Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

A Closer Look at HIV/AIDS in Somalia

HIV/AIDS in SomaliaSomalia, a large country nestled in the Horn of Africa, is one of many developing countries affected by the AIDS epidemic, though not to the extent of other areas within sub-Saharan Africa. Though Somalia notes a relatively low prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS at 0.10% in 2022, organizations are working on further progress in the area of HIV/AIDS in Somalia.

HIV/AIDS in Somalia in Numbers

When the epidemic began in Somalia in 1990, an estimated 2,500 Somali people lived with HIV. This number reached a peak of 15,000 in 2005. However, since then, incidents of  HIV/AIDS in Somalia have steadily reduced. In 2021, an estimated 7,700 people lived with HIV/AIDS in Somalia, according to data from UNAIDS. In terms of gender, HIV/AIDS impacts more women than men. In 2021, women accounted for 52% of people 15 and older living with the condition in Somalia. Young women are more likely than men to contract a new HIV infection as they are more likely to face gender-based violence and are more harshly impacted by poverty and inequality. However, Somalia notes an equal split in the number of AIDS-related deaths according to gender.

The Impact of Poverty and Stigma

Close to 70% of Somali people are living below the poverty line, according to 2022 statistics. The decades-long war and severe weather conditions have contributed to both poverty and food insecurity. Living in poverty can be a catalyst for contracting HIV. Similarly, contracting HIV can deepen already existing poverty.

Conditions of poverty can lead to risky behaviors such as participating in transactional sex for food or shelter. Poverty is also a risk factor for developing unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse, which lowers the chance of taking precautionary measures to protect against HIV. Improper drug use, such as the reusing of contaminated needles, can also cause HIV.

Additionally, the health care system in Somalia is poor. As of 2020, the existing health care system within Somalia is largely privatized. This means that impoverished Somalis, especially those living in rural areas, do not have access to affordable health care. In fact, estimates indicate that less than 30% of Somali people have access to health care.

The stigma and shame surrounding HIV/AIDS serve as a barrier to testing, diagnosis and treatment. People living with HIV experience discrimination and alienation not just from society but also from health care workers. For this reason, people are reluctant to utilize HIV services and visit clinics/hospitals. Oftentimes, people living with HIV “…only [became] aware of their HIV-positive status” when their partner received a positive diagnosis or “when the individual fell ill and all other attempts at healing them did not work,” according to a research study by Abdulwahab M. Salad and others published online in 2022.

Solutions to Addressing HIV/AIDS in Somalia

Within Somalia, the World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on addressing the epidemic by ensuring greater access to ART drugs, HIV testing and counseling. The WHO states that “Somalia is holding its own in comparison with immediate neighbors and other countries in the region” and that by the end of December 2022, 4,100 patients across Somalia were receiving antiretroviral therapy with the help of the WHO.

The WHO works in Somalia alongside the Global Fund. The Global Fund provided an investment of $18.6 million for the period of 2021 to 2023 to strengthen the HIV response in Somalia. This investment aims to “support Somalia in its goals of accelerating progress toward 95-95-95 HIV testing and treatment targets, reducing new HIV cases, mortality and morbidity by 30% and significantly reducing HIV-related discrimination in health care settings,” the Global Fund website says.

Visible Progress

Indeed, progress is visible as the Somali HIV National Strategic Plan states “…projected rates of new HIV infections dropped significantly from year 2000 to 2010 with numbers plateauing from 2012 to date. The early decline of new infections could be attributed to the strong cultural drive as well as heightened prevention interventions.”

Due to Somalia’s progression in reducing the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate from more than 1% in 2013 to 0.10% in 2022, Somalia maintains its status as “a low-level HIV epidemic country” as classified in 2014. Overall, Somalia is making significant progress as AIDS-related deaths are steadily declining and ART coverage rates are increasing, UNAIDS data shows.

But, it is imperative to continue advocating in other areas, such as poverty and stigma reduction, education, safe sex and drug use harm reduction for these numbers to continue dropping and to fully eradicate HIV/AIDS within Somalia.

