Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Education in Indian Languages: Expanding Economic Opportunity

Education in Indian Languages
India’s linguistic diversity is an important part of its culture, but language can also affect how students access education. For students who are more comfortable learning in their home or regional language, being taught primarily in another language can make it harder to understand lessons and participate in school. Education in Indian languages could help reduce this barrier while expanding access to educational and economic opportunities.

The Government of India has recently increased its focus on multilingual education. The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, announced in the 2025 Union Budget, aims to provide digital educational books in Indian languages for school and higher education. The scheme envisions making educational content available in 22 Indian languages.

When Language Becomes a Barrier to Learning

For some students, the language used in the classroom may not be the language they understand best. UNICEF India has found that children can struggle when they enter school and are expected to learn in a language different from the one they speak at home. These difficulties can affect understanding, confidence and participation and can increase the risk of leaving school early.

A UNICEF-supported language mapping project in Chhattisgarh examined more than 400,000 first-grade students and 30,000 teachers across 24 languages, including 11 tribal languages. The project found that about three-fourths of students and nearly half of teachers had minimal or functional understanding of the language used for instruction. The project responded by developing teacher training and learning materials that better reflected students’ languages.

These challenges can be especially important for students from communities with fewer educational resources. When students have difficulty understanding classroom material, they may also have fewer opportunities to build the knowledge and skills needed for higher education and employment.

Education and Economic Opportunity

Education is closely connected to economic opportunity. The World Bank describes education as a foundation for developing skills, finding employment and building a pathway out of poverty. Higher levels of education are also associated with better employment opportunities and higher earnings.

For this reason, improving access to educational materials is not only about making lessons easier to understand. It can also help students develop the academic foundation needed to continue their education and prepare for the workforce. Education in Indian languages can be particularly relevant for students who face language barriers in school. Providing textbooks and other learning materials in languages students already understand can make educational resources more accessible and support students as they move through different levels of education.

Expanding Books Across 22 Languages

The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme is one of the Government of India’s recent efforts to expand access to educational content in Indian languages. According to the Ministry of Education, the scheme is intended to provide digital books for school and higher education in 22 Indian languages. The Ministry is working alongside organizations including the University Grants Commission and the All India Council of Technical Education on initiatives to increase educational content in Indian languages.

The effort builds on earlier government initiatives. In 2024, the University Grants Commission launched ASMITA, a project intended to produce 22,000 books in 22 scheduled Indian languages over five years. Other initiatives have also focused on multilingual dictionaries and technology for real-time translation.

Making Education More Accessible

India’s National Education Policy 2020 also emphasizes multilingual education. The policy recommends that, wherever possible, the medium of instruction remains a student’s home, mother or regional language until at least grade five and preferably through grade eight and beyond.

Digital resources can make these efforts more accessible because students can use educational materials without depending entirely on physical textbooks. The government’s Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, for example, provides thousands of digital titles in multiple Indian languages and is intended to promote more equitable learning opportunities for underserved and marginalized readers.

The Government of India is also using newer technology to expand multilingual education. In 2026, the Ministry of Education reported that AI-based tools such as ANUVADINI and BHASHINI were being used to support translation and language-enabled digital services across Indian languages.

A Step Toward Greater Opportunity

Education in Indian languages cannot solve poverty by itself, but it can address one barrier that affects how students access and understand education. For students from underserved communities, having learning materials available in a familiar language can make educational opportunities more accessible.

As India continues expanding multilingual textbooks, digital resources and translation technology, these efforts could help more students participate fully in their education. Improving language access can support the larger goal of ensuring that a student’s language does not become a barrier to gaining the knowledge and skills needed for higher education and future economic opportunity.

– Anvitha Nakka

Anvitha is based in Frederick, Maryland and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Creating Jobs for Rural Youth in the Dominican Republic

Rural Youth in the Dominican Republic
Rural youth in the Dominican Republic often have fewer job opportunities. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), many young people in rural areas work in part-time and low-paid jobs. They also have limited access to job training, financial services and better employment opportunities. PRORURAL Joven is working to change this. The project aims to help 18,600 young people find jobs, become entrepreneurs or start small businesses. Officially known as the Productive Inclusion and Resilience of Poor Rural Youth Project, it aims to reduce poverty among young people living in rural areas and improve the quality of life for their families. The project focuses on helping young people find employment or become entrepreneurs while also helping families become more resilient to economic, social and climate-related challenges.

Training Young People for Jobs

One of the project’s main areas of work is its employment program. In July 2026, the Dominican government announced a new agreement that will provide technical and vocational training to more than 13,600 young people from rural communities over the next three years. The training is being developed through the country’s National Institute of Technical and Vocational Training, known as INFOTEP. The training focuses on skills that can help young people find real jobs. It also supports those who want to work for themselves or start a small business. This gives rural youth more ways to earn money and build a better future in their communities.

PRORURAL Joven also helps rural youth in the Dominican Republic who want to start their own businesses. The project provides training and support to help turn ideas into income-generating opportunities. It focuses on both finding a job and creating a job. This approach is especially useful in rural areas where work opportunities may be scarce. By supporting small businesses and young entrepreneurs, the project can help young people earn an income while staying in their communities. The project also aims to help young people develop business ideas and access financial services. This support can assist not only in starting a business but also in growing it over time. Entrepreneurship can become a way for young people living in rural areas to earn a more stable income.

Investing in Rural Youth

PRORURAL Joven is supported by the Dominican government and IFAD. IFAD lists the overall project cost at approximately $33.38 million, including $13.85 million in IFAD financing and additional funding from international and national partners. The project is part of an effort to increase the economic mobility of rural youth. IFAD says PRORURAL Joven is working to improve access to decent employment while helping young people strengthen their businesses. In 2026, the project has continued expanding its work. A national coordination effort announced in May included plans for 172 workshops designed to strengthen the project’s reach and connect vulnerable rural youth with services and opportunities.

A Path Through More Stable Incomes

PRORURAL Joven shows how job training and entrepreneurship can be used together to address rural poverty. For thousands of young people in the Dominican Republic, learning practical skills or receiving support to start a business could provide a path toward a more stable income. The planned training of more than 13,600 rural youth in the Dominican Republic gives the project a chance to reach more young people. By connecting training with jobs and entrepreneurship, PRORURAL Joven is helping young people create new opportunities for themselves while also supporting their families and communities. The project combines job training and entrepreneurship to assist young people in rural areas. Learning useful skills can help them find work, while support for small businesses can provide another way to earn money. For rural youth in the Dominican Republic, these opportunities can make it easier to build a more stable future.

Looking Ahead

There is still more work to be done, but projects like PRORURAL Joven demonstrate what is possible when young people receive the right support and opportunities. With more training and access to jobs, thousands of young people can improve their lives and build a better future without leaving their communities.

– Mert Sungur

Mert is based in Bursa/Turkey and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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South Sudan Women and Their Empowerment

South Sudan WomenAccording to the World Bank, around four in five people in South Sudan live in extreme poverty, among the highest rates in the world. Grassroots enterprise projects such as the South Sudan Women Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP) help women and their communities build local business skills so they can obtain jobs and rise out of poverty. FAO programs support women farmers and entrepreneurs with training in vegetable production, irrigation, climate-smart agriculture and livestock-related livelihoods to strengthen household nutrition and income. The Construction of Women Economic Empowerment Centers (WECCs) provides skills training, financial literacy and vital support services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project

While the $70 million International Development Association (IDA) grant was approved in 2022, the current World Bank reporting describes the four-year SSWSEEP implementation as a $52 million project. While UN Women supports the implementation, the 2022 World Bank report says that the financing was an IDA grant. This support helps female entrepreneurs formalize and scale up their business activities and helps survivors of GBV access vital services that enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.

Survivors of GBV receive immediate safety and crisis intervention, health care and medical support, mental health and psychosocial support, and legal and economic empowerment. These services help women in poverty increase their social status in society. They provide access to education, training, business services and financing. As Aya Benjamin Warile, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare for South Sudan indicated, “empowering women to participate fully in civic and economic life will make South Sudan more prosperous and peaceful.”

Agricultural and Agrifood Training

FAO-backed programs are helping some women farmers move from subsistence production toward more climate-resilient, market-oriented agriculture through training, tools and field-based support. The FAO has supported South Sudan’s food security, resilience and climate-smart agriculture in response to conflict, displacement and climate shocks. The organization has also supported development in the livestock sector, which gives millions of people in South Sudan a vital source of food, income and cultural identity. These programs show how targeted agricultural support can strengthen resilience and income opportunities.

Community Centers and Safe Spaces

Empowering South Sudan’s women and girls is the first step in fostering peace. In a country where four out of five people are in extreme poverty, women and girls ravaged by conflict, submerged by floods, and affected by repeated natural and human-made disasters are now caregivers, breadwinners and protectors for families and communities. Survivor networks and referral services empower women to support each other in seeking safety and recovery from GBV. In the business sector, villages provide women with savings and loan associations that enable them to start profitable enterprises so they feed their families and send children to school.

The Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (WSEEP), in collaboration with the World Bank and UN Women, has four components that show the steps to empower women. The project centers on providing community empowerment support to women and girls, establishing a women’s economic opportunity facility, enhancing services for survivors of GBV and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.

Women’s Economic Community Centers

The construction of five new women’s economic community centers (WECCs) in states across the country will enable the provision of social and economic services for women and girls at satellite sites in these states. The WECCs will offer integrated services such as starter kits and grants, GBV response and referrals, and training in business, leadership, financial literacy, advocacy, and peacebuilding. The second component of WSEEP allows technical assistance and grants for women-led small and growing businesses. Enterprises will be sustained through crucial investments such as purchasing key equipment, accessing digital technologies and upskilling staff.

Services for GBV Survivors

The third component of WSEEP provides critical services for GBV survivors, including a national GBV hotline and the establishment of a new safe house for survivors in Juba. The hotline gives GBV survivors access to psychosocial support, health, police, child support, legal aid, and shelter offered by a toll-free 24/7 line. The safe house provides affordable basic protection services and resources like accommodation, protection, clothing, medical care and counseling and legal support.

Policymaking

Under the fourth component, the Ministry for Gender, Child and Social Welfare focuses on policymaking and coordination on South Sudan women empowerment issues. The component trains and accredits ministry social workers to address GBV cases, support family mediation, meet ministry needs and finance training, workshops and conferences. By addressing the weaknesses and strengths of the challenges that women in the poverty-stricken country of South Sudan face, the WSEEP aims to help South Sudanese women live better, more productive lives.

– Stephanie Ou

Stephanie is based in San Jose, California/Santa Clara County, United States and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solar-Powered Ice Plants in the Philippines Protect Fishing Livelihoods

Solar-Powered Ice Plants in the Philippines
Fish must be properly chilled and frozen after being caught because they are highly perishable. Yet limited access to ice, refrigeration and other post-harvest facilities can make preservation difficult in isolated coastal communities in the Philippines. An Oceana assessment estimated post-harvest losses of 40.34% in municipalities around Samar Bays and Channels and 38.39% along the San Bernardino Strait. These figures reflect the locations assessed by Oceana rather than the Philippines as a whole. Solar-powered ice plants in the Philippines offer one potential way to protect catch value as changing weather patterns place additional pressure on fishing livelihoods.

Changing Weather and the Vulnerability of Fishing Livelihoods

Changing weather is adding pressure to Philippine fishing livelihoods by affecting fish distribution, marine ecosystems and exposure to storms and other hazards. A study of 220 small-scale fishers in Davao Gulf found that changing weather patterns and rising temperatures contributed to vulnerability, alongside lower catches and the need to travel farther offshore. For households that rely heavily on fishing, these pressures can make an uncertain source of income more vulnerable.

The Hidden Cost of Keeping Fish Cold

For households that depend on fishing, keeping a catch fresh can directly affect how much money a day’s work generates. Fish can lose quality and market value without adequate preservation. A JICA study of Philippine fisheries found that deterioration during transportation could make fish less competitive in the market, while research continues to identify post-harvest losses as a challenge. The cost of ice can add another burden. In Basilan, 10-kilogram blocks previously cost fishers ₱200 to ₱240 from outside suppliers, compared with ₱60 from a nearby solar-powered ice plant.

Basilan: Solar Power Brings Ice Closer

In Lantawan, Basilan, an off-grid fishing community now has a solar-powered ice plant that produces ice locally. The facility, handed over in February 2026, can produce nearly one tonne of ice blocks a day. Before the plant opened, residents bought ice from nearby towns and reported income losses when fish products spoiled. UNDP reports that access to local ice has helped reduce dependence on ice brought from outside the community and reports that fishers say spoilage-related income losses have fallen. These are early project experiences, not independently measured long-term outcomes. The EU and UNDP co-funded the facility through the Model Lives program, with the Kasalamatan Agri-Fisheries Association managing it. Similar facilities are being developed elsewhere, including a DOST-supported hybrid solar ice plant in remote Palawan.

What the Savings Mean for Fishers

For fisher Pating Punso in Barangay Bukut-Umus, access to local ice changed a basic fishing expense. He previously paid ₱200 for a block of ice from mainland Basilan. He now pays ₱60 for a comparable block from a solar-powered facility about 50 meters from his home. Punso told MindaNews that the local ice is cheaper and lasts longer. Another fisher, Muamar Manisan, described another cost of unreliable ice. When he ran out, fish caught from his payao could spoil, forcing him to dry some squid instead. This reflects the project’s early reported experience rather than a long-term independently measured outcome.

Women Turn a Livelihood Need Into Local Enterprise

Solar-powered ice plants in the Philippines are also creating business opportunities for women. In Lower Binembengan, Sumisip, 26 women have operated the community’s ice-block production facility since March 2026. The EU and UNDP-backed enterprise supplies ice to local fishers while giving the women a role in managing a local business. Available reporting does not quantify the women’s individual earnings, so longer-term effects remain unclear.

Why Small Infrastructure Can Matter

For fishing households, earning from a catch depends on being able to keep it fresh until it reaches the market. When ice is expensive or unavailable, fish can lose quality and value, turning spoilage into a direct financial loss. The Basilan cases show how this infrastructure gap can affect everyday fishing costs and the value of a catch. Solar-powered ice plants in the Philippines offer a way to bring ice production closer to remote fishing communities while using renewable energy. By making preservation more accessible, they can potentially help protect the value of catches in communities already facing climate-related pressures, where limited income options can increase economic vulnerability.

What We Do Not Know Yet

Solar-powered ice plants could offer benefits beyond reducing spoilage and ice costs. In San Agustin, Romblon, an ice plant faced high electricity costs because of its heavy power requirements before receiving a ₱2.186 million solar system with battery storage. At the same time, the technology requires significant upfront investment: a solar-powered ice machine in Pilar, Cebu, cost ₱3.9 million. Continued funding, maintenance and reliable operation will therefore matter to sustaining these benefits.

When Protecting a Catch Means Protecting an Income

A fishing community does not always need a new livelihood to become more financially secure. Sometimes, it needs better ways to protect income from existing livelihoods. Solar-powered ice plants can reduce preventable losses, lower a key cost and create local business opportunities. For communities with few alternatives, strengthening these livelihoods can help people earn closer to home rather than being pushed to seek precarious work elsewhere.

– Zeba Vagh

Zeba is based in Melboure, Victoria, Australia and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How UNHCR Provides Protection For Displaced People in DRC

Protection For Displaced People in DRC
The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of many ongoing emergencies around the world. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the country has faced political conflict, hunger, violence and poverty since gaining independence in 1960. Nearly 60 million people in the DRC were living in extreme poverty in 2022, according to the World Bank, while conflict continues to disrupt agriculture, markets and trade.

How Protection Works

To help alleviate the crisis, the U.N. Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, provides protection and assistance to people displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This includes internally displaced people, refugees and Congolese returnees. As of September 2025, 8.2 million people were displaced in connection with the DRC crisis, according to UNHCR. The number could reach 9 million by the end of 2026, including an estimated 5.8 million internally displaced people. More than 1.2 million Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers are also being hosted in neighboring countries.

According to UNHCR’s 2026 DRC emergency overview, the agency focuses on strengthening legal frameworks and asylum systems while promoting the inclusion of displaced people in national systems. UNHCR also maintains emergency response capacity and works to advance durable solutions, self-reliance and resilience among displaced and host communities.

Regionally, UNHCR leads a refugee response plan with partners in seven neighboring countries — Angola, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia — to provide protection, assistance and support for long-term solutions for Congolese refugees and host communities.

Assistance For Democratic Republic of the Congo Refugees

UNHCR projects 5.8 million internally displaced people in the DRC by the end of 2026, with displacement heavily concentrated in the eastern provinces. More than 1.2 million Congolese refugees have fled to neighboring countries, primarily Uganda and Burundi, as well as Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and other countries. UNHCR and its partners provide protection and assistance to displaced people both inside and outside the DRC.

UNHCR’s protection for displaced people efforts include supporting safe and voluntary returns, relocation and local integration. The agency also works to ensure displaced people have access to basic services, including environmentally friendly and affordable shelter. Its efforts also focus on strengthening access to land, livelihoods and other measures that promote self-reliance.

In 2025, UNHCR planned protection and assistance programs for millions of displaced people across the DRC and neighboring countries, including more than 273,000 children and caregivers targeted for child protection services.

Assistance From Neighboring Countries

Through its operations in Angola, the U.N. Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, supports refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of April 2026, Angola hosted 55,628 people of concern to UNHCR, including 22,786 from the DRC, according to UNHCR. The agency works with the Angolan government to provide access to territory and asylum, registration, documentation and refugee status determination for people seeking international protection.

UNHCR also provides humanitarian assistance to displaced populations and host communities, helping meet basic needs and improve access to essential services and livelihood opportunities. The agency advocates for the inclusion of refugees in national development plans and other government programs.

UNHCR has maintained a presence in Angola for more than 40 years, with a field office in Dundo since 2017. The Mozambique multi-country office coordinates its operations in Angola.

Burundi hosts more than 100,000 forcibly displaced people, including about 91,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, most of whom are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to UNHCR. About 63% of Burundi’s population lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2024, according to the World Bank. As part of its response to the DRC emergency, Burundi maintained an open-door policy in 2024 and welcomed nearly 4,000 new asylum-seekers.

In addition to refugees, Burundi hosts returnees who face significant economic challenges. UNHCR works with the World Bank and other development partners to support the inclusion and reintegration of returnees and refugees. The World Bank’s Merankabandi national social protection program has reached more than 1.5 million people with cash transfers, startup capital and other support aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. The program also helps communities respond to food insecurity and climate-related shocks.

Strategy Outcomes and Impacts

According to UNHCR’s 2026 planning documents, the agency is working to strengthen protection for displaced people who experienced the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its efforts include improving access to essential services, strengthening national and community systems, and supporting the inclusion of refugees, internally displaced people and returnees in local and national programs. UNHCR also aims to improve living conditions for vulnerable people through shelter assistance and other essential relief items.

These efforts are part of UNHCR’s broader goal of helping displaced people meet their basic needs while building resilience, self-reliance and stronger connections with host communities. The agency’s 2022-2026 strategy also calls for greater social cohesion between displaced and host communities and improved access to durable solutions, including safe and sustainable returns and stronger land and tenure rights for internally displaced people and returnees.

The Future Of UNHCR’s Protection

According to UNHCR’s 2022-2026 strategy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the agency aims to expand opportunities for refugees in need of resettlement by 2026. The strategy also seeks to strengthen tenure and land rights for internally displaced people and returnees, helping them access secure housing and land as they rebuild their lives.

For refugees and internally displaced people, UNHCR aims to provide information and support for safe, dignified and sustainable returns. These efforts are part of the agency’s broader goal of advancing durable solutions for refugees, internally displaced people and returnees affected by the DRC crisis.

– Casey Chan-Smutko

Casey is based in Natick, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How A Local’s Action is Reducing Poverty in Lao Cai, Vietnam

Reducing Poverty in Lao Cai
Vietnam is a country located in Southeast Asia that has been rapidly reducing the poverty rate for the last few decades. This progress followed trade liberalization and wider economic reforms beginning in the 1990s. Although the country has greatly flourished in the past decades, several regions still face high poverty rates. One example is the Lao Cai province.

Background on the Lao Cai Province

Lao Cai Province faces a higher poverty rate than the country of Vietnam. Official 2024 figures put Lao Cai’s household poverty rate at 11.24%, compared with 1.93% nationally. One of the factors for the high rate is the landscape. Lao Cai is a predominantly mountainous region. This poses a huge problem because the province chiefly relies on agriculture to bring in revenue. Additionally, the mountainous region makes traveling to different areas difficult, resulting in less accessibility to trade and revenue.

The population also plays a part in the high poverty rate. The region’s population is composed of several ethnic minorities: H’mong, Tay, Dao, Nung and Giay. These minority groups make up 71% of Lao Cai’s inhabitants. Alongside living in a mountainous region that limits accessibility to other surrounding provinces, these ethnic groups face higher chances of poverty because of a lack of tourism industry knowledge, language barriers and business support services. Many people in these ethnic minorities are taught their native tongue, which means they face challenges comprehending in educational settings where the language spoken is standard Vietnamese. In recent years, actions have been taken to provide more opportunities for the people living in the province.

Local Action to Improve Connectivity

Some individuals living in Lao Cai province have taken the matter of reducing poverty in the region into their own hands. One of these people is Giang A Thu. Thu is a H’mong leader who resides in the Giang Pang village. His actions in bringing positive change to his village include talking with different families living in the village and listening to their concerns. By building these relationships, Thu creates a personal connection with the villagers and provides guidance on how to bring improvement to Giang Pang. Thu’s family willingly gave up some of their land to help improve accessibility to schools and markets. He also encouraged villagers to donate some of their land and collect material to improve infrastructure. Additionally, Thu has provided guidance to the villagers on how to expand their livestock and worked with local organizations to ensure improvements to the villagers’ lives become reality. According to VietnamNet, Giang Pang’s poverty rate fell from 24% in 2021 to 12% in 2025 as local infrastructure and livelihood initiatives expanded.

Looking Ahead

Involving locals in Lao Cai in reducing the poverty rate bridges the gap for minority groups, providing the resources needed to successfully bring new opportunities and accessibility into their lives.

– Dorothea A Pudwill

Dorothea is based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and focuses on Business and New Markets, and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Fighting Poverty and Supporting Rural Livelihoods in Angola

Rural Livelihoods in Angola
The southwestern African nation of Angola is home to a population of more than 39 million and a wealth of natural resources in the form of oil and minerals. Despite this potential, Angola battles poverty and inequality. World Bank data from 2018 indicate that 39.3% of Angolans live on the equivalent of less than $3 per day, and the country’s inequality index of 51.3 from the same year is among the highest in the world. Rural communities often struggle the most, but significant efforts have emerged to support families financially and foster sustainable rural livelihoods in Angola. The government and other organizations have responded with financial support programs, loans and grants and agricultural skills training, all of which encourage agri-entrepreneurship and combat poverty in both the short and long term.

Communities Left Behind

Angola is highly urbanized compared to its neighbors, with approximately 32% of its population living outside urban areas. World Bank estimates from the 2018-19 household survey show poverty at 17.8% in urban areas and 54.7% in rural areas, demonstrating significant regional inequality. While oil contributes to almost 30% of GDP and 95% of exports, this industry is less accessible to communities whose livelihoods have historically had ties to agriculture. According to the IPC in 2022, 1.32 million people across 17 municipalities in the south are vulnerable to high acute food insecurity. As this issue persists, effective and sustainable agri-farming remains vital.

Financial Support Through Kwenda

To support households vulnerable to poverty and enhance rural livelihoods in Angola, the Institute for Local Development, in partnership with the Angolan government and World Bank, rolled out a targeted, quarterly cash transfer program known as Kwenda. By May 2025, more than 1.3 million households had benefited from Kwenda’s direct cash transfers, while approximately 53,000 households had received support through its Productive Inclusion component. This assistance helped many financially support their families, while others were able to invest in food and agricultural production, a step toward more sustainable economic futures. Increased production among Kwenda-supported households helped the Catanha Bandi cooperative purchase a mill, creating a local job and making grain processing easier for members and nearby residents. Kwenda also funded an improved seed bank for the Cusseteca cooperative, from which 1,000 loaves of bread are produced every day to feed the community.

The program also includes a Productive Inclusion element, focusing on supporting income generation and rural livelihoods in Angola. Launched in 2021, this initiative saw the creation of integrated social action centers aimed at supporting families to improve income, as well as community-based credit banks and seed multiplication initiatives. For example, FAS invested 400 kg of beans in Chiombo, where approximately 50 community members harvested close to 1.5 tons of food, reimbursing this support to thrive independently. By 2024, 25,324 people participated in IP activities, with more than 126,000 indirect beneficiaries.

Angola Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC)

The Angola Commercial Agriculture Development Project (PDAC) provides further support for rural livelihoods in Angola. The project promotes agri-business development through the sharing of skills and a grant program, as well as financing infrastructure for production and further development. Rebeca Rocha, an agri-entrepreneur, received training through PDAC on skills such as crop rotation to improve her agricultural activities. She revitalized her small farming business with a $4,000 grant, using this to improve infrastructure and expand, which created six jobs and increased output. Rocha now also supplies food to a pediatric hospital. The program fosters innovation in the agricultural industry, and the World Bank reports that it has directly invested around $2.12 million into 308 business plans, 75 of which women submitted.

Local Projects and ADRA Angola

ADRA is another organization sharing skills within communities that directly support rural livelihoods in Angola. It promotes fair and sustainable development at a community level and operates across 46 municipalities to improve local agri-production and food security. The organization has helped organize workshops on valuable industry skills such as finance and tax management, setting farmers and small business owners up for success, as well as crop multiplication training, which was shared with 50 residents in the Oshauyu community. While promoting the School in the Farmer’s Field initiative, its workshop on sweet potato multiplication and seed bank development benefited 35 community members, of whom 29 were women. As of September 2026, ADRA has reached 34,902 families with its initiatives focused on sustainable development and citizenship.

Looking Forward

These projects targeting rural communities and supporting agricultural development represent a hopeful future for Angola’s poor on two accounts. While increased agricultural efficiency will improve production and increase food security, training and investment also greatly benefit rural livelihoods in Angola, encouraging entrepreneurship and better long-term financial stability for community members.

– Hannah Rix

Hannah is based in London, United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 8 in the Maldives

SDG 8 in the Maldives
The Maldives is an archipelago of more than 1,000 islands located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives has the longest chain of coral atolls in the world and a rich and unique marine biodiversity. Tourism and fishing drive the economy, with tourism representing about 21% of GDP. The country is among the 193 nations that took the pledge in September 2015 to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and it is ranked 63rd out of 169 countries in the 2026 SDG Index.

The Sustainable Development Goals are a roadmap of 17 goals that the United Nations initiated, which call on all nations to join efforts to end all forms of poverty, ensure equality and take action to protect the planet, while making sure that no one is left behind. Therefore, the UN in the Maldives has been working tirelessly with the Maldivian government to achieve the SDGs, and this article will particularly pinpoint the updates on SDG 8 in the Maldives.

SDG 8

Within the framework of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 8 highlights decent work and economic growth. This goal has been established to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Hence, SDG 8 encompasses 12 targets that are meaningful for achieving the goal. Among those targets are the promotion of youth employment, their education and their training; the protection of labor rights, and the promotion of safe working environments; the promotion of beneficial and sustainable tourism; and the promotion of full employment and decent work with equal pay. In achieving SDG 8 in the Maldives, the government took several actions, such as empowering policies for women’s economic growth through the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the tourism sector, as well as accelerating economic diversification.

The Importance of Tourism and Fisheries

The Maldives has a successful development story. Economic growth combined with the expansion of social services and infrastructure development has allowed the country to sustain poverty reduction, human development, and socio-economic progress over the past 30 years. Nonetheless, almost a third of the population is poor across several dimensions, even if income poverty is relatively low in the Maldives. As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), the Maldives is highly vulnerable to climate change and other environmental hazards that impact its economy. To this extent, the resilience of its economy and society depends on a significant reliance on natural resources.

In 2025, the real GDP grew by an estimated 6.3%, driven by strong tourist arrivals and a recovery in fisheries. Tourist arrivals increased by 9.8% and reached their peak of 2.25 million in 2025. In 2026, after a strong start, tourism performance declined. In February, an increase of 15.7% was recorded in tourist arrivals, but it declined by 20.7% in March and 24.4% in April due to disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East, including airspace closures and flight cancellations. Year on year, as of May 13, 2026, tourist arrivals were down 5.4%.

Concerning fisheries, the other economic pillar of the Maldives, exports have increased by 91.8% in 2025, with 76,360 metric tons of fish exported. This rise in fish exports is due to an increase in frozen tuna exports. The largest share of the Maldives’ exports is still fish and fish products, according to the numbers. Consequently, the government’s key priority is to increase revenue from the fisheries sector and strengthen its contribution to the economy.

Overall, those two pillars of the Maldivian economy are vital for its growth and development. On one hand, the tourism sector is the main employer in the Maldives and enhances related industries such as construction, transportation and retail; on the other hand, fisheries also provide employment and community livelihoods to many Maldivians living in rural and island communities.

The MEERY Project

The COVID-19 long-term effects on the Maldivian economy have led to numerous challenges, encompassing limited job prospects for the youth. In 2020, the youth unemployment rate was 17.7% due to a competitive job market and a lack of employment opportunities. To address youth unemployment, the MEERY (Maldives: Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth) project, a five-year initiative jointly implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and the World Bank, launched in 2019 and is now in its final phase.

The MEERY is a $20 million USD project that receives funding from the World Bank to “improve the relevance of technical and vocational skills and foster entrepreneurship to promote youth employment in project priority sectors.” The project’s focus is to equip youth in the Maldives with tools, training, and the opportunities they need to be successful in a rapidly evolving job market. The MEERY project also addresses skills gaps and gender equality in the job market by providing women with more opportunities to contribute to the national economy. It also prioritizes tourism, tourism-related construction, agriculture and ICT sectors.

A Supportive Policy Landscape, Slowly Evolving for Women

In recent years, the Maldives has made significant advancements in women’s education and empowerment. The archipelago has one of the highest female literacy rates in South Asia, and more women are graduating and entering the workforce than in the past. Nevertheless, the female labor force participation rate is 40.7% compared to 76.4% for males, while the female rate is also below the global female labor force participation rate of about 48.9% in 2025.

To reverse these disparities and achieve SDG 8, the Maldivian government has implemented the National Gender Equality Action Plan (2022-2026), developed under the Gender Equality Action Act of 2016. The plan lists strategic goals to promote equal participation in governance, economic development, and protection from gender-based violence. This plan has enabled a 33% quota for women in local councils, which has led to an increase in women’s political representation at the local level.

The government also enacted policies that promote gender equality, including a flex policy that offers women working for the government six months of paid maternity leave, a significant support that eases the process for women to re-enter the workforce after giving birth. Besides, civil society organizations are actively advocating for women’s rights and providing support for female entrepreneurs, opening the way for more companies to recognize the value of gender-diverse workforces. Consequently, investing in women in the Maldives is an economic strategy. By harnessing the full potential of its women, the Maldives is building the foundation of a more resilient, inclusive and dynamic society, which is imperative for national progress.

Looking Ahead

To conclude, the updates on SDG 8 in the Maldives show that the country is continuing to work toward decent work and economic growth while significant economic and employment challenges remain. Ranked 63rd out of 169 countries in the 2026 SDG Index, the Maldives is striving toward its economic growth by investing in its youth and women, important pillars of Maldivian society. By also investing in the development of tourism and fisheries, other vital pillars of its.

– Milcah Yann 

Milcah is based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is focused on Technologies and Solutions, and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Child Support Ghana is Tackling Child Poverty

Child Support Ghana
Child poverty remains a significant challenge in Ghana, particularly in rural communities and parts of the north. UNICEF’s 2025 social protection budget brief estimates that 28% of Ghanaian children live in monetary poverty, while 73.4% experience multidimensional poverty, meaning they lack access to several essential services or living conditions at once. These measures are different from child food poverty: UNICEF reports that 2.4 million children under five experience food poverty, lacking a sufficiently diverse diet.

Child Support Ghana

Child Support Ghana, founded by Kwame Jones Jay-Jay, has launched a campaign calling for a national Child Benefit Allowance Programme. The group wants the government to introduce the proposed benefit by 2030, with financial support intended to help families meet children’s needs for nutrition, health care and education. The campaign is an advocacy effort; the proposed allowance is not yet an established national program. The Ghana News Agency reported the initiative in July 2026.

A Campaign for Children’s Well-Being

Jay-Jay has appealed to Parliament, charities, faith-based institutions, businesses, families, schools and the media to support the proposal. He argues that a regular child benefit would be an investment in Ghana’s future rather than simply a handout. He has cited the different forms of deprivation affecting Ghanaian children, including inadequate diets, barriers to schooling and limited access to essential services.

The campaign also highlights regional inequality. UNICEF’s June 2026 analysis of public spending on children found that public resources are distributed unevenly, with the youngest and poorest children particularly disadvantaged. This strengthens the case for examining how income support could complement existing health, nutrition and education services.

Campaign Launch and Community Support

The campaign gained local support at Asafo Pechi M/A Basic School, where school leaders and members of the Atwemamena community endorsed its petition. Assistant headteacher Christiana Nador described children arriving at school without adequate meals, footwear, uniforms or exercise books. She said a well-designed allowance could help struggling families meet basic educational and nutritional costs. A July 25, 2026 report documented the appeal and the community’s endorsement.

Looking Ahead

Child Support Ghana is seeking wider backing for its petition and a government commitment to develop a child benefit program. No resulting reduction in child poverty can yet be attributed to this campaign. However, its proposal has opened a discussion about how direct family support, alongside public services, could help protect children from hardship. Existing efforts such as Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty program provide a policy context for that discussion. UNICEF’s 2026 assessment reports improvements in food security and educational outcomes among households supported by that program.

– Sophia Creo

Sophia is based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, United States and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Organizations Supporting Refugees with Disabilities

Refugees with DisabilitiesDisability results from the interaction of health conditions and personal and environmental factors, including inaccessible buildings, transportation barriers and limited social support. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the world’s population, experience significant disability. Conflict and forced displacement can compound these barriers, making it harder to reach safety, access humanitarian services and rebuild livelihoods. Here is more information about the challenges that refugees with disabilities face and the efforts in place to address them.

Challenges That Refugees With Disabilities Face

For displaced people with disabilities, reaching a safer location does not necessarily mean that essential services become accessible. Crowded settlements, uneven pathways, inaccessible toilets and shortages of assistive devices can make everyday activities difficult. Refugees may also encounter discrimination, gaps in disability data and barriers to registration and assistance. These obstacles can increase the risk that their needs go unrecognized.

The Inclusive Futures initiative, working with Humanity & Inclusion, has documented lessons from refugee settlements in Kenya on removing barriers to education and livelihoods. Its guidance emphasizes designing programs with people with disabilities rather than assuming that standard humanitarian services reach everyone equally.

Global Disability Fund

The Global Disability Fund (formerly the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) supports disability-inclusive development through joint programs, institutional capacity building and policy reform. Rather than operating individual refugee-camp clinics or distributing personal assistance directly, the fund works with governments, U.N. agencies, civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities to improve the systems that determine access to services.

According to its United Nations fund profile, the fund reports supporting 111 joint programs across 100 countries, training more than 116,000 representatives in disability inclusion, helping advance 118 laws and policies and contributing to 264 changes in services and data systems. These cumulative results span several sectors and countries and should not be interpreted as outcomes for refugees alone.

The UN Refugee Agency

The U.N. Refugee Agency, UNHCR, works with partners to identify barriers affecting displaced people with disabilities and support more inclusive humanitarian assistance. Accessible shelter, pathways, sanitation facilities, legal information, rehabilitation referrals and community participation can all help refugees live more safely and independently. Providing these services requires attention to the different needs of individuals rather than a single approach to disability inclusion.

When refugees with disabilities are included in assessments and decisions about shelter and camp facilities, providers can better identify practical barriers. These measures are especially important for children, older adults and people with limited mobility, who may otherwise struggle to reach schools, water points or health services.

Humanity & Inclusion: Making Education Accessible

Founded in 1982, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) supports people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in crisis-affected communities. Its education and livelihoods work offers examples of how targeted adaptations can address barriers that refugees face.

In Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, 12-year-old Patrick, who has a physical disability, benefited from an accessible digital-learning initiative. According to HI’s account of his experience, Patrick had struggled to balance classroom work with his interest in football. Adapted digital materials, storytelling sessions and audio content helped him keep up with lessons and reduced some of the practical demands of carrying books to school.

“The ability to complete work from anywhere and learn at my own pace has reduced the pressure of having to carry books to and from home every morning,” Patrick told HI. The organization and its partners expanded e-learning for refugees and host communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, including resources adapted for students with different disabilities.

Humanity & Inclusion: Rebuilding a Livelihood

HI also helped Ahmad, a Syrian refugee living in Jordan, rebuild his livelihood after injuries made it impossible for him to continue working long hours in a clothing factory. Its published profile of Ahmad explains that he received rehabilitation services before being referred to livelihood support. Staff assessed his skills and aspirations, then helped him develop a plan to start a home-based sewing business.

Through training, coaching, mentoring and financial assistance, Ahmad obtained sewing equipment and learned budgeting, self-employment and digital marketing skills. HI reported that the business enabled him to purchase mobility aids and, after its first month, a second sewing machine so his wife could join the work. He later planned to share his tailoring knowledge with others in his community.

“Currently, I have an agreement with one of the local organisations to teach sewing/tailoring to women, and I am happy to support anyone who needs help in sewing,” Ahmad said in HI’s account. His experience shows how rehabilitation and livelihood support can complement each other without implying that every refugee with a disability has the same needs or opportunities.

Looking Forward

People with disabilities face substantial barriers before, during and after displacement, but inclusive humanitarian services can help reduce those obstacles. The Global Disability Fund’s systems-level work and the practical education and livelihood programs that UNHCR partners and Humanity & Inclusion supported highlight different forms of action: strengthening policies, making services accessible and supporting people’s own goals. Meaningful progress depends on reliable disability data, accessible facilities and including displaced people with disabilities in decisions that affect their lives.

– Elora C Gunn

Elora is based in Louisville, KY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr