Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Local Content Laws on the Rise in African Countries

Local Content Laws“An increasing number of African countries are enforcing local content laws, which were initially aimed at the mining industry, but are spreading to other sectors,” Jennigay Coetzer reported for Law.com in June 2022. Several nations across the continent are implementing such guidelines in an attempt to rejuvenate their individual economies. These maneuvers primarily benefit international economies, but there is some local gain, even if small.

Benefitting the Local Economy

When business is predominantly given to companies outside the local economy, the country in question sees funds trickling out to foreign partners, a move that does not immediately give money back to the local society. If businesses – across various sectors – were cultivated and engaged at the domestic level, however, the relevant economies would be better off. With the intention of financial improvement, several African countries have spearheaded legislation geared toward diversifying the status of their immediate economies.

The Need for Economic Growth

Economic diversification and generating job opportunities have been evaluated at a premium when it comes to building up economies in Africa over the next few years. A 2021 report authored by Doctors Sanusi Mohammed Ohiare and William Brent, and published by the Rockefeller Foundation, suggests that an important step in stimulating job growth on the continent would be to “consider local manufacturing opportunities for components like housing, mountings [and] cabling.” Not only would this create jobs in areas that urgently need them, but it could also improve housing options for citizens.

“Unemployment [in Africa] is increasing at a record pace,” reads the same report. “Unless stronger action is taken, 100 million young Africans will be unemployed in 2030…” And by 2050, estimates suggest at least 25% of the global population will be found in sub-Saharan Africa. A growing society, in turn, emphasizes the need for bettering the economy and consequently generating more jobs.

Improving Economies through Local Content Laws

As it relates to local content laws, Nigeria passed legislation over a decade ago that provides parameters regarding ownership rights, various services and the local job market. The country wants most people involved in its mining industry to be local. The same goes for oil and gas; the government hopes that as much as 70% of oil and gas services will come from businesses based in Nigeria.

Nigerian lawyers, too, have found increasing opportunities in recent years. Dayo Okusami, a partner at the Templars law firm in Lagos, says that 15 years ago, they would be hard pressed to receive and handle a significant case. In contrast, now they get their choice of the important projects across the legal market. This Okusami attributes to the “push for local content,” or local value, in Nigerian society.

Moving Forward

Other African countries are trying to accelerate their economies by adding laws similar to the local content provisions seen in Nigeria. Tanzania is another country that, since 2017, has added laws to better accommodate local employment and domestic value. Although this has definitely been a boon for local businesses (such as legal firms, just as in Nigeria), it came with some initial drawbacks. In 2017, several investors pulled out of Tanzania due to the government’s establishment of local content laws.

One Tanzanian law firm, Bowmans, is an example of an organization that appreciates the applicability of the country’s local content laws. Bowmans makes sure a majority of its equity is locally held. The same business model reportedly applies to Bowmans’ other divisions in Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Such prioritization of local value may help stimulate the other countries’ economies.

If the governments of these developing nations can effectively enforce their local content laws, and can come through with the products and services that local and international companies require, then they can not only improve their economies but also their standards of living.

– John Tuttle
Photo: Unsplash

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Fighting Poverty With Female Education in China

Female Education in ChinaIn June 2022, 65-year-old Zhang Guimei escorted her students to China’s annual college entrance examinations, or ‘gaokao,’ for the 12th year in a row. If all goes well, when these students exit the exam room, they will be able to change their fate by passing the metric for college. According to Global Times, however, this would not have been possible if not for Zhang Guimei. Known as the “principal of miracles,” Zhang has sent more than 1,800 girls from the poorest parts of China to college. Not only did she receive one of China’s highest medals of honor for contribution to society, but she has also been written into the official modern history textbook compiled by the government. However, her story is a simple one about an educator who gave her all for her students to change female education in China.

The Story of Zhang Guimei

Zhang Guimei’s husband, who taught with her at a high school in Yunnan, died of cancer in 1994. Two years later, Zhang Guimei herself became ill. Because all her money had gone to treating her husband, she gave up on treatment and kept her illness a secret.

The truth emerged when she fainted in class. Despite their poverty, the people of Huaping county–the teachers, students, villagers and even the local government–all pitched in to raise money for her treatment.

Zhang knew the difficulty with which the money came by. In the early 2000s, Huaping county was extremely poor because its mountainous terrain limited agricultural growth as well as transportation. It was common for parents to pay their children’s tuition five cents at a time, using coins that are no longer popular in larger cities. Even so, they raised enough money for Zhang’s treatment.

Deeply moved, Zhang Guimei believes–to this day–that the people of Huaping saved her life. She resolved to dedicate her ‘second life’ to educating the people of Huaping–a promise she kept for 40 years.

Keeping Girls in School

During her time there, Zhang noticed a strange phenomenon: many girls who had good grades would suddenly drop out. Later, she realized that they had to withdraw either to work low-paying jobs or get engaged.

At the turn of the 21st century, China was developing at a rapid pace. But Huaping county–and Yunnan province in general–was one of the few areas that remained impoverished. Rural, poor and uneducated, families had no money to pay for school and often prioritized the education of boys over girls. In order to have one less mouth to feed, girls often became engaged or married in exchange for a bride price.

However, Zhang Guimei never stopped believing that developing female education in China was the key to changing the fate of Huaping. In her mind, “if one girl can receive higher education, she can change the fate of three generations.” To tackle the problem at its root, she resolved to establish a free public high school so the girls could have a chance to get the education they deserved.

A Difficult Path

The path to establishing the Huaping High School for Girls was difficult. Although the government was very supportive, it had no money to sustain the operations of a free high school. Zhang had to ask for donations on the street from 2002 to 2007. Things took a turn when a journalist from Beijing discovered her efforts, and with help from people across the country supporting female education in China, her high school finally opened in 2008.

When the school opened, there was only one building, with no dormitories or even bathrooms. At night, the classrooms turned into dorms that the students and female teachers slept in. Not long after, nine out of 17 original faculty members resigned. To make matters worse, the school had no students as many parents still refused to let their daughters out of the mountains.

Zhang took a very simple approach to this problem. Going from house to house, she promised that the school would do its best to help the child even if they could not finish their education. If colleges accepted the girls but they could not afford it, she would take all financial responsibility. Many parents relented, and the girls were finally able to step toward a future outside of the mountains.

One Simple Wish

 In the past decade, more than 1,800 girls have been able to leave the mountains through Zhang’s high school. More than 40% of the students at Huaping High get into first-rate colleges, and the school has ranked first in the entire Lijiang County for many years.

However, Zhang Guimei’s hard work has taken a toll on her health, with 23 different diseases that plague her. Wearing plain clothes and talking into a cheap megaphone, numerous medicinal patches were on the back of her hands as she escorted her students to the 2022 exams. Yet, the entire Huaping changed because of one educator with a simple wish: to change female education in China. Hopefully, her story will inspire many others to fight for the one wish that will better the world.

– Emilie Zhang
Photo: Flickr

3 Ways of Reducing Flood Risks

Reduce Flood RisksAcross the globe there are hundreds of millions of people at risk of severe floods and the situation has only grown worse since the beginning of 2022. Many countries are reducing flood risks or they face billions of dollars of damages and potentially thousands of lives lost or displaced.

Who is at Risk

Floods are one of the most common and devastating natural disasters, and they are estimated to affect as many as 1.81 billion people every year. Of those affected by floods every year, 170 million people live in extreme poverty and the floods only make the situation worse. Natural disasters are estimated to cause more than $300 billion dollars of damage every year, with this number increasing to half a $1 trillion dollars when considering consumption loss, and floods are one of the leading causes. Low and middle-income countries account for 89% of those affected by floods, with most living in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.

The Recent Damage

Since the start of 2022, there have been many devastating floods which have affected the lives of millions. At the beginning of 2022, tropical storm Ana caused floods in developing countries across eastern Africa. The tropical storm hit Mozambique the worst and left 45,000 people in need of humanitarian aid, with 23,000 of them being women and children according to UNICEF.

The issue persists well into 2022 as in recent weeks floods in developing countries like India and Bangladesh have killed 200 people and displaced nearly 7 million people. It is clear that floods are a global issue, as they impact nearly a quarter of the global population, cause hundreds of billions of dollars in damages and displace or even kill the most vulnerable people.

Citizen-Based Investment Programs

The first major way that countries can reduce their risk of floods is by implementing a Citizen-Based Investment Program (CBI). Small Caribbean Island countries have been using this idea for decades. St. Kitts and Nevis created a CBI program in 1984 that allows rich investors from countries like the United States to invest in the nation’s Sustainable Growth Fund in exchange for citizenship with the nation. This fund is used by the nation to support growth and development within the infrastructure of the island to better protect it from natural disasters and grow its economy back faster after a disaster.

This Citizen-Based Investment Program is a successful industry that has contributed as much as 30% of the GDP in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2020. This specific portion of the GDP has been used over the last few years to create hospitals, hurricane-resistant homes and has even brought money to the education sector. This idea could be implemented in developing countries that are at high risk of floods as the fund contributes to a boosted natural disaster defense for the country and increases its tourism infrastructure just as it was implemented in the Caribbean nations.

Increased Preparedness

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has created a database that accumulates satellite signals and weather patterns from a multitude of sources that is designed for public use. Local water authorities in these developing countries could use the Flood and Drought Portal database to help make highly accurate predictions about weather patterns that are likely to cause floods.

This program has already been used in countries similar to Senegal with the help of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data to better increase Senegal’s data acquisition and helped advise food policy in the developing country. This data acquisition allowed officials in Senegal to get more accurate measurements for deforestation, floods and droughts which have already helped save people from disaster and famine.

Environmental Adaptation

The UNEP has also contributed to reducing floods in developing countries through the implementation of environmental factors that counter the increasing flood risks. The UNEP has created wetlands and increased vegetation in some developing countries which can help reduce the damage caused by floods as these wetlands soak up the flood water and then the water is slowly dissipated.

This idea has been implemented in Comoros, where the UNEP reconstructed 3,500 hectares of watershed habitat which aided the citizens of Comoros in retaining water from floods to be used later by farmers for their crops. The UNEP has been using this system to locate high flood risk regions that are in close proximity to potential wetlands and then using these wetlands to mitigate flood damage.

A Flood Free World

Although the idea of a world free from flood damage seems far-fetched, the three programs have proven to be highly successful in reducing flood risks. With the devastating floods that have already occurred in 2022, the three implementation programs could make a difference in reducing floods in developing countries.

– Declan Harkness
Photo: Flickr

Hydroponic Technology Dispels Resource Curse in Iraq

Hydroponic TechnologyThe only constant in the oil market is its volatility as oil is notorious for its price fluctuation. Prices can increase due to economic growth that raises the demand for oil. Prices can also drop due to shortage fears during unstable conditions, a visible reality with the implications of the Russian-Ukraine war. The Iraqi economy is one of the world’s most oil-reliant economies in the world. Iraq requires international support in order to reach its SDGs, however, misconceptions and traditional practices undermine the potential for mutual benefit among Iraq and other nations. Debates center around whether diversification or transformation of the economy should be a priority. Hydroponic technology allows for the adoption of both strategies at once while satisfying global needs.

A Domino Effect

Oil reserves proceed to deplete. Countries move toward green innovations. The demand for oil continues to drop. The economies of oil-dependent nations that stick to traditional energy sources struggle. Unstable conditions and authoritarian rule take hold. National security is now a greater issue in the United States and other nations. The chaos increases fears of a depleted oil supply. Prices rise, preventing development in developing nations and impeding smooth transition in developed nations. This is the domino effect of oil volatility.

Economic and societal transformations within one nation have rippling effects beyond its borders. In an unprecedently interconnected world, instability in foreign markets, such as Iraq, influences the security and economy within the United States.

The Resource Curse in Iraq

Resource wealth in Iraq, manifesting in the nation holding the world’s fifth-largest oil reserves, correlates with poverty. Oil exports make up more than 90% of its government revenue in 2020, yet Iraq struggles to supply its own population with fuel and electricity. The oil sector only included 1% of the total labor force in 2016 while accounting for 32.2% of its GDP in 2020. Easy revenue reduces incentives for broad-based development, reduces reliance on tax revenue and facilitates corruption.

Increased reliance on natural resource exports is coupled with less growth in the domestic economy and feeds the poverty cycle. For instance, Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2021 scores Iraq 23 out of 100 in terms of “perceived level of public corruption,” where zero equates to the highest corruption level. Out of 180 nations, Iraq ranked 157th. Moreover, Iraq lags behind its peers in placing its oil revenue into a sovereign wealth fund. Mismanagement of the oil industry results in most Iraqis not benefiting from the nation’s riches.

Economic Diversification

Many Iraqi livelihoods depend on a high oil price that is never guaranteed. Introducing other industries in Iraq and other one-product economies can encourage sustained investment and employment. Multiple sources of national income help combat issues that arise with volatility. In 2020, Iraq adopted the White Paper for Economic Reform, which aims to place “Iraq’s economy on a path that allows the state to take appropriate steps in the future to develop it into a diversified, dynamic economy.” Yet, such reforms receive attention during economic recessions and get postponed when oil prices and profits are high.

Food Insecurity in Iraq

According to the Sustainable Development Report, in 2019, Iraq scores a value of 37.5 in terms of prevalence of undernourishment, far higher than its oil-exporting peers, such as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The SDG tracker reports that “major challenges remain” in meeting life-sustaining dietary requirements in a high percentage of the population. In May 2020, the U.N. approximated that 4.1 million Iraqis need humanitarian aid, including about 920,000 Iraqis suffering from food insecurity.

Hydroponic Technology

The Well Fed Community Garden says, “Hydroponics is the process of growing plants in sand, gravel or liquid with added nutrients but without soil.” Hydroponic systems reduce water use, land requirements and input expenses. Hydroponic technology is working to revive Iraq’s agricultural sector in arid conditions, ultimately serving to diversify Iraq’s economy. Transitioning to this sustainable technique is critical in a world where water shortages become water wars.

An article by Peggy Bradley and Cesar Hernan Marulanda Tabares details that a basic hydroponic garden “can provide enough produce for an average-size family every day.” The writers also detail that the system can provide “about $300 worth of food for only about $30 worth of nutrients” and “uses only 5-10 [%] of the water requirements of soil-based agriculture.”

With more than 800,000 Iraqis enduring hunger each night in 2017, providing locally based self-sustainable agricultural techniques promises greater stability to families in an environment that has a volatile status quo due to oil dependence and conflict.

Hydroponic Successes and Plans in Iraq

Iraq is moving toward making room in its budget for moves toward clean energy and sustainability. The Cabinet proposed in January 2022 “diverting a portion of oil sales for domestic clean energy investments.”

USAID, through the Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge (WE4F), selected Al Radhwa Solutions and Dhiaa al Alamiyah as two of the winners of the Call of Innovations contest in March 2022. These two hydroponic-based businesses aim for sustainability. The contest winners received a total of $1.5 million to grow their businesses.

Hydroponic technology brings families out of extreme poverty and hunger all while aligning with environmental goals, contributing to stability and fostering bottom-up economic growth. Whether the issue is oil or water depletion, rippling effects impact the entire world. Safety is threatened and business opportunities become opportunity costs when arid economies do not diversify. The U.S. government has the potential to allocate more of its spending toward preemptive sustainability strategies, such as hydroponics.

– Anna Zawistowski
Photo: Pixabay

COVID-19’s Impact on Brazil

covid-19s-impact-on-brazilBrazil has been observing a downward trend in its poverty rate since the 1980s, however, COVID-19’s impact on Brazil has placed these years of poverty reduction at severe risk. Luckily, funding and donations from the government and outside sources such as the United States have helped to combat the sudden rise of poverty. Here is an examination of COVID-19’s impact on Brazil.

Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prior to the pandemic, Brazil had reached an all-time low in regard to its poverty rate. For example, by early 2020, 13.9% of Brazilians were making less than $5.50 per day, a stark contrast to 20.6% in 2019. This was a major improvement in Brazil, however, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed Brazil to unprecedented health, social and economic challenges.

Brazil currently has the third most COVID-19 cases out of any other country at 32.9 million as well as the second highest number of COVID-19-related deaths at 674,000. The pandemic has impacted poverty-stricken areas significantly more than anywhere else, an issue that Brazil has been attempting to resolve.

The Brazilian Government’s Fiscal Package

In 2020, the Brazilian government put together a fiscal package of around $157 billion in an attempt to relieve the pandemic’s adverse impact on Brazil. This large fiscal package aimed to provide support to citizens under the poverty line, as well as all levels of the health care system and firms on the brink of major layoffs.

The main goal of the package was to provide easy access to both covid tests and vaccines for any Brazilian citizen. This allowed for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to be less fatal and more contained, making the package an overall success.

US Efforts to Help Brazil

The United States has also put forth multiple aid efforts to support Brazil. Through multiple initiatives, the U.S. has provided approximately $75 million in relief efforts through donations of food, health equipment, individual protection and hygiene products.

How Companies Aided Brazil

Multiple U.S. companies also started initiatives to help with the impacts of the pandemic. Companies such as Accenture, Amgen, Burger King, Cargill, Chevron, General Motors and many more have gone above and beyond to combat the impact of COVID-19.

Companies such as Accenture, Burger King and Chevron have been providing support the Brazilian health care system. Accenture donated more than $13 million to the health care system in Brazil. Additionally, Burger King launched an initiative in 2020 for a percentage of each burger that it sold in March of that year to go toward the Brazilian health care system. It raised an estimated $1 million. Meanwhile, Chevron donated $1 million to aid with the construction of a hospital in the Gávea district in Rio de Janeiro.

Other companies such as Amgen, Cargill and General Motors helped to support Brazilian communities in various ways. Amgen donated $100,000 to aid vulnerable communities in Brazil. Meanwhile, Cargill donated $2 million to Brazil and additionally started a fund for food and other basic needs that accumulated to $400,000. General Motors (GM) also made a significant impact on COVID-19 in Brazil by donating $11 million to Brazil in aid.

The many companies around the world aiding Brazil take pressure off the Brazilian government and economy, allowing for a quicker recovery of the country. These relief efforts have created positive impacts across Brazil, yet there is still much more that needs to occur.

Sustained recovery is the goal of the Brazilian government. The future of Brazil will continue to depend on private sector-led investments and additional government reforms.

 – Matthew Krysler
Photo: Flickr

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Malaysia

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in MalaysiaMalaysia saw its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on January 24, 2020. The Malaysian government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO or PKP) around two months later in response. This mandate restricted travel, work, assembly and established quarantine measures jeopardizing the financial integrity of Malaysian households. Here is some information about the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Malaysia as well as the country as a whole.

The World on Pause

For fully vaccinated individuals, the MCO ended in November 2021. However, under the mandate, conditional and variable ordinances ultimately played a part in the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Malaysia.

Working in multiple phases, the MCO developed into the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO/PKPB), Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO/PKPP) and the National Recovery Plan (NRP/PPN). These restrictions prevented movement between states, travel to and from Malaysia and mass gatherings in addition to the closure of schools, government and private premises except those considered essential. Those who violated the MCO were at risk of receiving fines or facing jail time.

Hurting Those Already Struggling the Most

Three-quarters of the Malaysian population live in urban areas, with the majority of individuals falling into the 15-64 age group. A four-part research study that UNICEF and UNFPA conducted titled “Families on the Edge” found that a typical Malaysian household has an average of 5.5 members.

The head of these households are mostly married Malay males around 46 years old with low educational attainment. These workers face a high risk of unemployment, pay cuts or other stresses to household income as they were in jeopardy before the pandemic.

Reports have indicated that a 5% increase in employment occurred between March 2020 and June 2021. Despite the rise, a third of those employed before the crisis experienced work disruptions and 27% faced income reduction.

The World Bank found that around 65% of jobs in Malaysia cannot occur remotely even after modifying them so that they were in an online format. This is because approximately 51% of jobs require close physical proximity. With the MCO restrictions, these jobs were most vulnerable with one-fourth of heads of households experiencing unemployment during this time.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Food and Education

The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Malaysia consequently affected access to food and quality of education. With little to no income, households spent around 84% less on education and 4% less on food between December 2019 and June 2020. While expenditure on food reduced, approximately 30% reduced food intake itself to cope with financial difficulties.

While employees adjusted to remote working, children needed to transition to online learning. Two-fifths of children do not have access to the required equipment (such as a computer) or internet connection to resume their education.

Closures have also prevented children from impoverished families from accessing meals provided at school-distributed supplemental food programs. This food insecurity pushed households to adopt cheaper and less healthy diets, further threatening the country’s child malnutrition crisis.

A Citizen’s Surrender

Some low-income residents resorted to waving white flags from their flats during the government-mandated lockdown to express the financial stress they were experiencing. This Bendera Putih, or “White Flag” movement emerged to help families ask for assistance. The white cloth outside their homes would encourage others to donate food.

In response, three computer science students from Multimedia University Cyberjaya urgently developed and released the “Sambal SOS” app within the same month the White Flag Movement gained traction. More than 7,000 users registered on the site just two days after its launch.

Here, users could digitally and anonymously report that they needed help. They then could connect with other users ready and able to provide aid.

An Economic Recovery Plan

Prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara (PENJANA), also known as the Economic Recovery Plan, in June of 2020. This stimulus package totaled RM35 billion (more than $7 billion) allocated to 40 initiatives organized into “three key thrusts:”

  • Empower People
  • Propel Businesses
  • Stimulate the Economy

Some initiatives to empower people included a wage subsidy program, social protection for the gig economy workforce and the internet for education and productivity. PENJANA funded entrepreneurship financing to propel businesses while supporting small enterprises through e-commerce and tourism financing. Initiatives to stimulate the economy included a campaign to buy Malaysian products and financial relief for those working in the agriculture/food sector.

Although poverty rates are still higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty levels have decreased by 16% between May 2020 and March 2021. Government assistance increased overall average household income since 2019, including disabled-headed households.

Households rely on savings, government and Zakat assistance for financial support as the labor market recovers. While PENJANA has proven to help boost the economy temporarily, many families still do not receive registered business-related aid and do not have social protection or insurance. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Malaysia emphasized that social protection assistance still needs to improve its scope of coverage to help the urban poor rebuild post-crisis.

– Aishah French
Photo: Flickr

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Life After Escape for North Korean Defectors 

North Korean defectorsNorth Korea ranks among the poorest countries on Earth, with an absolute poverty rate estimated at 60% as of 2020. As a result, more than 30,000 people have made the harrowing journey to escape from the country to seek refuge in South Korea. Many choose to escape as a last resort, feeling that they are facing a choice between certain death and possible survival. The oppressive nature of the North Korean regime and the risk of starvation as a result of food shortages are the most cited reasons given by defectors who made the decision to escape from the North. No matter their reasons for fleeing, the trek from the North to the South is a daunting experience for North Korean defectors, even after they have successfully escaped.

The Escape

North Koreans have two options for managing escape from the country. Defectors can attempt to cross through the long, northern border with China, patrolled by both Chinese and Korean military. Once in China, escapees face the fact that it is illegal for Chinese citizens to assist North Korean defectors. Managing to covertly make it out of China and secure refuge in South Korea can therefore be extremely challenging.

However, the other option is notorious for its difficulty and risk—attempting to cross the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. This is the most heavily guarded and fortified border on Earth, with guards patrolling both sides 24/7, barbed-wire fences, minefields, sensors and a 19-meter-thick concrete wall. The crossing has been even more impossible Since Kim Jung-Un closed the border completely in 2020 to stem the flow of COVID-19, according to CNN.

Therefore, the majority of defectors flee North across the Chinese border. However, no matter which route defectors choose to take, they risk life and limb in pursuit of a better life. The journey is extremely risky.

Arrival in a New World

For those who make it to the South, the struggle is unfortunately not over. North Korea has been insulated from the world and its political and technological progress for more than 50 years. The complete isolation from modernity that North Korean citizens face, in conjunction with distorted propaganda about the outside world, leads to confusion and overwhelm for those who make it out.

North Korean defectors describe bewilderment at things like brightly colored street signs, CNN reports. They have never used a cell phone, utilized public transportation, or had a bank card. The bits and bobs of advanced capitalism and democracy are completely alien to those who escape. As such, the relief they experience upon making it across the border lasts short for many, who realize they still have much to overcome.

However, the South Korean government provides comprehensive integration services for arriving refugees. “Hanawon” and is a three-month resettlement and training school, according to BBC. The program teaches refugees how to use an ATM, ride a bus and use a computer. They receive instructions on democracy and citizenship and advise on how to secure a job. Essentially, they also receive training to adapt to their community.

Afterward, the program provides refugees with a public housing unit, a housing subsidy, settlement benefits and an assigned police officer to check in on them every now and then. Beyond that, they are on their own, BBC reports.

Unexpected Struggles

Once left to fend for themselves, many refugees find that the things they learned in the classroom are inadequate or non-transferrable to the new world around them.

The difficulty and overwhelm can get to be so much that a significant fraction of refugees, a staggering 18.5%, report regretting making the journey to the South at all. They cite cultural differences, isolation, and economic problems as the cause.

This feeling of difference and isolation is largely the result of discrimination toward North Koreans. Identified by their accents, they are actively passed up on job opportunities and are treated with suspicion and contempt.  One defector described their treatment as akin to that of “cigarette ashes thrown away on the street,” The Conversation reports.

Further, refugees have almost universally experienced extreme trauma through their ordeals. Nine out of 10 refugees arrive with PTSD. However, counseling services through Hanawon are limited and need improvement, according to the BBC.

Mental health issues— exacerbated by feelings of isolation and lack of belonging— can blossom in these populations if left unaddressed.

The Fight for Change

Koreans are not content to allow discrimination and a lack of mental health care to fester among these extremely vulnerable refugees. Saejowi is a nonprofit in South Korea that is working to supplement the services of Hanawon and make the transition into the South more successful and painless for refugees.

Saejowi addresses mental health barriers by training and licensing escaped North Koreans to become counselors for their fellow refugees. To date, it has produced more than 220 licensed counselors and is working to expand its impact, according to its website.

Saejowi does not stop there. It also works to reduce cultural barriers and discrimination between North and South Koreans by sponsoring cultural exchange programs, including festivals, plays and potlucks.

Through these vital services, Saejowi is continuing to improve the lives of North Korean defectors that were able to make a miraculous escape from devastating poverty.

– Grace Ramsey
Photo: Flickr

The European Anti-Poverty Network Tackles Poverty in Europe

European Anti-Poverty NetworkIn 2019, 92.4 million people in the European Union were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, around 21.1% of the EU’s entire population. With such a high number of Europeans in poverty, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) remains dedicated to its mission to eradicate poverty and prevent social exclusion.

Origin of the European Anti-Poverty Network

Established in 1990, the European Anti-Poverty Network is the largest European network of national, regional and local organizations aimed at pulverizing poverty in Europe. The EAPN consists of 32 national networks within the 27 EU member states in addition to Serbia, Norway, Iceland, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom.

The EAPN has organized many activities to combat poverty, from education and training to lobbying and research. The membership of the European Anti-Poverty Network seeks to turn the fight against poverty into a priority for the European Union and foster improved coordination in anti-poverty policies between nations.

Poverty in the European Union

From 2012 to 2017, 10 million fewer people were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European Union, but poverty reduction was not shared equally in the EU. The strength of different welfare systems within European countries varies significantly, contributing to sizably different poverty rates on the continent. The average EU nation reduced the risk of poverty by 34%, while the best welfare system reduced poverty by 57% and the worst by only 16%.

Countries with the highest poverty rates in 2019 were Spain (25.3%), Lithuania (26.3%), Italy (27.3%, 2018 data), Latvia (27.3%), Greece (30.0%), Romania (31.2%) and Bulgaria (32.5%). The nations with the lowest poverty rates in Europe were Austria (16.9%), the Netherlands (16.5%), Slovakia (16.4%), Denmark (16.3%), Finland (15.6%), Slovenia (14.4%) and Czechia (12.5%), according to Eurostat.

Poverty disproportionately affects specific demographics in Europe, especially the disabled. In 2017, 30.1% of people with disabilities in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, 9.1% more than those without disabilities, according to the European Commission. As a result of these inequities, the European Anti-Poverty Network publishes specific sections dedicated to reducing poverty for people with disabilities, as well as for elders and women.

The EAPN Takes Action

The European Anti-Poverty Network acts against poverty through designated segments of the organization. The EAPN’s General Assembly advises the political and strategic direction, while its Executive Committee (EXCO) and Bureau focus on enforcing this pathway. The EU Inclusion Strategies Group (EU ISG) carries out policy work to fight against poverty.

Together, the EU ISG and EXCO invite the 32 anti-poverty national network members of the EAPN and representatives from the 13 member European organizations, holding two-day meetings three times a year to advise future direction and strategy in the fight against poverty.

In addition to these conferences on poverty, the EAPN publishes press releases, synthesis reports and policy recommendations to monitor current efforts to eradicate poverty and guide future steps. The EAPN’s most notable publications include the Country Reports, Annual Growth Survey, Country Specific Recommendations and the National Reform Programmes.

EAPN’s Poverty Watch Reports capture the findings on poverty in many European nations, outlining the notable trends affecting poverty, examples of poverty-eradication successes and evidence-based recommendations to alleviate poverty.

In addition to monitoring poverty through publications, the EAPN actively lobbies representatives in Brussels and national governments. This effort allows the European Anti-Poverty Network to spread its knowledge surrounding poverty into effective policies to counteract destitution. By engaging with policymakers through face-to-face discussions and written exchanges, the EAPN actively brings poverty to the forefront of the European Union’s agenda.

Successes

As a result of the EAPN’s work to raise awareness of poverty, Europe continues to make strides against poverty. In 2010, the EAPN helped the year become designated as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Other successes have been more on the legislative front, with the EAPN contributing to several new articles in EU Treaties. For instance, the Amsterdam Treaty adopted Articles 13, 136 and 137 (all anti-poverty-related legislation) due to, in part, the contribution of the EAPN, according to its website.

As the EAPN refuses to be a bystander in the fight against poverty, millions of Europeans have a faithful ally. The European Anti-Poverty Network recognizes the time to end poverty is now and through its publications and lobbying, the EAPN can help bring this positive future closer.

– Michael Cardamone
Photo: Flickr

Turkey’s Conditional Cash Transfer for Education Program

Conditional Cash TransferIn 2003, the Turkish government enacted a Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) Program that included bi-monthly cash transfers that beneficiaries receive with the stipulation that the family’s children have at least an 80% attendance rate in school. However, the Turkish Government has modified its educational program in order to address a wide array of issues throughout multiple decades. For example, the Turkish Government expanded the Cash Transfer Program for Education to include refugees as beneficiaries after the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Turkey utilized these transfer payments to combat the low schooling rates of Syrian refugees living in Turkey, with only 60% of Syrian refugee children attending school. By utilizing cash-based transfer payments, the Turkish government has incentivized education among groups that are traditionally most at risk to drop out.

Original Enactment

The Turkish government originally enacted the Conditional Cash Transfer for Education Program in order to assist “vulnerable families living in Turkey.” The average beneficiary in 2003 received payments per-child in Turkish Lira that are equal to approximately $48 in 2022. Although the original program did not change overall dropout rates, it was successful in increasing school enrollment.

Refugee Adaptation

In 2017, the program expanded to alleviate growing concerns regarding the safety and health care of refugees in Turkey, of which the vast majority are Syrian-born. As a result of EU, Norwegian and U.S. aid, UNICEF helped Turkey expand its CCTE program to include over 695,000 refugee children attending school in Turkey. Currently, 3.7 million Syrian refugees reside in Turkey, 98% of them living outside the camps.

Child Protection Component

On top of cash transfers, the enhanced version of CCTE includes a “child protection component,” according to the American Institutes for Research (AIR) report. This should provide outreach support teams to families that have children at risk of dropping out or becoming chronically absent. AIR reports found that Turkish provinces with outreach support teams experienced higher rates of school attendance from 2017-2020. However, there were many areas in which outreach support teams were also understaffed and under-resourced.

COVID-19 Education Cash Transfer

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCTE not only stayed operational, but also enhanced its programs with additional COVID-related funding. EU funding during COVID-19 has expanded the program to include single payments enacted to help offset pandemic related costs. EU provided €4.5 million to the CCTE budget, with one-time payments given to over half a million beneficiaries, according to Global Compact on Refugees.

Similar Programs Elsewhere

Strategies utilized in Turkey’s CCTE method of cash transfer payments have been utilized in other areas of the world with equally successful outcomes. For example, Brazil’s Bolsa Família program is a cash transfer program in which beneficiaries are required to attend school and receive regular health check-ups. Originally enacted in 2003, the Brazilian government adopted the Bolsa Família program in order to ensure that pandemic school closures do not cause school dropout and child labor rates to rise.

Program Effects

The CCTE assisted in funding education for almost 1 million refugee children in Turkey. Outreach social worker teams have assisted over 100,000 children in order to ensure that they stay in school and any get care that they might need, according to Global Compact on Refugees. However, the CCTE is completely funded by external support in the form of international aid. Although the Turkish education system has successfully educated almost a million refugee children, the future of CCTE and many programs like it rely on aid from the international community.

– Salvatore Brancato
Photo: Flickr

Ireland’s Poverty Reduction

from-the-troubles-to-recession-to-rapid-growth-irelands-poverty-reductionIreland’s poverty reduction has been impressive, coming from the times of the political and religious troubles of 30 years ago. In 1987, at a poverty line of $5.50 a day, poverty in Ireland was at 3.7%, but in the 21st century, the poverty rate has never been above 1.5%. However, as with the U.S., the recession of 2008 greatly affected the Irish economy. Following the recession, the consistent poverty rate was still 2.5% higher in 2017 than it was in 2008. At the national poverty line, the World Bank suggested the poverty level was at 13.9% in 2019. To make matters worse, 25% of those living in poverty currently are children.

GDP

In 2021 Ireland’s GDP per capita growth rate was 16%. This measurement can be misleading. Despite Ireland having one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, it still faces the issue of poverty. The GDP per capita figure is distorted due to over 1,500 multinational corps being located here and the small population size. As GDP per capita is a measurement of average income across a whole population, extremely rich individuals or companies and small populations can easily distort it.

Despite this, the presence of these large pharmaceuticals and tech firms also have some benefits for Ireland. For example, Apple provides 6,000 jobs in Ireland alone. This proves to be a major contributor to the economy, which in turn provides the government with more funding.

The Irish government reinvests this back into public services. For example, during the pandemic homelessness decreased, dropping below 9,000 for the first time since 2017. On top of this, it is estimated that without Ireland’s welfare system a huge four in every ten of the population would be in poverty. If the country reduces child poverty, this could continue at an even greater rate, as Social Justice Ireland advocates for.

Impact of the Recession

The recession hit Ireland in 2008, resulting in a housing market crash similar to the U.S. This was followed by an economic depression in Ireland in 2009- with GNP decreasing by 12% in the first quarter of that year. The housing crisis also affected many other industries as the population lost confidence in the economy. Unemployment increased by almost 8% between 2008 and 2012.

However, Ireland appears to be crawling out of this “lost decade” of economic turmoil with reduced unemployment, homelessness and high levels of growth. But there are still lasting effects of poverty that Ireland still hasn’t addressed.

Social Justice Ireland outlines the serious problem of in-work poverty in Ireland. In-work poverty was at 6.2% in 2020 and has not shown any signs of decreasing over recent years. COVID-19 appears to have affected these lowest earners as well- with income tax receipts only decreasing by 1% in 2020. Social Justice Ireland believes the country needs to do more in achieving governmental targets, implement more policies to support the ‘working poor’ and provide more support for the poor such as greater enforcement of a wide living wage.

Focus Ireland

Focus Ireland is a prime example of the foundations that helped to foster Ireland’s development post-recession. The organization supports homeless people in Ireland. In 2020, it successfully helped 1,829 households stay out of homelessness or helped them to move to a secure home. Projects like this are helping to contribute to Ireland’s reducing level of homelessness.

Ireland’s poverty reduction is succeeding as it stands, but more help needs to be provided for a large number of working poor and children in poverty.

–Reuben Cochrane
Photo: Flickr