Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Addressing Homelessness in Hawaii

Homelessness in Hawaii
The tropical island of Hawaii is a popular tourist destination yet the island nation struggles with the issue of homelessness. Thousands of Hawaii’s locals live in tents, cars or cramped spaces with their children and families. According to the Point in Time Count sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 5,973 individuals endured homelessness in Hawaii in 2022. Several local organizations are committed to helping families secure shelter and meet their other basic needs.

Uncovering Homelessness in Hawaii

According to the organization Homeless Hawaii, poverty, mental illness, addiction, trauma, unstable employment and family violence contribute to homelessness in Hawaii. Native Hawaiians are particularly susceptible to many of these issues. Hawaii has a high cost of living, and the average income does not support this. As of 2022, the average minimum wage in Hawaii stood at $12 an hour. However, the average sales price of a home statewide is above $800,000 as of 2023. A single adult would need to make at least $22 an hour to afford to live in Hawaii. Families with three children and both parents working would require a living wage of almost $40. Hawaii has limited land and high costs for transportation, food, child care and medical care, which exacerbates the homelessness crisis.

4 Local Charities Addressing Homelessness in Hawaii

  1. Project Hawai’i, Inc: This nonprofit assists more than 1,600 homeless children a year across the islands of O’ahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawai’i. Project Hawai’i “strives to change the lives of children by providing a sense of stability through interactive programs, including educational summer camps, holiday events, school support and educational training,” its website says. The organization’s efforts also center around providing nutritious meals, hygiene care and emergency services to children in need. Since its establishment in 2003, Project Hawai’i, Inc has helped more than 2,000 homeless children in Hawaii rise out of poverty through the resources, essential services and support necessary to thrive and establish self-sufficiency. One individual who received aid from the nonprofit now owns her own business and home. Another homeless teen mom living in her car could not complete school and required childcare support. The organization helped her build a successful jewelry business and placed her children in Project Hawai’i’s programs. Project Hawai’i gave her the chance to build a new life, in her own home with her children.
  2. The Institute for Human Services: The Institute for Human Services works with an exclusive focus on alleviating homelessness in Hawaii. It envisions a “community where homeless people are empowered with hope, dignity and confidence to quickly access and sustain a safe, decent and affordable home,” its website says. The private nonprofit’s success includes housing 1,628 clients, providing services to 1,258 people and distributing 301,684 meals. The story of IHS’s establishment began in 1978 through the efforts of Father Claude DuTeil. In 1982, IHS officially became a private nonprofit. IHS’s services involve active outreach to people living on the streets, providing three meals a day, health services, job search services, tutoring and activities programs for children.
  3. Family Promise of Hawai’i: Since 2006, this organization has taken a holistic approach to addressing homelessness in Hawaii. Through the provision of “shelter, meals, case management, homelessness prevention and stabilization services to [more than] 4,730 family members,” Family Promise of Hawai’i ensures that families facing housing insecurity find long-term stability. After providing emergency or short-term shelter, the organization helps individuals through education, employment development, referral to community resources and ongoing case management. About 80% of individuals receiving short-term shelter move on to secure permanent housing.
  4.  Hawaii H.O.M.E. Project: This local nonprofit aims to “improve quality and access to health care for individuals in Hawaii experiencing houselessness while increasing student and physician awareness and understanding of the houseless and their health care needs,” its website says. The nonprofit also provides free medical services and health tests, alongside distributing hygiene kits and school supplies, among other efforts.

Looking Ahead

Homelessness is a human rights issue. By overlooking the issue of homelessness, the world fails to uphold the internationally recognized human right of adequate housing. Fortunately, the commitments of several local organizations in Hawaii ensure that the people of Hawaii are able to secure their most basic needs.

– Ellie Bruce
Photo: Flickr

Victory Farms: Developing Sustainable Aquaculture in Lake Victoria

Aquaculture in Lake VictoriaLake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, neighboring Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. With nearly 40 million people living nearby, the fisheries of the lake are a critical source of food and income for a significant number of East Africans. However, the introduction of invasive species and severe pollution all took a great toll on the ecology of Lake Victoria and reduced its fishing output, endangering the livelihood and food security of residents. Between 2016 and 2020, around 10,000 fishers stopped fishing in Lake Victoria, and the number of fishing boats and nets also showed an overall declining trend. Therefore, more work is needed to shore up aquaculture in Lake Victoria.

Troubled Waters of Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria has always been home to a very diverse ecosystem of freshwater species, many of them exclusively found there. Only 21.8% of the fish species in Lake Victoria exist elsewhere in the world. However, this ecosystem is highly fragile and endangered due to a number of reasons.

To begin with, several invasive foreign species damaged the local ecosystem. The Nile Perch was introduced to Lake Victoria in the 1950s with the intention to boost fish production, but it rapidly disrupted the entire food chain of the lake and drove local cichlid fish species to near extinction.

Water hyacinth is another invasive species that has a highly negative impact on both the ecosystem and the livelihoods of locals in Lake Victoria. Locals believe that European colonists brought it as a decorative plant due to the beauty of its flowers. However, it is also capable of rapidly growing and covering a wide portion of water bodies in a short period of time. Not only is this disruptive for boat traffic, but the plant also depletes the oxygen from the water and prevents sunlight from reaching into the lake.

Pollution is another major threat to Lake Victoria’s ecosystem. Untreated sewage, industrial waste and unsustainable land development all contribute to the degradation of water quality, which also worsens other problems such as the aforementioned water hyacinth growth.

Victory Farms

Victory Farms is a Kenya-based aquaculture startup that aims to develop sustainable fish farms in Lake Victoria. Its mission statement, according to its website, is to “tackle the challenges of rapidly declining wild fish catch in Lake Victoria, rising populations and undernourishment… while also working toward becoming the most sustainable fish farm on the planet.”

The startup produces tilapia, a popular fish in the aquaculture industry. Due to its omnivorous diet, rapid growth and resilience, it can thrive in a wide range of environments and suits well for fish farms. Victory Farms exclusively uses native tilapia species from government-certified hatcheries.

It also maintains a cold chain distribution network for their fish with a total of 84 stores across Kenya as of 2023, providing reliable access of tilapia to Kenyans. Kenyan President William Ruto also recognized Victory Farms as “the fastest growing aquaculture business” in sub-Saharan Africa.

Looking Ahead

Lake Victoria’s importance to the livelihoods of East Africans makes it crucial that efforts toward sustainable aquaculture continue. The ecosystem of the lake should be preserved for the fishing industry to continue thriving and the approach of Victory Farms is a step in the right direction.

– Junoh Seo
Photo: Flickr

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3 Cricket Players Ending Poverty 

Cricket Players
Cricket is one of the world’s most popular sports, with billions across the globe idolizing its stars. As well as their dazzling on-field performances, the charitable contributions of some of the game’s biggest figures have been notable. Here are three examples of cricket players ending poverty.

Sachin Tendulkar

Known as “The God of Cricket,” Tendulkar became arguably the game’s greatest-ever figure due, in part, to his record-breaking international career from 1989 to 2013. However, it is not only Sachin’s cricketing skills that engender awe and admiration. He has been involved in a wide range of charitable causes, especially focusing on supporting those in his native India. The nation has made immense progress in reducing poverty, with 415 million Indians leaving poverty from 2005 to 2020. Nonetheless, in 2019, 137 million Indians were still living in poverty, accounting for a headcount higher than any other country in the world.

In 2013, Tendulkar became UNICEF’s first Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia and has since worked passionately with the organization to improve the health and well-being of children on the subcontinent. In 2016, he led UNICEF’s Swachh Bharat campaign to improve sanitation in India. Sachin championed its objectives to end open defecation and to ensure every Indian had access to a toilet. Also, in 2018, he visited Bhutan to support UNICEF’s hand-washing initiative, meeting with school children and the interim Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Wangchuk.

As well as his work with UNICEF, Tendulkar has also made many personal donations to charitable causes. He donated generously to India’s fight against COVID-19. In total, he contributed 15 million rupees, approximately $185,000. Mission Oxygen, a social enterprise established at the peak of India’s second wave of COVID-19 in April 2021, received a total of 10 million rupees from this donation. The social enterprise provided 5,224 medical-grade oxygen contributors to more than 370 medical institutions in India, helped set up 37 oxygen generation plants and donated 55,000 oximeters that facilitated the monitoring of the COVID-19 status of 6 million people.

His personal foundation, The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, funds organizations that improve the access Indian children have to education, health care and sport. One such organization is Apnalaya, a nonprofit that provides basic services to the urban poor of Sachin’s hometown of Mumbai, which has a large slum population. Via Apnalaya, The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation sponsors the education of 200 less-privileged children in Mumbai every year, helping them to break free from the limitations of deprivation and poverty.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, India’s cricketing icon of the modern era, holds immense influence in the fight against poverty. With more than 245 million followers on Instagram, he stands as a leading figure among cricket players dedicated to this cause. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Tendulkar, Kohli exhibits a steadfast commitment to uplifting fellow Indians living in the most challenging circumstances.

In 2013, Kohli established the Virat Kohli Foundation (VKF), an organization dedicated to assisting those enduring extreme poverty. Through a partnership with the Raah Foundation, VKF focuses on delivering health care services to malnourished tribal children across India. Notably, tribal communities constitute the country’s most deprived group, with an estimated 5 million tribal children suffering from chronic undernourishment, as UNICEF highlighted.

In 2020, VKF launched Project Nutrition for Transformation, an initiative aimed at combating malnutrition among tribal children. This project successfully provided a year-long nutritional food supply to 5,000 malnourished tribal children across 103 health centers in the Maharashtra region. As a result, there was an increase in the number of tribal children attending regional health centers, empowering them to improve their overall well-being and livelihood prospects.

In a philanthropic endeavor, Kohli organized a charity dinner in 2016 to raise funds for The Smile Foundation. Since its establishment in 2002, the Smile Foundation has been actively working to uplift underprivileged children in India by implementing educational, health care and female empowerment programs. Notably, their livelihood programs equip young underprivileged Indians with vital employment skills, providing them with opportunities to uplift themselves and their families from poverty. These programs also prioritize female empowerment, as 71% of the 75,000 children trained are girls. Furthermore, Kohli made personal donations to support suffering Indians.

In 2020, he and his wife Anushka Sharm together donated an undisclosed amount to the PM Cares Fund and the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to assist the victims of COVID-19.

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes, England’s current captain, has also contributed to a range of charitable causes, both at home and around the world. During England’s most recent tour of Pakistan in 2022, he pledged his entire wage package of £45,000. This was to help the people suffering from the impacts of the country’s devastating floods. According to reports, more than 20.6 million people in Pakistan still require humanitarian assistance. In his announcement, Stokes said that “The game has given me a lot in my life and I feel it’s only right to give something back that goes far beyond cricket.”

Stokes is a supporter of the British Asian Trust, a charity that aims to eliminate poverty, injustice and inequality in South Asia. King Charles III and a group of British Asian business leaders formed the trust in 2007. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trust launched an emergency appeal and provided life-saving aid to more than 135,000 Indians, including essential items such as vegetables, flour, pulses and essential oils.

Stokes has contributed to the Trust’s efforts to eradicate child labor in Jaipur, India, where the organization collaborates with local authorities to enhance educational opportunities. In Britain, he has been involved in supporting the victims of COVID-19. In 2020, Stokes was part of the England Cricket Team that together donated £500,000 of their wages to the fight against COVID-19. Later in the year, he ran a half-marathon to fundraise for the National Health Service (NHS) and the charity Chance to Shine, which provides underprivileged communities in the U.K. access to cricket.

What is Next?

These three cricket players ending poverty are some of the greatest the game has ever seen. Yet, even more impressive than their sporting prowess are the examples they are setting for other privileged people by participating in humanitarian work. Such actions by these cricket players and others could encourage more participation in the fight against poverty, and in effect, create a poverty-free world.

– Henry Jones
Photo: Flickr

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A Closer Look at Foreign Aid and Development

Foreign Aid and Development
A recent survey shows that 66% of Britons support foreign aid spending, but there is significant division regarding the specifics of aid, DEVEX notes. The British government is currently facing criticism as reports emerged that the government, in 2022, diverted £3.7 billion ($4.6 billion) from the foreign aid budget to domestic refugee programs. The act negatively impacted nearly all international humanitarian programs, according to Bond, a U.K. network of development organizations. Nonetheless, a British government representative highlights that Britain remains one of the largest foreign aid donors globally. A closer look at foreign aid and development illustrates the importance of aid to the world’s poorest.

Foreign Aid

Foreign aid remains elusive for many British citizens due to its complex network of donors and recipients. In essence, foreign aid involves the “transfer of capital, goods or services from one country or international organization to another for the benefit of the recipient country or population.” Its goal is to provide vital resources such as access to clean water, education, infrastructure and security.

Development

One should not mistake foreign aid as a mere wealth transfer or redistribution. Rather, it is an investment. A donor country in partnership with various private actors, provides financial resources or commodities: capital, credit, military and training, in return for preferential access to primary goods or capital returns on investments made in infrastructure or industry. Aid can be strategically deployed to ensure regional security, as investments in Libya, Somalia and Afghanistan exemplify.

As directed by the Marshall Plan of 1947, the U.S. sent complex aid packages made up of loans and goods to Europe to forestall the spread of communism and create a vast and dependable market for U.S. goods. This meant returns for both private and state investors and the recipient country.

Modern investments also have played a role in stabilizing regions. China, for example, has built 100 seaports in Africa to facilitate free trade and preferential access to goods. China built the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria. Costing the Chinese government $1 billion, it is one of the largest ports in West Africa.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun says the project will create at least 200,000 jobs and will bring prosperity and security to the region. Of course, China, or the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) specifically, owns 75% of the port and receives a fee on all goods entering and exiting. China has also provided humanitarian aid for disaster relief and refugee support globally.

Humanitarian Aid

Through foreign aid, countries and organizations are able to establish humanitarian assistance projects to help the most vulnerable people meet their basic needs. However, foreign aid primarily consists of comprehensive packages that include both development and humanitarian aid. Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a crucial aspect of this aid, designed to promote development and combat poverty. U.K.-funded ODA programs have achieved significant humanitarian milestones.

U.K.-funded ODA programs have, for example:

  • Immunized more than 56 million children between January 2015 and December 2017 saving 990,000 lives. An additional pledge will help immunize 75 million children over the next five years.
  • Made education accessible for 15.6 million people between 2015 and 2020.
  • Delivered nutrition programs for more than 50 million women and children.
  • Provided 365,000 vaccines in Syria and granted 1 million people access to clean drinking water.
  • Reached 300,000 women through the Work and Opportunities for Women programs.
  • Organized the “Better Work-Bangladesh” initiative, designed to improve the working conditions in the garments sector. More than 600,000 people labor in Better Work-registered factories in Bangladesh, with women accounting for 56% of this number.

Looking Ahead

During the U.K.-Africa Investment Summit in January 2020, the U.K. committed to investing an additional £1.6 billion in foreign aid and development projects to create jobs and foster growth. However, the U.K. falls short of the U.N. target of allocating 0.7% of GDP to ODA, currently spending 0.5%. The government suggests that financial constraints have affected meeting this target and it aims to return to it in the future. Global circumstances, such as the current focus on Ukraine, may redirect foreign aid budgets, raising concerns about neglecting other areas in equal need. 

The direction of Great Britain’s foreign aid and development strategy appears uncertain amidst the influence of COVID-19 and Brexit. These events have compelled the U.K. government to reevaluate its global stance, leading to budget reductions and altered spending priorities. However, as economic conditions improve, there is optimism that the U.K. will establish well-defined and impactful foreign aid strategies and objectives.

– James Durbin
Photo: Flickr

More Services Needed to Address Mental Health in Zambia

Mental Health in ZambiaMental health practices and research in Zambia are very limited; however, there have been more government and NGO efforts that aim to make mental health care a priority. Around 20% of mental disorders affect adult Zambians. The most prevalent disorders include schizophrenia, brain infections, alcoholism and psychotic episodes. Other triggers leading to mental health conditions share links to poverty.

Considering that 60% of Zambians are impoverished, obtaining adequate mental health care has often been challenging. For this reason, individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders are more likely to miss out on education and employment.

The current studies on mental health in Zambia have mainly focused on the following barriers that further prevent individuals from accessing care: policy, lack of professionals and funding. Moreover, the stigmatization of mental health at the community level has also prohibited many from seeking the necessary resources and increased the likelihood of violence and threats.

Mental Health Gaps in Zambia

In Zambia, mental health care funding accounts for less than 1% of the overall budget each year. Because of inadequate funding, it becomes more difficult to treat patients and provide proper psychiatric therapies. Additionally, budget constraints have made it hard to train skilled workers and provide more mental health care institutions within the country.

Only one hospital in the entire country is designated to treat individuals struggling with mental disorders and it is located in the capital city of Lusaka. Unfortunately, there are only three local psychiatrists for a population of 12 million. Another reason for having limited mental health care professionals is because of brain drain, where individuals leave their country of origin for better salaries and opportunities in other countries.

Until recently, the Zambian government relied on The 1951 Mental Disorders Act, which is seemingly outdated and dehumanizes patients with mental problems by referring to them under derogatory names. On the other hand, due to stigmatization, mental health treatment is not offered at primary health care institutions, but rather at classified psychiatric hospitals. As of 2022, a “National Health Strategic Plan” has been in the works to strengthen and integrate affordable health practices in primary health care, advance facility development and promote better resources and training for mental health care professionals.

Advocating for Better Mental Health for Zambians

Along with the legislation, a few NGOs have been working towards improving mental health services through different practices and helping individuals cope with mental struggles without stigma. The Zambia Therapeutic Art (ZTA) organization has worked closely towards developing the best psychosocial approaches that are aligned with the legislation of the Ministry of Health in Zambia. The ZTA offers a short-term course for new professionals working in mental health enabling them to work with a variety of patients.

Initially, the ZTA solely focuses on therapeutic art, where vulnerable patients can use artistic expression as a healthy outlet. This way of mental practice allows for no judgment and helps to communicate and understand one’s emotions better. So far, over 500 mental health professionals have gained practical skills through this course with feedback on how this form of therapy has impacted their patients in different ways.

During COVID-19, the form of teletherapy was increasingly liked because people were able to speak to a counselor on the phone without confrontation. More than 1,000 women were being helped through teletherapy during the pandemic, creating a safe space for vulnerability. With more licensed professionals in the field, advanced methods of treatment can help allocate individuals who are suffering from mental issues in Zambia.

Future Outlooks

While there is still a stigmatization of mental health in Zambia, small steps have been taken to minimize this barrier and help individuals that need mental health care. Organizations like the ZTA have dedicated their work to educating and developing creative practices to limit these gaps in mental health access. With greater support from the government to recreate legislation and for the country to educate more mental health providers, Zambians can foresee a better future for their well-being and state of mind.

– Alessandra Amati
Photo: Flickr

The Links Between Poverty and Air Quality in Pakistan

Air Quality in PakistanPoor air quality is a multifaceted issue that poses a threat to the long-term health of everyone who breathes the air. As of February 2023, the capital of Pakistan, Lahore, is measured to have some of the worst air quality in the world, with a daily air quality index of either “unhealthy” or “very unhealthy.” The air quality in Pakistan and poverty in the nation have a correlation. In 2019, an assessment of Pakistan’s health burden noted that air pollution and malnutrition stood as two of the major risk factors that drive deaths and disability in Pakistan.

Causes of Poor Air Quality in Pakistan

Many different factors contribute to a deadly mix leading to poor air quality in Pakistan. The two most significant contributors to poor air quality are vehicle emissions and industrial emissions.

In 2019, “43% of the total ambient air pollution” in Pakistan stemmed from vehicle emissions. According to Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Farzana Altaf Shah, during times of break such as Ramazan and summer break, air pollution is not an issue. However, when schools reopen, pollution levels skyrocket once again.

This is the result of the poor maintenance of the vehicular fleets of these institutions. Shah stated that many of the buses use “non-compliant diesel fuel,” which contains high amounts of sulfur dioxide, a chemical that negatively impacts health. She also expressed to the media her frustration with government agencies like the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) who also contribute to air pollution with the use of pollution-emitting fleets.

The industrial sector also significantly contributes to poor air quality in Pakistan. Pakistani industries produce many different products, including leather, fertilizer, petrochemicals, paper, cement and automobiles. All of these produce hazardous gases and dangerous smoke. Brick kilns use tires (a “dirty” source of fuel) as fuel.

Health Impact of Poor Air Quality

Air quality in Pakistan comes with many risks to the health of the people. According to the University of Chicago‘s Energy Policy Institute, Lahore residents lose about five years of life as a result of the toxic air they breathe regularly.

In every country, poorer people are most affected by air pollution as they are “priced out” of the better neighborhoods with plush greenery, fewer roads and overall better air quality. As of 2023, the World Bank expects poverty in Pakistan to reach 37.2% based on the poverty line of $3.65 per person per day.

Poor air quality takes a significant toll on the lungs and creates various breathing issues. In Pakistan, common lung conditions are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. A survey conducted in 2013 found that 6.9 million Pakistanis live with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In Pakistan, one in 10 under-5 child deaths stems from air pollution. A study in 2019 by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution estimated that around 128,000 Pakistanis die every year from illnesses related to air pollution.

Pakistan’s Plan for Tackling Air Pollution

The Government of Punjab is the provincial government of the Pakistani province of Punjab, based in Lahore, the provincial capital. In May 2018, the World Bank granted Pakistan a $200 million soft loan over five years for the Punjab Green Development Program dedicated to green investments that would ultimately improve air quality.

“This project will strengthen the province’s environmental management [by] empowering its environmental protection agencies to provide better services. It will help modernize laws and regulations and promote investments in cleaner technologies to reduce air and water pollution,” the World Bank website says.

Looking Ahead

Efforts are underway to address the severe air pollution challenges in Lahore, Pakistan. For instance, the Punjab Green Development Program, supported by a $200 million soft loan from the World Bank, aims to empower environmental protection agencies and promote investments in cleaner technologies. By modernizing laws and regulations and implementing greener practices, Pakistan is taking important steps towards a healthier and more sustainable future for its citizens.

– David Keenan
Photo: Flickr

Fragility and Rule of Law in Yemen

Fragility and Rule of Law in Yemen
Yemen’s ongoing civil war has brought about significant changes to its traditional justice systems, both formal and informal. The conflict has led to the fragmentation of the justice system along the lines of different authorities in control of various areas of the country, resulting in a complex network of parallel legal structures. It has also exacerbated pre-existing challenges to the rule of law and the delivery of justice, with citizens bearing the brunt of the problem. The conflict has contributed to an increase in disputes, further complicating the already complex legal landscape and impacting the fragility and rule of law in Yemen.

According to the United Nations (U.N.), “Poverty often stems from disempowerment, exclusion and discrimination. The rule of law fosters development through strengthening the voices of individuals and communities, by providing access to justice, ensuring due process and establishing remedies for the violation of rights.”

History of Yemen

Yemen’s history has been shaped by the interplay between religion and politics since Islam’s adoption in the 7th century AD. The country was ruled by successive dynasties of Imams from the Zaydi sect until parts of North Yemen came under Ottoman rule in the 19th century. The Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) was established after a revolution led by Colonel Abdallah al-Sallal in 1962, leading to a civil war between traditional royalists and new republicans. The Marxist National Liberation Front took control of South Yemen in 1967, leading to conflict with the YAR until the two unified in 1990, forming the Republic of Yemen. Yemen’s complicated history has resulted in ongoing conflict and instability.

Rule of Law

Tribal affiliation is a significant aspect of social identity in Yemen, with three major tribal confederations historically dominating the north and east regions. Non-tribal areas are prevalent in the west and south. About one-quarter to one-half of Yemenis identify with a tribe. Tribalism has a substantial influence on politics and social organization, and customary laws significantly impact legislation implementation and dispute resolution.

Yemen merged two former states in 1990 to form a multiparty representative democracy. The conflict between Northern and Southern political leaders followed the first legislative elections, leading to the defeat of Southern forces in 1994. Opposition parties, media and non-governmental organizations faced curtailment of freedom. In 2011, mass uprisings, along with external pressure, forced President Saleh to step down and a new president came into power in 2012.

Weak public administration has long plagued Yemen, with a complex history that has resulted in state fragility, ineffective institutions and corruption of the rule of law in Yemen. The country has struggled to develop effective civil service reforms, which often have links to the broader political and administrative context.

Unfortunately, implementing public sector management reforms in developing countries is notoriously difficult. The country has struggled to establish a stable government, with civil war, political turmoil and foreign interventions hindering progress. As a result, Yemen’s public sector is severely lacking, with weak institutional capacity, corruption and political interference.

Public institutions, including the rule of law-related institutions, are dysfunctional. The country’s administration is unable to effectively deliver basic services to the population, including health care, education and infrastructure, a situation that most harshly affects the country’s poorest. According to the World Bank, about 78% of Yemeni people live in poverty due to several compounding issues.

Impact on the People

The conflict in Yemen, between the Saudi-led coalition and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, is causing harm to civilians, restricting access to aid and leading to displacement. The Houthi rebels have targeted Marib and launched missile strikes in Saudi Arabia, worsening the situation. The U.S. ended support for offensive operations but continues to send weapons to the coalition. The economic crisis has led to food and medicine shortages, a lack of clean water and protests in southern Yemen. The security forces’ response has led to further unrest. Urgent international action is necessary to address the humanitarian crisis and promote peace.

The situation in Yemen stands as one of the worst humanitarian crises globally, with 24.1 million people facing the risks of hunger and disease and 14 million people requiring acute humanitarian aid due to the ongoing conflict since 2015. The economy has suffered, causing widespread poverty and severe food insecurity. More than 40% of households struggle to secure their minimum food needs due to the historic depreciation of the Yemeni riyal, infrastructure disruption and financial service disruptions.

Taking Action

In April 2022, President Hadi transferred authority to a “Presidential Leadership Council,” prompting an economic aid package of $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and $300 million in humanitarian aid from the UAE. However, long-term structural reforms are still necessary.

Promoting Inclusive Access to Justice in Yemen (PIAJ) is a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative that aims to strengthen the rule of law in Yemen and ensure access to justice, among other endeavors. The project will focus on the areas of Sana’a and Aden Governorates, the initial pilot program locations and then Hodeidah (and possibly Hadramout). It will also prioritize the most marginalized and impoverished groups. The project began in 2021 and will end in 2024.

With the support of organizations like the U.N., there is potential for Yemen to strengthen the rule of law, enhance access to justice and progress towards greater stability.

– Noura Matalqa
Photo: Flickr

The Psychology of Poverty

While the economic and social consequences of poverty are well-documented, policymakers often overlook the psychological impacts of poverty. It is vital to understand this, as those who experience poverty undergo changes in how they feel, think and act. Poverty acts as a self-reinforcing mechanism by increasing mental health problems, altering behaviors and worsening the cognitive functioning of those experiencing it. This makes it harder for individuals to escape poverty, perpetuating its cyclical and seemingly fatalistic nature.

Poverty, Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Poverty significantly impacts mental health, and should not be underestimated. Psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders and schizophrenia are much more prevalent in areas with high unemployment rates and poverty, with the most drastic effect of poverty being increased rates of suicide.

There is also a strong association between poverty, social exclusion and problematic alcohol use. Individuals who are unemployed and living in poor or insecure housing have higher rates of substance abuse compared to those who are employed, educated and living securely. Substance abuse problems can consume someone suffering from poverty, entrenching them in lifestyles that often result in incarceration, health shock and homelessness.

The consequences of poverty also transcend nationality and ethnicity. Across 43 countries, low incomes uniformly predicted negative psychological states and behavior. These include apathy, decreased levels of trust in communities and governments, antisocial attitudes and mental disparity.

Economic Thinking

Poverty burdens the mind and induces high levels of stress. Stress can impact mental bandwidth, which refers to how much cognitive capacity and executive control one has available. Cognitive capacity allows for complex problem-solving, retaining information and logical reasoning, while executive control determines the ability to focus, shift attention, retain things in memory, multitask and self-monitor. Poverty reduces cognitive capacity and weakens executive control, specifically in abstract thinking, due to the mental burden of financial worries, which hinders problem-solving abilities.

Furthermore, individuals in poverty tend to rely more on automatic thinking versus deliberative thinking. This is less cognitively demanding but also makes individuals less likely to consider all possible outcomes due to restricted mental bandwidth. This means most people living in poverty are only able to deal with one problem at a time, sacrificing and prioritizing only what is immediate and necessary. This is known as the tunneling effect. Tunneling is a state of mind where one can only focus single-mindedly on managing the scarcity at hand, blocking out other sections of life. Tunneling also impacts time-discounting. Impoverished individuals are more likely to lose track of long-term goals or rewards, only paying attention to the most immediate reward. Middle-income and wealthy individuals are more likely to consider future rewards and plan accordingly to obtain those rewards.

Further effects include alteration of behaviorally revealed preferences, including a decreased willingness to take present risks and accept new technologies, policies and assistance that could lead to future benefits. Reluctance to accept new technologies contributes to a paradox where impoverished individuals may avoid the very resources that can aid them.

Cognitive Development

Growing up in poverty can severely undermine cognitive development. At around 3 years old, children in low-income households begin to exhibit cognitive and non-cognitive skill differences from their higher-income peers.

Poverty-induced stress can also lead to impaired cognitive functions, including negative effects on the hippocampal memory system. The consequences of increased cortisol levels due to poverty show up in diseases such as Cushing’s and Alzheimer’s. As the hippocampus is responsible for emotions, motivation and memory, persistent stress impairs decision-making abilities. It perpetuates behavioral patterns in people living in poverty. This creates generalized behavioral patterns: increased cortisol impairs hippocampal function, forcing people into mental tunnels and changing how they make and view decisions.

Stress also reduces people’s executive control over themselves. This can lead them to become more impulsive. Stress’s chemical effects on the brain, most notably a rise in cortisol, dictate that often the bad decisions made by those who are poor are not due to low levels of intelligence but a result of poverty itself.

Breaking the Cycle

Neither cognitive constraints created by poverty nor poverty itself must be final or condemning. Modern behavioral and social sciences can lead to the creation of new cost-effective interventions, especially through targeting economic behavior.

Targeting Economic Behavior

Understanding behavior and identifying effective interventions is a complex process. Interventions must come after careful diagnosis of what the defined behavioral default is. Examples of nudging interventions include social influence, coinventing products that are easy to use, feedback or reminders, micro-incentives and physical environment cues. Reminders have proven to be a simple and effective solution when employed in the correct circumstances. In Kenya, patients receiving HIV treatments have struggled with taking their medications when needed. After health workers began sending routine text messages reminding them when to take their HIV medication, the percentage of patients taking their drugs increased by 13%.

Breaking the cycle of poverty may require policies that go further than behavioral nudging, especially for those in extreme poverty. In cases of extreme poverty, multifaceted poverty reduction programs are an impactful way to create pro-poor growth.

Multifaceted Poverty Reduction Programs

Multifaceted poverty reduction programs combine several different interventions to create an integrated approach that leads to positive outcomes. Multidimensional issues such as poverty require multidimensional solutions. Multifaceted programs include cash transfers, skills training and food subsidies. These initiatives also provide access to savings, services for physical and mental health and scheduled check-ins with program managers to measure progress. With regards to helping the ultra-poor, these programs are effective. Frequently, these programs prove to be successful in improving food security, physical and mental health, financial inclusion and time use. Also, there are upsides such as increased income and revenues, productive and household assets, political involvement and women’s empowerment.

Looking Ahead

In recognizing the psychological impacts of poverty, there is hope for breaking the cycle and improving the well-being of those affected. By understanding the cognitive and behavioral constraints imposed by poverty, targeted interventions can be developed to address specific challenges. Nudging interventions and multifaceted poverty reduction programs offer promising avenues for supporting individuals and communities, from providing reminders for medication adherence to comprehensive initiatives that address various dimensions of poverty. By combining these approaches, policymakers and practitioners can make meaningful strides in uplifting those experiencing poverty and promoting long-term positive change.

– Andrew Giganti

Photo: Unsplash

How Renewable Energy Can Help Revitalize Bosnia and Herzegovina

Renewable Energy in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a developing country in the Western Balkans. Since the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, it has faced substantial economic setbacks, with at least 16.9% of its population living in poverty as of 2015. However, renewable energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina could offer valuable opportunities for reducing poverty and boosting the economy.

A Step Toward Greener Energy

Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the Western Balkans that is a net exporter of power. Electricity, which accounts for about 20% of the national GDP, is its most profitable export. In 2021, hydropower accounted for 37% of the electricity produced in the country, which has also begun to introduce solar and wind power plants in recent years.

According to the International Trade Administration, Bosnia and Herzegovina has the potential to further grow and benefit from renewable energy production. Given the country’s extensive river networks, sunny summers and windy mountain ranges, government officials are not ignoring that potential. In March 2022, BiH’s government announced plans to allocate 3.6 billion marka (about $2 billion) to enhance the country’s output of clean, renewable energy in the upcoming five years.

Significantly, such funding could have a substantial economic impact while helping to improve the well-being of the country’s most vulnerable. For instance, a 2015 UNICEF report highlighted that 73.8% of children in BiH between 5 and 15 years of age are deprived of material resources in at least one way, and 71.8% of children between 0 and 4 years of age are nutrition-deprived. A 2017 Sustainable Development Goals Fund Case Study showed that investment in increasing renewable energy production could help create jobs, lower household energy costs, improve health and sanitation and provide new opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and deprivation.

Wind Power Potential Blowing Investors Away

There are already three operational wind farms in BiH. As of 2019, one farm in Podveležje was producing 126 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electrical power yearly — enough to power about 40,000 homes. This sector expects to see further growth. For example, the German company wpd GmbH has invested $1.5 billion in a two-part project to build four wind farms in the towns of Glamoc, Bosansko Grahovo and Livno.

A Brighter Future in Solar Power 

Additionally, the southern regions of BiH benefit from strong Mediterranean sunshine, which some overseas investors are eager to help harness. The Norwegian renewable energy company Greenstat, for one, is beginning construction of the first large-scale solar farm in the town of Grude. The plant will have the capacity to capture some 65 GWh of power per year.  

At the local level, the government is also encouraging citizens to install solar panels through a state-funded initiative. The scheme is expected to alleviate some of the consequences of the current energy crisis in Europe, thus leaving people with more income and resources to enrich their quality of life.

Harnessing Hydropower

Although hydropower already accounts for a substantial portion of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s renewable energy, the country’s rivers hold much untapped potential. Recent data indicate that BiH is only deriving about 41% of its domestic energy from hydropower. This indicates that this lucrative sector has room to expand while paving the way toward a greener and brighter future within the country itself.

Using Renewable Energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Good

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina’s developing renewable energy industry has met with some controversy, there is a clear route to increasing the country’s renewable energy production, instituting appropriate regulations and helping to alleviate poverty. Channeling and storing BiH’s abundant wind, solar and hydro-power resources would go a long way in heightening its energy export potential while ensuring positive impacts on both poverty reduction and the environment.

– Annabel Kartal-Allen
Photo: Pixabay

Amnesty International Calls For Universal Social Protection

Amnesty International is a charity and “global movement” calling for universal social protection. The organization is based in England and Wales. It educates people and researches various topics related to human rights. It also mobilizes people through activist stories. Its realm of international activism covers seeking the release of political prisoners, defending sexual and reproductive rights while ending the death penalty and discrimination while securing refugee and migrant rights. Amnesty International has also developed an app for activists to use as a “panic button” if they are in danger of being arrested or detained.

In addition to its efforts to spread awareness of human rights violations happening globally, on May 10, Amnesty International issued a briefing addressing overlapping crises that have left many facing poverty and hunger titled “Rising Prices, Growing Protests: The Case for Universal Social Protection.” In the briefing, the charity calls for universal social protection, or an “integrated set of policies and programs that provide equitable access to all people and protect them throughout their lives against poverty and risks to their livelihoods and well-being.”

Overview of the Briefing

The briefing begins by naming a few of the overlapping crises resulting in global poverty, starting with economic shock. In addition to around 60% of the world’s poorest countries being in debt distress, it cites that almost all middle-income and lower-income countries have experienced a high rate of inflation in the past year. Some notable examples include Zimbabwe at 321%, Lebanon at 203% and Venezuela at 158%. This means prices of basic necessities like food and housing have quadrupled, tripled and doubled in these countries. Amnesty International reports that people live in hunger due to three main reasons: economic shocks, armed conflict and the climate crisis.

The climate crisis impacts conditions that make food production possible by heightening severe weather like storms, extreme heat and wildfires. The loss of crops and livestock has been particularly devastating for farmers around the world living in poverty. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) found that drought was the single greatest contributor to agricultural production loss, followed by floods, storms, pests and diseases and wildfires. The climate crisis threatens food security. For example, when extreme flooding occurred in Pakistan in October 2022, the FAO reported that out of the 33 million people affected, 1.9 million needed food and agricultural assistance. Also, 510,000 people were “one step away from catastrophic levels of food insecurity.” Now more than ever, universal social protection is necessary to aid food security when relieving disasters.

Necessary Steps

Amnesty International’s brief calling for universal social protection recommends global creditors reschedule or cancel their debts so countries can have an opportunity to fund universal social protection. The cost of offering basic universal social protection would be around $440.8 billion a year, which is less than the $500 billion that lower-income and middle-income countries lose to foreign investors around the world.

Amnesty International stresses the importance of investing in universal social protection as well as making it shock-responsive, meaning its coverage would increase in large-scale crises. It also recommends other countries create a global fund for low-income or middle-income countries that cannot support universal social protection at the start, especially when they need to meet urgent humanitarian needs and suffer from food insecurity. This way, a universal basic income, guaranteed minimum income and a “social protection floor” – health care, income security, etc.– can be achieved globally.

– Olivia Maillet
Photo: Flickr