Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Everything to Know About Poverty in Iraq

poverty in Iraq
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the poverty rate in Iraq reached 31.7% in 2020. Oil and gas production dominate many countries within the Middle East and gas production and Iraq is no different. The World Bank claims that Iraq is “one of the most oil-dependent nations” in the world, with oil revenues accounting for “99% of its exports, 85% of the government’s budget and 42% of Iraq’s GDP.” Unlike other oil-rich countries, Iraq has failed to turn the abundance of natural resources into profit and benefit the average Iraqi’s life. Corruption and conflict have decimated Iraq, displacing 1.2 million Iraqis and leaving 2.4 million people in need of food and livelihood assistance, according to WFP. Here is everything to know about poverty in Iraq.

Iraqi Civil War

Iraq has long been a divided country. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) believes increased “levels of violence, sectarian and ethnic divisions, population pressure, religious extremism and intervention from outside states” as key contributors that empowered ISIS and helped lead Iraq to civil war.

“In 2014, the Islamic State advanced into Iraq from Syria” and took control of most of northern Iraq. The terrorist organization proceeded to use horrific acts of violence whilst it controlled major Iraqi cities such as Mosul. The U.S. “formed an international coalition that now includes nearly 80 countries to counter the Islamic State,” Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) states.

Whilst ISIS was eradicated from Iraq in 2017, the damage had already been done. Iraq is yet to fully recover from the conflict. CFR reports that “more than 2 million people remain internally displaced and 9 million remain in need of humanitarian assistance” following the conflict.

Many major cities face huge reconstruction due to the complete devastation caused by the war. The total reconstruction could cost at least $88 billion. This is a price that the Iraqi government simply cannot afford. Thus, much of Iraqi infrastructure is still not functional and many Iraqis are still yet to return to their original homes.

Oil and Corruption

According to Transparency International, Iraq ranks 157th in the Corruption Perceptions Index, having a score of 23/100 in 2022. The National Interest stated that Iraqi officials stole money that the country could have used to fight ISIS and rebuild the nation.

Estimates vary on how much money has gone missing in Iraq, but some suggest that the country has lost as much as $300 billion since 2003. This money could have helped rebuild Iraq after the conflict with ISIS, whilst also helping to tackle the ever-growing poverty crisis in Iraq.

With the majority of revenues generated coming from oil exports, the corruption in Iraq has significantly impeded the development of non-oil business sectors. Resulting in continual dependency on high oil prices.

Average Iraqis never seem to see the benefits of oil profits due to the ongoing corruption. The Iraqi government has seemingly failed to provide adequate basic services for the Iraqi population. Protests in 2019 appeared to engulf major cities such as Baghdad due to the failure of the government to provide jobs and life improvements to young people despite an increase in oil production.

According to AP News, overall unemployment in Iraq is 11% whilst “one-third of Iraqi youth are without jobs.” This is all while the World Bank expected Iraq’s GDP to grow by 4.6% due to increased oil exports.

Poverty and Unemployment

The World Bank stated that in 2021 Iraq’s unemployment rate was “more than 10 percentage points higher than its pre-COVID-19 level of 12.7 percentage points.” It also states that unemployment amongst the “displaced, returnees, women jobseekers, pre-pandemic self-employed and informal workers remains elevated.”

With the government’s decision to devalue the dinar against the dollar by 20%, as Iraq produces very little, the public has little choice but to buy imported goods which are now more expensive.

NPR believes that due to the government’s over-dependency on oil, it is imperative for Iraq to diversify its economy and increase its private sector. The result would be that many livelihoods would no longer be dependent on the state. Currently, when oil prices drop, unemployment and poverty increase.

Looking Ahead

Despite large oil profits generating substantial wealth, the money never appears for ordinary Iraqis who struggle to make ends meet. The failure to rebuild Iraq, large unemployment and violent conflict against ISIS have held Iraq back from becoming a more prosperous nation. A lack of action from the Iraqi government alongside systemic corruption has not helped the ever-increasing poverty epidemic in the country.

Although the future does not look too bright for the Iraqi people, the government has announced a reform plan. Finance minister Ali Allawi unveiled a plan to encourage investment by improving Iraq’s infrastructure, bumping up tax revenues and stimulating agriculture, NRP reports.

If the government has the will and determination to see through the reform plan instead of relying on oil money, there is a chance that the government can improve the livelihoods of many Iraqis. This could significantly reduce poverty in Iraq and many of the displaced people could return home.

– Josef Whitehead
Photo: Flickr

3 Female Changemakers in India

Female Changemakers in India
Many women in India are making a difference, whether they are wealthy philanthropists giving away large portions of their fortunes to various causes or activists using their voice and creativity to advocate for matters they care about. Three of these female changemakers in India include Garvita Gulhati, Priti Adani and Daya Bai, who each stand as an example of individuals who are steadfast in their charitable ambitions.

Garvita Gulhati

Among the many notable women in India is Garvita Gulhati. Distressed over the fact that restaurant customers wasted 14 million liters worth of semi-drunk glasses of water, Gulhati, at the age of 15, founded Why Waste?, a youth-driven organization focused on preserving water in India and beyond. Why Waste?’s efforts include educating people on water conservation and motivating individuals to become advocates of the cause, connecting with volunteers globally to extend efforts internationally and creating simple solutions to resolve intricate issues, among other objectives.

Through the initiative #GlassHalfFull, Gulhati collaborated with restaurant owners to encourage waiters to only fill water glasses halfway. This movement led to less water wastage and savings for restaurants. In fact, Gulhati and the team at Why Waste? have reached 500,000 restaurants as a result of their collaboration with the National Restaurants Association of India. These efforts have preserved more than 10 million liters of water.

Gulhati’s Accomplishments

Why Waste? has grown to include an application, a nonprofit book called “The Sustainability Stories” and a video series with UNICEF. Among her accomplishments, Gulhati joined Ashoka, “a global network of social entrepreneurs,” to establish the Lead Young program across schools in India. Through this initiative, she empowered 2.5 million learners with the knowledge and inspiration to become India’s next changemakers.

On the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia-Pacific list of Social Entrepreneurs, Gulhati was the youngest person to receive recognition. Gulhati also stood as one of 17 Youth Climate Leaders at the Climate Change Conference (COP26). She also participates in efforts regarding UNICEF’s youth climate strategy. At only 21 years old, Gulhati is one of the female changemakers in India working to protect the world’s water.

Priti Adani

The current chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani, is also the wife of Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group. As chairperson of the Adani Foundation, Priti Adani is determined to help the disadvantaged.

The Adani Foundation, with the aim of creating lasting results throughout India, has dedicated itself to making “strategic social investments” in India since 1996. Having a unit of “670 full-time and 600 part-time professionals,” the Adani Foundation’s influence is broad. Presently, the organization impacts 7.6 million individuals and works in 5,675 villages across 19 Indian states.

Major Projects

The Adani Foundation works to provide communities with “education, health, sustainable livelihood, skill development and community infrastructure,” its website says. Priti Adani, through the Adani Foundation, has created four main programs to reach these objectives. The Saksham initiative works to advance skills development while SuPoshan seeks to treat and prevent malnutrition/anemia. Additionally, the Udaan initiative centers around education and the program Swachhagraha prioritizes cleanliness.

SuPoshan aims to address malnutrition among vulnerable groups, including young children and pregnant women, The SuPoshan initiative trains village health volunteers, also known as SuPoshan Sanginis, to visit homes. The Sanginis activities include “spreading awareness, referrals and promoting behavioral change among the target groups to achieve the project objectives,” the Adani Foundation website says. Currently, 418 Sanginis are servicing 239,211 households and almost 35,000 undernourished children are now in better health.

Daya Bai

Daya Bai, originally named Mercy Matthew, was born in Kerala, India, and grew up in a wealthy Christian family. Initially, Daya Bai wanted to become a nun, but after she observed the struggles Indian tribal people faced, including the lack of education and health care, she dedicated herself to uplifting and empowering them.

Daya Bai has offered services to each and every village she has visited. Depending on the needs of each village, she would give medical, educational and political assistance. With a strong belief that education may support individuals in living better lives, Daya Bai has coordinated non-violent protests and other operations to push authorities to open up schools for tribal people. She also set up a school in Barul Village.

Additional Endeavors

At age 81, in October 2022, Daya Bai’s endeavors included a hunger strike that commenced after the banned pesticide endosulfan was sprayed into the air, killing more than 500 people in Kasaragod district, Kerala, and injuring 6,728 others.

The hunger strike lasted 17 days and ended only after she was handed a written pledge from the government conceding to her demands. These demands included that the government gives the best possible treatment to the endosulfan victims.

Resolutely, Daya Bai has worked to preserve the traditions and principles of the communities she supports. Often, Daya Bai gives speeches to uplift people, which has earned her even more appreciation. In 2007, Daya Bai received the Vanitha Woman Of The Year award, and in 2012, she received the Good Samaritan National Award. Daya Bai has fought for meaningful causes for many years, and at the age of 82, she is as tenacious as ever.

Garvita Gulhati, Priti Adani and Daya Bai, in their own distinct ways, are three female changemakers in India contributing to beneficial causes. Their inspiring efforts, with support, have the potential to give rise to even more progress, in India and beyond.

– Megan Roush
Photo: Flickr

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Ghana’s Blue Economy

Blue Economy
More than half the population of Ghana gains their income in one of three industries; agriculture, forestry and fishing. The waters of Ghana are rich with different types of fish such as tuna, barracuda, cape hake and more. The fish is present in the local market and locals export it around the world as well, which could improve Ghana’s blue economy.

Economic Crisis

One might wonder if the ocean could be more useful to Ghana than it already is. Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Mbiah, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority and current maritime consultant and legal practitioner, believes that Ghana’s blue economy could possibly save Ghana from its economic issues. Currently, Ghana is experiencing an economic crisis that it has not seen since the 1980s. Consumer prices have risen more than 40% and there have been widespread food shortages nationwide. The country’s currency continues to depreciate and is currently one of the worst-performing currencies. With that, 3.4 million people in Ghana are living in extreme poverty in 2022.

Blue Economy

Dr. Mbiah is urging the Ghana government to take a severe look at capitalizing on the blue economy to help alleviate some of the economic turmoil the country has been facing. The blue economy is an economic term that is linked to the exploitation and conservation of the maritime environment. He believes that the economic resources that come from the ocean can lift Ghana out of its economic turmoil. Mbiah stated that the ocean and its resources could be worth “over $24 trillion.”

In 2020, the United States of America had 1.7% of its GDP from its ocean economy – which amounts to more than $360 billion. Meanwhile, the ocean economy is worth about €500 billion for the European Union. For these people, they realized long ago the potential of Ghana’s blue economy. Not only does Dr. Mbiah believe that the fishing industry can produce more than it already does, but he also noted that Ghana could use the ocean for its energy power. With renewable energy becoming the new way of the world, Dr. Mbiah wants the government to look into how it can use the power of the ocean for its energy as well.

The Future

By capitalizing on Ghana’s natural resources, the country can help alleviate some of the economic hardships plaguing the country over the last few years. The government should take the potential that the industry has with serious thought. With the proximity to the ocean and the skills that Ghana has, the sea leads to endless possibilities and opportunities.

– Olivia MacGregor
Photo: Flickr

Investing in International Mental Health Aid

International Mental Health Aid
Although widely underreported in many countries, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2022 World Mental Health Report, identifies one in eight people in the world currently living with mental illness. Between 2000 and 2019, people living with mental disorders increased by 25%. Mental illness is a burden on both the person experiencing mental illness and on society. Those who live with mental illness deal with impacts on their education and relationships and can lead to disability. The broader economic impact of mental health disorders and illnesses includes the costs associated with individuals, communities and nations. These costs relate directly to health services, as well as the indirect costs resulting from loss of work, education and social opportunities, which lead to “stigma, discrimination and reduced life expectancy.”

Reasons to invest in international mental health aid include lowering the costs for nations and individuals and protecting peoples’ quality of life while increasing healthy years lived. In addition, mental health conditions continue to increase across the world as global threats like growing social and economic equality and public health emergencies remain prominent, according to WHO.

The Costs of Mental Illness

The global cost of mental illness was $2.5 trillion in 2010 with projections of the cost to increase to $6 trillion by 2030, according to WHO. A 2020 cost-of-illness global study found that the annual average societal cost of mental illness is between $1,180 to $18,313 per person treated. These costs include the cost of treatment and other costs like lost production and income. Depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy $1 trillion a year, yet the median of government health expenditures toward mental health globally is less than 2%. Other costs of mental illness include loss of life and opportunities.

The burden of mental health and substance use disorders is best described as a “disease burden,” which focuses on the impacts of both mortality and morbidity. Disease burden is measured by Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), which measures deaths plus the years lived with the disease. The metric of one DALY equates to losing one healthy year. According to Our World in Data, in 2019 mental disorders caused 125.31 million DALYs globally. Global DALYs attributed to mental illness have increased to 4.9% in 2019. In addition to the loss of healthy years and opportunities, as of 2019, about 703,000 people lost their lives to suicide globally making the global suicide rate nine per 100,000, according to WHO.

Global Benefits of Investing in Mental Health Aid

International mental health aid reduces human suffering, advances public health and stops human rights violations experienced by those living with mental health conditions. According to WHO. improving people’s mental health also improves educational outcomes and leads to more participation and productivity in the workforce, which benefits all of society. It also improves people’s physical health, which expands people’s lifespan, ability to work and general happiness. Investment in mental health means ensuring access to quality, affordable mental health care, addressing stigma, discrimination and abuse and addressing the underlying economic and social inequalities that shape citizens’ mental health.

Investing in international mental health aid is that it leads to extra years of a healthy life, which generates productivity gains for the country that is investing in mental health care. The countries to benefit the most from investing in mental health care are lower-middle-income countries. Jamaica, a middle-income country, is an example of a country that invested in mental health care and received economic benefits. Jamaica invested $115 million into treatment for depression, anxiety and psychosis from 2015 to 2030. The benefits of this investment include an increase in psychosocial treatment from 15% to 50%, WHO reports. The economy has seen $434 million in saved money due to mental health care.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

According to WHO, not only is providing mental health aid beneficial to a country’s economy, but it also supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 1 to eliminate global poverty. Mental illness and poverty create a “cycle of disadvantage” because those living in poverty lack the finances to maintain basic necessities, have fewer educational and employment opportunities and are less likely to have access to quality health care. All of these stresses lead to a higher chance of experiencing a mental health condition. In addition, those experiencing severe mental health conditions are more likely to experience poverty due to increased health expenses and stigma and discrimination in the workforce, which leads to unemployment. “More than 80% of all people with mental disorders live in low- and middle-income countries,” WHO reports. These people lack access to welfare and effective treatment.

Moving Forward

In 2019, WHO began the Special Initiative for Mental Health: Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health, which works to make affordable, quality mental health care accessible in nine countries, covering 100 million people. This program focuses on the prevention of mental disorders, suicide prevention, mental health policy and legislation, mental health support in humanitarian emergencies and workforce development for mental health.

In Jordan, WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health is supporting the Ministry of Health’s efforts to implement Jordan’s National Mental Health Plan. This involves increasing community-based services and expanding the Caregiver Training Skills organization for families of children living with developmental disabilities. In addition, Jordan’s Special Initiative for Mental Health is supporting inpatient units in general hospitals and scaling up the implementation of the WHO regional School Mental Health program.

With more legislation, prevention, intervention and support for mental health conditions, mental health aid internationally could decrease lives lost, productivity losses and DALYs for countries, as well as increase productivity and economic gains, increase quality of life and further the SDGs.

– Arden Schraff
Photo: Flickr

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The Walk for Water Campaign Increases Global Water Access

Walk for Water
Turning an everyday walk into vital support for the world’s most vulnerable is possible through the United Kingdom’s WaterAid campaign, Walk for Water. The campaign encourages the public to participate in a walking challenge that raises funds for pipe installations, well constructions, menstrual hygiene sessions and the building of school toilets in countries with a high count of people living in poverty. Clean water is vital for good health, thriving communities and flourishing economies. Challenging people to walk this month will contribute to improving the lives of women and girls who have to walk up to 12 kilometers every day to collect clean water.

Inequality in Access to Water

A 2019 report by UNICEF and World Health Organization reveals that “2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services, 4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services and 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities.”

These statistics make it clear that mobilization efforts need to pick up the pace in order to meet the U.N. drinking water, sanitation and hygiene targets by 2030. The U.N. asserts that the world’s progress in this area must increase fourfold in order to meet these goals.

Water and Poverty

Rapid population expansion, urbanization and growing water demands from the “agriculture, industry and energy sectors” have put a strain on global water resources. Access to safe and affordable water and sanitation plays a key part in poverty reduction and well-being. Meeting the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this area would safeguard the lives of 829,000 people per year, who would otherwise die from illnesses arising from contaminated water, improper sanitation and inadequate hygiene.

According to Healing Waters, about 84% of people who lack access to clean water live in rural areas, meaning they rely on agriculture to meet their nutritional needs and secure an income. In cases of water contamination, crops are detrimentally affected and communities end up consuming contaminated food, exposing them to a multitude of preventable diseases and illnesses.

The obvious way that clean water reduces poverty is by improving physical health and well-being. Proper water and sanitation access prevents the spread of water-borne illnesses — the cause of 80% of illnesses in poverty-stricken countries, Healing Waters says.

Access to clean water also reduces poverty by easing the physical burden placed on females of all ages as gender roles prescribe that girls and women bear the role of water collectors. Females must undertake strenuous journeys, sometimes of up to 12 kilometers, carrying heavy buckets of water back to their homes after collection. One of the goals of the Walk for Water initiative is to lift this burden off of females so that young girls can engage in education and women can rest or partake in other productive tasks rather than spending hours collecting water, thus improving the lives of women and girls.

Looking Ahead

It is becoming more and more obvious that properly managed clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services are essential to maintaining human health as the COVID-19 pandemic carries on. However, billions of people would still lack these basic amenities in 2030 unless progress accelerates significantly. Many other aspects of sustainable development depend on water, and in order for the current trend to change, immediate action is necessary.

– Ralitsa Pashkuleva
Photo: Flickr

How Coding is Helping Fight Gender Inequality in Africa

Gender Inequality in Africa
Women in Africa are less likely to work in technology than their male counterparts. In 2019, around 22% of women in Africa used the internet. Due to the fact that men oftentimes have higher incomes than women, they are more likely to purchase a mobile device with internet capabilities. In West and Central Africa, four in 10 girls enter child marriage before the age of 18. This allows gender inequality to grow and prevent economic autonomy for young girls and women in Africa. Here is an organization that is actively fighting gender inequality in Africa by advocating for and providing for African women in tech.

African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI)

The project has been able to help women and young girls in gaining access to work in tech. The initiative aims to train at least 2,000 girls from ages 17-25 to help them gain economic independence and an advantage in the rising tech industry. In the camp’s first phase, girls learn about mainstream ICT. The program created an e-webinar to help keep the program intact during the pandemic. Awa Ndiaye-Seck, U.N. Women Special Representative to the African Union and UNECA, says that the AGCCI’s goal is to “address not only the policy-level bottlenecks related to access to technology and finances but also the gender-based harmful norms and practices that hinder women and girls from pursuing STEM fields.”

Impact and Second Stage

Since the camp began in 2018, 600 girls have received training nationally and regionally. The Coding camp has participants from a large and diverse set of countries such as Ethiopia, Burundi, Côte D’Ivoire, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The aforementioned e-learning platform provides mentorship, coursework, training tools and job opportunities. In 2022, the Belgian government spearheaded phase two of the camp by funding the project. The project will also partner with U.N. Women, UNICEF and UNESCO. The second stage involves selecting a pool of trainers to train 11 more selected countries, thereby setting up more AGCCI learning centers in participating countries and providing learners with adequate technology (phones, laptops, computers, etc.).

Continuing to Reduce Gender Inequality in Africa

A 2016 report suggested that women launched only 9% of tech startups. Low levels of female participation in the tech industry further strengthen and reinforce the inequalities women in Africa face. The African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy has set a mission to provide “digital inclusion for every African by 2030.” This means that there will be more African women in tech positions. It is an ambitious goal that will without a doubt receive help from existing programs such as the AGCCI. Consistent efforts to include women in the field of technology will alleviate existing barriers and inequalities for African women and girls.

Final Thoughts

Programs like the AGCCI are helping to alleviate gender inequality in Africa by providing women opportunities to learn about and work in tech. African women in tech is just one example of positive programs aiming for a better future for African women.

 – Anna Richardson
Photo: Flickr

Addressing Mental Health in Aftermath of Turkey-Syria Earthquake

Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Following the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake on February 6, 2023, both governments and NGOs alike have begun mobilizing much-needed aid to the most affected areas. What one cannot overlook, however, is the trauma and mental health effects that the earthquake induced. The psychological impact that devastating natural disasters can have is significant on its own. Together with previous traumas, including war, disease and other natural disasters, mental health support becomes a crucial part of providing aid to victims, which is the case in both Turkey and Syria.

Natural Disasters and Mental Health

According to a review of various studies by the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, a sudden disruption of victims’ lives, which “brings loss for individuals, families and communities,” heightens the despair and shock that often follows the immediate aftermath of a devastating natural disaster. Individuals’ roles in their respective communities are also experiencing disruption, which can lead to a loss of identity. A lack or loss of resources and a disruption in daily routine further worsen acute psychological stress, which often results in overwhelming stress, grief and sadness, leading some to turn to substance abuse to cope with their new conditions.

The experiences of natural disaster victims can manifest into serious prolonged psychological issues, including “emotional instability, stress reactions, anxiety, trauma and other psychological symptoms.” Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is also very common and coexists with feelings of “unnecessary fear, hopelessness, worthlessness and helplessness.” Although the journal notes that “most affected individuals recover with time” when they receive care, some individuals have a far more difficult path to recovery and can even begin experiencing persistent and severe psychotic symptoms.

Trauma in Children

The psychological impacts of the Turkey-Syria earthquake are present in both countries, particularly among children, who are perhaps the most vulnerable population that the natural disasters affect. According to Save the Children, numerous psychologists showed concern about the mental well-being of the roughly 7 million children that the earthquake affected, citing various indicators of acute stress, including “nightmares, aggression or being withdrawn.” The potential long-term effects are concerning as well, as these stressors can impact school performance and overall quality and enjoyment of life. Save the Children also stresses that mental health aid is evermore crucial considering that many caregivers do not have information or resources on how to treat or manage these symptoms.

Pre-Existing Mental Health Crisis

The Turkey-Syria earthquake only adds to pre-existing mental health issues in Turkey and Syria. Significant numbers of people in both countries suffer from mental health disorders. In Turkey, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 17% of Turkey’s population faces mental health issues, while only about 10.8% seek mental health treatment each year. WHO also states that cases of anxiety and depression have significantly increased in recent years, citing “repeated natural disasters, migration, economic downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic” as primary causes.

In 2022, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) conducted a study that demonstrates the severity of the mental health crisis in Syria. The results showed that male household members showed signs of distress in 60% of households surveyed, with that number being 58% for women. Additionally, 27% of households report psychological stress in their children, and 26% of children stated that the reason they do not want to attend school is because of depression, unhappiness and/or lack of motivation.

Syrian refugees in Turkey are also at risk of mental health disorders. According to 2020 data from the World Health Organization, the depression and PTSD rates among Syrian refugees in Turkey who have experienced the conflict were 11% and 15%, respectively. WHO also estimates that 22% of overall suffer from a mental disorder.

Potential Solutions

Providing much-needed mental health services to those who the Turkey-Syria earthquake affected is a crucial aspect of aid. Enhanced Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assitance (ELRHA) has recommended its own Community-based Disaster Mental Health Intervention (CBDMHI) manual as a relevant and potentially useful tool for mental health support. Developed in October 2016 following a devastating earthquake in Nepal in April 2015, the manual aims to teach mental health service providers about various self-care practices, as well as how to effectively treat mental health symptoms in earthquake survivors. The organization distributed more than 2,000 manuals to local governments and NGOs and found that the intervention helped both mental health service providers and vulnerable community members alike, reducing depression and increasing job satisfaction for the former and reducing depression and PTSD for the latter.

Save the Children is also mobilizing mental health aid to areas that the Turkey-Syria earthquake affected. It currently has mental health support teams in the region who are instructing caregivers on how to support their children through their trauma. The organization is also “setting up child-friendly spaces and child-focused psychosocial support activities” along with other forms of assistance to children and families.

Providing mental health services during this time is crucial to ensuring that victims can return to their pre-disaster lives as soon as possible. The work of NGOs, as well as funding from the U.N., will be valuable in achieving this.

– Adam Cvik
Photo: Flickr

Boosting the Agricultural Sector in Africa

Agricultural Sector in Africa
The 2022 Global Report on Food Crises 2022 Mid-Year Update estimates that acute food insecurity affects 140 million individuals in Africa. Agriculture has a significant social and economic impact on Africa — according to a McKinsey&Company analysis in 2019, smallholder farmers account for more than 60% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population and agriculture accounts for around 23% of the region’s GDP. The analysis also determines that Africa has the potential to multiply its cereal and grain output threefold. Nonetheless, most of Africa’s agricultural potential remains unexplored. However, realizing the full agricultural ability of Africa will require investments in fertilizers, irrigation, storage, infrastructure and more. Hello Tractor seeks to advance agricultural productivity in Africa.

Agriculture in Africa constitutes one of the primary sources of income as roughly two-thirds of Africa’s people work in the agricultural sector in Africa. Rural farmers have found it difficult to increase their productivity and their capacity to generate more food because of the “cost of mechanizing agriculture,” the World Economic Forum says.

Hello Tractor’s Solution

Jehiel Oliver, the founder of Hello Tractor, tells Forbes that African smallholder farmers typically lack access to the agricultural equipment necessary to expand cultivation and increase yields due to the high costs and no access to financing.

“I realized, if farmers have access to a tractor, that’s as good as owning one,” Oliver tells Forbes. He then started Hello Tractor in 2014, initially in Nigeria, where, via a digital app, one can establish a link between the tractor owner and the farmers, where the latter can rent the tractor to farmers to increase agricultural production and generate greater profits.

Hello Tractor implemented innovative digital tools with the purpose of connecting tractor owners, operators and farmers. The app includes several features. For instance, tractor owners can utilize GPS monitoring to oversee the movement of the tractor and find out information on the active and inactive hours and the number of trips made. Through the app, one can also monitor the fuel consumed by the tractor, the fuel prices and the scheduled activities for each tractor in the field.

“Hello Tractor technology makes fleet management easier and more profitable, supporting every aspect of your fleet from managing your tractor operators to your farmer customers,” its website says. Besides operating in 15 African countries, Hello Tractor also works in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Guatemala and Jamaica.

Pay-as-you-go Model

In January 2022, Hello Tractor launched the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) financing program for the agricultural sector in Africa, which “aims to significantly increase the number of tractors available to service farmers across sub-Saharan Africa by providing flexible financing to entrepreneurial youth and women who want to buy equipment to provide mechanization services to farmers in their network,” Ventures Africa says. The PAYG program is supplying $10 million in tractor loans, reaching more than 111,000 additional farmers. The program has the potential to generate at least 3,500 new jobs.

Hello Tractor is currently collaborating with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and John Deere on a five-year plan to deploy 10,000 tractors. Using the pay-as-you-go system, the government will implement a model that “allows tractors to be leased to new owners over a defined period of time, before being resold to them at a discount,” Oliver told Forbes, with Hello Tractor as an implementation partner.

By the end of five years, Hello Tractor predicts that the initiative will generate 2 million jobs and 37 million tonnes of food using 9 million hectares of agricultural land.

The Impact of Hello Tractor on Farmers

As of August 2022, Hello Tractor has provided tractor services to more than 500,000 farmers, with 55% of them obtaining their first mechanization services through the company. Approximately 87% of these farmers reported gains in profits as a result of mechanization access.

Through the services of Hello Tractor, farmers have the opportunity to gain greater and more precise information on the types of crops to produce, when to ideally cultivate the crops and even the worth of the final harvest. Smallholder farmers can also more easily qualify for bank loans and grow their businesses by providing the banks with projections “based on verifiable targets” from Hello Tractor.

Looking Ahead

In 2021, Fortune’s Change the World list featured Hello Tractor as one of 53 companies using innovation and creativity to address issues impacting communities.

Accessible and inexpensive tractor services for smallholder farmers through this game-changing technology has the potential to boost agricultural output and farmer revenue in the agricultural sector in Africa, resulting in a more secure food system and less poverty.

– Elena Luisetto
Photo: Flickr

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5 Organizations Helping Women and Children in Mauritania

Children in Mauritania
Mauritania is a largely agricultural and pastoral country in the North-Western Saharan desert. As of 2020, only 47.3% of people had access to electricity. In 2021, around 15% of women were first married at 15, and in 2019, 156,142 children of primary school age were out of school. The country’s increasing poverty affects women and children in Mauritania. Here are five organizations seeking to aid women and children in Mauritania.

5 Organizations Helping Women and Children in Mauritania

  1. Association of Female Heads of Households (AFCF): This organization advances women’s and children’s rights in Mauritania by focusing on reform laws and preventive policies. Together with the Women’s Learning Partnership, it is able to help all people by passing effective legislation. AFCF focuses on campaigning for reform laws that prevent trafficking, violence, abuse and slavery, which predominantly affect women and children. AFCF had a huge success in its campaign to implement gender quotas in the Mauritanian parliament. AFCF’s programs directly supported the “election of 99 women including 6 women mayors, a female head of the Urban Community of Nouakchott and dozens of women ministers.” There is a growing amount of slavery prevention groups in West Africa that the organization has been able to support.
  2. United Nations Population Fund Mauritania (UNFPA): UNFPA helps women and children in Mauritania by increasing reproductive health access and initiatives. The programs UNFA supports promote gender equality and the organization has also aided in developing national plans for reproductive health and maternal mortality. UNFPA has been able to increase Mauritania’s ability to address health concerns such as HIV prevention. UNFPA protected 1,000 girls from genital mutilation. The organization trained 229 personnel in clinical rape treatments and created 16 obstetric facilities that have emergency care.
  3. Mauritanian Council for Business Women: This organization advances women’s economic mobility. It encourages participation in the business and finance sectors. It gives women business owners the opportunity to present themselves at regional and local exhibitions. Its goal is to promote further gender equality by encouraging female entrepreneurship. The organization also conducts campaigns for equality politically. By encouraging stronger relations for women in business and by giving women a platform to expand their businesses, women and children in Mauritania receive greater opportunities and are less likely to experience the inequalities both groups may face.
  4. MindLeaps: This is a unique organization that hosts dance classes in schools in Mauritania. It has trained psychologists to address students’ diverse set of needs. In 2017, MindLeaps ran a three-month program of dance classes for 117 street children and juvenile offenders in the capital city of Nouakchott. Since then, it has expanded to other towns and cities in Mauritania. It estimates that around 70% of its students end up being in the top 20% of their educational classes. The time spent in these dance classes builds social and emotional skills necessary for children to develop. The organization tracks each student individually and helps to foster stronger skills. MindLeaps has a 0% dropout rate and prides itself on the strong community building it promotes and its educational pursuits.
  5. Youth and Hope: Houleye Thiam founded Youth and Hope in 2011 in response to the lack of organization and funding in rural Mauritanian schools. It focuses primarily on populations of schools that include black Mauritanians, who are sometimes former refugees who have come back to their homeland. As of 2021, it serves repatriated villages. Its four target villages include Goural, Gawdal, Dolly and Houdalaye. Its goal is to make sure every student in the target villages has enough supplies to study five or more subjects. It has also committed to delivering supplies at least twice a year. The nonprofit acts largely on donations. Improving education efforts can largely improve the situation for the future women and children of Mauritania, as it promotes greater mobility in Mauritania.

Looking Ahead

Despite the challenges that women and children in Mauritania have faced, these five organizations are making a difference. As aid organizations continue their work in Mauritania, it is likely that quality of life will improve for all.

– Anna Richardson
Photo: Flickr

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Aiding Children through World Vision Birthday Celebrations

World Vision Birthday Celebrations
For many children, birthday parties are annual celebrations that children anticipate months in advance. But, for many children living in impoverished countries, a birthday celebration is a luxury uncommon to most. World Vision birthday celebrations work to change this and simultaneously eliminate global poverty.

Child Poverty is a Global Issue

When one thinks about aid for children living in poverty, thoughts go to efforts such as providing clean drinking water, administering vaccines, reforming education or other big-picture efforts. While these are all extremely necessary actions, recognizing the simple pleasures children of impoverished countries are deprived of can often be an afterthought.

Across the world, more than 700 million people live on less than $1.90 a day and children make up about half of this number. This means extreme poverty affects roughly 365 million children around the world. The total number of children living in poverty globally can fill up the National Football League’s largest stadium, the MetLife Stadium, more than 4,424 times. Child poverty is a significant issue, but according to UNICEF, few governments have declared child poverty a national priority. These millions of children live without access to basic needs such as education, health services, nutritional food and even clean drinking water.

Child Poverty Impacts Health in Adulthood

Not only does child poverty impact children’s health in the present time but it also can affect health during adulthood. According to a study by Dennis Raphael published in the National Library of Medicine, child poverty can increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases later in life. This refers to diseases that are not contagious but arise due to poor diet and lifestyle, for instance, cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes. This displays that child poverty has a far-reaching impact on a large part of the global population. Considering the severity of child poverty globally, World Vision addresses child poverty in several manners, such as through World Vision birthday celebrations.

World Vision’s Birthday Celebrations

World Vision is a global humanitarian organization focused on diminishing global poverty through donations from sponsors. It has worked to combat poverty since 1950, and, as of 2023, serves more than 3.5 million children in almost 100 different countries. World Vision implements programs that directly aid impoverished children, families and communities in the areas of health, education, clean water access, food and nutrition, child protection and more.

One of World Vision’s most interesting programs, funded by sponsors, is its annual communal birthday celebrations for struggling children in impoverished countries. The goal of these celebrations is to show impoverished children love and support while also giving sponsors the opportunity to meet the child they sponsor if they so wish. World Vision’s birthday celebrations host about 1 million attendees per year. Celebrations have taken place in Ecuador, Vietnam, Mexico, Ghana and Romania along with various other impoverished countries.

World Vision’s birthday celebrations consist of brightly colored balloons, dancing character animals, singing, games, sports and lots of cake. These celebrations provide a day full of laughter and joy, but also can bring families, and even communities, out of poverty.

The Far-Reaching Impacts of the Celebrations

Matthew Sakala, who was once also a sponsored child through World Vision, now runs World Vision sponsorship programs in Moyo, Zambia. In an interview with World Vision, he says he has personally seen growth in his community due to the resources provided through birthday celebrations and continuous donations from World Vision sponsors. Sakala speaks of various opportunities, such as a training base provided through sponsorship donations so community members could learn skills in plumbing, carpentry, baking and more. Birthday celebrations enable connection and fellowship between sponsors and residents, making donations all the more meaningful.

In addition to typical children’s birthday gifts, World Vision gifts, through the support of sponsors, including audiovisual equipment, educational tools such as books, games and backpacks and recreational supplies including basketball, soccer and volleyball equipment. Other necessities, such as blankets, bedding, computers and water purification systems, are also accounted for, depending on the needs of the community. These items all contribute to uplifting communities even after the celebration ends.

Recognizing the Simple Joys

World Vision’s effort to recognize the simple joy in a birthday party and the lack of these experiences for impoverished children has led to the creation of a unique and impactful program. World Vision birthday celebrations provide joy and care to impoverished children while also fostering opportunities for growth and poverty minimization in entire communities.

– Leah Smith
Photo: Flickr