Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Water For People: 30 Years in Progress

Water For PeopleRecent statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 25% or more of the global population lacks immediate access to clean drinking water, and almost 50% of the global population lives without safe sanitation at home. In light of this, Water For People, a U.S.-based international aid agency, aims to make clean water accessible to every person on the planet. Founded in 1991, the organization celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. In that time, the organization has made remarkable progress and changed millions of lives around the world.

How Does Water For People Work?

Since 2011, Water For People’s strategy has centered on the concept of “Everyone Forever.” Recognizing the limitations of short-term solutions to the problem of water insecurity, the organization emphasizes developing secure, sustainable water supplies and equipping communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to maintain their water infrastructure over time. Its goal is to ensure that “every family, clinic and school in a district” has reliable access to clean drinking water and sanitation services forever: the progress continues rather than fading away in a couple of decades.

The organization concentrates on several core priorities. The number one priority is clean water. Working with local authorities, the organization manages water systems, arranges water supply chains and builds new facilities. It also works to implement safe sanitation and hygiene. In addition to helping families access affordable toilets, Water For People supports the development of local sanitation businesses and waste management systems and educates communities on safe sanitation and hygiene practices. In 2019 alone, the organization educated 269,361 people about safe hygiene, which included providing menstrual hygiene training and resources to help keep girls in school.

Where Does Water For People Help?

Since 1991, the organization has aided communities in more than 40 countries around the world. In 2011, the organization decided to narrow its focus to provide optimal support. Currently, Water For People operates in nine countries: Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania and India.

In each of these countries, the organization targets districts most in need. While it is actively adding new districts within these countries, the organization’s largest presence is currently in India, where its work in 10 districts has provided more than 1.5 billion people with continuous access to drinking water. In Bolivia, the organization has secured the water supply for 82,706 people across eight districts, and, in Guatemala, for 102,607 people across four districts. With three districts each in Honduras and Peru, it has helped guarantee reliable access to clean water for 55,216 Hondurans and 40,000 Peruvians, respectively.

In Africa, the organization operates in four countries. It has established reliable water services for more than a million people in Rwanda, which has five districts. In Malawi, the organization operates in three districts, providing water for 1,435,599 people. Its work in Uganda has secured clean water for almost half a million people across two districts. Water For People is having a growing impact in Tanzania, where it has been working to improve water access for rural communities in Mpwapwa and began adding new districts in 2022.

What Are the Prospects?

In 2015, the United Nations set a sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): Clean Water and Sanitation. The goal is to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation services for everyone around the world by 2030. Water For People, in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), developed the “Destination 2030” plan to help achieve SDG 6 on time. The joint initiative aims to speed progress toward universal safe water access and sanitation services by helping at least 200 million people in 20 countries.

The organization’s Three Year Strategic Plan for 2022-2024 is a stepping stone in this plan. Focusing on subgoals grouped under Purpose and Foundation, it outlines the immediate strategy to impact at least 12 countries, reach 25 million people nationally and help six million people locally.

During its 30 years of operation, Water For People has achieved concrete results. Working for both quality and quantity, the organization continues to set specific, achievable goals and move toward them.

– Anna Konovalenko
Photo: Flickr

A Success Story: Education Plan in Kenya

A Success Story: Education Plan in KenyaKenya, a country of more than 53 million people in Eastern Africa, has demonstrated the power of education in reducing poverty and driving economic growth. In recent decades, the nation has been recognized as having one of the most progressive education systems in Eastern and Southern Africa. For instance, the number of students enrolled at Kenyan universities rose to more than 400,000 in 2014, doubling the enrollment in 2012. Additionally, the country’s literacy rate (the percentage of people 15 years and older who can read and write) rose from 72% in 2007 to 83% in 2021, marking a substantial jump in just 14 years. Currently, according to a June 2022 World Bank update, Kenya has almost 500,000 teachers across about 90,000 schools, providing education for “over 16 million children and youth.” The following is an overview of some of the key factors driving the success of Kenya’s education plan.

Government Spending

The Kenyan government has prioritized strategies and funding to increase access to education. In 2003, it introduced a policy that made primary education free for all pupils. The policy caused an immediate spike in the number of young Kenyans entering the education system, with statistics demonstrating that it “increased attendance by almost 40% within four years.” In 2008, the government followed up with a free secondary school policy, increasing students’ likelihood of successfully moving all the way through the system.

Significantly, these policies have helped equip millions of Kenyan children with the skills and agency necessary to lead better lives. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 93% of Kenya’s children were enrolled in primary education, which the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) identifies as “the bedrock of development.” Furthermore, Kenya’s education reforms have reduced the childcare demands placed on families, especially women, and allowed families to devote more of their time to work.

Diversification

Access to free, uninterrupted education has also allowed children to maximize the benefits of education, increasing their chances of entering universities or other institutions of higher education. Rejecting the idea that focusing solely on enrollment numbers is sufficient, the Kenyan education plan has emphasized diversifying subjects and ensuring that children have a wide variety of choices in their learning. Early secondary school children “take as many as 13 subjects” before narrowing their focus to eight subjects. Among these are Mathematics, English and Kiswahili (the native language of the Swahili people), which are compulsory for all secondary school students.

Kenya is Reaping the Rewards of its Education Plan

As children who began primary school in or around 2003 are now graduating from universities or completing tertiary education, Kenya is reaping the rewards of its efforts. Its investment in education initiatives has created new opportunities for Kenyan youth, paved the way for their future success and diversified and strengthened the country’s economy as a whole. Despite the challenges that the pandemic and climate shocks have posed, the World Bank estimated a 1.3% drop in Kenya’s poverty rate in 2022 and an average GDP growth of 5.2% in 2023-2024.

Looking Ahead

Kenya’s commitment to education has proven to be a powerful tool in reducing poverty and driving economic growth. The government’s investment in free primary and secondary education policies has significantly increased enrollment rates and literacy levels. By equipping millions of children with skills and opportunities, Kenya is reaping the rewards with a more educated and prosperous population, leading to positive economic indicators such as a decline in poverty rates and steady GDP growth.

The success of Kenya’s education plan over the past two decades can serve as an inspiration to other societies. It provides a blueprint of how government investment in education can strengthen local economies, boost employment, alleviate poverty and improve living standards for all.

– Charlie Valentine
Photo: Flickr

The Taimaka Project Tackles Child Malnutrition in Nigeria

The Taimaka ProjectAzurit Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on fighting injustice, has a quote on its website that reads “Taimaka combines the rigor of academic research with the dynamism of a startup to help reduce seasonal hunger and poverty of smallholder farmers.” The Taimaka Project, a Nigerian-American nonprofit organization, was established in 2019 to improve the living conditions of poor people. Initially concentrating on implementing a proven program to assist agricultural communities in managing seasonal transitions, the project redirected its efforts in 2021 toward innovation and addressing malnutrition as a more economically viable approach to combat food insecurity.

Post-Harvest Loans

The Taimaka Project’s first success was inspired by randomized controlled trials in Kenya and Tanzania. There, researchers found that post-harvest loans generated a 29% and 40% investment return respectively, making these loans around twice as effective as cash transfers for raising incomes in times of need and hunger. In northeastern Nigeria, where Taimaka operates, smallholder farmers frequently find themselves compelled to sell their produce shortly after the September harvest. This arises from their inability to cover expenses and the fear of potential crop losses. The resultant price spikes equally impact consumers, exacerbating food insecurity during this difficult season.

Crowdfunding success allowed Taimaka founders to raise $10,000 and provide post-harvest loans and Purdue Improved Crop (PICS) bags to 50 households in northeastern Nigeria. As a result, farmers could capitalize on the 55% rise in crop prices over subsequent months. Within the first three years of this program, more than 1,000 families benefitted from an estimated $50,000 in additional income.

Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)

Of the more than 45 million children suffering from malnutrition worldwide, estimates suggest that less than a third receive treatment. Those who survive the approximately 10 times higher mortality rate for children with severe acute malnutrition often go on to suffer from persistent health problems. Typically, these problems include neurodevelopmental complications and disruptions to academic development. Gombe, a state in Nigeria where the Taimaka Project operates was recently named “Nigeria’s poverty capital”, with 70% of its citizens living in poverty. The state has one of the “highest rates of stunting and malnutrition for under-five children” worldwide. According to a Taimaka report, approximately 32,000 children under 5 years old in Gombe suffer from the condition.

The Taimaka Project tackles the problem of malnutrition through a two-pronged approach. The first approach involves Taimaka’s CMAM program. This program offers community-based treatment services that alleviate the burdens of caregivers’ transportation, travel and hospitalization costs. Additionally, it provides weekly food and medication packages, with partnerships established with nearby hospitals for severe cases. Secondly, the Taimaka Project emphasizes innovation by conducting feasibility studies that aim to enhance treatment methods and reduce expenses.

CMAM Program Solutions

Some of the strategies that Taimaka uses in its CMAM program are as follows:

  • Phone calls and dropout rates: CMAM programs worldwide report an average dropout rate of almost 20%. This means that just under a fifth of patients leave treatment before fully recovering from malnutrition. In comparison, this figure can reach up to 50% in Nigeria. Without weekly screenings and provisions of food and medicine, children, in particular, are at a greater risk of early death. Working alongside researchers at the University of Florida to tackle this issue in a cost-effective manner, Taimaka has set about organizing automated phone calls reminding caregivers of the importance of CMAM treatment and dispelling the misconceptions that lead to high dropout rates.
  • Complementary food: Recognizing the different needs between those with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and those with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), Taimaka introduced treatment with complementary foods. This approach did not require ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF). In 2022, the Taimaka Project drew inspiration from the successful efforts of Catholic Relief Services, which demonstrated an 89% recovery rate in patients with MAM. In a bid to reduce expenses and alleviate the challenges associated with importation, Taimaka introduced the utilization of cost-effective, locally-produced food sources such as groundnut, soya beans and maize for its MAM cases.
  • Inpatient/outpatient care: The Taimaka Project is also focusing on “[co-locating] outpatient and inpatient care in a single facility” in order to bypass the challenges of inpatient referral. These are often essential for children seeking outpatient care due to the detrimental effects of malnutrition on the immune system. But often, delays occur due to inexperience or geographical distances. With Taimaka’s intervention, continually available and fully trained medical staff can identify complications and provide diagnoses before symptoms deteriorate.

The Taimaka Project hopes that the expansion and application of these innovations can result in the prevention of up to 1,000 statewide deaths annually.

Cost Efficiency

The intertwined nature of malnutrition and poverty, as outlined by a 2020 study, suggests that both are “cause and consequence of each other.” Often, poverty leads to malnutrition, which in turn, affects the economic potential of a population. The Taimaka Project’s emphasis on malnutrition, alongside cost-effectiveness, enables the organization to address both issues simultaneously. Having already reached the WHO standard of a “very cost-effective” treatment, Taimaka set a goal in 2020 to reduce the cost-per-life saved by a further 10% by 2025. According to the organization, a 1% reduction in treatment costs would “free up over $3.4 million currently spent globally on treatment. And this would also facilitate the treatment of an additional 50,000 children.”

Looking Ahead

In just a few years, the Taimaka Project has gone on to earn funding and acclaim from organizations like the Founders Pledge and USAID. It also won the D-prize in 2020 for its first project, pledging to “put ideas to the test and confidently share them with others.” These events inspire hope and suggest that Taimaka’s success can be replicated around the world and lead to more progress in the alleviation of malnutrition and poverty.

– Helene Schlichter
Photo: Flickr

Health Care for Children in Guinea-Bissau

Health Care for Children in Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau suffers from high poverty rates, political instability, social disparity and health challenges. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 66% of the population lives more than 5 km from the nearest health care facility. There is only one health center for more than 13,500 inhabitants, with most of the health care services located in Bissau and the regional capitals. This excludes the rural areas where people can’t benefit from health care.

Challenges

Child survival rates in Guinea-Bissau are on the low side. In fact, the European Commission reports that “Guinea-Bissau has particularly alarming indicators of maternal and child health, with the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world.”According to UNICEF, the under-5 mortality rate is 74% per 1,000 births. This number represents 4,693 children who die between 0-4 years old (0-59 months).

Additionally, the lack of health care practitioners is a significant challenge to health care for children in Guinea-Bissau. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, there were only 7,890 health workers in Guinea-Bissau as of 2018. This inadequacy of health care practitioners results in the inability of children to access required health care services. Alongside this problem, many important health care facilities are unavailable.

Health Care for Children in Guinea-Bissau: Progress

Guinea-Bissau had a population of more than 2 million in 2021. The country has developed significantly in terms of providing health care for kids in recent times. The government made efforts to improve access to health care services, particularly in rural areas. One of the key initiatives is the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), which aims to provide essential vaccines to children under the age of 1. The country implemented the program in 2008 and this led to significant progress in the effort to minimize child mortality. According to the Lancet Global Health, “in 1999–2006, child mortality was higher in children who had not received measles vaccine than in those who had.”

The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF have also implemented social protection programs to help vulnerable households cope with poverty. For example, cash transfer programs provide regular cash payments to low-income families so they can meet their basic needs. In addition, school feeding programs provide meals to schoolchildren, and this helps to improve their nutritional status and reduce absenteeism. These programs have positively impacted the health and well-being of children in Guinea-Bissau.

Initiatives

Through collaborations with international organizations like UNICEF and the WFP, efforts have been made to increase children’s access to health care services. The WFP “works to prevent and reduce malnutrition among children under 5 and pregnant and nursing women, providing nutritional support to 96,000 people. The organization also provides food to 6,500 people who are undergoing treatment for HIV or tuberculosis. This is to improve their general health and help minimize the side effects of the drugs.”

In the effort to combat malnutrition and its detrimental impact on children’s health and development, various nutrition programs have been implemented. One notable initiative is the provision of over 173,000 hot meals to school children by the WFP, which aims to encourage enrollment and regular attendance. Additionally, take-home food rations specifically targeted at female students have proven effective in promoting school attendance and retention among girls. The WFP is also actively involved in strengthening the government’s capacity to manage the school meals program, with the ultimate goal of transferring ownership to the government. As a result of these programs, the number of malnourished children in the country has significantly decreased.

Improving Livelihoods

The quality of health care services provided to children has improved as a result of investments in health care infrastructure, education and resources. Guinea-Bissau’s medical professionals can now detect and treat common ailments with more ease and as a result, are able to provide children with better care. Working with the Government and local NGOs, WFP helps to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable households and build their resilience to crises that could affect their food security.

The ongoing initiatives demonstrate the progressive advancement of children’s health care in Guinea-Bissau. With the continued investment and effort put into improving children’s healthcare in Guinea-Bissau, it is possible to advance the health and well-being of more children in the future.

– Lorraine Lin
Photo: Pixabay

Being Poor in Sudan 

Being poor in SudanBehind being poor in Sudan lies a conflict-ridden history. Sudan has long been a war-torn country, from the early Madhist War to the first and second civil wars and to the more recent ongoing Darfur conflict.

The second civil war lasted from 1983 to 2005 and despite leading to the subsequent independence of South Sudan in 2011, It resulted in the death of an estimated two million civilians, with disease and famine being the biggest killer.

Meanwhile, since 2003, in the Western Sudanese province of Darfur, conflict continues to rage over the genocide of non-Arab Sudanese citizens. These conflicts, along with unstable and dictatorial leaders, have only perpetuated intense poverty for the majority of the Sudanese population.

Here is what it’s like being poor in Sudan:

Hunger and food insecurity

In Sudan, an estimated 15 million people are currently facing acute hunger, making food insecurity a major concern. Political instability and high rates of inflation are the primary drivers of this crisis, with 95% of Sudanese households spending more than half their income on food. In the last year alone, prices have surged by 137%.

Sudan’s already critical food conditions have further deteriorated due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. More than 60% of Sudan’s population lives in rural areas, resulting in an economy heavily reliant on agriculture. However, due to climate insecurity, including droughts and land degradation, as well as inadequate infrastructure, harvest yields have been alarmingly low.

Access to Water and Sanitation

In Sudan, 17.3 million people lack access to basic clean water, putting them at risk of disease. Additionally, only half the schools in Sudan have access to water supply. An estimated 24 million people face limited access to sanitation facilities and nearly half of them have no choice but to defecate in the open, exposing children and others to the risk of disease and death. With water becoming an increasingly hard-to-reach resource, women and children are consistently risking their lives to gather water from remote sources.

Unemployment

Sudan’s unemployment rate has been on the rise over the past few years. Between 2019 and 2020, the rate increased from 17.65% to 19.65% and continued to climb, albeit at a slower pace, in 2021. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate over the past decade has remained between 80% to 90%. According to economist Hafiz Ismail, the reason for this is the lack of economic growth in the country, with various federal policies behind this.

Kids for Kids: the Charity Using Goats for Empowerment

In 2001, while visiting her son, who was working at the British Embassy in Sudan, Patricia Parker was moved by the sight of a young boy trekking across the arid desert in Darfur to fetch water for his family. After meeting Ibrahim and his family, Patricia felt moved to fund the installation of a hand pump near their home.

From there, Patricia launched a goat-focused initiative that provides families with goats for nutritious milk. And upon maturing, the goats birth offspring that go to other families. Her charity, Kids for Kids, based in the United Kingdom, also lends donkeys, chickens and agricultural tools while training health professionals to strengthen communities.

After 19 years, when Patricia returned to the village, she was delighted to find Ibrahim healthy and with a family of his own. In 2021, Patricia was awarded the Order of the British Empire for her diligent work in Darfur, Sudan.

Looking Ahead

The hot climate in Sudan contributes to exacerbating poverty in the country. It presents problems involving water scarcity and agricultural growth, resulting in conflict and wars that impact everyday civilians. Nevertheless, with more charities, like Kids for Kids, turning to Sudan, there is hope for children like Ibrahim to experience better living conditions.

– Genevieve Lewis
Photo: Flickr

The Spark Minda Foundation: Empowering Disabled People in India

Disabled People in IndiaThere are around 1 billion disabled people in the world. And the prevalence of disability within a nation’s population is often higher in the developing world. Disabled people in India are more likely to miss out on education and employment opportunities and experience higher poverty rates than their able-bodied counterparts. In India, one organization that is fighting to improve the lives of disabled people is the Spark Minda Foundation, and it is doing this through its SAKSHAM program.

The Challenges of Being Disabled

Individuals with disabilities encounter numerous challenges in their daily lives, ranging from inaccessible transportation and buildings to inadequate access to mobility and adaptive aids. They also face social stigma and discrimination, which is widespread. The Covid-19 pandemic has also caused lasting repercussions for many disabled individuals, impacting their health and access to transportation and education.

Disabled people in India also face challenges that are a result of the country’s infrastructural weaknesses. And socially, some perceive disabled Indians as a burden to their families if they cannot contribute to their household income or medical expenses. Unfortunately, this kind of outlook further perpetuates discrimination.

On the bright side, the Spark Minda Foundation continues working to alleviate the challenges and issues of discrimination that affect people living with disabilities in India. The following is a brief look into the organization’s efforts.

SAKSHAM and the Spark Minda Foundation

The Spark Minda Foundation’s SAKSHAM program is committed to empowering individuals with disabilities in India. It provides employment training and develops and fits mobility aids to help create a harmonious and inclusive society where disabled individuals can realize their potential. The program aligns with the Indian government’s Accessible India Campaign, which kicked off in 2015. It employs the following key strategies to improve the lives of disabled individuals.

  1. Providing accessible and assistive technologies
  2. Offering on-the-job training to improve their skills
  3. Ensuring inclusive workplace environments
  4. The incorporation of ergonomic changes into workplaces
  5. Employing more people living with disabilities

The Spark Minda Foundation employs more than 300 disabled individuals throughout India and has aided disabled Indians in securing employment elsewhere. In December 2019, the SAKSHAM program held a week-long camp in Chimbali Phata, Pune, which included a job fair for local disabled individuals to connect with potential employers. Companies such as Aegis Global, Sodexo, and Accenture participated in the job fair, resulting in 265 disabled individuals finding employment in Pune alone thanks to the program’s efforts.

The SAKSHAM program has also distributed almost 8,000 assistive devices in India. In addition, the program has helped over 500 disabled individuals in Indonesia and Vietnam, granting them life-changing disability aids. The fitting of 1,335 assistive aids took place at the Pune camp in Maharashtra.

Looking Ahead

The United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development asserts that disability should not hinder access to development programs or fundamental human rights. Seven of the agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals directly reference the rights of disabled individuals, which are often under threat, particularly in developing countries. The Spark Minda Foundation is working to help realize these goals in India and beyond by creating more employment opportunities and providing vital assistive aid to those in need.

– Martha Probert
Photo: Flickr

Building a Brighter Future: Renewable Energy in Iraq

Renewable Energy in IraqTwenty years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the nation of more than 40 million people still struggles with instability, poverty and power deficiency. More than 80% of power generation in the country relies on crude oil. Despite its massive oil reserves, the country still experiences frequent outages and poor distribution due to underinvestment. Developing renewable energy in Iraq could solve the growing problem of power shortages and reduce the reliance on generators.

The State of Energy in Iraq

While most households in Iraq get access to electricity, daily power outages occur in most parts of the country. This, in part, is due to underfunded distribution systems and damaged infrastructure, as well as power demand that exceeds the current supply capacity. Acts of mismanagement and corruption by government officials also factor into power supply problems.

High-income citizens often pay 125,000 dinars ($100) a month on average to receive a steady, reliable power supply. But the quarter of the population living in poverty, alongside many among the working class, don’t have the means to afford a steady power supply. The lack of reliable power leaves people in a constant state of worry. Also, they are unable to run cooling units in extremely high temperatures. Issues such as general inequality, lack of job opportunities and inadequate services contribute to worsening the situation.

Most of the country’s energy comes from its vast oil reserves. Meanwhile, renewable energy accounts for only 2% of the country’s output. And despite its vast amounts of oil, which account for roughly 8% of the world’s total reserves, the country continues to rely on neighboring Iran to keep up with growing power demands.

Future Outlook

Iraq’s climate and geography have strong potential for renewable energy development. The country receives a significant amount of sunlight, making it ideal for photovoltaic power. There are also some regions that receive viable wind speed and others that could utilize geothermal development.

On the other hand, reports suggest that to facilitate the building of renewable energy in Iraq, significant changes need to take place. These changes include the development and implementation of a government action plan for developing renewable energy in conjunction with reforms that make business opportunities more lucrative for foreign and private investors.

On the bright side, the Iraqi government is already making efforts toward the development of renewable energy. These efforts involve several business deals with foreign contractors, including an agreement in 2021 to create 2 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy with UAE clean energy firm Masdar. While finalizing the agreement with Masdar, Iraq’s oil minister stated the country hopes to build 7.5 GW of renewable energy. More recently, in August of 2022, the government hosted a two-day workshop in Baghdad to teach Iraqi stakeholders how to “procure affordable energy solutions.”

Hope for a Better Future

Despite the progress made since the devastation of the war, Iraq still faces numerous challenges. Its energy grid is underfunded and unstable, leaving millions of its most vulnerable citizens without access to a reliable power supply. However, the development of renewable energy in Iraq could provide a solution to the country’s electricity crisis. This shift to renewable energy would make the grid more affordable and reliable, ensuring that those living below the poverty line do not have to worry about losing power. Furthermore, this shift would create new job opportunities and help raise the standard of living for the Iraqi people. Recent initiatives by the Iraqi government suggest a hopeful future where the country has a fully developed renewable energy supply and a more robust and stable economy.

– Jonathon Crecelius

Photo: Flickr

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How Bamboo Farming in Uganda Reduces Poverty

Bamboo Farming in UgandaAlongside offering numerous benefits, the bamboo plant can thrive in almost any type of soil and weather condition. This ability to thrive in less-than-ideal conditions works out favorably for Uganda, an East-African country with an active agricultural sector despite its poor soil quality.

Bamboo farming in Uganda has become a valuable source of income for many individuals. As a result, the Ugandan government responded with training programs to develop citizens’ skills in producing baskets, furniture and other crafts using the versatile plant.

A Reliable Source of Employment

Bamboo farming in Uganda provides a dependable and recurring source of income for the unemployed due to several agricultural factors unique to the plant. The bamboo plant is a perennial crop with a rapid maturation cycle. The entire plant matures within four to eight years and is ready for harvest in just five years. Furthermore, the plant has the unique ability to produce new shoots every year, which helps to stabilize the soil.

In Uganda, where the unemployment rate is 9.2% and 13.3% among youths aged between 18-30 years, the Ministry of Water and Environment has developed a strategy to produce 140 million bamboo poles yearly. By planting 230,000 ha of bamboo on farmland, the initiative will create 150,000 full-time jobs and 700,000 long-term job opportunities, providing a crucial boost to the country’s economy.

Market Expansion

The global market for bamboo production is expanding in response to the growing demand for sustainable products. According to the International Network of Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), a United Nations intergovernmental organization, the bamboo economy is estimated to be worth around $60 billion, serving as a significant source of income for rural households.

To capitalize on this trend, the Ugandan government has developed a 10-year National Bamboo Strategy and Action Plan (2019-2029) with support from INBAR, the Uganda Forest Sector Support Division, the Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE) and the National Foresting Authority. This plan aims to unleash the untapped potential of the bamboo plant, not only to develop a green economy but also to produce high-quality products for international, regional and domestic markets.

Alleviating Deforestation

Bamboo farming in Uganda is ideal for reforestation efforts due to the plant’s fast regrowth after cutting. In 2010, Uganda had almost 7 million hectares of tree cover, but by 2021, the number had dwindled by 49,000 hectares. This was mainly due to illegal logging and population growth. Planting bamboo could help restore some of the lost forest cover quickly.

Projections suggest that bamboo planting could contribute 15% toward the restoration of 2.5 million hectares of forest by 2030, with much of the planting occurring on private land.

Bamboo as a Food Source

Food insecurity in Uganda remains a significant concern, with 48% of the population experiencing moderate food insecurity and 11% experiencing severe food insecurity. Malnutrition is also a problem, with an estimated 2.4 million children suffering from stunted growth per UNICEF’s report.

Bamboo farming in Uganda offers a promising solution to this issue, as bamboo shoots are a rich source of fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein, making them ideal for addressing the nutritional deficiencies of stunted children.

To promote bamboo as a food source, the Dutch-Sino-East Africa Bamboo Development Program organized a training initiative for Ugandan government officials and community members. The aim was to raise awareness of the plant’s benefits, alongside its potential to improve food security.

In Uganda, the young shoots of the bamboo plant are a delicacy known as Malewa and the leaves are a valuable source of nutrition for livestock, such as cows and horses.

Providing Shelter

Bamboo is a versatile plant with variable applications in building construction. It can be utilized for roofs, fences, ceilings, floors and other building materials. Additionally, the stem can serve as a source of bioenergy for cooking, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional firewood.

Bamboo is also a valuable resource in the paper and textile industries. It is also a useful resource for manufacturing cardboard and fabric. In addition, it can be fashioned into canoes, baskets, pencils and school desks, providing an additional source of income.

In Uganda, bamboo is effective in dealing with floods. When grown, it acts as a barrier to limit the effects of overflowing rivers. Its widespread, firm root structure allows water to pass through while preventing the collapse of river banks.

Looking Ahead

Bamboo is an economically significant plant, as its leaves, stem and root are all valuable. Bamboo farming in Uganda continues to play a crucial role in boosting foreign trade, promoting food security, creating job opportunities and mitigating the impact of deforestation. Ultimately, it is contributing to creating a better country for all Ugandans.

– Chidinma Nwoha

Photo: flickr

The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Senegal 

In March 2020, Senegal began dealing with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting socioeconomic issues. Overall, the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Senegal can be seen in a number of ways. The country’s urban population living in slums was 35% in 2018, with an average GDP per capita of $1,484. However, in 2021, reports indicated an estimated urban population living in slums of 32%, with an average GDP per capita of $1,636.9.

Impact on Business

The transportation and hospitality sectors recorded the highest monthly income loss. According to records, the entire transport sector, including air, land and water recorded an estimated $11 million loss monthly. This was a result of decreasing tourism levels caused by restrictions. After the lifting of restrictions, these rates started rising. The World Bank is projecting GDP growth of 10.5% in 2024, the highest yearly growth in the history of Senegal.

Impact on Employment

From March to May 2020 and again after the second wave of COVID-19 in early 2021, employment in Senegal suffered greatly, causing the unemployment rate to reach an all-time high. Studies on the gender impacts of the pandemic showed that Senegalese women suffered more than men. As many as 72% of domestic workers were unemployed during and after the pandemic, with 80% of them being female. Moreover, 81.7% of the working population in the heavily female-dominated informal sector, which comprises below-minimum wage employment such as farming and industry work, was affected severely by the closure of foreign trading.

According to the BTI project, the unemployment rate was 6.68% during the pandemic. The data revealed that those already living in poverty suffered more than those that were not. Reports suggested that the national unemployment rate during COVID-19 in 2020 was around 3.5%, while studies in 2019 reported an unemployment rate of 2.9% nationwide.

Recovery Process

Lifting all restrictions on business mobility marked the beginning of progress in the recovery of Senegal’s economy. On June 19, 2020, the World Bank pledged $100 million to support the economic impacts, with the aim of protecting the lives of the most vulnerable groups.

Even after the pandemic, foreign investment in Senegal is at an all-time high. The government has set targets to achieve by 2035, including a GDP growth rate of 8%, a GDP per capita of $1,500 and the creation of 600,000 new formal jobs.

The United Nations (U.N.) has supported the country’s socioeconomic recovery as well as the government’s emergency program for youth employment and development. It also has other ongoing programs such as the campaign for equal access to vaccines and the “United Nations Framework for the Immediate Socioeconomic Response to COVID-19” that aim to support the population.

Looking Ahead

Foreign aid initiatives and government interventions have played vital roles in lessening the impact of  COVID-19 on poverty in Senegal. Although high poverty and unemployment rates remain issues in the country, the results from ongoing efforts indicate that there’s hope for more progress and positive change.

– Joshua Rogers
Photo: Flickr

Everything To Know About Hunger in the Philippines

Hunger in the PhilippinesThe Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia. Comprised of more than 7,600 islands, the nation’s natural beauty and beaches have made it an international tourist destination. However, the country faces a major hunger problem. According to an October 2022 World Food Programme (WFP) survey, one in 10 Philippine households experiences food insecurity. A volatile climate, social inequality and uneven wealth distribution have contributed to the country’s ongoing hunger crises. Here is everything to know about hunger in the Philippines.

History of Hunger in the Philippines

Food scarcity in the Philippines is not a new phenomenon. In recent history, repeated disasters and famines have had detrimental effects both regionally, on specific Philippine islands and regions, and nationally. For example, in 1972, successive typhoons led to mass starvation, social upheaval and disease across the main island of Luzon, with Pampanga and surrounding provinces in Central Luzon being particularly affected. The 1972 disaster was also detrimental to the nearby Pangasinan province, in Luzon’s Ilocos Region, that it resulted in the homelessness of some 250,000 people and the near starvation of over 50,000 families.

In early 1994, another series of typhoons devastated Southern Luzon’s Bicol Region along with the Visayas and the northeastern portion of Mindanao. The disasters drove an estimated 600,000 Filipinos into homelessness and an estimated 100,000 into starvation, exacerbating poverty and food insecurity in the country.

How the Hunger Problem Disproportionately Affects the Philippines’ Poorest

While many in the Philippines face hunger, hunger inordinately afflicts the country’s poorest people. One reason for this is that the country’s poorest rely upon agriculture for income and sustenance, making them particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and the destruction caused by natural disasters. The WFP estimates that 25% of agricultural households in the Philippines suffer from food insecurity, a percentage substantially higher than the 9% of non-agricultural Philippine households.

Uneven wealth distribution also contributes to the nation’s poorest suffering worse from hunger. According to the World Bank, 1% of the population earns 17% of the Philippines’ national income, while the bottom 50% of earners share just 14% of the national income. Consistent with this disparity, globally rising food and energy costs have been especially devastating in the Philippines’ poorest regions, where access to food and other resources is becoming increasingly limited. Not surprisingly, the three most food-insecure regions in the Philippines are among the seven poorest in the country.

Hunger in the Philippines Has Worsened in Recent Years

Statistics published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations show that the hunger problem in the Philippines has worsened in recent years. The 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report indicated that more people in the Philippines suffered from food insecurity than in any other Southeast Asian nation between 2017 and 2019. During that period, a recorded 59 million Philippine people suffered from food insecurity, a substantial increase from the recorded 44.9 million Filipinos who experienced food insecurity from 2014 to 2016. The FAO cited an “increasing population, limited resources and natural disasters” as contributing to the country’s worsening hunger problem, which has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of the Hunger Crisis on Filipino Children

In light of these factors, Filipino children increasingly face serious undernutrition. In 2019, 29% of Filipino children between the ages of 0 and 5 experienced stunting due to undernutrition. The Philippines has one of the ten highest rates of stunting among children globally, with over 40% of children suffering from stunting in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Southwestern Tagalong Region.

Many Filipino children also suffer from micronutrient undernutrition, which is the insufficient intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Micronutrient undernutrition afflicts around 38% of infants 11 months old and younger and 26% of 12-to-23-month-old children. As of 2018, almost 17% of children between 6 months and 5 years old were vitamin A deficient. In addition to posing major physical health risks, undernutrition severely hinders children’s cognitive development and is detrimental to the country’s human and economic development as a whole.

Relief Efforts and International Aid To Feed Those Most in Need

On-the-ground work by organizations like the WFP has helped feed many people facing food insecurity in the Philippines. Notably, the WFP has been partnering with local governments and communities to provide nutritious school meals to undernourished children while supporting the country’s poorest and most vulnerable communities. As a result of the initiative, all 100 children who attend Bisang Elementary, in BARMM, now receive nutritious meals daily. The initiative complements WFP’s ongoing work to provide nutritious meals and improved health care for 6-month-old to 5-year-old Filipino children, mitigate poverty and food insecurity in the Philippines and alleviate the devastation caused by national disasters and conflict.

Furthermore, Action Against Hunger helped nearly 200,000 people in the Philippines in 2022. Initiated in 2000, the organization’s branch in the Philippines has emphasized diversifying livelihoods, building “resiliency to disaster” and improving sanitation and nutrition.

In 2022, the U.S. also provided over $192 million in aid to the Philippines. Out of this sum, $29 million went toward emergency responses and another $28 million was invested in basic health needs.

Looking Ahead

The Philippines currently faces a pressing hunger problem. While factors including the pandemic, frequent natural disasters and social inequity have exacerbated hunger in the Philippines in recent years, international and local efforts to reverse the trend are making an impact. With continued aid and collaboration, there is hope for the eradication of hunger in the Philippines.

– Max Steventon
Photo: Flickr