Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How Malala Yousafzai is Fighting for Women’s Education

Malala Yousafzai is Fighting
Former First Lady Michelle Obama, while speaking on the importance of women’s education in Senegal, stated, “When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” Her speech, titled ‘You Are Role Models,’ sought to encourage females around the world to continue to fight for their education – not only because it was an inherent right, but because it also led to more opportunities. One cannot overstate the importance of women’s education. As Michelle Obama described, educated women can change the lives of millions. They can serve as role models for the world and encourage the expansion of quality education. Malala Yousafzai is a notable woman who is fighting for women’s education to end poverty.

About Malala

Malala Yousafzai is one of the few individuals brave enough to carry the responsibility of women’s education. Malala was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. As a child, Yousafazi attended the school her father established – Khushal Girls High School and College – and quickly developed a reputation for dedication to her studies. Malala’s commitment to learning, however, did not only exist in her school building. When reflecting on her childhood, Malala recalled that “From an early age, I was interested in politics and sat on my father’s knee listening to everything he and his friends discussed.”

The Arrival of the Taliban

Malala’s love for education, however, came to a complete stop in 2008, when the Taliban arrived. The Taliban is a radicalized, religious and political group that emerged in 1978, after the Afghan War. Since the early 2000s, the Taliban developed a reputation for asserting strict interpretations of law and order, heavily determined by religious ideology. Using the conservative Pashtun social code, the Taliban created a brutally repressive regime.

Once they arrived in Pakistan, the Taliban implemented strict rules and punishments – especially targeting women. They ordered various rules, but one was particularly crushing to Malala. The Taliban ordered that women were to experience exclusion from public life – essentially, the Taliban banned women from attaining an education.

Malala Becomes an Advocate

In 2012, Malala began to speak out against the Taliban. Using the pseudonym Gul Makai, Malala began writing for the BBC online. Her blogs contained advocacy and a peek into the daily life of living under Taliban rule.

However, as Malala’s popularity increased, so did the threat of the Taliban. After several months of writing, The New York Times revealed that Malala was really “Gul Makai,” resulting in the Taliban naming her one of its main targets.

On October 9, 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Malala as she rode home on a bus after school in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. She was 15 years old at the time.

How Malala Yousafzai is Fighting for Women’s Education Through The Malala Fund

Despite the trauma of the event and the partial loss of brain function, Malala never quit advocating for women’s education. Today, she runs a nonprofit organization called the Malala Fund. The Malala Fund invests in education and activists who are challenging the policies and practices that prevent women from receiving an education. Over the years, the Malala Fund has helped expand access to education for girls and women, improve the quality and relevance of education and strengthen government policy to ensure safe learning environments. Today, Malala focuses on women’s education and politics. She holds a childhood dream of becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and she hopes to ensure the right to education for all children.

Malala’s persistent advocacy truly displays the importance of women’s education. Education has the ability to break the constraints of gender inequality, thus allowing females to acquire more opportunities and responsibilities. Education allows an individual to become economically, socially and politically independent; they are able to support themselves and take on various positions in government, business and civil society. As women rise above gender inequality, they are able to support their families, develop leadership skills and achieve more representation in their government.

Overall, Malala Yousafzai is fighting for women’s education, having risked her life multiple times. Through her efforts, gender inequality is decreasing, thus allowing females around the world to dig themselves out of poverty and avoid the abuse that accompanies the setting.

– Sania Patel
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Addressing Disadvantages and Poverty in Greater Manchester

poverty in Greater Manchester
Poverty in Greater Manchester has been rising over the years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Its government has devised several solutions to address the issue.

COVID-19 Impacts on Greater Manchester

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a collapse of the Greater Manchester economy as more than 4,000 businesses failed. The unemployment resulting from such business closures caused the number of people relying on Universal Credit to rise from 65,820 to 240,460, “a 38% increase from March 2020” to April 2020. It is because of these struggles and poverty in Greater Manchester that people have connected to form community awareness groups such as The Elephant’s Trail.

Homelessness and Poverty

A video produced in the town of Bury by The Elephant’s Trail titled “Made in Bury: Elephant in the Room” included interviews with the locals facing the pandemic’s impacts. Issues, such as homelessness and the inability to afford food, afflicted many people throughout the Greater Manchester area.

According to a Poverty Monitor that Greater Manchester Poverty Action managed, a nonprofit organization that focuses on reducing and preventing poverty in the county, in 2022, 144,770 children (one in four) are living in poverty and the number of food banks needed has increased twofold in the last five years.

Also, 15% of all households are facing fuel poverty, and “195,000 workers earn less than the Real Living Wage of £9.90 an hour,” the Poverty Monitor said. In terms of homelessness, the number of homelessness duties in Greater Manchester increased from 5,366 in the fourth quarter of 2020 to 6,015 in the third quarter of 2021.

Response and Solutions

Leaders have introduced several solutions to poverty in Greater Manchester, including digital solutions. Amid the pandemic, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority developed the Greater Manchester Digital Platform, which includes an app that helps those in need connect to volunteers and support systems to assist them in tasks such as obtaining necessary food and medicine. It aims to reach all 2.8 million citizens of Greater Manchester.

In response to food poverty, in October 2021, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, launched the Food Security Action Network. The Food Security Action Network addressed food poverty by distributing more than “7,000 emergency food cards” for youth and “funding grassroots organizations” to provide support to those not eligible for other support. In October 2020, The No Child Should Go Hungry campaign launched. It provided free school meals to those not eligible and more than “13,000 Emergency Food Cards” for youth to use at grocery stores.

The Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network (GMHAN), which originated in 2017, is a network working with leaders to help the homeless. It provided funds to homeless shelters across towns in Greater Manchester. GMHAN also co-produced the Rough Sleeping Action Plan, a long-term strategy that addresses homelessness and makes plans to partner with agencies, businesses and communities to ensure support for those experiencing hardship. So far, Greater Manchester notes a reduction in “rough sleeping” of 29% from 2020 to 2021 and 67% since 2017.

The Elephant’s Trail

The Elephant’s Trail is a group of people from Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Salford. The members aim to be the voice for others suffering from poverty by documenting real-life experiences through film. Their goal is to bring awareness of poverty in Greater Manchester to the area’s leaders.

The Elephant’s Trail has partnered with other local and regional organizations such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Petrus Community and Unlimited Potential to aid the people of Greater Manchester. People who have worked with The Elephant’s Trail have said that the work has changed their lives because of its focus on co-production, or people with lived experience and professionals working together to develop solutions to common issues.

“Made in Bury: Elephant in the Room,” a video that a “reporting team from The Elephant’s Trail and video journalists at The Guardian” created, interviews residents of Bury about their personal experiences and how local group efforts help, such as housing and food that the Manna House provided. This kind of personal reporting helps top leaders make important decisions about poverty-reducing legislation and funding. In the video, Melanie Humphrey of The Elephant’s Trail stated, “How amazing to have a group of people with lived experience able to advise those people that really are at the top.”

The Future of Poverty in Greater Manchester

Poverty in Greater Manchester has seen some slight improvements due to the efforts of its leaders. The impacts of the pandemic still linger all across the nation, increasing the number of people experiencing mental disorders, malnutrition and homelessness. Efforts and successes like The Elephant’s Trail, which brings poverty in Greater Manchester right before the eyes of the government, inspire others to take action. With consistent efforts, the government of Greater Manchester can reduce both poverty and homelessness.

– Tara Boehringer
Photo: Flickr

Football, Poverty and Domestic Violence

Poverty and Domestic Violence
The connection between poverty and domestic violence is clear: Women from low-income backgrounds face increased vulnerability to abuse. They also struggle with barriers preventing them from escaping violence. Coming from a socioeconomically deprived household increases the likelihood of women suffering domestic abuse by three and a half times.

Studies in Great Britain also increasingly show the correlation between football (soccer) and alcohol-based intimate partner violence. During global football tournaments, existing abusive tendencies can be triggered.  This creates an environment where alcohol-related crime can surge. Economic status again comes into play here, with crimes involving alcohol being most prevalent among poorer communities.

Economic Abuse

The recognition of economic aspects of abuse is integral to tackling poverty and domestic violence at its core. Economic abuse is the legally recognized term referring to one partner being controlled and abused by the other who has power in terms of money, finances and items that a person’s money can buy. Those who suffer from economic abuse are five times more likely to face physical violence than those who do not. Without access to the funds needed to leave, economic abuse victims stay in a relationship longer and face more harm.  

The damaging effects of the United Kingdom’s austerity measures have also disproportionately impacted women. They have seen both their rights and economic security weakened by austerity cuts. Reduction of public service funding, universal credit and benefit cuts are just some of the factors contributing to alarming statistics. Studies show that women are unfairly impacted, often as second earners or unpaid caregivers. Further, women are more dependent on welfare and benefit schemes than men.

Football

Research found that England’s match losses in previous World Cup tournaments increased incidents of domestic violence by up to 38%. While domestic violence organizations do not deem the matches to be a cause of abuse, they acknowledge the potential for reactions to football matches to aggravate existing patterns. The relationship is complex, with numerous factors involved, and alcohol is likely to be a key component in this, due to the strong presence of alcohol in football culture. It follows that the combination of football culture and alcohol consumption poses a serious risk factor in gender-based violence. Finally, research demonstrates that lower socioeconomic status has an association with an increased tendency towards alcohol-related violence as well as violence in general.

There is an unmistakable trend. The combination of poverty and domestic violence compounded by football culture and alcohol use create a binding force in the increased risk of violence against women.

The 2022 World Cup

While many eagerly anticipate the sporting thrills of the 2022 World Cup in late November, domestic violence against women could escalate after the tournament. The correlation has varied, but domestic violence has regularly increased in World Cup team countries after tournaments throughout the world. A multi-year British study showed abuse increased more when England lost than when England won. While hosting the World Cup in 2017, Russia decriminalized certain types of domestic violence and reduced punishments, which led to an increase in occurrences of domestic abuse.

Qatar, where women have limited freedoms, is this year’s World Cup host. Women in Qatar must seek permission from a male family member before marrying, and when married, they must legally obey their husband. Furthermore, Qatar has no law protecting women from domestic abuse or marital rape. This, of course, prevents many victims from finding justice.

The decision for Qatar to host has already been questioned in regard to controversies surrounding migrant worker exploitation and the country’s lack of support for LGBT rights. However, it may also be time to question the implications of selecting a country so behind on women’s rights and abuse protection to receive such a platform, especially given that football culture can already prompt increases in rates of domestic violence.

Recognizing this threat, international organizations as well as the U.K. government and its largest nonprofit supporting victims of domestic abuse have developed campaigns over the past few years to bring awareness to the grave issue.

Campaigns to Protect Women

In 2020, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) collaborate to create the #SafeHome campaign to combat the presence of domestic violence in football culture and the rise of such incidents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign involves various videos, with football stars such as Kelly Smith, Oliver Torres and Rosana Augusto offering advice to both victims and perpetrators. It also raises awareness of the scale of this issue. Finally, it highlights the vulnerabilities of unstable financial situations. The #SafeHome toolkit strives to ensure support is accessible to all.

This public appeal for a no-tolerance attitude to domestic violence is part of a four-year-long partnership between FIFA and WHO to keep football culture safe. These efforts will continue during the upcoming World Cup.

The nonprofit Refuge is the U.K.’s largest organization supporting victims of domestic abuse and advocating for protection and funding. Its refuges, community service programs and hotline supported more than 10,000 women and 14,000 children during the 2020 – 2021 pandemic year. It has raised awareness of both the economic vulnerabilities to abuse and the threat of domestic violence surges during football seasons.

The UK’s Domestic Abuse Act

The U.K.’s Domestic Abuse Act of 2021 supports these efforts to combat poverty and domestic violence. It aims to improve victims’ access to support and justice. It broadens the definition of domestic violence to include forms other than physical abuse, such as manipulation, coercion and financial abuse. Crucially, it includes a pledge to give those suffering from domestic violence but lacking stable housing and income priority housing assistance.

Looking to the 2022 World Cup and Beyond

Football culture which economic abuse compounds devastates women and children globally. Thankfully, the recent increased and concentrated efforts of the U.K. government, Refuge and international organizations including the WHO, EU and FIFA are protecting more vulnerable women from poverty and domestic violence. Not only should this increase the protection against a possible surge following the November World Cup, but it should sustain greater awareness and protection far beyond the football tournament itself.

– Lydia Tyler
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Healthnet TPO: Improving Mental Health in South Sudan

Mental Health in South SudanDecades of war have had a notable impact on mental health in South Sudan. Few resources are available to help those suffering from trauma and stigma deters people from seeking mental health assistance. Despite how dire the situation is, organizations are stepping up to improve mental health within the young nation.

A History of War

Beginning in 1955, South Sudan has fought three civil wars. The first lasted from 1955 to 1972, the second from 1983 to 2005, and the third, starting after the nation’s independence in 2011, lasted from 2013 until 2018 when warring parties agreed to peace deals. The third civil war alone led to about 400,000 deaths and 4 million displacements.

Even after the agreement, violence remains common. Communities continue to fight “over land, cattle and grazing” and the fact that “political and military leaders” provide locals with weapons further exacerbates the violence. The violence between South Sudanese communities has led to “hundreds of thousands” of deaths and displacements across the country, adding to the nation’s collective trauma.

Mental Health in South Sudan

Information on mental health in South Sudan is limited, but South Sudan Health Cluster estimates indicate that about 5.1 million of the nation’s 11 million people are affected by the war. Specifically, 204,000 suffered severe mental health conditions and 1,020,000 experienced “mild to moderate mental health conditions.” These conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

In 2015, the South Sudan Law Society and the United Nations Development Programme conducted a study that found that out of a group of 1,525 individuals across six states, about 41% met the criteria for PTSD. Despite how widespread mental illness is in the country, less than 1% of people are receiving the necessary treatment, according to the World Health Organization in 2017.

The Complex Mental Health Situation

There are only three practicing psychiatrists and 29 practicing psychologists in the entire country, all of whom are positioned in the capital city of Juba.

Furthermore, stigmas and taboos stand as barriers to addressing mental health in South Sudan. Many believe mental illness “runs in the family,” so if one member is diagnosed, then the rest become social outcasts. In fact, “Most communities believe in supernatural possession or punishment by higher powers, as opposed to accepting a mental illness diagnosis,” South Sudanese psychiatrist Dr. Atong Ayuel tells Al Jazeera. A possession is preferable to mental illness, so people seek assistance from religious institutions instead of mental health care practitioners.

Some believe faith is the cause of their recovery rather than treatment. Paradise Akaag Henry, a schizophrenic patient under Dr. Atong’s care tells Al Jazeera the reasons for her recovery. “First of all Jesus, and then Dr. Atong.”

Mental Health and Poverty

Mental illness and poverty are linked in several ways. Those living without treatment may not function well in their community and receive “limited employment opportunities,” pushing them further into poverty. Adolescent pregnancy and domestic violence rates tend to increase in circumstances of poverty.

In Glasgow, Scotland, a study found that 7.3% of 4-year-olds born into poverty showed “abnormal social, behavioral and emotional difficulties” compared to 4.1% for those not born into poverty. This prevalence increased by age 7 to 14.7% for impoverished children and 3.6% for wealthier children.

Also, the stresses from poverty, like long work hours, can affect cognitive function, which can lead to poor decision-making and increased susceptibility to mental illness.

A 2013 research study published in the journal Science found that the psychological burden created by poverty is the equivalent of “losing 13 IQ points.”

Action to Improve Mental Health in South Sudan

To fight mental illness in South Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a nonprofit organization started in 1971 by medical professionals, “launched an emergency intervention in Tambura County in December 2021″ after large-scale violence plagued the area.

MSF Mental Health Activity Manager Ariadna Alexandra Pérez Gudiño and a group of four counselors from Tambura set up “community-based mental health services” across displacement camps. These services included “one-to-one counseling sessions, referral pathways for those in need of further treatment or medication and group psychosocial health sessions.”

Psychosocial group sessions included creative activities such as dancing, singing, creating jewelry and drawing. The psychosocial activities are particularly helpful as the sessions give residents an opportunity to process their trauma together. Between January and July 2022, MSF held “more than 11,500 individual and group” sessions across seven projects taking place throughout South Sudan. In June 2022, with the situation improving, MSF handed over its mental health programs to local health care workers.

Healthnet TPO

Healthnet TPO, established in 1992 by MSF, aims to “bridge the gap” between emergency aid and “long-term structural development.”

Its program, called Leaders of Peace, works to provide psychosocial and self-care services for women subjected to gender-based violence, alter society’s attitude toward women to improve gender equality and increase women’s participation in “leadership, decision-making and peacebuilding processes.”

The specifics include establishing community-based mental health programs across 50 communities in five South Sudanese states and placing 50 trained individuals in 50 women groups to manage gender-based violence cases, community engagement, mobilization, mental health advocacy and more. These individuals will also “strengthen different community groups” and advocate for mental health services and the passage of gender-based violence laws. The program will last from 2021 to 2025.

Through continued mental health efforts, the conflict-affected nation of South Sudan can move past its collective trauma and look to a brighter future.

– James Harrington
Photo: Wikimedia

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Lessons From Venezuela’s Plan Bolivar 2000

Plan Bolivar 2000
Venezuela is facing a grave humanitarian emergency, with the National Survey of Living Conditions finding that about three-quarters of the population live in extreme poverty in 2021. Unemployment is spreading, public services and basic supplies are scant and hyperinflation is lingering. Critics blame President Nicolás Maduro for driving Venezuela’s once-promising oil-led economy to a failed petro-state. On top of economic mismanagement, Maduro’s government oversees “brutal policing practices,” jailed political opponents and “poor prison conditions,” giving way to an escalating refugee crisis with around 5.5 million Venezuelans fleeing the country since 2014, according to data from October 2020. The circumstances today are a far cry from about 20 years ago when the government aimed to reduce poverty in Venezuela through a project called Plan Bolivar 2000. Though the project came to a premature end, the lessons from Plan Bolivar 2000 can guide future poverty reduction programs in Venezuela.

Plan Bolivar 2000

Launched in February 1999, newly-elected president Hugo Chavez developed Plan Bolivar as part of a mission to engage the national military in anti-poverty activities and pull the country out of the recession. Plan Bolivar included efforts from the Air Force to provide free travel to those urgently in need while the Navy helped to fix refrigerators and established fishing cooperatives. The National Guard engaged in policing and constructing homes for the impoverished and soldiers gave mass vaccinations and food distributions. Literacy programs also formed part of Plan Bolivar 2000.

Plan Bolivar 2000 saw success in its first year — the program’s efforts led to the reparation of “thousands of schools, hospitals, clinics, homes, churches and parks.” More than 2 million disadvantaged people “received medical treatment” and more than 2 million children received crucial vaccinations, among other successes, Venezuelanalysis.com said. The Venezuelan government also reported increases in literacy.

The Flaws in the Plan

The program placed a significant amount of money in the hands of the military. Chavez’s $114 million fund for Plan Bolivar 2000 gave officials a newfound sense of power — In 2018, Venezuelan officials arrested General Victor Cruz Weffer, the army commander overseeing the program, on charges of illicit enrichment through offshore accounts.

Chavez canceled Plan Bolivar in 2002, intending to divert money away from the military and toward “allies in mayoral and state offices.” This spurred a small group of high-ranking military officers to briefly arrest Chavez, who, upon release, “purged the [military’s] top ranks” and diluted the power of the Defense Ministry.

Chavez filled the Ministry with officials who supported his leftist ideals and gave them access to cabinet posts as well as control of banks. He also forced military officials to pledge allegiance to him, appointed numerous “military officials to helm agencies” across the country and named countless “new flag officers” – a practice that his successor Maduro continued after taking power in 2013. According to Venezuelan NGO Citizen Control, by 2017, “active and former military figures had held as many as half of Maduro’s 32 cabinet posts.”

Lasting Effects

These actions confused the military hierarchy and created a “jumbled and partisan chain of command,” according to a Reuters investigation. Top officials spend more time pleasing the Socialist Party and commanding troops through civic duties than they do organizing military affairs.

With intelligence agents embedded in the military, many officers fear speaking out against Maduro and the possibility of facing arrest. This, paired with the high pay and power positions that top officials receive, means that the military’s loyalty to Maduro is strong and unfading.

Armed forces make up a significant part of Maduro’s support, with many officers doubling as ministers or holding other influential positions in his government. Despite his economic mismanagement and human rights violations, which led to “more than 20 countries [recognizing] opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president” by January 2019, Maduro remains in power.

Humanitarian Efforts to Help Venezuela

World Vision is assisting Venezuelans who have fled to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, through its Hope Without Borders project. Refugees receive food, shelter, medicine and hygiene kits as well as psychological assistance through child-friendly spaces. As of June 2021, World Vision had provided assistance to more than 71,000 Venezuelan refugees.

Key Takeaways From the Plan

Due to years of corruption and military bloating, Plan Bolivar 2000 failed. However, its early years saw numerous successes across the country, with the military standing as a force for good in providing education, housing and health care to those in need. As Venezuela suffers now more than ever, it can consider Plan Bolivar’s success, as well as the reasons for its failure, as a lesson to inform future poverty alleviation programs.

– Imogen Scott
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Why Most Families with Single Mothers in Japan are Living in Poverty 

Single mothers in Japan
In Japan, 56% of families headed by single mothers are living below the poverty line. This is the highest of all the OECD nations, with the U.S. coming in a faraway second at 33.5%. Single mothers in Japan struggle enormously, despite living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. This is the result of a toxic confluence of social expectations, corporate stigma and government negligence.

The Cause of Poverty Among Single Mothers in Japan

The original cause of this high level of poverty has roots in expectations about family environments. The social structure in Japan is very specific and well-established. There is an assumption, especially from the government, that every household consists of two people raising their children. In addition, it is widely expected and common for women to give up their careers and stay home to raise children. About 70% of Japanese women do just that. 

However, as the divorce rate rises in Japan, this expectation is becoming a direct driver of poverty. There is no existence of the legal concept of joint custody in Japan and women are most commonly fully responsible for their children post-divorce. Less than half of the women receive any alimony or child support payments at all.

As a growing proportion of Japanese women become the sole provider for their families, they are taking on more economic responsibility. However, their economic rights and opportunity have not increased in tandem. This is what leads directly to poverty for single mothers in Japan. Women usually are only able to secure low-paying and part-time work, if they can get a job at all. Only 43% of Japanese mothers that want to return to the workforce are able to. Even if the mothers manage to snag a job, women earn 30% less than men for the same work in Japan. 

Government Response to Divorce-Related Public Benefits

The government’s response to the issue worsened this phenomenon. As divorce rates rose and more single women applied for public benefits, the government implemented reforms to cut back on these social safety nets. In 2003, the government reduced allowances and tacked income and time limits to benefits. Even when available to mothers, twin stigmas about being poor and being divorced disincentivize struggling mothers from even accepting public benefits. Activists maintain that this stigma has led to only 200,000 of the 3.5 million eligible children receiving the financial assistance they are entitled to.  

Left with extremely limited employment options and meager government support, single mothers in Japan and their children are vulnerable to falling below the poverty line. 

Little Ones

Luckily, a nonprofit operating in the Tokyo area known as Little Ones is directly assisting single mothers and children in the everyday struggles they face. Little Ones focuses on supporting impoverished children by providing employment, housing and networking services to single parents in the country. Kunihisa Koyama, a social activist in Japan, founded the organization in 2008. The organization has since been able to house upwards of 300 single mothers. 

Little Ones has identified isolation as a key factor in mothers’ poverty and the organization hosts regular gatherings and barbecues to allow single mothers to connect and create a supportive community amongst themselves. Further, the organization supports employment by helping single mothers secure and prepare for interviews, even assisting with such small details as makeup techniques. To support mothers in housing, Little Ones assists with the housing search, ensuring that mothers can be in a place that meets their needs.

Looking Ahead

Finally, on top of all this meaningful work to reduce poverty among single mothers in Japan, Little Ones also works to raise awareness about this little-known issue. As there is not much coverage of the hardships that single mothers in Japan face, this organization is doing important work by getting the word out. It is inspiring to know that someone is working to support these mothers who face so many social and economic roadblocks. With continued work and progress on this issue, poverty in Japan will be sure to decline.

– Grace Ramsey
Photo: Flickr

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The John P. McNulty Prize: Supporting Leaders to End Poverty

Supporting leaders to end poverty
In 2019, the World Bank stated that approximately 700 million people lived in extreme poverty, surviving on $1.90 daily. The future is optimistic though as extreme poverty decreased from 35% in 1990 to 8.6% in 2022. Thanks to the persistent efforts of governments, foundations, international non-governmental organizations and many others, global poverty is diminishing. In 2008, Anne Welsh McNulty established the John P. McNulty Prize “in honor of her late husband” in partnership with the Aspen Institute with the aim of supporting leaders to end poverty. Each year, leaders who address significant world problems, like global poverty, receive funding and “support to amplify their efforts.” Here are five women leaders and McNulty Prize winners who focus on global poverty reduction.

Navyn Salem, Edesia

Navyn Salem’s philanthropy journey began with a trip. In 2007, during a visit to Tanzania, her father’s home country, she witnessed child malnutrition firsthand. “A mother was crying inconsolably over the loss of her child. The child had starved to death,” the Edesia website described. Since that day, Salem made it her mission to prevent global malnutrition. In 2009, she founded Edesia Nutrition, which is the reason why she stood as one of the winners of the John P. McNulty Prize in 2022. Edesia Nutrition is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that produces ready-to-use therapeutic food, like Plumpy’Nut, to end malnutrition. This organization has addressed hunger and malnutrition among more than 16 million children in 60 nations through successful collaborations with UNICEF, USAID, the World Food Programme (WFP) and more.

Jacqueline Novogratz, Acumen Global Fellowship Program

Jacqueline Novogratz gave up her career on Wall Street in 1986 to assist with launching Rwanda’s first microfinance institution. According to the McNulty Foundation, she “continued her work of using creative methods of financing to encourage development by starting Acumen” in 2001, an impact investment organization that invests in companies and individuals, working on global poverty with its “Patient Capital” model.

For her, this is a bridge between philanthropy and markets. Also, the Acumen Academy provides courses, fellowships and accelerators to support next-generation role models, innovators and leaders who focus on social change in different ways. The Acumen Global Fellowship Program is a one-year program that helps individuals to master the required “skills, attributes and values of moral leadership values”necessary to ignite social change. Through this program, Novogratz won the 2018 McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund, which “builds on a decade of the impact of the John P. McNulty Prize, a $100,000 award given annually to honor the visionary work of individuals moving the needle on intractable global challenges.”

Alexandra Kissling & Maria Pacheco, Vital Voices Central America

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a nonprofit organization that has supported women leaders all around the world since 1997. The organization has supported more than 20,000 women in more than 180 countries and regions. It supports women leaders because it believes “women are the key to progress in their communities and nations cannot move forward without women in leadership positions,” the Vital Voices website said.

Under this partnership, Maria Pacheco developed the Vital Voices Chapter in Guatemala in 2008. With her invitation, several other leaders attended the first Vital Voices conference in Central America. This led to the development of six chapters in the region and the founding of the Vital Voices Central America coalition by Pacheco and Alexandra Kissling.

Kissling is also the co-founder of Vital Voices Costa Rica. Overall, “the Vital Voices Central America network has touched the lives of [more than] 100,000 women and their families” through different programs. Women are now able to gain important skills in communication, entrepreneurship and leadership, career-building and community work. This is a crucial contribution considering that in this region, women are more likely to live in extreme poverty than men. Kissling and Pacheco won the 2019 McNulty Prize thanks to their dedicated efforts to fight against poverty in Central America.

Réjane Woodroffe, Bulungula Incubator

Réjane Woodroffe witnessed the utmost opposite conditions during commutes between Cape Town, South Africa, and a secluded community of villages on the southeast coast of the country. In one place, there were luxurious cars, fancy buildings and many job opportunities, whereas, on the other side, she saw extreme poverty and underdevelopment. The villages lacked roads, proper health care access, schools, electricity and sanitation.

After this eye-opening experience, she started to work on trying to end rural generational poverty. In 2007, Woodroffe founded Bulungula Incubator, which is the reason why she won the 2014 prize. Bulungula Incubator is a nonprofit organization that has goals to end poverty while improving community life through several programs. For instance, early childhood education, health and nutrition, sport, art, culture and economic programs through collaborations with government, non-governmental organizations and other associations. This is another example of supporting leaders to end poverty.

All in all, awards like the John P. McNulty Prize play a significant role in supporting leaders to end poverty. These types of awards not only provide monetary support to further leaders’ humanitarian work but also stand as motivation for future leaders who would like to play a role in poverty reduction. Announcing these types of awards to recognize winners is crucial for motivating the next generation of leaders.

– Irem Aksoy
Photo: Flickr

GPE’s Efforts to Strengthen Education in Niger

Education in NigerAccording to the U.N.’s human development index (HDI), in 2019, Niger’s HDI value stood at 0.394, placing the nation in the “low human development category” and positioning it at 189th out of 189 nations. The country had a per capita income of about $600 in 2021, a 35% literacy rate in 2018 and a population that is expected to triple in size by 2050. As education is a proven pathway out of poverty, Niger’s government is working with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to launch comprehensive education reforms to strengthen education in Niger.

Barriers to Education in Niger

Despite substantial educational investments in Niger since 2012, enrollment remains low, according to UNICEF. While primary school enrollment (71%) has kept up with population growth, only 7% of children are enrolled in preschool.

The quality of education is also a significant issue in Niger as the country lacks qualified teaching professionals. In 2017, only one-third of educators had a sufficient level of teaching competency, according to UNICEF. Notably, only 20% of high school students successfully obtained their high school diplomas.

The lack of sufficient education facilities and staff impacts the most vulnerable groups the hardest, namely girls in rural areas. To facilitate universal education, teachers have to reach even the most remote areas to strengthen education in Niger. In 2017, the gross secondary school enrollment rate for girls in Niger stood at 21%, and for boys, this rate stood at 28%. Girls’ education is important because it leads to fewer child marriages and economic independence.

Through an informal education program, the most vulnerable children who have never received an education of any kind or have dropped out will be able to receive literacy training to develop their fundamental reading, writing and mathematics skills.

The Education and Training Sector Plan

Niger’s 2014-2024 education sector plan shows the Niger government’s commitment to improving education in the country. However, in 2018, the GPE provided Niger with a grant worth $482,007 to revise and strengthen this plan.

The education and training sector plan for 2014-2024 has several aims, which include:

  • Expand teaching and learning resources/supplies.
  • Raise “the quality of basic education by introducing mother tongue instruction in early grades.”
  • Move away from employing civil service educators to government-paid contract teaching professionals.
  • Increase girls’ school enrollment rates and keep girls in school through incentives.
  • Construct more schools to meet the growing population’s needs.
  • Create better learning environments by updating school curriculums, creating smaller class sizes and introducing study materials that fit the local context.
  • Establish “a literacy and non-formal education program to reach those who have never attended school or have dropped out.”
  • Ensure rural areas have sufficient teachers and relocate teachers to these areas where necessary.

Other GPE Support

The GPE has partnered with Niger since 2002 and has provided more than $214 million worth of grants to support education in the country. As part of the GPE COVID-19 response, the GPE provided Niger with $11 million through the support of UNICEF and the French Development Agency (AFD). This grant went toward implementing distance learning, especially in rural areas, and fostering the safe reopening of schools by establishing water, hygiene and sanitation facilities.

GPE partnership’s strategic plan brings together the organization’s assets, know-how and resources to work toward ambitious education goals in countries as vulnerable as Niger. Running from 2021 to 2025, the GPE 2025 strategy directly addresses Sustainable Development Goal 4 – “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

In 2021 alone, GPE contributed $740 million in education grants, alleviating some of the additional pressure the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on education systems in developing countries. With the technical, financial and administrative help of organizations such as GPE, Niger is expected to improve the learning experiences of millions of children while catalyzing gender equality.

– Pauline Luetzenkirchen
Photo: Flickr

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Lending a Helping Hand: Ukrainian Refugees in Moldova

Moldova is Helping Ukrainian RefugeesA former republic of the Soviet Union, Moldova is one of Europe’s poorest countries, with a poverty rate of 26.8% as of 2020. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Moldova faced economic hardship, widespread corruption and political instability, but made progress between 2006 and 2015 toward national poverty reduction.

However, since early 2020, Moldova has experienced a series of intense economic shocks beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic that led to an estimated loss of nearly 8% of jobs across the nation, disproportionately affecting young workers. In 2020, Moldova also experienced one of the worst droughts in recent decades, which reduced agricultural production by 34%. In late 2021, the European gas crisis adversely affected the nation for several months, which increased gas prices by 400%, until Moldova’s government signed a new contract with a Russian-controlled gas company. By February 2022, Moldova was beginning to recover from these shocks, but the sudden outbreak of war when Russian forces invaded Ukraine threatened Moldova’s immediate economic recovery and future trajectory.

How Moldova is Helping Ukrainian Refugees

Despite the nation’s challenges, Moldova’s government and citizens have made remarkable efforts to help Ukrainian refugees. Since the start of the war, more than 460,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the invasion have traveled through Moldova, with nearly 100,000 refugees choosing to remain in the nation. The Moldovan government immediately set up facilities for refugees, offering medical and psychological assistance at the war’s onset. Officials also extended the right to live and work in Moldova to Ukrainian refugees, along with access to health care services and education. Notably, 95% of the refugees are staying with Moldovan families.

Humanitarian Organizations Supporting Moldova’s Efforts

UNHCR, the U.N.’s Refugee Agency, has assisted the Moldovan government through a series of measures, expanding its staff by nearly 100 members in the nation since the crisis began. The agency is helping Ukrainian refugees and supporting the work of local authorities in Moldova by offering access to information, health and legal services, child protection services, initiatives to prevent human trafficking and gender-based violence as well as offering transportation to European Union countries. A core component of the UNHCR’s response effort is a cash assistance program that allows Ukrainian refugees to receive around 2,200 Moldovan Lei (equivalent to $120) each month. The process is facilitated through enrollment centers and mobile teams that help refugees enroll, and the program has already helped more than 50,000 refugees in Moldova receive cash.

The World Bank has also implemented initiatives to help Moldova build economic resilience and mitigate the impacts of the war in Ukraine. In June 2022, the World Bank allocated $159.24 million to Moldova as part of an Emergency Response, Resilience and Competitiveness Development Policy Operation (DPO). Moldova’s government remains committed to its social and economic developmental reform agenda, and this relief funding will allow the government to support the country’s immediate needs while also providing momentum for long-term recovery efforts.

– Oliver De Jonghe
Photo: Flickr

How SDG 7 Fosters Hope for India’s Energy Sector

SDG 7 fosters hope for India’s energy sector
India’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) is something to be applauded. It has facilitated affordable, reliable and modern energy for all through investing in green hydrogen, sustainable energy transitions and a bio-economy. As a pioneer of sustainable economic models for developing economies, India has been taking steps to fight against climate change. With ambitions to achieve net zero emissions by 2070 while meeting 50% of its electricity needs through renewable energy sources by 2030, SDG 7 fosters hope for India’s energy sector.

SDG 7 provides a reliable framework for sustainability, encouraging the expansion of infrastructure and technology improvements. By incorporating renewable energy sources that mitigate global climate change, policymakers have showcased how SDG 7 fosters hope for India’s energy sector.

India’s Current Situation

As the third largest electricity producer, India’s energy sector has always faced scrutiny, with high carbon emissions demanding attention. Its reliance on coal as a primary source and imported oil as a secondary source of electricity create formidable sustainability hurdles. Additionally, with the impact of the pandemic weighing heavily on India, interventions and government policies to align with the SDG 7 have been necessary.

In response, the Indian government has initiated programs facilitating sustainable energy transitions. Economic opportunities incentivizing projects have helped India make transitions to clean energy. In August 2022, the Indian cabinet approved a national plan to increase its commitment to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45%. Numerous stakeholders have applauded this move, especially given its adoption of industry-standard recommendations to achieve net zero emissions. Also, the Indian government has mandated a better and more efficient transport system with plans to support its operations with renewable energy.

According to recommendations from General Electric, “The government should ensure that power producers comply with new emission standards by 2022 for India to meet its emission targets.” Such sentiments stem from the opportunities and challenges identified in the Indian energy sector, particularly with the scale of investments in renewable energy. Additionally, national policies within the energy sector are shifting to accommodate the development of an efficient electricity market, creating extensive progress in achieving clean energy.

Focus on the Bio-economy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India is achieving significant growth in its bio-economy, as it has grown eight times what it was eight years ago. Because of this, achieving net zero emissions by 2070 is a real possibility. Notably, the government’s continued support of its biotech sector has ushered in a new culture of doing business. Modi stated that “the number of biotech incubators has increased from six in 2014 to 75 now.” Identifying the contributions of diverse sectors in these achievements, he underlined Indian professionals’ growing momentum and reputation in the global market as it tracks sustainability principles.

The focus on the bio-economy has also spurred growth in the transport sector as modernizing this public resource demands strategic alignment. Mobility remains a crucial factor in India’s economy, and responses to sustainable and cheap transport have sought long-term energy solutions. According to Economic Times, “Market forces are acting upon balancing the energy mix in the short run and shifting fossil fuel load to clean energy in the long run.” Thus, such energy transitions forecast a sustainable future for India’s energy sector.

Focus on Green Hydrogen

In February 2022, India established a framework for producing and exporting green hydrogen. In its ventures, India has even sought help from global funders to facilitate low-rate loans for green hydrogen projects. The focus on green hydrogen reflects the country’s efforts in diversifying energy sources. According to the Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R K Singh, “We achieved universal access to electricity by electrifying more than 18,000 villages in under 1,000 days and more than 28 million households in just 18 months in what was the largest expansion of access in such a short time anywhere in the world.”

Overall, these decisions affect billions of Indians reliant on electricity and forge a better framework to reduce their reliance on coal and oil. In this context, the contribution of the public and private sectors sustains the growing prominence of India’s clean energy. They contribute to its vision to facilitate 50% of its electricity needs through renewable energy sources by 2030, indicating that SDG 7 fosters hope for India’s energy sector.

– Hanying Wang
Photo: Unsplash