Archive for category: Sustainable Development Goals

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SDG 4 in Sudan: How Poverty and Conflict Threaten Education

SDG 4 in SudanSudan’s civil war has devastated the country’s education system, leaving millions of children without access to school. In the Northeast of Africa, Sudan has faced decades of political instability and conflict, with the current civil war beginning in 2023, leading to a vital consequence of famine and a claim of genocide in the Darfur region. Furthermore, the conflict caused damage to nearly every sector within the country, particularly the education sector. According to the UNESCO reports on the education situation in Sudan, since the Sudanese conflict began in 2023, only three out of 17 million school age children have returned to school, with fewer than one-third of schools being reopened. Here is information about the conflict and education situation in Sudan, including efforts to address SDG 4 in Sudan, which is a goal to provide accessible education to everyone.

Background of the War in Sudan

Omar al-Bashir, who was the former president of Sudan, helped form the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), known as the “Janjaweed militia,” which was a paramilitary group formed to act as a border guard force and was later moved to the capital city in 2019 to protect al-Bashir from any potential military coups and assassination attempts. However, later on, the RSF joined the Sudanese Armed Forces in overthrowing al-Bashir’s government and forming a new transitional government. The transitional government was later the main reason for the current war, due to the major power struggle between the RSF and the SAF, escalating to what is known now as the Sudanese Civil War.

Potential of Poverty Improvements in Sudan

According to the United Nations officials in Sudan, around seven in 10 people in Sudan live in poverty, compared to a percentage of 38% before the beginning of the war. Additionally, the country could potentially face a rise of extreme poverty, with the possibility of an additional 34 million people becoming impoverished if the conflict continues until 2030. However, according to the UNDP, if the country restores peace using the International Futures modeling system, Sudan’s GDP could reach $58.2 billion USD by 2043, resulting in an increased life expectancy and 17.3 million people being lifted out from extreme poverty, moving the country to a better socioeconomic situation.

SDG 4 in Sudan and the Potential of the Education Sector

SDG 4 is the goal of Quality Education under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims that by 2030, the world will have inclusive and equitable quality education. There are 10 targets including a focus on providing free primary and secondary education, ensuring equal access to primary and higher education and eliminating discrimination in education, along with many other goals that aim to support lifelong learning around the globe.

Due to the conflict in Sudan, there have been around 88 reports of violence in schools, resulting in harm for students, teachers and school facilities. Those violence reports included killings, injuries, torture, abduction of teachers and sexual violence. Additionally, the military have used school facilities in Sudan for active fighting and storage of weaponry, which makes it unsafe for educational use.

With this being said, in October 2023, around 19 million school-age children have been out of school, causing a severe disruption of their learning and education progress. Additionally, more than 10,400 schools have been closed, and even after an indication that around 65% of these schools were open again by January 2026, more than 7 million students remained out of school.

Addressing Education in Sudan

Despite the severity of the situation, a collaboration between Sudan’s Local Education Group and UNESCO has developed, involving more than 600 participants and more than 34 national and international organizations financially contributing to the project. The project aims to work towards a Transitional Education Plan with the goal of developing Sudan’s education system and acknowledging short-term and long-term humanitarian needs so that the Sudanese education system remains well structured and inclusive even with the current instability in the country.

Additionally, the project is focusing on creating safe learning environments, providing infrastructural support to ensure protective education facilities for school children and rebuilding and supplying equipment for schools. Moreover, it is also using temporary learning spaces to make its plans time-effective and ensure that children do not stay out of school for long periods of time during the conflict, instead, using those temporary spaces for learning during the work of the project. It is also focusing on providing training for marginalized groups to prevent skill gaps, such as for people with disabilities, and ensuring gender equality in terms of the provision of training, hoping to have a transformative impact and prevent a potential collapse on Sudan’s education sector.

Concluding Thoughts

Overall, the findings show that the Sudanese civil war has a significant impact on the Sudanese community and education system, despite the efforts to limit its influence. However, its impact is likely to decline as people, advocates and organizations shed light on it, and dedicate projects toward improving education and addressing SDG 4 in Sudan.

– Annab Ahmed

Annab is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela

SDG 1 in VenezuelaPoverty remains one of the most urgent challenges in Venezuela, making updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela an important topic to examine. Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) calls for ending poverty in all its forms, expanding social protection and reducing the vulnerability of people facing economic and social shocks. In Venezuela, that goal remains difficult to achieve. While some indicators suggest limited improvement in monetary poverty, recent evidence shows that many families still struggle with food insecurity, low purchasing power and barriers to basic services.

What SDG 1 Means for Venezuela

SDG 1 is broader than income alone. The goal includes reducing poverty according to national definitions, strengthening social protection systems and helping vulnerable populations gain access to essential services. In Venezuela, this matters because poverty is not only expressed through low wages or unstable income. It is also reflected in whether families can afford food, whether children can remain in school and whether households can meet basic needs with dignity.

That distinction is especially important in the Venezuelan case. A household may experience a small increase in income and still remain in a deeply precarious situation if access to health care, education and adequate nutrition continues to lag. For that reason, updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela must be understood through a multidimensional lens rather than through income data alone. UNICEF’s Venezuela social protection program links poverty directly to family income, unmet needs and structural inequality.

What Recent Data Shows

Recent data presents a mixed picture. According to ENCOVI 2024, Venezuela’s economic reactivation has contributed to a decrease in monetary poverty. However, the same report states that these changes have had only a limited impact on improvements in access to education and health care, where significant deficits remain. This means that while some households may be earning slightly more, broader living conditions have not improved at the same pace.

International SDG tracking also reflects these limits. The Sustainable Development Report 2025 gives Venezuela an SDG Index score of 63.8 and ranks it 115th out of 167 countries. The profile also notes that Venezuela completed one Voluntary National Review between 2016 and 2025. This suggests that overall progress toward SDG goals, including SDG 1, remains limited.

Social Protection and Humanitarian Support in Venezuela

Despite these challenges, there are still efforts underway that connect directly to SDG 1. UNICEF Venezuela states that its main objective in social protection is to ensure that children and adolescents have access to inclusive social protection and live free of poverty.

UNICEF implements programs such as:

  • Multipurpose Cash Transfers, which provide families with direct financial support to cover essential needs such as food, hygiene products and medicines.
  • Child Nutrition Programs, which deliver nutritional supplements in schools and community centers to support children’s development.
  • Institutional Strengthening, which helps improve poverty measurement and technical capacity for public policies aimed at reducing inequality.

These programs have reached thousands of vulnerable families and contributed to increased food security and household stability.

Humanitarian assistance also remains essential. The World Food Programme (WFP) began implementing its school meals program in Venezuela in 2021. According to WFP, 5.1 million people in Venezuela urgently require food assistance, and the agency reached 750,000 people in 2025. Its school meals program supports more than 330,000 people across more than 1,100 schools, helping reduce pressure on vulnerable households and improve child nutrition.

Why Progress on SDG 1 Remains Uneven

Even with these efforts, progress on SDG 1 in Venezuela remains uneven. ENCOVI 2024 makes clear that improvements in monetary poverty have not translated into equally strong advances in education and health. UNICEF also notes that low household income and unmet basic needs continue to limit long-term progress. This shows that poverty in Venezuela remains both economic and structural.

Recent 2026 reporting reinforces this fragility. Reuters reported that the IMF described Venezuela’s situation as “quite fragile,” citing inflation, currency depreciation, and persistent inequality. Additional reports indicate that rising oil prices may improve national revenue but can also increase food and fuel costs, placing further pressure on low-income households.

The Road Ahead for SDG 1 in Venezuela

The future of updates on SDG 1 in Venezuela depends on whether the country can move from short-term relief toward broader stability and inclusion. Better poverty measurement, stronger social protection and sustained humanitarian assistance remain essential. Organizations such as UNICEF and WFP demonstrate that practical support is possible even in difficult conditions.

Venezuela remains far from achieving SDG 1, but the country’s situation also highlights why the goal matters. Poverty is not only about income. It is connected to food security, education, health and the ability of families to live with dignity. Understanding these factors is key to building more effective responses and moving toward long-term poverty reduction.

– Adriana Carolina Herrera

Adriana is based in Mentor, Ohio, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Poverty in Mexico and SDG Progress

Poverty in MexicoIn 2015, United Nations member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global effort to end poverty, protect the planet and promote peace and prosperity by 2030. Mexico, a country of about 128 million in North America, has seen progress in reducing poverty through federal policies, but key challenges remain. Poverty in Mexico has been on the decline in recent years. As of 2025, the number of Mexicans living below the $2.15 per day poverty threshold fell from 3.9 million, or 3%, in 2018 to 2.5 million, or 2%.

Despite this progress, structural and institutional inequality still threatens Mexico’s ability to meet the SDGs. This article will review Mexico’s evaluation based on the United Nations SDG objectives for the country.

Progress on Poverty

Poverty reduction has been significant nationwide. Over the past five years, the poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 per day has decreased from 5.06 in 2020 to 1.82 in 2025. In the same time frame, poverty rates after taxes and transfers have been reduced from 16.6% to 15%.

In the 2024 Voluntary National Review (VNR), Mexico emphasized the role of policy in these reductions. For example, from 2018 to 2024 minimum wage increased by 110% and the unemployment rate reduced to 2.6%. The main financiers for these poverty in Mexico reduction programs have been the federal government and foreign investors. Social spending increased by 38%, and by 2023, foreign direct investment increased by 27%. 

Although inequality has been improving nationally, regional disparities persist. The 2024 VNR report states that between 2018 and 2022, the contrast between the richest and poorest decile earning ratios has declined from 22 times to 15 times.

Despite these improvements, inequality persists in rural regions of Mexico. As of 2025, 88% of the rural population lives below the $2.15 poverty threshold. This percentage has remained stagnant since 2018.

What’s Driving Change?

The Mexican government has been deliberate about addressing social injustices and structural inequality by means of redistribution programs. For example, from 2018 to 2022, 10 million additional Mexicans became food secure.

Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure per capita growth (annual %) increased from 0.5% in 2018 to 1.9% in 2024, with a volatile period in between, ranging from a minimum of -10.6% in 2020 and a maximum 7.7% in 2021.

In spite of efforts, issues in health care, social protection, gender inequality and structural informality persist. In the VNR report, the Mexican government claimed it had aimed to address some of these issues by focusing on SDGs which were interdependent on each other, such as how addressing SDG 1 (no poverty) invariably affects SGD 10 (reduced inequalities) as well.

Is Mexico on Track for 2030? 

The United Nations uses the SDG index rank, SDG index score and spillover score to quantify a nation’s progress towards achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as to measure a nation’s ability to help other nations develop their own SDGs. Currently, Mexico ranks 72nd in the SDG index rank. Additionally, it has an index score of 70.80 and a spillover score of 90.23, ranking it at 85 out of the 167 UN member states that qualify for the index. These rankings demonstrate that, despite the progress on poverty in Mexico and inequality that has been made, there is room for improvement with regard to other SDGs.

In 2024, Mexico announced its policy initiative through the Plan Nacional de Desarrollo (PND). PND aims at stating the objectives and priorities of the government for the 2025 to 2030 period. PND contains four main areas of focus and three cross-cutting issues to direct public policy. Among the main areas of focus is “moral economy and work,” which states the priority of increasing minimum wages, expanding formal jobs and promoting social security. Among the cross-cutting issues, sometimes referred to as the transverse axis, the “substantive equality and women’s rights” objective aims at improving health policies and eliminating structural violence for women through reforms and the SEMUJERES agency.

The PND initiatives are part of the Movimiento Regeneracion Nacional (MORENA) attempt to consolidate the second stage of the transformation. The transformation is in reference to the general project of the party titled La Cuarta Transformacion, a political project which aims at transforming the political, economic and social structures of Mexico.

The Future of Mexico

The experience of Mexico shows that poverty reduction is possible, but sustaining it requires deeper structural reform. Issues related to health care, social protection, gender inequality, structural informality and regional inequality persist in the country. However, with the help of the PND strategic framework and policy initiatives, Mexico could be on track to achieve a majority of its SDGs by 2030.  

– Arturo Gonzalez 

Arturo is based in Miami, FL, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 14 in Mauritius

SDG 14 in MauritiusMauritius has an Exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 2.3 million square kilometers, one of the largest maritime territories of any small island state on earth. According to the United Nations, that vast ocean space represents one of the country’s greatest untapped opportunities for food security and poverty reduction. And yet, as the U.N. Development Programme has documented, rising food prices and growing import dependence continue to place significant financial pressure on ordinary Mauritian households.

Updates on SDG 14 in Mauritius sit at the center of that contradiction. Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, is not simply an environmental target for the island nation. The U.N. frames it as a direct pathway to economic resilience, local food production and poverty reduction for a country whose ocean territory dwarfs its landmass many times over.

Poverty and Food Insecurity

While extreme poverty remains low in Mauritius, vulnerability remains an important issue in the context of rising food prices and import dependence. According to the IMF, the national relative poverty rate fell to 7.3% in 2023, while the Sustainable Development Report 2025 places the poverty headcount ratio at 0.8% at $2.15 per day and 1.3% at $3.65 per day. At the same time, food insecurity indicators remain concerning: the prevalence of undernourishment was 5.9% in 2022, and other estimates place it as high as 8.7%. These figures are especially significant in a country where rising food prices and seafood affordability continue to place pressure on lower-income households.

Recent estimates indicate that roughly 8.7% of the Mauritian population is undernourished. For a middle-income island economy surrounded by one of the world’s most productive ocean territories, that figure reflects a structural gap rather than a resource one. The food is not absent. The systems to make it accessible and affordable are what need work.

An Island That Imports What Its Ocean Could Provide

As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius depends heavily on external markets for food supply. The U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) notes that this dependence makes the country particularly vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, imported inflation and geopolitical instability, forces that Mauritian households have little power to control and even less capacity to absorb.

Fish illustrates the problem clearly. Once one of the most accessible protein sources for Mauritian households, seafood has become noticeably more expensive in recent years. Official food security data show that the price of frozen fish peaked at Rs 327 in February 2023 and remained high at Rs 321 in May 2024. For lower-income families, this price pressure has narrowed dietary choices and deepened food inequality, despite the island being surrounded by vast marine resources that remain underutilized.

The Delivery Gap

Mauritius has made genuine legislative progress aligned with SDG 14 objectives. Two pieces of that framework are worth examining in detail because they illustrate both how far the country has come and how much distance remains.

Mauritius’s environmental governance framework is primarily anchored in the Environment Protection Act 2002, later strengthened through amendments in 2008, which extends environmental stewardship and pollution-control standards across the island’s coastal and marine zones. According to the Nairobi Convention’s country profile on Mauritius, the Act establishes environmental impact assessment requirements for coastal development projects, a mechanism designed to reduce shoreline degradation and protect marine biodiversity and fishing stocks over time.

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management framework provides the institutional structure for coordinating the management of Mauritius’s lagoons, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems across multiple government agencies. According to the Nairobi Convention’s Mauritius country profile and related regional assessments, it has supported beach rehabilitation, habitat mapping, water-quality monitoring and coral reef restoration. While the policy framework is clearly in place, implementation and ecological outcomes continue to vary across coastal zones, reflecting the long-term nature of restoration and the uneven pressures faced by different parts of the island.

The Data Behind the Urgency

The Sustainable Development Report 2025 places Mauritius 76th out of 167 countries with an overall SDG score of 70.3, a performance that reflects moderate progress on some goals and persistent challenges on others. SDG 14 sits firmly in the second category.

According to the SDG Index Dashboard for Mauritius, only 11.1% of marine sites important to biodiversity were protected in 2023. The same dataset recorded an Ocean Health Index clean water score of 68.7 in 2024, pointing to ongoing environmental pressures on the island’s marine ecosystem. Most strikingly, 71.9% of fish caught came from overexploited or collapsed stocks, a figure that directly links marine degradation to food security, livelihoods and poverty reduction, rather than framing it solely as an environmental issue.

When nearly three-quarters of the national fish catch draws from stocks already under severe pressure, updates on SDG 14 in Mauritius become less about environmental reporting and more about understanding a food security risk that is actively developing.

An Organization Closing the Gap

The Indian Ocean Commission’s SmartFish Programme offers a concrete example of what meaningful SDG 14 implementation can look like in practice. Launched in 2011, the regional initiative operates across Indian Ocean island states, including Mauritius, with a focus on strengthening fisheries governance, improving market access for small-scale fishers and building the data systems needed to monitor fish stock health over time. In doing so, it connects marine sustainability directly to livelihoods, food security and poverty reduction.

According to regional fisheries governance sources, SmartFish supports fishermen, coastal communities and food security outcomes across the region. For Mauritius, this helps transform marine resources into systems that support local food production, employment and poverty reduction.

Beyond institutional programs, the blue economy offers significant potential through aquaculture, algae cultivation, oyster farming and marine-based small enterprises. World Bank assessments identify these sectors as drivers of employment, lower seafood import dependence and improved food affordability.

What the Numbers Mean for the People

Updates on SDG 14 in Mauritius ultimately tell a story about the distance between a country’s resources and its population’s access to them. According to the SDG Index Dashboard, 71.9% of fish catch is linked to overexploited or collapsed stocks. That figure is not an abstraction, it is a timeline. Every year, that number holds or worsens, the foundation for domestic food production, fishing livelihoods and food affordability erodes a little further.

The U.N. SDG framework, regional fisheries programs such as SmartFish and Mauritius’s own legislative infrastructure all point in the same direction. Deeper investment in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and marine-based enterprise, combined with stronger implementation of existing policy, represents one of the most direct paths available to Mauritius for narrowing the gap between its ocean wealth and persistent food vulnerability among lower-income households. The challenge now is turning existing frameworks into measurable results.

– Aditya-R Nowbuth

Adutya-Raj is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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SDG 9 in Zimbabwe: Targets in Action

SDG 9 in ZimbabweZimbabwe is an example of a developing nation working in harmony to achieve transformative components that pertain to SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a list of 17 global ideals toward peacekeeping, saving the planet and reducing poverty. Starting in 2015, the UN set the goal of accomplishing the SDGs by 2030. In 2018, the Zimbabwean government skyrocketed the mindset of possibility and empathy through a two-part National Development Strategy.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

There were fewer jobs and more children out of school as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, showing why SDG 9 in Zimbabwe is a priority. The Sub-Saharan nation ranks number nine among the “top 10 African countries with highest levels of extreme poverty.” Globally, the World Bank considers the extreme poverty line to be lower than a daily income of $29.80 USD. Sadly, as of 2025, 49.2 % of the Zimbabwean population live in extreme poverty and earn less than $3 a day.

Starting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of infrastructure for laptops or phones resulted in more than“4.5 million” children across Zimbabwe having to pause their schooling for “over a year.” Zimbabweans in urban or rural environments cannot thrive when digital learning is not attainable without electricity or mobile technology.

Internet Access

Even with the increase of more than 75.36% of Zimbabweans having internet access throughout the nation in 2024, rural regions lack quality internet access. Quick internet access is a need for the economy, quality education and health technology, and can in turn, help reduce poverty. Beginning in 2022 up to 2025, digital connection became the third of six transitions prioritized before 2030 in Zimbabwe.

SDG 9: Industry, innovation and Infrastructure requires countries to achieve eight targeted components. SDG 9 in Zimbabwe has had the most success in the areas of digital connectivity and broadband internet.

Digital Connectivity in Zimbabwean Communities

One of the goals for SDG 9 is “broadband” digital connectivity in less developed African countries before 2030. Zimbabwe and The World Savings Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) started a partnership in 2023 to introduce the People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB). The partnership relates to target 9.3 with banking loans and access.

POSB encourages Zimbabweans to connect online banking with speed and safety. Businesses flourish with marketing success from e-commerce and cybersecurity. Zimbabwean Agrobusiness, Prodairy, agrees to running financial interactions quicker and feeling safer with digital security. As of 2024, POSB also helps urban and rural Zimbabweans stay connected online through broadband internet, and financial entry with installation of “28 ATMs” nationwide.

Digital Learning Programs to Further Digital Connectivity

In 2024, the Re-imaging Education initiative from UNICEF, the Zimbabwean government and businesses helped 150 schools receive broadband access for e-learning. Provision of solar power, higher speed internet and laptops for primary and secondary schools in rural regions helps close the digital gap of educational advantage for most urban students in comparison to rural students. Urban regions of Zimbabwe have better access to internet connection needed for quality education. This collaboration can help actualize dreams like that of Aaron, a preteen who wants to become an engineer. This target of SDG 9 in Zimbabwe helps rural students experience equality in digital learning with urban students.

Energy Infrastructure in Zimbabwe

Realizing the important need for electricity to power digital connectivity, the energy sector is very influential in helping reduce poverty in rural regions of the nation. SDG 9 in Zimbabwe has superb progress toward target 9.4 with sustainable and cleaner energy.

As of 2024, “62 percent of the population” have electricity, along with alternative solarized and greener power sources. Also, 12% of new installations are clean energy infrastructures. The 18% improvement is a lot from the “acute energy crisis’ in 2020, when only 44% of the nation had electrical power.”

Solar and hydro innovations from the Old Mutual Renewable Energy Fund, power electricity for rural communities near Harare, Zimbabwe. The partnership with the company, Old Mutual Group, and the Zimbabwean government is helping advance SDG 7 to exit the “acute energy crisis.” Meanwhile, the SDG Renewable Energy Fund (SDG REF) Programme is working with businesses to help power more regions.

Collaboration With U.S. & Zimbabwean NGOs

In 2024, NGOs Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM), which is located in the U.S., and Childcare Ministries Zimbabwe (CCMZ), which is in Zimbabwe, teamed up to construct the Hope factory.

The two manufacturing plant locations in Bulawayo and Heaney, Zimbabwe, have steel silos storing maize from farmers. This infrastructural project relates to sustainable infrastructure in regions and aims to reduce poverty and hunger. Furthermore, GDP can increase with new jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, textile insulation and builders constructing schools in the nation.

The circular economy involved with manufacturing and recycling bags of Corn Soyabean Blend plus (CSB+) further improves sustainable systems. In 2024, J.M.M. had intentions to “feed over 50,000” children daily. Remarkably, the humanitarian organization records “producing its 10 millionth meal” as of 2025. The philanthropic partnership demonstrates how the target 9.a. really helps developing nations accomplish economic sustainability.

Future Focus

SDG 9 in Zimbabwe has led to lots of improvements with mobile broadband in both rural and urban communities and funds for agrobusiness. However, tense trade relations and higher tariffs are interfering with financial situations around the globe and slowing progress toward SDG 9.

However, proper infrastructure for roads has shown little improvement in Zimbabwe in comparison to the aforementioned targets. Meanwhile, science and institutional studies are not close enough for targets to be achieved. This is important because gold mining helps sustain a resilient economy that is responsible for international exports of gold, but it is not enough to hold the whole economy. The primary industries of agriculture and raw material mining need to modernize for the betterment of the Zimbabwean economy.

Zimbabwe strives toward future innovations like “education 5.0,” combining more research for science, agriculture and industry. Future Developments include “industrialized parks” located around post secondary spaces like the University of Zimbabwe for research, food security and business.

Considering all of the progress so far, Zimbabwe shows it is possible for a nation to really move toward becoming a thriving society.

– Tyra Brown

Tyra is based in St. Andrews, Canada and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SDG 6 in Iran Faces Rising Pressure as Water Crisis Deepens

SDG 6 in IranIran’s progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) is facing more challenges as water scarcity, drought and unequal access to sanitation threaten long-term development. The United Nations’ goal is to provide safe drinking water and better hygiene for everyone, but Iran’s water systems are struggling with higher demand, less supply and years of overuse.

Recent SDG 6 data show Iran has improved access to drinking water, but this does not capture the whole situation. The country still faces challenges such as water stress, high agricultural demand and limited freshwater resources.

Water Stress Builds

The challenges for SDG 6 in Iran have grown over the years because of drought, groundwater loss, inefficient irrigation and more demand from cities and industry. Recent reports highlight growing concerns about lower rainfall and declining reservoir levels, especially near Tehran and other populated areas.

Much of Iran is naturally arid or semi-arid, which makes the problem harder to solve. When dry conditions persist, aquifers and reservoirs recover slowly, and the effects are felt across homes, farms and local economies.

Agriculture remains the biggest pressure point. It accounts for the majority of water use in Iran, meaning that SDG 6 in Iran is not only about household access to clean water but also about irrigation, food production and long-term water sustainability.

Unequal Impacts

The effects of water stress are not felt evenly. Rural communities, low-income households and people living in marginalized provinces often face the greatest hardship when supplies tighten. In practice, that can mean inconsistent access to water, more time spent securing basic needs and weaker sanitation conditions.

A 2023 statement on SDG 6 in Iran warned that water policymaking has often lacked inclusion, leaving some communities with less influence over the decisions that shape access to water. Water policy is not only a technical issue but also a question of who benefits when scarce resources are divided.

For vulnerable families, water shortages make it harder to stay clean, raise health risks and add stress to households already facing financial difficulties. This shows how SDG 6 in Iran is linked to reducing poverty, improving health and maintaining social stability.

Signs of Progress

Despite the scale of the challenge, there are signs that progress is possible. UNICEF reported in 2024 that it improved access to safe water in flood-affected areas of Iran, showing that emergency and recovery efforts can help restore essential services when support is available.

UNICEF’s global annual results for 2024 also point to the kind of impact water and sanitation programs can have. Worldwide, 33.3 million people gained access to safe water, 18 million gained access to basic sanitation and 21 million gained access to basic hand hygiene. Those are global figures, but they demonstrate that progress on water access is achievable when governments and aid agencies invest in the right systems.

Lasting progress for SDG 6 in Iran will require better water management, more efficient farming and improved wastewater planning to protect future supplies.

Looking Ahead

The most realistic path forward for SDG 6 in Iran is to use existing water more efficiently. Smarter irrigation, groundwater protection and wider wastewater reuse could reduce pressure on drinking water systems while helping communities stay resilient during dry periods.

Iran also needs better coordination between different sectors. Water policy is connected to food production, urban growth and environmental management, since all of these affect how much water is available and who receives it. The U.N.’s SDG 6 plan highlights the need for this kind of coordinated planning, because single solutions rarely address water insecurity on their own.

For families living with shortages, SDG 6 in Iran is not an abstract development target. It is about whether children can drink safely, whether households can maintain basic hygiene and whether communities can build a more stable future. Progress on SDG 6 in Iran remains a priority, and even modest reforms could have a meaningful impact on daily life.

– Niaz Youssefian

Niaz is based in Cardiff, UK and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Update on SDG 1 in Myanmar: Progress in Ending Poverty

SDG 1 in MyanmarMyanmar has faced decades of economic challenges, conflict and instability. Despite these barriers, the country made measurable progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1), which aims to end poverty in all its forms. However, recent political and economic disruptions have reversed some gains and pushed more people into poverty. This update on SDG 1 in Myanmar highlights both the current challenges and the solutions that continue to improve livelihoods.

Current Situation of Poverty in Myanmar

Myanmar, a Southeast Asian country with more than 54 million people, continues to face economic challenges. According to the World Bank, the country shows only moderate economic recovery while ongoing conflict and recent shocks continue to affect livelihoods. These disruptions have limited income opportunities, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas. Reduced access to jobs and essential services such as health care and education, continues to place pressure on vulnerable populations and increase poverty risks.

Social Protection and Policy Solutions

Innovative social protection policies have played an important role in reducing poverty in Myanmar. According to UNICEF, programs that provide cash transfers and targeted support to vulnerable households have helped families maintain access to essential services such as food, health care and education. These policies focus on protecting low-income populations from economic shocks while improving long-term resilience.

Evidence shows that well-designed social protection programs can reduce poverty levels and support household stability, particularly during crises such as COVID-19. By strengthening national systems and expanding access to financial assistance, these initiatives contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goal 1. This update on SDG 1 in Myanmar highlights that policy-driven approaches remain a key solution in addressing poverty and improving living conditions.

NGO-Led Livelihood and Agriculture Solutions

International organizations continue to play a key role in addressing poverty in Myanmar. Save the Children implements programs that support children and families through education, protection and livelihood assistance in vulnerable communities. These efforts aim to improve household income and increase access to essential services.

Oxfam also supports communities in Myanmar by strengthening food security and helping farmers adapt to climate-related challenges. Its programs focus on improving agricultural practices and building resilience among vulnerable populations. These initiatives help communities maintain stable incomes and reduce long-term poverty risks.

Challenges To Achieving SDG 1

Despite these efforts, Myanmar continues to face major obstacles in achieving SDG 1. Political instability, ongoing conflict and economic decline limit access to essential services and slow development progress. Rural communities and displaced populations remain the most affected.

Limited infrastructure and restricted access to education and employment opportunities also create barriers to poverty reduction. Without sustained investment and stability, these challenges may continue to hinder progress.

Future Outlook for Poverty Reduction

Achieving SDG 1 in Myanmar requires strong collaboration between international organizations, NGOs and local stakeholders. Evidence shows that combining financial assistance with livelihood support creates more sustainable outcomes. Programs that improve income opportunities while expanding access to education and services can help reduce poverty over time.

This update on SDG 1 in Myanmar highlights that while challenges remain, ongoing efforts continue to support vulnerable communities. With sustained investment and coordinated action, Myanmar can move closer to reducing poverty and improving living conditions for millions.

– Murshid Alam

Murshid is based in Chattogram, Bangladesh and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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SDG 5 in Kazakhstan: Barriers and Reform Efforts

SDG 5 in KazakhstanSDG 5 in Kazakhstan focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by ending discrimination, violence and harmful practices. While the country has implemented progressive reforms such as gender quotas and anti-violence laws, challenges remain in key areas like child marriage, domestic violence and political representation. Ongoing cooperation among the government, U.N. agencies and civil society is building momentum toward achieving SDG 5 by 2030.

Legal Barriers

In Kazakhstan, the legal marriage age is officially 18. However, exceptions allow marriage at 17, with parental consent or as young as 16 in cases of pregnancy. These provisions undermine SDG 5’s target to eliminate child marriage without exception. According to UNICEF, around 7% of girls in Kazakhstan marry before the age of 18 and early unions are more common in rural areas and among lower-income families. 

Moreover, bride kidnapping, though illegal, continues to occur in some regions, reflecting harmful traditional practices that persist despite awareness campaigns.

Organizations such as UNICEF Kazakhstan, Equality Now and the Kazakh Women’s Rights Committee have been active in advocating for stricter enforcement of marriage laws and awareness programs to discourage underage unions. These groups recommend raising the marriage age to 18 with no exceptions, improving legal protections for girls and expanding education campaigns in rural areas.

Gender-Based Violence in Kazakhstan

Gender-based violence remains one of the most serious barriers to achieving SDG 5 in Kazakhstan. According to U.N. Women, about 17% of women aged 18–49 in Kazakhstan have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner, though underreporting remains a major issue. In 2024, the parliament introduced a new bill aimed at strengthening penalties for sexual, psychological and economic abuse and expanding state protection for survivors. The bill also proposes mandatory restraining orders and specialized crisis centers for victims.

The government is also preparing to ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women, signaling a stronger international commitment. Local NGOs such as the Union of Crisis Centers also play a vital role in documenting cases, running hotlines and helping victims access legal support. 

Political Underrepresentation

Despite progress, women still hold a limited number of leadership positions. In 2024, women made up 19.4% of Kazakhstan’s parliament, below the global average of 27.5%. This remains the case despite a 30% quota for women and youth on party electoral lists introduced in 2021. The issue lies in implementation, as women are often placed lower on party lists, reducing their chances of being elected.

Advocacy organizations such as the Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative “Feminita” and the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family Policy are calling for greater transparency in the enforcement of quotas and for leadership training programs for young women. These groups argue that stronger female representation can lead to more inclusive public policies, particularly on child care, workplace equality and anti-violence legislation.

Economic Gaps

Kazakhstan has made strides in women’s economic participation. In 2024, 65.99% of women were part of the labor force, above the global average. The government has worked to remove outdated job restrictions for women and expand entrepreneurship programs. 

Women’s Entrepreneurship Centers, launched by the Ministry of Economy and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), now operate across the country, offering financial training and startup support. However, women still carry the majority of unpaid domestic and care work, which continues to limit their economic mobility. SDG 5 calls for shared responsibility for unpaid work and greater access to affordable childcare. 

Strengthening maternity protections, introducing flexible work policies and expanding public childcare centers could help ensure women’s continued participation in Kazakhstan’s growing economy.

Solutions Advancing SDG 5 in Kazakhstan

The U.N. and the Government of Kazakhstan are jointly implementing the 2026–2030 Gender Equality Roadmap, with more than $172 million invested since 2021 in data collection, justice reform and prevention programs. Women’s advocacy groups, from urban NGOs to rural community networks, are also helping drive policy reform while increasing visibility for gender equality nationwide.

With stronger laws, greater support for survivors of violence and continued reform in politics and the workplace, Kazakhstan is building the foundation to achieve SDG 5. The goal is to ensure gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.

– Niaz Youssefian

Niaz is based in Cardiff, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SDG 3 in Afghanistan: Health Gains and Persistent Barriers

SDG 3 in AfghanistanAfghanistan is still struggling to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for everyone. The country scores low on key health indicators and recent reports indicate that millions of people need humanitarian health support due to the system’s heavy strain. Years of conflict, economic problems and less international support have made Afghanistan’s health crisis worse. 

In 2024, Human Rights Watch said that big cuts in funding and technical help after the Taliban takeover have badly hurt the health care system, putting millions at higher risk of illness and poor care. These cuts have led to clinic closures and reduced services, leaving families with fewer treatment options. Even so, aid groups have kept some basic care going through emergency programs. 

Maternal and Child Health Remain Fragile

Maternal and child health is still one of the most urgent problems for SDG 3 in Afghanistan. Limits on women’s education and work in health care have made it harder to find female health workers. As a result, women and girls face more obstacles to accessing care, especially since many families already have trouble reaching clinics. 

In traditional areas, cultural rules mean women often need female providers, but there are even fewer now. This shortage puts women at greater risk during pregnancy and childbirth, when fast care can save lives. In 2025, UNICEF said that 14.3 million people in Afghanistan needed humanitarian health support and 857,000 children under 5 were expected to need treatment for severe malnutrition. 

The same report said that in May, more than seven million people got basic health services from UNICEF-supported clinics and mobile teams. These teams go to remote villages to give checkups, vaccines and nutrition support where regular clinics cannot reach. Their work helps improve child health and reduce deaths from preventable illnesses such as diarrhea and respiratory infections.

Aid Groups Address Service Gaps

Humanitarian groups still provide many of Afghanistan’s most important health services. UNICEF-supported clinics and mobile teams have helped families who might not otherwise receive care. Reports show these services are still vital for meeting urgent health needs. 

Groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) also supply medicines and train local staff to handle outbreaks and regular care. By focusing on primary health care, these groups help prevent small problems from becoming emergencies. Still, the overall health system is unstable. 

A 2025 report warned that closing health centers due to funding cuts has worsened the risks of disease and malnutrition. These shutdowns hit rural areas the hardest, where people already must travel far for care. Aid cannot fully replace public clinics, but it helps fill gaps when there is not enough funding or staff.

Other organizations, such as Médecins Sans Frontières, run hospitals in conflict zones and treat thousands of people for war injuries, infections and childbirth complications. Their teams often work in tents or damaged buildings, showing how aid can adapt to tough conditions. These efforts support SDG 3 by keeping emergency and basic care available when government services cannot.

Disease Prevention Remains Critical

Disease prevention is also an important part of SDG 3 in Afghanistan. UNICEF’s 2025 report found more cases of acute watery diarrhea and warned that Afghanistan is still at high risk for outbreaks. Poor sanitation, hard-to-reach clinics and malnutrition can quickly turn common illnesses into serious emergencies. Weak water systems and crowded living conditions make it easier for diseases like cholera to spread, especially in summer.

Due to these risks, public health work in Afghanistan focuses on both treatment and prevention. Vaccination campaigns, nutrition checks and mobile health services help reduce preventable deaths, especially among children under 5, who are still most at risk. Programs target diseases like measles, polio and pneumonia, which take many young lives each year. Community health workers also teach families about hygiene and warning signs, helping build local skills for lasting improvements.

Mental health support is now another important focus. Conflict and displacement have left many people with trauma and NGOs now offer counseling at community centers. This work supports SDG 3’s broader goal of well-being, as untreated stress can worsen physical health problems.

Concluding Remarks

Progress toward SDG 3 in Afghanistan has been uneven. The Sustainable Development Report 2025 tracks the country’s SDG results and health is still a major concern, even though there have been some small improvements in services. Vaccination rates have stayed steady in some provinces and more children are getting treatment for malnutrition than before. These steps show that targeted aid can make a difference during a crisis.

Even so, the ongoing work of aid groups and health workers offers hope for improvement. Millions of people are getting care through supported clinics, which is crucial in a country with a weak health system. For Afghanistan to achieve SDG 3, these short-term gains need to become a lasting system of care.

Stable funding, more trained female staff and better roads could turn fragile progress into lasting health security. Until then, humanitarian efforts remain the main support for SDG 3.

– Niaz Youssefian

Niaz is based in Cardiff, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project. 

Photo: Flickr

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Towards Climate Collaboration: The U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact

U.K.–Pakistan Green CompactPakistan, consistently ranked among the top 10 nations most vulnerable to climate emergencies, has experienced an increasing frequency of floods, droughts and heatwaves in recent decades. As a result, its population remains in constant flux, facing the dual challenges of poverty and a deteriorating ecological system. Like other climate-affected nations, an increasingly volatile environment poses a significant barrier to sustained, wholesale development.

In response to these challenges, the U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact stands as a landmark agreement in global climate cooperation, marking a critical step toward safeguarding one of the world’s most at-risk nations.

The Deal

The U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact offers Pakistan a collaborative means to ameliorate some of the most pressing ecological challenges that it has faced in recent years. The agreement unlocks more than $35 million in targeted U.K. funding for projects that support the development of green energy and promote preventative solutions, such as the investment in expanding mangrove conservation. 

The compact is centered around five pillars:

  • Clean energy transition
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Innovation and youth empowerment
  • Climate finance and investment
  • Adaptation and resilience

Stabilizing Pakistan’s Vulnerable Regions

The accessibility of finance to support sustainable climate projects is one of the major barriers to progress in Pakistan, a central concern that this compact hopes to address. The climate development that this will facilitate will, in turn, stabilize the regions in Pakistan most directly impacted by the floods, droughts and heatwaves that claimed more than 1,000 lives in 2025 alone. In particular, greater efforts in mangrove conservation made possible by this deal will help protect coastal communities from ongoing flooding risks. 

These floods weaken local economies, destroy homes and infrastructure and threaten the lives of both people and their livestock. More than 18 million Pakistanis were affected by the 2025 monsoon floods. The disaster led to widespread displacement and the destruction of vital public assets.

Essential cropland exceeding 2.23 million acres was either submerged or destroyed. This loss erased critical resources that support regional food security and an economy partly dependent on agriculture. The macroeconomic effects of the disaster are severe. It is projected to reduce the nation’s GDP for 2025–26 by up to 2%, posing a significant barrier to development.

The targeted solutions that the U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact provides hope to the roughly 60 million people living in poverty in Pakistan. The highest concentration of national poverty is found in the most rurally situated districts. As a result, it is the communities most reliant on agriculture that are made the most vulnerable by the impacts of changing climatic conditions. 

Final Thoughts

Collaborative action between international powers, such as the U.K.–Pakistan Green Compact, is essential for building a global framework for climate cooperation. This approach enables the sharing of data, resources, systems and expertise to address the climate crisis and its direct link to high poverty rates.

The future of climate action and poverty reduction is closely interconnected. It depends largely on sustained, large-scale international collaboration. The Green Compact deal stands as a strong example of the kind of coordinated economic action needed to support a more environmentally stable and economically resilient future.

– Evan Meikle

Evan is based in Kingston Upon Hull, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr