Archive for category: Poverty Reduction

Information and stories about poverty reduction.

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Policies That Lifted Millions Out of Poverty Around the World

Policies That Lifted Millions Out of PovertyGlobal poverty has declined in recent decades and much of this progress stems from policies that have helped lift millions out of poverty. Governments and organizations did not rely on chance; they implemented targeted strategies that improved incomes, expanded opportunities and strengthened social protection. Here is an overview of several policies that have helped lift millions out of poverty, highlighting real-world examples and why they worked.

Conditional Cash Transfers: Direct Support That Works

One of the most effective policies that lifted millions out of poverty is conditional cash transfers. These programs provide money to low-income families while encouraging education and health care. 

In Brazil, the Bolsa Família program helped alleviate extreme poverty and improve school attendance. Low-income families with children receive payments in return for sending their children to school and ensuring regular health care checkups. According to the World Bank, the program has contributed significantly to Brazil’s declining poverty and inequality.

Mexico also implemented a similar program, Prospera, which has shown long-term improvements in education and health outcomes. These programs succeed because they address immediate needs while investing in future generations. 

Investments in Rural Development and Agriculture

Many impactful policies that have lifted people out of poverty have focused on the rural populations, where poverty is often concentrated. In Vietnam, rural development and agricultural reform played a central role in poverty reduction. This began in the ’80s with the Đổi Mới reforms. 

The government moved away from collective farming toward a market-oriented system that gave households control over land and production. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) these reforms have helped reduce poverty from 58% in 1993 to 16% by 2006, largely driven by improvements in rural livelihoods and agricultural productivity. These reforms worked because they empowered individuals, improved market access and encouraged economic participation. 

Expanding Access to Education

Education plays a vital role in policies that have lifted millions out of poverty, particularly when governments prioritize girls’ education. Bangladesh made major progress by increasing female school enrollment and supporting women’s employment in industries like textiles. Programs that provided stipends for girls to attend school helped delay early marriage and improve long-term earning potential. 

According to UNICEF, Bangladesh achieved near gender parity in primary and secondary education. Educated women contribute more to the workforce, support healthier families and help break cycles of poverty. 

Universal Health Care and Social Protection Systems

Strong social protection systems represent another group of policies that lifted millions out of poverty. These systems reduce financial shocks and improve overall well-being. In Rwanda, the government introduced community-based health insurance, expanding access to medical care. 

Citizens gained affordable health care, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and preventing families from falling deeper into poverty. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights Rwanda as a model for expanding health care coverage in low-income countries. Health care access supports productivity and stability, both of which drive poverty reduction. 

Economic Growth Paired With Inclusive Policies

Economic growth alone does not reduce poverty; governments must pair growth with inclusive strategies. China provides a clear example of this combination. 

China experienced rapid economic growth while implementing targeted poverty alleviation programs in rural areas. These programs included infrastructure development, relocation initiatives and job creation. The World Bank estimates that China has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty since 1980, largely through these initiatives.

China’s approach shows that growth must reach marginalized communities to create a lasting impact. 

Why These Policies Matter Today

These examples of policies that have lifted millions out of poverty reveal common traits: 

  • Governments targeted the most vulnerable populations
  • Leaders invested in long-term human development
  • Programs combined immediate relief with structural change
  • Organizations like The Borgen Project advocate for similar approaches because they produce measurable results. 

Global poverty remains a challenge, but these successes prove that effective policies can drive meaningful change. When countries adopt and adapt these strategies, they move closer to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ending poverty worldwide. 

– Leah Denning

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

Photo: Pixabay

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Poverty Reduction Efforts Across Africa

Poverty Reduction Efforts Across Africa

From East Africa, home to Kenya, to the western coast of Sierra Leone, the continent is home to diverse populations that have both experienced and influenced much of modern history. Africa features climates ranging from tropical beaches to vast desert regions. Despite decades of systemic and economic challenges, countries across Africa have made significant progress in reducing poverty through foreign aid and locally driven social programs.

Kenya’s Clean Start Africa

International collaboration remains important in the mission to reduce poverty across Africa. Local social programs have also become central to this effort. For example, Kenya is advancing local social initiatives through Clean Start Africa, an organization that empowers women and girls through rehabilitation and reintegration.

Clean Start Africa was founded in Kenya with a mission to support women and girls affected by the criminal justice system, particularly those from vulnerable communities. The organization works to reintegrate participants into society through a three-pillar model.

The first pillar, dignified rehabilitation, prepares women for release by emphasizing healing and leadership development. The second pillar, re-entry pathways, supports formerly incarcerated women through peer mentorship, networking opportunities, business training and much more. The final pillar focuses on systemic change by speaking against laws, policies and social conditions that contribute to women’s vulnerability. 

International Support Through WPHF 

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) supports local projects across Africa and women-led initiatives focused on peacebuilding and gender equality. International programs such as WPHF have contributed significantly to poverty reduction efforts across Africa by investing in and strengthening women’s leadership. Funding allocated through WPHF enhances women’s participation and leadership across the continent. 

In Nigeria, WPHF supports projects that work to reduce violence against women and promote human rights and gender equality. WPHF has partnered with several organizations, including Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration, Grassroots Researchers Association, Green Concern for Development and Muslim Sisters Organization. These partnerships further the WPHF’s agenda, which focuses on women’s safety and gender equality in leadership roles.

Outside Nigeria, WPHF has also supported displaced women in Yemen, contributed to Uganda’s fight against sexual and gender-based violence and aided women in Mali in their efforts to participate in peacebuilding and economic recovery. The program highlights the importance of worldwide investment in women’s empowerment and underscores that when women are given the tools and freedom to succeed, it benefits national economies as a whole.

Expanding Women’s Economic Leadership

Other international partnerships share the same focus on helping women across Africa gain economic stability. Similar to WPHF, the U.S. Department of State established the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) in 2010. AWEP operates in 44 countries across Africa through local chapters that serve as business and networking centers. The program was expanded in 2022 under the Joe Biden administration.

The U.S. Department of State created AWEP to provide African businesswomen with the tools, resources and opportunities needed to grow sustainable businesses. AWEP also encourages women to become community leaders and participate in international trade, helping create more economic opportunities across Africa.

Combined Impact

Poverty reduction efforts across Africa highlight the value and dedication of local social programs and international partnerships. Programs like Clean Start Africa, along with the WPHF and AWEP, demonstrate how important support and civic involvement can be in strengthening communities. As more countries globally adapt, more opportunities for women will continue to reflect that women’s empowerment is tied to poverty reduction efforts. Both are attainable through foreign aid and global partnership and will create lasting growth and social progress. 

– Rayonna M Sander

Rayonna is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Widening Access To Higher Education in Uganda

Higher Education in UgandaAccess to higher education in Uganda sits at the heart of one of the country’s most urgent development questions: how to turn a large youth population into a skilled, employed workforce. Uganda’s adolescents and youth aged 15 to 30 already account for about 31% of the population, roughly 14 million people, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Yet, only about 8% of adults continue education after high school, and 69% of those who stop point to cost as the main barrier, the World Bank reports. New financing schemes and bridging programs are now slowly widening that pathway.

The Weight of Poverty

Poverty shapes daily life for a large share of Uganda’s population. The World Bank estimates that about 51.5% of Ugandans lived below the international poverty line of $2.15 a day in fiscal year 2024–25, down modestly from 52.9% the year before. Agriculture accounts for 24% of GDP and employs roughly 72% of the labor force, with most workers relying on smallholder subsistence farming. The majority of jobs remain informal, low-productivity and vulnerable to climate shocks such as drought and floods, leaving household incomes unstable across much of the country.

Uganda’s national poverty rate, measured against the country’s own poverty line, stood at 20.3% according to the Uganda National Household Survey 2019/20, the latest available household survey. For families in this bracket, university fees, accommodation and the loss of a working-age child’s contribution to household income can make higher education feel out of reach before an application is ever made.

A Narrow Path After Secondary School

The path into a Ugandan university remains narrow. The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) estimates the tertiary gross enrollment ratio at 5.3%, far below the Sub-Saharan African average of 9.4% and the global average near 38%. Most secondary leavers do not transition to tertiary study at all, and among the small group that does, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs dominate the funded pathways. That leaves humanities students and learners from low-income or rural backgrounds with fewer financing options.

The cost of tuition, living expenses and transport often pushes higher education out of reach for households already balancing food, health care and basic schooling for younger children. NCHE Executive Director Prof. Mary Okwakol has described access for rural and economically disadvantaged students as the sector’s biggest challenge.

Government Loans Closing Some of the Gap

One direct response to the affordability gap in higher education in Uganda comes from the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB), which Parliament created under the Higher Education Students Financing Act of 2014 and amended in 2024. The scheme provides loans and scholarships to Ugandan students admitted to accredited institutions who demonstrate financial need. Most loans cover Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs alongside a small set of humanities courses, and persons with disabilities can apply across both streams.

For the 2025/26 academic year, the Ministry of Education and Sports approved 2,047 of 7,125 applicants, according to a statement Minister of State for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo delivered to Parliament on October 29, 2025. Beneficiaries include 1,196 male and 861 female students, plus 45 students with disabilities, up from 29 the previous year. The allocation formula reserves 60% of slots through a district quota and weighs the remaining 40% on socio-economic vulnerability, an attempt to spread access beyond urban centers. Parliament has since urged the Ministry to expand funding and strengthen rural outreach, citing persistent regional imbalance.

Higher Education Access Programme in Uganda

A second active solution targets students who miss direct university entry by a narrow margin. The Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC), a one-year accredited bridging program, sits inside the Higher Education Access Programme (HEAP), a partnership between FAWE Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation. Sixty-five universities and 20 other degree-awarding institutions hold licenses to deliver HEAC, offering 89 accredited programs nationwide.

On May 9, 2026, NCHE confirmed that more than 7,000 students have enrolled in HEAC, 44% of them female. Phase II of HEAP, launched in April 2024 and running through 2034, targets 2,000 learners across 65 districts. The program reserves 80% of bursaries for young women and sets aside explicit places for refugees and persons with disabilities. FAWE Uganda awarded 700 bursaries across universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions in the academic year 2025/26 alone.

Early outcomes look promising. NCHE reports that HEAC graduates perform as well as, and sometimes better than, direct-entry students, and they show high employability within their first year of completion. International interest follows. A delegation from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education visited Uganda from May 4, 2026, to May 9, 2026, to study the HEAC model for possible adoption.

Looking Ahead

Cost remains the dominant barrier to higher education in Uganda, and demand for both loans and bursaries far outstrips the supply of available slots. Even so, the combination of a national student loan scheme, an accredited bridging certificate and targeted scholarships shows that inclusive financing can move the needle. When degrees and diplomas reach students from low-income, rural, refugee and disability backgrounds and lead to formal work, higher education becomes less a privilege and more a route out of household poverty.

– Amna Al Harrazi

Amna is based in Dubai, UAE and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Statistics and Support: Elderly Poverty in Sao Tome and Principe

Elderly Poverty in Sao Tome and PrincipeElderly poverty in Sao Tome and Principe is an ongoing issue. Sao Tome and Principe is an island nation off the coast of West Central Africa and the second smallest country in Africa. Uninhabited until the arrival of the Portuguese in 1470, it became a colony of plantations dependent on the labor of enslaved Africans who eventually protested and sought independence. Through organized resistance, the Republic finally gained its independence in 1975 and is now considered by the World Bank a model for the democratic transition of power in Central Africa.

Since its establishment, Sao Tome and Principe’s economy has relied on food and fuel imports and produced agricultural exports. Its population is increasing steadily, with a projected population of 245,000 by 2026. However, the country has high income inequality, and in 2024, 16.8% of the population lived on less than $2.15 USD per person daily. For those of working age in Sao Tome and Principe, the job market is not robust and many are leaving the country in search of job opportunities. However, this is not a viable option for the elderly and brings into question the poverty rates among the elderly population of Sao Tome and Principe.

Statistics for Elderly Poverty in Sao Tome and Principe

According to the World Bank, 8.1% of citizens aged 65 or older in Sao Tome and Principe live on the international poverty line of $3 USD per day or less. This is about 7 percentage points lower than the poverty rate among children aged 14 years or less, which stands at 15.1%. The difference may partially reflect Sao Tome and Principe’s relatively large youth population, while adults aged 65 and older make up only about 5% of the population.

As socio-economic vulnerabilities persist, looking at the most vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, is important to protect the growing population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lower income and instability, as well as dependence on family members, can lead to abuse and abandonment if support is unavailable. As a result, attention to statistics around elderly poverty in Sao Tome and Principe is essential as the country’s population continues to increase.

Solutions

Many organizations are working with the elderly population to support those living in poverty and prevent isolation or violence. The Red Cross in Sao Tome and Principe has hosted a welcome center for the elderly since 2005. It hosts around 18 residents and welcomes and supports other elderly visitors. It receives funding from churches, associations and members of the diaspora.

This welcome center not only provides water, meals and washrooms for its visitors and residents, but also becomes a space for the community to develop among the elderly living there. Volunteers not only provide basic needs for the residents but also social connections.

There is also Stitchting Lagalaga, a newer NGO established in 2023. In 2024, its volunteers provided direct aid to more than 45 individuals, children and the elderly. In its policy plan for 2025-2027, a core objective of theirs is to provide wellness visits and social programs for isolated elders without state pensions, alongside monthly aid packages, ensuring their health and dignity.

Looking to the Future

Though the islands may be subject to economic volatility, significant progress has been made in Sao Tome and Principe. Life expectancy is steadily increasing, averaging almost 70 years in 2024. As life expectancy increases, so will the elderly population of Sao Tome and Principe, making improved living conditions a necessity for their well-being. With the support of the World Bank, Sao Tome and Principe continues to improve access to electricity and education for all its residents, as well as strengthen public financial management, road and digital connectivity and the climate resilience of its coastal communities.

– Daphne Komut

Daphne is based in Renton, WA, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Bangladesh’s Family Card: A New Approach to Poverty Reduction

Bangladesh's Family CardBangladesh’s family card program is a new government initiative launched on March 10, 2026, designed to provide direct financial assistance and essential goods to low-income households. Developed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, the program is designed as a digital, database-driven system that identifies and supports vulnerable families through a single platform.

Unlike traditional welfare schemes that often focus on individuals, the government built this program on the principle that families are the core unit of development. This means that assistance is distributed at the household level, reflecting how economic hardship, food insecurity and health challenges are experienced collectively.

A Unified Social Protection System

One of the key features of the family card program is its role in unifying Bangladesh’s social protection system. In the past, welfare support was often delivered through multiple programs across different ministries, leading to duplication, inefficiencies and gaps in coverage. The program addresses this by integrating various forms of assistance, such as cash transfers and subsidized goods, into one system.

This centralized approach allows the government to maintain a single database of beneficiaries, improving coordination and ensuring that support reaches the intended households. The system also uses digital tools, including national ID integration and QR-enabled cards, to verify beneficiaries and track distribution. These features help streamline the delivery process and reduce administrative barriers. 

This makes it easier for families to access support without having to navigate multiple programs. Over time, the government aims to expand this model into a broader “Universal Social ID Card,” which could serve as a foundation for delivering a wide range of public services through a single, integrated platform. 

Who Benefits From the Program?

The family card program is designed to support economically vulnerable households across Bangladesh, particularly those with unstable incomes or limited access to basic resources. These include rural families, day laborers and households affected by rising living costs. Eligibility is determined through a structured selection process that uses a proxy means test (PMT) and door-to-door data collection. 

This approach evaluates factors such as income level, housing conditions and household size to identify those most in need. During the pilot phase, approximately 6,500 families across multiple districts were selected to receive benefits. The government plans to expand the program gradually, with a long-term goal of reaching up to 20 million families nationwide.

This phased rollout allows the program to test its systems and improve implementation while steadily increasing its reach. 

Delivering Direct Support

A defining feature of the family card program is its use of direct digital payments. Each enrolled household receives a monthly transfer, typically between $16.31 and $20.38, delivered through mobile financial services or bank accounts. This method reduces reliance on intermediaries and helps ensure that funds are delivered quickly and securely. 

Beneficiaries are notified digitally and in most cases, funds are deposited directly into their accounts without the need to visit government offices. In addition to financial assistance, the family card also provides access to subsidized essential goods such as rice, oil and lentils. By combining cash transfers with food support, the program helps households manage both income shortages and rising food prices.

The cards themselves feature modern elements such as QR codes and digital identification systems, enabling efficient verification and use across different services.

Potential Impact on Poverty

The family card program has the potential to significantly reduce poverty in Bangladesh by providing regular income support to vulnerable households. Regular cash transfers help families meet basic needs such as food, housing and health care, while also offering greater financial stability. This predictability is particularly important for households with irregular incomes, as it allows them to plan their spending and avoid falling deeper into poverty.

Furthermore, the combination of financial support and subsidized goods addresses both income and consumption challenges. By lowering the cost of essential items and increasing household purchasing power, the program supports household-level economic resilience. As the program expands toward its target of millions of families, it represents a large-scale effort to strengthen Bangladesh’s social safety net and improve living conditions for those most in need.

Looking Ahead

Bangladesh’s family card program reflects a broader shift toward digital governance and integrated social protection. By combining technology, centralized data and direct transfers, the initiative aims to create a more efficient and accessible support system. With plans to expand coverage nationwide and integrate additional services over time, the program could become a cornerstone of the country’s welfare infrastructure. 

Its emphasis on coordination and scalability positions it as a model for how developing countries can modernize social protection systems to better serve vulnerable populations. 

– Annie Hodgkinson

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

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Reduction in Romania

Poverty Reduction in RomaniaWhen talking about Romania, many people still associate the country with its communist past and its significant economic struggle, which lasted for 24 years under the rule of Nicolae Ceausescu. There are different perspectives regarding decades ago and current poverty in Romania. The communist regime fell in 1989, and Romania has changed considerably since. According to the World Bank Group, poverty reduction in Romania reached 6.9% in 2024. 

Minimum Wage in Romania and Most Affected Regions

As an European country since 2007, Romania is doing better than it did decades ago. Yet, the minimum wage of 795 euros per month may lead some to question the extent of its economic growth. This positions Romania at 43rd place among the 124 countries that have the lowest minimum wage, out of the 195 countries in the world.

Rural regions in Romania are the most affected, with rates three times higher than those in urban areas, where children never attend school, or they are forced to drop out of school at an early age so they can work various jobs in agriculture or construction, helping their family to stay afloat. People living in these poor rural regions endure hunger, malnutrition, limited access to health care and often live in homes without running water, sanitation or electricity. 

Projects Designed To Reduce Poverty in Romania

Given all of the above, there is hope on the horizon with promising news ahead. After decades of economic struggles, new developments and projects may signal a meaningful shift towards inclusion and opportunity, contributing to poverty reduction in Romania.

As a global development organization, The World Bank Group seeks to lower poverty levels below 3% of the global population by 2030 and Romania is one of the countries that benefits from its generosity. Elisabetta Capannelli, World Bank Country Manager for Romania, declares that the organization goal is “to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of the population.” The World Bank has contributed in Romania over the past two decades addressing policy and institutional constraints on poverty reduction. By promoting social inclusion and economic growth, this approach offers promise that vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas, will see real improvements.

In February 2016, the Government passed a comprehensive anti-poverty package of 47 measures to combat poverty in the country through 2020. Several key measures, including boosting employment and reducing early school leaving rates, are expected to play a crucial role in narrowing the urban-rural poverty gap.

Empowering Citizens

Another hopeful project comes from Real News for Romania’s Media Desert Regions, where “the funding helped the media to reach Romania’s three poorest regions (Moldova Southern Muntenia and Oltenia) to inform and raise awareness about corruption, misuse of public and EU funds.” This project demonstrates that addressing poverty is not just about money or jobs, but also involves informing and empowering citizens to hold authorities accountable. By reaching Romania’s three poorest regions, the project is helping people understand how public and EU funds are being used. The project used social media, guided by experts, to reach more people and set up a weekly newsletter. After doing so, those involved in the project now hope that audiences are more informed, more aware of their rights, and more engaged in improving public services for their communities.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, these initiatives and others yet to come, could bring lasting change by helping more families rise above poverty and improve their quality of life, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction in Romania.

Future generations of rural children may have access to education instead of working from a young age, and while challenges remain, both existing and new projects offer hope for poverty reduction.

– Elena Ghimis

Elena is based in Bournemouth, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Legal Reforms in Nigeria’s Financial Sector

Legal reforms in Nigeria's financial sectorNigeria’s economy has faced persistent challenges in reducing poverty, in part because weak legal and financial systems have hindered growth, financial inclusion and investor confidence. In recent years, however, legal reforms in the financial sector and supportive fiscal policy frameworks have helped strengthen Nigeria’s economic stability. These reforms have also expanded access to financial services for individuals and small businesses, a vital step in the fight against poverty.

Modernizing Financial Law

One of the most significant legal reforms in Nigeria’s financial sector is the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020. It replaced a 1991 law that had become outdated amid technological advancements and the rapid growth of non-bank financial players. BOFIA 2020 modernizes the legal framework governing banks and other financial institutions. 

The Act clarified regulatory functions, expanding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory reach and introducing stronger enforcement and credit recovery mechanisms. Experts note that the updated law also explicitly brings fintech companies within the CBN’s regulatory purview, requiring them to be licensed and regulated by the CBN. This reduces legal uncertainty and supports stable, legal expansion of digital financial services.

Financial Inclusion Gains Through Legal Frameworks

Legal backing for financial sector reform has coincided with measurable progress in financial inclusion, a key indicator of poverty reduction. The CBN’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy and related regulatory frameworks aim to expand access to formal financial services for all citizens. These efforts target financial exclusion, which once affected more than half of the adult population.

Progress on this front helps households save securely, access credit, make digital payments and protect assets. Improving access to finance is especially critical in a country where access to formal financial services was historically low. Nigeria’s strategy supports agent banking, mobile and digital financial services and initiatives targeting rural and underserved communities. All these are backed by legal and institutional reforms that make financial services safer and more predictable for consumers.

Strengthening Governance and Transparency

Nigeria’s broader legal reform agenda includes efforts to improve fiscal transparency and accountability at the state level through programs such as the World Bank-supported Fiscal Governance Reform and the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program (SFTAS). This initiative uses legal and policy frameworks to improve public financial management across states, strengthening domestic revenue mobilization and sustainable financing for public services.

Fiscal transparency and accountable governance reduce leakage, corruption and inefficiencies. These problems disproportionately affect low-income households and limit funds for education, health and economic support programs that help lift people out of poverty.

Capitalization and Risk Management

Legal reforms have also supported initiatives such as bank recapitalization exercises, spearheaded by the CBN, to strengthen the stability and resilience of financial institutions. Higher capital requirements improve risk management capacities and reduce systemic vulnerabilities, fostering a safer environment for depositors and stakeholders alike. These moves help reduce the risk of bank failures, which can erode public confidence and destabilize local economies.

Reducing exclusion and strengthening the legal framework helps tackle financial instability. This, in turn, encourages domestic and foreign investment, a potential driver of economic growth and job creation in a country where millions still face multidimensional poverty.

Challenges and Continued Reform Needs

Despite improvements, substantial challenges remain. According to the World Bank’s latest development analysis, a majority of Nigerians continue to live in poverty even after macroeconomic reforms and legal changes, as household purchasing power remains weak and inequality persists. This highlights that legal reform is necessary but not sufficient in itself. 

Effective enforcement, expanded digital inclusion and complementary social protections remain essential to ensure that financial sector progress translates into meaningful poverty-reduction outcomes for the most vulnerable.

Conclusion

Legal reforms in Nigeria’s financial sector have modernized regulation, expanded financial inclusion strategies and strengthened fiscal governance. Indeed, from BOFIA 2020 to broader governance reforms, these changes highlight the rule of law’s role in economic stability and anti-poverty efforts. By improving the predictability and transparency of financial systems, these reforms help unlock access to services, encourage investment and create a more inclusive economic environment.

Sustained focus on implementation and enforcement is essential. Targeted programs that expand access to finance for women, rural residents and microenterprises will help ensure Nigeria’s legal reforms deliver broad improvements in living standards and long-term poverty reduction.

– Sean Leung

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

Photo: Flickr

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From Opium to Opportunity: Reducing Poverty in Northern Thailand

Poverty in Northern ThailandDuring the 20th century, the Golden Triangle, the region where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, became infamous for its opium production. Northern Thailand’s farmers relied heavily on the opium poppy as the foundation of their livelihoods. Unfortunately, this dependence on opium also entrenched poverty in these rural communities.

To address this, the Thai government has worked to reduce poverty in the region and promote alternative livelihoods through agriculture, coffee cultivation and tourism. The Royal Project Foundation, launched as the Royal Hill Tribe Assistance Project in 1969, has fundamentally transformed the way of life for the hill tribes and villages. Today, visitors can explore villages in provinces such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to see how indigenous communities and migrant ethnic groups have embraced the government’s initiative. 

Poverty in Northern Thailand 

In recent years, Thailand has made notable progress in reducing poverty. Measured against the $8.30-per-day upper middle-income poverty line, the country’s poverty rate was 9.9% in 2023. However, high income inequality and regional disparities remain persistent challenges.

Poverty disproportionately affects agricultural communities due to the country’s reliance on farming jobs. According to the World Bank’s “Rural Income Diagnostic,” 79% of Thailand’s impoverished population lives in rural areas. Northern Thailand, in particular, continues to face heightened poverty levels; in 2013, the rural poverty rate in the region was around 17.8%, compared to 6.7% in central Thailand. 

Within this context, the region’s hill tribes and villages continue to navigate economic challenges.

The King’s Vision: Peaches and Agriculture

In 1969, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej visited Doi Pui, a mountainous village in Chiang Mai and home to the Hmong tribe. Like many rural communities at the time, the Hmong were heavily involved in growing drug crops and participating in the opium trade, resulting in low incomes and poor living conditions. Recognizing these challenges, the King proposed a new agricultural model focused on fruit trees, specifically peaches. 

This shift aimed to address the legal issues surrounding opium production, reduce local poverty and curb deforestation. “One of the reasons underlying the creation of the project was humanitarianism,” stated the King. The visit to Doi-Pui gave the King a vision he could apply to northern Thailand as a whole. He promptly initiated the Royal Project to help alleviate poverty across the region.

Obstacles and the Royal Project Foundation Today

Nearly 60 years later, the Royal Project Foundation continues to operate across five northern provinces, benefiting as many as 37,561 farming families. Its progress was far from linear, as the project faced significant obstacles in its early years. The first attempts to grow fruit trees failed, requiring collaboration with experts from Taiwan and experiments to adapt to northern Thailand’s unique climate before successful cultivation could be achieved.

As the project has progressed, tourism has become an integral part of the initiative, with visitors coming to see the cultivation of tea, fruit and coffee, as well as reforestation projects. Today, the project has transformed the incomes of its people and has significantly reduced poverty in northern Thailand.

Conclusion

The King’s blueprint for a prosperous countryside in northern Thailand, one where the people could work in tandem with the earth to support themselves, is an exceptional example of vision yielding tangible change. The lives of those who once relied on opium production to survive have been fundamentally transformed by a targeted poverty reduction project centered on sustainable agriculture and economic opportunity. Northern Thailand stands as an exemplary global showcase of what effort and initiative can achieve. 

– Polly Laws

Polly is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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EU Anti-Poverty Strategy: Ending Structural Poverty in Cyprus

Poverty in CyprusRecent progress in reducing poverty in Cyprus reflects a broader shift in social policy across the European Union (EU). The EU is developing its first comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy. The European Commission and the European Parliament support the initiative as a framework to address structural poverty across member states, including Cyprus.

A New European Framework To Tackle Poverty

In 2025–26, the European Commission began drafting the EU’s first Anti-Poverty Strategy. It launched a public consultation to guide the policy. The initiative aims to “provide essential protection to people [who] need it the most and tackle the root causes” of poverty.

The strategy forms part of a wider social investment agenda based on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The EU has set a target to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, including five million children. Cyprus has supported this agenda at the EU level. 

The government has advocated coordinated policies on child poverty, access to services and social inclusion. These priorities align with domestic policies such as free school meals and education support for vulnerable children.

Has the EU Strategy Been Effective?

The EU has not yet finalized the Anti-Poverty Strategy. Implementation will begin after formal adoption. However, recent EU data shows gradual progress in reducing poverty risks. A European Parliament briefing reports that the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion declined slightly from 95.3 million in 2022 to 94.6 million in 2023. 

Despite this progress, poverty still affects about 21% of the EU’s population; children remain especially vulnerable. In 2024, about 24.2% of children in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This trend highlights the need for targeted policies such as the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the European Child Guarantee.

Civil society groups support the strategy’s direction. Many organizations are urging EU institutions to secure strong funding and ensure clear, enforceable implementation. They also call for policies that address housing, education, health care and social exclusion alongside income support.

Advocates stress that poverty policy must tackle structural drivers, not just provide short-term relief. This approach aligns with The Borgen Project’s emphasis on long-term poverty reduction.

Poverty in Cyprus

For Cyprus, the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy provides policy coordination and financial support that strengthen national programs. Cyprus has already reduced child poverty rates, including a decline from 16.7% in 2023 to 14.8% in 2024. The country has also expanded school meal programs and education support initiatives.

These policies align with EU priorities that emphasize early intervention and access to essential services. The European Child Guarantee strengthens this approach by ensuring that children in need have access to health care, education and adequate nutrition. The EU strategy also reframes poverty as a structural challenge rather than only a lack of income. 

It promotes policies that support social protection, quality employment and access to essential services. Cyprus has increasingly adopted this approach through ongoing social policy reforms that prioritize long-term social investment.

Looking Forward

The EU has committed to eradicating poverty by 2050, placing long-term structural reform at the center of its social policy agenda. The strategy’s success will depend on sustained funding, effective implementation and strong coordination among member states. The initiative signals a clear shift in EU policy. 

European institutions are advancing poverty reduction through coordinated strategies that prioritize inclusion, dignity and structural change. Cyprus appears increasingly aligned with this direction as it continues to expand its social investment policies.

– Demetra Mykoniatis

Demetra is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Poverty Through Education in Latin America

Education in Latin AmericaWhen thinking about their childhood, most people remember their first day of school, learning their ABCs and basic math operations. For most, childhood and education go hand in hand as essential steps that help an individual learn, mature and transition into adulthood. However, many children in Latin America lack access to this experience. 

Before COVID-19, roughly 52% of children in Latin America were unable to read and understand simple text. The pandemic has made this situation even worse, with young generations being less educated and lacking the tools necessary to transition into adulthood. However, international organizations are fighting poverty through younger generations by increasing investments in education to create a brighter future for millions of children across Latin America.

Learning Crisis

Over the last two decades, many countries in Latin America have experienced a learning crisis related to their younger generations. This crisis can take different forms across countries, depending on their specific geographic and social characteristics. In Argentina, for example, the most affected children are those living in rural areas, far from cities and their services. 

As a result, many teachers are forced to teach children from multiple grades, ages and abilities in the same classroom, being unable to personalize the learning experience and focus on individual students. In other countries, such as Haiti, the learning crisis is related to the provision of educational opportunities to all members of the population. 

In Haiti specifically, nearly 80% of primary schools are non-public, thus limiting access to education to those who can pay, on average, $130 per year. Many families cannot afford education and other necessities, so they decide not to send their children to school.

What Is Being Done?

To address the education crisis plaguing Latin America, several international organizations have stepped up efforts to expand access to education across the region. In September 2025, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) launched the LAC Future Bank. It is a five-year strategy designed to benefit 50 million children in Latin America through a $5 billion regional investment.

These funds will be used to develop projects that prioritize children and their needs, including education. Although this initiative addresses other issues related to childhood well-being, education is a main area of focus to “break cycles of poverty and inequality.” In Haiti, programs and organizations, such as the International Development Association (IDA) and its partners, have focused primarily on funding for millions of children. 

From 2013 to 2023, IDA and partner organizations provided roughly half a million tuition waivers to children who could not afford to attend school. In other countries, such as El Salvador, projects like the “Growing up and Learning Together: Comprehensive Early Childhood Development Project” are working to create safe, clean schools with essential services for children.

The Impacts

Although it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of these investments in the short term, there have been early signs of improvement. World Bank investments have enabled middle-income countries to reduce their dropout rates and boost learning outcomes. Slowly but surely, improvements in education quality and access in Latin America are key to a more productive, inclusive and sustainable development pattern in the future for many countries across the region.

– Rodrigo Salgado

Rodrigo is based in Boulder, CO, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash