Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Sali Hughes and Jo Jones’ Beauty Banks

Beauty Banks
Hygiene poverty, or the inability to afford everyday hygiene or personal grooming products due to low income, is an aspect of living in poverty that people often overlook. In the United Kingdom, hygiene poverty impacts one-fifth of citizens, according to a Canterbury Hub article published in 2020. To help people fight hygiene poverty, journalist Sali Hughes and beauty director Jo Jones teamed up to create the Beauty Banks nonprofit. Beauty Banks combats hygiene poverty by delivering toiletries to women’s refuge centers, homeless shelters and food banks across the U.K.

The Many Faces of Hygiene Poverty

Faced with the difficult decision of choosing between necessities, many people living in poverty prioritize needs such as food or heating their homes over hygiene products.

Hygiene poverty generally refers to an inability to afford hygiene or grooming products, but hygiene poverty takes many forms. For instance, a person living in hygiene poverty may be unable to afford:

  • Washing their hair
  • Cleaning their dirty clothes
  • Changing their baby’s diaper
  • Replacing their toothbrush
  • Obtaining menstrual products

The Downside of Hygiene Poverty

People living in hygiene poverty often face judgment from others about the appearance of their body, clothes, home and more. In addition, the health impact of living in hygiene poverty can be severe. In the U.K., for example, the top reason for the hospitalization of children ages 5 to 9 is tooth decay, according to a 2018 statistic. More broadly, poor hygiene increases susceptibility to illnesses, such as influenza, and hygiene-related health conditions, such as lice infestations.

The Creation of Beauty Banks

To fight against hygiene poverty, journalist Sali Hughes and beauty director Jo Jones launched Beauty Banks on February 14, 2018. Hughes, who previously wrote about her experience as a “hidden homeless,” was inspired to start Beauty Banks after participating in a “Sleep Out” for the homeless organization Centrepoint in 2017. Meanwhile, Jones found inspiration in the number of toiletry products going to waste. Subsequently, Hughes and Jones leveraged their resources in the beauty industry to create Beauty Banks.

With the help of brands, retailers and the beauty community, Beauty Banks combats hygiene poverty by collecting and sending “unwanted toiletries for both men and women” to several locations across the U.K. These locations include food banks, homeless shelters and a women’s refuge center.

Beauty Banks seeks out essential toiletries, such as deodorant, shaving cream, shampoo, soap, baby wipes and toothbrushes. Even further, Beauty Banks combats hygiene poverty with particular attention to women. For example, after seeing more reports of period poverty giving rise to girls in the U.K. choosing to miss school because they cannot afford menstrual products, Hughes and Jones began to prioritize period products as well. “The thought of not being able to buy something you absolutely need to protect yourself during your period, it’s such a stark reality most of us don’t consider,” remarked Hughes in a 2018 BBC News article.

Looking Forward

Beauty Banks combats hygiene poverty by providing the essentials and giving much-needed attention to those living in hygiene poverty. Fortunately, Hughes and Jones have used their experience and expertise to develop a viable solution to combating a problem that has gone unnoticed for too long.

– Sarah DiLuzio
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Indigenous Protesters in Ecuador Demand Change

Indigenous Protesters in Ecuador
The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, lifted a state of emergency imposed as a response to mass protests by Indigenous protesters in Ecuador on June 26, 2022. The demonstrations, beginning on June 13, 2022, were in opposition to the high prices of gasoline and agricultural products and a low education budget. Six civilians have died as a result of them. Ecuador’s largest Indigenous organization, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), has been spearheading the movement and met with President Lasso in late June 2022.

Ecuadorian Indigenous Organizations: CONAIE

According to the International Work Group of Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), around 1.1 million Ecuadorians are Indigenous and 24.1% of them live in the Amazon. Fourteen Indigenous groups live in Ecuador, including the A’i Cofán, Shiwiar, Siekopai and Chachi.

There are many Indigenous organizations in Ecuador. However, CONAIE is the most involved in these Indigenous protests in Ecuador.

In 1986, the organization started operating in Ecuador’s capital, Quito and cited “the continuous struggle of the communities, centers, federations and confederations of Indigenous peoples” as the reason for its existence. Since then, the organization has become known for its direct action and uprising. In 1996, CONAIE famously formed its political movement called the Pachakutik/Nuevo País after halting alliances with other political movements and candidates. Leonidas Iza, who has been representing CONAIE in government dealings, currently leads the Indigenous group.

Poverty and Prices

Poverty in Ecuador has significantly risen in 2022. Among the country’s population of 18 million, 35% live in poverty. Additionally, poverty is commonly and historically found among Ecuador’s Indigenous people, sometimes attributed to discrimination. In 2006, the United Nations Population Fund reported that some 88% of Ecuador’s Indigenous households live under the poverty line.

As aforementioned, recent Ecuadorian protests by members of the country’s Indigenous populations result from high gasoline and agricultural product prices and low education and health care budgets.

In recent months, Ecuadorian fuel prices have distinctly increased. Before President Lasso made adjustments, standard gasoline cost $2.55 a gallon (40 cents higher than neighboring Colombia’s price) and diesel $1.90 a gallon.

Agricultural product prices, another point of protest, have been rising since the end of 2021. Fertilizer prices have also been increasing, potentially leading to less agricultural production and income heading to farming households.

The Ecuadorian educational budget has been declining since 2019, currently at a mere 11.5% of government expenditure and is comparably lower than neighboring South American countries (Colombia is at 14.5%, Bolivia at 14.2%).

Ecuadorian Government Response

Indigenous protesters in Ecuador agreed with their country’s government on the subjects of protest and fuel prices in late June.

After lifting the state of emergency he imposed and the beginning of talks between his government and Indigenous leaders, Ecuadorian President Lasso cut fuel prices– but not to the degree CONAIE wanted. He decreased petrol and diesel price per gallon by 15 cents, whereas the Indigenous organization called for a 45-cent decrease per gallon of petrol and a 40-cent decrease per gallon of diesel, Al Jazeera reported.

Furthermore, CONAIE leader Iza signed a deal with the Ecuadorian government that aims to lower fuel prices, among other costs, limit oil expansion and prohibit mining in protected areas and cease protests. Iza announced the suspension of protests after signing, according to Al Jazeera.

Although the nearly two-week-long protests in Ecuador caused more than 150 arrests, stunted transport and led to at least six deaths, they have amounted to a deal between Indigenous protesters and the Ecuadorian government, hopefully bringing peace and security into the country.

– Sophie Buibas
Photo: Flickr

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USAID’s Response to the Record-Breaking Drought in Africa 

Drought in AfricaThe Horn of Africa is suffering from its worst drought in 40 years, a crisis that has killed millions of livestock and plunged millions of people into food insecurity. In response to this historic drought in Africa, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged almost $1.3 billion in assistance to the regions hardest hit by the drought.

A Record-Breaking Drought

The past four rainy seasons in the Horn of Africa—a region which includes Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya—have seen below-average rainfall. The most recent rainy season, from March to May 2022, was the area’s driest rainy season in 70 years. The U.N. expects that the upcoming rainy season from October to December 2022 will also be dry.

This unprecedented drought has had dire consequences for those living in the Horn of Africa:

  • As of July 2022, the U.N. estimated that 18.6 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are facing food insecurity due to the drought and this figure could rise to 20 million by September.
  • The International Rescue Committee warns that 3 million people are at risk of starving to death in the region.
  • 7.1 million children are acutely malnourished, with 2.1 million children falling in the category of acutely malnourished.
  • More than 11.6 million people lack access to sufficient water for drinking, cooking and cleaning.
  • An estimated 7 million livestock have died and an additional at 22 million are at risk of dying due to the drought.

Immediate Impacts of the Drought

In addition to the immediate impacts on food and water insecurity, the Horn of Africa’s drought has impacted the lives of those living there in more indirect ways. With more than 1.1 million people displaced as a consequence of the drought and women and girls traveling as much as three times as long as they did before to find water, the Horn of Africa has seen an increase in gender-based violence and school drop-out rates.

Approximately 15 million children in the region are now out of school and an additional 3.32 million children across the region are at risk of dropping out because of the drought. The drought has also had negative impacts on hygiene practices. As drinking water has become scarcer, people have started to ration their water, using more water for drinking and cooking and less for hygiene. Consequently, the drought has put people at a higher risk for infection and water-borne diseases.

While the drought on its own has had disastrous effects, Russia’s war on Ukraine has compounded the crisis the Horn of Africa is experiencing. Regionally, 84% of wheat is imported, and 90% of that imported wheat comes from Russia and Ukraine. Due to the combined effects of smaller harvests and war-induced inflation, the cost of food has risen 66% in Ethiopia and 36% in Somalia.

The United States Offers Help

In July 2022, USAID announced an additional $1.18 billion in aid for countries hardest hit by this historic drought. This brings the total U.S. assistance for the crisis up to $1.86 billion in 2022 alone — the greatest contribution of any single country.

The most recent round of funding will go towards measures that will provide immediate assistance to those suffering the consequences of the drought as well as efforts to help the Horn of Africa build resistance against potential future droughts. Funding will support the delivery of emergency food supplies including a grain called shogun, split peas and vegetable oil. To help the high number of children suffering from malnutrition as a result of the drought, USAID will help screen communities for malnutrition in children and provide nutritional supplements for those found to be most at risk.

USAID also plans to use a portion of the funds to help farmers by providing medical services and food to animals as well as working with agricultural communities to develop more drought-resistant farming techniques. Addressing some of the secondary consequences of the drought, USAID will also direct funds toward disease prevention and gender-based violence reduction efforts.

A Look Ahead

While this unprecedented drought has been devastating for the Horn of Africa, the U.N. estimated in July that an additional $1.8 billion in aid was required to address the crisis. The recent announcement by USAID in July covers almost two-thirds of this requirement and has the potential to help the millions who have suffered the dire consequences of the drought in Africa.

– Anna Inghram
Photo: Flickr

The Gender Wage Gap in South Korea

Gender wage gap in South KoreaSouth Korea has been ranking at the top in the gender wage gap for over 30 years since joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1997. In 2020, South Korean men earned 31.5% more than women. Although it has made significant achievements in enhancing gender equity, in 1997 the gender wage gap in South Korea was over 40%, the East Asian country is still trying to protect female employees’ rights in the workplace to enhance productivity and narrow the gender wage gap.

Gender Disparities in the Workforce

Not only do men on average earn over 30% more than women, but female workforce participation is also 20% lower than male participation.  From 2009 – 2019 the participation rate inched up only to be decimated during the pandemic. That’s because, despite the fact that South Korea has a higher than average female rate with tertiary education, most South Koren women work in the lower-paying service sectors such as wholesale and retail sales and the food sector —  many of these businesses shut down during COVID-19 lockdowns. Quality child care is difficult to access, and that leads to many South Korean women staying home with their children rather than returning to the workforce.

Birthrate Drop

Even before the pandemic, a birthrate drop has been one social problem plaguing South Korea. In 2020, the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime dropped to .84. This was down from .92 in 2019, but the rate has been declining for years, with 2020 being the third year in a row where the rate was below 1%. Analysts fear that the declining birthrate will have dire economic consequences as South Korea’s population ages.

Financial Incentives for Parental Leave

Due to the declining birthrate, in 2020 South Korea instituted new financial incentives for families to have children. On top of the $91 monthly allowance for all children under seven years, the government now gives an additional cash bonus of $275 a month for the first year for all new babies starting in 2022. Unfortunately, as a 2022 study underlined, the longer a woman takes for maternity leave, the wider the wage gap between her and her male counterparts.  Lower wages, less prestigious jobs and fewer benefits await women when they return from their maternity leave, according to the study.

Though South Korea allows men to take parental leave, the percentage of leave taken was 24.5% in 2020. Recently, the government has initiated new policies to encourage men to take more parental leave, such as paying three months of salary. When both parents take their parental leave during the first year of their child’s birth, they will receive 100% of their monthly income, rather than previously, when only one parent received 100% while the other received 80%. 

Combat Effects of the Pandemic

Not only did South Korean women suffer more job losses than men during the pandemic, they felt the brunt of caretaking responsibility for their children and older family members who fell ill.  During the first six months of 2020, 56% of South Korean women said they increased their work related to taking care of their family, and 62% of Koreans taking family leave that year were women.

To address the pandemic’s greater effect on women, the South Korean government introduced unemployment subsidies and expanded childcare leave to 10 days in the early stages of the pandemic. It has also emphasized offering financial support to small and medium enterprises unlikely to manage the economic shocks under the pandemic and providing cash support to households.

Reduce Gender discrimination in the Workplace

In addition to its efforts to combat the effects of the pandemic, in 2021 government enacted new policies to reduce the gender wage gap in South Korea. First, it raised the 2022 minimum wage by roughly 5% from the previous figure. Also, for the first time, employees will be able to petition the Labor Relations Commission for relief in gender discrimination and sexual harassment cases, and the available remedies will include damages.

The Labor Standards Act now also provides pregnant female employees with a right to change their start and end times of daily work while keeping the required working hours. The employer cannot refuse the request unless the changed hours would seriously interfere with the regular operation of the business. Also, private companies with five to 29 employees must now provide holiday pay for public holidays.

Importantly, the government continues to focus on gender mainstreaming.  The Framework Act of Gender Equality which was revised in 2014 focuses on enhancing women’s status in the workplace.  It also enacted a gender-impact analysis and assessment in 2011, and in 2018 alone put in place over 2600 policy changes as a result of that assessment. Finally, gender-responsive budgeting demands that both national and local governments distribute national resources evenly to men and women.

Looking Forward

As South Korea’s population continues to shrink, continuing to narrow the gender wage gap in South Korea will be increasingly important for social and economic reasons.  The government measures including parental subsidies, raising the minimum wage and gender mainstreaming should help, but sustained diligence is crucial. As the OECD comments, however: “In order to successfully overcome the current challenges that Korean society currently confronts, employing these very educated but underutilized human resources is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do.”

– Shiyu Pan
Photo: Wikimedia

Afrobeats Reducing Unemployment in Nigeria

Unemployment in Nigeria
In recent years, the Nigerian economy has struggled to uphold its title as Africa’s largest economy, in face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and gasoline prices. As a consequence of slow economic growth and surging inflation, Nigerian citizens must grapple with dwindling employment opportunities; in 2021 alone, poverty has increased by nearly 10% due to pandemic-induced price shocks. However, a type of music called Afrobeats is helping reduce unemployment in Nigeria.

A Surprising Source of Income

Amid the dire employment scene, Nigerian youth have found Afrobeats a surprising source of income. Afrobeat is a combination of West African and Black American music that the Nigerian artist Fela Kuti created. This musical genre, which places political lyrics at its forefront, has recently become a sensation among artists worldwide.

Due to social media outlets, live concerts, endorsements and live streaming platforms, young Nigerians have received satisfactory and sustainable payment by partaking in the Afrobeat economy. Here are three enablers for Afrobeats’ contribution to reducing unemployment in Nigeria.

Collaboration with Record Labels

The collaboration between large record labels and Afrobeats artists has contributed greatly to providing the artists with a sustainable and wide audience base.

Mavin Record Label, which Nigerian music producer Michael Collins Ajereh founded, is one of such contributors to popularizing Afrobeats domestically, The Guardian reported. As the largest record label in Nigeria, Mavin Record Label has already propelled more than 30 artists towards stardom. Singers such as Ayra Starr, Rema, Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks and Koredo Bello all achieved fame due to the label’s promotion.

In addition to Mavin Record Label, Chocolate City, YBNL, Starboy Entertainment, Marlian Music and Zanku Record Label also played important roles in increasing popular interest in Afrobeats artists and in doing so, providing them with a sustainable source of income, said The Guardian.

Concert Organization

The majority of concerts are large-scale and include only one performer. However, Afrobeats artists and fans have often opted for smaller-venue shows with a medley of artists.

The benefits of such changes are manifold. For one thing, this added flexibility gives many smaller artists the opportunity to reach an audience and showcase their talent, enlarging their fanbase. Rather than the cost of independently renting out a venue impeding artists, they can collaborate to reduce expenditures. Further, there is a greater likelihood that artists could attract new listeners, as it is highly possible that concertgoers who purchase their ticket to watch one artist might leave interested in multiple other performers.

The employment opportunities that the popularization of Afrobeats has created are not limited to performers, stated The Guardian. Increased demand for those who work behind the scenes also provided many Nigerian youths with a new source of income.

Endorsements

Concert tickets and music streams are not the only two sources of income for Afrobeats artists. Due to the genre’s surging popularity, many firms have recognized the purchasing power of fan bases and have sought to exploit this consumer group by offering musicians ambassadorial deals, according to The Guardian.

Such endorsement contracts not only directly increase the salary of the artists, but also increase their net worth. As such, the artists enter a positive feedback loop, where one ambassadorial deal increases their likelihood to receive deals in the future.

Although unemployment continues to pose a grave problem in Nigeria, the Afrobeats industry has been an unexpected generator of job opportunities. As Nigerian youth continues to embrace each emerging opportunity, the country edges closer to poverty reduction.

– Emily Xin
Photo: Unsplash

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New National Health Care Insurance in South Africa

New National Health Care InsuranceIn South Africa, there have been unequal opportunities regarding health care and its access. Since the apartheid, many black Africans have been unable to access private health care or health care facilities. Based on a 2020 study specifically, out of 80% of Black Africans in South Africa, only 8.1% had access to private medical insurance in 2013.  However, the government passed a new National Health Care Insurance bill in South Africa to be established by 2026 to address the inequalities and health care disparities.

What is the New National Health Care Insurance?

The new National Health Care Insurance in South Africa aims to ensure every citizen has access to health care services in the private and public spheres. Employers and workers would both contribute to funding the insurance. The current public health care system would provide the resources needed for the new health care system including doctors and clinics. All private medical aids and hospitals would be removed and the government would reform the public health care infrastructure. The South African National Department of Health would be responsible for hiring the leadership to conduct the insurance and additional positions would be created to ensure the process runs smoothly. It will be implemented in phases with phase one consisting of the following:

  • strengthening the current health care systems
  • establishing the National Health Care Insurance legislation
  • building the foundational institutions for the insurance to be implemented
  • include personal health care services for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly and those with disabilities

Controversy Among the Citizens

Some citizens are hesitant about the new National Health Care Insurance in South Africa. The PwC, a firm that offers business advising services, conducted a survey where 31 chief officers from South African medical organizations were asked questions about the new insurance system.  The survey showed that only 50% of the officers thought the insurance would be successful in addressing the concerns with the current health care system. Some topics that the officers were especially concerned about were:

  • the type of coverage and benefits that will be available to the public
  • the structure of the government
  • corruption and if that will affect the new insurance
  • how many health care workers the infrastructure can hold
  • how public insurance will affect the private sector

Other controversy surrounds the infringement on South Africa’s Bill of Rights. The bill would require the citizens to have National Health Care Insurance regardless of their desire to have it. With this insurance, citizens could not obtain other private health care insurance, which the Board of Healthcare Funders of South Africa says is a violation of Section 27 of the South African Bill of Rights.

A Look Ahead

The new National Health Care Insurance in South Africa can help ensure all citizens have equal access to affordable health care. While there are many benefits to the insurance, citizens are still skeptical about if it will meet their needs. Time will tell if there will be a difference in how many people can access health care in South Africa and if the health care disparities from the current health care system will disappear.

– Janae O’Connell

Photo: Wikimedia

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Rebuilding Health Care in Liberia

Health Care in LiberiaLiberia has had a long relationship with poverty, with 50.9% of the population living below the national poverty line in 2016. This figure was predicted to increase in 2021 by The World Bank. Due to the heavy burden of poverty, many children deal with malnutrition. The civil war in Liberia during the 1990s, as well as the Ebola outbreak in 2014, have had significant impacts on overall life, including health care in Liberia.

Malnutrition

Widespread poverty in Liberia has had far-reaching impacts on citizens’ lives. Apart from an inadequate health care infrastructure in Liberia, poverty also directly impacts the health of citizens in the form of malnutrition. The effects of malnutrition are far-reaching, especially for children. An estimated 32% of children younger than the age of 5 suffer stunting due to malnutrition.

Malnutrition also increases the risk of death and infections. Additionally, malnutrition can negatively affect a child’s brain function. The struggle stems from more than just a lack of food, but a lack of funds to afford foods with the proper nutrients. As of 2017, 69% of children under the age of 5 in Liberia are anemic.

Malnutrition has an adverse effect on economic efficiency, human capital and national development, according to USAID. Furthermore, the lack of resources such as clean water and proper sanitation increases the risk of stunting.

Partners in Rebuilding Health Care

The interconnectedness of the world means quick patterns of disease spread, which can lead to global health crises, as with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, impoverished countries, such as Liberia, have fragile health systems that are not well-equipped to properly manage such disease outbreaks.

Partners in Health (PIH) came to the country’s aid back in 2014 when the Ebola outbreak posed a massive threat to West Africans. Partners in Health continued to aid health care in Liberia, by strengthening the pre-existing health care facilities and infrastructure.

The organization’s aid has contributed to positive health impacts in Liberia. For instance, people dying from tuberculosis decreased from 15% to 0% after PIH support began in 2014. Also, mental health patients in Partners in Health supported facilities went up 30%. The organization has also helped train communities on health-promoting practices and provided training to health care professionals as well.

The world is more interconnected than ever, which means that countries are more able to help one another and collaborate to combat global poverty.

– Kelsey Jensen
Photo: Flickr

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Djibouti

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Djibouti
Djibouti has not recorded any cases of COVID-19 since the end of June 2021, but the country is yet to overcome the social and economic impacts of the pandemic. The onset of the pandemic in March 2020 compounded poverty in Djibouti due to protective measures. Long-term consequences of these measures reflect in the increased vulnerability of all citizens, increased dependence on the government for basic needs and significantly reduced income levels and opportunities. Poor households are struggling the most to recover as some have slipped into extreme poverty. Poverty levels, in general, have risen, as the increase of underfed people from 43% of the population in January 2020 to 54% as of April 2022 illustrates. Here is some information about the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Djibouti and some efforts to alleviate it.

Food Insecurity

Djibouti faces harsh climatic conditions including multiple concurrent droughts which make it difficult to conduct agricultural activities. The agricultural industry only accounts for approximately 3% to 4% of Djibouti’s GDP which is continually shrinking due to high rates of rural to urban migration. As a result, the state relies on imports for 90% of its food supply, according to a World Food Programme (WFP) report.

Food insecurity levels increased and 17% of the population lives below the extreme poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the impacts of pre-existing issues by limiting income activities, further increasing poverty in Djibouti. Reduced trade also increased food prices and reduced food supply.

Income and Unemployment

The informal sector economic backbone of Djibouti and accounted for 47% of employment before the pandemic. Trade and transportation accounted for approximately 20.2% and 25.6% of economic activity alone. However, during the pandemic, 89% of the population did not travel unless necessary and 77% reduced market visits, according to the World Bank report from September 2020.

The national lockdown affected services, construction, general trade and transportation too. Consequently, unemployment increased by 20% shortly after the beginning of the pandemic. As the poor survive as daily workers, they were the largest share of the increase.

Since the end of the lockdown, economic activity is gradually returning to normal. The number of people receiving partial wages has increased but the number of people receiving full wages has also decreased. Additionally, the poor are recovering slower than other income levels and are still more likely to receive no wages for their labor. According to the World Bank report from December 2020, 44% of households primarily depend on government assistance, with wages being a secondary source of income as a result of COVID-19.

Women

According to the World Bank report from September 2020, “Around 37% and 34% of male breadwinners are employees and employers respectively, compared with 26% and 27% among the female breadwinners.” Female unemployment rose from 36.4% in 2019 to 39.4% in 2021. Djibouti did not have gender-sensitive COVID-19 response measures. Men were more likely to receive full payment for their work as compared to women, however, men were also more like to receive no payment, according to the World Bank report from September 2020.

The Crisis Response Support Programme

The African Development Bank (AfDB) provided UA 30 million ($41 million, as of July 2020) for a COVID-19 response program in Somalia and Djibouti between 2020 and 2021. In Djibouti, the program was to cushion the impact of the pandemic on the economy, strengthen the existing health care system and build resilience that would outlast the pandemic. As a result, the program set up five centers at strategic locations including the capital’s airport, at state borders and at the two main refugee camps to manage the spread of COVID-19.

The funds also partially contributed to the creation of the Djibouti Social Fund which was responsible for the food security of vulnerable groups and protected economic activities that the pandemic affected. AfDB also provided 65,000 food kits for vulnerable households and set up the Djibouti Partial Credit Guarantee Fund to provide banking services to companies suffering cash flow problems due to the pandemic.

The Horn of Africa Initiative

The Horn of Africa Initiative gathers Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan as well as international partners, the AfDB, the World Bank and the European Union (EU). Its purpose is to promote peace, stability and sustainable development through regional economic integration. In 2022, the European Union (EU) will contribute €430 million from an initial €162 million to the Horn of Africa Initiative, so as to increase resilience and food security in the region. This is in light of the impact of COVID-19, changing weather patterns and the Russia-Ukraine war that has caused inflation of food and fuel prices.

As more people have become vulnerable to poverty in Djibouti after the pandemic, it is clear that the country needs much support to fully overcome the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Djibouti. The efforts of the African Development Bank and the European Union could not be more timely. Due to their cooperation with the government, the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Djibouti has been manageable and more importantly, reversible.

– Kena Irungu
Photo: Flickr

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Reducing Energy Insecurity in Greenland

Energy Insecurity in GreenlandHome to roughly 600 residents, Qaanaaq is the northernmost town in Greenland. With Arctic landscapes and high fuel costs, native residents have expressed concerns over their inability to continue spending on fossil fuels. As the community looks for new solutions to address the threat of energy insecurity in Greenland, renewable energy is offering promising prospects.

Fossil Fuels in the Arctic

Resources for fuel have been an ongoing issue for those in Greenland, but for communities like Qaanaaq, being so far north presents unique challenges. Traditionally, people in Greenland use fossil fuels more commonly because they are easier to transport across long distances. However, since Qaanaaq is not accessible by road, the ice-breaking ship brings all fuel, which is not always a reliable nor successful mode of transportation. According to Nature, in 2019, ice conditions were such that the ship carrying fuel was unable to deliver essential fuel sources to the community and the shipment was eventually flown in.

The cost of these delivery systems is significant and accounts for the high prices of local fuels. As sub-zero temperatures are frequent, heating costs for residents are reaching all-time highs–even as the government of Greenland offers heavy subsidization for these fuels, Nature reports.

With 80 remote communities in Greenland relying on diesel fuel for electric power, energy insecurity in Greenland is becoming more of an issue each year.

Sled Dogs and Energy Insecurity

The cost of fuel has led to a series of issues–each causing a domino effect for the community. Recent climatic and environmental changes have threatened Indigenous practices, as locals in Qaanaaq have seen their traditions not only fade, but their livelihoods threatened. As energy insecurity in Greenland increases, hunters and fishermen have struggled to feed their sled dogs, resulting in a decline of traditional hunting and fishing practices.

Additionally, as fossil fuel prices climb, many have recently resorted to leaving their hometown as a direct result of the subsequent financial and mental strains. With life-long residents leaving the area–taking with them Indigenous knowledge–this threatens both culture and tradition.

Power from Natural Resources

Concerns have not gone unnoticed by locals and scholars alike. Mary Albert, a snow physicist at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, has championed the beginning of energy change for the Qaanaaq community, according to Nature. By partnering with native residents and hunters like Toku Oshima, goals of limiting dependency on fossil fuels and using locally generated resources in the area are becoming a reality.

With the fishing and hunting community’s needs at the forefront, Albert and her team started building sustainable technology solutions in April 2020 to help the Qaanaaq community transition to a renewable energy source that can be easily maintained by the community.

Unlike other renewables, which can require heavy maintenance which Qaanaaq struggles to provide, the team is working on their project directly with residents of the town to provide a system that is both affordable and easily serviceable within the harsh arctic environment. The project aims to use waste heat from diesel generators to generate power, which would otherwise have been wasted, according to WWF Report.

Funding from the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society has provided the team with the funding necessary to travel to Qaanaaq and understand their specific needs.

Success in the North

Notably, renewable energy solutions are not new to Greenland. The community of Uummannaq has the highest northernmost solar panels in the country. Nukissiorfiit, a government-owned energy company, completed the solar cells’ installation in 2020.

Since then, 71% of the energy it produced is with the help of renewables through solar cells, wind power and hydropower.

Similarly, the town of Ilulissat, Greenland, boasts 95% green energy, as hydropower dominates productivity and has replaced a major heritage diesel power plant, according to Visit Greenland. These hydropower projects are able to use meltwater coming from permafrost layers and glaciers, accessing turbines as deep as 200 meters below the surface.

These communities stand as exemplars of the possibilities that await Qaanaaq if they can continue forward with securing renewable energy as their primary energy source.

A Green Future

As many address the concerns of energy insecurity in Greenland, it is clear that the future of Greenland’s energy is shifting towards renewables. By harnessing the resources and power of the Arctic, the goal of the government-owned energy company, Nukissiorfiit, is to produce 100% green energy products throughout Greenland by the year 2030, according to Visit Greenland.

– Michelle Collingridge
Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in Afghanistan

Operating in Afghanistan
After years of war and conflict, Afghanistan is facing a major humanitarian crisis. The country’s economy has almost completely collapsed following the takeover of the Taliban in 2021. The Taliban’s involvement in Afghanistan’s economic system has left the nation nearly isolated after the withdrawal of support from major players, such as the United States. Approximately 95% of Afghanistan homes that the World Food Programme (WFP) surveyed have been experiencing food insecurity since September 2021. Households are losing income and numbers are deteriorating quickly. Here are five charities operating in Afghanistan to provide relief.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP)

The U.N. World Food Programme has been one of the major charities operating in Afghanistan, providing food to Afghans for six decades. Due to years of conflict and instability, the majority of the population in Afghanistan is food insecure and malnutrition has doubled among children, according to Save the Children. The organization is responsible for record levels of food provision, serving 16 million Afghans since August 2021.

CARE USA

CARE USA is a nonprofit dedicated to providing humanitarian and economic support to countries experiencing crises globally with a special focus on the wellbeing of women and children. The organization has introduced three programs in Afghanistan. These include women and girls’ empowerment, resiliency and humanitarian relief efforts.  In 2021, CARE reached more than 1.1 million people to provide food, water, health care and education. Many of these programs work to promote sustainable progress in women’s health, inclusive governance and stability for the people of Afghanistan.

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian charity operating in Afghanistan since the 1980s. The nonprofit provides cash assistance and other basic necessities while supporting health center operations and safe learning spaces for Afghan children. The International Rescue Committee also promotes sustainability in its poverty reduction efforts. It works with local communities to help them create and manage their own projects. In fact, more than 99% of the International Rescue Committee’s staff in the country are Afghan citizens.

The Central Asia Institute (CAI)

The Central Asia Institute is an organization focused on improving access to quality education in central Asian countries. The nonprofit created 15 schools in the Kunar province of Afghanistan, securing access to education for 452 students. The CAI also provides scholarships to primarily women educators to finish their schooling and secure paid teaching jobs. CAI provides emergency aid to displaced women and families.

Doctors Without Borders

Medical assistance is critical during the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Doctors Without Borders works to establish medical facilities and provide free, safe health care to the people of Afghanistan. The majority of its work consists of maternal and neonatal health care provisions, and it provided approximately 112,000 emergency consultations in 2020 while assisting in almost 40,000 births.

Looking Ahead

Support from the international community is crucial to the survival of the people of Afghanistan. While policy action is necessary for sustainable rebuilding, people on the ground cannot wait for support to meet their basic needs. These global organizations are providing immediate assistance to millions, and their work will continue to prove invaluable.

– Hannah Yonas
Photo: Flickr