Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance

Girls Opportunity AllianceDuring her time as first lady, Michelle Obama took part in many charitable causes. Her work promoting children’s health is the most well-known, but there were many other issues she was advocating for as well. Domestically, she has supported many charities like Partnership for a Healthier America and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. In 2015, the Obama administration began a global initiative named Let Girls Learn, promoting education for girls and women all over the world. After serving as First Lady, Michelle Obama continued this work, founding the Girls Opportunity Alliance.

About the Alliance

The Girls Opportunity Alliance is a program of the Obama Foundation, founded in 2018 after the Obamas left the White House. It is a philanthropic organization that anyone can donate to and promotes others who look to advance female education. It works with GoFundMe to distribute these donations. Those in poor and underserved communities receive the most amount of money.

Organizations

On GoFundMe, the Alliance is listed as a project and hosts a network of many different organizations for donations. One is Chhori, which means “daughter” in Nepali. This nonprofit supports girls who are survivors of gender-based violence in the country and helps them advocate for themselves.

Based in Colombia, Origin Learning helps indigenous and migrant women in the La Guajira region achieve their goals using modern technology. Many of these women have the ambition to achieve higher goals but face poverty-related issues in the region.

There is also the Secondary Education for Women’s Advancement in Tanzania, part of a more extensive female empowerment campaign in that nation. A boarding school began its journey in 2008 for girls who could not afford education and it offers services to the beneficiaries as they get older.

Success Stories

Despite the fact it began in 2018, there are already great testimonials on the Girls Opportunity Alliance website. The first comes from Kiran, a girl from Northern India, who could not attend school after her mother died. Dr. Urvashi Sahni, who was helped by the Alliance, accepted Kiran into the girls‘ school she founded.

In Vietnam, Mang Thị Hay is able to go to school, which is, unfortunately, a rarity for girls in her village. She got help from the Rock-Paper-Scissors Children’s Fund, another organization that the Alliance supports.

Thuba Sibanda is a soccer coach for younger girls in Namibia and is looking to attend university. In addition to working with Physically Active Youth Namibia, Thuba was selected to participate in the Obama Foundation’s Leaders Program in 2019.

Looking Ahead

The Girls Opportunity Alliance may need some time to fully develop, as it is a new program. However, with the successes it has already had in helping local organizations, there are promising signs for the future. And the accomplishments of girls that benefitted from the Alliance continue to be a source of hope for even more progress.

– Josh Sobchak
Photo: Flickr

Health Care Workers in Ethiopia

Health Care Workers in EthiopiaThere is a lack of health care workers in Ethiopia, particularly in the areas with the highest poverty rates. This has significantly impacted the availability and caliber of health care services, thereby aggravating public health issues. Trading Economics reports, “Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Ethiopia was at 0.1059 in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.” The country has one of the lowest health care worker-to-population ratios.

Inadequate Wages and Training Institutions

Ethiopia has around 30 recognized medical schools as of 2013. This is not enough to satisfy the needs of the nation in terms of health care. There is also the problem of low wages for medical staff. A 2018 Global Health Action article reports, “In multiple job holding, staff [members] augment basic salaries by engaging in a wide range of academic and non-academic activities within and outside their home institutions. How the practice is viewed and judged varies. Many recognize and understand the underlying reasons.” According to a World Bank report, blaming medical workers for looking elsewhere for additional income is hard considering the low wages they receive.

Migrating Professionals

Inadequate pay and unfavorable working conditions, along with the lack of resources to properly treat patients, are the main factors driving the exodus of health care professionals. According to Reuters, “The doctors identified 117 deaths and dozens of complications, including infections, amputations and kidney failure,” which was due to “shortages of essential medicines and equipment.” These unfortunate trends suggest that increasing pay and benefits, better workspaces and tools and professional training opportunities could encourage qualified health care employees to stay back.

Another strategy could involve encouraging health care professionals who have left the nation to return. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, an estimated 2,000 Ethiopian medical experts leave the nation every year. A 2012 study reports that “around 53% of medical students hoped to migrate upon graduating, particularly to the United States [U.S.] and Europe.” The government may address this by providing incentives like tax rebates and debt forgiveness programs to medical professionals to return and work in the Ethiopian health care system.

Ongoing Efforts

The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia launched the Five-Year National Health Equity Strategy in August 2022, as highlighted in a high-level advocacy workshop organized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Nonhlanhla Diamini, Deputy WHO Representative to Ethiopia, emphasized the organization’s commitment to ensuring the right to good health and well-being for every Ethiopian. The successful implementation of strategies like the National Health Equity Strategy could be crucial in attaining this goal, and WHO is ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and other partners to make it a reality.

Looking Ahead

Despite the challenges of a shortage of health care workers and inadequate resources in the Ethiopian health care system, efforts are underway to address these issues. The launch of the Five-Year National Health Equity Strategy is indicative of the government’s commitment to equitable access to quality health care for all Ethiopians. Collaborative initiatives with organizations like WHO aim to strengthen the health care workforce, improve working conditions and incentivize the return of skilled professionals, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the population.

– Lorraine Lin

Photo: Flickr

The Future of Managing HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia

HIV:AIDS in EthiopiaSituated along the eastern coast of the Horn of Africa, sits the populous nation of Ethiopia. Like many nations in the sub-Saharan region, Ethiopia has been heavily impacted by the tide of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, commonly known as HIV/AIDS. Modern advancements in education, health care and prevention seek to eradicate the disease’s devastating impact.

History of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia

The first documented case of HIV was in June 1981 in Los Angeles, California. In 1984, doctors discovered HIV in Ethiopia as well. About two years later, the first case of AIDS appeared in Ethiopia as well, propelling the country into an epidemic.

In 1986, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS was under 1% of the population, but it grew steadily until it reached 4.4% by 2003. Meanwhile, rates in the nation’s capital, Addis Ababa, and other urban areas, towered above the country’s overall average for adults aged 15-49 years old. The estimated prevalence in these cities peaked in 1996, reaching 15.6% in Addis Ababa and 12.7% in urban areas. AIDS has been the leading cause of death in adult Ethiopians since 2006.

Impact of Poverty

Ethiopia is rich in agricultural resources. Yet, many Ethiopians struggle with poverty. Up to 78% of the population earns an income of less than $2.00 per day.

Poverty is concentrated in Ethiopia’s urban areas, where the prevalence of HIV/AIDS averages 3%, compared to the national rate of 1%. The impoverished population of Ethiopia’s cities often has neither the education nor the resources to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, contributing to its spread. HIV/AIDS only perpetuates poverty, as household, community, regional and sectoral costs are magnified by the sheer expense of care.

For the average Ethiopian, managing HIV/AIDS is a monumental expense, and poverty can make it nearly impossible to survive.

HIV/AIDS Numbers in Ethiopia Today

As of 2021, an estimated 610,000 Ethiopians were living with HIV/AIDs: 360,000 women, 210,000 men and 42,000 children. There were 12,000 deaths nationwide, contributing to the staggering figure of 280,000 children orphaned from HIV/AIDS-related deaths.

Despite this, progress has been made against the tide of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. Although thousands still suffer from the disease in 2023, foreign and domestic aid efforts are combatting the issue of inaccessible education and care. In addition, 84% of people with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia know their status, and 78% are on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

ART is especially vital in mitigating HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, as it suppresses the HIV virus, decreases its transmission and slows its progression to AIDS. Funding for free and comprehensive access to ART allows hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians to suppress their viral load and live healthily with HIV. Ethiopia is looking toward universal access to ART, which would allow HIV+ Ethiopians of all socio-economic backgrounds to receive care.

The Future

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has invested nearly $3 billion to help Ethiopia combat the disease over the past 15 years, alongside the U.S.’ goal to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2030, paints a positive future outlook for Ethiopia.

PEPFAR’s ultimate goal for Ethiopia is to establish that 95% of Ethiopians living with HIV know their status, have access to ART and can achieve viral load suppression within the next 10 years. Additionally, it will ensure economic stability and child care for people suffering from HIV/AIDs.

On May 23, 2023, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy announced the approval of an additional $112 million for outreach for HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

In the 1980s-2000s, Ethiopia struggled to control the epidemic. HIV+ Ethiopians living in poverty, especially in urban areas, struggled to afford the cost of living with the disease. However, through international and domestic endeavors, HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia has become more manageable, spurring hope for eventual eradication.

– Char Nieberding
Photo: Flickr

Weather Fluctuations in Central America Threatens Families

Changing weather patterns have become an increasingly concerning issue around the world due to the long-term effects of human activities. Many countries, including those in Central America, face exposure to the long-term effects of fluctuations in the weather. In 2020, Hurricanes Eta and Iota swept through Central America, taking more than 200 lives. CNN reported that the upcoming heatwaves could potentially devastate countries in Central America “due to their fast-growing populations and limited access to health care and energy supplies.” This could be damaging for low-income families because they do not have the capacities to deal with these new environmental adjustments. However, the introduction of new programs and projects could assist these families in combating the life-threatening weather fluctuations in Central America.

Poverty in Central America

There are seven countries in Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. According to La Prensa Latina, “Many in Central America live below the poverty line, including 73% of the population in Honduras and 60% in Guatemala…26.2% in Costa Rica, 22.8% in El Salvador and 12.3% in Panama. In Nicaragua, 52% of the population was living in poverty and 22% in extreme poverty at the end of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” In 2020, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras were in the bottom percentiles with respect to health spending.

Impact on Agriculture

The available statistics suggest that low-income families could be vulnerable to sudden environmental changes in Central America. The country is dependent on its agriculture which has suffered great losses from droughts and floods. In 2014, the losses accounted for more than $460 million and by 2021, the losses had reached up to $10 billion.

Many farmers and their families have been greatly impacted by these losses. The results of the damages led to food insecurity and migration to the United States (U.S.). According to The Climate Reality Project, “More than 30% of jobs in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are in agriculture.” The change in weather patterns could decrease labor income and force households to rely on aid, which the lawmakers in Central America provide very little of.

UN Environment Program

Currently, several projects are underway by the U.N. Environment Program. These projects aim to help the occupants of Central America and also encourage the government to make addressing changes a priority. Some of the programs and project the U.N. Environment Program has underway are:

  • MOVE: This project aims to assist with mobilizing electric transportation in Latin countries. It created the MoveToZero movement to encourage the government and private sectors to increase the funding for decarbonizing the energy sector. The goal of this effort is to ensure cleaner mobility.
  • CityAdapt: Its objective is to help citizens adapt to changes in the weather with nature-based solutions. The approach here involves restoring and protecting the ecosystems.
  • Microfinance for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (MEbA): It is providing products to those in remote areas, enabling them to invest, boost their income and continue to restore the ecosystems. MEbA began in 2012 and has shown farmers how to use organic fertilizer, solar dehydrators, greenhouses, agroforestry systems and more. Its approach also involves preserving ecosystems so that in turn, civilians reap the benefits.

Looking Ahead

A health emergency has been declared because of the changes in Central America. With more access to resources, citizens in Central America could get help with adjusting to the effects of climate change. There are many more projects and programs that the U.N. Environment Program is providing to aid affected people and get concerned governments on board. And by focusing on cleaner mobility, ecosystem preservation and empowering local communities, these projects contribute to resilience and positive change in Central America’s response to environmental challenges.

– Zyairah White

Photo: Flickr

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Education and Poverty in Jordan

Education and Poverty in Jordan
It is well-known that investing in children through education can drastically alleviate poverty in the long term. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE), for example, found that if all children left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of extreme poverty. It also reported that “for each $1 invested in an additional year of schooling, earnings increase by $5 in low-income countries.”

A worthy investment, this is a core reason the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has advocated for the education of more than 600 million children worldwide who have not had access to basic education. In Jordan, the Government and UNICEF Jordan are working to reduce the impact of poverty on children’s access to education.

Education and Poverty Levels in Jordan

Quality of education and poverty in Jordan, like many other countries, go hand in hand. Currently, 97% of children are in school in Jordan. However, inequality within the education system means that children have different experiences with respect to the quality of education, and this is primarily due to differences in socioeconomic background. Out of Jordan’s 3.16 million children, one-fifth live in poverty. Children who are in poverty have disabilities or suffer child labor and are at much greater risk of lacking access to education.

The pandemic has also made matters worse. The 2022 UNICEF report revealed that already vulnerable households are more likely to send their children to work to reduce the economic hardship that COVID-19 brought on. As a result of reduced in-person learning, fewer children have had the time and resources to engage in education. Overall, these trends suggest that education and poverty in Jordan have clear links.

Addressing the Relationship Between Poverty and Education

With the pandemic and the knowledge that education is vital in the alleviation and long-term reduction of poverty, both the government and NGOs have taken several initiatives to address this problem. Primarily, the Government of Jordan has been working with UNICEF to make education both more accessible and inclusive and to ensure better quality education to increase the future prospects of children.

The government also released its Education Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 (ESP). It outlines its Priority Domains which include Early Childhood Education and Development, Access and Equity, System Strengthening, Quality and Human Resources and Vocational Education. It outlines the situation of poverty a lot of children are facing and how this impacts their education. Its ESP takes into account that many children do not have access to education due to poverty and integrates initiatives aimed at tackling poverty into the Plan. For example, it affirms the School Feeding Program that has been ongoing since 1999 in its importance in providing a daily meal for children in underserved areas. The Plan ultimately aims to support children and ensure that they have access to education.

Making Progress

The government also supports UNICEF’S Non-Formal Education initiative and delivers education to those aged 9-20 that do not have access to formal education. Part of this initiative includes the Catch Up program that targets 9-12-year-olds that have missed three or more years of school or have never attended school. Since 2016, almost 5,000 children have taken part in the program and 1,700 children have reintegrated into formal education as a result.

UNICEF is also working with the Government of Jordan to build inclusive education by training 1,600 Education Ministry teachers. This initiative aims to make education services inside public schools more accessible and inclusive. The organization is also supporting the enrolment of 4,000 children with disabilities.

Looking Forward

Efforts to address the relationship between poverty and education in Jordan are showing progress. The government, along with UNICEF, has implemented various initiatives to make education more accessible, inclusive and of better quality. These include non-formal education programs, training for teachers, and support for children with disabilities. By prioritizing education and tackling poverty, Jordan is taking positive steps toward providing a brighter future for its children and breaking the cycle of poverty.

– Rosie Lyons
Photo: Flickr

Right to Play’s Impact on Ghana’s Children’s Access to Education

Right to Play’s“Protect. Educate. Empower.” This is Right to Play’s mission to help more than 1.52 million children overcome adversity yearly through the power of play. Olympian Johann Olav Koss founded the organization that now operates within 15 countries across the globe, using all kinds of play in education to help children develop important social and emotional learning skills. Sports, games and arts are all crucial elements of play that support such development of skills for a child to become an agent of change for themselves and their communities.

5 Facts Highlighting Why Play is Important for a Child’s Development

  1. Dr. Sam Wang and Dr. Sandra Aamodt found that play can reduce stress by activating neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, which improves brain plasticity, increases alertness and can boost one’s mood.
  2. When children “free-play,” they can assert their agency and control over their experience and can promote their imagination.
  3. When a child plays games or learns a new dance move, they are developing their cognition. This means they are improving in different forms of knowledge and perception, according to UNICEF.
  4. Edutopia asserts that guided play, play with the supervision of adults, is beneficial to promoting kids’ problem-solving and recall of information skills when open-ended questions are involved. For example, questions starting with “Tell me about” encourage children to reflect upon their thinking as well as challenge their communication skills.
  5.  Peter K. Smith and Jennifer M. StGeorge learned that kids who participate in “rough and tumble play” both with their parents and their peers are more likely to be able to “self-regulate” and have increased levels of “social-emotional adjustment,” and this enables the child to benefit from further learning opportunities offered to them.

Right to Play’s Work in Ghana

Ghana has made great improvements in its education system over the past decades, including higher rates of attendance in primary school, which have increased by 20% since 2002. Still, there are barriers affecting schoolchildren. There is a wealth disparity among children, with 1.6 times more of the country’s richest children completing primary school compared to the poorest in 2020. Indeed, the poorest children accounted for 20% of the school-aged population whilst simultaneously accounting for the greater part of children aged 6-15 out of school.

The fact that around a fifth of children aged 5-17 are involved in child labor, usually working in agriculture, fishing and cocoa production, which is highly strenuous work, further shapes this disparity in accessing education. Most of these children are working for their family’s survival, and this negatively sustains a vicious cycle of poverty, as those affected are unable to return to school and seize learning opportunities.

How is Right to Play Helping?

Beyond working directly with 495 schools within seven target districts in the country, Right to Play, in collaboration with The LEGO Foundation, has been supporting Ghana’s Ministry of Education through implementing play-based approaches within “in-service education and training and school-level professional development plans.”

By 2025, Right to Play aims to reach 12,758,600 children and youth and 368,336 educators across 10,000 schools selected for the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP).

So far, Right to Play’s program implementation in schools has had notable impacts. Not only are teachers better at engaging students through “child-centered learning,” with female teachers accounting for a 48.5% increase in engagement in lessons, but Right to Play program leaders were able to address 95% of cases of child laborers in the targeted districts, allowing for many children to access opportunities that allow them to escape the vicious cycle of poverty.

Looking Ahead

Right to Play’s mission of using play to protect, educate and empower children is making a significant impact in Ghana. By collaborating with the Ministry of Education and implementing play-based approaches, the organization is improving education outcomes and addressing the challenges faced by disadvantaged children, including child labor. The positive results, such as increased student engagement and reduced child labor cases, demonstrate the effectiveness of Right to Play’s programs in breaking the cycle of poverty and providing opportunities for children to thrive.

– Lucy Gebbie
Photo: Flickr

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Supplying Women Mobile Phones in Africa

Mobile Phones in Africa
The number of people using mobile phones in Africa has been rapidly increasing in the past two decades, and this is mainly due to how vital phones have become to the daily lives of Africans. In addition to essential communication features such as phone calls or texts, mobile phones are also the current mainstream method for Africans to access the internet. However, there is a significant gender disparity in access to mobile phones and internet among Africans, and women are far more likely to lack access to mobile devices and mobile internet.

 The Explosive Growth of the African Mobile Phone Market

Just about two decades ago, mobile phones were an inaccessible novelty good to the overwhelming majority of Africans. In 2000, merely 2% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa had mobile phone subscriptions. However, over the past years, the mobile phone market in Africa underwent exponential growth. As of 2021, 84% of the same sub-Saharan population now have some form of mobile subscription.

In many African nations today, mobile phones have become more common than even basic resources like electricity. Mobile phones have also become the current mainstream method for Africans to access the internet with nearly 70% of African internet traffic coming from mobile devices alone.

The fast-growing usage of mobile phones in Africa is also due to the continent’s commercial profile, as mobile money and banking are immensely popular for consumer payments in Africa. In 2018, nearly two-thirds of all mobile money transactions were in African nations, and the total amount of transactions surpassed $25 billion.

The Gender Gap of Mobile Phones in Africa

However, despite the growing importance of mobile phones in the lives of Africans, there is also a huge gender disparity in access to mobile phone technology, and women are falling behind both in terms of mobile phone ownership and mobile internet access. As of 2021, there was a significant 37% gender gap in mobile internet use in sub-Saharan Africa.

This gender gap also extends to the type of mobile phone Africans own. African women are as much as 30% less likely than men to own a smartphone and are more likely to own older, basic mobile devices than men, according to the 2022 GSMA report. The smartphone gap shows how women are disadvantaged in accessing advanced technology and opportunities, as smartphones have greater utility and access to useful tools such as social media and mobile apps.

Smartphones4good Presents a Solution

Smartphones4good is a Finnish startup that collects used smartphones from developed nations through donations. The phones are refurbished and then leased to female African entrepreneurs at affordable prices. While many Africans do have access to basic cell phones, many have limited functionalities and cannot provide access to the internet. Moreover, purchasing a new smartphone is often too expensive to be a viable choice for underserved African women, according to the 2022 GSMA report. Smartphones4good focuses on closing the gender disparity of mobile phones in Africa by providing affordable internet access to African women and helping them access resources such as online sales platforms and social media networks.

 Looking Ahead

Since the early 2000s, mobile phones in Africa have rapidly become an essential item for most Africans. However, the persisting gender disparities in mobile ownership illustrate a clear picture of the additional challenges African women face in their lives. The efforts of Smartphones4good aim to close the gender gap in Africa’s mobile phone landscape and empower more women to break barriers by connecting with the rest of the world.

– Junoh Seo
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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10 Charitable Esport Events Committed to Reducing Poverty

Charitable Esport EventsWith the rise of video games came the rise of esports, where gamers compete with each other in a large variety of multiplayer games. Esports, like regular sports, has many tournaments and events with celebrities of the genre involved. It is also a popular avenue for charity fundraising and awareness. In particular, 10 charitable esport events hold with the goal of contributing toward ending global poverty and helping those in need.

10 Charitable Esport Events

  1. ATLUS hosted a 2022 charity tournament. An event referred to as the “Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Charity Sho-Down” occurred in 2022, where winning players donated sizable monetary winnings to the charity of their choice. The first prize winner won $10,000, which went to Dysautonomia International, and second place won $5,000, which went to the ALS Association. Dysautonomia International works to fundraise for research and raise awareness of autonomic nervous system disorders while empowering patients. ALS Association works to combat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder, in the U.S. but notably participates in global research of the disorder.
  2. Riot Games and Twitch teamed up for the Valorant charity stream. The three-day Valorant Spike Nations of Twitch event in 2020 had 10 European teams representing their countries competing to donate portions of the $10,000 prize pool to charities of their choosing. Claiming the biggest win, the Portugal team donated $37,614 to the Portuguese Food Bank to help alleviate hunger in the country.
  3.  A “Dota 2” event called WeSave! Charity Play to combat COVID-19. Hosted by WePlay!, the event had 24 teams and started with a $120,000 prize pool that grew as players gathered funds throughout the event. The prize pool money went to CEPI and GlobalGiving to support efforts in combating the impacts of COVID-19. CEPI brings together private, public and philanthropic sectors to assist in vaccine development while GlobalGiving is a platform that supports nonprofits by connecting them to donors.
  4. The $10 million FIFA 21 event to support COVID-19 vaccination. In 2021, Gamers Without Borders hosted an event with the popular football video game FIFA 21 where $1 million worth of charitable prize money went toward supporting the immunization efforts of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF. GAVI has enabled the vaccinations of more than 981 million children, particularly in the world’s most disadvantaged nations. The second edition of the event had more elite players compete, which led to Gamers Without Borders donating $10 million to communities struggling to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part of Gamers Without Borders plan to donate $30 million to humanitarian aid and stands as a notable example of how esport events support charitable causes.
  5. A “Dota 2” Showmatch helped support Ukraine. Popular players, such as ODPixel, participated in this event in September 2022 to help raise funds for Ukraine’s fundraising platform, United24. Fundraising through the platform is effective because “Ukraine itself knows best what is needed and can deliver aid directly, ” the United24 website says.
  6. Popular Twitch Streamer Ninja dabbled in charity during a 2018 “Fortnite” event. Hosted in Las Vegas, the Fortnite event gave money to fans, popular players and Ninja himself based on who won each match and how many people could take Ninja out. Ninja won one of nine matches and donated $2,500 to the Alzheimer’s Association.
  7. In 2023, Guild Esports partnered with U.K. blood cancer and blood disorder charity Anthony Nolan. The groups held a FIFA tournament to raise awareness of blood disorders and encourage people between the age of 16 and 24 to get involved in the cause by joining the stem cell register. Anthony Nolan has helped 1,350 patients receive stem cells from donors. The event is a notable example of how charitable esport events can make a difference by raising awareness.
  8. Gamers Without Borders 2022 “Rocket League” event. The event involved $2 million worth of prize winnings for charity. The third-place winner, SMPR Esports, openly announced its donation to the global child rights organization UNICEF.
  9. The 2023 AO Summer Smash event. The charitable gaming event involving Fortnite featured popular players such as Lazarbeam and Loserfruit and $50,000 worth of prize money for charitable causes. First place Loserfruit won $25,000 and donated it to GIVIT, which looks to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Australia.
  10. Gamers Beat Cancer has launched a monthly “Rocket League” event. This event, starting in 2023, aims to raise awareness and funds for U.K. charity Gamers Beat Cancer. This is through the “Rocket League” event itself and the sale of a “special edition esports jersey” to raise awareness and funding. Gamers Beat Cancer donates video games and consoles to cancer patients and assists them with other important technology that can make their lives easier.

These charitable esport events highlight the significant role that the gaming community can play in reducing global poverty and improving the lives of those in need.

– Lachlan Griffiths
Photo: Flickr

Poverty and Climate Shocks in Brazil

Climate Shocks in Brazil
A recent report that the World Bank released has issued a stark warning, stating that climate shocks in Brazil have the potential to drive between 800,000 and 3,000,000 of its citizens into extreme poverty within the next decade. It highlighted an urgent need for Brazil to accelerate investments in renewable energy sources to mitigate the impact of changing weather patterns and foster sustainable development.

Rising Climate Shocks in Brazil and Social Consequences

The World Bank report highlights the increasingly severe climate shocks experienced in Brazil. Floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and intense, negatively impacting agricultural productivity and food security. These environmental challenges disproportionately affect the country’s poorest communities, leaving them particularly vulnerable to economic hardship, food scarcity and displacement. The Woodwell Climate Research Center modeled a study that revealed that 28% of agricultural lands are no longer in an optimal climatic range, with predictions that this percentage could reach 74% by 2060. Without action, the region is predicted to get hotter and drier.

The current trends suggest that the disruption of agricultural production by natural disasters will continue to impact food prices in Brazil. Unfortunately, the combination of extreme weather events and decreased crop yields leads to reduced food availability, driving prices higher and placing an additional burden on already strained household budgets. This drives agricultural populations to take on onerous loans to fund the next harvest, leading them further down into poverty. Weak governance and funding challenges further undermine climate action by hampering implementation and creating space for illegal activities. For example, facilitating land grabbing which is a major driver of illegal deforestation.

The Urgent Need for Renewable Energy Investments

To address the imminent threat of changing weather patterns and its devastating consequences on poverty levels in Brazil, the Brazil Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) stresses the urgent need to prioritize and accelerate investments in renewable energy sources. Transitioning to clean energy will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the country’s resilience to environmental shocks. Investments in renewable energy infrastructure not only have the potential to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth but also provide affordable and sustainable energy access to marginalized communities. Renewables generated almost half of Brazil’s energy supply and 82.3% of its electricity. In comparison, global averages stand between 15% and 27%.

A Wake-Up Call For Brazil

Brazil is in a strong position to benefit from climate action all the while growing its economy. The World Bank’s recent report serves as a wake-up call for the country to take immediate action in combating the issue. Fulfilling the pledge of zero illegal deforestation by 2028 could significantly combat the rampant phenomenon, with around 90% of deforestation being illegal. Enabling land stewardship, establishing indigenous territories and restoring degraded pastures could also remove an estimated 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) annually through “negative emissions.” The same goes for strengthening climate-smart agriculture by, for example, intensifying livestock production and increasing crop productivity which could halve the sector’s emissions.

Looking Ahead

Leveraging renewable energy, especially by becoming a leading producer of green hydrogen, could accelerate the transition to renewable energy, diversify exports and attract investments. Promoting energy efficiency, transitioning to low-carbon fuels and encouraging public transit over personal vehicles represent crucial steps for reducing carbon emissions.

Additionally, investing in urban planning, nature-based solutions and resilient cities can enhance sustainability and protect against climate shocks. Implementing economy-wide interventions, such as carbon pricing mechanisms can potentially incentivize low-carbon practices. These solutions offer a comprehensive approach to tackling environmental challenges, promoting sustainable development and building a resilient future. The CCDR concludes that the additional costs of the resilient and zero net pathway proposed in Brazil would account for 0.5% of the annual GDP, without considering the domestic and global benefits from the preservation of the ecosystem.

Furthermore, these investments open the possibility of the development of a green economy, thereby attracting international investment and promoting long-term environmental sustainability.

– Hanna Bernard
Photo: Flickr

Innovative African Startups Win 2023 Milken-Motsepe Prize for Agritech

African startupsThe Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program for AgriTech is a multi-year, multi-million dollar competition in Africa. Companies and nonprofits advance technological solutions accelerating the United Nations (U.N.) SDGs. In hopes of expanding in the global market, many African startups proposing innovative AgriTech solutions compete to win a grand prize of $1 million. The competition provides the chance to attract the attention of investors. In May 2023, the winners were announced.

The 1st Place ($1 Million Prize): NovFeed

Tanzania faces a yearly demand deficit of 480,000 metric tons of fish. Although local fish farmers could capitalize on this demand, the country lacks access to reasonably priced and high-quality fish feed. This forces people to formulate their own feed, which lacks nutrition and stunts fish growth. Not only does selling inferior fish negatively affect the fish farmers’ incomes, but it also affects the health and well-being of consumers who are often from lower-income Tanzanian households.

NovFeed is a Tanzanian biotech startup that upcycles organic food waste into protein feed for livestock and fish. To resolve the lack of access to quality fish feed, NovFeed uses a bioreactor to combine fermented plant extract with bacteria culture, producing a protein powder that holds greater amounts of protein than traditional feed such as fishmeal and soybean. Indeed, fish that fed on NovFeed had a 97% survival rate and showed 40% more weight gain than those that fed on traditional feed, according to Solve.

NovFeed is highly scalable and costs 30% less than fishmeal and soybean. The startup’s innovative approach provides cheap, traceable and non-animal feed using indigenous ingredients. It also addresses unsustainable practices by current fish feed manufacturers. The production of soybean drives deforestation and the production of fishmeal disrupts the marine food chain by overfishing small fish.

If NovFeed expands globally and its intellectual property spreads to other companies, it has the potential both to end unsustainable fishing practices and reduce world poverty. Accordingly, the Milken-Motsepe prize has recognized NovFeed as one of the most innovative African startups in long-term sustainability.

The 2nd Place ($350,000 Prize): Karpolax

In Kampala, Uganda, many farmers and fruit vendors lose income due to the low shelf life of their produce, especially mangoes. Fruits and vegetables often rot before they can sell them. To resolve this issue, Ugandan-based startup Karpolax uses nanotechnology to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by at least 33 days without losing nutritional value. According to Karpolax, 37% of food produced is lost between production and consumption, contributing to “huge losses to the farmers and everyone on the value chain.” The lack of access to fruit causes diseases that kill one in seven people.

Karpolax produces sachets infused with polymers that, when simply dropped in a box of fruits, inhibit fruits’ release of enzyme phospholipase D, which is responsible for deterioration. Karpolax’s product has a great market advantage, as it is the first of its kind in Uganda or East Africa. In comparison, its strongest competitor extends shelf life by only 20 days. The startup has had massive success in the Kampalan fruit market and increased vendors’ income by up to 25%. Karpolax is among many African startups that not only increase producers’ revenues but also contribute to enhancing consumers’ health.

The 3rd Place ($150,000 Prize): IRRI AfricaRice

Africa heavily relies on rice cultivation. Around 40% of Africa’s total rice farm area is in rainfed lowlands. For this reason, the livelihoods of African rice farmers are vulnerable to flooding due to climate change, which kills many crops before farmers are able to make sales. Using the SUB1 gene responsible for flood tolerance, IRRI AfricaRice has developed varieties of rice crops that survive over two weeks of complete submergence, compared to market varieties that survive only one week. The team believes that investment in its innovation could produce $3 billion in returns for African countries experiencing flooding, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Other Notable Prizes

Among the other innovative African startups that became finalists, a South African company Kuronga won the $100,000 prize for “Most Creative Use of 4IR,” which refers to “Fourth Industrial Revolution” technologies such as AI and machine learning.

Much of small-scale African farmers’ produce goes unsold because sellers cannot find suitable buyers for their product’s grade and price. Individual buyers may value a range of things such as shelf life, freshness and volume. Using the app Kuronga, sellers can snap a photo of their produce, after which the app uses machine learning to grade its quality and pair it with the right buyer.

Cote D’Ivoire-based COOL LION won the $100,000 “People’s Choice” prize. It rents out solar-generated refrigeration and cold storage. Its services save electricity money and provide a sustainable way for fish farmers to store their products. This is a big step in solving Cote D’Ivoire’s long-standing issue of tons of fish spoiling every day due to unaffordable cold storage facilities.

Looking Ahead

The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program for AgriTech in Africa has showcased the immense potential of African startups to address pressing challenges in the agricultural sector. Winners like NovFeed, with its innovative approach to producing high-quality fish feed, show the potential to transform not only the fishing industry but also contribute to reducing global poverty. Similarly, Karpolax’s nanotechnology solution to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables offers promising opportunities for farmers and consumers alike. These innovative African startups are paving the way for sustainable practices and economic growth in the region.

– Eric Huang 
Photo: Flickr