Casas Particulares. Airbnb also significantly increased jobs within Cuba’s tourism industry. 

One case study involves Manuel Fortún Manzano, a 29-year-old employed in a construction company at the time of Airbnb’s entry into Cuba. Through Airbnb, Manuel began to offer a tourist experience (known as the “Havana Whisper”) which allowed Manuel to become a full-time tour guide. Manuel represents one of the thousands of people who have benefitted from a job as a result of Airbnb. 

Besides Airbnb, other American corporations, such as Netflix and American Express, have recently entered Cuba and greatly improved various industries. In doing so, the economic improvements have also benefited much of Cuba’s poor. As such, U.S. companies have contributed to Cuba’s growing economy and its effects on poverty reduction. 

How Cuba’s Growing Economy is Decreasing Poverty

  1. Lower Unemployment Rate: In January 2021, Cuba’s unemployment rate reached 3.87%, jumping 2.8% from the previous year. However, since the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of Cuba’s initiative to open its economy, unemployment rates have declined again. As of 2022, Cuba’s unemployment rate decreased by 1.07%. As the unemployment rate continues to decrease, more people will be able to obtain jobs and a stable source of income, thereby decreasing the number of people in poverty.
  2. Hunger & Nutrition: One of the most influential ways Cuba has reduced poverty levels has been through addressing hunger and malnutrition. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) measures the percentage of a country’s population that suffers from hunger on a 0 (best) to 100 scale (worst). Since 2000, Cuba has not had any GHI score surpassing the “very low” threshold, which is a score of 5 or less. Despite a low GHI score, Cuba has had struggles with agricultural production, mainly due to COVID-19. While the Cuban government continues to invest in its weak agricultural output, Cuba has effectively prevented hunger and, therefore, poverty.
  3. GDP Growth: In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuba’s GDP growth rate hit rock bottom at -10.9%. As Cuba began to open its economy to privatization, however, Cuba’s economy rebounded. A year later, in 2021, Cuba’s GDP grew by 1.3%. This trend is very promising because a higher GDP is known to have a direct correlation with lower poverty rates. 

These three trends represent the importance of Cuba’s growing economy and its effects on poverty reduction.

The Future of Cuba

As Cuba embraces privatization, more businesses will seek to enter the market and stimulate Cuba’s declining economy. As the economy rebounds, Cuba’s poverty rates will continue to fall as people are open to more opportunities. As a result, Cuba’s growing economy and its effects on poverty offer a positive glimpse into the country’s future.  

– Manav Yarlagadda
Photo: Unsplash