Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Spiritual Chords: Building Houses in Pakistan after Devastating Floods

Houses in Pakistan
An NGO based in South Africa, Spiritual Chords, is supplying bamboo houses in Pakistan that can withstand natural disasters as the previous architecture was vulnerable to destruction from flooding and earthquakes. In terms of climate vulnerability, in 2019, the Inform Risk Index ranked Pakistan 18 out of 191 countries, equating to a very high disaster risk level.

Spiritual Chords

Spiritual Chords is an organization founded for the sole purpose of assisting those affected adversely by natural disasters. Its main focus is on South Africa but it aids inhabitants of struggling countries across the world. Sustainable development is important to the organization’s mission and is at the core of each project it fosters. Therefore, Spiritual Chords makes changes in progressive ways utilizing readily available resources meant to last generations.

Goals and Programs

Spiritual Chords has developed a variety of programs to meet the needs of people affected by natural disasters living in countries with a lack of resources. It recognizes the importance of education in the development of a country’s wealth, and therefore, runs many projects centered around improving the education of underprivileged children. It also aids members of communities with health care and emergency relief directly following a natural disaster. In addition to these activities, Spiritual Chords helps to advance the development of clean water resources, sanitation, housing and community initiatives.

Flooding in Pakistan

Pakistan stands as an example of the impacts of natural disasters on an already struggling country. In 2011, Pakistan suffered from disastrous flooding. This flooding demolished housing, destroyed resources and exacerbated existing conditions of poverty. In 2011, 36.3% of the population in Pakistan lived under the national poverty line.

UNICEF reported that the flooding impacted close to 5.06 million Pakistani people and led to the destruction of 460,000 homes in Pakistan, resulting in mass displacement in affected areas. Because of this, Pakistan required outside aid to help people meet their needs for safe drinking water, food and shelter. Although it has been years since the 2011 floods, the effects still linger. Because Pakistan is highly susceptible to annual natural disasters, it is integral to build lasting housing that can withstand the effects of flooding.

Spiritual Chords’ Work in Pakistan

Recognizing this need, Spiritual Chords began the work of rebuilding houses in Pakistan in 2013. With the help of Yasmin Lari, the first female architect in Pakistan, Spiritual Chords developed a concept design. It focused on using bamboo because structures built with this material can withstand flooding. In Pakistan, in the aftermath of flooding, water damage destroyed mud brick structures, however, structures built with bamboo faced minimal harm. The design was simple yet effective and development began shortly after. In the years since, Spiritual Chords has assisted in the installation of handpumps, wells, non-electric stoves and toilets.

A recent collaboration between the Pakistani government and internal NGOs has sparked a newfound interest in this project. Safeeyaah Moosa, the founder of Spiritual Chords, told Outlook India in January 2023 that these new developments “have the potential of making 5,000 houses a month.” This work will continue to benefit Pakistan’s inhabitants for generations.

Looking Ahead

Spiritual Chords’ mission is to aid those struggling as a result of natural disasters and it accomplishes this by implementing positive programming. The programs focus on issues including housing, water/sanitation, health care, community building and education. In Pakistan, a country suffering from the long-term effects of flooding, Spiritual Chords provided materials to build sustainable bamboo houses in Pakistan. Because this architecture is meant to withstand the effects of flooding, it will be a long-term solution for the inhabitants of the country.

– Hailey Dooley
Photo: Flickr

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The Increase in Child Poverty in Ukraine

Increase in Child Poverty
The Russia-Ukraine war has devastated the world since the invasion began in February 2022. It has halted economies and supply chains and as recent findings have shown, the war has caused a sharp increase in poverty. As a UNICEF report found, poverty will likely increase significantly in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as a result of the war between Ukraine and Russia. Children bear the brunt of the increase in poverty, as an estimated 4 million children will likely end up in poverty – a 19% increase since 2021. Here is some information about the increasing child poverty in Ukraine.

The Cause of Poverty

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia region (ECA) is dependent on Russia and Ukraine for many essential goods and sources of income, such as food, fertilizer, trade and tourism. For the last two decades, the region has been growing economically. However, several recent economic crises have stifled economic growth. The war followed the 2020 pandemic, which brought about an increase in economic instability and market disruption. The war has exacerbated these issues and has also caused increases in the price of fuel and food. This has caused a decrease in disposable income and social and economic protection from the government, all of which have left families with children disproportionally impacted.

In addition, since the beginning of the war, more than 3 million people have escaped war-torn Ukraine. Half of these refugees are children, with the U.N. estimating that one child per second becomes a refugee of the war. As these refugees flee to nearby European countries, they are much more susceptible to falling into poverty.

Effects of Child Poverty

Along with an increase in child poverty, UNICEF reported a higher rate of infant mortality, estimating that an additional 4,500 children will die before their first birthday in 2022. UNICEF also reported that more children are likely to drop out of school, with an estimated two in 2,000 children likely to miss a year of school in 2022.

In addition, poor children are much more likely to feel the impacts of fuel poverty, hunger, abuse and child marriage. Child poverty also impacts a child’s future, as one in three children who grow up in poverty will continue to live in poverty for the rest of their lives. This will continue to lead to a cycle of generational poverty that will affect children and families long after the war ends.

Fighting Poverty in the ECA

Child poverty in Ukraine significantly impacts children, their families and the economy. However, it is possible to prevent and mitigate child poverty in Ukraine. In its report, UNICEF outlines a framework that, if implemented, could significantly reduce child poverty rates and protect families from financial distress. The framework includes introducing price regulation on food items for families. It also calls for expanding social systems, such as universal cash benefits and social assistance to families with children. In addition, UNICEF plans to continue highlighting the importance of health and medical care to infants, mothers and children.

Moreover, UNICEF has partnered with several EU countries to launch the EU Child Guarantee. This initiative aims to decrease child poverty and provide opportunities enabling children to succeed in adulthood. Some options include free early childhood education, free healthcare and adequate housing. By providing these opportunities, the EU hopes to ensure equal opportunities for all and stop the cycle of poverty at its roots.

– Padma Balaji
Photo: Flickr
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9 Facts About Christopher Hohn’s Philanthropy

Christopher Hohn’s Philanthropy
Sir Christopher Hohn is a well-known hedge fund manager and founder of TCI Management Fund. However, he is also one of the most prominent philanthropists in the world, establishing the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation which is dedicated to alleviating child poverty worldwide. Hohn’s net worth as of 2022 sits at $8.21 billion, the majority of which he has committed to charity. Here are nine facts about Christopher Hohn’s philanthropy.

9 Facts About Christopher Hohn’s Philanthropy

  1. Christopher Hohn’s Beginnings: Christopher Hohn was born in October 1966 in Addlestone, Surrey. He became a hedge fund manager while completing his bachelor’s degree.
  2. The Origins of Hohn’s Philanthropy: Hohn studied Economics and Accounting at the University of Southampton and received his MBA from Harvard University in 1993. In 2003, Hohn left Perry Partners to found his hedge fund, TCI Fund Management, along with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). With its founding, Christopher Hohn’s philanthropy would begin to take shape and make immense contributions to his goals of helping children across the world escape poverty. Hohn’s wife encouraged Christopher to conduct his philanthropic work publicly because “she was against starting a fund just to make money for myself,” he says. “She said if you [did the philanthropic pledge] publicly, it would encourage other people.”
  3. The Knighthood: Christopher Hohn’s philanthropy earned him a knighthood in 2014. As a hedge fund manager of a company that managed billions of dollars, he separated himself from most other hedge fund managers entering the market, due to his active approach to charitable policies through his TCI Fund Management and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
  4. About the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropy that focuses on improving the lives of children in developing countries. Since its inception, CIFF has established offices in Addis Ababa, Beijing, Nairobi, London and New Delhi and has also worked with other organizations to help children out of poverty.
  5. CIFF’s Offices: CIFF individually established these offices to collaborate with partners within those countries, to facilitate the organization’s goal of alleviating child poverty. For example, CIFF’s office in Nairobi underwent establishment in 2009, and the Addis Ababa office emerged in 2019. CIFF established its offices in Ethiopia for initiatives like WASH and NTDs, along with its regional investments, such as Girl Capital, all with the intention of alleviating child poverty. Similarly, CIFF’s office in Delhi (established in 2007), currently based in Rajasthan, aids India in promoting child health and development. The CIFF office there also supports the India National Deworming Programme, which works for the complete elimination of worms in children there.
  6. Climate Investments: In 2019, CIFF also established an office in Beijing, where it works with multiple partners to address changing weather patterns; it specifically focuses on sustainable development and a low-carbon economy. In London, CIFF’s offices focus on climate investments through involvement with EU policy-making and further involvement with local campaigns. In September 2019, CIFF launched the Clean Air Fund at the U.N. General Assembly, which focuses on the quality of air in India, the U.K. and Eastern Europe.
  7. Partnership with UNICEF: During Global Citizen Live in September 2021, CIFF partnered with UNICEF to pledge $50 million towards improving child nutrition, with a specific focus on tackling “child wasting,” a severe form of malnutrition that affects 47 million children worldwide and multiplies their risk of death in comparison to healthier children. CIFF’s collaboration with UNICEF resulted from the Global Action Plan (GAP) on wasting, a plan that UNICEF pioneered. The initiative employs a “holistic approach” that combines prevention, treatment and early detection methods. It also allows countries to unlock matched funding to treat child wasting.
  8. Other Efforts with UNICEF: In August 2021, CIFF also collaborated with UNICEF to raise $13 million for UNICEF’s Soccer Aid campaign, with proceedings going towards initiatives that fight child-wasting. Funds from the campaign also help UNICEF provide vaccines, safe spaces and proper nutrition for children.
  9. Recent Efforts: Sir Christopher Hohn’s work has contributed $2 billion to charity, and he has also pledged most of his net worth to these causes. In 2021, CIFF, in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, ELMA and other philanthropies, committed $130 million to help maintain essential health programs.

Success to Date

Christopher Hohn’s philanthropic work, through the TCI Management Fund and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, has made great strides in helping children across the world escape poverty. These organizations, in partnership with other philanthropies, have contributed billions of dollars to ensure that children across the world can escape hunger and poverty.

– Arijit Joshi
Photo: Flickr

Renewable Energy in Somalia

Renewable Energy in Somalia
In recent years, renewable energy in Somalia has brought electricity to some of the poorest regions. “Previously, when we paid for the diesel and the worker’s wages, we couldn’t break even and sometimes we made a loss. But now we are making profits,” a Somali local farmer, Halima Abdulle Gabow, tells Deutsche Welle about the solar panels on her farm. The country started the move toward renewable energy in about 2016 and about 10% of its energy now comes from renewable sources. Renewable energy in Somalia has become a solution uniquely suitable to Somalia’s low electricity accessibility.

Civil War and Somalia’s Shattered Power Infrastructure

When the 1991 uprising threw Somalia into a lasting civil war, the nationalized energy infrastructure was completely privatized overnight without regulation. What happened immediately was a total blackout with almost no electricity accessible to the country. In 2009, when conflicting factions signed a peace treaty in congress to establish an effective coalition government, the electricity accessibility rate increased in one year from 25% to 52%. However, the situation has remained stagnant since 2009. In 2020, almost half of the population lacked access to electricity and only one-third of the rural population had access to electricity.

According to a Stimson Center research study that Abdirahman Aynte and Eugene Chen conducted, the lack of nationwide energy planning renders Somalia to regional private power grids that are disconnected, unregulated and overlapping. These mini power grids mostly rely on diesel generators and, to operate, these generators demand diesel at their dispersed power plants. Guerilla warfare, poor traffic infrastructure and the current Russo-Ukrainian war all contribute to the high cost of diesel in unstable areas. As a result, electricity prices in Somalia are extremely expensive and volatile. Depending on the region, the price can vary from $0.30 per kWh to $1.00 per kWh, starkly contrasting neighboring Ethiopia’s price of $0.06 per kWh.

Renewable Energy Suitability for Somalia

The scorching and consistent sunshine combined with ideal windy conditions means Somalia holds great renewable energy potential. The Stimson Center explains that “Somalia has the highest resource potential for onshore wind power in Africa and the country experiences 3,000 hours of sunlight per year with daily solar radiation ranging between 5-7 kWh/m2 per day, which equates to strong solar photovoltaic electricity generation capacity.” Furthermore, Somalia “could potentially produce up to 45,000 MW from wind and 2,000 MW from solar power.”

But beyond geographical reasons, renewable energy presents a solution to Somalia’s disorganized energy infrastructure and its unstable political situation. According to Aynte and Chen’s research, there are three reasons why renewable energy is suitable for Somalia.

First, because of the lack of an integrated power grid, renewable energy has a comparative advantage over diesel generators. Unlike diesel generators, solar and wind power plants do not require fuel and local electric service providers can often repair solar panels on-site. The low logistical demand gives solar energy an advantage as Somalia also does not have a comprehensive transportation infrastructure.

Second, the ease of logistical demand makes renewable electricity supply a more reliable solution in conflict areas. Extremist groups such as al-Shabab control a substantial portion of Somalia’s main supply routes and fuel transportation becomes jeopardized. As renewable energy does not rely on constant refueling, areas with renewable energy enjoy a more stable electricity supply.

Finally, the competitive nature of the electricity market attracts electrical providers to renewable energy sources. As private power grids are positioned closely one against another, often overlapping each other, the energy market of Somalia is extremely competitive. Electricity providers have to seek the most competitive business model to survive the vibrant competition. And, renewable energy is the most economical power source for the reasons listed above.

The Future of Renewable Energy in Somalia

Moving forward, renewable energy in Somalia still faces some obstacles to developing scalable electric infrastructure. According to Somalia’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources official, despite the success of renewable energy in Somalia, there is no replacement for an integrated nationwide power grid. While currently, remote areas gain their rudimentary access to electricity through mini-power grids, mini-power grids are ultimately unable to sustain the demand of future vibrant economic activities.

But, Somalia is already seeing visible gains through renewable energy initiatives. According to the World Bank, through the Somalia Business Catalytic Fund, solar company Solargen was able to begin an initiative to provide affordable solar power access to vendors, businesses and other entities in the town of Warsheikh and create more than 2,200 jobs through these businesses.

According to Aynte and Chen’s research, switching to wind turbines has successfully reduced electricity costs by almost 40% in the city of Garowe, while providing cost-free electricity to power streetlights, healthcare facilities, police stations and religious institutions.

Even though renewable energy in Somalia is still in its infancy, the significant cost benefit of renewable energy has already made an impression on impoverished Somalis.

– Peiyi Yu
Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Russia

Charities Operating in Russia
Through the work of five charities operating in Russia, vulnerable people are able to receive health care support and treatment as well as assistance in instances of abuse and exploitation. Here is information about these five charities operating in Russia.

5 Charities Operating in Russia

  1. INGI. Crisis Centre for Women. This nonprofit organization was established in 1992 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Its main goal is to support women who are victims of several types of violence, discrimination and human trafficking in Russia. According to France24, “Russia in 2017 decriminalized certain forms of domestic violence, classifying them as an administrative offense and not a crime.” The organization provides psychological help for women who have suffered from abuse; interacts with state and local authorities; draws attention to women’s rights through media; creates and carries out women’s rights lectures and seminars; organizes charity auctions and events to raise money and offers legal support in court, among other efforts. From January to August 2022, the INGI. Crisis Centre received 5,346 requests from women in need and 3,660 people requested online consultation services. In addition, 126,148 women used the “P.O.L.I.N.A” platform (a tool that helps women access essential services and assistance) and the organization provided 345 instances of legal advisory services.
  2. Podari Zhizn. This charity foundation helps to ensure child cancer patients in Russia are able to access high-quality cancer treatment regardless of economic status. Podari Zhizn pays the costs of treatment for children with “oncological, hematological and other challenging conditions and illnesses,” its website says. Also, the foundation supplies medical facilities with equipment, medication and blood donations. When it comes to families with ill kids, the organization pays for transportation and accommodation expenses and offers legal and psychological support. In 2021 alone, the foundation provided assistance to almost 7,750 young patients. Podari Zhizn has two partner organizations, in the U.S. and the U.K.
  3. EVA. Established in Saint Petersburg in 2010 by activists, the EVA Association became the first organization in Russia to focus its efforts toward “[protecting] women who are affected by the HIV epidemic and other socially significant diseases.” The EVA Association brings together “63 activists and specialists and [five] non-commercial organizations from 39 cities across Russia.” In Russia, there are more than 500,000 HIV-positive women. And, many members of EVA are also navigating through life with HIV. All donor funds are spent on programs: “the breastfeeding support program for HIV-positive mothers, HIV prevention among drug users [and] the center for the development of activism,” the EVA website says. Over the years EVA has implemented more than 50 projects in the areas of peer counseling, HIV testing and prevention, parenting and “development of nonprofits and activism.”
  4. Lighthouse Charity Foundation. This Foundation was founded by Nyuta Federmesser and Lida Moniava in 2018 to support “children’s hospices in Moscow and the Moscow Region.” It also offers help and assistance to those families who decide to “transfer critically ill children to their homes” for care. On an annual basis, Lighthouse Charity Foundation projects support around 1,000 families whose kids suffer from critical illnesses. The Foundation consists of more than 300 professionals and 300 volunteers. In 2021, its budget stood at 950 million rubles — only 20% came from government funding and 80% came from donations “from ordinary citizens.” In 2022, the Foundation raised about 896 million rubles but still requires 960 million rubles considering it has 811 children receiving its care services.
  5. Hospice Charity Fund VERA. This nonprofit operating in Russia since 2006 supports the provision of “palliative and hospice care for children, adults and elderly.” Unfortunately, the “Russian state medical and social system does not cover care” for patients with terminal illnesses, VERA explains. Hospices receive support through charitable contributions only. Back in 2006, VERA had just four employees and one institution it supported. Over 16 years, VERA has contributed to developments in professional palliative care in Russia and now has more than 60 employees providing support to more than 30 hospices around the country.

These five charities operating in Russia, though not the only ones in existence, play a significant role in helping the most marginalized and vulnerable groups of people requiring aid and assistance.

– Elizaveta Medvedkina
Photo: Unsplash

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How Innovations in Tsunami Technology can Help Coastal Populations Globally 

Innovations in Tsunami Technology
Tsunamis are dangerous natural disasters that affect populations on coastlines and contribute to increases in global poverty. Two teams of researchers in Japan and Australia are looking into new innovations in tsunami technology, hoping to decrease some of these negative effects.

Negative Impacts of Tsunamis on Coastal Populations

The effects of tsunamis can vary depending on their size and location. Tsunamis of a large magnitude can cause extreme destruction to a country’s infrastructure, housing and transportation systems. In poorer nations, where architecture is not as robust, the destruction of buildings can be devastating. In addition, tsunamis can also cause loss of life and increase the spread of waterborne diseases. Moreover, tsunamis can also damage natural resources and water supplies. 

In addition to the safety impacts, tsunamis impose hefty financial costs on nations. After a tsunami, money is necessary to repair the damage and provide support to communities and rescue teams. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (UN OCHA) research found that “Tsunamis account for $280 billion in economic losses over [the] last twenty years.” Nations in states of poverty have a hard time providing monetary aid and require support from external organizations. This is why a single event can cause massive distress within a country, especially those with high poverty rates. 

Warning Systems and Detection in Japan

Japan is an example of a country that suffers from the negative impacts of tsunamis. The nation celebrated World Tsunami Awareness Day on November 5th and hopes to use new research to strengthen communication systems and preparedness, to uncover innovations in tsunami technology. The best way to minimize casualties is communication. Once people become aware of a possible tsunami, they can move to safer areas. In addition, Japan has implemented a new system that relies on drones for detection. Earlier detection also correlates with decreased effects because nations can prepare for impact more effectively. Innovations within this field, therefore, have the potential to save human lives. 

Satellite Research in Australia

An Australian research team has published research on the potential for using satellites to map out oceanic activity. This innovation in tsunami technology utilizes atmospheric waves to locate a surface activity that is at risk of causing a potential tsunami. Satellites can also map out paths of tsunamis approaching land. This information can allow countries to anticipate disasters and protect their citizens and infrastructure. 

Benefits of These Innovations

Research in Japan and Australia provides increased preparedness for tsunamis. Innovations in both communication and detection can help countries mitigate the effects of this dangerous natural disaster. Although we cannot prevent tsunamis altogether, these innovations can help decrease fatalities and destruction. 

Both innovations in tsunami technology can be expanded and used globally to decrease negative impacts from potentially deadly tsunamis and minimize negative economic repercussions.

– Hailey Dooley
Photo: Flickr

Current Challenges For Indigenous Communities in Latin America

Indigenous Communities in Latin America
Data from 2014 shows that there are 58.2 million Indigenous people and 826 different ethnic groups in Latin America. Due to marginalization and discrimination, the current challenges for Indigenous communities in Latin America include a lack of access to quality education, inadequate access to health care services, low internet access and land appropriation.

Challenges for Indigenous Communities in Latin America

  • Health. Life expectancy among Indigenous peoples is up to 20 years lower than non-Indigenous people, according to the United Nations, due to disease outbreaks. A lack of access to treatment and quality health care due to poverty and marginalization also plays a significant role. In particular, “Indigenous peoples experience disproportionately high levels of maternal and infant mortality, malnutrition, cardiovascular illnesses, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis,” the U.N. reports. In fact, more than half of Indigenous adults suffer from type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, maternal mortality is a very concerning issue that affects mothers and newborns because of low access to hospitals and the lack of available doctors/trained professionals. In Guatemala, for example, in 2008, skilled professionals attended only about 30% of the births involving Indigenous women.
  • Education. Education is a proven pathway out of oppression, marginalization and poverty. According to Article 14 of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, “Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning.” Yet, one of the current challenges for Indigenous communities in Latin America is the lack of access to quality education at all levels and low completion rates. In 2016, 85% of Indigenous children in Latin America participated in secondary education but just 40% finished their secondary education.
  • Access to the Internet. The OECD says the “Internet is the backbone of the digital economy, it underpins much of the world’s social activity and it is a powerful catalyst for innovation, economic growth and social well-being.” Among other benefits, the internet increases access to education, job opportunities and information and allows for the dissemination of information and news. But, Indigenous peoples lack access to the internet and digital tools required to thrive in an increasingly digital world. For example, in Ecuador and Peru, non-indigenous households have access to the internet “six times greater” than Indigenous communities.
  • Land Appropriation. Indigenous people have faced issues concerning land rights in the territories belonging to them. Apart from territorial invasions and forced displacements, deforestation as well as construction and mining activities affect Indigenous peoples’ rights to preserve their lands. In most of these situations, major companies are involved. Indigenous communities have faced violence from people looking to exploit the land’s resources. Data indicates that Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras saw 2,109 incidents of “communities affected by extractive industries and their associated activities” between 2017 and 2021.

The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)

The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to defending and upholding “Indigenous Peoples’ individual and collective rights.” Its primary goal is to promote, respect and safeguard “Indigenous Peoples’ rights to land, territories and resources.”

The IWGIA was founded in 1968 when a group of concerned scholars became aware of the genocide against Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon. The IWGIA is currently working in different areas, such as climate change, land appropriation and global governance.

Safeguarding Land Rights and Amplifying Voices

In terms of displacement and land appropriation/dispossession, IWGIA explains the far-reaching consequences: “Land dispossession will lead to the loss of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional livelihood practices and the inter-generational transfer of Indigenous knowledge and will undermine their social organization, traditional institutions and cultural and spiritual practices; all of which can cause poverty, food insecurity, social disintegration and loss of identity and human dignity.” For these reasons, IWGIA’s “strategic focus areas” for 2021 to 2025 involve documenting violations, advocating for accountability and protection and empowering and supporting Indigenous people to “defend their land rights and to achieve land tenure security.”

The IWGIA wants to ensure Indigenous people’s voices are heard at an international level and that Indigenous people participate in important decision-making processes. In 2021, IWGIA produced 58 articles, podcasts and videos to raise awareness of Indigenous rights and spoke to nine different universities to disseminate this information. The IWGIA also participated in 20 United Nations meetings and made efforts by “facilitating events, providing information and supporting Indigenous Peoples’ participation.”

Despite ongoing marginalization and discrimination, human rights advocates and organizations continue to fight for the rights of vulnerable Indigenous communities.

– Elena Luisetto
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Recent Developments for Renewable Energy in Saudi Arabia

Renewable Energy in Saudi Arabia
“You either get ahead [of changing weather patterns] or you are going to be buried by it,” suggested Saudi Arabia’s Climate Change Envoy at the COP27 conference in December 2022. This underscored the continued push toward renewable energy in Saudi Arabia as part of its Vision 2030 plan. Despite possessing around 17% of the world’s petroleum reserves, Saudi Arabia has considered diversifying its energy mix through investments in green technology and using its natural abundance of wind and sunlight. However, levels of crude oil production currently remain unchanged.

Saudi Arabia’s Circular Carbon Economy

The Saudi government is promoting a “circular carbon economy” — where actions offset carbon emissions rather than reducing output. The Kingdom set up the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) to facilitate the pursuit of these goals. Through NREP, the Saudi government plans to transition 50% of its domestic energy supply to renewable sources by 2030. The government conceived the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) as a framework for the Kingdom’s “green transition,” in line with the core aims of Vision 2030. The initiative seeks to:

  • Increase the percentage of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia’s domestic energy mix.
  • Reduce the country’s carbon emissions by more than 278 megatons per annum.
  • Help cut global methane emissions by 30% before 2030, in accordance with the Global Methane Pledge.

The SGI includes plans to plant 10 billion trees and restore 40 million hectares of degraded land over the coming decades as well as increase the size of the country’s protected wildlife and coastal areas. In terms of the expansion of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom seeks to harness the power of its natural resources, utilizing infrastructure funded through a mixture of public and private sector investment.

Solar energy, the centerpiece of Saudi Arabia’s energy transition, has become increasingly important to the country’s domestic energy supply in recent years. The cost of solar power production decreased by around 90% over the last decade, making it a cheaper alternative to oil. As part of the Kingdom’s plans to install 41 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2032, new solar farms such as the Sakaka Solar Power Plant are being built. Sakaka, which opened in April 2021, uses photovoltaic energy to generate electricity, boasting 1.2 million solar panels over 6 square kilometers of land. The site’s 300-megawatt capacity is enough to power 44,000 houses. Additionally, the solar farm holds the world record for the lowest cost in the photovoltaic energy sector.

Wind energy, another locally abundant resource, is supplementing this solar push. The first wind farm in Saudi Arabia, the Dumat Al Jandal wind farm, was connected to the national grid at the end of 2021 and began producing energy. It is the largest wind farm in the Middle East. Like Sakaka, Dumat Al Jandal is one of many similar wind projects. It has the ability to power up to 70,000 households.

Recent Developments in Saudi Arabia’s Climate Plans

In September 2022, Saudi Arabia announced the launch of five new renewable energy projects: three wind projects and two solar projects. These projects are part of NREP and will have a total capacity of 3,300 megawatts. At COP27, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz announced three more projects plus a greenhouse gas credit scheme for 2023 and the creation of a “Circular Carbon Economy Knowledge Hub.” The hub aims to foster international collaboration in circular carbon technology and facilitate the sharing of information and best practices by state- and private-sector actors.

Criticisms of Saudi Arabia’s Climate Initiatives

There are a number of critics of Saudi Arabia’s climate plan, particularly its plan for a circular carbon economy. The world authority on energy, the International Energy Agency, stated oil and gas investments must stop immediately if the world is going to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. This statement contradicts the premise of a circular carbon economy.

There are also concerns about the practicality and economic viability of the carbon capture technology that the Saudis are currently promoting on a large scale. Climate activists suggest that the push toward renewable energy in Saudi Arabia is a superficial attempt to “greenwash” the country’s reputation, meaning mislead the public into thinking something is good for the environment when it is not, rather than address the real issues. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Matthew Archer, a researcher at the Graduate Institute Geneva, called the circular carbon economy plan “dangerous and delusional.”

Climate Initiatives and Job Creation

Regardless of whether Saudi Arabia’s energy transition impacts changing weather patterns, the economic effects are clear. According to the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council, the Kingdom’s renewable energy sector could generate up to 750,000 jobs by 2030 as long as it remains a priority. The government plans to localize the sector with the aim of 40-45% of the workforce consisting of Saudi nationals by 2028. For example, 97% of Sakaka’s employees are Saudi Arabian, allowing for employment for locals with a range of skill levels.

Financial commitments, large-scale initiatives, and the construction of wind and solar farms across the nation show commitment to renewable energy. In Saudi Arabia, however, it is still too soon to tell whether the policies will be effective.

– Thomas Everill
Photo: Flickr

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Inflation in Brazil: Addressing Food Insecurity in Brazil

Food Insecurity in Brazil
Despite being the third largest exporter of agricultural commodities, Brazil is now suffering a food crisis caused by inflation. In 2022, inflation triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine exacerbated hunger in Brazil. The inflation rate in Brazil stood at 13.9% in the middle of 2022, according to the World Bank. According to a Brazilian press article by correspondent Anne Vigna in June 2022, 33.1 million Brazilians endure hunger and 30% of families are at risk of food shortages. Furthermore, the sanctions against Russia have affected the supply of fertilizers, which are essential to Brazilian agriculture and food production. When vital products are restricted and the exports-imports are reduced, the prices go up. Social Good Brazil and the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence are committed to addressing food insecurity in Brazil.

“Regarding inflation [in Brazil], consumer prices remain high, with increases spread among several components and continue to be more persistent than anticipated. Over the 12-month period ended in July [2022], consumer inflation reached 10.1%,” said Central Bank of Brazil Governor Roberto Campos Neto in an interview with Global Finance on September 27, 2022.

Inflation in Brazil: Food Shortage

“Hiking prices lead to loss of purchasing power of households and food insecurity. In Brazil, the costs of food increased by 13.43[%] in the 12 months to August 2022,” the World Bank reports. In 2022, severe food insecurity in Brazil stood at 9%, but in 2022, severe food insecurity has risen to 15.5%.

According to Campos Neto, “disruptions in supply chains generated by COVID-19 and in energy and food markets caused by the war in Ukraine, may lead to higher or more persistent inflation and more aggressive monetary policy tightening in major economies.” Campos Neto explains that long periods of high inflation may put countries at risk of economic deceleration.

Brazil is responsible for 8% of fertilizer consumption worldwide and is the “world’s fourth-largest fertilizer importer,” according to Farmdocdaily. Roughly one-fifth of these imports come from Russia. As a result of sanctions applied against Russia, Brazil now suffers from a lack of fertilizers, such as phosphorous and nitrogen, which are essential for crops. According to an article by Brazilian journalist Julio Bravo in May 2022, the cost of fertilizer per ton rose rapidly from $231.05 to $524.42 in only 12 months.

Impact on the Poor

Increased prices of goods reduce the purchasing power of low-income families and raise food insecurity while increasing rates of poverty. The national report “Olhe para a fome,” created by Rede Penssan (The Brazilian Network of Research on Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security) and partners, gathered data between November 2021 and April 2022 that presents a grim situation. According to the report, in 2022, 33.1 million Brazilians face severe levels of food insecurity, which equates to 15.5% of the population. The second National Study on Food Insecurity in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil showed that 58.7% of Brazilians suffer from some level of food insecurity in 2022.

During the peak of the pandemic, local supermarkets in Brazil began to sell animal bones and leftovers to people in desperate need of food. Some people had to scrummage in supermarket rubbish bins in search of discarded food. Brazilian Sandra Maria de Freitas told BBC News Brazil in 2022: “I wake up at 4 a.m. every day, take my handcart and come to wait for the rubbish truck at this same place… where I live.”

Fighting Against Hunger

The World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence came about as a partnership developed in 2011 between the Brazilian government and the WFP to address hunger in several countries, including Brazil. The Center of Excellence focuses on school feeding programs, research, working with smallholder farmers and more.

In terms of the WFP’s school feeding initiatives, in 2020, a total of “15 million schoolchildren received nutritious meals and snacks from WFP.” Providing support to 65 countries’ school feeding programs, WFP helped another 39 million children with nutritional support.

Social Good Brazil is an NGO that raises funds via a crowdfunding U.S. platform called GlobalGiving. Social Good Brazil raised $1,108 for the project called Fight Hunger in Brazil Using Food Waste. In essence, the project aimed to reduce food waste by redistributing wasted but good food to fulfill the food and nutrition needs of vulnerable citizens. The project has the potential of helping 52 million Brazilians suffering from food insecurity.

Despite the struggle against inflation, organizations are stepping up to continue the fight against food insecurity in Brazil.

– Olga Petrovska
Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Burkina Faso

Charities Operating in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is a country located in West Africa. Its name translates to “the land of the incorruptible people.”It has a population of 21.5 million people and is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 40% of its people living below the poverty line. Despite the vast amount of humanitarian work conducted throughout the country addressing changing weather patterns and sustainability, Burkina Faso is still vulnerable to frequent natural disasters, including droughts, floods and diseases. Charities including Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, CECI, Humanity & Inclusion and Caritas work tirelessly to help alleviate poverty throughout Burkina Faso through education, provision of clean water and sanitation along with human development and the survival of children. Here is some information about the above five charities operating in Burkina Faso.

Poverty Situation in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, as mentioned before, remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with 40% of people living below the poverty line. According to the Human Development Index report that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) carried out in 2021-2022, Burkina Faso ranks 184th out of 191 countries. In the last few years, poverty in Burkina Faso has correlated with consistent political instability and violence the country continues to face with many people being displaced. With heavy reliance on agriculture as its primary source of economic development, Burkina Faso has suffered due to low agricultural output by 4.1%. With violence and political unrest, more than 900,000 people are internally displaced and remain in extreme poverty. This mostly affects children, with more than half of the 2.2 million people in Burkina Faso seeking humanitarian assistance being children. 

Save the Children

One of the five charities operating in Burkina Faso is Save the Children, which began working in Burkina Faso in 1982. With children at the forefront of the organization’s focus, Save the Children works tirelessly to ensure security in their lives. Save the Children has become one of the biggest charitable organizations in Burkina Faso through its programs dedicated to education, safety and child health. Some of the work the organization has carried out revolves around multiple aspects of quality of life. It includes greater access to universal health care, resources and tools for treating malnutrition in children, food programs to combat insecurity and malnutrition and financial discipline teachings to help families support themselves and maintain quality health care. 

SOS Children’s Villages

The organization came to Burkina Faso during the 1990s and established itself in 1997 north of the nation’s capital; since 2004, SOS Children’s Villages has taken the initiative of operating SOS Family Strengthening Programs that ensure that children can grow and live in an environment of familiarity in the case that the child loses its family. One of SOS Children’s Villages operates in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso with a population of 1.5 million people. SOS Children’s Villages’ work in Ouagadougou, specifically the SOS Social Center revolves around its mission to ensure that children have access to health care, education and social services through family strengthening programs. SOS Children’s Villages is among the five charities operating in Burkina Faso that help families and children find social security while providing access to the very necessities required to survive.

Humanity & Inclusion

Burkina Faso became the first country where the organization began its work in 1991, focusing on “defending the rights of people with disabilities and responding to the urgent needs of the people affected by conflict.” Humanity & Inclusion’s work in Burkina Faso spans multiple facets, including physical rehabilitation, maternal and child health, inclusive education, disaster risk reduction and mental health and psychosocial support, along with road safety and protection. Humanity & Inclusion is one of the five charities in Burkina Faso that works tirelessly to address poverty in Burkina Faso by focusing on development, health and rehabilitation. The organization’s 187 members undertook 12 projects within the country, with 50% working on humanitarian efforts and 25% on chronic crises and 25% on development needs in 2021. 

Caritas

The organization emerged in 1956 and began operations in Burkina Faso in 1998. Caritas’ presence covers the entire country of Burkina Faso through its “15 diocesan offices and more than 200 Caritas parish branches.” By utilizing the branches, Caritas “aims to promote mainly community and integral human development, social justice, peace and human rights.” Caritas Burkina offers programs that align with its goals of alleviating poverty by solely focusing its work on women and families along with younger individuals through humanitarian development that fosters solidarity and sharing of resources to help facilitate expansion.

The Barka Foundation

The Barka Foundation is an organization that began in 2006 and is based in the United States. It began its work in Burkina Faso in 2009. The Barka Foundation is a younger charity compared to other charities discussed. Still, regardless of longevity, the Barka Foundation is among the five charities that operate in Burkina Faso. The organization focuses its work from a perspective of longevity and community-driven programs involving accessibility to clean water, agriculture improvement, women’s empowerment and human rights and minimizing the effects of changing weather patterns. The Barka Foundation sets itself apart from other organizations working in Burkina Faso by ensuring that its mission to alleviate and combat poverty does not obstruct the lives of the indigenous people, thereby mitigating western influence and developing relationships with them to help provide them with basic survival needs.

Looking Ahead

All the charities mentioned above work tirelessly to address poverty in Burkina Faso. Each charity offers and provides unique programs and initiatives to help the people of Burkina Faso access necessities such as health care, rehabilitation and social and economic security, along with tools to combat the effects of changing weather patterns and, most notably education and security for children affected.

– Arijit Joshi
Photo: Flickr