Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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USAID Programs in Yemen

Programs in Yemen
The continued civil war in Yemen, ongoing since 2014, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. The UNFPA says the conflict has displaced 4.2 million Yemenis as of 2022 and 20 million citizens are suffering from malnutrition and hunger, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). By February 2022, about 80% of the population lived in poverty. Extreme climate events have only worsened this while increasing people’s susceptibility to disease outbreaks. Since 1959, apart from a 70-year hiatus ending in 2003, USAID programs in Yemen have helped to better the quality of life in the country.

USAID Programs in Yemen

  1. Health Services. USAID’s Yemen Systems Health and Resilience Project (SHARP) aims to improve maternal and child health care in Yemen. SHARP has provided training to “210 community midwives and 413 reproductive health volunteers to improve access to services for women of reproductive age and children under five,” the USAID website states. SHARP also provided skills training to “97 health facility service providers on evidence-based reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition services to ensure the provision of quality services for mothers, pregnant and lactating women and children.” When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, USAID worked with the U.S. government to donate 319,200 COVID-19 vaccines to Yemen, provide oxygen to COVID-19 isolation units, strengthen the country’s cold storage and transport systems for vaccines, trained health workers on infection control methods and carried out awareness-raising activities, among other efforts.
  2. Sanitation and Water Management. About 50% of Yemenis report major water quality issues, making the water situation in Yemen one of the globe’s most severe water crises. In response, in 2021, USAID programs in Yemen provided more than 1.5 million disadvantaged people with access to clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene education. USAID has also brought water access and sanitation to 377,606 students at schools. USAID aligns its water and sanitation projects with the U.S. government goals laid out in the U.S. Global Water Strategy, which defines the framework and steps for the U.S. to advance global water and sanitation.
  3. Food Security. Recently, during a pledging event on June 8, 2022, the U.S. government announced an allocation of $585 million in humanitarian aid for Yemen, which includes more than $561 million from USAID for “emergency food assistance as well as prevention and treatment of severe malnutrition and humanitarian protection for vulnerable populations,” the U.S. Department of State website says. USAID in partnership with the Department of Agriculture will utilize $282 million from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust to aid Yemen, along with five other countries, in addressing food insecurity and wheat price hikes. In November 2022, the agency partnered with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population on a $4.8 million malnutrition prevention and recovery program to promote nutrition and open resources to families.
  4. Economy and Trade. USAID’s Economic Recovery and Livelihoods Program supports the Yemeni government in economic reform and stabilization of its trade regime by “facilitating the flow of commercial and humanitarian goods and services through Yemen’s borders and ports.” The program has also brought support to smaller enterprises within the country, such as fishing and farming, linking these smaller businesses to the international market. In 2021, USAID helped 1,200 Yemenis attain stable jobs in specific sectors, provided agricultural support to 4,000 workers and “facilitated 400 trade agreements worth $5.04 million between Yemeni producers and local and international buyers for agriculture products.” USAID also helped Yemen’s Ministry of Finance launch “a pilot e-payment system in February 2022 to pay public sector salaries and eliminate financial waste and abuse,” USAID’s website highlights.

Looking Ahead

In a world where many still require emergency humanitarian assistance, foreign aid is critical. Even though there is room for the U.S. government to do more, so far, the U.S. stands as a champion in bringing support to Yemen amid its crisis.

– Audrey Gaines
Photo: Flickr

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Eliminating Human Trafficking in Comoros

Human Trafficking in Comoros
Human trafficking is an issue that plagues most of the world, but in some nations, it is more prevalent than in others. The archipelago of Comoros – located off of Africa’s east coast in the Indian Ocean – is a Tier 2 Watch List country making its citizens some of the most at-risk for human trafficking.

Notable Numbers

The Human Trafficking Institute’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) ranks countries in three tiers – the third being the worst. Tier 2 means that the respective government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for combating trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. However, the designation “Watch List” means that the number of human trafficking victims in Comoros is increasing or there is no evidence of heightened efforts from the previous year.
 
Most Comorian children ages 3 to 7 – and some as old as 14 – often study at unofficial neighborhood schools directed by private instructors, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation as domestic servants or field hands. Without formal schools to educate, children are often left in the hands of the corrupt.
 
The estimated 3,000 to 4,000 unaccompanied children on the island of Mayotte are especially susceptible to domestic servitude and sex trafficking. Due to a corrupt government, inadequate border control and international criminal networks, there is a high risk for transnational and domestic human trafficking in Comoros.

The 2022 TIP Report found that during the reporting period, the Comorian government investigated four trafficking cases – three of which were for forced labor, and one involving both labor and sex trafficking.
To combat human trafficking in Comoros, the government partnered with local NGOs and international organizations to provide support for the eight victims identified in 2022. MAEECHA is an NGO located in Moroni, Comoros that works to protect minors in isolation and much more. Between 2014 and 2015, MAEECHA identified 514 minors in a situation of vulnerability – 220, or 43%, were in isolation. About 68% of these children were under 12 years old.

Diplomatic Relations

The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Comoros in 1977 and has maintained its presence in some capacity through a strong bilateral relationship with the U.S. ambassador in Madagascar. Additionally, the Peace Corps re-established itself in the island nation in 2015.
 
In 2022, Comoros upgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List based on achievements, including investigating trafficking crimes for the first time since 2014 and initiating the country’s first trafficking prosecution. Though this may seem insignificant, a country as impoverished as Comoros taking these steps could mean major progress in the coming years.
 
That being said, when a country is Tier 3, they may no longer be subject to foreign aid from the United States, so Comoros receiving international support is conditional upon it remaining in Tier 1 or 2.

Progress for Comoros

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that local community engagement is a recent initiative from Comoros in the war against trafficking. With the support of UNODC through informational workshops, parliamentarians and Islamic leaders have been working to spread awareness of human trafficking. With this type of movement underway – and hopefully, more to come – there is optimism that progress will occur in ensuring the safety of Comorians, especially the youth.

The U.S. Department of State financed the previously mentioned workshops as a part of the UNODC Enhancing Criminal Justice Responses to Trafficking in Person in Eastern Africa project. The main focus of the project is aligning different regions’ national legislation on TIP.

Although Comoros is making progress as a nation with regard to human trafficking, there is much more that needs to occur for all its citizens to have safety and everything they need.
 
– Stella Tirone
Photo: Flickr

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Hope Amid Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis

Sri Lanka's Debt Crisis
Sri Lanka’s debt crisis has become the latest point of geopolitical contention. The country experienced extreme economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving it unable to pay billions of dollars worth of debt to private and government creditors. Following an unprecedented defaulting of its debts and a political crisis that saw the president resign and the prime minister’s office raided, Sri Lanka stands on the precipice of an economic and humanitarian catastrophe. With the United States, Russia, India and China all weighing in, the world’s monetary eyes have turned toward the struggling island nation.

A Closer Look at Sri Lanka’s Collapse

Sri Lanka’s debt ballooned over the last few years due to domestic crises and an unfavorable economic situation. Relying primarily on exports to feed an ever-growing deficit, the country’s situation took a turn for the worse when pandemic supply shocks and tourism dried up foreign revenue, causing blackouts along with food and energy shortages. Unsurprisingly, political turmoil quickly followed suit, ending with the ousting of President Rajapaksa and the ascension of Wickremesinghe to office. Now, Sri Lanka has nearly no foreign reserves and a 119% debt-to-GDP ratio.

If the macroeconomic situation seems dire, it pales in comparison to the suffering of Sri Lanka’s poorest citizens. Between 2021 and 2022, poverty rates increased by half to 25.6%, pushing 2.7 million more people into the grips of poverty. Additionally, inflation in Sri Lanka hit a record high of 73.7% in October 2022. With the world’s economy expected to shrink over the next year, Sri Lanka’s predicament threatens to worsen as its crisis deepens.

Sri Lanka’s Creditors

Underlying these pressures are private and public groups using Sri Lanka as a pawn on the international stage. China accounted for close to 10% of Sri Lanka’s debt by April 2021 but refuses to negotiate the amount owed, insisting on “a two-year moratorium” instead. India, China’s competition in the region, offered Sri Lanka an emergency $4.4 billion in credit, attempting to woo the island nation away from its traditional source of funding. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it will only consider a relief package if Sri Lanka can come to an agreement with its main creditors.

In addition, private banks have played hardball with Sri Lanka, exacerbating the current crisis. These organizations collectively hold half of Sri Lanka’s debt, lending to the island nation at an exorbitantly high-interest rate. Renowned economists, such as Thomas Piketty, note that many of these companies knew Sri Lanka would be unable to repay its debt but chose to offer it loans regardless. His conclusion is that risky lending must bear the consequences.

Debt Assistance

Although some economists like Piketty champion cancellations of Sri Lanka’s debt, a more moderate solution does seem plausible. The IMF showed more openness to an emergency loan as talks with China and India continued. Provided Sri Lanka passes austerity and anti-corruption measures, the IMF said in September 2022 that it would be willing to give $2.9 billion in funding. Vitally, this aid would allow the country to purchase much-needed medical equipment and food. Private creditors also demonstrated a willingness to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt, pending approval from President Wickremesinghe.

Domestically, Sri Lanka’s president stressed the importance of weathering the economic storm. Urging his fellow countrymen forward, President Wickremesinghe stated that as pay raises for civil servants come into effect “the public would become prosperous, with income sources increasing. The interest rate can be reduced. In another three years, present incomes can be increased by 75%.” Indeed, inflation will likely decrease from 45% in 2022 to 23% in 2023 and only 8% in 2024.

Foreign Aid to Help During Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis

Amid Sri Lanka’s debt crisis, it is important not to lose sight of those most affected by the country’s economic woes: its people. Given the dire condition of food, fuel and supplies, immediate aid provides the most tangible form of assistance. In June 2022, USAID announced almost $6 million worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka on top of assistance worth close to $12 million a month prior. The funding will “provide cash assistance, short-term jobs, and agriculture supplies such as seeds directly to crisis-affected people to meet their basic needs,” the USAID website says.

Meanwhile, the United Nations raised $79 million to relieve food and medicine shortages in Sri Lanka. Through its Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan, the U.N. aims to help about 3.4 million Sri Lankans in need of aid.

With increased aid and pressure from the international community to resolve the crisis, a resolution to the crisis appears, if not imminent, at least plausible. Although this provides scarce comfort to the 6.3 million Sri Lankans that food insecurity has affected as of September 2022, it is an important step in the right direction while humanitarian organizations address the needs of struggling people on the ground.

– Samuel Bowles
Photo: Pixabay

Land of the Eternal Spring: Renewable Energy in Guatemala

Renewable Energy in Guatemala
Guatemala is known as the ‘Land of the Eternal Spring’ on account of its exotic climate and its tropical rainforests, not to mention the mysticism that shrouds the history of an ancient Mayan civilization. A nation of about 17 million people, Guatemala is situated in the heart of Central America with borders and ports on both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. This geographical advantage in part explains why Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America. Nevertheless, disparity is rife. Guatemala has the highest level of chronic malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), ranking fourth-highest globally. Energy poverty is also prevalent, but renewable energy in Guatemala has the potential to lift citizens out of poverty.

Energy Poverty

A key contributor to mass food production and distribution is the availability of energy. The United States, for example, uses more energy per annum “growing, preparing and transporting food” than the entirety of the United Kingdom requires for all its energy consumption. A recent paper published in Energy Economics estimated that 76% of Guatemalans are living in energy poverty, a term defined as a lack of access to “adequate, affordable, reliable, high-quality, safe and environmentally benign energy services to support economic and human development.”

Government Push for Renewable Energy in Guatemala

To ease the current energy crisis, the Guatemalan government has turned toward stricter measures to prevent electricity wastage and is also requiring that private businesses invest in renewable energy in Guatemala. The recently implemented “Energy Policy 2019-2050,” which the Ministry of Energy and Mining developed, enforces residential regulations such as the “normalization of technical parameters relating to electric equipment” within households, a guide by Rafael Pinto Ortega and Rafael Briz explains. Policy objectives for industrial firms require serious efforts to promote “electrical self-sufficiency” by encouraging the use of renewable energy. The incentive for firms to comply and quickly adapt stems from the knowledge that the contract for the nation’s current main electricity supplier, Jaguar Energy, comes to a close in 2025.

The Potential for Renewable Energy in Guatemala

Guatemala’s reputation as the ‘Land of the Eternal Spring’ is beginning to take on a new concept in the 21st century. The enormous potential for renewable energy in Guatemala literally springs from its capacity for hydropower. Hydropower uses fast-flowing water to turn turbines and power machines, efficiently combining one of the world’s largest natural resources, water and the enduring force of gravity, to create energy. As of 2019, Guatemala had already installed 1,559 MW of hydropower capacity, which contributed to 41% of the nation’s total energy production.

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is an NGO operating in Guatemala with the mission of ensuring the sustainable development of hydropower. By overseeing projects and ensuring plans meet the principles and terms of the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower, the IHA looks to increase the contribution of renewable energy in Guatemala.

Looking Ahead

Renewable energy in Guatemala has the capacity to lift millions out of poverty. Government pressure and foreign aid for NGOs like IHA ensure that renewable energy becomes a priority investment. Hydropower has already proven to be an effective source of energy in the coastal nation and further utilization of this abundant resource will significantly improve the ongoing energy crisis, allowing Guatemalans to develop their agricultural industry and enable enterprising development in the future.

– Max Edmund
Photo: Flickr

Afghanistan Online University

Afghanistan online universityWhen the Taliban regained power in 2021, it repressed the rights of women in Afghanistan. In December 2022, it banned Afghan women from receiving a university education. It has been very daunting for women who were already working on post-secondary degrees to suddenly be forced to stop their schooling. That’s why Afghanistan Online University (AOU) and other virtual offerings like it attract droves of Afghan women.

In response to the decree that they could not attend university, many Afghan women have started to demonstrate for their rights.  They attend school secretly in Afghanistan and take classes online. Based in Germany, AOU’s mission is to provide higher education for Afghans in order to make Afghanistan a more peaceful and successful country.

Afghanistan Online University Basics

Afghan academics who voluntarily left Afghanistan to live in Europe founded AOU. The online school strives to give higher education to Afghans both inside and outside the country, focusing on those living in refugee camps or other unstable settings. It offers ten fields of study: information and computer science, education, psychology, social work, sociology, political science, journalism/communication science, economics, business studies and language and literature. In addition, the university explores the details of the culture and society in Afghanistan.

Similar to most open universities, the AOU has study programs at both bachelor and master levels as well as doctoral training. It employs 60 professors and 60 junior academic staff. In addition, it uses an administrative staff to cover teaching assignments.

Potential Expansion

AOU needs funding to accommodate more students and support future projects, but as of now, it is offering free classes. The Taliban has rejected the AOU’s accreditation request so the university is pursuing it from the European Union.

The university can currently accommodate about 5,000 students, but with limited additional support, it could enroll even more. A physical campus university facility where the students could access a library and a computer system would cost an estimated 30 million euros and require additional funds for scholarship and research development.

Challenges

Although the university is facing challenges including language barriers and the risk of students being caught, the students are determined to continue their education. They remain anonymous and use fake names in order to not be discovered and remain safe. Widespread internet cuts and poor Afghan internet connection negatively impact the number of people served.  To combat that, AOU is recording lectures to reduce the problems caused by these interruptions.  Moreover, students unable to attend classes or complete homework due to internet issues are given deadline extensions.

Looking Ahead

Of course, AOU is not a permanent solution. It is crucial that the rights of Afghan women vastly improve, which includes opening universities to them once again. However, Afghanistan Online University is putting forth commendable effort and giving worthwhile educational opportunities to many individuals.

– Megan Roush
Photo: Flickr

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Combating Human Trafficking in Guinea

Human Trafficking in Guinea
For the third year in a row, in its Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. Department of State ranks Guinea as a Tier 2 Watch List country in 2022 in terms of its efforts to eliminate human trafficking in Guinea. This ranking means “the Government of Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.”

Guinea’s Trafficking Profile

According to the trafficking profile of Guinea, as set out in the 2022 TIP report, “human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Guinea, and traffickers exploit victims from Guinea abroad.” The populations most at risk of sex trafficking and forced labor in Guinea are “individuals in commercial sex, including those from [Economic Community of West African States] and other nations, adults and children working in the informal labor sector, homeless and orphaned children, artisanal miners, children and adults with albinism and persons suffering severe mental illnesses,” the U.S. State Department says.

Traffickers also push both young boys and adults into forced labor in the mining industry. According to Verité, “Guinea also serves as a transit country for children from other West African countries who are forced into gold mining throughout that region.”

Girls and women in Guinea are at risk of ending up in domestic servitude or sex trafficking. Trafficking rings recruit females under the false pretense of work opportunities in a foreign country, subjecting them to forced labor or other exploitive conditions.

Guinea’s Progress

In 2021, the government investigated 46 trafficking cases and continued investigations on 11 incidents from the previous year. Guinean courts convicted 24 traffickers and acquitted one in comparison to 20 convictions in 2020. But out of these convictions, the majority of the traffickers received jail time of 24 months or less and one received only a fine — inadequate punishment considering the seriousness of the crimes.

The government dedicated a budget to the Office for the Protection of Gender, Children and Morals (OPROGEM) “for the first time since 2016” and also provided both finances and land to build new headquarters for OPROGEM. Additionally, the Guinean government, with support from a foreign government and several organizations, provided training to all relevant authorities on “anti-trafficking enforcement procedures, victim referral and investigative techniques related to human trafficking.”

The police and gendarme academy staff also received anti-trafficking skills training guidebooks and the government conducted one training session for prosecutors and judges to learn more about trafficking. Guinea’s government also established an “emergency anti-trafficking national action plan (NAP) to supplement the 2020-2022 NAP.” The creation of a helpline and an increase of resources designated to the anti-trafficking committee (CNLTPPA) also stand as positive steps on the part of the government.

APRIES

The African Programming and Research Initiative to End Slavery (APRIES) is a group of anti-trafficking researchers and advocates. “We use research and the collection of baseline data to identify target populations that are exploited in a trafficking sector and then work with local agencies to implement rigorous anti-trafficking programs and policies,” its website explains. APRIES currently works in Senegal, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

APRIES’ work in Guinea centers around child trafficking victims ages 5 to 16 across the Boké and Mamou regions. The program aims to “provide protection services to child trafficking survivors and ensure the sustainable reintegration of these survivors.” During its first year of work, the program aimed to “serve 65 child survivors at the Sabou Guinée transit center in Boké and 35 child survivors at the FMK transit center in Mamou.” The project also aims to ensure the successful prosecution of child traffickers. The Guinean NGO Les Mêmes Droits pour Tous (“Equal Rights for All”) will serve as a key partner.

With continued efforts on the part of the government and anti-trafficking organizations, the prevalence of human trafficking in Guinea can reduce.

– Lauryn Defreitas
Photo: Flickr

Supporting Orphanages in Mexico

Orphanages in Mexico
According to the International Community Foundation (ICF), Mexico is home to more than 700 orphanages. Around 30,000 of the 400,000 parentless children in Mexico inhabit these orphanages. About 100,000 of Mexico’s orphans are homeless, leaving many kids wandering the streets of Mexico. The lack of housing solutions for orphaned children and the abounding problems that orphanages in Mexico face have led to a crisis that requires urgent intervention.

Negative Coverage of Orphanages

The ICF says, “due to the lack of oversight and accountability for orphanages in Mexico,” there have been reports of poor care and abuse within some orphanages. Orphanages also suffer from a lack of funding, which renders these facilities unable to meet the basic needs of the children within their care. Additionally, because Mexico lacks an official national census of orphaned children, it is difficult to track the whereabouts of these children and monitor their living circumstances.

Unfortunately, due to the negative coverage surrounding orphanages across Mexico, gathering support and funding is even more difficult. However, the ICF says, “As a result of increased awareness domestically and abroad, the Mexican government is under pressure to step up their regulation of orphanages and orphanages have been encouraged to improve their operations.”

The Good News

Despite the negative coverage, there are several legitimate orphanages in Mexico that are committed to providing the best care for orphans so that they may lead prosperous lives as productive members of society. These orphanages require support in order to provide the best possible care to the children under their supervision. In order to identify legitimate orphanages in need of support, the ICF subjects orphanages to a screening and approval process to ensure that there will be no misuse of monetary support.

Casa Hogar de Cabo San Lucas is an example of a legitimate life-changing orphanage operating in Mexico. Casa Hogar houses children from 4 to 18 years old and strives to “educate and elevate.” Its ‘education’ goals include increasing the “academics, life skills, moral values, spiritual values and social values” of the children. While its ‘elevate’ goal is to help children live up to their highest potential and exceed societal expectations and norms.

Corazon de Vida (CDV)

The Corazon de Vida (CDV) is a U.S. nonprofit organization that hopes to work on a large scale to transform the lives of orphans in Baja, Mexico. By providing monthly funding and support to orphanages, the CDV looks to provide shelter, education, quality food and a sense of security to children plagued by homelessness. Currently, CDV works in more than 10 orphanages home to more than 500 youth.

The CDV also runs a program to provide older youth with access to university education. Its website explains the program’s accomplishments: “Our university program currently has 54 plus past orphanage residents in college or technical school and serving as role models to their younger siblings.” The work of the CDV goes beyond impacting one generation of kids to impacting the lives of many by creating positive role models and accomplishable goals for the youth to work toward.

The Importance of Supporting Orphanages

As the ICF says in its article on breaking the cycle of poverty in Mexico, improving education and providing homes for abandoned children is essential in decreasing poverty. By supporting orphanages, children have ample opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient, which can prevent a life of poverty in the future.

– Brooklynn Rich
Photo: Flickr

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5 Startups that are Improving Health in Africa 

Improving Health in Africa
According to a 2021 report by the Africa Health Agenda International Conference Commission, only about 52% of people in Africa have access to essential health services. Furthermore, annually, 97 million individuals in Africa, equating to 8.2% of Africa’s population, bear the burden of “catastrophic healthcare costs.” Each year, about 15 million individuals may fall into circumstances of poverty as a consequence of these out-of-pocket health care costs, the report says. In particular, five startups are committed to improving health in Africa.

5 Startups that are Improving Health in Africa

  1. ApiAfrique. Marina Gning and Jeanne-Aurélie Delaunay began the ApiNapi startup in France in 2020. The startup focused on zero waste and making reusable nappies. Later Marianne Varale, a creator of reusable hygiene products, joined the team. After visiting Senegal with her husband, Gning realized that ApiNapi’s products suit the needs of the Senegalese population. In 2016, she and her husband moved to Senegal and ApiAfrique was born. The startup now produces menstrual hygiene products and baby hygiene supplies that reduce waste and protect health. Also, ApiAfrique creates safe and just working conditions for women. The startup has reduced waste by 4,549 tons, prevented the purchase of 53 million unsustainable disposable napkins and diapers and established 28 job opportunities.
  2. Afia Pharma. This Rwanda-based licensed online pharmacy sells medication at a cheaper price and delivers it to patients’ homes. Its main goal is to make quality medications both accessible and affordable for people all across Africa. By using Afia Pharma, a person can save up to 20% on medications and other products. It also offers a pill reminder service and provides a large selection of more than 4,000 medical products. Afia Pharma provides private advice from a trained pharmacist about sensitive issues like HIV, vaginal discharge, erectile dysfunction and more. The pharmacy runs 24/7 and customers can order medication via WhatsApp, email, website or phone.
  3. MaiSoin. Based in Côte d’Ivoire, MaiSon provides a web and mobile-based platform that simplifies the interaction between patients and health care professionals while gathering information to enhance decision-making and the efficiency of public health interventions. Dédé Zeinabou Cissé, an expert in public health, and her partner, Mario Romero, established the startup. The co-founders have a combined 15 years of experience in undertaking community-based public health projects for NGOs around the world. During this time, they recognized a problem across health clinics in Africa — patients cannot book appointments. Instead, patients have to come to the clinic at a certain time and wait in line for hours, which deters people from visiting medical centers. MaiSoin allows people to book an appointment with a skilled health professional in Abidjan without having to spend hours in a waiting room. MaiSoin’s goal is to eliminate obstacles and increase peoples’ access to health care.
  4. Urukundo Initiative. The Urukundo (“love” in Kinyarwanda) Initiative is a social company that a team of four young individuals with medical backgrounds created in 2019. The team created Rwanda’s first licensed evidence-based health education board game that helps initiate a conversation about sexual and reproductive health with young people. The game focuses on educating the younger generation on teen pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. The game can be played in school or at home if parents wish to educate their kids about sexual and reproductive health without fear of embarrassment. The startup also has a Urukundo Board Game Center in Kigali, Rwanda, where anyone can play the game and get advice about sexual/reproductive health.
  5. OPISMS. This startup is located in Côte d’Ivoire, established by four co-founders in 2012. It is an online tool that keeps track of vaccinations and sends out notifications for future vaccinations. Parents and medical professionals can easily verify and monitor vaccine administrations with the help of the electronic vaccination record. Also, users who sign up for the program can also get voicemail and SMS reminders. To sum it all up, the platform strives to improve mother and child health care and decrease childhood disease-related mortality.

Looking Ahead

These startups are committed to improving health in Africa through creativity, technology and innovation. Their continued work should only enhance the quality of health in Africa going forward.

– Elizaveta Medvedkina
Photo: Unsplash

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Addressing Rising Child Poverty in Eastern Europe

 Child Poverty in Eastern Europe
The uncertainty of the Russo-Ukrainian war looms over Europe, affecting trade routes, education and the overall state of the continent. For adults, the conflict is a mere reminder of the post-Soviet Union tensions and Russian aggression that frequent the region. For children, it is a catalyst that causes them to slip deeper into poverty. Child poverty in Eastern Europe is skyrocketing during the Ukrainian war. Fortunately, as rates of child poverty in eastern Europe grow, the efforts to subdue those rising rates are increasing as well.

Causes of Child Poverty

In October 2022, UNICEF reported that an additional 4 million children across Central Asia and Eastern Europe have ended up in poverty, a 19% jump since 2021. Russia accounts for 75% of the entire increase. Ukraine reports 500,000 newly impoverished children. With the third-highest increase, Romania reports about 110,000 new children in poverty.

A 2017 study that the European Parliament conducted found that “poverty often remains a legacy that is inherited.” That is, children born into poverty are more likely to stay in it. A parent’s working status and education help determine child poverty outcomes. At least 50% of children whose parents attained low levels of education were at risk of poverty in 2021. This risk doubles if a child lives in a single-parent household or a large family.

Effects of War on Child Poverty

Though the Russo-Ukrainian war has launched millions into poverty, it is the children who it has most affected. Child poverty in Eastern Europe stood at 40%. Constant warfare has increased the cost of goods all over Europe, and in some parts, the prices have inflated significantly. Eastern Europe’s inflation rose to a 17% average, with Hungary’s rates teetering at 25%, increasing the overall price of goods.

Ukraine is one of the EU’s largest trading partners, with nearly 40% contributing to the totality of EU’s trade in 2021. Many also regard it as Europe’s breadbasket. Russia is another trade capital that is the world’s second-largest oil producer. Almost 12% of the world’s oil exports come from Russia. The inflation that the war caused is one of the reasons for heightened rates of child poverty in Eastern Europe. Because most poor families spend their income on essential items, their children are at risk of not having certain necessities as consumer prices continue to increase. The war displaced many children. Learning institutions have been in the crossfire of the conflict, resulting in their closing and the interruption of childhood education. 

The Solutions to End Child Poverty in Eastern Europe

In March 2022, Pierre-Alain Fridez released a report on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly. The report outlines solutions to ending child poverty and examines alternative approaches to the issue. These include increasing the amount of funding appropriated for the common goal of alleviating child poverty and reinforcing EU member states’ commitment to the updated version of the European Social Charter. It also means getting those who have yet to ratify the Charter to do so.

Parliamentary encourages the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, an initiative focused on granting children equal access to childcare, education and housing. The Guarantee began in an attempt to curate a more equal society and close the gaps between the drawing up of a plan and its execution. To meet this goal, the European Social Network enlisted the help of the EU which seeks to place an emphasis on the Guarantee’s five major components. Through the Guarantee, children will receive formal recognition as a deprived group whose needs will help tailor specific policies, recommendations and fund allocation. UNICEF aims to end child poverty. So far, it has introduced and incorporated the Social Protection Strategy, a scheme that provides children with social assistance benefits that help increase the standard of living while also lowering child poverty rates. In recent years, it has partnered with other governments and humanitarian organizations including the World Bank. It treats child poverty on a case-by-case basis. This means monitoring trends and analyzing data about child poverty to create an approach that best serves a particular country.

– Dorothy Quanteh
Photo: Flickr

The Link Between Literacy and Child Mortality

Literacy and Child Mortality
While many might not think there is a connection between child mortality and literacy, there most certainly is. In fact, a closer look at the link between literacy and child mortality indicates that the more educated a woman is, the higher the chance of her baby’s survival.

Global Child Mortality and Literacy

Child mortality refers to the number of children that die before reaching age 5 per every 1,000 live births. This issue is prevalent to some degree everywhere around the world, but some regions have higher rates of child mortality than others. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global child mortality rates have significantly improved since 1990, reducing from 93 per 1,000 live births to 37 in 2020.

In terms of global literacy, the ability to read and write, today the rate stands at 87% in comparison to 12% in 1820. However, strong regional disparities still exist — countries in sub-Saharan Africa still have the lowest literacy rates. For instance, in Mali, literacy rates decreased to 31% in 2020 due to the disruption of conflicts. Additionally, South Sudan’s literacy rate stood at 35% and Afghanistan noted a 37% rate.

The Link

According to research from the Harvard Kennedy School, when a woman can read and write, her child has a 36% higher chance of living past the age of 5 than if the mother was illiterate. In fact, when mothers receive a basic education (six years of schooling and the ability to read and write), child mortality rates drop 68%. Furthermore, for women in this same study with no education whatsoever, “38.5% have had a child die.”

Unfortunately, many individuals in developing countries do not receive a quality education even if they complete many years of schooling. An Annual Status of Education Report assessing students aged 14 to 18 in rural India found that even though “[more than] 80[%] had completed grade 8, roughly half or less could do simple division, calculate how much a price discount of 10[%]would save them, follow simple instructions or understood measuring length with a ruler.”

Many developing countries do not have the funds to pay for high-skilled educators, training and quality educational materials, which leads to a subpar classroom experience. This creates a cycle: when the quality of education is low, families become reluctant to use their minimal resources to send their children to school, leading to another generation of uneducated people. Still, attending school has proven to be beneficial in the sense of lowering child mortality.

Women and the Effects of Schooling

Education empowers women in developing countries by giving them the tools and knowledge to make informed choices throughout their lives. But, research also shows that attending school, aside from just the knowledge one attains, also helps women to build social networks, which is very important in empowering women.

An educated woman understands how to take care of herself and her unborn baby during pregnancy and knows how to detect early warning signs of complications so that she may seek assistance from a health care professional.

Education also increases women’s bargaining power within their own houses, which, in turn, decreases their risk of domestic violence and helps improve the quality of life of the women and children.

Despite various issues with education in developing countries, there are still many benefits women receive from an education. These benefits directly correlate with higher chances of survival for their children, showing a link between literacy and child mortality.

– Evelyn Breitbach
Photo: Flickr