Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How Poverty and Mental Disorder Diagnosis Are Interconnected

Mental Disorder Diagnosis
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2017, the incidence of mental illnesses increased by 13% worldwide. With the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in 2020, anxiety and depression increased by 25%. Much of the burden of mental illness is still concentrated in low-income, developing countries. Here is some information about some of the issues impacting mental disorder diagnosis for low-income populations and what can be done to provide equal care.

Mental Health in Developing Countries

There is a strong association between poverty and mental illness. Lower SES is associated with a higher risk of mental disorder diagnosis. Poverty can lead to poor physical health, which is often comorbid with mental disorders. These health issues give rise to higher spending on treatment which feeds back into the cycle of poverty. Dynamics like these are especially pronounced in developing countries where factors such as war and natural disasters exacerbate negative outcomes. The WHO reports that one in five people affected by conflict will develop conditions like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Receiving a Diagnosis

Developing countries face a variety of barriers to mental health diagnosis. Many people are unable to receive a diagnosis due to unavailable or unaffordable health care. Countries like Afghanistan and Ghana only have 0.296 and 0.065 psychologists per 100,000 people, respectively. When people are able to find a practitioner, they may not be able to afford their services. A 2019 report by the World Bank said that populations in developing countries spent $500 billion out of pocket on health care.

While rates of mental illness in developing countries are already high, the lack of access to health care raises the question of whether these statistics are accurate or if some are falling through the cracks without being diagnosed.

Misdiagnosis

When people in these areas are able to be diagnosed, they may not receive the most accurate diagnosis. A study conducted in six low- and middle-income countries in Africa and South Asia reported poor training for mental health professionals and inadequate knowledge of mental health issues. Without a proper understanding of the complexity of mental health, providers can make mistakes with serious consequences. There is evidence that racial and ethnic minorities, who are disproportionately affected by poverty, are also more likely to receive an incorrect mental disorder diagnosis. Some of this may be due to bias and discrimination. 

Another factor impacting diagnosis is culture. Diagnostic manuals tend to be written from a Western perspective that does not always translate to other cultures. For example, patients may vary in the types of symptoms they present with. Asian patients are more likely to report physical symptoms than emotional ones. Cultural background may also prevent people from seeking out treatment. Physicians must keep these cultural differences in mind to ensure that an accurate mental disorder diagnosis is made. 

Stigma Surrounding Diagnosis

The stigma surrounding mental disorders is prevalent cross-culturally. In some countries, mental health is rarely discussed openly and is treated as a taboo subject. In Ghana, for instance, those suffering from mental illnesses are isolated. They may decide not to seek treatment or express their feelings due to shame. Those already diagnosed often face harmful stereotypes and social ostracization. 

Stigma stems from various factors, but insufficient mental health literacy is one of the greatest contributors. This includes both academic research on mental health and widespread knowledge among the general public. Developing countries tend to fall behind in mental health research. Improving educational efforts to increase mental health awareness is shown to be effective in reducing public stigma.

A Brighter Future

Though there are many issues surrounding mental disorder diagnosis, there are steps that can be taken to improve the situation. Huesofthemind Wellbeing Foundation (HOTM) is one nonprofit that is spreading awareness about mental health. Founded in India, HOTM is a member of the United Nations SDSN Youth. The organization breaks down mental health stigma by providing workshops and running campaigns to spread awareness. Topics range from educational stress and burnout to dance therapy. The organization features lists on its website of mental health professionals available to provide online therapy. For those who cannot afford professional help, HOTM offers free resources to learn about mental disorders and share personal stories to connect with others. Free, online resources are a valuable tool, both for people who are newly diagnosed and others who are farther along in their mental health journey. 

Mental health is an integral part of overall well-being. For many, a mental disorder diagnosis can be the first step toward improving their health. Improving access to quality mental health care and education ensures a brighter future for all.

– Yesenia Aguilera
Photo: Flickr

Addressing Stigma Regarding Mental Health in Tunisia

Mental Health in Tunisia
Tunisia, a center of Arab culture and home to 11.7 million Tunisians, has been making significant strides in improving its care for mental health across all stages of life. Battling the overwhelming stigma and discrimination against individuals facing mental health issues, Tunisian citizens have been working diligently to change attitudes toward mental health in their country. Mental health in Tunisia ranges from disorders to everyday anxiety struggles; however, most cases go undiagnosed as many are afraid to bring upon themselves the stigma associated with being publicly labeled as a person with a mental health disorder. Nonetheless, consistent effort to reduce mental health stigma has improved Tunisia’s overall public health. 

The Conception of Mental Health Among the Youth

Since 2012, International Alert, a peacebuilding organization, has been working with Tunisia to support a peaceful democratic transition, guaranteeing the inclusion of excluded and marginalized groups. In 2022, they conducted a survey-based study to analyze the impression of mental health among Tunisian youth and their personal experiences with mental health struggles. The study concluded that Tunisia’s youth lacked knowledge about mental health. However, when questioned about mental health in Tunisia, there were both positive and negative responses. A significant number of participants rated their mental health negatively and were reluctant to admit their struggles with mental health issues. They were also hesitant to seek assistance from mental health facilities or psychologists, despite being aware of the need for professional help. 

Obstacles: Institutional and Social

There are two types of obstacles evident in the study: institutional and social obstacles. These two categories can be intertwined and mutually reinforcing. For instance, the lack of accessible services has resulted in an absence of a mental health culture in Tunisia. Additionally, the cost of treatment further exacerbates the issue of inaccessibility for marginalized and discriminated groups in Tunisia. The stereotypes that arise from the absence of a mental health culture have led to prejudice, stigma and bullying against individuals who struggle with mental health issues daily.

READ Training

Based on the background information regarding mental health in Tunisia, it is evident that both social and institutional changes are necessary. In 2017, a team of psychiatrists from Razi Hospital initiated the Responding to Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination (READ) program. This program aims to provide anti-stigma training to medical students at Tunis Medical School. The effectiveness of this training has been demonstrated in high-income countries, raising hopes among professionals for similar outcomes in Tunisia.

The main goal of the Tunisia READ training is to build people’s knowledge of stigma and combat its daily effects on individuals. Awareness of attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatry is the first step towards improvement because recognizing a problem is essential to fixing it. Following this goal is the aim to reduce discriminatory behavior towards individuals with mental health disorders and their caregivers.

Despite the initial challenges posed by the pre-existing attitudes of medical students and citizens, the trainers of this program persevered and remained consistent in their goals. They actively engaged with people to implement an improved attitude towards mental health in Tunisia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tunisia has been actively addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and making efforts to improve the overall care for individuals facing mental health issues. The study conducted among Tunisian youth highlighted the lack of knowledge and reluctance to seek professional help, indicating the need for institutional and social changes. Initiatives like the READ training program have shown promise in raising awareness and combating stigma, with dedicated trainers working persistently to foster a positive attitude towards mental health in Tunisia. Continued efforts and consistent engagement are crucial for achieving lasting improvements in mental health care and reducing discrimination in the country.

– Sandy Kang
Photo: Pixabay

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How BUVAD is Helping Indigenous Ugandans

Indigenous Ugandans
Uganda is an especially impoverished nation, with 41% of the population living in poverty. Although the country receives aid and help from other countries, it is also home to many nonprofits that seek to provide additional help to the country’s citizens. Many of the county’s nonprofits are located in more urban areas of the country, such as Kampala. The Butakoola Village Association for Development (BUVAD) is one of the few nonprofits aiming to specifically help one of the country’s most struggling populations — Indigenous Ugandans. BUVAD is a volunteer-run and Indigenous-founded nonprofit started in 2000 that aims to help all Ugandans — and especially Indigenous Ugandans — improve their overall quality of life. One of the most unique parts about BUVAD as a nonprofit is its variety of approaches to achieving its goals. 

Women’s Economic Empowerment

One of the most unique groups that BUVAD is helping is female entrepreneurs. To do this, they started a microloan program for women with small businesses to receive money intended to go towards anything to help their business grow. Since the start of the program, 20 more women have joined and are currently receiving microloans for their businesses. Some businesses that BUVAD says these microloans have gone towards are mat-making, basket-weaving and beer-brewing businesses owned by women in Uganda. This program also creates a network for women receiving the loan, which has resulted in these women regularly holding meetings and helping each other with their businesses. 

These microloans have helped women business owners, which is especially important in Uganda. In Uganda, nearly 40% of all businesses are owned by women, but women entrepreneurs earn 30% less profit compared to male entrepreneurs. By continuing to support women-owned businesses, perhaps the stigma surrounding businesses owned by women in Uganda will become less severe and profits will begin to become equal between genders. 

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support

BUVAD is helping lower Uganda’s HIV/AIDS infection rate as well. The nonprofit takes the approach of normalizing Ugandans to HIV/AIDS prevention methods by integrating the information into workshops about other topics. For example, in a workshop about bottle brick technology, BUVAD includes information about HIV/AIDS prevention, normalizing discussion about the disease in Uganda. This is especially needed in Uganda, with the HIV/AIDS infection rate in some areas of the country reaching as high as 8%, and the highest-infected areas also being the most impoverished. By normalizing discussion of HIV/AIDS and ways to prevent it, BUVAD hopes to reduce the disease’s infection rate in Uganda and get more of those who are infected on preventative medication. 

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Support

BUVAD’s most comprehensive program is one that focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene support for Ugandans, which the program aims to do by executing six main approaches to the issue. These are to promote regular handwashing, safeguard vulnerable communities against preventable water-spread diseases, improve water and toilet coverage levels, improve water sanitation and hygiene levels, improve awareness of government water programs and ensure the safety and consistent maintenance of safe water sources. 

Water safety is an especially prominent issue in Uganda, with more than 20 children being admitted to the hospital per week in Kayunga, a district in Uganda, due to water safety-related issues. BUVAD helps these children directly by creating 10,000-liter tanks out of recyclable plastic for primary schools in Kayunga to store safe water. Water safety in Uganda is considered a crisis, with 83% of the country’s population lacking access to clean water. By creating direct approaches to providing clean water like BUVAD is doing, the water safety crisis will slowly become less of an issue over time. 

BUVAD’s Multifaceted Work in Uganda

Although most nonprofits tend to approach one main issue out of fear of spreading resources thin, BUVAD has managed to address a multitude of issues effectively while still being able to consistently create new initiatives and approaches to issues. By continuing to do this, BUVAD will continue to help lift Ugandans out of poverty and help the country improve in both health and economy. 

– Aidan Johnstone
Photo: Flickr

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How Truffle Hunting in Syria Became a Deadly Endeavor

Truffle Hunting in Syria

Syria is currently enduring one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. Tragically, 90% of Syrians are living in poverty due to a multitude of issues including damaging natural disasters, widespread displacement, destruction of essential infrastructure and conflict that has decimated the country for over a decade. Driven by extreme poverty, truffle hunting in Syria has become a popular way to make money despite the recent shootings that have plagued the desert terrain.

What is Truffle Hunting? 

Truffle hunting is an activity that involves collecting Middle Eastern black and white truffles otherwise known as Kama or desert truffles. These truffles are fatty fungi rich in protein and typically grow in desert regions of Syria and the Middle East. Desert truffles grow best in rainy weather, particularly in turbulent storms. For this reason, truffles are sometimes called “daughters of thunder,” as lightning has a special effect on the types and sizes of the fungi. After storms, truffle hunters prowl the deserts in search of Kama during the rainy season. Truffles are either hand-picked or dug up with simple tools and usually brought to various towns to be sold. There is no definitive way to price a truffle, as they are sold based on the size and estimated flavor.

Why is Truffle Hunting in Syria Dangerous? 

Truffle hunting in Syria was a beloved spring tradition and leisurely pastime. Unfortunately, truffle hunting has recently become a deadly endeavor. More than 200 truffle hunters were killed in Syria over a 70-day hunting period this past spring. Some hunters were blindsided by landmines buried in the desert ground, while others were ambushed by assailants using high-caliber guns. The deadliest attack occurred on February 17, 2023, when 53 truffle hunters were shot dead according to Syrian state media. Though their involvement hasn’t been confirmed, the Syrian State suspects that the Islamic State or ISIS — a particularly violent Jihadist organization — is responsible for the killings. Instead of abandoning truffle hunting and the unpredictable desert landscape, many Syrians are continuing this practice despite the risk. 

Why are Syrians Still Truffle Hunting? 

Today, more than 90% of Syrian civilians are crippled by poverty. Many families lack essential resources including basic needs like food and clean water. This issue is compounded by the long-lasting turmoil that has depleted resources and infrastructure, increased inflation and limited employment opportunities. Currently, the average monthly wage in Syria is approximately $18 whereas truffles can sell for more than $25. Because of this socio-economic burden, many Syrians feel compelled to attempt truffle hunting in order to make ends meet.

How to Solve the Problem

The government of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has gained control of targeted areas. Other allied armed groups such as Iran-backed militias, National Defense Forces and the Fourth Armored Division of the Syrian Army are also involved in the protection of Syrian truffle hunters. 

Alongside defensive units, alleviating poverty would also protect Syrian civilians by reducing the need to truffle hunt altogether. Optimistically, there are several organizations working to combat poverty in Syria. 

Oxfam is one of several initiatives responding to Syria’s humanitarian crisis. Oxfam aids more than 1.5 million people by providing safe water, sanitation, food resources and support towards securing life-saving jobs. Oxfam also assists farmers in growing and distributing food.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is another organization providing support to Syrians in need of help. The IRC has more than 1,000 staff members inside Syria working to provide necessities, create safe spaces for women and children, provide counseling and mental health services, build households and promote job stability through training, apprenticeships and small business support. 

What Does the Future Hold?

While the Syrian government has stationed several defensive units in desert territories, some of these forces have taken advantage of desperate Syrians by using them as protection or coercing them into cutting profits. Moreover, the ongoing humanitarian crisis is continuing to financially cripple many Syrians. By tackling poverty in Syria head-on, the risks posed to truffle hunters can be mitigated and the Syrian population could benefit as a whole. 

– Olivia Welling
Photo: Flickr

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How USAID Programs in Madagascar Are Combating Poverty

USAID Programs in MadagascarWith the extreme poverty rate (<$1.90 per day) climbing to 78% in 2021, USAID programs in Madagascar are needed more than ever. USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, is the American-operated organization that delivers foreign aid and development assistance. In Madagascar, the agency is focused on health, energy, governance, food security and the environment. 

Health

Through USAID programs in Madagascar, the country has successfully seen a 25% decrease in malaria cases in its population. Through efforts like providing insecticide-treated mosquito nets and insecticide sprays to households and granting preventive treatments to pregnant women, this feat did not take very long to accomplish — this reduction occurred over the course of just one year. 

Energy

USAID programs in Madagascar stem out further than the country’s respective borders, finding partnerships in initiatives like the Southern Africa Energy Program. This plan was active for roughly five years, from March 2017 until March 2022, and strove to increase the investment in electricity within southern Africa as a whole. Their endeavors ultimately resulted in them acquiring over $3 million to accomplish such feats, along with the ongoing supervision from Madagascar’s government.

Governance

In 2021, USAID launched a public project dedicated to Madagascar’s Court of Accounts, with a budget of roughly $4 million and a lifespan of five years. With its successful establishment, the court now operates through its Annual Work Program for 2023, focusing on providing audits in areas like the environment, economic growth, governance and others.

Food Security

Malnourishment is also a major concern for Madagascar’s communities, with roughly 1.64 million people in need of food aid. In the year 2020, USAID provided $45.8 million to the southern regions of Madagascar, to provide them with emergency food aid and further develop miscellaneous assistance. This investment is only part of the program’s partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), — the U.S. has provided over $100 million to the WFP in the last two years.

Environment

Lastly, Madagascar’s environment is prone to seasonal disasters that affect its wildlife, ranging from natural processes such as erosion to man-made catastrophes like deforestation. Since 2013, however, USAID has provided $56 million to local programs in Madagascar that combat such destruction and improve overall management. The Conservation and Communities Project also plays a role as part of USAID, operating through its Nature, Wealth and Power paradigm that allows them to conserve the country’s biodiversity and promote alternative natural resource management plans.

Madagascar faces plenty of troublesome issues. Through USAID programs, however, improvements are being made every day.

– Nathan Bronk
Photo: Unsplash

Poverty and Economic Growth in Indonesia

Economic Growth in Indonesia
Although Indonesia has almost eradicated extreme poverty, one-third of Indonesians still experience economic insecurity. Taking steps such as creating policy to ensure financial inclusion and investing in infrastructure can help prevent Indonesians from falling into poverty. Economic growth in Indonesia could significantly lower the poverty rate around the country.

Economic Inequality

Indonesia is currently ranked the sixth country with the most wealth inequality in the world. The four wealthiest men in Indonesia have more wealth than the poorest 100 million Indonesians. This increasing inequality is making the fight against poverty even more difficult. It is stalling economic growth and endangering integration.

The poorest citizens, especially women, receive low and unequal wages at work. Those living in rural areas often do not receive proper access to infrastructure such as well-kept roads and electricity. The education system is also underfunded and unequal, which means poorer Indonesian workers are frequently unable to obtain higher-skilled and higher-paid jobs.

Poverty Reduction Barriers

The World Bank lays out several issues Indonesia must address within its country to reduce poverty by increasing its economic growth. Although human capital outcomes in Indonesia are improving, they are still low in Eastern Indonesia. This situation undermines the productive potential of the population and creates drastic financial inequality. 

To regain its high-income status, Indonesia needs to expand its poverty reduction policies. It must protect households against poverty, create more opportunities for work, focus on investing in helping the poor and promote better information for making decisions. Collectively, social support, social insurance, financial inclusion and infrastructure investments can help keep households out of poverty.

Indonesia cut its poverty rate by more than half since 1999. In 2019, its poverty rate was under 10% before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. As of July 2021, Indonesia dropped from upper-middle income to lower-middle income status due to the pandemic. The pandemic also partially reversed some of Indonesia’s progress in poverty reduction. Its poverty rate jumped from 9.2% in September 2019 to 9.7% in September 2021. In a post-COVID-19 world, Indonesia is working toward growing its economy to reduce its poverty rate further. 

The United Nations Takes Action in Indonesia

The United Nations (U.N.) works with the Indonesian Government to improve economic growth in Indonesia. Since Indonesia joined the U.N. in 1950, the U.N. has worked with the Indonesian Government to enhance economic development and end extreme poverty by 2030. The two organizations have a strategic partnership with the goal of returning Indonesia’s economy to high-income status. They are also working together to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indonesia. 

UN Women Indonesia collaborates with various stakeholders, including the private sector, to foster women’s economic empowerment. Its efforts include providing access to skill development and resources and creating an enabling environment that encourages greater participation of women in the economy. 

Economic Recovery

With Indonesia’s economy in recovery, the country’s GDP growth was more than 5% in 2022. The country focused its efforts on growing commodity exports and developing related fiscal policy to fight the lasting negative impacts of the pandemic. Economic growth in Indonesia has led to some success in reducing the country’s poverty rate. However, there are still obstacles the country must overcome. 

– Marisa Del Vecchio
Photo: Flickr

Combating Plastic Pollution in Ghana

Plastic Pollution in Ghana
Plastic pollution in Ghana is a serious threat to the welfare of millions. About 91.5% of all plastic waste produced in Ghana isn’t recycled, instead washing up on shorelines or ending up in landfills. Several companies are trying to change this. New initiatives are being integrated into Ghana’s infrastructure in order to alleviate some of the challenges facing many of the country’s poorest residents. Here are some of the companies fighting plastic pollution in the West African nation. 

Norfund

Norfund, a Norwegian, government-owned investment fund, is an organization designed to aid developing nations with vital investments to lower poverty rates. The Norfund Act of 1997 highlights the purpose of “developing sustainable business and industry in developing countries by providing equity capital.” 

In July 2023, Norfund created a $10.5 million plan to support the recycling capacity of Miniplast Ghana, one of the leading plastic manufacturers in Ghana since 1988. Miniplast, based in the capital of Accra, will receive the highest quality machinery to upgrade its recycling capacity from around 1,300 tonnes a month to 1,700.

Miniplast manufactures many unique industrial and household products from plastics. A newly developed in-house recycling operation sources local plastic waste to be used in these products, turning otherwise polluting material into items such as chairs and tables for local schools. 

This is not the first investment Norfund has made with Miniplast, Empower New Energy was able to install solar energy plans in their factory due to the investment fund. An approximated 15,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be reduced from Ghana’s emissions over the next 30 years, providing environmental support to thousands of the most vulnerable. 

According to Norfund, the plan aims to create more than 850 jobs not only for Miniplast but across the whole chain of plastic manufacturing and trade, helping to prevent further plastic pollution in Ghana whilst also giving employment to people who need it.

Coliba

Coliba Ghana is a company set up in 2016 by Prince Agbata to help reduce plastic pollution. Through a partnership with One Young World, Coliba was able to successfully gain a partnership with a division of Coca-Cola in West Africa, securing investment for 200 plastic recycling centers in Ghana — 40 of which have already been built. 

A key component of Coliba’s strategy to reduce plastic pollution is the Coliba 2.0 mobile app, a service designed to make recycling for business and public sector institutions far easier. The plastic waste generated from these sites is collected by “Coliba Rangers,” workers trained extensively in sustainability, not only providing people in Ghana with successful careers but also a great education on the risks of pollution to welfare. 

Another of Coliba’s main goals is to begin operations on processing plants that can produce higher quality plastic from recycled materials, ensuring that the products used can continue to be recycled many times in the system. 

Maame Abena, a Coliba Ranger, highlighted how his role at Coliba has enabled him to gain financial freedom. He stated “Coliba’s arrival has brought huge change in my work. Now the type of plastic that I could sell I can now sell for more money. This also has allowed me to get enough money to cater for my family.”

Blue Skies Holdings

Blue Skies Holdings is a U.K.-based fruit and dairy company that, in April 2023, set out a plan of five shortlisted solutions to help mitigate the effects of plastic pollution in Ghana. 

The initiative is called FRESHPPACT, and the objective is to utilize several innovations to reduce plastic usage, such as biodegradable workwear, plant-based polymers to be used in packaging and coconut coir mulch in agriculture. 

From the five finalists, the solutions best equipped to aid Ghana’s problem will receive up to £200,000 to implement their products into the market. All of these individual companies have tested their products in the rural communities of the nation, ensuring that their product is directly aiding the people who will need it the most. 

Blue Skies’ commitments fall in line with the U.N. Global Goals, with its main focus on eradicating poverty. In its 2021 blueprint, the company stated that it will attempt to achieve zero poverty by protecting human rights, investing in the foundation of countries such as Ghana and ensuring health and safety. According to the blueprint, a report of the social value of its work in Ghana in 2021 alone generated $11.5 million of value — $2.4 million of which directly impacted their goal of zero poverty. 

There are a multitude of businesses that are aiming to decrease the amount of plastic pollution in Ghana. The hidden risks of this form of pollution to the poverty-stricken are incredibly high, increasing risks of cholera outbreaks and poorer living conditions. However, with the aid of companies across the globe, and vital waste collectors in urban areas, there is hope that this issue can bring forward better environmental stability and a better, brighter economy. 

– Oliver Rayner
Photo: Flickr

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Farmers and Food Security in Africa

Food Security in AfricaFood security in Africa is a serious issue caused by many different factors. Poverty is certainly a pressing one, but factors like extreme weather, disease outbreaks, political or market instability and conflict also have significant impacts. Often, these things play off of each other — yet poverty is nearly always a central figure. The global poor are significantly more likely to lose secure access to food in the face of other coinciding circumstances. That is why there are a number of initiatives that respond to food crises in impoverished places.

Agriculture Food Insecurity and Africa

In Africa, drought spreads across much of the continent, COVID-19 continuously threatens the economies of many countries and 281 million people are food insecure. In fact, 55 million African children under the age of five are considered severely malnourished. Yet, agricultural development to foster food security is consistently a small portion of national investments, as 48 out of 54 African governments spend only about 3.8% of their budgets on agriculture. Without access to nutritious food to eat every day, many Africans are looking for ways to make the agricultural systems more efficient and resilient. In a 2022 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference, representatives from more than 50 African countries came together to discuss regional agricultural systems and how they might be improved. Ultimately, it was decided that there are a number of factors that play into the development of agriculture in Africa — such as digitalization, education, infrastructure and financing. Agricultural development, through whatever form it takes, must be a priority in the future if food insecurity can ever be eradicated. 

The CAADP

A number of programs support this move toward continent-wide food security in Africa. The Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) is one initiative that looks to reduce poverty and foster food security in Africa through agricultural development. It is a continent-wide program led by a number of African countries. It has four primary goals: Sustainably manage land and water control systems, improve rural infrastructure and trade, increase food supply and improve agricultural development. Participating governments allocate around 10% — or more — of national budgets to agricultural and rural development. As a result, they have achieved agricultural growth rates of 6% per annum.

The FSRP

The Food Systems Resilience Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (FSRP) is an impressive new project to increase food security in Africa. As of 2022, the World Bank Group approved $2.3 billion of funding to make it possible. With a focus on food crisis response strategies, the FSRP works to strengthen warning systems, increase emergency support, supply food reserves and create trade measures. It also increases the resilience of food systems — meaning they rely on the production of farming to provide for food-insecure places. This is done through the support of agricultural programs such as the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA). Thus, the FSRP can strengthen agricultural resilience and allow people to sustainably live and eat. 

Beyond Food Security in Africa

Agricultural development surely combats food insecurity, but its positive impacts go beyond that. Agriculture is the backbone of many African economies — crops, livestock, fisheries and more provide 80% of the population with jobs, contribute 43% to the continent’s GDP and account for 70% of export earnings. Thus, initiatives such as the FSRP are more than just food-based programs. They fight poverty itself.

– Char Nieberding
Photo: Unsplash

Combating Genocide in Iraq

Genocide in IraqIn 2021, the U.N. ruled that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, had committed genocide in Iraq against the Yazidi people in 2014. In an effort to combat the effects of this genocide, an organization called Yazda, with the help of funding from the U.S., created 45 videos to help preserve and empower the Yazidi heritage and culture.

Who Are the Yazidis? 

The Yazidis are an ethno-religiously distinct minority group, based predominantly in the Nineveh Province of northern Iraq. There are also significant populations in Turkey, Syria, Armenia and Georgia. The Yazidis practice a distinct religion, Yazidism, which is a monotheistic religion that incorporates aspects of the three Abrahamic religions as well as Zoroastrianism but claims to predate all four. 

Historically, the Yazidis have been subject to large-scale discrimination and genocide, particularly in the last 200 years. Throughout the Ottoman Empire, they were subjected to more than 70 genocidal episodes, and more recently, in 2007, suicide car bombings killed an estimated 800 Yezidis in Iraq, and in 2014, ISIS killed around 5,000 Yazidis in Iraq and caused more than 100,000 people to flee their homes. 

Combating Genocide

In an effort to combat the effects of the Yazidi genocide, the organization Yazda was created in 2014 to provide relief and support to survivors of genocide. Most recently, Yazda has produced a set of 45 videos to celebrate and increase global awareness of the Yazidi culture across the world, in light of its being attacked by numerous groups over time. The videos were released on the Yazda YouTube channel and were created by Yazidi filmmakers. 

This project was made possible by the funding that the U.S. provided to Yazda as part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since 2017, the U.S. has made a concerted effort to concentrate Iraqi aid on helping fund stabilization programs that benefit oppressed minorities in Iraq as well as programs that aim to bring justice to victims of war crimes and genocide in Iraq. Hence, in addition to support for the 45 videos celebrating Yazidi culture, USAID has helped Yazda create a program that offers a multitude of services to survivors of the 2014 Yazidi genocide in Iraq. This includes mental and psychological support, help with legal documentation and emergency cash relief. 

Personal Story

One such example is a 10-year-old girl named Amsha, who in 2014, along with her mom and sister, had been kidnapped and subjected to immense torture for three years by ISIS. After experiencing immense traumatic events as a little girl, Amsha developed severe PTSD and sleeping difficulties along with other psychological challenges. Yazda has provided Amsha with psychological support services, material aid including food and hygiene products, and legal support to help obtain compensation as a genocide survivor. Thankfully, because of Yazda and the support that they have received from USAID, Amsha is now doing much better. 

Conclusion

While it is impossible to bring back the lives that have been lost from the Yazidi genocide in Iraq, this does not mean that combatting genocide in Iraq should not be an object of concern for U.S. foreign aid. By supporting organizations like Yazda, the U.S. can play a large part in helping preserve the heritage and culture of minorities that have been threatened by genocide as well as offering psychological and material support to survivors like Amsha. Most recently, Yazda’s release of 45 videos celebrating Yazidi culture, made possible by U.S. foreign aid, will go a long way towards helping cement the importance of Yazidi people and their heritage across the world. 

– Athan Yanos
Photo: Unsplash

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SHE Project Expands Financial Opportunities for Women 

Financial Opportunities for Women 
The country of Sierra Leone suffered from the onslaught of an 11-year civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in displacement, thousands of deaths and sexual violence. Since then, the country has continued to experience hardships, with many living in extreme poverty. Adding to this, Sierra Leone’s citizens continuously face the effects of multidimensional poverty due to the absence of strong financial and education systems. Rural areas, specifically, endure the harshest impacts of poverty, most notably because of the lack of resources found in these neighborhoods. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the extent of poverty in Sierra Leone, but the rural areas ultimately garnered the most difficult consequences, including the closing of locally-owned businesses and a reduction of incomes and salaries. As the pandemic ravaged the nation, the Solar Harnessed Entrepreneurs (SHE) Project came to fruition as a saving grace. The project allies with the most vulnerable and expands financial opportunities for women. 

The Intentions of the SHE Project 

The SHE Project secures and provides women with renewable energy-powered sources to operate their businesses. Prior to the installation of the project, many businesses located in the rural areas of Sierra Leone did not own or utilize this technology, and thus, they often suffered at the whims of debt crises, virus outbreaks and the global pandemic. Items such as a solar-powered freezer, for instance, allow businesswomen to expand the products they can sell and reach larger markets. 

CARE, an international NGO, created the SHE Project in 2022. Now, the multidimensional organization receives further aid from The Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). Since its implementation, the SHE Project has worked to aid 8,000 women in Sierra Leone by providing them with the resources to transform their businesses into green organizations that employ renewable energy and technology. This transformation increases financial opportunities for women because it enables growth and consistency in ways that business owners could not guarantee beforehand. 

Why Women? 

The SHE Project supports the financial development of female-owned businesses. Female empowerment serves as one of its main goals, especially because women often complete dangerous and time-consuming tasks, like collecting fuel, that exacerbate the climate crisis and harm their health. 

In this sense, the SHE Project also boasts the humanitarian goal of restructuring the traditional, harmful manner in which women receive an income. With support from renewable energy sources, women can have greater control over their financial assets, and they can rely less on the dangerous tasks of assembling fuel, for example. 

When orchestrating the SHE Project, CARE took its development a step further in its attempts to empower women. By working with microfinance institutions to combat the fact that female-owned businesses generally receive little to no income, CARE provided women with low-interest loans. In addition to the use of solar-powered resources, women also received training sessions regarding financial development and a newfound ability to expand their businesses to new markets. The series of steps taken by CARE and other organizations incentivizes financial opportunities for women. 

Especially notable to this project is the fact that CARE also seeks to target the persistence of patriarchal values. By organizing “household dialogues,” trained professionals spoke with fathers and husbands to discuss the importance of female empowerment. 

Inspiring Stories

The SHE Project is a successful initiative that continues to find, educate and employ women with the tools to expand their businesses and succeed as financially independent income earners.

While most women in Sierra Leone did not have access to the tools to increase market access or maintain their businesses during hardships, the SHE Project has revolutionized this, increasing financial opportunities for women and increasing equality. 

Marie Squire of Ghangbatoke has experienced an increase in sales due to the freezer that the SHE Project provided her with. In fact, the freezer, instrumental for keeping cold drinks–the base of her business–fresh, has allowed her to keep her family afloat. 

Similarly, Mariama Fortune honored the imported freezer as the origin of her success. As a single mother who had difficulties beginning her fried cassava business, Mariama always wanted to provide for her children. Now that she has the freezer to help her business and supply food for her family, she believes she can focus on the future, including the prospect of educating her children. 

The Future 

Given the success of the SHE Project, which targets changing weather patterns, female empowerment and financial success, the Sierra Leonean government has recognized the importance of supporting this initiative. Bukai Bindi Hindowa, the Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs expresses an enthusiastic outlook for the continuation of the project, ultimately marking the reduction of poverty and the development of a stabilized female workforce. As the government invests time, effort and resources in the SHE Project, which bolsters financial opportunities for women, Sierra Leone can continue to see the reduction of barriers that limit forward growth. 

– Maddy Grieco
Photo: Flickr