Archive for category: Poverty Reduction

Information and stories about poverty reduction.

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4 Charities Combating Period Poverty in Poland

4 Charities Combatting Period Poverty in Poland Poland has seen a significant rise in living standards in the last 20 years, with GDP per capita doubling since 2005. However, period poverty in Poland remains a significant issue.

Period poverty is when women lack adequate access to the quantity or quality of menstrual hygiene products. Many have criticized health care for women in Poland in recent years, not only for the abortion ban but also for poor levels of gynaecological care, a lack of funding from the national health fund and difficult access to contraception. Women’s health remains a taboo issue within Poland, with 41% of Polish women reporting that menstruation was never discussed in the family home.

The Kulczyk Foundation’s Period Study

In 2020, the Kulczyk Foundation conducted a large-scale survey on young girls and attitudes toward periods within Poland. This revealed shocking levels of menstrual shame and demonstrated high levels of period poverty. The study found that 21% of schoolgirls leave school due to a lack of access to menstrual products and that one-fifth of Polish women struggle to buy appropriate menstrual products. It also revealed that women and girls had misconceptions surrounding periods, with 25% of women thinking it was impossible to get pregnant during their period and 22% believing women should not go to the dentist during menstruation.

4 Charities Combating Period Poverty in Poland

Here are four organizations and charities that are doing the most to combat period poverty in Poland.

  1. The Różowa Skrzyneczka (Pink Box) Foundation. The Pink Box foundation aims to alleviate period poverty in Poland and reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation. This programme directly counteracts menstrual poverty through publicly available boxes containing free pads and tampons. Public spaces such as libraries, parks, transport hubs and schools are used to host these boxes. So far, major cities including Rzeszów, Sopot, Gdańsk and Łódź have implemented them.
  2. Menstruation Action. Menstruation Action aims to combat misconceptions about periods and provide access to period products for schoolgirls. Early efforts by Menstruation Action involve the purchasing and distribution of 1,000 menstrual cups for those most affected by period poverty in Poland, including single mothers, those in refugee centres and orphanages. In September 2020, the “Hey Girls” campaign launched, in which they provided boxes filled with essential sanitary products to schools and organized classes on menstruation for schoolgirls. More recent initiatives include the launch of “Padsharing.” Padsharing is a support network that connects women in need with donors. Through this programme, donors anonymously place and pay for orders according to the women in need’s instructions. Menstruation Action also introduced the “Heyday” initiative in July 2021 to create the first dedicated menstrual dispensers in Poland. The idea behind this project was so that companies and institutions that would like to introduce menstrual products into their toilets can do so despite lacking the resources to do so. They also provide “period help points” across Kraków, containing free sanitary products.
  3. Yestopads.com. Yestopads is a result of the Periodic Coalition, an association of charities, organizations and female experts who want to normalise and destigmatise female menstruation. The coalition consists of more than 40 partners and supporters, aiming to help the nearly 2 million girls aged 9–19 who are either menstruating or about to menstruate. They are currently attempting to introduce the first draft act on menstruation to ensure free access to menstrual products and provide girls with adequate education on menstruation.
  4. Gohealthygirl. Gohealthygirl operates a “pink clinic.” This is a safe space in which women and girls can see a doctor for any gynaecological reason without judgment. Studies performed by this organization have revealed that women experience unpleasant comments about appearance, knowledge and sexual orientation, and many often experience poor treatment from doctors. They also provide free health guides, podcasts and articles online on women’s health to provide women and girls with accessible education about their bodies.

Looking Ahead

Despite period poverty remaining a significant issue for women and girls in Poland, the work of these organizations suggests a positive direction for removing the stigma surrounding menstruation and the reduction of period poverty in Poland.

– Alys Gaze

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

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Elderly Poverty in Guinea-Bissau

Elderly Poverty in Guinea-BissauIn the villages and rural communities of Guinea-Bissau, elderly citizens, who occupy about 3.1% of the population, struggle each day to survive on limited resources, resulting in poverty and neglect overshadowing their years of experience. Guinea-Bissau is a small country located in West Africa with a population of more than two million people. Its economy primarily depends on agriculture, with exports including fish, cotton, cashew nuts and groundnuts. However, deep-rooted challenges such as corruption, war damage, inflation and poverty prevent the nation from meeting the needs and hopes of its people. With more than two-thirds of the population living below the poverty line, the elderly, who make up 3.14% of the population, remain among the most vulnerable. Guinea-Bissau must address elderly poverty and strengthen social support to ensure dignity and well-being for older citizens. Here is more information about elderly poverty in Guinea-Bissau.

Challenges That the Elderly Population Face

Elderly poverty occurs when people of the older generation, typically 65 years and older, experience financial insecurity and limited access to basic resources. This issue creates serious concern in Guinea-Bissau, where economic instability and a weak social support system increase the vulnerability of the aging population.

The pension system in Guinea-Bissau plays a major role in causing elderly poverty in Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau operates two pension schemes: a public one for government employees and a private scheme that the National Social Security Institute (INSS) oversees. However, both systems face serious challenges. Most citizens work in the informal sector and therefore do not receive formal pension benefits. Irregular government funding and financial strain weaken the public scheme, while the private system suffers from administrative inefficiency and weak oversight.

These issues leave many elderly citizens without social protection and steady income, making Guinea Bissau’s case severe compared to other West African countries. Pensions cover only about 2.9% of the workforce in Guinea-Bissau, leaving 97% of working adults without a financial safety net after retirement. Most elderly citizens rely on support from family members or community networks to survive. Those without family assistance often face extreme poverty and food insecurity, and they often lack of access to health care.

Efforts Towards a Brighter Future

Despite these difficulties and challenges, several organizations support the elderly and work to reduce poverty in Guinea-Bissau. Organizations such as Caritas Guinea-Bissau provide health care, food security and community support for vulnerable groups. Since its establishment in 1982, Caritas Guinea-Bissau has built 41 parishes and missions. It leads programs in health, food security, training and emergency response, particularly in rural communities, to benefit people of the older generation.

Community and faith-based initiatives also address elderly poverty and social support in Guinea-Bissau. Ajuda Amiga’s program in Guinea-Bissau manages direct relief programs that distribute food, clothing and medicine to communities in need each year, focusing on elderly citizens who lack pensions or family support.

The Church of the Nazarene in Guinea-Bissau contributes through its mobile clinic initiative, relaunched in 2023. Teams of local and international medical volunteers operate mobile health units that travel to remote areas, offering primary care, vaccinations and health education. Together, these organizations bring humanitarian relief and long-term development by ensuring that elderly citizens receive both care and representation.

Looking Ahead

According to the World Bank, developing Guinea-Bissau’s human capital remains critical to breaking the cycle of poverty and achieving long-term sustainable growth. The country must improve access to health care and rural development while creating a national pension system that protects citizens of the older generation. Promoting public awareness about the value of elder care will help citizens recognize support for older generations as both a social and economic responsibility within the country.

– Emmanuel Fagbemide

Emmanuel is based in Winnipeg, Canada and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Reduction in the Republic of Congo

Poverty Reduction in The Republic of CongoThe Republic of Congo, also referred to as Congo-Brazzaville, is a mineral-rich country in Central Africa. Despite its abundance in valuable natural resources, the country continues to face increasing rates of poverty. Petroleum and gas currently dominate exports in the region, however, the nation struggles to translate its economic gains into extensive social development. Extreme poverty throughout the country, especially in rural areas, has been an ongoing challenge. Fortunately, poverty reduction in the Republic of Congo has been underway.

About Poverty in the Republic of Congo

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 46.5% of the Republic of Congo is living below international poverty lines, equating to $2 a day. In fact, poverty rates in the region have spiked to 52%. The nation’s high poverty rates have continued to threaten civilian health, education and overall wellbeing.

The Republic of Congo faces various constraints when it comes to addressing its global poverty status. Corruption and social inequalities have been ongoing barriers. Due to weak national governance, policies confronting poverty have not been effective and initiatives pertaining to social development programs have not undergone successful execution. Many civilians lack access to quality education, health services, quality food markets and overall job opportunities.

Poverty in the Republic of Congo is multidimensional. Populations in rural Congo are 3% more likely to experience multidimensional poverty, which is slightly higher than those in urban settings. On top of this, when comparing male-headed households with women-headed households, women-headed households are at risk of experiencing 2.5% more multidimensional poverty.

Access to education has also played a significant role in the poverty status of Congolese households. It is reported that households with no secondary school education are more susceptible to multidimensional poverty by approximately 24%, with household size also being a contributing factor.

Additionally, the country’s strong dependence on its oil production can pose an issue depending on international price fluctuations. The country’s high debt has also contributed to how much funds can be distributed to social development programs.

The Congo’s National Development Plan 2022-2026

To help combat poverty in the Republic of Congo, several initiatives have emerged. The Congo’s National Development Plan 2022-2026 (PND) has focused on redirecting the country’s reliance on oil and diversifying its revenue. The plan emphasized national poverty reduction, infrastructure and economic development. To support the implementation of the PND, in June 2025, the World Bank approved the final operation in its Fiscal Management and Inclusive Growth series.

The Telema Program

Telema, meaning “stand up” in Lingala, one of the nation’s local languages, is a national program with initiatives to support poverty reduction in the regions of Brazzaville, Point-Noir and Pool. The program mobilizes micro-entrepreneurs and those vulnerable to poverty to start micro-projects. The government provides participants with grants and skills training. The project launched in 2019 and has proved major recent developments. In 2025, the program received an additional 1,968,000,000 CFA from France to expand to other regions including Oyo, Niari and Lekoumou.

Looking Ahead

Although the Republic of Congo has displayed efforts in stabilizing its economy and expanding social development programs, long-term poverty reduction in the Republic of Congo is dependent on the administration providing realistic opportunities for civilians. Initiatives such as Telema and support from the World Bank give optimism for positive change focusing on inclusion and job opportunities. If effectively implemented, the Republic of Congo could transform its resource wealth into a foundation for a prosperous future.

– Gloria Bwenge

Gloria is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Labor Reforms and Poverty Reduction in Mexico

Poverty Reduction in MexicoSince 2012, Mexico has enacted a series of major labor reforms that have created a sustained reduction in poverty. Subsequent labor reforms between 2018 and 2022 have lifted millions out of poverty. According to a World Bank report that cites figures from the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL), from 2016 to 2022, poverty in Mexico declined from 43.2% to 36.3%. Over the same period, the share of people living in monetary poverty, based on the national poverty line, dropped from 50.8% to 43.5%. Extreme monetary poverty also decreased, falling from 14.9% to 12.1%.

These changes were largely due to labor reforms in Mexico such as raising the minimum wage, ending exploitative outsourcing practices and strengthening labor protections. This shows that strong and sustainable structural labor reforms can reduce poverty and ensure significant improvement in the incomes and social rights of the Mexican people.

Labor Reforms and Poverty Reduction in Mexico

The most significant labor reform in Mexico was raising the minimum wage. According to a paper in the Journal of Development Studies, which explores the effect of minimum wage on poverty levels in Mexico, the first real increase was in 2019. That year, it rose by 16% across the country, except in municipalities near the U.S.–Mexico border, where it jumped by 100%.

Between 2019 and 2022, Mexico substantially increased the national minimum wage by 65% in real terms. According to a recent study by Mexico’s National Minimum Wage Commission, these wage policies directly and indirectly impacted poverty reduction. The researchers found that for every 10% increase in the minimum wage, multidimensional poverty fell by approximately 3.6%. Overall, the study estimates that 4.1 million people—out of a total 5.1 million who exited poverty—did so specifically because of the minimum wage increases, accounting for a 23.7% reduction in national poverty during this period.

Outsourcing Employment

Crucially, the wage hikes boosted labor income without causing significant job losses, reinforcing the policy’s role as a key driver of poverty reduction rather than economic disruption. The second major labor reform was the ban on exploitative outsourcing practices, significantly reducing poverty and strengthening labor rights in Mexico. Enacted in 2021, the ban led to a 73% drop in outsourcing and a surge in direct hiring. Average annual wages rose by 10% in the first year, while the wage gap relative to productivity narrowed by 27%.

Insourced workers saw salaries jump by 87%, social security and benefits rise by 30% and profit sharing grew by 62%, directly improving living standards. Importantly, these gains occurred without reducing employment or output, showing that the reform strengthened worker rights while protecting jobs. Workers who had faced the most exploitation benefited the most, demonstrating the reform’s effectiveness in improving wages and livelihoods across Mexico’s labor force.

Governance and Implementation

The Mexican government enforced the outsourcing ban through a comprehensive regulatory framework. Companies providing specialized services had to register in a public registry, proving compliance with tax and social security obligations, sharing profits with workers and renewing their registration every three years. Enforcement grew stricter: employers and staffing agencies became responsible for payroll taxes and social security for subcontracted workers, inspections were mandatory and firms faced larger penalties for violations.

To close loopholes, the reform aligned multiple existing laws and fostered coordination between government departments. Previously, outsourced workers had to be transferred to direct employment within a three-month, government-monitored period, ensuring compliance and protecting labor rights. These measures ensured compliance with the law and helped sustain the new labor protections. They also led to a significant drop in exploitation and improved working conditions nationwide.

Conclusion

Mexico’s experience shows that structural labor reforms, combined with strong governance and effective implementation, can transform poverty and inequality. The government created a labor market that supports social and economic inclusion by prioritizing worker rights and enforcing compliance. These achievements confirm that ambitious, well-enforced reforms can produce tangible, lasting improvements in the lives of millions, setting an example for other countries seeking to reduce poverty through labor policy.

– Akash Ramaswamy

Akash is based in Ontario, Canada and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Maternal Mortality in the KP Region

Maternal Mortality in the KP RegionConditional cash transfers (CCTs) are a common tool used by governments to alleviate poverty. It involves direct cash transfers to individuals or households to help families manage expenses. In exchange for these grants, there are stipulations of required health check-ups or testing, educational enrollment or other factors that can broadly reduce poverty and improve standards of living.

Based on current evidence, CCTs are most effective in health care-related initiatives, often improving health outcomes and encouraging increased utilization of health care offerings. The studies that provide this evidence also note that despite the clear positive impact, the efficacy of these initiatives remains ill-defined. This is due to disparate health care systems and the quality of services offered between the countries and communities where CCTs have been implemented.

Maternal Mortality in the KP Region

In Pakistan and in South Asia generally, the maternal mortality rate is significantly high. Although there has been a significant drop in the maternal mortality rate of around 60% between 2000 and 2017, the region still accounts for around 20% of maternal deaths worldwide. The 2006-07 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey was the first effort to collect information on maternal mortality in the country.

The survey revealed that during those years, there were 276 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in Pakistan. In 2007-08, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) region, the maternal mortality rate was 275 deaths for every 100,000 live births in the region. These numbers indicated severe deficiencies in the delivery of adequate health care to expectant mothers, which the local governments of Pakistan sought to address.

The Chief Minister’s Special Initiatives

In the KP region of Pakistan, the Chief Minister’s Special Initiatives are a set of poverty alleviation measures created by the local government. These initiatives aim to improve living standards by offering financial incentives to individuals who take advantage of local services focused on education, employment and health outcomes.

For example, grants were provided to female students above grade 5 to encourage them to continue their education. Stipends were also offered to young people enrolled in government-sponsored vocational training programs. These incentives were significant because they represented key examples of CCTs used as a poverty alleviation tool in Pakistan.

In 2014, recognizing the urgent need to address maternal mortality rates and in line with a national push to improve health care for mothers and children, the government of KP launched the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Mother and Child Health. This conditional cash transfer program provides fixed cash stipends to marginalized mothers for attending prenatal checkups, delivering safely and completing postnatal visits.

A 2024 study evaluating the program found a substantial increase in the total number of health-seeking hospital visits, indicating that the intervention successfully achieved its intended behavioral change. Additionally, the cash incentives improved household purchasing power and supported the incomes of vulnerable families. The findings provided strong evidence for expanding the use of other CCT programs in Pakistan.

Maternal Mortality Declines in KP

In the years that followed, the maternal mortality rate declined significantly. The 2019 Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey collected updated national and regional data, showing trends since the 2007 survey. Nationally, maternal deaths fell from 276 to 186 per 100,000 live births.

In the KP region, the figure dropped from 275 to 165, representing a slightly higher percentage reduction than the national average. This suggests that local initiatives and conditions, including the CCT programs, may have contributed to reducing maternal mortality rates.

Final Remarks

The conditional cash transfers program in the KP region has already shown promising results for improving maternal health outcomes and alleviating poverty. It could be a model for the rest of Pakistan to follow and bring down its alarming maternal mortality rates.

– Nikhil N Kumar

Nikhil is based in Lexington, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Progress: The Lives Behind Reduced Poverty in Jamaica

Poverty in jamaicaIn 2023, Jamaica experienced its sharpest reduction in poverty in more than three decades, a milestone that captured both national and international attention. According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the country’s national poverty rate fell from 16.7% in 2022 to 8.2% in 2023, a drop of nearly half and one of the steepest declines since record-keeping began in 1989. This change was driven by a combination of economic recovery, a rebound in tourism, remittances from citizens working abroad and targeted government interventions designed to support the most vulnerable populations.

For many Jamaican families, the data translates into tangible improvements: more reliable income, better access to food and health care and a greater sense of optimism about the future. The country’s ability to maintain economic stability and strengthen social protection systems has kept poverty in Jamaica on a downward slope, securing a more resilient future for all Jamaicans.

Economic Recovery and Structural Drivers

Jamaica’s dramatic reduction in poverty is closely linked to its broader economic recovery following the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism, which contributes nearly 10% of Jamaica’s GDP, saw a strong resurgence in 2023 as international travel reopened. The Jamaica Tourist Board reported that more than 4.1 million visitors arrived that year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and bringing billions of U.S. dollars into the economy. Hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues once again provided thousands of jobs, particularly in urban centers and coastal regions.

Growth in agriculture and construction also contributed to this momentum. According to PIOJ’s Economic and Social Survey Jamaica 2023, agricultural output grew by 3.5%, while construction expanded by 5.9%, both sectors employing large numbers of low- to middle-income workers. Additionally, remittances from Jamaicans abroad reached $3.6 billion in 2023, representing one of the country’s most stable income sources. These inflows cushioned families from inflation and provided a safety net for many households living near the poverty line. Together, these structural drivers supported higher consumption levels and renewed confidence in Jamaica’s economic outlook.

The Human Dimension of Progress

Beyond statistics and reports, Jamaica’s poverty rate has deeply personal consequences. As the Jamaica Observer highlighted in its feature “From Hardship to Hope,” families across the country are beginning to feel a sense of relief. Parents can now purchase school supplies with less financial strain, small farmers are finding better markets for their crops and hospitality workers are enjoying greater job stability.

For example, a St. James hotel employee quoted in the article described how consistent work in 2023 allowed her to “finally save for her children’s education.” These stories reflect how national progress filters into everyday life, giving people a chance to plan for the future rather than focus solely on survival. Such experiences demonstrate why poverty reduction matters, not only as an economic indicator but also as a measure of opportunity and security.

Risks and the Path Forward

Although Jamaica’s poverty reduction is historic, experts caution that the gains are fragile. While global inflation averaged 4.2% in 2025, down from 6.6% in 2023, it still erodes purchasing power for many families. Climate change also threatens agriculture and rural livelihoods as severe droughts and floods become more frequent.

If these challenges are not addressed, there is a risk that poverty rates could rise again. To prevent backsliding, Jamaica must continue strengthening social protection systems such as the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), which supports more than 350,000 beneficiaries, including children and the elderly. The government is also encouraged to diversify the economy beyond tourism by promoting sectors such as renewable energy, technology and creative industries. Reliable and transparent data collection, an issue that has long challenged Caribbean nations, will be essential for monitoring progress and guiding Jamaica’s future strategies.

Looking Ahead

Jamaica’s record-breaking decline in its poverty rate marks an extraordinary achievement that shows what is possible when economic recovery and social policy align. The combination of industry growth and targeted welfare programs has lifted thousands of families above the poverty line, offering a glimpse of a more equitable future.

Still, the uneven nature of progress and the risks that remain highlight that poverty reduction is not a one-time success but an ongoing challenge. 

– Abigail Ariyo

Abigail is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Lush Is Fighting Global Poverty One Soap at a Time

Lush Is Fighting Global PovertyFounded in the United Kingdom in 1995, Lush has become a global cosmetics giant, with more than 800 shops in 50 countries. From its conception, Lush reinvented the beauty scene, leading a “cosmetic revolution” which put ethics at the forefront of its business. From a soap that helps to fund vital services in Gaza to its unwavering advocacy, Lush is a powerful player when it comes to fighting against global poverty.

A Small but Mighty Hand Cream

One of the cornerstone products in Lush’s fight against global poverty has been its Charity Pots, a vanilla and floral-scented hand and body lotion. This product was created to raise money for grassroots groups, campaigns and nonprofits doing humanitarian groundwork protecting human rights and ensuring environmental justice. In 2024, Lush made more than $130 million in charitable donations since the launch of its giving initiatives back in 2007. The Charity Pot made up 75% of these donations.

Despite recently removing the product from its shelves, Lush remains committed to campaigning. The organization has produced a new line of Giving Products, which allows it greater flexibility in targeting and responding to global emergencies, directing money to where it is needed. Lush’s Charity Pots proved to be a small but mighty force in the fight against global poverty.

Lush’s Giving Products

Replacing the Charity Pots, Lush’s Giving Products hit the shelves with the Watermelon Slice soap as the first launch. Originally a regular product, it was turned into a Giving Product after a staff member highlighted the symbol’s significance in the movement to support a free Palestine. With each sale, 75% of the proceeds are donated to childhood mental health and medical services in Gaza, including charities providing prosthetic limb support to adults and children.

Since launching the Watermelon Slice soap, Lush has used its Giving Products to support various causes. These include aiding Indigenous volunteer fire brigades in the Amazon, backing lawyers and human rights activists in Mexico and supporting “She Should Run,” an organization working to increase diverse political participation.

The Use of Fairtrade Ingredients

One of the main selling points for Lush products is its use of Fairtrade ingredients. The Fairtrade Foundation seeks to address the root causes of poverty directly by ensuring farmers and workers in developing countries receive better prices, working conditions and more power over their products. Cheap products often come at the exploitation of those who grow them.

So by ensuring a minimum price, the Fairtrade Foundation ensures that farmers and workers can cover the costs of sustainable production and have a safety net for when the market falls below a sustainable level. Farmers whose products are Fairtrade certified also receive a Fairtrade Premium, a lump sum which members of Producer Organizations democratically decide how to spend. This money is typically invested in community development.

By choosing Fairtrade products, Lush is helping to break the cycle of poverty in developing countries, enhance the well-being and resilience of these communities and enable individuals a greater level of dignity.

Uplifting Communities Through Knot Wraps

Lush’s venture into reusable packaging has also proved significant in fighting global poverty. While sifting through bundles of vintage scarves, the Lush buying team discovered an abundant supply. In 2009, the company began stocking more than 40,000 wraps as part of its shift to knot wrapping, a sustainable, reusable packaging alternative.

From there, Lush began partnering with re-wrap, a nonprofit organization in India that produces 100% organic cotton knot wraps. Crafted by highly skilled female artisans, re-wrap makes a range of products, including tote bags, gift wraps, pouches and aprons and is dedicated to uplifting rural women and farming communities.

During production, local women are trained in the skills needed to make these wraps, enabling them to earn an income and empowering them to leave unsafe relationships. By working directly with re-wrap, Lush ensures that producers receive fair wages, further helping to alleviate poverty in rural communities.

A Lush Future

From its Watermelon Soap funding aid in Gaza to partnering with organizations that empower women in India through artisanal skills, Lush is building an impressive track record of fighting global poverty. Its unwavering advocacy and campaigning should serve as a blueprint for other companies. We can only hope this vital work continues and that others follow.

– Libby Foxwell

Libby is based in Sherborne, Dorset, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Alleviation in Guinea-Bissau Through Fishing

Fishing in Guinea-BissauFishing is an industry often overlooked as a tool to alleviate poverty. In Guinea-Bissau, a country with an Exclusive Economic Zone of 106,000 km² that accounts for an extreme wealth of marine biodiversity, the fishing industry employs more than 225,000 people and contributes to 6% of GDP. More than 50% of the population lives in poverty, with most of the impoverished population situated in rural and coastal areas.

With an economy dominated by a single export – cashews – little attention has been given to the fishing industry as a tool for poverty alleviation in Guinea-Bissau. Thanks to several recent initiatives, however, artisanal and subsistence fishing are receiving investment, providing local people with employment and nutrition.

Importance of Cashews in Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is heavily dependent on cashews for its exports, making up 90% of the country’s export earnings. This leaves the country extremely vulnerable to trade shocks, brought about by volatility due to climate instability and fluctuations in the country’s terms of trade. Furthermore, 70% of households are dependent on incomes from cashew production, exacerbating the impacts of this vulnerability.

As such, much attention is paid to levelling up the cashew sector in initiatives to alleviate poverty, often overlooking other pathways.

Importance of Fishing in Guinea-Bissau

Fishing is a major industry in Guinea-Bissau. The industry employs more than 10% of the population, generates 50% of the government’s non-tax revenue and provides 35% of the animal protein intake of Guinea-Bissauans. Much of this government revenue comes from fishing licenses and agreements with foreign fleets, predominantly from Europe, China, South Korea and Japan. The benefits for the local population come predominantly from artisanal fishing, carried out in dug-out canoes called pirogues and subsistence fishing, which is carried out primarily by women.

Recent Initiatives in the Fishing Sector

In order to harness the potential benefits of the fishing sector, recent collaborations between the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have focused on upgrading artisanal fisheries and providing employment to women. Working predominantly with women’s cooperatives, this collaboration promoted public-private partnerships to construct and improve refrigeration facilities, allowing for improved storage and marketing capabilities.

Through an iterative process involving locals in Cacheu, Canchungo and Buba, innovative solutions were found, such as the construction of traditional Pirogues with modern insulation. To support women and youth and advance SDG 5, the initiative built two ice-making facilities in Cacheu and Canchungo. These facilities benefit more than 300 fish harvesters, most of whom are women and young people in Guinea-Bissau.

In 2024, the European Union (EU) signed a renewal of its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Guinea-Bissau. For the first time, the $20 million annual contribution includes $5.29 million for “promoting sustainable fisheries management in Guinea-Bissau, control and surveillance capacities and support for local fishing communities.” This demonstrates that both the EU and the Guinean-Bissauan government recognize the role of artisanal fisheries in poverty alleviation. It also highlights their importance in reducing food insecurity in a country where malnutrition remains a persistent challenge.

Why Fishing Matters for Poverty Alleviation

Today, poverty is understood to be multidimensional. Multidimensional poverty is characterized by more than just an absence of wealth or income; it is a complex measure that involves health, nutrition, access to education and housing. Through focusing on an industry like fishing, poverty alleviation in Guinea-Bissau can tackle multiple issues at once, providing more stable income streams for artisanal fishers and providing direct sustenance to families dependent on subsistence fishing.

It is also immensely beneficial as a way of diversifying the Guinea-Bissauan economy, reducing the risks of price fluctuations in the cashew market.

Remaining Challenges

The issue of overfishing is an acute challenge to Guinea-Bissau’s fishing industry. In Guinea-Bissau’s Exclusive Economic Zone, unregulated foreign fishing is a potential existential threat to the country’s fish stocks. While there are certainly positives to the agreement with the EU, it is worth noting that industrial fisheries offer very few job opportunities to Guinea-Bissauans, often ignore local environmental laws and circumvent fishing embargoes by “re-flagging.”

If fishing is to serve as a genuine pathway to poverty alleviation, greater emphasis must be placed on supporting artisanal and subsistence fishers while limiting the damage caused by foreign fleets.

Final Notes

Investing in small-scale fisheries can transform the lives of impoverished Guinea-Bissauans. International support from organizations like the EIF will ensure that artisanal and subsistence fishers can compete with foreign fleets. Artisanal fishing could become a model for sustainable and inclusive development in Guinea-Bissau.

– Henry Weiser

Henry is based in Cornwall, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Quiet Revolution: Education in Vietnam Drives Poverty Reduction

Education in VietnamVietnam transformed from one of Southeast Asia’s most underserved, war-torn nations in the early ’90s into a global model for poverty reduction. This transformation did not happen overnight. The country changed over the years of investment in its future: the children of Vietnam and their education.

Extreme poverty previously covered around 45–52% of the population in the early ’90s. By 2022, it had dramatically decreased to about 1%. This change came not from foreign aid or outside enterprises, but from a sustained, state-led initiative to invest in children in rural areas by expanding education and bolstering electrification, infrastructure and health care.

Education as the Foundation

The strongest pillar in Vietnam’s poverty reduction is the expansion of access to education throughout the country, reaching even the most remote regions of Vietnam. The country pushes for universal primary school enrollment and strong secondary school access, stressing the importance of education as a way to combat future poverty. These expansions raised literacy rates and skyrocketed school completion.

They also gave children who once had no chance for a solid educational foundation the opportunity to move through their lives with purpose. In a case study, one family stated, “I had no school education, but I want my children to go to school as long as I can afford it. They know how to read and write, so they know the direction when they visit big towns… I want my children to finish high school and possibly do vocational training. I believe that with higher education, they will have more opportunities than I do.”

Today, adult literacy in Vietnam stands at about 96%, which is very high compared to many countries in similar income brackets. Among youths ages 15–24, literacy is effectively universal and socially normalized. Vietnamese students also consistently outperform expectations.

In 2012 and 2015, Vietnam placed ahead of many wealthier nations in reading, math and science on international PISA assessments. Their strong results stem from their willingness to learn. Even disadvantaged students from more impoverished socioeconomic backgrounds outperform their peers in many OECD countries at the same levels.

Policies such as the Education Law of 2005 set high minimum standards, professionalized teachers and invested in school infrastructure across the nation. They also influenced cultural attitudes that emphasized the role of education in improving the lives of impoverished citizens and contributing to poverty reduction in Vietnam.

Rural Infrastructure & Basic Services

Alongside education, Vietnam invested heavily in rural infrastructure, especially electrification. In the ’70s, only a small minority of communities had electricity. By 2022, 99.7% of households had electricity, with 99.53% in rural areas. Electrification advanced communities in many ways: enabling evening study, powering lights, fans and computers in schools and allowing health clinics to refrigerate vaccines.

Radio and broadcast media informed citizens on a mass scale and internet access became far more feasible. Public health improvements accompanied education and infrastructure, delivering better water, sanitation, nutrition and maternal care. These initiatives reduced disease burden, increased school attendance and lowered mortality.

Economic Growth & Policy Choices

Education, electricity and public health initiatives expanded access to jobs, markets and institutional decisions. The Đổi Mới reforms of 1986 liberalized parts of the economy, encouraged trade and agricultural reforms. These changes enabled growth in manufacturing, services and exports, while raising productivity in smallholder farming.

The government steadily increased budget shares for education and social services. It also rolled out national targeted programs to reach ethnic minorities and remote, rural areas where poverty and deprivation remained high. These programs built roads, water systems, power lines and clinics and they placed teachers in remote schools.

Why Vietnam’s Model Matters

Vietnam’s poverty reduction model shows that all impoverished countries can duplicate. Vietnam demonstrates how much becomes possible when governments commit to inclusive, long-term investment rather than short-term flashy projects.

Key lessons include:

  • Equity-first: Focus on reaching all children, not just those in cities or wealthier areas. Rural, minority and disadvantaged students gained the most.
  • Cross-sector investment: Education, health, infrastructure and electrification amplify each other.
  • State leadership: The government did not abdicate responsibility; it set standards, built capacity, regulated and followed through.
  • Cost-effectiveness: Even with a relatively low per capita income, Vietnam achieved high student performance. Scholars have praised the quality of its educational inputs.

Remaining Challenges & Why Poverty Isn’t Solved

While extreme poverty has fallen to about 1% under the World Bank’s international extreme poverty line, many people remain vulnerable. Using broader poverty lines, sizable fractions of the population remain just above the threshold—or worse, in remote ethnic minority areas where services still need improvement.

Improvements in enrollment and infrastructure do not always mirror perfect equity in learning outcomes. Differences persist between majority and minority groups. Internet access and modern learning technology still lag behind basic school access and electric power. Social protections such as cash transfers and shock-responsive systems remain weaker in many rural and ethnic minority communities.

A Model for Change

Vietnam’s success story is not a miracle. Progress resulted from decades of policies that put children first, extending education into rural valleys, electrifying homes and schools and building systems to sustain it all. When governments deliver universal education, rural infrastructure and public health together, poverty retreats quickly and lives change faster than expected.

– Nicole Fernandez

Nicole is based in Reno, NV, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Renewable Energy in Comoros

Renewable Energy in ComorosThe innovative production of novel renewable energy technologies are essential to the economic development of countries in the developing world, such as Comoros. The East African country of Comoros is a least developed country with a low GDP per capita, which was $1,784.12 in 2024. Comoros is located in the Indian Ocean, encompassing a group of islands by which Grande Comore is the most massive in size of the islands and Mohéli is the tiniest in size.

Poverty in Comoros is catastrophic with poor, unprofitable harvests on a national economy that is dependent on farming. In 2014, the poverty headcount ratio measured up to a 31.4% of the population of Comoros living on less than $3 a day, in scale with 2021 purchasing power adjusted prices. In the combat against poverty, improving public health especially the incidence of waterborne infectious diseases, acute lower respiratory infections and lung cancer through the use of renewable sources of energy over other energy sources is beneficial. Non-renewable sources of energy have high damage costs, which was $16.4 million in 2021 as a result of carbon dioxide gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels and cement production. Here is more information about renewable energy in Comoros.

Hydroelectric Power Plants in Comoros

Comoros has hydroelectric power plants constructed on the island, which are a renewable source of energy. Hydroelectric power plants transform the potential energy of water into electrical energy, which holds advantages of having low operational and maintenance costs, a long lifespan, as well as wide-ranging uses in: irrigation, the supply of water to urban areas, flood control and navigation. The greater the water flow rate, height of the water descending and conversion efficiency of the turbine, the greater the electrical power generated from the hydroelectric power plant. However, Comoros still has a poor supply of electricity and water, largely due to poverty. Comoros and other low-economic countries could develop the technical potential of hydroelectric power, since only 6% of the technical potential for hydroelectric power has undergone development for use in Africa, compared to half in Europe.

The Benefits of Hydroelectric Power

The use of hydroelectric power as a renewable energy source over non-renewable energy sources reduces carbon emissions and decreases greenhouse gas emissions, which is of great importance in light of the Paris Agreement (2016) – a legally binding international treaty on environmental welfare that 195 parties adopted at a United Nations conference to limit global temperature rises. The necessity for the integration of renewable energy sources is paramount to an eco-friendly economic development, since for Comoros a weighty 0.23 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions emitted were from the transportation sector in 2021, which is just a fragment of the wider societal infrastructure.

Although Comoros has built and installed hydroelectric power plants on the island, a greater number of other renewable energy source technologies would be beneficial to the increasingly urbanized towns and industrialization as the country develops economically in strategies to reduce extreme forms of poverty. Since hydroelectric power is helpful in supplying storage and load balancing for solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, further investments in other renewable energy sources would be a fitting extension to the hydroelectric power plants present on the island.

Solar Energy Project in Comoros

Comoros has invested in solar energy via a Solar Energy Access Project for Comoros, with the goal of expanding the renewable energy generation capacity and enhancing the operational performance of the solar energy system for electricity. Power storages in addition to photovoltaic and system upgrades were installed as part of the project at solar photovoltaic power plants built at Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, while the battery storage remained situated in Grande Comore and Anjouan. The photovoltaic cells transform solar energy radiation from sunlight directly into electrical energy that people can use as electricity.

The vast majority of photovoltaic cells in international financial retail market shares comprise crystalline silicon materials. According to a review on solar photovoltaic technology, innovative carbon nanotube cells used as a material for photovoltaic cells have the capacity to convert 75% of the light energy it receives into electricity, which could aid in providing a more reliable source of electricity to Comoros. Comoros has a tropical weather climate with peak temperatures of 35°C at the beginning of the humid season, therefore the warm sunny climate makes solar energy an ideal renewable energy source.

The Comoros National Electricity Corporation will aid the enlargement across territories of the management information system of the solar energy project plus the installation of the advanced metering infrastructure to all customers. Solar energy projects have great potential compared to other renewable sources of energy as the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggested, and could even help disinfect water for safe drinking.

Looking Ahead

The use of renewable energy sources rather than non-renewable sources of energy is crucially important in the industrial development of Comoros, in order for the country to expand economically as a poverty-reduction effort without causing pollutive damage to the ecosystem, public health or financial trade markets. Hydroelectric and solar energy power plants are renewable sources of energy that have been constructed in Comoros, although maximizing the technical benefits of the renewable energy sources is vital to ensure an efficient, reliable electricity and water supply in a country that has poor utilities due to poverty.

– Deborah Asante 

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

Photo: Unsplash