Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Women’s Rights Initiatives in India: The Tamil Nadu TiC Council

Tamil Nadu TiCIn India, authorities often discuss gender inequality as a multifaceted problem, requiring a multifaceted solution. The existence of multiple social differences, such as caste and class, makes it more complex. Governmental programs such as the Tamil Nadu Textile Industry Coalition (TiC) aim to address this difference.

Over the years, the Indian government has become sensitive to the multidimensional aspects. It has worked to introduce solutions which address not just the issue but also encompass all its nuances. The Tamil Nadu government’s multistakeholder TiC is one such initiative launched in association with the U.N. Women.

The government announced the Council in February 2024. Through this initiative, the state aims to create a safe, secure workspace for women in the textile industry.

What Is the Tamil Nadu TiC?

The TiC, as described by U.N. Women, brings together personnel from multiple sectors with a single goal: women’s safety. It involves brands, textile manufacturers, policymakers, the Tamil Nadu Department of Textiles, service providers and researchers to prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace.

Tamil Nadu’s textile industry is vast and includes more women in lower-skilled positions. The state hosts nearly 70% of the country’s fabric knitting capacity and 46% of the loom capacity. In fiscal year 2025, the state contributed 26.81% of the national market share. In this booming sector, Tamil Nadu women also account for 40% of the national workforce.

Owing to this high concentration and the existing gender disparity in wages and benefits, solutions seemed necessary. As a result, the government departments of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment and the Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles & Khadi, introduced this solution. The TiC holds a zero-tolerance policy toward the mistreatment of women in the workplace.

On initiation, the TiC planned to introduce standard industry guidelines which ensure implementation of stated measures.

TiC’s Vision for Women’s Rights in India

During its launch in 2024, the Tamil Nadu TiC Council members presented several aims for the committee to focus on. First, they planned to conduct safety audits across textile factories in major cities throughout Tamil Nadu. These cities are key textile hubs in the state and are home to the majority of textile factories and production units.

The initiative aimed to reach more than 16,000 factory workers and more than two million “linked community members.” The council plans to educate textile industry workers and members about women’s rights through outreach initiatives. The program is designed to empower girls and women by promoting safe and sustainable livelihoods.

Transforming policies, increasing the number of female workers in the industry and raising awareness are among the council’s primary implementation methods. At the July 2025 committee meeting, members of the Tamil Nadu TiC discussed the council’s accomplishments. According to the press release, it undertook interventions including safety audits, the distribution of training materials and tools and community engagement.

TiC & The PoSH Act Review

Another key component that the TiC prioritizes is the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act. Over the past year, the TiC has introduced PoSH compliance across diverse textile work centers, including factories, units and small-scale industries. Through its inter-departmental collaboration with global brands such as the H&M Group and nonprofits such as U.N. Women, the council draws on diverse sources and has varied impacts.

The TiC utilizes this sectoral convergence to expand its sphere of influence. It does so by reaching out to more women in need and by working to reduce gender disparity in the textile industry. Geetha Jeevan, the committee’s chair, in the July 2025 meeting, emphasised zero tolerance toward violence against women. She also spoke about how the Tamil Nadu government aims to empower women by prioritizing their needs and safety in the workforce.

Women’s Rights Initiatives in India

While the TiC stands out prominently in the present, India has seen several such initiatives in the past years. Many women-centric government schemes and programs exist. However, only a small portion of the general public is aware of them.

These schemes focus on girls’ education, maternity-related financial support, accommodation for working women and more. Additionally, under the PoSH Act, the government has established Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in every state. Tamil Nadu has 5,493 ICCs in government organizations and more than 10,000 ICCs in private establishments.

Final Thoughts

The existence of initiatives such as the Tamil Nadu TiC underscores the commitment of global and particularly Indian lawmakers to addressing women’s rights issues in the country. However, limited public awareness of these programs remains a significant barrier preventing women and girls from benefiting from them. As a result, the TiC and similar initiatives require greater visibility and education efforts, especially for communities living below the poverty line.

Increased funding and targeted support could help address the multidimensional nature of gender disparity. Given how deeply rooted these challenges are, modern solutions are essential, chief among them being sustained advocacy, visibility and widespread awareness.

– Shafika Fathima

Shafika is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Proactive Aid Can Mitigate Droughts in Somalia

Droughts in SomaliaGovernment and humanitarian organizations aid pastoralists and farmers negatively impacted by increasingly severe droughts in Somalia. Traditionally, they provided aid following drought-induced humanitarian crises, but in recent years, organizations have explored a new option called anticipatory action.

Drought in Somalia

Somalia is ranked the seventh most climate-vulnerable country in the world. A drought lasting from 2020 to 2023 in Somalia resulted in thousands of Somalis relocating to camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many IDP camps in southern Somalia are located in climate-vulnerable areas, forcing IDPs to relocate more than once after drought or floods deplete the camps’ resources.

Dried-up water sources forced people to drink contaminated water, causing outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Outbreaks led to further displacement, as sick people without access to local health facilities traveled up to 1,000 km for treatment.

Depleted food stores and arid farmlands caused food prices to increase by 160% since 2020. Simultaneously reducing incomes and job security resulted in rising levels of malnutrition and food insecurity. More than 4.4 million Somalis faced acute food insecurity in December 2025, and 1.85 million children under five years old are projected to be afflicted with acute malnutrition through mid-2026.

Between 2022 and 2024, approximately 71,100 Somali deaths occurred due to drought. An estimated 40% of these excess deaths were children under five years old.

Anticipatory Action: What Is It?

Anticipatory action in Somalia uses weather forecasting to predict droughts and their projected humanitarian impact in the indicated regions. This system allows forecasters to identify and warn at-risk regions early. Pre-planning and allocating appropriate resources before humanitarian needs reach severe levels mitigates the effects of drought and prevents potential crises and mass displacement.

Activities for drought preparation occur between the trigger activation and the forecasted peak of humanitarian need during the drought. The interventions proceed in phases over a two- to nine-month period, so activities may be adapted to the trajectory of the drought’s predicted timeline and impact.

  • Education: Establish access to clean water in schools, implement school feeding programs, disburse cash incentives to teachers and provide child protective services to reduce the risk of school dropouts.
  • Food security: Provide cash to susceptible households to reduce the risk of malnutrition and loss of livelihood. Distribute drought-smart farming packages, control crop pests and prevent and control desert locust outbreaks to sustain food production. Conduct an animal health treatment campaign and provide livestock supplementary feed to sustain livestock productivity.
  • Health: Promote early warning and preparedness for potential diseases, inform communities on infection prevention, control and treatment and provide essential medications and supplies to detect, prevent and control the health impacts of drought.
  • Nutrition: Implement a blanket feeding program and provide food supplements to reduce the risk of malnutrition.
  • Risk communication: Conduct a media campaign to advise communities to make risk-informed decisions during preparation for drought.
  • WASH: Restore malfunctioning water schemes and establish strategically located water supplies to ensure access to clean and safe water for consumption. Distribute household water treatment and safe storage products and treat unprotected water sources to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.

Benefits of Anticipatory Action

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) uses anticipatory action in Somalia to mitigate the effects of droughts. After weather forecasters predict a drought, the IRC provides families in the specified areas with several rounds of cash assistance to prepare.

Anticipatory action proves advantageous compared to traditional aid delivered after a crisis for multiple reasons. Farmers and pastoralists can purchase supplementary water and feed beforehand to reduce the death of livestock and crops. Proactive cash assistance is cost-effective by preventing the need for costly humanitarian aid following a crisis. It also prevents families from selling their animals or land and removing children from school.

A recipient of cash assistance from the IRC in Somalia named Mohamud said, “The droughts used to kill many of my animals. This time around, the money came when our livestock were still alive, and that’s how the animals ended up being saved. It has really helped us and preserved our dignity.”

Challenges of Anticipatory Action

Anticipatory action programs exist in challenging, climate-vulnerable environments. Many Somalis living in at-risk regions experience multiple and overlapping crises, including conflict, increasingly frequent droughts, floods and desert locust swarms, reducing affected communities’ ability to prepare for an anticipated drought.

Early warning systems face challenges in effectively and efficiently communicating directly with farmers and pastoralists living in rural areas. The information must reach them early enough to provide time to prepare, but not so early that the forecast is unreliable. Additionally, the warning information must include actionable advice and explain what supplies will be available.

Looking Ahead

Anticipatory action in Somalia is a preventive warning system designed to reduce the humanitarian impacts of droughts. This proactive approach provides a multitude of advantages compared to the traditional humanitarian response following a crisis. Climate-vulnerable communities benefit from early preparation, comprehensive interventions included in Somalia’s Anticipatory Action Framework and early cash assistance from the IRC. These programmes continue to expand and adapt to challenges to reduce human suffering from droughts and build long-term community resilience.

– Sarah Merrill

Sarah is based in Matthews, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Hear, Listen and Speak Program: Hearing Care in Bhutan

Hearing Care in BhutanHearing loss and ear disorders often go undetected and untreated, especially in infants and children. Disparities in health services and socioeconomic positions in Bhutan contribute to inequities in pediatric hearing care. The Hear, Listen and Speak (HLS) Program addresses the need for a better system by providing innovative and comprehensive solutions to gaps in pediatric hearing care in Bhutan.

Poverty and Health Care Disparities in Bhutan

In 2022, 10.1% of Bhutanese people lived below the national poverty line, with 87% of this population residing in rural areas. About 62% of Bhutan’s total population lives in rural areas, where access to services is more limited and socioeconomic conditions are generally poorer than in urban areas. Significant disparities in health care access exist between rural and urban populations, with rural residents having 3.4 times higher odds of using primary health centers rather than outpatient hospital services.

Socioeconomic Position and Hearing Loss

People with hearing loss are more likely to be unemployed, attain lower levels of education and earn lower wages. Meanwhile, people in lower socioeconomic positions are less likely to use hearing aids or access hearing care. Children in lower socioeconomic positions are less likely to receive early diagnosis and intervention.

They also have lower levels of device use and generally attend schools with fewer resources or rehabilitation programs. If hearing loss in childhood goes untreated, it can permanently impair speech and language acquisition, reducing a child’s likelihood of completing their primary education.

The Hear, Listen and Speak Program

The Ministry of Health of Bhutan launched the HLS Program in 2021 to address gaps in pediatric ear and hearing care for children ages 0-14 years with hearing loss and ear disorders. The national program provides early screening, diagnosis and intervention services. The HLS Program increases accessibility for rural populations by delivering the necessary technology, including hearing aid fittings, surgical capabilities and aftercare rehabilitation, at all levels of the health care continuum.

By equipping primary health centers with the technology to treat ear and hearing disorders, these services become decentralized and more accessible to rural communities. 

HLS Program Goals:

  • Early detection and intervention: Establish hearing screening in schools across all 20 districts to secure early identification and referrals for children with ear and hearing disorders. 
  • Integrated treatment and rehabilitation: Strengthen referral systems and service delivery to provide a wide variety of treatments, including hearing aid fittings, cochlear implants, surgeries and auditory-verbal therapy. 
  • Capacity building and workforce development: Train local health workers to deliver quality hearing care in Bhutan, including audiologists, ENT technicians and school health coordinators.
  • Infrastructure and technology strengthening: Establish earmold labs and digital referral systems and integrate hearing screening into health and education programs. 
  • Community engagement and policy integration: Promote information on pediatric hearing loss and health care to communities and encourage people to advocate for more representation in national public health and education systems. 

Program Results

By June 2025, the program had screened more than 104,746 children and identified ear and hearing conditions in 14,003 children (13% of those screened). By strengthening referral pathways and continuum-of-care camps, 32% of the children identified with ear and hearing conditions were registered for treatment. About 87% of those registered received care, including 81 hearing aid fittings and 73 surgeries.

Furthermore, the HLS Program established the first earmold lab in the country at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), revolutionizing hearing care in Bhutan. Earmold impression and hearing aid services for children are now available at the JDWNRH through the earmold lab.

Conclusion

Bhutan is making significant strides to upgrade its pediatric hearing care system across all levels of care through the HLS Program. The program ensures the sustainability of ongoing prevention and treatment for hearing loss and ear disorders in children by establishing the country’s first earmold lab. It also builds capacity through training and by empowering health workers, schools and communities across Bhutan.

With a strong focus on early detection and intervention, the program improves treatment for the estimated 60% of pediatric hearing loss that is preventable with timely intervention.

– Sarah Merrill

Sarah is based in Matthews, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Bridges to Prosperity: Tackling Rural Isolation in East Africa

Rural Isolation in East AfricaFika, formerly known as Bridges to Prosperity, is an NGO that operates in East Africa to address rural isolation. What started as a small partnership with local communities to construct trail bridges now operates in 21 countries. It has built 480 trail bridges and has reached approximately 1.7 million people.

Despite being historically underestimated, rural isolation is a root cause of poverty. Approximately 1 billion people are considered rurally isolated, meaning they live more than two kilometers from an all-season road and 80% of people living in extreme poverty reside in rural areas. A significant proportion of these populations live in sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring that no long-term impact can be achieved without first addressing rural isolation in East Africa.

Fika’s Impact So Far

Over the past few years, Fika has had its greatest impact in Rwanda. Since partnering with the Rwanda Transport Development Agency in 2019 and building 200 bridges, the organization has reached more than 800,000 people nationwide. Fika estimates that each bridge results, on average, in a 75% increase in farm profits and a 30% increase in household income.

This impact benefits local communities and demonstrates a strong return on investment for a trail bridge. In fact, Fika calculated that each trail bridge returns 49% of its cost in increased economic activity annually, meaning each bridge essentially pays for itself within two years of operation. Even when considering nonmonetary factors, connecting communities to critical services has led to a 200% increase in school attendance among girls and improved access to health care in Rwanda.

These outcomes show a clear correlation between poverty and rural isolation in East Africa, meaning one cannot be addressed without the other. Furthermore, after years of research and testing, Fika designed a trail bridge model that is both cost-effective and sustainable. When the project began, the founders had limited access to heavy, durable materials.

As a result, it developed a system that uses repurposed and locally sourced materials to construct the trail bridges. These bridges are now simple to build and highly resilient, capable of withstanding the volatile climates of the countries in which they are built.

Vision for the Future

While many people have already benefited from the organization’s work, millions remain isolated from critical services. Fika aims to expand into other East African countries and broaden its reach into Central Africa; its newest program is launching in Zambia, with the goal of connecting 500,000 people by 2030. Most importantly, Fika is working to move away from philanthropy toward a more sustainable model in which governments or the private sector fund these projects.

The trail bridges built so far are owned by local governments, which makes them responsible for maintenance rather than Fika and helps ensure long-term upkeep without relying on the organization’s resources. Fika is still trialing partnerships with local governments, as each country requires a different cooperation model.

Final Thoughts

Although trail bridges are not the most traditional form of foreign aid or poverty alleviation, Fika represents a shift toward more permanent and sustainable solutions. Quick relief aid is essential and has helped millions in the past. However, organizations that address the root causes of poverty, such as rural isolation in East Africa, are more likely to achieve long-lasting impact and support future development without relying on continued foreign aid.

– Vittoria Cortese

Vittoria is based in Washington DC, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025: End Child Marriage in Pakistan

Child Marriage Restraint ActIn a leap toward ending child marriage in Pakistan, the Islamabad Capital Territory government passed the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2025. This new legislation is the first legal precedent in Pakistan to illegalize child marriage and set the legal minimum for marriage to at least 18 years of age for girls. Under the previous Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, the legal minimum age for marriage was 14 for girls, later amended to 16.

The new act also entails harsher punitive measures than the outdated law. For example, a man who marries an underage girl will now be looking at up to three years in prison. Anyone who facilitates or forces marriage onto a child can face up to seven years in prison, including marriage registrars, religious clerics or family members.

Child Marriage and Poverty

In Pakistan, 20.5 million or 18% of girls are married before they reach the age of 18. Approximately 5 million girls or 4%, are married before the age of 15. Poverty is the driving factor behind child marriage, along with gender inequality and cultural customs.

Child brides usually come from impoverished families who sell them to older men for a price as high as 2.5 million Pakistani rupees, which is more than $8,000. Child marriage tends to spike in regions prone to natural disasters, which displace families, destroy homes and overall increase poverty in the area. The lack of education and access to health facilities in some parts of Pakistan further reinforces the tradition of child marriage.

Although the updated Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2025 is a significant step toward ending child marriage, the law does not address the other factors contributing to the issue. However, below are three organizations raising awareness of the dangers of child marriage in Pakistan by educating the public.

UN Women

In 2024, U.N. Women partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to organize informational sessions across rural villages in Pakistan. These sessions showed parents the negative consequences of marriage for an underage girl, including health risks and limited access to education. They also sparked dialogue on women’s rights, inclusion in the agricultural industry and involvement in decision-making.

The awareness-raising program reached 1,732 people living in rural villages, as more families allowed their daughters to attend their local schools rather than keep them at home. One woman, Yasmin Gul and her husband attended an information session on child marriage in Pakistan’s Mohmand. Gul married young herself and married off two of her daughters when they were 14 and 15.

After the session, Gul and her husband decided against marrying off their youngest daughter until she is at least 18 years old. Until then, she would be allowed to grow and pursue an education — opportunities her older sisters never had. U.N. Women also launched a campaign where it hand-delivered wedding cards for a fictitious child marriage to Pakistani lawmakers and leaders, each card designed entirely by children.

The invitations displayed colourful artwork illustrated with crayons and markers. Some even included time for “games” in the itinerary. The children in the campaign were between 5 and 15 years old and one was an actual child bride. The invitations caught nationwide media coverage and inspired discussion across Pakistan.

The campaign also had a significant legislative impact, as lawmakers brought the wedding cards to parliamentary meetings to underscore the severity of the issue.

Pathfinder International

With a slightly similar approach, Pathfinder International launched the “End Early Child Marriage” campaign in partnership with the BPG advertising agency. The organization published an invitation to a fictitious wedding between a 13-year-old girl and a 56-year-old man across several media outlets in Pakistan, in English, Sindhi and Urdu. The goal was to reach a diverse audience covering varying demographics.

At the bottom of the card, it says, “This is not an actual event, but a metaphorical stand against the injustice of child marriage. Child marriage is synonymous with the premature ending of a child’s future.” The wedding invitation was published in two newspapers: The Express Tribune, with more than 25,000 readers and the Daily Express, with more than 350,000 readers.

The Express Tribune also shared the campaign on its YouTube podcast, which gained more than 100,000 views. The campaign circulated across popular radio stations, such as CityFM89 and FM100 Karachi, which garnered more than 1.5 million listeners. Express News TV also broadcast the campaign on-air, reaching more than 10 million viewers.

UNICEF Pakistan

UNICEF Pakistan launched its National Gender Strategy for 2024 to 2027. This involves a strategy to address gender inequalities and overall improve girls’ lives, especially when it comes to child marriage in Pakistan. The strategy entails investing in girls’ leadership, voice and agency.

It addresses traditional cultural attitudes perpetuating gender inequality as well as plans to work with leaders, religious figures, boys and men to change harmful beliefs. The strategy also outlines providing girls with greater accountability, social protection and reliable services in education, health care and nutrition.

In Pakistan, 54% of girls become pregnant before turning 18, 88% of girls between 10 and 17 live in poverty and 46% of girls have no education, employment or training. Pregnancy in underage girls poses a range of life-threatening health risks for both the mother and the baby. When paired with poverty and a lack of education or training, this also becomes detrimental to Pakistan’s progress as a country, highlighting the need for UNICEF’s strategy in Pakistan.

Ending Child Marriage For Good

Lawmakers and leaders establishing new legislation to restrict child marriage is a powerful stride. However, child marriage in Pakistan will not end for good until the government addresses the push behind it: poverty, inadequate facilities and a lack of education. Organizations must continue to focus on empowering girls and enabling a brighter future for Pakistan.

– Umaymah Suhail

Umaymah is based in Karachi, Pakistan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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How Nutrition Policy Shapes Health Equity in South Africa

Health Equity in South AfricaIn South Africa, gaps in nutrition and food environment policies drive the double burden of malnutrition, including hunger, micronutrient deficiencies and rising obesity, despite sufficient food production. These policy gaps highlight the central role nutrition systems play in shaping health equity in South Africa.

How Economic Pressure Fuels Food Insecurity in South Africa

Economic pressures, rather than food availability, drive food insecurity in South Africa, pushing many families to struggle to access nutritious diets. Low-income individuals and households often choose cheaper, energy-dense alternatives that provide calories but few essential nutrients. High unemployment, structural poverty and rising living costs have made food increasingly inaccessible across South Africa.

The national energy crisis, particularly in Johannesburg and Cape Town, has further driven widespread hunger. In 2021, roughly 80% of South African households had adequate access to food, 15% had inadequate access and 6% had severe food insecurity. Food insecurity was more prevalent in urban areas, with the highest concentrations in Cape Town (241,000 households) and Johannesburg (239,000 households).

Households with young children are disproportionately affected. An estimated 683,221 households with children under age 5 experienced hunger and malnutrition. This has contributed to higher rates of stunting and impaired physical and cognitive development.

The highest prevalence is found in KwaZulu-Natal (20.1%), Johannesburg (13.6%) and Cape Town (12.4%). Since April 2021, 323 child deaths linked to malnutrition and hunger have been reported in the Eastern Cape.

Unequal Cities, Unequal Health: The Cost of Urban Planning Failures

As South Africa rapidly urbanizes, with more than 72% of the population projected to live in cities by 2030, food security policies remain inadequate. Low-income households in informal settlements and townships often lack access to affordable supermarkets. This forces them to rely on higher-priced spaza shops with limited access to fresh produce, directly deepening nutrition-related health inequities.

These failures in the urban food environment directly undermine health equity in South Africa. Energy and infrastructure instability disrupt cooking, refrigeration and food storage. This reduces households’ ability to consume fresh foods, increasing reliance on processed and street foods.

Despite social grants such as the Child Support Grant and the Social Relief of Distress (SRD), many households earn too much to qualify for assistance yet too little to afford adequate food. Even among households that do qualify, grant amounts are insufficient to cover the cost of a nutritious diet, particularly amid rising food inflation in South Africa. The criminalization of street vendors and restrictions on trading spaces undermine the informal food system.

In turn, this reduces access to affordable food for low-income households and pushes many into more severe food insecurity.

National and International Initiative To Improve Health Equity in South Africa

To address persistent nutrition-related health inequalities, the South African government uses initiatives such as the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan (NFNSP). It also implements the National School Nutrition Program (NSNP) to improve food security and child nutrition among disadvantaged populations. In 2018, South Africa introduced the NFNSP (2018–2023) to address nutrition-related health inequities by strengthening food security for low-income and vulnerable populations.

The plan aims to reduce childhood obesity and cut adult obesity by 15% by 2023. Similarly, in October 2023, the Department of Basic Education reaffirmed its commitment to the NSNP. The program feeds more than nine million learners annually and reduces child hunger.

Beyond national initiatives, the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty) underscores the urgency of addressing child poverty, as many children continue to experience deprivation despite broader social assistance programs. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also supports South Africa by strengthening child poverty measurement. It also helps guide policies that direct government spending toward services benefiting the most impoverished children.

Additionally, in 2025, World Health Organization Member States extended the Global Nutrition Targets to 2030 and aligned them with the Sustainable Development Goals. The updated framework maintains targets to reduce stunting, anemia, low birth weight and wasting, while strengthening goals to reduce childhood overweight and increase exclusive breastfeeding. This extension reinforces global commitment to accelerating action on maternal and child nutrition and reducing nutrition-related health inequities.

Final Thoughts

Addressing health equity in South Africa requires coordinated action on the social and structural drivers of health, including poverty, inequality, limited access to primary health care and food insecurity. Strengthening primary health care, expanding universal health coverage and sustaining programs such as NSNP and NFNSP are essential to protecting vulnerable populations and reducing nutrition-related health disparities.

– Yuhan Rong

Yuhan is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How OCHA Plans To Tackle the Humanitarian Crisis in Myanmar

Humanitarian Crisis in MyanmarMyanmar is facing one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crisis. Prolonged internal armed conflict, widespread displacement and economic decline have been compounded by new shocks, including the devastating earthquake that struck the country in March 2025. In response, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has published the “Myanmar: Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026 (HNRP),” a 70-page document outlining the scale of need and the international support required.

Setting Out the Humanitarian Crisis in Myanmar

Myanmar has endured escalating internal armed conflict since 2021, with hostilities between the Myanmar Armed Forces and nonstate armed groups driving unprecedented humanitarian need. As of November 2025, 3.6 million people are internally displaced, the highest figure ever recorded in the country, including 1.7 million living in the most severely affected regions of the Northeast, Rakhine and the Southeast. In the first half of 2025, Myanmar ranked second globally for conflict intensity.

It was the fourth most dangerous country for civilians, with more than half the population exposed to violence. This protracted crisis was further intensified by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake on 28 March 2025, the world’s largest since 2023. The disaster claimed 5,400 lives, injured thousands and caused an estimated $11 billion in economic losses.

Ten months on, recovery efforts continue amid severe economic decline, with inflation reaching 31% in the 2025–26 financial year. Economic disruption and insecurity have sharply reduced access to food. By late 2025, more than 12 million people faced acute food insecurity, including one million at emergency levels, placing Myanmar among the world’s most severe hunger hotspots and underscoring the urgent need for international humanitarian support.

OCHA’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Myanmar

The Myanmar 2026 HNRP asserts that 16.2 million people (including 8.4 million women and five million children) need humanitarian assistance. While the HNRP for the previous year included the entire population, funding shortfalls and operational constraints have led the 2026 plan to adopt a tier-based approach to humanitarian assistance. Myanmar’s population is divided into people in need, people targeted and people prioritized.

Within this system, humanitarian needs are organized across nine clusters of concern, including access to shelter, health care and protection. An individual’s classification is determined by the cumulative severity of their situation across these clusters. This approach identifies 2.6 million people requiring prioritized humanitarian assistance and 4.9 million people to be targeted.

As specified by OCHA, this system was designed to guide the HNRP’s priorities while ensuring that targeted assistance “remains realistic and feasible.” In strategic terms, the HNRP operates around two primary objectives: saving lives and alleviating suffering and protecting safety and rights. The former seeks to reduce crisis-related morbidity and mortality, while the latter aims to restore safety and reinstate lost rights.

Central to achieving these goals is a locally led response strategy, described as the “backbone” of the operation. By placing local actors at the center of decision-making and implementation, OCHA aims to strengthen local leadership, foster equitable partnerships and promote direct access to resources at the community level. Particular emphasis is placed on reaching populations in hard-to-access, conflict-affected areas, requiring innovative and adaptable operational approaches.

To manage these challenges safely, the HNRP places strong emphasis on risk-informed planning, including the use of the U.N.’s INFORM Risk Index to assess operational hazards.

Funding and Resource Allocation

The Myanmar HNRP 2026 uses an activity-based costing model to ensure donor funds are allocated as efficiently as possible. Each humanitarian cluster calculates an average cost per person based on specific activities, resulting in a combined cost of approximately $182 per person assisted. This approach allows funding to be directly linked to measurable outcomes.

However, OCHA highlights that soaring inflation, rising fuel and food prices and the continued devaluation of the Myanmar kyat have significantly increased the cost of delivering aid. To account for this, clusters have applied inflation projections to their budgets, ensuring funding levels reflect on-the-ground realities. Overall, the plan appeals for $890 million, with $521 million prioritized for the most urgent life-saving assistance.

This underscores the critical role of international donors in sustaining humanitarian operations and preventing further deterioration in conditions for millions of vulnerable people.

Conclusion

The convergence of armed conflict, economic collapse and the aftermath of a major natural disaster defines the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar in 2026. OCHA’s HNRP outlines a targeted, locally led and cost-conscious strategy to address these challenges. However, its success ultimately depends on sustained international funding and political commitment.

Without adequate support, the gap between humanitarian needs and available assistance will continue to widen, placing millions of lives at further risk.

– Andrew Geddes

Andrew is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Reduction 2025: Top 10 Landmark Achievements

Poverty Reduction 2025: Top 10 Landmark Achievements The following is a “Good News” rundown of 2025, bringing important, positive stories to the top of the agenda. Here are 10 poverty-reduction 2025 landmark achievements that continue to spur the movement forward in the fight against global poverty.

Top 10 Landmark Achievements

  1. Safer Standing. Firstly, recognition for the 300,000th landmine removed from Sri Lankan land this year. The landmines were remnants left behind from the country’s civil war, which persisted for more than three decades and ended in 2009. A nonprofit organization conducted the operation, highlighting the role institutions outside government can play in improving society. The removal of these landmines has allowed 280,000 people to return to their homes. The nonprofit in question, HALO, has rendered 120 square kilometers of land safe again. People can now return home and travel safely and freely. This marks an important accomplishment that promises a safer life for communities across Sri Lanka.
  2. India. Traveling north to India, the second entry on this list of poverty reduction achievements, the country has seen a significant drop in the proportion of its population living in poverty. This includes the declaration of Kerala as India’s first state free of extreme poverty. This progress is linked to the Extreme Poverty Program, which established initiatives including providing families with homes, allocating land and assisting with home repairs. These efforts relied on cooperation among communities, government and local assemblies. This achievement stands as one of the most notable 2025 poverty-reduction milestones.
  3. Bangladesh. Moving east to Bangladesh, nearly the entire population has gained access to basic electricity for the first time. This development supports the United Nations goal of universal electricity access by 2030. Over the past 30 years, access to electricity in Bangladesh has increased by about 85%, compared with just 14% of the population having power in 1991. This improvement signals continued progress. Access to electricity affects daily life in critical ways, including the ability to read after sunset.
  4. Nigeria. Turning toward technological innovation, 2025 saw a young inventor spreading light across Nigeria using recycled plastic tiles to create clean-power charging stations. Named the Commonwealth’s Young Person of the Year in March, Anigbogu has delivered energy access to communities with little or no power across Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. This supports education, communication, health, safety and poverty alleviation. Anigbogu’s focus on clean power also promotes a future less dependent on fossil fuels. Beyond the technology itself, LightEd prioritizes community welfare by creating safe spaces and providing energy access to displaced people. This includes lighting refugee camps, increasing safety and offering education on environmental sustainability.
  5. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Poverty reduction 2025 landmark achievements also included renewed peace efforts. In June, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a peace agreement known as the Washington Accord, aiming to end conflict dating back to 1994. The agreement includes the withdrawal of Rwandan soldiers from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In return, the Democratic Republic of the Congo government agreed to stop supporting anti-Rwandan insurgents. The deal also includes commitments to economic cooperation.
  6. Mozambique. In Mozambique, 2025 marked the introduction of the first fully inclusive emergency data collection tool designed to close the disability gap in emergency response. The tool aims to improve inclusion by involving people with disabilities in response planning. The Elrha project developed the tool to assess barriers faced by people with disabilities during emergencies. The approach integrates disabled people as data contributors through its SIRA survey. Field use in Mozambique identified the tool as vital for improving accessible humanitarian aid.
  7. Tibet. The seventh achievement on this list was announced in July, when Chinese officials demonstrated progress on what is forecast to become the world’s largest solar farm. Located in Tibet, the project is expected to cover an area comparable to the city of Chicago. China reported a decrease in carbon emissions within the first six months of the year. The solar farm stretches across desert land, reducing wind and soil erosion while allowing vegetation to take root. The project represents a milestone in demonstrating economic growth alongside emissions reduction.
  8. Indonesia. In Indonesia, the government launched a free meal program for children and pregnant women. Within four years, the initiative aims to reach 82.9 million people. The program addresses high rates of maternal and child malnutrition. The free meal program was a central policy of President Prabowo’s election campaign. Government officials and soldiers now serve meals including fried chicken, tofu, rice and oranges. Mothers across more than 20 provinces have reported positive outcomes, supporting efforts to address food insecurity, stunting and wasting.
  9. Switzerland. The first malaria treatment designed specifically for babies received approval in Switzerland in July. In 2023, malaria caused more than 597,000 deaths worldwide. Until now, available treatments were unsuitable for infants due to liver development concerns. The pharmaceutical company Novartis developed the treatment, commonly known as Riamet Baby. After nearly three decades of research, the treatment is scheduled for rollout in eight African countries this year.
  10. Ireland. Ireland announced that a basic income is now a legal right for artists. The policy aims to reduce financial instability and discourage people from leaving the arts sector. The scheme pays 2,000 artists and creative workers €325 per week. After a pilot program launched in 2022, the initiative expanded nationwide and will continue until February 2026. The policy supports artists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthens Ireland’s arts sector.

Looking Ahead

These poverty reduction 2025 achievements highlight steady progress toward improving living conditions worldwide. From expanded access to basic services to peace initiatives and innovation, these efforts demonstrate that targeted solutions can create lasting change. Together, they show continued momentum in the global fight against poverty.

– Maya Hollick

Maya is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Education in India: Access, Challenges and the Path Forward

Education in IndiaIt’s no secret that education opens up pathways and opportunities for those able to attend school. Countless organizations and activists fight for education access worldwide every day. Unfortunately, the reality is that thousands of children worldwide are unable to attend school and receive the education they deserve.

In India, an estimated 1.17 million children aren’t attending school as of 2025. The lack of educational access stems from various reasons, including the uncertainty of the job market after graduating. Unemployment rates for Indian college graduates are staggeringly high. One graduate’s perspective attempts to shed light on this issue and the education system in India as a whole.

Who Has Access to Education in India?

Despite the challenging job market, education in India remains a powerful tool for combating poverty and inequality. Education and poverty are closely linked. Education helps reduce poverty by creating job opportunities and driving economic growth, while poverty limits access to education by restricting resources and opportunities for low-income individuals.

A family isn’t likely to prioritize the education of their children if they are forced to choose between putting food on the table and purchasing school supplies. These children face fewer opportunities in life than their peers and much higher chances of lifelong poverty. Children belonging to marginalized groups are more likely to face educational adversity.

Socioeconomic status, gender and residing in rural areas have been proven to negatively affect education levels. Due to cultural expectations of household chores and marriage, nearly 30% of girls in India do not finish their elementary education. Teacher shortages and a lack of an updated and usable facility to hold classes affect those in less-populated areas.

Yet, this problem is not limited to adolescents, as more than 19% of adults are illiterate.

Education and the Workforce

Though education in India is of high quality for those who can access it, a degree does not guarantee employment. In fact, 13.4% of college graduates struggle to find jobs that offer fair wages. More than half of unemployed young people are educated, some holding multiple degrees.

An estimated seven million jobs will need to be created over the next decade to meet the demands of India’s growing workforce. The bleak outlook of post-graduate employment, often earning as little as $2.40 per day, discourages many students from continuing their education.

Making Education Accessible

Many organizations are making efforts to make education more accessible to all. The issue of children facing barriers to education isn’t solved in its entirety. However, these acts are a step in the right direction and offer thousands of children opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

  • The Right to Education Act makes education for children 6-14 years old free and compulsory. This act prevents children from being expelled or dropping out of school before completing elementary school, as well as providing teachers with the right training and qualifications in every school. This act guarantees children years of free education, which will help a large portion of the children in low-income families. If there are no associated costs with obtaining a basic education, parents are more likely to send their children.
  • Furthermore, India launched the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020, in an effort to revamp the education system and offer quality education on all levels. The main focus is on a new system of a 5+3+3+4 pattern of education. In other terms, dividing education into four stages, with an emphasis on development, language learning, vocational skills and holistic development.
  • Pratham is one of the largest nongovernmental organizations working to make education accessible to all children in India. Founded in 1995, the organization began by providing education to children living in the slums of Mumbai. Pratham developed the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, which places children in learning groups based on what they know rather than their age. This method has significantly improved student learning outcomes, as well as classroom organization and management. Today, Pratham is widely recognized for its impact on education access and has received numerous awards for its work.

Final Remarks

Working to solve India’s job crisis will work in tandem with increasing education rates; if pursuing education and degrees results in higher-paying jobs, then more individuals and families will prioritize education. With the growing use of AI, many entry-level positions once available to new graduates are no longer accessible.

To address this issue, school curricula are beginning to shift toward incorporating skills such as digital science, robotics, data science and applied AI to better prepare students for the workforce. Education is an incredible tool that opens doors for many people. It can continue to change lives and create a lasting impact, regardless of an individual’s country of residence.

– Sydney Uhl

Sydney is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Maternal Health Programs in Egypt Are Reducing Poverty

Maternal Health Programs in EgyptMaternal health in Egypt is closely linked to poverty, as health complications during pregnancy and childbirth often result in costly medical bills. Less affluent communities in the country experience income loss due to these expenses. In response, Egypt has expanded maternal health programs aimed at improving access to health care while protecting low-income households from health-related financial hardship.

Health expenses contribute significantly to poverty in Egypt, especially for women in low-income and rural households. The lack of timely prenatal and delivery care that many pregnant women face often causes families to incur emergency medical costs that push them into debt or force them to delay treatment.

Improving maternal health helps avoid these financial shocks. Complications and out-of-pocket spending are reduced, allowing women to remain economically stable and active after childbirth.

Egypt’s Maternal and Neonatal Health Strategy

Through its Maternal and Neonatal Health Strategy, the Egyptian government has prioritized maternal health nationwide. This initiative focuses on expanding access to prenatal, delivery and postnatal services. The strategy emphasizes care through family health units, which serve as the primary point of contact for women during pregnancy.

By strengthening central care facilities, the government has increased early detection of pregnancy-related risks and improved referral systems for high-risk cases, particularly in underserved areas.

Egypt’s national “100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative has also contributed to improved maternal health outcomes. The campaign expanded nationwide screenings and referral services, enabling health workers to identify pregnancy-related risks earlier and direct women to appropriate care.

Early detection reduces the likelihood of costly complications during childbirth, helping families avoid emergency expenses that often deepen poverty.

International organizations play a key role in strengthening Egypt’s maternal health system. Programs supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) focus on improving antenatal care coverage, increasing skilled birth attendance and expanding postnatal follow-up services.

These programs prioritize vulnerable populations, including women in rural areas and low-income households, by improving service quality and reducing financial barriers to care.

Improved Maternal Health Reduces Poverty Risks

Evidence indicates that women with access to adequate maternal care face lower health-related financial risks and improved long-term economic outcomes. Healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries reduce income loss, support women’s participation in the workforce and improve child health outcomes. Overall, these outcomes strengthen household economic stability for low-income families.

Maternal health programs are an effective poverty reduction tool, as they reduce medical costs and help prevent long-term disability.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Access to quality maternal health care is limited by regional disparities and workforce shortages. Addressing uneven access to health facilities and staffing gaps will require sustained investment from the government and international partners.

Looking Ahead

Maternal health programs play a critical role in reducing poverty in Egypt by protecting women and families from preventable health costs and economic shocks. Continued investment in maternal health services, particularly for vulnerable communities, can further strengthen economic resilience and support long-term development.

– Hana Abulkheir

Hana is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr