Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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How the Chernovetskyi Fund Supports Georgia’s Vulnerable

Chernovetskyi FundFor thousands of vulnerable Georgians, poverty is not an abstract concept; it directly means an empty refrigerator, untreated illness or aging alone. The Chernovetskyi Fund tries to close these gaps by giving concrete help and necessary aid to those living in unfortunate circumstances and who poverty inflicts most severely.

What Is the Chernovetskyi Fund?

The Chernovetskyi Fund is one of Georgia’s largest private charitable organizations, launched by philanthropist Leonid Chernovetskyi in April 2012. The organization works to support Georgians struggling to meet basic needs due to income insecurity, illness, disability or age. The Fund’s mission focuses on supporting socially vulnerable groups, including those living below the poverty line, large families and the most vulnerable individuals facing illness, including children and adults.

Its programs are rooted in practical assistance that meets immediate needs while upholding dignity.

Home Care for the Elderly and Bedridden

The Fund’s most consequential program includes home care for older people and bedridden. Caregivers help beneficiaries perform their daily chores, including cleaning, food preparation and taking medicine. The program helps reduce health risks and helps families who can’t afford private care.

The home care initiative protects older adults from medical emergencies or institutionalization in homes and communities.

Family-Type Orphanages and Child Protection

Children who lack parental care are significantly less likely to achieve upward mobility in life and far more likely to experience long-term poverty. According to a report, children raised in unstable family environments face higher levels of social exclusion, poorer educational outcomes and greater economic disadvantage later in life. The Chernovetskyi Fund addresses this issue by supporting family-type orphanages that provide children with stable housing, education and emotional support.

Unlike large institutional settings, these homes offer a family-based environment that leads to stronger long-term outcomes and a lower risk of poverty in adulthood.

Day Centers, Canteens and Social Patrols

Food insecurity is still a daily fact for many low-income Georgians. The Fund has day centers and canteens that serve hot food to older people, people with disabilities and people without homes. Social patrol teams broaden this outreach and help locate individuals requiring immediate support.

By carrying out outreach in neighborhoods and public spaces, these teams make sure that people who do not choose to seek assistance still obtain it. This strategy not only protects against devastating deprivation but also against social isolation itself. In addition to well-defined initiatives, the Chernovetskyi Fund provides direct assistance, including food parcels, medications and household items.

Staff members assess each case individually to match aid with specific needs, ensuring appropriate support. For chronically ill children or adults caring for children, medical expenses can push families deeper into poverty. Targeted aid and caregiving help cover these costs, enabling caregivers to remain employed while keeping the household intact.

Scale and Measurable Impact

The Chernovetskyi Fund has provided more than $9 million for social assistance initiatives since its inception. In other words, thousands of vulnerable people across Georgia have benefited from its programs. The Fund’s scale enables it to respond quickly to crises while also delivering long-term support.

Reliable funding ensures continuity of care, which is crucial for addressing chronic poverty rather than offering only short-term relief.

Success Stories

Six-year-old Anna-Maria grew up in a family struggling with both poverty and illness. According to the Chernovetskyi Fund, her home once lacked consistent access to food and basic supplies, making everyday life a challenge for her and her family. After the Fund provided targeted assistance, including food, clothing and essential household items, Anna-Maria’s mother began to recover from the health issues that had heavily burdened the household.

The most joyful change came from Anna-Maria herself: she thanked supporters for helping her mother and shared, “Now she laughs and plays with me,” a profound shift from their earlier hardships.

Three young siblings—Tornike, Lazare and Luka—represent another heartwarming example of the Chernovetskyi Fund’s impact. According to the organization, the boys once lived in conditions of hardship and uncertainty. With the Fund’s support, they received essential care, meals and family outreach services that helped stabilize their home life.

Today, the brothers are healthy and happy, participating in family and community activities that poverty had once made out of reach.

Many elderly Georgians face poverty and loneliness, especially without family support or sufficient income. The Chernovetskyi Fund has reached people like Grandma Oliko and Grandpa Givi, who once lived with daily uncertainty and minimal access to care. The Fund provided regular food assistance, companionship through social visits and coordinated support that helped them remain safely in their home.

Staff and volunteers report that the couple is deeply grateful, not only for the material aid but also for the dignity and respect that come from sustained attention and care.

These personal stories show how a charity like the Chernovetskyi Fund can go beyond statistics to create real change in people’s lives. From a child’s laughter to a family finding peace and from elderly neighbors feeling seen to receiving care, the Fund’s work demonstrates a key lesson: when communities and donors engage in targeted, human-centered support, poverty becomes less permanent and more preventable.

Each example reflects the Fund’s core mission—to ensure that no one in Georgia is left behind in accessing food, health care, shelter or social support—and highlights how individual lives can improve when everyday kindness is paired with organized action.

A Compassionate Path Forward

The Chernovetskyi Fund’s work demonstrates that the most harmful effects of poverty can be mitigated when programs are targeted and human-centered. Its approach shows that dignity-focused aid, delivered consistently and at scale, can stabilize lives and strengthen communities. In the face of Georgia’s inequality and demographic challenges, the Chernovetskyi Fund plays an indispensable role.

– Salome Jincharadze

Salome is based in Tbilisi, Georgia and focuses on Good News, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Facts About Education in Iran

Education in IranIn today’s world, it is easy to take the ability to read for granted. From commuting to work to taking online college classes, technology has become an important part of our lives. As these tools continue to evolve, reading comprehension may seem less important to some individuals, particularly with the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings.

Yet, even in a fast-paced, tech-driven world, literacy remains an important skill. Many countries continue to struggle to provide children with safe and effective education. In recent years, Iran has taken steps to strengthen its education system, introducing several reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes.

With that being said, here are a few facts about education in Iran:

Literacy Rates

As of 2023, the literacy rate in Iran is relatively the same for both men and women. According to a study by the World Bank Group, women, specifically those aged 15 to 24, have a literacy rate of 99%. Currently, this represents the country’s peak literacy rate for this group, with the lowest rate recorded at 42% in 1976.

Similarly, the literacy rate among men in Iran mirrors that of women. As of 2023, men, specifically those aged 15 to 24, had a literacy rate of 99%. The lowest literacy rate among men in Iran was 71% in 1976.

With that data in mind, historically, Iranian women have had a lower literacy rate than men, with a 29% gap between the two groups. In another study by UNESCO, in 2019, it was reported that around 2% of Iranians, particularly those under the age of 24, were considered to be “absolute illiterates.” Of course, with the newly presented data, this statistic may not be as accurate following the release of the World Bank Group’s 2023 literacy data.

Low Education Funding

Education in Iran is very underfunded. The National Council of Resistance in Iran reports that the annual salary or the amount of money earned by Iranian teachers in a year, is less than $2,000, even below the international wage average in the country. This may be the contributing factor to the current national teacher shortage.

After completing mandatory primary education (ages 6–11), students spend three years in a guidance cycle designed to assess their academic strengths and determine which vocational track they will follow in high school. These tracks may be academic, vocational or science-based.

Unsafe Learning Environments

Budget cuts affect far more than teachers’ salaries. Beyond staff shortages caused by low pay, many schools struggle to provide safe learning environments. Issues range from unsafe transportation, sometimes resulting in the deaths of school-aged children, to poor infrastructure, including faulty heating systems and collapsed walls.

In rural areas, classes are often held in mud huts, temporary shelters or tents, creating additional health and safety risks for students.

What’s To Come?

The U.N.’s Convention on the Rights of the Child calls on Iranian authorities to guarantee every child’s right to education on an equal basis. It urges the government to make primary education fully free and to expand access to secondary education, providing more opportunities without cost to children or their families.

– Megan Akers

Megan is based in Fredericktown, OH, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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All About Higher Education in Chile

Higher Education in ChileAttaining higher education in Chile is associated with a myriad of positive outcomes, including employment opportunities, higher compensation and even improved health. Individuals with higher education have a lower risk of unemployment and generally earn higher wages. The unemployment rate for those with higher education is 5.5% compared to 8.1% for those with upper secondary education.

Workers with higher education earn 112% more than the average income in Chile. Education level is a widely recognized social determinant of health and the completion of higher education is associated with more positive health outcomes.

Inequality in Higher Educational Attainment

In Chile, disparities in tertiary education attainment are closely linked to social factors, including parental education, socioeconomic status and gender. Children of parents who have completed tertiary education are more likely to pursue higher education than those whose parents have not. In 2023, 68% of adults aged 25-34 with at least one parent who had completed tertiary education also attained tertiary education, compared to 25% for adults whose parents did not complete tertiary education.