– Chloe Jenkins
Photo: Flickr

DSIT Transforming Foreign Aid from the UK

foreign aid from the U.K.From the steam engine to the World Wide Web, the U.K. has long been a scientific pioneer. Now, Rishi Sunak’s government is determined to secure the U.K.’s place as a “science and technology superpower by 2030.” In doing so, he could also help transform foreign aid from the U.K.

In a bid to secure scientific-superpower status, Sunak created the brand new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in February 2023. He has already committed up to £3.5 billion to the department.

A recent DSIT policy paper outlines how the international outlook of this new department, gives the U.K. scope to “shape the global landscape.” Specifically, it mentions prioritizing “research and development in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget”.

DSIT’s partnership with ODA could prove transformative to the U.K. foreign aid approach. What is more, rethinking the role of science in ODA might be an opportunity to achieve more by spending less.

With this in mind, here are three ways DSIT is looking to transform foreign aid from the U.K.:

  1. Building Bridges with the Developing World: DSIT’s policy paper also emphasized its plan to “facilitate long-term research and infrastructure partnerships.” In concrete terms, this means establishing good relationships with scientists all over the world, including the developing world. Accordingly, the Director of the Institute of Development Studies, Melissa Leach, said that the new department could help combine the U.K.’s funds and scientific know-how with the “lived experience” of local scientists of low-income countries. These deepened relationships could, therefore, be a catalyst for providing better solutions to poverty problems. Leach points to the containment of Ebola outbreaks in Uganda as proof that building a science-based relationship works. In this instance, Ugandan social scientists worked with British epidemiologists to come up with effective policy ideas to help contain Ebola among gatherings of friends and family. These initiatives not only help countries like Uganda but helps the U.K. too. As the DSIT policy paper recognizes, “expanding the U.K.’s network of Tech Envoys” can help “build our diplomatic network”. In other words, building scientific bridges could be a boost to the U.K.’s soft power.
  2. Innovating Poverty Action: Foreign aid from the U.K. does not just have to be about giving money. In fact, at a time when the U.K. government is downsizing foreign aid budgets, it is crucial to find other ways to help low-income countries. The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change suggests that one such way could be through DSIT sharing scientific research. Using these “new diplomatic networks”, the U.K. could share its science to the advantage of developing countries. For instance, as a leader in gene editing, this could include sharing scientific knowledge on how to increase crop resistance in severe weather conditions – an especially vital issue in today’s climate crisis.
  3. Speeding up the Transition to Net Zero: Dr. Emily Grossman, bestselling science author and co-founder of Scientists for Extinction Rebellion, told the Independent that this new Science Department could be a key opportunity for the U.K. to wean itself off of fossil fuels. Grossman not only said the department could spearhead clean energy innovations, but also plug the “greens skill gap.” She said, “We currently don’t have enough people trained in the relevant skills needed for a new ‘green economy’. For example, plumbers who can install heat pumps.” DSIT could help train British personnel. This matters because the U.K. is currently the second-highest greenhouse gas emitter in Europe. Hence, strong climate action from the U.K. could go a long way in fighting climate change, an issue that has more negative effects on impoverished countries and communities.

Overall, the creation of DSIT presents exciting opportunities for Britain and the U.K.’s foreign aid efforts. Its future actions could also demonstrate how domestic government policies on science can help tackle poverty internationally.

– Sam Rucker
Photo: Unsplash

Foreign Fishing in Kenya Threatens Food Security

Foreign fishing in KenyaAn international crackdown on piracy in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) in recent years has successfully reduced the number of Somali attacks. Ironically, this has left East African waters more vulnerable than ever, with foreign fishing in Kenya becoming a major issue.

The presence of Somali piracy along the East African coast, which peaked in 2011, doubled as a deterrent to international fishing vessels in the WIO. Declining piracy has exposed Kenya, one of Somalia’s neighboring countries, to increasing threats to its vulnerable offshore waters. Foreign fishing fleets from East Asia and Europe are now descending on the unprotected waters of Kenya’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), causing the country to lose millions of dollars to illegal fishing activities.

Recent research by Fisheries Center Research Reports (FCRR) shows that these foreign fishing fleets have become a significant source of unreported catch, raising concerns about food security in Kenya.

Foreign Fishing in Kenya

The resource-rich waters of the East African coast have not gone unnoticed, as evident in the increasing levels of foreign fishing in Kenya.

Kenya’s waters are exploited by fleets from countries including Seychelles, Mayotte, Spain, France, Italy, China and Taiwan. In 2014, Kenya licensed 44 foreign fishing vessels to fish in its EEZ. It is likely that this figure saw an increase in the subsequent years due to the growing maritime stability. However, lack of transparency is still a major issue and the government is yet to publish any updated data on foreign fishing licenses since then.  In addition, foreign vessels do not always declare their catches despite a legal requirement to do so. Some research estimates that foreign fishing catch is up to 68,000 tonnes every year, which is already over 80% of the estimated potential of Kenya’s offshore fisheries.

Local fishers have also reported seeing foreign trawlers fishing in shallow inshore waters at night, adding extra pressure to the already strained coastal reef fisheries.

Reports suggest that illegal foreign fishing in Kenya, i.e. catch by unlicensed vessels, costs the country an estimated $100 million per year. Although, reliable information on illegal fishing is severely lacking. As such, the illegal foreign catch in Kenya’s EEZ is likely even higher than current estimates indicate.

Kenya’s Blue Economy Agenda

Marine fisheries are crucial to food security and livelihoods in Kenya’s coastal communities. Inequality remains high in the country, with coastal communities experiencing a poverty rate of up to 62% compared to the national average of 36%.  This means that these communities rely heavily on natural local resources such as fish for nutrition and income.

Most local fishers in Kenya use simple, non-motorized vessels to fish in sheltered waters close to shore. There are around 14,000 of these small-scale fishers along the coast and their catches contribute 98% of the total marine catch in the country. This also means that inshore ecosystems experience substantial fishing pressure. Overfishing of these ecosystems has resulted in drastic declines in reef fish abundance, leaving coastal livelihood in jeopardy.

Although recent fisheries management changes are helping in the gradual recovery of reef ecosystems, Kenya’s marine fisheries remain largely small-scale. As a result, inshore ecosystems continue to bear the brunt of fishing intensity, while rich offshore resources stay unexploited.

Kenya lies within the productive tuna belt of the WIO, where 20% of the world’s tuna catch originates. Based on estimates, the country’s offshore fishery potential is at 150,000 tonnes per year. Despite this, reports suggest that Kenya’s total marine catch is only 24,000 tonnes, with tuna species making up less than 2%.

To harness this “untapped potential”, the Kenyan government intends to expand the country’s coastal, small-scale fisheries by enhancing its domestic capacity for industrial tuna production and trade. By developing fisheries-related infrastructure and capabilities, a key priority in Kenya Vision 2030, the country hopes to better utilize ocean resources to support social and economic development. This economic plan is known as the ‘blue economy’.

Safeguarding Offshore Waters

A major reason for the prevalence of illegal fishing in Kenya’s waters is the lack of monitoring, surveillance and enforcement capacity. Kenya’s coast guard has a single vessel, the MV Doria, and despite numerous accounts of illegal fishing, there has never been an arrest.

Recent advances in satellite tracking technology provide an opportunity for Kenya to improve the detection and apprehension of vessels fishing illegally in its waters. Neighboring countries like Tanzania are demonstrating that satellite tracking systems alongside a well-resourced coast guard and international partnerships with enabling Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) can deter illegal fishing vessels.

Looking Ahead

According to these studies, Kenya has the potential to enhance its food security, employment opportunities and economic development, as well as increase its share in the global blue economy by replacing foreign fishing in its EEZ with the sustainable expansion of its domestic fishery.

– Amy McAlpine
Photo: Flickr

4 Facts About Elderly Poverty in Austria

Elderly Poverty in AustriaAustria, a small Central European country with a population of nearly 9 million people, is a middle-performing European nation according to OECD metrics that evaluate a variety of economic and living standards. In the past 20 years, Austria’s population has only modestly increased, which, along with a rise in the average lifespan, has caused Austria’s demographics to become “top-heavy.” Consequently, older individuals now comprise a substantial portion of the population. Despite Austria’s multi-pillared social safety net, the elderly in the country do not receive enough income through earnings or pensions to make ends meet. Here are four facts about elderly poverty in Austria.

4 Facts About Elderly Poverty in Austria

  1. Increasing Poverty Risk Among the Elderly: Indicators show that the elderly population at risk of poverty in Austria bottomed out in 2017 at 12.1% before rising consistently to their current level of 14.9% — possibly an effect of COVID-19. The elderly dependency rate, a measure of the economically inactive elderly population (65+) compared to the working-age population (15 to 64), is anywhere from 23% to 36%. 
  2. The Elderly Poverty Experience in Austria is Not Equal: Austria experiences a 37% difference in gender pension receipts for people 65 years and older. Much of the difference is due to gender work and pay disparities common throughout the developed world. Austrian women spend more years out of the workforce in child-care roles, earning less over the course of their lives as a result. They also may be more likely to engage in part-time rather than full-time work. Due to the Austrian pension system’s reliance on an individual’s prior employment, women typically receive significantly lower payments than men. A significant 11.4% of women are not entitled to receive pensions. 
  3. The Pension System is Expensive and Difficult to Maintain: It is not merely the number of older people that is a concern. As the ratio of elderly to young increases, it is getting more challenging for Austrian workers to support their elders. Just before the pandemic, Austria was spending nearly 30% of its GDP on social benefits. This number eventually rose to more than a third of the country’s GDP as a result of COVID-19. In 2022, Austria had 1.9 million retirees and 3.7 million employees.
  4. Little to No Savings for the Elderly: Roughly 30% of Austria’s elderly living in poverty are unable to save even small amounts of money for personal use or emergencies. When confronted by unplanned outlays, they often have to make sacrifices by cutting down on heating, food or other necessities.

Ongoing Efforts

Austria and other developed European countries face a significant demographic crisis, which is a fundamental problem underlying the issue of elderly poverty. Fortunately, positive changes are underway. For example, the retirement age for women will gradually increase to match that of men by 2030. Women, who generally live longer, may work longer and contribute more to the social pension system while requiring less funding or support.

Additionally, the Austrian government is making significant efforts to address elderly issues such as social isolation, ageism and personal independence. Some initiatives focus on improving digital literacy and provide retraining with new skills to help make older people more marketable and economically viable. These programs enable people to stay in the workforce longer, leading to higher earnings and better preparations for retirement.

Looking Ahead

Austria is making efforts to ease the burden on the younger generation to support the elderly. The government is also working to implement systems that enable the elderly to be more independent. Overall, policies devoted to increasing the share of women in the workforce, easing their return to work after long maternity leaves, or guaranteeing equal wages could be necessary.

– Paul Phelan
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Quality education with Gyan Shala Institutions

gyan shalaEducation is the key. According to the World Bank, “education promotes employment and earnings,” which consequently affects health and helps with poverty reduction. On a larger scale, this enables the country to experience long-term economic growth, innovation, strengthened institutions and better social cohesion. In countries experiencing population and economic growth, such as India, it is therefore critical to invest in education, to make sure that economic gains are translated into better education for all; which could then lead to a self-reinforcing mechanism by which a more educated population could help lift certain areas of the country out of poverty.

Education in India

India ranks 121st out of 163 countries on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Rank. The fourth SDG is quality education – which consists in ensuring “inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. In this domain, challenges do remain and progress is stagnating. There is an obvious disparity between the quality of education offered in private and municipal schools.

Moreover, although India is reaching its target of universal coverage, an absurd amount of children leave school before grade five and studies revealed that most of them had a hard time reading in their own first language. Down the line, they would quickly revert back to illiteracy; which would maintain approximately half the Indian adult population as illiterate in 2025-2030. In other words, there has been some progress in quantity, but not quality.

Gyan Shala

Gyan Shala schools are one of the largest non-governmental school education programs for the poor in India. It covers programs from elementary school, which is free; to middle school and high school education, which take minimal charges.

The NGO tries to reduce disparities between low-income and high-income families. It fulfills this mission by offering high-quality education in urban slums at a low cost, effectively closing the educational gap between the rich and poor in India. To save on costs, the organization keeps its infrastructure minimal and typically rents spaces for 25 students on average.

Social Impact

The organization works in across nine districts and four states and counts more than 45,000 students. On top of that, they have also reached more than 600,000 government school students by providing assistance to 7,300 government schools. Its Affordable Private Schools (APS) model has permitted the organization to offer education at a cost five to 10 times lower than other elite Indian schools. Overall, they have reached hundreds of thousands of children, who have proven to obtain marks 100% to 150% higher than their counterparts in government schools. Students’ gains in learning outcomes have also proven to be 25% to 65% higher.

On top of that the organization wishes to persist, the organization resists, as seen in its annual report for 2021-2022; it reiterates its vision, which is to “become one of India’s most effective NGO programs to address the schooling quality gaps and help India improve its ranking in social development indicators.” Not all heroes wear capes.

– Alexandra Piat
Photo: Flickr

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Educational Support for Orphans in Lesotho

Orphans in LesothoThere are more than 13.8 million children globally between 0-17 years who have lost their parents to AIDS. Lesotho has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDs. This disease has rendered a lot of children orphans leaving more than 200,0000 orphans in Lesotho. As a result of this, orphans are unable to return to school but rather work or beg for survival. Educational support for orphans in Lesotho is important as this allows them to have better chances in life.

Disadvantages of Orphans in Lesotho

Many orphaned children take the roles of their parents in heading households and finding a source of food to survive rather than studying. Also, due to the absence of parental care, some orphans develop behavioral problems.

Orphans, when taken to live with other people often end up in poor living conditions such as poor hygiene, poor nutrition and lack of school materials. This ends up impacting negatively their education and calls for concern.

Although orphans may find it difficult to enroll themselves in school, basic education is necessary. Pre-primary education can yield high returns but despite this fact, little funding from the national budget goes toward education in some countries. In Lesotho, the educational budget was less than 1% some years back.

Educational Initiatives for Orphans in Lesotho

Free access to pre-primary education for every child is Sustainable Development Goal 4.2. In Lesotho, primary education was made free and compulsory in 2010 for all children 6 to 13 years of age. Also, a number of programs aimed at protecting the rights of orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho emerged. These programs have undergone implementation and are now producing positive outcomes. The programs target educational support, psychological assistance, home support and food security.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program through the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) provides funding for girls’ education to improve access to education from the early stage of education to completion. They further help to improve financial skills and connect them to employment opportunities. This program focuses on orphans, children or caregivers living with HIV and those at risk of contracting HIV. They also collaborate with other USAID-supported initiatives in the area of education, health and economic strength to enhance the resilience of young people.

The Better Early Learning and Development at Scale Initiative

An initiative, the Better Early Learning and Development at Scale initiative (BELDS) in Lesotho focused on improving the delivery of early childhood educational environment and services.

The Global Partnership for Education and UNICEF have partnered with the BELDS initiative to ensure proper planning, financing and implementation of the early childhood education program.

The Roger Foundation School Readiness Initiative started in June 2020 and should last until December 2025 aims to ensure that vulnerable children in Lesotho have access to pre-primary education and early childhood development. It is expected to reach at least 60,000 children in 800 schools. In addition, the Roger Federer Foundation developed a tablet for offline use. This tablet, called the early learning kiosk, helps teachers in early childhood education to access beginner topics.

Looking Ahead

HIV/AIDS has turned a lot of children into orphans and also made them attain adult roles. However, various organizations have made education more easily accessible to them, even when it may have become the last priority. These initiatives not only focus on education for orphans but also on supporting them psychologically and financially in their communities and homes.

– Chidinma Nwoha
Photo: Pixabay

Grassroot Campaigns Combat Disability and Poverty in Russia

Disability and Poverty in Russia
In Russia, achieving financial stability has been a challenge for people with disabilities for a long time. Approximately 13 million individuals out of an estimated population of 146 million are classified as having some degree of disability. However, in the absence of strong government action, local, volunteer and advocacy groups are taking the lead in fighting disability and poverty in Russia.

Government Benefits and Challenges

The Russian government classifies those with disabilities into three groups: Group 1 to Group 3, with Group 1 being the most severe cases. People in this group are typically unable to function without aid. On the other end of the scale is Group 3, which is for people who need only some assistance to function. The basic government benefit ranges from up to 14,948.71 rubles for people with three dependents down to just 4,982.90 rubles for those with no dependents.

Despite the improvements and official recognition of social and economic issues that children and people with disabilities face, state policies often worsen existing problems and set up disabled people for failure. A 2014 report discovered that parents abandoned nearly 30% of children with disabilities in orphanages after state officials convinced their parents that they would be unable to raise them. These children frequently suffer from neglect and mistreatment at poorly funded and under-equipped institutions.

Young people with disabilities in Russia often face numerous challenges, including limited access to education and social isolation. Without proper education and social interactions, they may struggle to engage with others and are ill-prepared to support themselves economically. Moreover, after turning 18, many are coerced into giving up their legal independence and are placed in adult institutions for the disabled. These institutions often fail to provide adequate education and support, leaving young people trapped in a system that does not prioritize their needs or interests. These challenges highlight the need for greater government action and support for people with disabilities in Russia.

Advocacy Groups

Perspektiva and other advocacy groups are working to alleviate the issues surrounding disability and poverty in Russia. The groups aim to prepare young people with disabilities for future success through a variety of methods, including fun and creative exercises like sports, art and theater classes. These activities develop children both cognitively and physically while providing a platform for socialization with the wider public. Additionally, some programs focus on educational initiatives like funding for disabled children in public schools.

These organizations also support adults by offering technical job training and help with coordinating employment or housing for those who wish to live independently. Many adults who seek legal guidance, access to their legal financial benefits or protection turn to these organizations for support.

Looking Ahead

The lack of acceptance and support from the general public is a significant obstacle that disabled people in Russia face today. It presents challenges for parents raising children perceived as “different” and hinders disabled adults from realizing their full potential as economic and social equals. Despite the ongoing struggle with disability and poverty in Russia, activists and disability rights organizations are making progress through advocacy and support programs.

– Paul Phelan
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Unemployment Inequality in Belize

Unemployment Inequality in Belize

In 2019, over 60,000 people in Belize had employment in the country’s tourism industry. The country’s relatively small economy is primarily dependent on tourism, which accounts for 40% of the country’s GDP and 70% of export proceeds. When the COVID-19 pandemic crossed borders into Central America, unemployment levels rose dramatically with the swift restrictions that were placed on international travel and other major industries. This growth in unemployment was coupled with a simultaneous growth in unemployment inequality in Belize, as the women of Belize found themselves more at risk of unemployment than men.

Unemployment on the Rise

Toward the end of 2019, unemployment began to rise in Belize. Reports indicated a jump from 7.7% to 10.4% in the last quarter. Some suggested that this increase in the unemployment rate was due to an unprecedented growth of the labor force and an insufficient job market. Specifically, women found themselves out of employment more than their male counterparts. Figures indicated that an increase in women entering the workforce effectively flooded the labor market, where there were not enough available jobs.

In all the districts of Belize, unemployment rose significantly in 2019. Research indicates that around 6,200 people found themselves unemployed from April 2019 to September of the same year alone. A staggering three-quarters of this demographic were women.

As COVID-19 crept into the country the following year, it became apparent this pattern was set to continue. COVID-19 created the biggest contraction within Belize’s economy to date, which was already in a precarious way prior to the pandemic. ‘Substantial declines’ in vital industries such as tourism, led to a further increase in unemployment inequality in Belize, which continued from 2020 to 2021.

Impacts of Unemployment

Food Insecurity: The rising unemployment rate in Belize had many profound impacts on affected households. Notably, COVID-19 and unemployment directly correlated with an increase in food insecurity and hunger for Belizeans. 25% of households reported that they were skipping meals as a result of economic struggles from the pandemic, and many children who had main meals at school found their access to food restricted as school closures were imposed across the country.

Gender Inequality: The intersection of gender and unemployment in Belize resulted in a widening gap in unemployment inequality. Micro and small enterprises were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, resulting in many closing down and workers finding themselves unemployed. The majority of business owners within these micro and small enterprises were women, making them particularly vulnerable to unemployment.

On job recovery since COVID-19, this pattern of unemployment inequality continued. 21% of jobs held by men were not recovered after the pandemic, yet 38% of jobs held by women were not recovered. This has led to an increase in unemployment inequality in Belize as more women are finding themselves unemployed than men.

The Solution

However, despite this staggering widening of unemployment inequality in Belize, the government has implemented measures which are proving to be relatively effective so far. Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena for the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC) has identified that in order to reduce the prevalent poverty and hunger rates in Belize, employment policy must be at the center of government policy making. In response, the government has built on the Horizon 2030 Vision Project, which has been running since 2010 to support long term development in Belize.

The Horizon 2030 Vision is focusing on increasing employment opportunities in the Northern Triangle and Southern Region of Belize, for all Belizeans, including women and indigenous people. These two priority areas are seeing investment and protection of small and medium enterprises, and an increase in trade agreements such as the Belize-Guatemala border, in the aim of job creation.

Results

Since Belize implemented this in 2021, a steady decrease in unemployment has been seen as the country begins to reverse the negative impacts of COVID-19. Between 2021 and 2022, unemployment decreased by over half from 10.2% to 5%. This was coupled with a significant increase in the country’s GDP as economic performance and productivity was boosted, which is expected to continue.

To tackle the inequality amongst unemployed persons in Belize, the government increased funding for targeted social spending, such as BOOST, a cash transfer program designed to support families in sending their children to school. This program has been successful in increasing enrolment figures which has directly resulted in increasing the female labor force participation in Belize. As of October 2022, female participation in the labor market stands at 44%. This is a positive result which is indicative of a continuing trend of tackling unemployment inequality in Belize.

– Ariana Mortazavi
Photo: Flickr

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Sanna Marin’s Defeat and Finland’s Foreign Aid Budget 

Finland’s Foreign Aid
On Monday, April 3, 2023, Finland’s Prime Minister and the world’s former youngest state leader Sanna Marin conceded electoral defeat after her Social Democratic Party (SDP) came in third place to the center-right National Coalition Party (NCP) and the nationalist Finns Party. NCP leader Petteri Orpo is set to be the next prime minister and state leader, as Marin steps aside from her role as party leader. Under her, Finland had a steadfast commitment to the U.N.’s 2030 agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that aim to end global poverty and create a safer and fairer world. Here is some information about Marin’s record on international development, the fallout from this recent election and what it might mean for Finland’s foreign aid budget.

Foreign Aid Under Marin

Marin has governed as prime minister since 2019 as the leader of the SDP. During this time, she has overseen an increase in the amount Finland spends on fighting poverty in developing nations. In 2018, Finland spent 0.36% of its gross national income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA). This had increased to 0.47% of GNI by 2021.

A core priority of Finland’s foreign aid is to promote the rights of girls and women worldwide. This is in line with the U.N.’s SDG number 5. Finland has historically been at the forefront of political gender equality. It was the first European country to grant women voting rights. It was also the first in the world to allow them to stand as candidates.

Finland’s proud history of championing women’s rights manifests in its support for women and girls around the world facing extreme poverty. In 2020 Finland spent more than $220 million to promote gender equality and female empowerment in developing nations. As the U.N.’s SDG number 5 has decried, the empowerment of women is not just a basic human right – it is also an incredible catalyst for economic growth and development.

Party Positions

Despite the progress made under Marin, the SDP’s opponents have shown less enthusiasm toward Finland’s humanitarian commitments.

The campaign of the center-right NCP won 20.6% of the vote. It was fought on the promise of reducing government spending and debt. In second place, with 20.1% of the vote, was the nationalist Finns Party. They had previously stated their desire to cut Finland’s foreign aid spending by at least €200 million.

The last time the NCP and the Finns Party were in government together, from 2015 to 2019, they reduced Finland’s spending on foreign aid. However, during the administration’s final year, they began to reverse their cuts to ODA. The Social Democrats embraced this trend.

The third-placed SDP remained committed to increasing the amount Finland spends on international development, campaigning on a promise to keep Finland on the path toward spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA.

Hope for the Future

There remains uncertainty as to whether the far-right Finns Party will constitute the government. The SDP may have come in third place but with 19.9% of the vote, their popularity remains high. It is not unforeseeable that they enter into a coalition government with Orpo’s NCP.

As the biggest party, the NCP will take the lead in attempting to form a new coalition government. They may not share the same enthusiasm for ODA as the SDP, but their party platform confirms its commitment to assisting developing nations and lifting people out of extreme poverty.

In the wake of Marin’s departure, there remains hope that Finland’s history of supporting the world’s poorest will continue. Marin’s time as prime minister reinforced Finland’s global reputation as a leading light in the fight for gender equality and the mission to end global poverty.

– Henry Jones
Photo: Flickr

 

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Hunger and Food Systems in North Korea

Food Systems in North Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un convened an emergency meeting to discuss agriculture in February 2023, as the country faces growing concerns about food insecurity. Kim only holds these meetings once or twice a year, but it had only been two months since the previous one. Though the regime refutes such claims, the recurrent meetings may point to pressing circumstances concerning the food systems in North Korea.

Persistent Effects of a Devastating 1990s Famine

A famine in the mid-1990s killed more than 3% of the population. The effects of this famine still persist within food systems in North Korea today. Additionally, according to media reports, the situation has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the enforcement of more border closures. The regime resorted to reserving available resources for only military developments.

North Korea also suffers from a lack of agricultural infrastructure, including fuel and fertilizers, which have become more expensive as a result of the pandemic. Chemical fertilizers, especially, appear to be in shortage in the country as the sowing season approaches.

In December 2022, the South Korean development agency estimated a 3.8% decrease in the North’s crop production since 2021. The South’s Unification Ministry commented on the current food crisis as “seemed to have deteriorated,” although North Korea’s regime refuses any claims that infer its incapacity to provide enough food for the population. 

The country’s lack of arable land is partly responsible for its food insecurity crisis. The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC reports that only 20% of the land appears to be suitable for agricultural production. The extreme weather and constant flooding may have also destroyed some of the existing plantations.

International Humanitarian Aid in North Korea

Despite the food insecurity problem in North Korea, the country’s regime refuses international aid. A local newspaper Rodong Sinmun even described foreign aid as “poisoned candy.” However, China, a long-standing ally, has agreed to restart a small portion of railway transport of various goods, including medicine, fertilizers and food between the two countries. One of North Korea’s only options is to restart the whole railway trade, but the Chinese government seems reluctant.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the living conditions of North Koreans appear to have worsened significantly. The economic isolation greatly limits the chances of international humanitarian aid, and the border closures have only affected the country negatively. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), North Korea only accepted about $2.3 million in aid from international organizations in 2022. Most of the aid came from European countries, with $1.6 million from Switzerland, $510,000 and $200,000 from the Swedish and Norwegian Red Cross respectively.

Hope for Economic Relief in North Korea

The hope for the current food systems in North Korea lies in lifting the economic sanctions imposed on the country. Ongoing tensions between North Korea and the U.S., along with its allies, are due to the country’s possession of nuclear weapons and political clashes. The dissolution of this tension could partially address the country’s food insecurity. If North Korea can trade with countries other than China and Russia, it would have access to resources that could solve some of the problems related to food scarcity, although the country has shown no such effort.

Organizations like Liberty in North Korea and World Food Programme (WFP) are working towards helping the country’s population through various initiatives. For example, WFP is operating the DPRK Interim Country Strategic Plan (2019-2023) that proposed a plan to improve nutrition for children under 7 years of age, pregnant and lactating women and tuberculosis patients by 2025. While it is difficult to predict the outcome at this stage, sustained humanitarian assistance in North Korea can lead to positive outcomes.

– Amber Kim
Photo: Flickr