Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Poverty in Cambridge: The UK’s Most Unequal City

Poverty in Cambridge
As of 2020, Cambridge stood as the “U.K.’s most unequal city” — a surprising ranking considering that the city is famous for its university and education system. Cambridge is one of the U.K.’s most unaffordable cities to live in and food insecurity and homelessness are becoming more prevalent. Efforts to reduce levels of inequality and poverty in Cambridge are currently underway.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, “one in every six children in Cambridgeshire” endured poverty. By March 2020, 33,449 children lived “below the breadline in the country,” CambridgeshireLive reported. It is also important to consider that this statistic does not account for the cost of housing, meaning the number is likely higher.

The Social Mobility Index has assessed the likelihood that “a child from a disadvantaged background will do well at school and get a good job across each of the 324 local authority district areas of England,” a briefing note from the Cambridge City Council says. The Social Mobility Index 2016 ranks Cambridge as a “social mobility coldspot,” which describes “the worst performing 20[%] of local authorities.” The report notes that Cambridge has “weaknesses in education for disadvantaged children but relatively good performance on adulthood measures.”

Geographical Divisions

Poverty in Cambridge is also geographically disparate. The Equality Trust reported that poverty is most prevalent in the northern and eastern parts of Cambridge. Furthermore, “the difference in life expectancy between the highest ranked neighborhood compared to the lowest is around 10 years.”

The Guardian notes that inequalities in Cambridge reflect the “town and gown” divide in the city, a phrase coined to express the separation between city residents and university students. “Academics are protected from the worst financial pressures of living in Cambridge, benefiting from central, subsidized college accommodation, free meals and access to a cheap, university-backed shared equity mortgage scheme,” the Guardian said.

The inequality is evident when considering that the 31 colleges in Cambridge had a collective wealth of about £6.9 billion in 2018. Community initiatives on the part of Cambridge’s tertiary institutions would contribute to reducing levels of poverty and inequality.

Cambridge City Council’s Efforts

The Cambridge City Council looks to reduce inequality and poverty in Cambridge through its vision “One Cambridge – Fair for All.” This vision includes addressing social exclusion and poverty and merging “town and gown.” This vision will undergo implementation in the Council’s corporate plan for 2022 to 2027.

The Cambridge City Council also has in place an Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2020 to 2023. The previous Anti-Poverty Strategy that the Cambridge City Council implemented in 2014 noted progress in several areas, including building council-owned residential homes leased at affordable rates and raising the incomes of lower-income families.

The Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance and Cambridge 2030

Cambridge Sustainable Food is a partnership of organizations working to alleviate food insecurity in the city. It leads the Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance (CFPA), formed in October 2017. Through an action plan, the CFPA aims to meet several food security objectives. One of the goals listed in the action plan is guaranteeing daily access to food for children across an entire year. The objectives under this goal include “funding for [three] community fridges and an associated surplus distribution scheme” as well as “funding for ingredients for holiday lunches across the city.”

Other key focus areas in their scheme include raising “the uptake of a living wage” and expanding the uptake of cost-free school meals among eligible students. These aims will lead to greater household incomes and ensure children make the most of their state-entitled food provisions for better health and educational outcomes.

Cambridge 2030 aims to “bring together the public, private, voluntary and community sectors in collaborative action to bridge gaps in the provision of resources” in Cambridge. The Cambridge 2030 website states that the central goal of the “first phase of action” is “promoting wellbeing, beginning before birth.” The initiative brings together many organizations such as It Takes a city and Cambridge United to action its promises.

The efforts currently underway have the potential to significantly reduce poverty and inequality in Cambridge.

– Priya Maiti
Photo: Unsplash

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COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia

COVID-19’s Impact on Gambia
Gambia is currently classified as one of the least developed countries in the world with a GDP per capita of $835 in 2021 and more than 50% of the country’s population living in poverty in 2022, the World Bank reports. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated Gambia’s economic and healthcare-related problems, which prompted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide the country with about $21 million worth of Special Drawing Rights emergency funding in 2020 to keep the nation from collapsing. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia is significant, but not irreversible.

Economic Problems

Gambia is the smallest country within mainland Africa and lacks economic diversity because of its heavy reliance upon its agricultural sector, which accounts for 30% of Gambia’s GDP. In Gambia, 70% of the labor force relies upon crops and livestock in order to secure their livelihoods.

Gambia’s economy is also reliant upon its service sector and hospitality industry as its abundant wildlife and attractive coastline make the country a desirable tourist destination. The pandemic severely affected Gambia and exacerbated the country’s economic problems by bringing a halt to industries and putting a strain upon its fragile healthcare system and limited resources. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia is still ongoing as Gambia’s tourism industry is struggling to rebound to pre-pandemic success.

The Impact on Agriculture

COVID-19’s impact on Gambia exposed how sensitive Gambia’s food systems are to external shocks. The pandemic brought to light Gambia’s heavy reliance upon its vulnerable agricultural economy and highlighted a need for more sustainable investments in rural and agricultural development. The transition to a more resilient and environmentally sustainable food system would likely strengthen Gambia’s socioeconomic landscape and protect Gambia against future crises. In 2021, more than 13% of Gambia’s population experienced food insecurity, and currently, more than 10% of the population suffers from acute malnourishment.

The pandemic magnified food insecurity in the nation because Gambia is a net food importer country. As a result, supply chain constraints and rising global food prices hit the country especially hard. COVID-19’s impact on Gambia in 2020 is estimated to have increased poverty in urban areas by about 5% and 92% of households nationwide experienced a loss in total income by August 2020.

Recovery

Gambia is continuing to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to affect this recovery by driving up the cost of resources that Gambia imports. Gambia relies on imports for important resources such as fertilizer, food and fuel. As the prices of these resources rise, these imports become more difficult for Gambia to obtain. Despite these challenges, Gambia can potentially achieve economic growth and rebound from the pandemic in the coming years if its leaders adopt new governmental reforms.

Strengthening the Agricultural Sector

In November 2021, Gambia secured $40 million through the World Bank for the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV).

The GIRAV project supports Gambia’s national goal of poverty reduction by strengthening food and agricultural production through improved value chain coordination. This process entails a shift from subsistence agriculture to market-oriented agriculture and aims to address constraints in Gambia’s agricultural supply chain. GIRAV is expected to strengthen the livelihoods of about 50,000 farmers. To reduce poverty among the most vulnerable groups, women will account for at least half of the project beneficiaries and Gambia’s youth will account for 30% of beneficiaries.

Through a focus on climate-smart agriculture, the project aims to increase resilience in the agricultural sector. Apart from boosting income generation among Gambians, the project will also reduce food insecurity. GIRAV and future investments of this nature show promise for Gambia and are strategies that set the stage for a country-wide recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Gambia’s government has the potential to improve the welfare of its people and accelerate economic growth by adopting new economic policies and investing in its future.

– Dylan Priday
Photo: Flickr

The Impact of Friendship Benches on Mental Health in Zimbabwe

Mental Health in Zimbabwe
The Friendship Bench has revolutionized the field of mental health in Zimbabwe and beyond. Due to its great localized success, 32 Friendship Benches have undergone installation around stadiums at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Mental Health in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, with 70% of the population living below the poverty line. This economic state has caused many struggles for the citizens, such as inadequate nutrition and the prevalence of diseases. Mental health is also a major issue, but many often neglect it. Legislation regarding mental health policy is outdated, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that “There is a shortage of human resources for mental health in Zimbabwe, in part a result of the emigration of locally trained professionals due to economic instability.”

Mental health is an important issue for the citizens of any country. Therefore, mental health care and support are a necessary part of a nation’s health system. UNICEF Zimbabwe has called for more assistance for youth and adolescents in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the country lacks the resources to address the issue in its entirety. This challenge has required creative solutions from local NGOs, an example being the Friendship Bench Project.

The Birth of the Friendship Bench

Since 2006, the Friendship Bench has trained more than 600 mentors to offer support on benches in communities around Zimbabwe. These volunteers offer assistance using techniques based on cognitive behavioral therapy and are often from the communities in which they practice. This connection allows a deeper understanding of the struggles that community members face. Citizens engage in positive dialogue with these volunteers, usually in 45-minute segments. In the past 16 years, the project has extended to Malawi, Zanzibar and New York City. In the future, it plans to expand in order to offer more care for youth and adolescents.

Proven Success

In 2016, JAMA Network produced a clinical trial regarding the potential impact of the Friendship Benches and the care they provide. Results indicated that “the group from the Friendship Bench had a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, compared to the control group.” These impacts on mental health in Zimbabwe prove that projects like this may be effective in countries with poor mental health resources.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Due to the success of the Friendship Bench in Zimbabwe, several groups have worked together to install 32 benches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. They will be located around the different stadiums, and will each represent a different participating international team. Organizers hope that the benches will spark a conversation around the importance of mental health care and focus. The colorful details of these benches are an added feature to catch the attention of players and spectators to spread awareness in a creative and positive format.

The success of the Friendship Bench Project on mental health in Zimbabwe is clear, and its impacts internationally suggest a positive future for growth in mental health care, even in nations with limited resources.

– Hailey Dooley
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Addressing Period Poverty in Mauritius

Period Poverty in Mauritius
Period poverty in Mauritius exists due to the unaffordability of menstrual products, leading girls and women to resort to unsanitary alternatives such as handkerchiefs, pieces of fabric and newspapers. The stigma surrounding menstruation accentuates the issue of period poverty in Mauritius. Organizations such as The Ripple Project are taking action to make menstrual supplies more accessible and raise awareness about the importance of proper menstrual hygiene to maintain good health.

A Barrier to Gender Equality

According to a UNDP article in 2021, in terms of gender equality, Mauritius ranks in the top six in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the existence of period poverty in Mauritius stands as a barrier to further gender equality advancements. In 2017, gender equality activist Trisha Gukhool started a petition for the Mauritian government to provide free menstrual products to girls and women.

In the 2017-2018 budget reform, the Ministry of Finance announced the removal of taxes on pads and tampons. Unfortunately, even without tax, period products are still unaffordable for impoverished and disadvantaged girls and women in the country.

Local Activism

Female activists in Mauritius have continued to advocate for free menstrual products. The non-governmental organization Raise Brave Girls, which Prisheela Mottee founded, set up a petition for the national budget 2021-2022 to prioritize the distribution of free period products to vulnerable women and school girls. The petition also calls for menstrual leave that is not deductible from annual sick leave.

The petition, which gathered more than 5,000 signatures, saw some success. The Ministry of Finance announced that girls from grades six to 13, registered under the Social Register of Mauritius, would receive free sanitary pads.

The Ripple Project

The Ripple Project is an initiative that activist Djemillah Mourade-Peerbux set up in 2016 after realizing that the expense of sanitary products is one that many Mauritian girls and women cannot afford. At the time, about 1,000 Mauritian rupees could only buy basic hygiene products for two people.

Fast forward five years and the project became an association, devoted solely to fighting menstrual taboos and providing menstrual products to women and girls experiencing period poverty in Mauritius. Mourade-Peerbux collects monetary and menstrual product donations and distributes them to shelters across the island.

The association also takes into account the power of advocacy. The Ripple Project runs campaigns to raise awareness about period poverty and the importance of menstrual health. Mourade-Peerbux is advocating for the free period product allowance to extend to all females, even those who are not part of the Social Register of Mauritius.

The Ripple Project team relies on partners and donors to secure and distribute period-related products to hundreds of women throughout the year. The feminine hygiene brand Saforelle is supporting The Ripple Project through a campaign. For every intimate hygiene cleanser sold, Saforelle will donate three Mauritian rupees to The Ripple Project. This campaign will run until December 31, 2022, The Ripple Project’s Facebook page says.

Looking Ahead

Although progress is visible, period poverty in Mauritius is still an issue. Advocacy and campaigns will continue until all Mauritian girls and women have constant and reliable access to menstrual products. By dissolving the stigma surrounding menstruation and extending access, further progress could be visible.

– Alexandra Piat
Photo: Flickr

HIV/AIDS in Albania

HIV/AIDS in Albania
Although Albania has a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS, cases of HIV/AIDS in Albania have risen over the years. Cases of HIV in Albania increased by more than 50% between 2008 and 2018. The most recent estimates note 1,400 HIV cases, equating to a prevalence lower than 0.05%. The highest prevalence of HIV is apparent among specific vulnerable populations: “people who inject drugs, sex workers, gay men and other men who have sex with men, ” The Global Fund reported. However, stigma and discrimination present barriers to testing and treatment. The Albanian organization Aksion Plus, a member of the IDPC (International Drug Policy Consortium) aims to reduce HIV/AIDs in Albania through education and awareness campaigns, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups.

People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)

Data from a 2019 HIV Integrated Biological and Behavioural Study (IBBS) reported a low rate of HIV/AIDS among PWID at 1.4%. However, the study shows concerning rates of needle sharing among this group. At the time of the study, about 41% of PWID reported sharing needles with others in the last 30 days. The majority of these individuals shared needles with one person and 14% shared with up to three people. This means the PWID group is at high risk of contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS in Albania. There are also difficulties in reaching the PWID group as most of them inject drugs in isolated areas during hours when not many people are around.

Men Who Have Sex with Men

Men Who Have Sex With Men are also vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS. In 2019, Albania noted 93 new HIV cases, with men accounting for 66% of these cases. Sexual intercourse is the primary mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS in Albania among men who have sex with men. However, the number of HIV cases among this group is likely higher as stigma and discrimination deter individuals from revealing their sexual practices and prevent them from seeking out testing/treatment.

The 2019 IBBS study shows an HIV prevalence of 2.0% among this group. However, condom use is high. Comparing the 2011 and 2019 IBBS results, 74% of respondents in 2019 used condoms during their last sexual encounters compared to 14% in 2011.

Aksion Plus

Aksion Plus has engaged in HIV/AIDS work in Albania since 1992. The organization works to prevent the spread of HIV through advocacy and education campaigns. Aksion Plus also provides targeted support to those who inject drugs. The activities to reduce HIV among this group include needle exchanges, methadone therapy, “outreach in the drug scene” and counseling.

The organization runs a program, which began in 2014, to educate the younger generation about HIV/AIDS. In the program, a group of social workers gives HIV/AIDS information, life skills education and counseling to students in some of Albania’s secondary schools. Due to the success of the program, the Regional Directorate of Education is bringing similar initiatives to other high schools.

Through the work of Aksion Plus, efforts are in place to prevent, manage and control cases of HIV/AIDS in Albania. In this way, Aksion Plus contributes to the health and well-being of the country’s citizens.

– Olga Petrovska
Photo: Unsplash

HIV/AIDs in Cameroon

HIV/AIDs in Cameroon
One of the most prominent challenges citizens in Cameroon are facing today is the prevalence of HIV/AIDs throughout the country. With the national infection rate being 3.7% in 2021, achieving epidemic control continues to be a constant battle. However, with the help of foreign aid, NGOs and the proactive efforts of the Cameroonian government, the country is making progress toward this goal. Here are the most important things to know about the history of HIV/AIDs in Cameroon and the state of the prevention effort.

History and Demographics

Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a higher rate of individuals infected with HIV/AIDs in Cameroon than in most other parts of the world. The earliest reported case in Cameroon was in 1985 and by 1990 the country had an estimated 49,000 infected individuals. This number increased every year until it peaked at an estimated 520,000 cases in 2012. Since then, the annual rate has slowly but steadily declined to an estimated 500,000 cases in 2021.

Though many children have HIV/AIDs in Cameroon, people 15 years or older are by far the most common and represent an estimated 460,000 of the 500,000 currently infected, according to UNAIDS. Within the adult over 15 cohort, women are more than twice as likely to have HIV/AIDs than men.

Prevention and US Support

The first measure the government of Cameroon took to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs was the establishment of the National AIDS Control Committee (NACC) in 1986. Its function was to facilitate cooperation between prevention efforts nationally. It expanded its efforts further in 2000 when it launched the first of three five-year plans to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDs in the country.

There has also been a myriad of U.S.-backed efforts to help assist in the prevention effort. For example, in 2008 the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with Cameroon’s Ministry of Health as well as a host of NGOs to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDs. Through this collaboration the CDC aimed at “providing technical leadership on HIV epidemic control efforts within the country” but eventually expanded its operations to also include “direct clinical support” and help “scale-up access to HIV prevention and treatment services.”

Additionally, USAID has backed and helped execute a variety of HIV/AIDs prevention plans in Cameroon through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). A few of these initiatives are The Continuum of Prevention, Care and Treatment (CoPCT) of HIV/AIDS with Most-at-Risk Populations in Cameroon (CHAMP), Reaching Impact, Saturation, and Epidemic Control (RISE) and Community-Led Monitoring (CLM).

In general, PEPFAR programs aim to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDs in Cameroon through education, community outreach, reliable data collection and strengthening existing government and non-governmental healthcare agencies.

Looking Forward

Though it may seem like a sign of inefficacy that total infection numbers have only gone down by a small margin since 2012, it is important to remember that epidemics tend to grow exponentially and that the population of Cameroon has been increasing steadily at a high rate for the past several decades. With this in mind, a stagnated or only marginally decreased total infection figure is actually quite an accomplishment, as the government has to account for an enormous increase in population and the spread of infectious diseases is notoriously difficult to subdue.

Further, aid from countries like the U.S. was undoubtedly instrumental in achieving this feat and continued international support will be necessary as the national government continues to battle HIV/AIDs in Cameroon.

– Xander Heiple
Photo: Unsplash

Improved Methods of Wolf Management to Help Aid Agriculture in India

Agriculture in India
In the past decade, India has seen mass economic growth and success. India reduced rates of multidimensional poverty by almost 50% and 8 million new jobs emerged for frontline workers. The World Bank found that India’s GDP increased to 8.9% in 2021 after a significant dip in 2020.

Agriculture in India

Today, agriculture in India accounts for 20% of the country’s GDP and is responsible for the employment of 58% of Indians. Yet, the increased presence of wolves in unprotected areas and predation mirror past events that once swept the nation into a frenzy resurfaced old fears and brought about new solutions.

Challenges with Indian Wolves

The Indian Wolf hails from the Trans-Himalayan and Peninsular regions of Southwest Asia. At 3.5 feet, it is much smaller than its closest relatives, carrying all of its weight on its lean hind legs which often have black streaks. Due to their concerning population decrease in 1972, they were listed as endangered under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

Indian wolves frequent areas high in temperature that present little to no competition for food. Because of the scarcity of native prey, the wolf’s diet is compromised. As a result, they turn to livestock— a temporary solution to their hunger and an essential part of agriculture in India.

The Importance of Livestock in India

Livestock consists of 26% of India’s agricultural GDP, making up 14% of a rural family’s income and 16% of the income of families who work as small marginal farmers. It also helps measure wealth and social status.
By 2021, farmers lost 64% of all livestock to wolf depredation in Rajasthan state. Additionally, estimates have stated that there will be a 20% increase in all livestock depredations in the upcoming years. On average, livestock depredation will result in a loss of $125 to $180 per home. An Indian farmer will typically bring in Rs 15079 or $185.92 during a year’s spring harvest.

Wolves in India

Though the government designated select regions of India’s semi-arid grasslands to act as protected wolf conservation sites, their traveling habits are hard to measure as management is limited to specific areas. Wolves commonly venture out of their protected areas, with some of them traveling extensive miles in search of food.

A 2019 study on wolf habitats found that only 4.37% of India’s land mass was highly compatible with the wolf population. Meanwhile, it found that another 76.03% was the least compatible.

The rest represent a gray area where land suitability fell in between the two spectrums. Military bases are a part of those areas that are suitable for wolves. However, the constant clash of wolves and military officials has brought about concern for the well-being of both parties.

Solutions

Predictions have stated that there are anywhere from 4,400 to 7,100 wolves alive in India today. Since 2014, the U.K. Wolf Conservation Trust has raised $9,325.80 to fund researchers tracking the evolution, genealogy and movement of India’s wolf population.

More and more farmers are adopting a strategy called ‘bio fencing’ which creates a natural border around and demarcates land areas. Bio-fences comprise trees, hedges, bushes or plants that grow in close range of each other until a thick forest-like fence is formed. This type of fence is cost-effective and many consider it to be more useful in keeping unwanted creatures away from farmland.

Indian wolves originating from Peninsular regions are less likely to approach an area high in forestry. These wolves prefer steppe climates that allow them to roam and graze without incidence or challenge.

India’s government launched the Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) as a series of 11 schemes under the Green Revolution venture in 2014. The SMAM, whose goal is to provide modern agricultural machinery to small-time farmers with limited access to farm power, emerged in 2016. Some agro-pastoral regions have hired night vigils to keep watch over their land and livestock. It is among India’s recent attempts to support the advancement of agriculture in India.

– Dorothy Quanteh
Photo: Flickr

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The World Bank’s Efforts in Guyana

World Bank’s Efforts in Guyana
The World Bank’s efforts in Guyana have been paramount in helping to achieve growth and positive effects in the country. In the last few decades, the World Bank has made progress in enhancing natural disaster resilience, improving the quality of education and skills, generating private-sector development initiatives and supporting human development.

About Guyana

The Co-Operative Republic of Guyana is a small and sparsely populated South American country. It has an abundance of natural resources, fertile lands and valuable mineral resources such as bauxite and gold, along with tropical forests which cover 80% of the country. With a population of approximately 780,000 people, Guyanese society is ethnically diverse, including Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, Mixed-Guyanese and many more groups. About 90% of this population lives in the country’s coastal area, despite this region only representing 10% of the total land.

Others have historically perceived Guyana’s GDP as the lowest in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC). However, monumental growth (between 20%-40%) has raised the GDP from $6,600 in 2019 to $9,300 in 2021. The country’s heavy dependency on natural resources, especially oil production is a core reason for this growth. Nevertheless, this reliance on these resources means that Guyana is vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and economic conditions.

An updated measure from the World Bank in 2022 found that Guyana’s national poverty headcount is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at around 48%. Rates of poverty are the highest in the interior of the country, where communities have limited access to economic opportunities, health care and public services. The country also experiences high emigration and brain drain, with 39% of citizens living abroad.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the population of Guyana. Although 63% of the adult population had received at least one dose of the vaccine by September 2022, it had been confirmed that there had been 71,351 COVID-19 cases and 1,281 deaths in October 2022. Guyana is a small country with a poor healthcare system consisting of a lack of insufficient resources and equipment, something which may reflect these COVID-19 case numbers. The World Bank’s efforts in Guyana have been ongoing since 2016, focusing on three areas:

Strengthening Resilience and Creating Disaster Risk Management Capacities

The Flood Risk Management Project works to reduce flood risks in low-lying areas of the country. The primary focus of this project is to strengthen the institutions that are necessary to reduce flood risks and support flood modeling. In 2020, further funding received approval for the project with the aim to improve Guyana’s climate resilience and reduce the impact of economic disasters. The results of this project should enable more than 90,000 people to benefit from flood risks and 47,600 water users will receive new and improved irrigation and drainage facilities.

Setting Up High-quality Education

The World Bank currently has four ongoing projects aimed at building Guyana’s workforce:

  • The Education Sector Improvement Project: The Education Sector Improvement Project has been working at improving teaching practices and student achievement in math.
  • Secondary Education Improvement Project: The Secondary Education Improvement Project supports secondary school math teachers, secondary school enrollment and school building.
  • Guyana Sector Programme Project: The Guyana Sector Programme Project supports nursery schools and increasing technology use in primary schools.
  • Guyana Strengthening Human Capital Through Education Project: The Guyana Strengthening Human Capital Through Education Project received approval in June 2022. It aims to focus on expanding access to secondary-level quality education, while also supporting vocational training.

The results of these projects have been far-reaching. For instance, the capacity of 600 math teachers worldwide has improved through training and expert feedback. Secondary school facilities grew by expanding the number of additional student spaces. Perhaps the most important result is the development of a new curriculum framework, something which has revised the subjects that the core teaching plans teach.

Laying the Foundation of Private Sector Development

The Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project works to develop better legal and institutional frameworks. It will also raise the capacity of key institutions to manage the oil and gas sector so that there are more economic and social benefits for the country. The project will also strengthen the laws and regulations related to health, safety and environmental protection. The outcomes of this project have been positive in improving technical, advisory and capacity measures, along with transparency and governance within the oil and gas sector.

The Future

 Overall, the World Bank’s efforts in Guyana have been far-reaching, supporting the creation of many sustainable and long-term changes in the country. The three areas of focus are monumental areas to champion for the country to increase its economic, social and environmental capital, all of which these projects have successfully addressed.

– Harkiran Bharij
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Human Trafficking in North Macedonia

Human Trafficking in North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia is a small Balkan country and according to the Freedom House Index, it is considered a partially free country. This means that when combining political rights and civil liberties, the score is not high enough to be considered a free country. Intimidation into voting for certain parties, corruption and lack of government transparency are the main political issues. Also, the score for civil liberties is low when it comes to issues such as a fair judicial system, corruption, forced labor and child marriage. These last issues suggest that human trafficking in North Macedonia remains a serious problem. Despite this, the country has made some improvements recently that are worth knowing about.

Human Trafficking and Poverty

The economic conditions in the country and its weak judicial structure facilitate the work of criminal organizations. Foreign and local women are mainly the victims of forced labor in nightclubs. The victims are also sent to and exploited in other European countries. This also suggests that North Macedonia serves as an easy destination to coordinate international human trafficking. In addition, child labor and forced marriage are mainly caused by human trafficking.

According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 18% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working rather than receiving an education. These children are normally forced into begging or other types of street work. Adolescent girls are also victims of sexual exploitation.

Furthermore, the Roma ethnic community is especially vulnerable to human trafficking in North Macedonia. Roma children face discrimination in the education system, as most schools do not provide classes in Romani. This condition makes the Roma community the one with the lowest education rates in the country. Therefore, it incentivizes both perpetual poverty and an increase in child marriage. Roma girls are, thus, especially vulnerable victims of trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage.

How is the Situation Improving?

The most recent improvements to combat human trafficking in North Macedonia are focused on:

Due to the National Strategy 2021-2025, the government has implemented some positive measures in order to increase the victim’s protection. In 2021, 48 victims were identified, compared to seven the previous year. Of these, 40 were victims of forced labor. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP) created groups formed by NGO volunteers, social workers and officers in order to improve protection efforts. For example, during the last six months of 2021, these groups managed to detect more than 200 vulnerable people. Furthermore, the government also increased the funds dedicated to protection. More than $22,000 was earmarked to increase the safety of victims, as well as the quality and capacity of shelters. It also dedicated more than $8,000 to the activities performed by the MLSP groups.

Decreasing the educational gap between Roma and non-Roma children is among the top priorities in order to reduce the vulnerability of this specific group. In recent years, North Macedonia has made some improvements. The Directorate for Development and Promotion of Education in the Languages of Minorities is responsible for improving the quality of education for minority groups such as the Roma ethnic group. By 2019, the Directorate included two Roma employees in order to better address the necessities of this community. Moreover, in November 2022, the Ministry informed that 40 Roma employees will work as mediators in schools with the highest numbers of Roma students in order to improve their educational experience and decrease the dropout rates.

In order to increase the prevention of future cases, the National Commission (NC) and the MLSP incorporated the feedback given by victims in order to implement effective action plans. Thanks to these recommendations and the assistance granted by international groups, the NC managed to conduct four different investigative projects focused on the prevention of trafficking. The government also focused on increasing awareness among vulnerable people, especially young students in order to avoid the risk of human trafficking in North Macedonia. It also implemented a system focused on labor inspections to ensure that companies are not involved in human trafficking and criminal acts.

– Carla Tomas Laserna
Photo: Flickr

Gender Wage Gap in Mexico

Gender Wage Gap in Mexico
The wages men and women receive vary in most parts of the world. Mexico is a prime example of this; women in Mexico have significantly lower wages than men. Women’s protests have shed light on the inequity of the gender wage gap in Mexico, prompting government officials to work to protect their right to equal pay and employment access.

Tradition and the Economy

Across the globe, women on average are paid on average 20% less than men, even when they are working the same jobs. In Mexico, that gap is roughly 15.6%. Unequal pay creates significant impacts on the number of women who choose to work. Gender pay inequality also contributes to greater oppression of women in the workforce.

The culture of a given community contributes greatly to female labor force participation. Traditional Mexican culture promotes a patriarchal ideology where society expects women to be caretakers. It is because of this that most women take on domestic jobs, such as childcare or cleaning, which are often unpaid. Women also find themselves working in street markets, selling their home-grown produce to provide additional income to support their families.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the economic conditions that the lack of female employment caused. The pandemic caused inflation in Mexico to rise to its highest point in 20 years. Having increased by 5% since 2020, Mexican households are having to pay more for necessities such as food and gas.

In Mexico, women compromise less than half of the total labor force. When women are paid 85 pesos per every 100 pesos made by working-class men for the same work, it seems more financially prudent for mothers to stay home rather than pay for childcare. To put this in perspective, in a given job, a man may earn $5.13 per hour, whereas a woman will earn $4.36 despite performing the same labor. This disproportion in wages has made it extremely difficult for women to become financially independent.

Women that do make it into the labor force also find more barriers to advancement than their male counterparts. Women in entry-level positions in industries such as retail do not obtain promotions as often as men do. Recent data that McKinsey and Company collected determined that only 8% of women receive promotions to higher positions within their given field. This inevitable glass ceiling hinders women’s ability for upward mobility.

Bridging the Gender Wage Gap in Mexico

Recent awareness on this topic has led to the development of federal programs that assist women wishing to progress in male-dominated industries. Now, more than ever, working-class women are being more aware of their rights to paid labor as well as the gender wage gap. Moreover, the Mexican Supreme Court is also promoting specific legislation that would protect women employees and ensure equal pay. In 2019, the Mexican government enacted the Social Protection Program. The International Labor Organization (ILO) funded the Social Protection Program which ensures that working-class women receive a minimum wage while also having access to benefits such as health care and pensions. This protection serves as an important stepping stone to ensuring women receive equal treatment in the workplace.

A recent survey that the firm ManpowerGroup conducted found that 64% of Mexican organizations are aiming to increase the number of women in positions that men traditionally held. One example is the Mexican Football Federation which has set strict salary constraints for female athletes. Before, men in the Mexican Football league made nearly 200 times more than women. The updated conditions ensure female athletes a wage equal to that of male players.

The gender wage gap in Mexico has been slowly decreasing over the past two decades. Increasing awareness of the inequality between working men and women is helping to shed light on the disparities in Mexican society. The actions of the government have inspired hope that Mexican legislation will continue to promote gender inclusivity in the workplace and reduce the pay gap.

– Micaela Carrillo
Photo: Flickr