However, the rate of young adults pursuing tertiary education whose parents did not complete tertiary education increased by 7% between 2012 and 2023. Higher family socioeconomic status is also associated with an increased likelihood of completing higher education. In 2006, 12.7% of adults aged 25-34 from the lowest income decile enrolled in tertiary education, compared to 53.3% of the top income decile.

Furthermore, women enrolled in tertiary education are less likely to pursue a degree in STEM and other high-earning fields of study. In 2023, only 19.8% of students pursuing degrees in a STEM field were female.

A Largely Privatized System

Chile’s higher education system consists of three main types: universities, professional institutes (Instituto Profesional – IP) and technical training centers (Centro de Formación Técnica – CFT). While overall enrollment in tertiary education has continued to rise, the majority of growth since 2010 has occurred in private institutions. As a result, Chile has one of the most privatized higher education systems in the world.

In 2023, fewer than 20% of students enrolled in a tertiary education institution attended a public institution. Hence, Chilean families pay more than 75% of costs for higher education, compared to 40% for U.S. families and 5% in Scandinavian countries.

Gratuidad

A notable wave of protests demanding more affordable, high-quality higher education in Chile occurred in 2011. In 2016, the Chilean congress passed a tuition-free policy known as gratuidad to provide free university education for families in the bottom 60% of the income range. A lack of studies on the impact and effectiveness of gratuidad makes its success in creating a more equitable tertiary education system unclear.

The reform’s implementation has initiated slow progress toward expanding access to financial aid for low-income students, as approximately 90% of students who qualify have already received financial aid before the reform. However, the idea of free education likely incentivizes people from low-income families to pursue higher education, as 15% of students in the gratuidad program claim they would not have pursued higher education otherwise.

Conclusion

Attaining a higher education in Chile reduces the likelihood of living in poverty. Creating a more equitable and inclusive education system is key to reducing the 6.5% of Chile’s population living below the national poverty line. Expanding access to tertiary education for individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those whose parents lack tertiary education, as well as increasing the representation of women in STEM fields, are key focal points for reducing poverty.

– Sarah Merrill

Sarah is based in Matthews, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Health Effects of Poverty on the Elderly

Health Effects of Poverty on the ElderlyPoverty has long been associated with poor health outcomes, but its impact on older adults is often overlooked. Around the world, millions of elderly people live in poverty, facing barriers to basic needs such as food, housing and medical care. As global populations age, the health effects of poverty on the elderly have become an increasingly important global health concern.

Income Insecurity Among Older Adults

According to the World Bank, poverty remains widespread in many low- and middle-income countries, where social protection systems are often weak or underdeveloped. Older adults in these settings are particularly vulnerable because many no longer participate in the workforce and lack reliable sources of income. Without pensions or savings, elderly individuals may struggle to afford basic necessities, placing them at higher risk of poor health outcomes.

Barriers to Health Care Access and Malnutrition

Limited access to health care is one of the most serious health effects of poverty on the elderly. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that health systems in many developing countries face challenges such as insufficient funding, limited infrastructure and shortages of health care workers. These systemic issues can make it difficult for older adults to receive regular medical attention, particularly for chronic conditions that require ongoing care.

Beyond physical health, poverty also affects mental and social well-being in old age. The absence of adequate social protection can lead to isolation, stress and reduced quality of life. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, social pensions and income support programs play a critical role in protecting older adults from extreme poverty and improving overall well-being.

Food insecurity is another major concern linked to elderly poverty. The United Nations notes that older adults living in poverty are more likely to experience malnutrition due to limited access to nutritious food. Malnutrition weakens immune systems, increases susceptibility to illness and slows recovery, further worsening health outcomes for elderly populations living in poverty.

Global Efforts to Address Elderly Poverty

International organizations are working to address these challenges through policy support and health system strengthening. The WHO collaborates with national governments to improve primary health care systems, aiming to expand access to essential health services for vulnerable populations, including older adults. While these initiatives do not always target the elderly exclusively, strengthening health systems can indirectly improve access to care for aging populations.

Looking Ahead

The health effects of poverty on the elderly highlight the need for stronger social protection systems and accessible health care services worldwide. As global populations continue to age, addressing elderly poverty will remain essential to improving public health outcomes and ensuring that older adults can live with dignity. Expanding income support, improving access to medical care and strengthening health systems are critical steps toward reducing health disparities among elderly populations.

– Nishanth Pothapragada

Nishanth is based in London, ON, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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A Bright Future For Ecotourism In Madagascar

ecotourism in madagascarEcotourism in Madagascar is a promising strategy to improve the standard of living for citizens of one of the most impoverished countries in the world. If responsibly managed, ecotourism benefits local communities, the economy and the environment. The establishment of national parks creates job opportunities, provides an economic incentive to protect natural areas and its wildlife and benefits local communities both directly and indirectly. Several organizations and local communities support and implement projects creating ecotourism and nature-based tourism programs for these reasons.

A Quick Background on Madagascar

Madagascar suffers from environmental challenges and a struggling economy. It has the sixth-highest national poverty rate in the world at 63.9%. The country is famous for its rich biodiversity, with 90% of its plants and 85% of its animals being endemic to the island. Some well-known species endemic to Madagascar are the lemurs, and approximately 80% of the world’s chameleon species are found in Madagascar.

Madagascar is among the countries with the highest deforestation rates in the world, with some regions and protected areas experiencing annual forest loss rates of around 2–3% in recent years due to agricultural expansion and illegal logging. Deforestation affects the environment and causes massive habitat loss, which threatens biodiversity due to potential species extinction. Almost all of Madagascar’s lemur species are either endangered or critically endangered, according to the Duke Lemur Center. Agriculture makes up 70% of total employment, but low agricultural productivity and insufficient resources cause eight out of 10 people residing in rural communities to live in poverty.

What Is Ecotourism?

The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.” Principles of ecotourism include minimizing impact on the area in use, promoting environmental and cultural awareness and respect, financially benefitting conservation efforts and local communities and partnering with the indigenous people.

The Need For Ecotourism In Madagascar

Ecotourism alleviates poverty by increasing wages, creating jobs and improving the economy. Tourism provides jobs for tour guides, tour company administrators, hotel staff and restaurant staff. Tour and resort administrative and general positions are not the only job opportunities created by tourism. Communities local to these parks and reserves benefit economically from shops, crafts and other goods supporting the tourism industry, encouraging the creation of small businesses by community members. It also alleviates the burden of poverty in villages surrounding parks and reserves by providing services including electricity, water and educational opportunities.

This kind of tourism offers an economic incentive to conserve the environment by generating revenue and employment without causing significant environmental damage. Supplying a tangible value to ecosystems leads to increased protected natural areas and safeguards areas without formal protection from deforestation and exploitation of natural resources.

Ecotourism in Madagascar safeguards biodiversity by protecting the habitats of its wildlife and preventing the extinction of endangered species. Establishing parks and reserves ensures protection for any wildlife in the area and their habitat. Tourists pay to see the rich biodiversity of Madagascar, adding tangible value to the wildlife and their homes.

Wildlife Madagascar

The Wildlife Madagascar organization partners with Malagasy communities to protect biodiversity while improving the livelihoods of community members. The community-based approach integrates local knowledge and experience with scientific and educational knowledge to create sustainable conservation solutions. Wildlife Madagascar educates farmers on optimal agricultural and forestry practices to improve food security and sustain natural resources. The organization also establishes sustainable and responsibly-managed ecotourism programs in communities to improve livelihoods and protect biodiversity.

Lemur Conservation Network

The Lemur Conservation Network works in Madagascar to save lemurs from extinction. Lemurs are the most endangered mammals in the world, with 98% of lemur species at risk of extinction and 31% critically endangered. The Network believes ecotourism to be a “win-win-win” for tourists, Malagasy citizens and lemurs, and provides grants and donations to ecotourism projects in Madagascar.

Community-Run Reserves

Communities across Madagascar establish their own community-run reserves to protect their natural areas and economically benefit from ecotourism. A member of the Betsileo tribe in southern Madagascar founded the Anja Reserve, which is popular for their ring-tailed lemurs. The Antanatiembo Reserve in the north is a locally-owned reserve comprising a dense bamboo forest housing bamboo lemurs, chameleons, insects and birds and a reforestation tree nursery.

Conservation Debates: Is Ecotourism Worth It?

Those against environmental conservation in Madagascar argue the legitimacy of protected areas without consent from locals and highlight the potential eviction of locals from newly established protected areas. They question whether locals can sustain their livelihood without the land they previously had unlimited access to.

In 2022, researchers conducted a study surrounding Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar’s largest national park, to investigate the relationship between conservation and locals’ livelihoods. Their results concluded that livelihood improved for people in the surrounding villages due to the provision of jobs, electricity, water, increased income and improved education. Published in the SN Social Sciences, the study found a positive correlation between ecotourism and poverty reduction in surrounding villages.

The researchers determined that pre-existing socioeconomic inequalities within the surrounding villages caused villagers with low education and income levels to benefit less from ecotourism. Locals who speak multiple languages benefit from more employment options at the park and hotel, but to attain this education, they must attend schools outside their commune. Some villagers also reported the enforcement of stricter regulations for the collection of firewood within the forest on those without connections to the village chief or members of their community committee.

Conclusion

Ecotourism yields great benefits for the citizens, wildlife and natural areas of Madagascar. The revenue and job opportunities generated from ecotourism could alleviate poverty, improve livelihood in surrounding communities and economically incentivize the protection of wildlife and natural land areas. Malagasy people establish community-led reserves with support from conservation organizations to reap the economic benefits of ecotourism and protect their land from overexploitation of resources. In a country with a high burden of poverty and environmental challenges, ecotourism poses a multifaceted solution and a promising future.

– Sarah Merrill

Sarah is based in Matthews, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Pay-As-You-Go Digital Water Services in Kenya

Pay-as-you-go digital water services in KenyaKenya continues to face serious water insecurity in both rural and urban regions. Many households still depend on distant or unsafe water points because traditional billing systems require large monthly payments that low-income families cannot always make. Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya offer a different model. Families buy small amounts of water through mobile payments and smart meters deliver accurate and dependable service. This structure increases affordability, improves service reliability and strengthens utilities in ways that help them expand clean water access to underserved communities.

Mobile Money Makes Clean Water Affordable

Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya let households buy water in small increments through mobile money platforms like M-Pesa. This matters because many Kenyans earn irregular daily wages and cannot manage large monthly bills. When families pay only for what they need, they avoid debt and gain steady access to safe water, which supports health and financial stability.

Waterborne diseases spread quickly in communities that rely on unsafe sources. Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya distribute treated water that meets safety standards, which reduces illness and lowers medical expenses. When families stay healthy, they attend school, work more regularly and invest their income in food and education rather than treatment costs.

Smart Meters and Water Kiosks

Smart meters record water use in real time and deliver prepaid service that prevents leaks and illegal taps. These problems create major losses for utilities and weaken their ability to maintain infrastructure. When utilities reduce losses, they provide more reliable service and reach more households with clean water, which raises community health and overall quality of life.

Families in many Kenyan settlements spend long hours each day collecting water. Digital water kiosks in neighborhoods reduce this travel time and offer 24-hour access through mobile payments. More available time allows children to attend school consistently and gives adults more hours for work, which strengthens household income and supports long-term development.

Digital Water Systems Create Jobs and Strengthen Utilities

Digital water systems create new roles for technicians, field agents and mobile service operators. These jobs build technical skills and support local employment. Stronger utilities also operate more reliably and expand service to new regions. When utilities stabilize financially, they improve infrastructure that helps entire communities gain safe water access.

Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya improve clean water access by combining mobile payments with smart delivery systems. These services reduce financial barriers, improve public health and create jobs that support economic growth. As the model expands, it offers a practical path toward universal water access and long-term poverty reduction.

– Shahzeb Khan

Shahzeb is based in San Ramon, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Limited Rural Health Care Fuels Poverty in Laos

Poverty in LaosLimited access to health care in Laos plays a significant role in sustaining poverty, particularly among ethnic minority communities in remote areas. Although the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has made notable progress in economic development, many rural villages remain physically isolated from essential health services due to challenging terrain and underdeveloped infrastructure

As a result, preventable illnesses often go untreated, which reduces household productivity and increases financial vulnerability. Addressing rural gaps through strengthened primary health services and community-based programs remains essential for reducing poverty.

Geographic Barriers and Infrastructure

Geographic isolation serves as a primary barrier to health care in Laos. The country’s mountainous terrain and limited road infrastructure leave many communities cut off from health facilities, according to the Healthy Newborn Network. In some remote areas, villages sit several days away from the nearest health center.

Approximately 3% of villages in certain provinces remain completely isolated from basic social services. Poor road conditions exacerbate these challenges during the rainy season, when travel becomes dangerous. This physical isolation contributes to low utilization of health services among remote populations, as they often have reduced expectations for service delivery.

Economic Impacts on the Rural Poor

Although Laos introduced policies to reduce financial barriers, these measures often fail to reach the poorest populations. Free health policies can be regressive when rural households cannot use services due to indirect costs, such as transportation and lost income.

Health emergencies are a primary cause of household vulnerability and poverty relapse in the country. Farming households are twice as likely to fall back into poverty compared to non-farming households when agricultural and health shocks combine. While national poverty rates declined from 33.5% to 23.2% over a decade, progress could have been greater if vulnerable households had not slipped back into poverty following health-related shocks.

Maternal Health and Intergenerational Poverty

Maternal health challenges further reinforce the cycle of poverty in Laos. High rates of adolescent pregnancy and maternal malnutrition undermine economic prospects, as approximately 40% of pregnant women experience anemia, according to the Healthy Newborn Network. Children born to mothers with lower levels of education or who are themselves stunted face a higher risk of poor health outcomes, which perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of low productivity, according to the World Bank. Strengthening health care in Laos through targeted maternal programs can break this cycle and improve long-term economic stability.

Community Health Solutions

Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) form the backbone of rural health delivery and serve as the primary link between remote communities and the formal health system, according to the BMC Health Services Research. VHVs operate in nearly every village and manage health promotion, sanitation and disease monitoring.

The CONNECT initiative, with the support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, also strengthens trust and improves service uptake. The program currently supports 259 villages across 10 provinces by developing joint action plans with local leaders.  These local solutions empower communities to take ownership of their health outcomes.

International Support for Health Care in Laos

International donors play a critical role in financing primary health care in Laos, which helps offset low domestic spending. In 2019, donor funding accounted for 26.7% of primary health care financing.

The WHO continues to support reforms such as the National Health Insurance strategy and modernization efforts. Expanding these primary health services and sustaining international funding are essential steps toward improving health outcomes and supporting long-term poverty reduction. By prioritizing these issues, global leaders can help ensure that rural populations in Laos have the tools they need to escape poverty.

Conclusion

Limited access to rural health care continues to fuel poverty in Laos by exposing vulnerable households to health shocks, financial strain and long-term economic insecurity. Geographic isolation, workforce shortages and rising costs disproportionately affect rural and ethnic minority communities, reinforcing cycles of poor health and poverty. Expanding primary health care services, strengthening community-based programs and sustaining international funding are essential steps toward improving health outcomes and supporting long-term poverty reduction in Laos.

– Aila Alsakka

Aila is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Universal Health Insurance in Egypt: Expanding Access to Care

universal health insurance in egyptLow-income families, who are especially vulnerable to financial shocks, continue to face significant barriers to accessing affordable health care in Egypt. The nation has launched a Universal Health Insurance system to address these challenges primarily by aiming to reduce out-of-pocket spending and expand coverage to reduce poverty caused by medical costs.

Egypt Launched Universal Health Insurance to Expand Coverage

The Egyptian government introduced the Universal Health Insurance system in 2018 through Law No. 2 of 2018, as part of a comprehensive reform of the health sector. The law was established through a phased nationwide rollout across governorates to ensure a sustainable and realistic implementation. It additionally mandates health insurance coverage for all Egyptian citizens.

Low-income households, informal workers and vulnerable groups receive subsidized insurance premiums from the government. This grant allows millions of Egyptians to access health services regardless of their employment status.

The Universal Health Insurance emphasises primary as well as preventive care to reduce the potential long-term costs and enhance population health outcomes. The Ministry of Health has expanded several systems under the Universal Health Insurance framework such as family health units and screenings. This reform strengthens early diagnosis and treatment.

Additionally, it reduces the normative reliance on costly hospital care while simultaneously helping less affluent households avoid hefty health expenses that generally push families into poverty.

Reducing Out-of-Pocket Spending

Before implementing the Universal Health Insurance system, Egyptians primarily relied on out-of-pocket payments to finance their health care. This heavily affected low-income households, essentially forcing families to delay necessary treatment or incur debt due to these high medical costs.

The Universal Health Insurance system aims to decrease the risk of financial risk by expanding prepaid coverage and as enrollment increases, insured households face significantly less health-related expenses and improved financial security.

Poverty in the nation is heavily driven by health-related expenses as uninsured experience income loss due to treatment costs that often push low-income communities below the poverty line.

The Universal Health Insurance system helps break this vicious cycle by ensuring these families have access to affordable health care while maintaining a steady household income. Evidence indicates that insured populations are more likely to be economically stable and seek timely care, according to the World Bank.

Challenges Remain as the System Expands

Egypt continues to face challenges in implementing this health care system, despite substantial progress. Regional disparities and workforce shortages are a barrier to having the rural and underserved areas receive insurance, as they require additional infrastructure investment to ensure equitable access.

However, the government, alongside international partners continue to invest in health facility upgrades and workforce training to tackle shortages in order to strengthen nationwide service quality.

Universal Health Insurance plays a crucial role in expanding access to health care and reducing poverty in Egypt. Continued investment can further strengthen universal health insurance in Egypt and support long-term poverty reduction.

– Hana Abulkheir

Hana is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Aquaculture Mapping: Fighting Hunger and Poverty in Côte d’Ivoire

How Côte d’Ivoire is Using Aquaculture Mapping to Fight Hunger and Poverty The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, or Ivory Coast, sits on the coast of West Africa and uses aquaculture mapping to fight hunger and poverty as part of its development strategy. From 1842 to 1960, France ruled Côte d’Ivoire. After gaining independence from France, Côte d’Ivoire established itself as a model of stability and economic prosperity in Africa. In 1999, Côte d’Ivoire experienced its first military coup, which caused the economy to collapse and triggered a civil war that split the country in two.

Persistent Food Insecurity

Côte d’Ivoire has made strides toward economic improvement and poverty reduction since this period of political destabilization. Yet progress remains limited and is especially apparent in the nutritional deficiencies that keep many citizens food insecure.

According to the World Bank, 44.2% of citizens experience moderate and severe food insecurity and about 7.7% of the total population is malnourished. Children face the most severe impacts, with 8% suffering from acute malnutrition and 20.2% experiencing impaired growth.

Stable production of basic staple crops has eased some of these issues, but it does not provide the necessary nutritional value for a healthy life. To improve outcomes for its people, the government created the Strategic Program for the Transformation of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire (PSTACI), focusing on broader efforts in aquaculture mapping to fight hunger and poverty.

PSTACI

The Strategic Program for the Transformation of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire (PSTACI) aims to combat poverty and food insecurity by strengthening the aquaculture sector. Its goals include:

  • Increasing employment for youth and women
  • Creating a self-sufficient fisheries sector in the economy
  • Eliminating Côte d’Ivoire’s deficit in aquaculture production

To accomplish these goals, the government partnered with PROBLUE, an Aquainvest platform created by the World Bank to support sustainable aquaculture development. PROBLUE’s aquaculture mapping methodology uses a multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) to identify the most productive locations in Côte d’Ivoire for aquaculture sites.

Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE)

The MCE evaluates site suitability using three categories:

  • Infrastructure. Evaluations consider distance from water sources, roads, urban areas, hatcheries, airports and communications installations.
  • Natural conditions. Evaluations consider soil type and land topography.
  • Land constraints. Evaluations consider whether a site lies in a protected area, military zone or urban area.

After applying these criteria to Côte d’Ivoire, World Bank analysts concluded that 99% of the country’s topography offers suitable land for aquaculture. They found that the soil types most suitable for aquaculture contain 18% to 35% clay.

When analysts accounted for land constraints, they found that 76% of the country lies outside protected areas, military zones and urban pockets. Based on infrastructure criteria, PROBLUE identified at least 70% of existing infrastructure as potentially suitable for aquaculture.

The Future of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire

PSTACI plans to develop Sustainable Aquaculture Economic Zones at 30 sites that meet the necessary criteria. This plan offers an opportunity to rebuild the country’s food systems and reduce poverty and malnutrition. By attracting investors and entrepreneurs to these areas, Côte d’Ivoire can build a more stable economy. Additionally, this could lead to expanded opportunities for young people and the continued use of aquaculture mapping to fight hunger and poverty.

– Sachin Kapoor

Sachin is based in Atlanta, GA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Cut of USAID Programs in Burma

USAID Programs in BurmaAs of Feb. 23, 2025, President Trump brought global administrative leave for USAID programs — directly impacting Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) for it is the fourth-largest recipient of foreign aid in the region, according to The Diplomat. It is no surprise that “the United States government’s abrupt and sweeping freeze on foreign aid is severely endangering the human rights of refugees, civilians in armed conflict areas and individuals fleeing persecution in Myanmar,” Amnesty International said in a February 2025 statement.

While USAID may be generally paused, this has not stopped individual U.S. volunteers’ going out to play their part! Doctors Without Borders, for example, took U.S. volunteers’ aid to the Myanmar skies. Brought into action in April 2025, the program “immediately deployed its teams of medical, mental health, logistics, and water and sanitation staff,” even installing a new water filtration system at Mandalay General Hospital. Here is information about what is happening in light of the pause of USAID programs in Burma.

Life in Myanmar

Oxfam America highlighted the aftermath of USAID cuts, stating that “at least 23 million children stand to lose access to education, and as many as 95 million people would lose access to basic health care, potentially leading to more than 3 million preventable deaths per year.”

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines poverty in Myanmar as:

  • Unsustainable coping mechanisms from 75% of the population, such as cutting health care and education expenses, even from the relatively well-off, causing an erosion of the middle class and a human capital crisis.
  • Restricted access to farmlands (rising food insecurity) and medical services. 
  • Increased child labor and displacement.

With the notable absence of American assistance and USAID programs in Burma, reporter Theresa Naw wrote that Myanmar has once again become a victim of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy. The country’s loss of a $45 million scholarship program has left its funding nearly depleted.

Oxfam International

Oxfam International “works to reduce poverty and inequality through promoting the power of women and men to harness the benefits of political reform and economic development,” according to the organization. Its 2016 project ‘‘Building Equitable and Resilient Livelihoods in the Dry Zone” solidified their good work for Myanmar’s people. Its score for improved/sustained livelihoods and resilience sector exceeded expectation, after being set at 2.94, yet reached 4.02. The project established business relationships between township departments and parliament with local NGO’s and Mo’s of other villages, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and building resilience against climate-related hazards.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee has been working to support emergency response efforts. Reporter Joanna Nahorska wrote that priorities include “medical assistance, shelter, emergency items such as blankets, food, clean water, and cash support.”

With more than 19 million people now in need, the IRC:

  • Helps communities identify their own development needs and design their own recovery projects, including new schools and health centers.
  • Promotes economic recovery by teaching farmers modern agricultural techniques and technology, helping to repair the human capital crisis.

The Disasters Emergency Committee

The Disasters Emergency Committee has provided critical support, funding cash assistance and vouchers for 105,000 people to repair homes and pay medical expenses and directly helping the cut to health and education expenses. It set up the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, which in line with their charity ‘Age International’ has been providing cash assistance to older people in the Inle Lake region, alongside psychosocial support to help them process what they have been through.

USAID in Burma

In 2015, USAID program officials declared that they would work alongside the Government of Burma to “initiate new activities that strengthen parliamentary systems, engage civil society in the reform process, provide technical expertise to the Union Election Commission, and develop inclusive and accountable political parties.”

Previous USAID programs in Burma are still prevalent in today’s crisis. Back in 2009, Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) was formed to tackle “poverty and hunger directly in Myanmar’s rural communities.” Now in 2025, it has served 2.6 million people through microfinance institutions, with 91% of recipients being women, helping to re-build the falling economy.

Moving Forward

As early as 2024, CNN reported that half of Burma’s 54 million people were living below the poverty line, with nearly 50% surviving on less than 76 cents a day, according to reporter Helen Regan. Following this, Trump’s pullbacks meant that “Myanmar was on track to lose around $1.1 billion in foreign assistance over the second Trump term,” The Diplomat reported.

Despite this, hope for change remains. Oxfam America found that “when asked how much would be appropriate for the U.S. to invest in foreign aid, more than 95% of respondents identified an amount higher than the administration’s current budget.”

What comes next is for the remaining 5% to continue pushing for stronger foreign aid investments. 

– Gemma Nailer

Gemma is based in Manchester, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash