Archive for category: Nonprofit Organizations and NGOs

Information and stories about nonprofit organizations and NGOs

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Education: Mitigating Poverty in Ghana

Education: Mitigating Poverty in Ghana The regional and economic makeup of Ghana reflects a divide in prosperity. Living standards in the rural north remain poorer than those in the urban south, and the roots of poverty in Ghana extend as far back as British colonial governance decades ago. Citing data from 2013 to 2017, a 2021 academic paper by a Ghanaian researcher found a link between education and reduced poverty levels within the nation. In exploring this connection between education and poverty reduction, The Borgen Project spoke with Kwabena Nkansah, a Ghana-born professor of economics at the University of Alicante in Spain.

Poverty in Ghana

During British colonial rule, governance prioritized labor in southern Ghana, leaving the north largely underdeveloped. While southern regions benefit from urban infrastructure and employment opportunities, a World Bank report shows that northern Ghana primarily relies on agriculture, making the region more rural and poverty-prone. In addition, recent economic policy has favored crops grown in the south over those in the north, widening the gap in living standards. As a result, the most recent poverty rate recorded in 2016 found that 23.4% of Ghanaians were living in poverty. Though this rate fell from 51.1% in 1991, a 2024 academic journal found that households relying on agricultural labor still make up the majority of the nation’s most impoverished.

A Solution: Education

With national attention focused on reducing poverty, the 2021 study found a correlation between higher living standards and education. Ghana’s education system includes preschool, primary school, high school and tertiary or university education. The study found that households with tertiary education decreased from 7.6% to 5.24% between 2013 and 2017. During this period, the number of Ghanaians living in extreme poverty increased by 200,000. The study concluded that the decline in university education was a major factor in the rise of poverty during those years.

The data also showed that poverty in Ghana is primarily a rural issue, linked to lower levels of educational attainment and long travel times to reach schools. Moreover, obtaining a university education reduced the likelihood of experiencing poverty by 22.5%.

Domestic Policy and International Aid

To improve education access, the Ghanaian government and international organizations have implemented various initiatives. In speaking with The Borgen Project, Professor Nkansah mentioned several national pro-education policies aimed at reducing poverty: “We have the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), National Functional Literacy Programme (NFLP), Free Senior High School Initiative, School Feeding Programme and STEM.”

Nkansah also emphasized the positive impact of international assistance on Ghana’s education system. “This dates back to the colonial days till now,” he said. “Catholic and Basel Missions still own and run many public schools in Ghana. There was also the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) benefit initiative by the IMF around 2007–08, which helped in the construction of many schools.”

In addition to national and international support, the government has launched scholarship programs. “There have been scholarship initiatives like the COCOBOD scholarship and the IPNC scholarship, both run by the government, which have helped many children from less privileged backgrounds access quality education and improve their living standards,” Nkansah said.

Progress Requires Quality

Given the domestic and international efforts to expand education in Ghana, World Bank data show exponential growth in university enrollment over the last four decades. In 2023, tertiary enrollment stood at 22%, up from 12% in 2013. However, Nkansah and the 2021 study noted that access alone is not enough to reduce poverty.

The study found that higher levels of education have a greater impact on poverty reduction than secondary education. It suggested that the government review existing barriers to university access and improve school-to-work transitions. Nkansah also highlighted the importance of maintaining quality in education. “Although in recent times there has been a tremendous increase in educational access due to several policy interventions, the trade-off in terms of quality still lingers,” he said. “If educational systems are designed in a way that heavily relies on quantity and not quality and also train students for white-collar jobs instead of skill orientation, then there is a problem.”

Despite the challenges, Nkansah added, “Overall, I must say that educational access has improved a lot relative to early years after independence.”

Looking Forward

With quality education proven to reduce poverty in Ghana, one recent initiative by the Jacobs Foundation, an international NGO, is training the nation’s teachers. The System Change Architecture for Learning Excellence (SCALE) program, in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Education, aims to train more than 72,000 teachers and improve learning in over 15,000 institutions.

As educational quality becomes a growing focus for Ghana’s government, the results are promising. Though no recent data have been published on the national poverty rate, Ghana’s unemployment rate stood at 3.01% in 2024, down from 10.46% in 2000. The country’s declining unemployment rate and rising university enrollment suggest that as long as Ghana continues to prioritize accessible, quality education, its efforts to reduce poverty will continue to succeed.

– Piper Aweeka

Piper is based in Alicante, Spain and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Brazil’s Informal Housing: Pathways To Secure Land Titles

Brazil’s Informal HousingMillions of Brazilians live in informal housing without secure land titles, leaving them vulnerable to eviction and excluded from essential services like water, sanitation and credit. This insecurity is not new—it reflects centuries of unequal land distribution and weak property rights. In recent decades, however, the government has launched land regularization programs. These are aimed at converting informal possession into legal property, thereby providing families with greater stability and economic opportunities.

At the same time, NGOs such as Habitat for Humanity Brazil have mobilized to defend housing rights and equip communities to advocate for stronger protections. To better understand the economic importance of secure land tenure, The Borgen Project spoke with Victor Menaldo, Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington. Menaldo’s expertise in property rights and regulation offers insight into the broader stakes for poverty reduction and development.

Historic and Persistent Challenges With Securing Land Titles

Brazil’s struggle to secure land titles has deep historical roots. When the Portuguese Crown colonized Brazil in the 16th century, the land was divided into large captaincies granted to nobles. These nobles then distributed smaller plots, known as sesmarias, to settlers. While this system was intended to accelerate colonization, it concentrated land in the hands of a few. It often left small farmers without legal rights to the soil they worked.

After independence in 1822, Brazil spent nearly three decades without any formal land law. This vacuum allowed large estates to expand unchecked, often at the expense of smaller occupants. The 1850 Land Law attempted to regulate ownership. However, it required the purchase of land for cash. This policy excluded formerly enslaved people and impoverished farmers who lacked resources. Instead of democratizing access, it entrenched land inequality. The 1988 Constitution reaffirmed property rights but also required that land serve broader social purposes.

More recent programs—such as Minha Casa, Minha Vida (2009) and the 2017 Regularização Fundiária Urbana (REURB) law—have introduced mechanisms to convert informal possession into legal property, aiming to regularize urban settlements. These efforts represent significant progress; yet, millions of Brazilians still live without formal land titles, leaving them vulnerable to eviction and exclusion from credit and public services.

Land Regularization Programs

Land regularization programs have greatly aided Brazil’s recent attempts to address the historical causes of weak land title rights. In order to address contemporary issues of Brazil’s informal housing, the Land Regularization Program, which was initially connected to the Social Development Fund in the 1990s (Act No. 8,677/1993), has recently been revived. Brazil’s government has made continuous efforts to curb informality and increase access to legitimate land titles.

It has continued to evolve: in 2025, the Periferia Viva initiative increased support for Brazil’s informal housing improvements in neighborhoods that are at risk. The Regulatory Instruction No. 26 further updated the program’s rules. The program now prioritizes securing tenure and improving housing conditions for residents in Brazil’s informal settlements and low-income families. This is being done through revised regulations, such as Resolution No. 225 (2020) and Normative Instruction No. 2 (2021).

These changes demonstrate that Brazil’s land policies are dynamic and part of a continuous endeavor to improve the right to safe housing and lessen informality. Scholars also warn that poorly designed titling programs can have unintended consequences if not carefully designed. Menaldo noted that once neighborhoods are regularized, “rents and taxes rise; poorer households sell under pressure and re-informalize elsewhere.” He emphasized that while secure titles are powerful, they are “not a panacea.” Better-connected buyers scoop up newly titled plots at low prices when courts and registries are weak, commodifying land and pushing out the very families the programs were meant to protect.

NGO Advocacy for Housing Rights

In Brazil, the lack of affordable housing forces thousands of families into unsafe, informal living situations, often without legal tenure. Habitat for Humanity Brazil advocates for housing as a constitutional right and defends the right to the city, as guaranteed under the 2001 City Statute, which requires land and property to serve a social purpose. Habitat for Humanity Brazil collaborates with organizations such as the Zero Eviction Campaign, the Brazilian Institute of Urban Rights and the Observatory of Evictions. Together, they campaign against forced evictions and the displacement of low-income and informal settlement residents.

Beyond advocacy, Habitat Brazil equips communities with training on sustainable housing, financial literacy, gender equality and human rights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group worked with social movements. It even engaged the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, successfully pressuring Brazil to suspend eviction orders. It also conducted large-scale community interviews in 30 cities to monitor rights violations. The organization mobilized grants for local initiatives that empowered residents to defend their housing rights.

For families in Brazil’s informal housing settlements, weak property rights create what Menaldo calls a “precarious equilibrium.” Without recognized tenure, households often pay more for basic services through intermediaries, face risks of disconnection and underinvest in home improvements due to fear of eviction. NGOs like Habitat for Humanity Brazil work to break this cycle by both defending residents against forced evictions and equipping them with tools to advocate for their rights.

Looking Forward: Balancing Rights and Regulation

Menaldo emphasized that governments should not view property rights and regulation as opposing forces. “They are different tools specialized to solving different problems,” he explained. Assigning property rights can prevent land grabs or overuse, while regulation can address broader challenges, such as pollution and encourage positive practices through subsidies and information sharing. In this way, the state can provide leadership and coordination where markets or civil society fail to do so.

Menaldo also highlighted why secure land titles are central to reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunity. When families trust that they can “use, exclude and transfer” a plot without arbitrary loss, they are more willing to invest in durable improvements such as brick walls, sanitation or even small shops. Clear titles also unlock access to credit by making land legible as collateral for lenders. Lower transaction costs—through reliable courts and predictable registries—make it easier to buy, sell or lease property.

At the same time, official addresses expand the government’s fiscal capacity to tax and deliver services. Over time, these dynamics can strengthen markets, boost productivity and generate a cycle of greater investment in both physical infrastructure and human capital.

– Isaac Nelson

Isaac is based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Gilgit Baltistan Floods 2025: A Voice From the Village

Gilgit Baltistan FloodsFrom June to September 2025, Pakistan experienced one of the deadliest floods in its history. More than 1,000 people lost their lives, 274 of them children. On July 13, 2025, a cloudburst occurred in Gilgit Baltistan, followed by floods that isolated villages and blocked key highways.

The Borgen Project spoke with a 20-year-old girl, Eman Khan from Ghizer, who experienced firsthand the devastating impact of the floods, including the loss of essential family documents.

Warning Signs and Immediate Reactions

A cloudburst triggered the Gilgit Baltistan Floods of July 13. According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority, the floods damaged 13 houses, destroyed farmland and washed away irrigation channels. The floods also blocked the Gilgit–Ghizer Highway and isolated communities.

Khan told The Borgen Project that the day began with no major warning signs. The clouds, however, seemed unusually dark and the heavy and intense rain turned into a cloudburst within minutes. According to Khan, while Gilgit experiences seasonal floods, this cloudburst’s sheer force and speed were unlike anything she had witnessed before.

After the cloudburst, the first instinct, she recalled, was to rush outside, gather the family in one safe spot, call the children and move to higher ground as quickly as possible.

Khan said her family stayed calm during the crisis and avoided the river. They then took shelter at a relative’s house, which was built on slightly higher land. Khan added that the neighbors were also very helpful, shouting warnings to each other, helping evacuate children and older adults and sharing food and blankets with families that had to leave their homes.

Damage, Loss and Recovery

Khan told The Borgen Project that the Gilgit Baltistan Floods occurred in a sequence of a cloudburst followed by subsequent floods. The Gilgit Baltistan floods partially destroyed homes, washed away fields of crops, blocked roads and swept electricity poles into the water.

She added that her family lost some household belongings and important family documents. Other villagers lost livestock and stored food they depended on. Despite devastation, Khan said the community showed strong unity and support; people opened their homes to those displaced, cooked meals together and organized local volunteers to clear debris.

In the aftermath of the Gilgit Baltistan Floods, NGOs and local administration sent emergency relief, including food supplies, tents and medical aid. Volunteers from youth groups also played a vital role in rescue and relief work.

Impacts and Future Prospects

Khan shared that the Gilgit Baltistan Floods made her realize how vulnerable her family is in front of the forces of nature. She now recognizes the importance of preparedness and deeply respects the environment.

In the future, she hopes for better adaptive strategies in disaster-prone areas, including early warning systems, flood defences, stronger infrastructure and long-term support for rebuilding livelihoods. Above all, she hopes for a future where children are safe when disasters strike.

– Sidra Tahir

Sidra is based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Dying to Give Birth: Maternal Mortality in Indonesia

Dying to Give Birth: Maternal Mortality in Indonesia Experts widely recognize maternal mortality as a critical indicator of the quality of a nation’s health care system. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for a global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Indonesia, however, continues to face serious challenges in meeting these targets.

Regional Disparities Highlight Inequities in Care

According to World Bank data, 140 women die per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related causes in Indonesia — higher than the regional average. While maternal deaths have steadily declined, Indonesia remains among the highest in Southeast Asia, with significant disparities within the country. Hypertensive disorders and non-communicable diseases account for a growing share of maternal deaths, complicating efforts to reduce mortality.

The national MMR masks stark regional differences. Provinces in Java and Bali report lower maternal mortality rates, whereas Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesia experience rates more than twice the national average. These disparities reflect unequal access to health care and differences in the availability of skilled professionals. 

Drivers of Maternal Mortality

The main medical causes of maternal death include hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and sepsis. However, structural and social factors play an equally critical role. Studies indicate that rural and remote settings correlate with higher complication rates and insufficient referrals. The availability of obstetricians and midwives explains nearly half of the variance in maternal mortality outcomes across the country. Patients from wealthier backgrounds often migrate across provinces to seek better care, highlighting the quality gaps in rural facilities.

Distance and lack of infrastructure further endanger women’s lives. As Noorkarmila, a midwife from West Java, observes, “The long distance it takes them to get to the hospital and limited facilities… it saddens me to see [a pregnant woman’s journey] to the moment she dies, especially when there are things we can do to prevent it.”

Socioeconomic inequalities, entrenched gender norms and gender-based violence (GBV) exacerbate these risks. Nationwide surveys indicate that roughly one in three Indonesian women aged 15 to 64 has experienced physical or sexual violence, which carries both immediate and long-term health consequences such as trauma, unwanted pregnancies and chronic illness. Underreporting and weak enforcement of laws further compound the problem.

Local Initiatives Bridging the Gap

Despite these challenges, local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and programs are making meaningful progress. The Indonesian Global Health Foundation provides telemedicine devices to connect rural residents with doctors, midwives and nurses, facilitating more than 350 online consultations across at least 20 villages.

Project HOPE focuses on strengthening the skills of midwives, who provide the first neonatal care for half of all infants in Indonesia. Through training and ongoing supervision, midwives gain confidence in managing common obstetric and newborn emergencies, improving outcomes in sub-district health facilities and private midwife practices.

The Road Ahead

The challenge of maternal mortality in Indonesia underscores the urgent need for equitable access to health care, investment in skilled personnel, and interventions addressing social determinants of health. Achieving the SDG targets by 2030 will require sustained efforts, particularly in underserved regions, alongside comprehensive strategies to combat poverty, gender inequality and violence against women. With targeted initiatives and local innovations, Indonesia can continue its progress toward ensuring safe motherhood for all.

– Kai Xian Lim

Kai is based in Odense, Denmark and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Oxfam Fights Poverty Through Gender Equality

Oxfam Fights Poverty Across the globe, countless women face threats to their security and dignity due to systemic inequality. Marginalized groups struggle to assert their basic rights in societies built on patriarchal values that prioritize control over care. Women’s sexual and reproductive freedoms are under increasing pressure, even as they carry much of the unpaid and underrecognized labor that sustains families and communities. Yet despite their essential contributions, many women continue to endure violence, economic hardship and exclusion in systems designed to favor the wealthiest.

Those at the sharpest edge of these injustices often include women of color, immigrant caregivers and individuals living with disabilities. Oxfam places gender equality at the center of its work as it fights against poverty, aiming to create a world where people can thrive no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation. The organization supports feminist leadership by helping women take control of their resources, defend their rights and live free from violence. Oxfam also works to expand girls’ access to education in conflict-affected areas, while encouraging men to challenge harmful stereotypes and share household responsibilities.

Beyond individual empowerment, Oxfam pushes for systemic change. It highlights the vital role of caregivers and care workers and advocates for policies that protect both paid and unpaid care, such as paid leave and stronger workplace protections. The organization also campaigns for equal pay and calls on corporations to contribute fairly through taxation to help fund care programs and reduce the gender wage gap.

Oxfam Promotes Gender Equality

Across the world, women are often excluded from the spaces where important choices are made—whether within families, local communities, courts, governments or corporate offices. To counter this imbalance, Oxfam and its partners focus on building inclusive leadership models that strengthen gender equality and amplify women’s rights. This approach helps women activists and leaders better understand how systems of power operate and how they can be influenced to drive meaningful change.

In Kenya, this has taken shape through civic education initiatives that equip marginalized women to engage in politics and remove obstacles to voting. Meanwhile, in Nepal, Oxfam’s “Raising Her Voice” initiative showed that nearly 42% of almost 2,000 women participating in community dialogue groups felt confident enough to influence local and regional development councils. This has resulted in financial resources being directed toward advancing women’s priorities.

In Ghana, Oxfam’s work in shea, sorghum and cocoa supply chains has helped women farmers gain financial access and a stronger voice, fostering entrepreneurship and long-term, sustainable livelihoods. Countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, where adolescent pregnancy rates remain among the world’s highest, Oxfam partners with local groups to ensure young women and girls have greater control over their sexual and reproductive health. In Latin America, Oxfam has supported indigenous women’s movements in Peru by helping them gain a stronger role in governance processes related to land, territory and forest rights, ensuring their voices are heard in spaces that directly shape their futures.

Advances

Since 2013, initiatives led by Oxfam and its partners have tackled the issue of unequal unpaid care and household responsibilities in more than 25 countries. In Ethiopia, these efforts played a pivotal role in enforcing a national policy that requires government agencies to provide on-site child care facilities for employees. Meanwhile, in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe, women’s rights and caregiver organizations are being supported to strengthen their presence in political arenas where policies on unpaid care and domestic labor are shaped.

Oxfam fights poverty by recognizing that advancing women’s economic empowerment is key to breaking the cycle. By promoting equal pay, expanding access to land and credit and addressing the heavy load of unpaid domestic work, Oxfam creates opportunities for women to thrive. Fair wages and safe working conditions uplift women and strengthen their families and communities.

Oxfam Fights Poverty 

Oxfam views education as key to unlocking opportunities for girls, who are often forced out of school by poverty, early pregnancy and restrictive social norms. By promoting access to learning alongside financial literacy, health awareness and cultural attitudes shifts, Oxfam ensures girls can stay in school and build brighter futures.

In Ghana, efforts focus on creating school environments that support girls by addressing obstacles to attendance, fostering critical thinking and inspiring them to continue their studies. In Pakistan, young women have received scholarships and opportunities to strengthen their leadership abilities. Similar programs in South Sudan and Uganda work to equip both students and educators with the tools needed to build stronger, more resilient education systems.

Gender equality in the fight against poverty is both essential and transformative. By expanding girls’ education, advancing women’s leadership, protecting reproductive rights and addressing unpaid care work, initiatives across Africa, Latin America and beyond show that empowering women strengthens entire communities. When women and girls have equal opportunities, societies become more resilient and the fight against poverty gains momentum.

– Gabriella Luneau

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

Photo: Flickr

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Earthquakes in Afghanistan: The International Response

Earthquakes in AfghanistanThe recent earthquakes in Afghanistan have been deadly, with 2,205 people reported dead, according to the Taliban government. Three earthquakes struck the country over six days. Thousands of homes were destroyed and people were trapped in rubble, with up to 3,640 injured. The latest earthquake on Thursday, Sept. 4, had a magnitude of 5.6 and struck several areas near the Pakistan border. The area most damaged was Kunar, where 6,700 homes were destroyed. The previous earthquakes on Sunday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 2, impacted Afghans in the southeastern region of the country, leaving many displaced from their homes.

Survivors Share Their Stories

A resident in Kunar spoke about the effects of the earthquake on his family. Muhammad Israel said the earthquake buried his home, belongings and livestock. According to The Guardian, he said: “I barely got my children out of there. The earthquake jolts are still happening. It is impossible to live there.” Dr. Sahak, leader of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency office, was at the scene to aid those injured. He arrived at Nurgal District on Monday afternoon and said he was unprepared for the devastation.

Thousands of civilians rushed to help victims and volunteer rescuers came from neighboring countries. Dr. Sahak described the scenes at the site: “We saw bodies in the street. They were waiting for the people to come in to bury them.” One survivor, Muhammed, age 60, told Dr. Sahak about the loss he had experienced. Dr. Sahak said the man had 30 family members living with him and 22 of them had died in the earthquake.

Earthquakes Deepen Poverty Crisis

A 2021 report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that as much as 97% of Afghanistan’s population was at risk of falling below the poverty line, following what it called a “catastrophic deterioration” of the economy. New figures from the UNDP show that, as of 2024, 85% of Afghans live on less than $1 a day. An estimated 22 million Afghans are in a state of food crisis or emergency, according to Islamic Aid. The recent earthquakes have further exacerbated the country’s economic crisis, leaving thousands in eastern Afghanistan without homes or belongings.

The Impacts on Women in Afghanistan

Poverty for women in Afghanistan is extreme, with the Taliban’s restrictions not allowing women to work in most jobs. This has led to an estimated economic loss of between $600 million and $1 billion.  The United Nations (U.N.) has detailed the ongoing mental health crisis for women in Afghanistan due to the loss of rights. In Afghanistan, 8% of women have reported knowing a girl or woman who attempted suicide, with 68% saying they have “very bad” mental health.

U.N. Women believes that women and girls will be among the most affected by the recent earthquakes. After the 2023 earthquake in western Afghanistan, nearly two-thirds of those injured were women and almost six in 10 of those killed were women. Many women, so far, have been deeply affected by the most recent earthquakes in Afghanistan. And with the restrictions on women’s rights in the country, many women affected by these earthquakes in Afghanistan may fall further into poverty after losing their most beloved and belongings, with restrictions prohibiting them from helping provide for their families.

Response from Charities

  • United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The earthquakes in Afghanistan have destroyed entire villages, with thousands losing everything they own. Local UNICEF teams are working together to try to provide life-saving care and support to families, including medicine and clean water. It is also working with communities to build long-term resilience. The organization aims to restore schools and health care systems, as it did in 2023 after the earthquake in western Afghanistan.
  • Islamic Aid. For more than two decades, this charity has been providing civilians in Afghanistan with the help they need. Even in the tough times of these earthquakes in Afghanistan, Islamic Aid continues its efforts to provide relief to those who need it the most. 
  • The Red Cross. For 30 years, the Red Cross has been helping the people in Afghanistan and has provided more than 47 health clinics and set up a 70-bed hospital in Kabul that has trained 2,500 volunteers. The charity named its volunteers the Red Crescent team. Members have travelled by helicopter and on foot to the hardest-hit earthquake sites. Volunteers of this aid team have been conducting search and rescue missions for those not found and are distributing relief aid throughout. While ambulances transport the injured to the overwhelmed Nangarhar Regional Specialist Hospital, volunteers on the ground are trying everything to keep victims alive.
  • The World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is providing people affected by the earthquakes with biscuits and needed supplies. The charity has also set up logistics to help with moving mobile storage tents to support the broader humanitarian response. Its air service is operating flights to transport staff and supplies. 

Looking Ahead

Despite the devastation, international organizations are stepping in to provide lifesaving aid and long-term recovery support for Afghans affected by the earthquakes. From emergency food and medicine to rebuilding schools and health care systems, these efforts highlight how global cooperation can bring hope and resilience to communities facing crisis.

– Alice Haston

Alice is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Youth Opportunities: Digital Literacy Programs in Southeast Asia

Digital Literacy Programs in Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia is at the heart of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies. However, millions of people miss out on these opportunities because they lack digital skills, even as the region’s marketplaces grow and sectors are transformed by technology. This digital divide often leads to economic hardship, limiting the chances of upward mobility. Programs for digital literacy have become an essential response, giving young people the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the modern workforce. By linking youth to employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, these initiatives aim to reduce unemployment and address poverty at its roots.

Growing Digital Economy and Skills Gap

Southeast Asia’s digital economy could reach $360 billion by 2025 and surge toward $1 trillion by 2030. However, most of the region’s workforce still lacks the digital skills needed to participate fully in this transformation. For instance, in Indonesia and Singapore, only 52% of non-tech employees receive digital skills training annually, as compared to 81% of tech employees. As a result, roughly half of non-technical employees do not have access to annual digital training. This gap threatens to widen inequality, as those without digital literacy remain locked out of opportunities created by online platforms, remote work and technology-driven industries. Thus, young adults run the risk of becoming stuck in low-wage, unofficial jobs that perpetuate poverty cycles. 

Impact of Digital Literacy Programs in Southeast Asia

Digital literacy programs in Southeast Asia are proving to be effective engines of opportunity as they equip young people with marketable skills. Initiatives such as “Digital Jobs Philippines” and Singapore’s “SkillsFuture” help thousands of young people get hands-on experience in coding, e-commerce and digital communication. Similarly, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched its “Skill Our Future” program in 2023. It offers free online training in AI, digital literacy and workplace skills to underserved youth in the Philippines and across Asia, specifically to improve employability. In the same year, UNDP and Microsoft announced a joint initiative to equip 2 million underserved youth in Asia with digital and AI skills, further boosting their chances in the labor market. 

Digital Literacy and Inclusivity

The impact of digital literacy programs in Southeast Asia extends beyond individuals. Marginalized youth, especially rural populations and women, often face the greatest challenges when it comes to digital participation. U.N. Women highlights that in several Asia-Pacific low and middle-income countries, women are 20% less likely to own smartphones or access the internet compared to men, emphasizing the critical need for training that is inclusive by design.

Moreover, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), by 2030, 80% of jobs in Southeast Asia will require basic digital literacy and information and communications technology (ICT) skills. These digital literacy programs aim to close the inequality gaps by reshaping entire communities when designed to be inclusive. When marginalized youth gain digital skills, they secure better employment opportunities and also uplift their families and communities. Bridging these divides strengthens social cohesion and ensures that economic growth does not exclude anyone. These measures directly advance the fight against poverty as minoritized groups obtain opportunities to acquire skills that are greatly in demand, hence helping them access a plethora of opportunities. 

Long-Term Gains for Economies and Communities

Digital literacy does more than prepare individuals for immediate job opportunities. It also strengthens national economies. The Asian Development Bank expects improved digital skills to add $1 trillion to Asia’s GDP by 2030. A workforce with strong digital skills draws in investment, encourages innovation and increases resilience to shocks to the economy. This ensures that Southeast Asian economies remain competitive in the global marketplace. This long-term growth translates into poverty reduction on a national scale, as higher employment rates generate tax revenue that governments can reinvest in social programs, infrastructure and education. 

Looking Ahead

Digital literacy provides a pathway to opportunity by equipping Southeast Asia’s youth with highly demanded skills. In addition to empowering young entrepreneurs and ensuring that disadvantaged groups are not left behind, programs that offer these skills open avenues to employment. As governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector expand their investment in digital education, they are laying the groundwork for inclusive growth and long-term poverty reduction.

– Anagha Rajithkumar

Anagha is based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Understanding Poverty Among the Orang Asli in Malaysia

Orang Asli in MalaysiaOrang Asli is the collective name for the various Indigenous communities in Peninsular Malaysia. Orang Asli is translated as the “original people” in Malay and is used to describe the estimated 18 ethnic groups in Malaysia. The Orang Asli communities have various traditional lifestyles, including hunting and gathering, hill rice cultivation, along with semi-nomadic groups known as the Negritos and coastal fishing communities such as the Orang Seletar and Mah Meri.

Most Orang Asli communities practice subsistence farming with surplus crops sold to neighboring villages to supplement income. Most of these communities depend on the local environment for their lifestyle; local rivers are used for drinking water, agriculture, washing and transport to other communities or urban areas.

The Orang Asli make up 13.8% of Malaysia’s population. Yet, 80% live below the global poverty line. Additionally, the infant mortality rate for the Orang Asli is 51.7% compared to the national Malaysian average of 8.9%, due to inadequate access to health infrastructure.

Land Rights and Environmental Pressures

Orang Asli live on land designated by the Aborigines Act of 1954, which was created under British colonial rule. This act deems that the Malaysian government owns all land. The Orang Alsi are established as “tenants at will” and only given minimal financial compensation for encroachment. Land encroachment forces the Orang Alsi to leave their traditional lifestyle and settle in urban areas.

Government initiatives since the ’60s have focused on integrating the Orang Asli into urban society. Schemes include the introduction of cash crop agriculture and actively discouraging the hunter/gatherer lifestyle that the Orang Asli use. The Orang Asli have a sustainable lifestyle and only take what they need from the surrounding forest, keeping an equilibrium in the areas entrusted to the Orang Asli communities.

This contrasts with harsh economic development practices that have relied on rapid deforestation for monetary gain, causing mudslides, floods and soil erosion. Deforestation to make room for oil palm plantations greatly contributes to the increased poverty levels among the Orang Asli. Palm oil provides 2.5% of Malaysia’s GDP in 2021, with government officials using financial incentives to buy off Orang Asli headmen.

Land inhabited by the Orang Asli is targeted because they lack the means to advocate for themselves. Malaysia’s economic improvement strategies include hydroelectric dams to meet its expectations for renewable energy by 2050. However, it is disrupting the Orang Asli rivers, which hold spiritually significant areas of importance.

Without access to forested regions, the Orang Alsi have their rights to food, clean water and access to health and education infrastructure jeopardized.

Education and Social Marginalization

Many Orang Asli who withdrew from school expressed concerns about the lack of transport, support, and resources to access government-built schools. However, education is a key component of poverty alleviation; without it, many remain unable to improve their living conditions.

The Orang Asli also face cultural marginalization. Their lifestyle is often viewed as primitive by the wider Malaysian government. Deforestation hinders their cultural identity and unique livelihoods and places their entire way of life at risk.

Strategies To Help the Orang Asli Communities in Malaysia

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Pusat KOMAS in Malaysia raise advocacy for human rights issues surrounding the Orang Asli. It particularly focuses on racial discrimination that the Orang Asli face in wider society. Humanitarian Affairs Asia assembles volunteers to redevelop primary schools for Orang Asli communities, ensuring they are easily accessible.

Furthermore, the Malaysian government launched the Shared Prosperity Vision as a blueprint for 2030. It addresses various social and economic problems affecting the Orang Asli, including welfare assistance, legal protections and reducing inequality within their communities. Financial contributions of $19 million have been allocated to JAKOA (Department of Indigenous People Development) to improve socioeconomic status, such as upgrading existing health facilities.

The Jahai Jeli school scheme is an innovative strategy that targets community inclusion. It uses a culturally receptive school curriculum to foster a collaborative relationship between the school and the wider community. The scheme was a trial project between 2018 and 2020. It showed promising results, including increased Orang Asli involvement at national decision-making levels.

The importance of the Orang Asli maintaining cultural agency, such as preserving their language, religious beliefs and environmental ownership, should coexist within poverty reduction frameworks.

– Liberty Whitford Webb

Liberty is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Community Identity in Guyana

Community identity in GuyanaFrom the smell of curried goat at Georgetown’s Stabroek Market to the crash of the Kaieteur Falls in the Amazon, the developing country of Guyana in South America exudes diversity. This principle can also be applied to the increasing notion of community identity in Guyana, which aims to unite a land thriving with multiculturalism.

In 2019, 48.4% of the Guyana population lived below the poverty line of $5.50 per day. However, this worrying statistic provoked positive change in a nation striving to place its citizens at the heart of recent economic revival.

Grassroots Strategies for National Growth

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has led political efforts to tackle disparities in living conditions and employment opportunities for Guyanese. He has recently sought to adopt a strategy centered on a campaign that involves “meeting residents at the grassroots level” rather than relying on the ever-fluctuating international market. As a result, self-dependency is tied to a strengthened facet of community identity in Guyana.

Outlined in the 2017 National Development Strategy, the government voiced strong concern over a de-skilled workforce caused by regional disparities within the country. The goals of recent legislation can be explained through a two-pronged approach:

  • Community-based initiatives that have specific regional interests at heart.
  • Nationwide approaches that seek to place all Guyanese at the forefront of national socioeconomic development.

Political Investment into Individual Communities

Community identity in Guyana has been central to developments revolving around a poverty reduction strategy under Ali’s administration. Regional strategies that target community initiatives have aimed to address problems unique to those living within the region. For example, the president visited residents living in Baracara village to emphasize agricultural production in the rural community.

Face-to-face contact between political representatives and their respective electorates ensures that policy-making adapts to the specific circumstances. The president visited communities in Georgetown to address urban issues such as unemployment. As a result of these discussions, more than 30 young people secured jobs, showing how domestic political engagement has directly improved the lives of Guyanese.

The Greater Guyana Initiative: Nonprofit Regional Partnerships

Alongside political efforts to strengthen community identity in Guyana, nonprofit organizations continue to run region-based programs. The Greater Guyana Initiative has supported communities nationwide with projects prioritizing local interests. In Potaro-Siparuni, Essequibo, the 2024 Hinterland Poultry “Egg Sandwich” Project Phase II has focused on egg production.

The organization has improved workplace machinery and equipment for workers in the region. As a result, the province has achieved at least a 75% hatchability rate, boosting both profit margins and workers’ salaries. The age of these workers is also an important consideration.

The Greater Guyana Initiative has taken active measures to provide opportunities for young people to remain in education. With child labor statistics in the Upper-Demerara Berbice region reaching 27.8%, nearly 10% above the national average, entrepreneurial programs have been offered as alternatives to full-time labor. These programs equip young adults with a skillset that encompasses both practical and analytical learning skills.

From 2024 to 2025, agriculture- and innovation-based initiatives were deployed across Guyana to boost youth employment in the industry. This pathway toward a promising career offers students an alternative to child labor, allowing them to apply skills gained from higher education. These carefully tailored initiatives highlight how organizations have sought to strengthen the domestic economy by improving the equipment and resources available to Guyanese.

At the same time, the targeted workers’ age reflects a moral commitment to reducing child labor in Potaro-Siparuni and Upper-Demerara Berbice. In essence, government and nonprofit organizations have recognized the potential of prioritizing domestic over international production.

Final Remarks

Locally based initiatives have carried national implications. A strengthened community identity in Guyana has brought greater focus to domestic output. As an alternative to international reliance, self-sufficiency has fostered a stronger national identity. With self-sufficiency comes greater community engagement with politicians, negotiations for better working conditions and improved salaries. Returning to the 2017 National Development Strategy, the long-term goal of repatriating the sizable Guyanese diaspora now appears increasingly attainable.

– Ash Fowkes-Gajan

Ash is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Whooping Cough Outbreak In South Korea: Vaccination Efforts

Whooping Cough Outbreak In South KoreaIn 2024, the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported a 54.5% rise in non-COVID-19 infectious diseases in South Korea, driven by an increase in respiratory illnesses among children. Pertussis, colloquially known as whooping cough, was the most significant contributor, increasing from 293 cases in 2023 to 48,048 cases in 2024. Between January and April 2025, reported cases increased by 770% compared to the same period the previous year. Despite the country’s 90% vaccination rate among children, a rate that exceeds that of most countries, the acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine’s failure to provide long-lasting immunity continues to underscore the effectiveness of vaccination efforts.

Whooping Cough Outbreak In South Korea

Pertussis, or the whooping cough, is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. This infectious disease begins with cold-like symptoms that can develop into more severe symptoms such as a prolonged, uncontrolled cough and vomiting. The cough can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months, earning it the nickname “the 100-day cough.”

The KDCA warns that one individual could infect up to 70 others, due to its highly transmissible nature via respiratory droplets. The DTaP vaccine is included in South Korea’s National Immunization Program (NIP), currently scheduled at 2, 4 and 6 months; between 15 and 18 months; between 4 and 6 years; for children aged 11-12; and for all pregnant women, as of 2015. However, immunization efforts have not been able to slow the outbreak, as immunity wanes after two to four years with the current DTaP vaccine.

The 2023 whooping cough outbreak in South Korea began in Gyeongsang Province, primarily linked to transmission in kindergartens, elementary schools and high schools.

Screening and Vaccination Efforts

The KDCA implemented a nationwide screening program for individuals with persistent coughs. In 2024, cases began to surge in four additional regional hotspots. By November 2024, Korea reported its first pertussis-related death since 2011, involving an infant under two months old. In 2025, children and adolescents aged 5–19 accounted for 70% of cases, as pediatric clinics across the country struggled to cope with an overwhelming number of patients. The KDCA currently encourages boosters for children aged 11-12 and all adult/elderly guardians; however, uptake has been low, as the measure has not been fully implemented in the NIP, with only 83% of 11-12 children and less than 2% of adults receiving the booster shot in 2024.

South Korea Rebuilds Health Care System

The whooping cough outbreak comes at a time when the South Korean health care system is under stress from the pandemic, an aging population and the recent medical student strike, which has worsened the current understaffed pediatric and emergency care fields. In February 2024, 10,000 medical students and residents stopped attending classes or submitted resignations to hospitals in protest of the previous administration’s plan to increase medical school admissions from 2,000 to 5,000 as of 2025.

The previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration ordered all medical personnel to resume their duties and medical students to return to classes, threatening penalties for non-compliance. At the time, 8,305 students faced academic consequences and medical staff who continued to strike faced license revocation on the basis of negligence. The 18-month standoff led to procedure postponements and patient backlogs, prompting a mass deployment of military doctors and nurses across the region to fill vacancies.

The drastic increase in admissions, aimed at addressing South Korea’s low doctor-to-patient ratio, was deemed insufficient by the medical students and staff, as it could not address the shortage of doctors in less lucrative fields, such as emergency medicine and pediatrics, or the number of overworked and underpaid doctors across the nation. They further argued that this drastic increase in cohorts would affect the level of schooling received, due to a lack of personnel to teach the additional students. 

End of Strike Action

The end of the strike, as of July 2025, occurred under the new Lee Jae Myung administration, where he promised that students and residents could return to school without penalties and re-establish the number of student admissions to its annual target of 3,000 for Fall 2025. On Sept. 4, 2025, the new administration passed the Special Act on Essential and Regional Health Care and the Regional Doctor Training Act, which aim to reform the current health care system. Under the Regional Doctor Training Act, the government would fully cover the tuition of newly admitted medical students, with the promise of employment in a public health institution post-licensure for a specified period.

South Korea Expands Immunization Efforts

In 2020, South Korea joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), aiming to accelerate the development of vaccines for infectious diseases to prevent a pandemic situation. In 2017, CEPI launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in response to the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak. Its major contributors include more than 30 national governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the European Commission and private sector partners. CEPI 2.0, part of the 2022-2026 plan, features the 100 Days Mission to develop vaccines against the next Disease X threat within 100 days.

In 2020, the KDCA and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) joined CEPI’s Centralized Laboratory Network, which entails the collaboration with 20 labs worldwide to evaluate vaccine candidates under uniform protocols. IVI is a U.N.-founded nonprofit, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, that focuses on developing and delivering vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, with an emphasis on research, training and global collaboration. Since collaborations began, CEPI has allocated roughly $350 million to South Korean institutions, with the government contributing $51 million, strengthening research, international cooperation and South Korea’s infectious disease response systems.

Looking Ahead

The whooping cough outbreak in South Korea highlights the ongoing challenges this and other infectious diseases present, but recent reforms and expanded vaccine research signal progress. The implementation of strengthened health care policies and global collaborations points toward hope for a more resilient country where populations get more protection from outbreaks.

– Elsa van Blokland

Elsa is based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr