Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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The Fight Against Human Trafficking in Mauritius

Human Trafficking in Mauritius
Mauritius, an archipelago on the southeastern coast of Africa, is a nation with a large migrant population. In recent years, it has become a hub of human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State’s 2022 Trafficking Persons Report (TPR) gave Mauritius a Tier 2 ranking. This means that the country’s government while having made some effort, has yet to meet the global standard for minimizing trafficking. Here are six ways to alleviate human trafficking in Mauritius.

Criminalizing and Tracking Foreign Trafficking Recruiters

Mauritius has begun reforming its judicial system with the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2009. This led to the imprisonment of a handful of national traffickers annually. In 2021, the government identified six potential victims. This act, however, does not criminalize recruiters who conduct trafficking abroad before reentering Mauritius.

It is currently legal to be a citizen of Mauritius, traffic in another country and return. The U.S. Department of State suggests broadening and making adjustments to the Mauritius trafficking laws to outlaw trafficking abroad. Human trafficking activities on foreign soil present a hurdle for solving trafficking issues in Mauritius. Mauritian police told Migration EU Expertise (MIEUX+) that it is quite difficult to prosecute transnational cases of human trafficking due to poor international cooperation and insufficient evidence for convictions.

Prosecution of Complicit Officials

The Mauritian government has yet to investigate or prosecute any government official complicit in trafficking. The 2022 Mauritius Human Rights Watch noted that “impunity was a significant problem for police and investigations involving officers often continued for years.” Officials known for human rights violations were disciplined but rarely fired, let alone prosecuted.

Inefficient Justice System

The lack of prosecution is in part due to the inefficiency of the justice system. According to the World Prison Brief, as of July 19, 2022, prisoners who waited for trial comprised “51.4 percent of the total prison population due to a backlogged court system.” The Mauritius prison system prevents fair punishment for traffickers. In addition, the Trafficking Persons Report notes that “though a Mauritian law prohibits the practice, employers routinely retain migrant workers’ passports to prevent them from changing jobs,” enhancing vulnerability to forced labor.

The State of Protection Services

The Ministry of Gender and Family Welfare in Mauritius systemically provides referral procedures for child victims. Currently, there are no programs in place for adult victims. The government spends nearly $1 million on shelters for children, yet only one shelter is designed to protect human trafficking victims in Mauritius. There are also no streamlined procedures for adult trafficking victims, which leads to uneven assistance and potential re-traumatization of victims. The TPR urges the opening of more shelters and streamlining the method of assistance. NGOs from the EU and the Mauritian government are beginning to work together to solve this issue. Governmental collaboration with MIEUX+ in the ongoing action plan Mauritius III aims to refine “the capacities of public officials to identify and refer” victims of human trafficking in Mauritius.

Better Monitor Migrants

According to the Trafficking Persons Report of 2022, instead of checking into migrants’ histories, Mauritian police regularly send back Malagasy women attempting to enter Mauritius alone with little money. Since July 2021, the Ministry of Labor’s Special Migrant Works Unit has worked to inform migrants of their rights. However, border workers were not informed on how to profile potential trafficking victims, did not refer any migrants for future investigation and they also did not report any violations of incomplete contracts.

Looking Ahead

There are ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in Mauritius. Halley Movement, founded in 1989, is the lead organization of a coalition serving Mauritius and other African-Indian Ocean island states. It addresses child abuse by holding conventions, counseling parents and testifying in court. Via its program Helpline Mauritius, this organization provides vulnerable children with guidance and support.

Halley Movement empowers youth by connecting them to jobs within the private sector and funding educational programs such as Basic Education to Adolescents (BETA) which services elementary school dropouts. The Mauritian government has also held awareness campaigns on signs of trafficking that target frontline workers and local committees. These programs help combat trafficking by helping children escape abuse and rejoin society as normal people.

– Caroline Crider
Photo: Flickr

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The Impact of Water Quality in Nepal

Water Quality in Nepal
Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world with more than one-quarter of the population living below the poverty line. Poor water quality in Nepal has also prevailed for the past 30 years. For example, residents of the Kathmandu Valley encounter significant challenges concerning water quality as they rely on tube wells, dug wells and stone spouts for their drinking water. A recent survey conducted within the valley revealed that approximately 51% of all water sources had a pH level lower than 6.5. The supply of water remains inadequate, unreliable and of substandard quality, even within Nepal’s capital city. The compromised quality of drinking water presents numerous health risks, particularly in conjunction with the impact of climate change, which contributes to the prevalence of water- and vector-borne diseases, thus affecting human well-being.

How Water Quality in Nepal Impacted Poverty

Those who are poor in the rural areas of Nepal have little to no access to water. Some even have to depend on streams of water from nearby mountains, and they have to travel long distances to retrieve the water.

Despite this access to mountain water, it is not always a safe bet. For example, domestic waste and untreated sewage discharge from nearby neighborhoods and villages pollute the surface water from the Kathmandu Valley. Due to the increasing population of Kathmandu, it produces 150 tons of waste per day and dumps about 75 tons of this waste into rivers. This is a problem because households induce more than 80% of this wastewater.

The high levels of poverty in Nepal have heavily impacted the farmers in which many farmers are unable to invest in better farming techniques. Farmers also lack access to formal finance and food security.

How Water Quality in Nepal Impacted Nepalese Livelihood

The lack of access to clean and healthy water directly impacts the health and sanitation conditions of many Nepalese people. For example, Ranjana Adhikari, a Nepalese assistant in a community health post, discussed in 2016 how Nepal’s poor water quality specifically affects women. She reported that the women who have to go long distances to retrieve water for their families normally have poorer health than those who do not need to travel long distances.

Additionally, in 2016, doctors reported that there were water-borne diseases that stemmed from contaminated waters and poor hygiene. Unfortunately, the number of cases of Nepalese people suffering from diarrhea, typhoid and fever due to Kathmandu’s poor water quality increased between 25% and 30% that same year.

Ongoing Efforts

In November of 2022, the Global Center on Adaptation reported that the Community Development and Advocacy Forum Nepal implemented measures to recover lands, preserve waters and manage river systems. Some of these measures include “taking an ecosystem approach,” where it made improvements to prevent soil erosion, improve access to water and turn dry riverbanks into green areas with various fruits and vegetables.

Moreover, the Ministry of Water Supply instituted the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) WASH program. This program aims to help create better access to safe water, improve health care facilities and sanitation, raise hygiene awareness and much more.

Also, in July 2022, the government of Nepal and the World Bank collaborated with $80 million to promote water resources management and to implement the Water Sector Governance and Infrastructure Support Project.

According to Mr. Faris Hadad-Zervos, the World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Water Sector Governance and Infrastructure Support Project aims to improve the delivery of water and sanitation services while also discussing the significant gaps in Nepal’s water and sanitation infrastructure and economic progress.

Looking Ahead

Nepal is taking action to tackle its water quality challenges head-on. Collaborative projects between the government, organizations like the Global Center on Adaptation and UNICEF and the World Bank are already making a difference. Measures to recover lands, preserve waters and manage river systems are being implemented, while initiatives are underway to improve access to safe water, enhance sanitation facilities and raise hygiene awareness. These efforts are transforming the lives of Nepalese communities, safeguarding their health and contributing to sustainable development.

– Merlis Burgos-Ramos
Photo: Flickr

The Success of M Auto’s Electric Motorbikes

Electric Motorbikes
Described as a “bold and ambitious” start-up, West African company M Auto aims to offer “mobility as a service” with its innovative e-bikes. Since its launch in 2022, M Auto has taken the nations of Togo and Benin by storm with its electric motorbikes and mission for affordable and sustainable transport solutions.

How Did it Begin?

According to its website, M Auto began its mission in 2019, but first launched with music concerts in Benin and Togo in May 2022. That same month, an article reported that 500 e-bikes were already operational and an additional 3,000 were ready for purchase, according to RealWire. With support from the Africa Transformation and Industrialization Fund (ATIF), M Auto was able to sell more than 2,000 bikes and register more than 2,500 pre-orders by September 2022.

The inspiration for, and success of, M Auto is largely in line with regional needs and systems. Co-founder Yasmeen Jawaharali told RealWire that “Benin and Togo have the biggest demand for commercial two-wheelers and progressive government policy for domestic manufacturing in the energy transition” and the March 2022 decision from the Togolese government to relieve import duties on electric vehicles has provided further incentive and opportunity for these developments. M Auto’s chief executive Shegun Bakari observed the high demand in Benin, with approximately “100,000 new bike registrations” annually.

Benefits of M Auto Vehicles

  • Environment: With zero carbon emissions, M Auto’s electric motorbikes provide a green alternative to regular fuel-powered motorbikes. Zems, traditional Beninese motorcycle taxis, contribute almost 4 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, according to Quartz. The nation’s transport industry is responsible for 65% of its emissions, The Guardian reports. Although the African continent is not a leading polluter globally, it is still subject to the effects of the climate crisis. The Clean Air Fund has predicted that “the economic cost of air pollution in African cities will increase 600% over the next 18 years,” as reported by The Guardian.
  • Health: Tied in with the environmental and economic challenges of pollution are its impacts on health. One of Benin’s “more than 250,000 moto-taxi drivers,” Domingo Soule, told The Guardian about his concerns for his health due to long days of inhaling exhaust fumes. Noting a cough and irritation in his eyes, he mentioned that he was “scared for [his] health” but “[didn’t] have a choice.” More than 1 million Africans died prematurely in 2019 from diseases such as stroke, lung cancer and heart disease, which air pollution could have caused or exacerbated. A switch to electric vehicles could play a vital role in alleviating such issues.
  • Affordability: Despite environmental and health benefits, Bakari acknowledges that “if it’s more expensive for [people], they won’t do it.” With a poverty rate of just under 40% in Benin as of 2019, and more than 50% in Togo, there is a need for innovations to be affordable. Due to high fuel prices, the cost of charging an e-bike battery for 70 km of travel could be cheaper than the cost of petrol, Quartz reports. Moreover, M Auto’s commitment to covering maintenance costs and providing competitive interest rates, makes it an attractive option for taxi owners otherwise dependent on easy finance.
  • Job Creation: M Auto equally provides advantages for citizens in terms of new job and training opportunities. Although the company is currently relying on exports and assembling locally, Bakari notes a desire to “manufacture everything locally” if possible, opening up room for new areas of training and education and providing employment. Indeed, the company is already building factories to fulfill one of its aims of manufacturing “exclusively […] for the African market […] allowing to create more jobs and ensuring that the process is by Africans for Africans,” according to RealWire. And according to Africa Energy Portal (AEP), M Auto’s additional plans to convert combustion engine motorbike to electric ones are also set to generate 2,000 eco-conscious jobs for young people in Togo.

Affordable and Sustainable Solution

M Auto promises not just material benefits of affordable and sustainable transportation, but also a shift toward a future of innovation. The company promises that its vehicles will allow Africans to “be their own bosses.” Even more, its success will “boost home-grown innovation and sustainable development in the long term.” Bakari highlights M Auto’s contribution to the continent’s “industrial transformation and ecological transition while creating jobs and lifting people out of poverty.”

Looking to the Future

So far, M Auto has seen remarkable success: as of August 2022, the company was Africa’s largest provider of electric motorbikes. It has already expanded to operate in Rwanda and Uganda as well as Togo and Benin. Although still most commonly found under the name M Auto, the company rebranded in 2022 to become Spiro and has ambitions to become the leading electric vehicle company on the continent.

– Helene Schlichter
Photo: Unsplash

Poverty in Rwanda: The Impact of COVID-19

Despite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the end of the pandemic’s emergency phase, the economic and social consequences of COVID-19 continue to affect the world. According to the World Bank, the pandemic pushed an additional 97 million people into poverty in 2020, leaving governments struggling to recover from its widespread devastation. For example, the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Rwanda has been particularly severe.

The Disruptive Impact of COVID

When the pandemic hit, Rwanda experienced a sharp decline in GDP, with a 39.1% drop during a six-week lockdown. Simultaneously, the national poverty rate increased by 10.9%. As a result, around 1.3 million people out of a population of approximately 13.4 million temporarily fell into poverty due to the effects of COVID-19. The pandemic disrupted the U.N’s Vision 2020 objectives in poverty reduction strategies, which had shown promising results in the past.

Previously, Rwanda had experienced an economic boom, including a real economic growth of 9.4% in 2019. It had also benefited from large foreign investment in industries such as hospitality and travel.

Rwanda, similar to many other countries, faced significant economic challenges due to the pandemic. A study conducted by Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries revealed that 80% of businesses were closed from March to April 2020. By January 2021, the average business had laid off 25% of its workforce. 

The pandemic also affected education in Rwanda, with approximately 3.5 million students being unable to attend school as usual. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Rwanda has been especially harsh on women, who are often only able to secure employment in seasonal jobs.

The Government’s Response

The Rwandan government responded swiftly to the crisis, implementing various measures in March 2020, including a lockdown, border closure, curfew and social distancing requirements. In March 2021, an Economic Recovery Plan was introduced, featuring an Economic Recovery Fund worth $100 million to support severely affected businesses. The plan specifically targeted the once-thriving travel sector, providing financial assistance to 138 hotels. Additionally, the government allocated funds to educational institutions and factories, aiming to facilitate the return to school and work.

Recovery and Investment Abroad

Rwanda has attracted foreign investors and regained economic confidence. For instance, it received $200 million from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and raised $650 million through a Eurobond. These investments stimulated the Economic Recovery Fund, allowing the country to diversify its economy and foster innovation. The World Bank reported a 1.2% reduction in poverty by the end of 2020 as a result of these initiatives. And the government’s rapid response also ensured continued access to education, health care and nutrition.

NGO Findings

Innovations for Poverty Action surveyed Rwandan people as part of its Research for Effective COVID-19 Responses, which informed government policy in responding to the pandemic. Collecting information on health, food security, finance resilience, education and employment, it recommended policies in line with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing an opportunity to boost Rwanda’s economy with these in mind. In the case of addressing the impact of COVID-19 on poverty, local charitable organizations continue to make efforts. The Dufatanye Organisation, for example, has fundraised for food support for those living with type 1 diabetes during the pandemic due to poverty’s impact on access to medication. Other organizations like the Centre Marembo Organization have also tried to address the impact of COVID-19 on the homeless by fundraising and mobilizing communities.

Moving Forward

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped global perspectives on community, economics and society, once again highlighting the issue of poverty. Despite the disruptive impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Rwanda, the government’s swift response has set the country on a path to strong economic recovery in 2021. Industrial production, exports and agricultural output have shown significant increases, leading to more employment opportunities and helping people escape poverty caused by the pandemic.

In conclusion, while the pandemic’s effects on poverty have been substantial, Rwanda’s proactive measures and collaborative efforts have laid the foundation for recovery and progress.

– Rosie Lyons

Photo: Wikimedia

Male Singlehood and Poverty in Rural China

Male Singlehood
Over the past few decades, China has experienced an increase in unmarried young males aged 30 years and older. And this is especially the case in rural China. In the cultural context of China, marriage is a highly valued social norm, so there is a stigma that people attach to male singlehood. Rural men in China, who stay single in their late 30s, face the risk of being on the receiving end of mockery from their relatives. Although many young men in rural China are willing to marry, they are likely to suffer the experience of life-long singlehood, according to an exploratory survey. Here is some information about the link between male singlehood and poverty in rural China.

Harmful Customs in Rural China

The high cost of marriage is one of the leading causes behind the low rate of marriage. Low-income people in rural areas in China cannot afford to marry. As per the Chinese pre-wedding customs, the groom has to give betrothal gifts, including cash, jewelry and even motor vehicles to the bride and her family before the marriage. Most rural families make their livelihoods from agriculture and their recorded annual income was only 20,133 yuan (or 2,930 U.S. dollars) in 2022. However, the betrothal gift also called the “bride price” can cost tens of thousands of dollars which is 10 times higher than a rural family’s annual income. Therefore, low-income families cannot afford the cost of marriage.

In rural China, many believe that after daughters marry, they should transfer economic loyalties to their husbands. Therefore, many regard the tradition of “bride price” as the groom’s financial compensation to the bride’s family for raising their daughter. Old parents in rural China, especially those who live in extreme poverty, rely heavily on their sons to support them through old age. Considering these conditions, many rural couples have exercised gender selection by aborting female fetuses or even killing female newborns. As a result, the sex ratio in rural China increased to approximately 108 males to 100 females in 2021. The lack of women in rural China’s marriage market has increased the “bride price,” thereby imposing a significant financial burden on poor men who want to get married.

Women’s Education in Rural China

To solve the problem of male singlehood, suggestions point toward eradicating harmful traditional customs. The possible first step could involve elevating rural women’s socio-economic status. Women’s education could also be impactful. Since 1989, with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) has launched the “Women’s Literacy Action” and the “Learning and Competition” campaign. According to a report by UNESCO, these programs have encouraged 200 million rural women to receive agricultural training and helped 1.5 million rural women to obtain agricultural qualifications and certificates.

These programs have enabled many rural women to receive education and skills training, increasing their workforce participation. Furthermore, these programs have helped women to realize that harmful traditions such as gender selection and betrothal gifts deprive women’s rights, and therefore, should have no place in society.

China’s New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS)

In rural China, low-income childless single men have high financial risks. Over the past few decades, the Chinese government has been improving the elderly care and medical insurance system in rural areas. In 2003, the government launched the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS), an insurance scheme designed specifically for rural residents with the goal of “providing equal financial protection for all enrollees.” Its coverage rose from 11.63% in 2005 to 80.34% in 2014. Since 2003, it has helped hundreds of millions of rural residents reduce the risk of catastrophic health expenditure.

Looking Ahead

There are around 30 million unmarried men in China, mostly from poor rural communities. To solve this problem, China made great efforts in rural education and poverty reduction, with the support of international organizations such as UNESCO. While there is still a long way to go due to the scale of the issue, the progress so far offers a glimmer of hope.

– Chengyan Zhu
Photo: Flickr

Kat Katha’s Mission to Empower Sex Workers on GB Road in New Delhi

Garstin Bastion Road or GB Road is one of the most notorious neighborhoods in India’s capital where one can shop for electronic goods and automobile parts. Yet at night, the business landscape morphs into one of the most famous red-light districts in the city, with multi-story brothels and thousands of women selling sex. Kat Katha, a charity promoting the empowerment of sex workers on GB road, testify that many of these women are victims of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking

In the 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, India is still not fully compliant with international human trafficking laws, but it is making significant efforts to improve. For this reason, the report categorizes India as a tier 2 country. The report also revealed that in 2020, there were 6,622 victims of trafficking, with 59% of trafficked persons being female and 47% being children.

It has been well established over the years that traffickers target those who are most vulnerable to socio-economic disadvantages. When fewer options are available to those that experience economic insecurity, the risk of being exploited and falling victim to human trafficking is far greater. Gender discrimination and experiencing poverty play a large role in determining women’s economic opportunities, and many women’s and girls’ decisions regarding education, career and marriages are far more restricted than men’s.

Kat Katha’s Vision

Gitanjali Babbar founded Kat Katha in 2011. After performing an inspection on GB Road for the National AIDS Control Organisation, she saw the living conditions of the women in the brothels. They had limited access to hygiene facilities, slept in crowded bedrooms and had to work until 4 AM tending to clients. Indeed, she reported hearing women say “humari zindagi toh narakh se bhi bhattar hai” (our life is worse than hell).”

The absence of autonomous choices and isolation from the mainstream community in their neighborhood characterizes the life of these women and their children. Stigma follows the sex workers and their children whenever they leave GB Road. Whether it is to purchase a train ticket or to attend school, authorities inspect their Aadhaar (identity cards), and this reveals their infamous address. The issue of stigma also impacts the experiences of children of sex workers; they experience bullying in schools due to the reality of their mothers’ line of work. What’s more is that some of the women do not even have Aadhaar numbers, meaning that they have great difficulty accessing state-provided welfare schemes or other government relief programs.

But Babbar and the rest of the Kat Katha team do not believe that these women and their children are mere victims of their circumstances. Hence, the organization aims to inspire mothers and their children to pursue a life of “Dignity, Ownership and Compassion.” Kat Katha’s mission is to empower women on GB Road, helping them realize their agency and independence and to give them the chance to lead a free life that is far removed from forced sex. The organization sets about achieving this goal by providing education through the Kat-Katha Bridge school and implementing skill-based programs.

HeARTshala

Kat Katha’s HeARTshala program teaches beneficiaries sewing and tailoring skills, equipping them to make products such as bags and face masks. The program opened in response to the shock of COVID-19 and its effect on the sex industry, as many women sought to find alternative means of income. HeARTshala provided steady work and even partnered with Goonj, an NGO in New Delhi that provides disaster relief. Goonj ordered 350 double-layered masks to hand out to surrounding communities, creating alternative income opportunities for the women enrolled in the program.

Kat Katha provided a training stipend and rent allowance to aid the women to not have to depend on sex work for survival while they dedicate themselves to developing skills that can help them secure alternative means of income in the future. So far, more than 50 beneficiaries have now left sex work and now lead alternative livelihoods.

Looking Ahead

Through its programs and initiatives, Kat Katha is working to empower sex workers and their children in the notorious GB Road neighborhood. The organization aims to break the cycle of exploitation by providing education, skill-based training and alternative income opportunities. With several beneficiaries having already transitioned away from sex work, Kat Katha is making a positive impact and offering hope for a better future to those affected by human trafficking in India.

–Lucy Gebbie

Photo: Flickr

How Better Public Transportation Can Reduce Pollution and Poverty in Cairo

Cairo, Egypt’s capital city, is a bustling metropolis with more than 20 million people living in its metro area. It also faces several social and economic problems, including massive pollution and a high prevalence of poverty, with a high percentage of its population living in slums.

Pollution and Poverty in Cairo

According to IQAir, Egypt is number nine out of the 10 most polluted countries in the world. Much of this pollution comes from its crowded capital city. But in addition to its high rate of pollution, Cairo also suffers from a high rate of poverty.

Up to 63% of residents live in informally or extra-legally developed areas, more commonly known as slums. In these slums, residents live without access to many basic necessities such as electricity, clean water and sanitation. And while poverty in Cairo itself is due to several different factors, pollution is one that continues to impact the region’s most vulnerable.

Much of the pollution in Cairo comes from its vast fleet of private vehicles, many of which are old and reliant on fossil fuels. Of the 4 million vehicles used within Cairo, 60% are at least 10 years old. This high number of vehicles means traffic volumes may go as high as 7,000 vehicles per hour per lane, rising far above Cairo’s acceptable maximum flow of vehicles.

Impact of Public Transportation

Currently, air pollution affects the people of Cairo in two different ways. First, it leads to overall negative health outcomes. According to the World Bank, “as many as 2 million people a year seek medical treatment for respiratory problems related to poor air quality.” In 2019, air pollution caused nearly 100,000 premature deaths throughout Egypt. And in addition to respiratory problems, air pollution also contributes to other health issues, including heart disease, strokes and cancer.

The second problem caused by pollution, which stems from the first, is its economic burden. In 2018, the estimated cost of air pollution due to health problems was around 100 billion in EGP or 2.8% of the nation’s GDP. Plus, the average Egyptian pays “nearly double the global average for out-of-pocket spending on health” or around 10% of their total monthly income, according to Alternative Policy Solutions.

Those suffering most from the negative effects of pollution in Cairo are its poorest citizens. But the development of clean public transportation could give them better health and economic outcomes. Most obviously, the reduction in air pollution from fewer cars could mean fewer health problems and allow them to save money for other necessary expenses. In addition, a larger system could give them access to better essential services and economic opportunities.

Current Developments

On the bright side, the Egyptian government recognizes the harmful effects of air pollution in Cairo and is taking steps to mitigate it. Its overall aim is to reduce emissions by 50% by the year 2030, as reported by the World Bank.

Some of the initiatives undertaken by the Egyptian government include:

  • Expansions of Cairo’s metro line
  • Promoting non-motorized transport
  • A fuel subsidy removal plan aiming to reduce traffic congestion

And studies show that these developments alone could reduce emissions by 34% by 2030. However, there are also several proposals for further improvements. Among these proposals include the creation of a new electronic bus fleet and better inspection and vehicle maintenance within greater Cairo.

Looking Ahead

As Cairo grapples with the dual challenges of pollution and poverty, there are encouraging signs of progress. The Egyptian government has recognized the need to tackle air pollution and has implemented initiatives to expand public transportation and promote non-motorized transport. These efforts, coupled with proposed improvements such as an electronic bus fleet, hold the potential to significantly reduce emissions and improve the health and economic well-being of Cairo’s residents, particularly those in marginalized communities. With continued commitment and implementation, a cleaner and more equitable future for Cairo is within reach.

–Jonathon Crecelius

Photo: Flickr

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“The Big Catch-up” to Immunity for Children

"The Big Catch-up" to Immunity for ChildrenCOVID-19 has impacted the world in several dire ways, but one that calls for immediate attention is the impact of immunization vaccinations. In light of this, “The Big Catch-Up” to immunity for children is making efforts through initiatives to inspire change.

The Importance of Vaccines

The development of vaccines is, what the president of Global Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Chris Elias, describes, as “a public health triumph.” Due to vaccines, the world has near eradicated once-fatal diseases such as poliovirus, measles, diphtheria and yellow fever. For instance, poliovirus in particular has seen a 99% decrease in cases since 1988, dropping from 350,000 a year to a record 30. The World Health Organization (WHO) has forecasted that by the year 2030, vaccines could save 50 million lives.

Beyond immunity and personal health, the importance of vaccines extends to communal and financial benefits. There is a domino effect when children who do not receive vaccines become ill. These children miss out on education, while the caregivers experience a loss of income and productivity as they stay home to provide care. A recent study that examined 94 low to middle-income countries reported a $20 return on every $1 “invested in immunization between 2021 and 2030,” according to the U.N. Foundation. That profit is the result of good health enhancing productivity, education and ability.

The Impact of COVID-19

Before COVID-19, the rate of children receiving immunization vaccinations across the globe was at 86%. According to the U.N. Foundation, this percentage dropped to 81% in 2021, representing approximately 67 million children in more than 100 countries with vulnerability to preventable fatal diseases, with reports of increasing outbreaks. In Africa alone, 8.4 million children go without essential vaccines in 2021.

The reasons for this setback all link to COVID-19. Overburdened health workers, decreased access to clinics, diverted resources, attention and supplies, reduced travel, school closures and increased vaccine misinformation all contributed to the lag in immunization vaccinations across the globe. Fortunately, several health organizations are banding together to catch up to the initial progress in immunity.

The Big Catch-Up Plan

Organizations including WHO, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation formed “The Big Catch-up,” in response to COVID-19’s impact on immunization vaccinations. Its mission is to, quite literally, catch up to the immunity progress made pre-pandemic and continue to push beyond that. In addition, there are efforts to introduce the HPV vaccine in low to middle-income countries where the risk is highest, according to the WHO.

The plan particularly focuses on providing vaccines to the 20 countries that saw the most decrease in immunity vaccines for children. These countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Chad, DPRK, DRC, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Tanzania and Vietnam.

“The Big Catch-up” aims to restore immunization levels by:

  • Improving health care workforce
  • Projecting accurate information and enhancing trust around vaccines
  • Strengthening health service delivery
  • Addressing obstacles and gaps to restoring immunization

“Catching up is a top priority. No child should die of a vaccine-preventable disease.” – WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Doing Important Work

“The Big Catch-up” to immunity for children is crucial to avoiding another pandemic – this time vaccine-preventable diseases that the world had almost eradicated completely. In fact, measles outbreaks are already being reported across the globe, and just a “small pocket…can be enough to fuel pandemics,” according to News Medical. Part of The Big Catch-up’s plan includes integrating immunization into primary health care, so the disruptions to vaccines experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic are never seen again.

“The longer we wait to reach and vaccinate these children, the more vulnerable they become and the greater the risk of more deadly disease outbreaks. Countries, global partners and local communities must come together to strengthen services, build trust and save lives,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

– Jenny Boxall
Photo: Flickr

Maximo Nivel Volunteers Help to End Poverty in Latin America

Maximo Nivel VolunteersPoverty affects about 32% of the population in Latin America, according to the Social Panorama 2022 report. Established in 2003, Maximo Nivel is a leading study abroad and educational travel organization that also helps to end poverty in Latin America. Through its volunteer-based community projects, developing communities in Costa Rica, Peru and Guatemala benefit from English lessons, medical and dental care services, the construction of infrastructure and assistance with sustainable farming projects, among other benefits.

Poverty in Latin America

According to the details of the Social Panorama 2022 report, at the end of 2022, about 201 million Latin Americans lived in conditions of poverty and 82 million Latin Americans endured conditions of extreme poverty.

In Costa Rica specifically, the most recent findings by the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica (INEC) reported that, in 2022, almost 400,000 households endured poverty. Of these households, 110,631 endured extreme poverty. Peru has scarcely recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 26% of the country experiencing poverty and another 4% experiencing extreme poverty as of 2021, the World Bank notes. In Guatemala, 2019 estimates indicated that more than half of the population has remained below the poverty line since 2014, says the World Bank.

Maximo Nivel’s exclusive focus on these countries directly improves living conditions and increases access to opportunities for those who need assistance the most. And this is all in a bid to end poverty in Latin America.

Maximo Nivel Volunteer Programs

  • Working with Children: Poverty takes a toll on children’s education in many ways. For instance, impoverished children often do not get the familial support and attention needed to thrive academically, as parents usually have to focus on providing survival needs for the household. Maximo Nivel volunteers who choose the childcare program work in schools, community and daycare centers to give children the attention and care necessary for development and educational success. This includes working with children one-on-one, tutoring, organizing games and teaching proper hygiene practices.
  • Teaching English: Learning to speak English can open the door to a multitude of career opportunities for impoverished individuals. Volunteers who teach English as a Second Language (ESL) classes bring this opportunity to students in Costa Rica, Peru and Guatemala, as these countries lack access to quality education. These free classes remove the disadvantage many students face compared to classmates that can afford private lessons.
  • Providing Medical and Dental Care: The medical and health care programs organized by Maximo Nivel are open to licensed professionals, students in medical school and dental assistants. These specialized volunteers work in understaffed hospitals and dental clinics in especially vulnerable areas. Their contributions ensure local communities receive quality health care despite financial barriers.
  • Constructing Communities: A Maximo Nivel foreman leads volunteers participating in the construction program on essential building projects. The volunteers may build homes, renovate schools to accommodate more children, update clinics or community centers and complete beautification projects. As stated on the Maximo Nivel website, volunteers not only “improve access to education and health care” but also “promote community solidarity.”
  • Farming Sustainably: Poor working conditions and poverty persist for Latin American farmers despite the fact that more than 33% of the population relies on agriculture for income. Eco-agriculture projects encourage sustainable and more efficient methods of farming to reduce environmental impacts and increase yields and profitability for smallholder farmers. Maximo Nivel volunteers receive hands-on experience at macadamia, coffee, tea and cacao farms and harvest crops that benefit local communities.

The Power of Volunteerism

Maximo Nivel’s efforts suggest that volunteers can make a significant difference in developing countries. Poverty remains a massive issue across Latin America, but projects like those run by the organization promote hope and advance progress in communities facing the impacts of impoverishment.

– Rachel Rebecca Smith
Photo: Flickr

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7 Reasons to Invest in Albania

Invest in AlbaniaEver since Albania seceded from the Soviet Union, and tilted toward the European Union, the country’s economy has grown from strength to strength. Between 2010 and 2021, the economy grew by a remarkable 37%. And according to forecasts, it could grow by a further 20% by 2025.

Albania’s economic growth has had a positive impact on the country’s poverty levels. It has also represented huge opportunities for investors looking to make money amid Albania’s success. In light of this, the following are seven reasons to invest in Albania:

7 Reasons to Invest in Albania

  1. Tight Ties With Europe As a Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) member, Albania has complete free trade among its seven other member countries. This means Albania has unfettered access to a combined market of 26 million customers. Given that all CEFTA members try to comply with EU objectives and regulations, trade between Albania and the EU tends to be relatively frictionless. With ports on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, the Albanian market also occupies an ideal position for these exports. These facts allow exports to the EU from Albania to grow year on year, accounting for more than €2 billion in 2021 alone.
  2. A Liberal Business Environment Ever since 2009, when Albania applied for EU membership, the country has undergone a series of economic reforms to ensure its application’s success. Importantly for investors’ bottom line, Albania now has a very favorable tax regime. Property tax is just 1%; corporate income tax is 15% (the U.K. has a rate of 19%); and residents in Albania only pay 15% tax on their income, no matter how much they earn. The Law On Foreign Investment covers most of the regulatory framework foreign investors need to be aware of in Albania. The Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) says this all-important law allows for “100% ownership for foreign companies and outlines specific protections for foreign investors”. What is more, a government paper has openly said it gives “high priority… to potential foreign investors”. In a nutshell, compared to other EU countries, investing in Albania appears to be a more seamless process.
  3. A Serious Anti-Corruption Drive Along with necessary economic reforms, Albania transformed its political landscape to accelerate its EU application. This includes various anti-corruption drives, ranging from a €3 million EU-funded project (the biggest of its kind in the West Balkans) to setting up an online portal, allowing citizens to anonymously record corrupt activities. It is perhaps not unsurprising then, that Albania improved its ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index by 27 places, since 2016. Less corruption means foreigners need to pay less in bribes to get their businesses up and running. Plus, falling corruption numbers are a good bellwether for a stabilizing political environment and a fairer, more equal society. Due to the economic and political reforms, Albania is in open accession talks with the EU.
  4. Less Poverty than Ever Before As a result of economic and political reform, Albania has achieved staggering growth. This has been mirrored by the country’s labor sector. Jobs in textiles, tourism, trade and administrative services have been on the rise since 2013. Tourism in particular is booming; it is the 25th most visited country in Europe, with The New York Times ranking it as the fourth best tourism destination in the world. According to the World Bank, the economic and employment growth resulted in “Poverty in Albania is estimated to have fallen significantly to 22% of the population in 2021.”
  5. Affordable Unused Land To encourage people to invest in Albania, the government consistently advertises its “competitive land prices”, “a lot of unused lands” and the fact that its value will only “increase even more” over the next 10 years. This is great news for investors. Constructing the necessary infrastructure for any business in Albania is likely to cost far less, and rise in value far more, than most other Western European countries.
  6. Competitive Labor Costs Not only are 57% of Albanians under 35 making for a big labor pool, but they are also relatively economical to hire. For reference, the minimum wage in Albania is $335 per month, compared to $1160 per month in the U.S. But Albanian talent is also very well-educated. Every year, more than 100,000 Albanians enroll in universities, with a large number studying in EU countries like Germany and France.
  7. A Conscious Investment While the poverty problem in Albania has indeed reduced significantly, 5.8% of its population still lives in extreme poverty. Apart from being a potentially smart financial decision to invest in Albania, doing so could also go a long way to help fund the country’s continued drive to tackle poverty and get more Albanians into well-paying jobs. The Albanian energy sector makes an excellent example. In 2022, foreign investors came in to invest in Albania by putting €103 million into the energy sector, and this represented an increase of more than 145% compared to 2021. Not only did this boost the number of Albanians employed by the sector to more than 2% of its population but much of this investment also went into renewables such as wind and solar. A new solar project in the Korça region, for example, was approved in 2022 and was supported by foreign investment. This will supply new, high-skilled jobs, help energy-deprived residents gain access to cheaper energy and hopefully give foreigners a healthy return on their investment.

Looking Ahead

Albania’s remarkable economic growth and favorable investment environment offer lucrative opportunities for investors. With tight ties to Europe, a liberal business environment and a serious anti-corruption drive, Albania presents a seamless and secure investment destination. Moreover, the country’s success in reducing poverty and its conscious efforts to tackle societal challenges make investing in Albania not only financially rewarding but also impactful in promoting further development and creating well-paying jobs for its population.

– Sam Rucker
Photo: Unsplash