Archive for category: Sustainable Development Goals

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Commitment to SDG10: Reducing Inequality in South Africa

Reducing Inequality in South AfricaRace remains the largest driver of inequality in South Africa, shaped by a legacy that has remained largely unchanged. The effects of apartheid continue to undermine progress toward equality. For decades, the World Bank has ranked South Africa as the most unequal country in the world.

This inequality continues to limit social mobility, reinforcing a cycle of wealth and poverty. Many individuals are effectively assigned a future of either “rags or riches” at birth. While Sustainable Development Goal 10 aims to reduce inequality, high income and opportunity gaps persist due to long-standing structural injustices.

Inequality in South Africa can largely be traced to three key factors: pre-income distribution, unequal access to education and wage disparities.

Pre-Income Distribution

Pre-income distribution refers to factors that influence wealth and opportunity before income is earned. These include land ownership, inheritance and race, all of which are “born into” factors that cannot be changed, giving individuals a natural advantage or disadvantage from birth.

In South Africa, the Gini coefficient remains at 0.63, with the top 20% of the population accounting for nearly 70% of income. In comparison, the bottom 20% is left with less than 5%. Race remains the most dominant determining factor in pre-income distribution. Fifty years after apartheid, its impact is still evident, leaving lasting reminders of the grip it once had on the country.

Some progress has been made toward transparency in income inequality. Recent Companies Act amendments now require firms to disclose CEO-to-worker pay ratios. The Labor Research Service reports that the current average across the JSE Top 40 companies is approximately 1,270:1. This aspect of inequality has been addressed most effectively through social grants.

With one of the largest social grant systems in the world, South Africa has reached millions of vulnerable citizens. These grants have been widely commended. By 2011, the number of grant recipients had increased by 13.6 million since 1998. Although the Gini coefficient still indicates significant inequality, social grants have helped stabilize the incomes of some of the country’s most impoverished households, preventing inequality levels from rising even further.

Wage Inequality

Even after overcoming barriers to employment, many South Africans continue to face inequality. On average, women in South Africa earn 12% less than their male counterparts. Almost half of this gap (45%) is attributed to women’s disproportionate employment in lower-paying firms.

Structural unemployment is another significant contributor to wage inequality. With the economy in a state of stagnation, the job market is suffering. With jobs themselves hard to come by and few in number, this is a significant driver of inequality.

In recent years, youth unemployment has risen to more than 46%, contributing to poverty and reinforcing the country’s slow economic growth. This has created another major barrier to reducing inequality in South Africa.

Access to Education

Schools in South Africa face significant resource constraints, resulting in wide gaps in students’ fundamental skills. This was highlighted in 2021, when it was found that approximately 80% of Grade 4 learners could not read for meaning, unable to comprehend or extract information from text. This outcome stems from a broader lack of resources.

Infrastructure and qualified teachers remain in short supply, particularly in poorer, rural communities. Still grappling with the consequences of its past, spatial inequality continues to limit access to education. “The legacy of colonialism and apartheid, rooted in racial and spatial segregation, continues to reinforce inequality,” United Nations Human Rights Office.

Spatial inequality was influenced greatly by the Group Areas Act of 1950. The initiative removed black families from urban areas, relocating them to underdeveloped, rural towns. As families were forced to settle in these new designated areas, generations later, spatial segregation persisted.

Lacking infrastructure, these areas were burdened with numerous encumbrances, allowing families living there to fall behind their thriving suburban peers. This stark contrast remains, most notably in the suburbs and townships of Johannesburg.

Conclusion

Pervasive structural injustices left over from apartheid still linger, despite staggering progress in reducing inequality in South Africa. The nation has nonetheless made impressive strides toward achieving SDG 10. These include social grants and legislative amendments that demand transparency on wage disparities, thereby perpetuating pressure and accountability.

– Maya Hollick

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

Photo: Flickr

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Local2030 Islands Network: SDGs in Developing Island States

Local2030 Islands Network: Scaling up SDGs in Developing Island States The world’s small island territories and nations face unique development challenges and are collectively identified as Small Island Developing States by the United Nations (U.N.). These islands commonly experience high costs of living, limited financial opportunities, import dependence and climate vulnerability. Together, these factors create conditions for undiversified and vulnerable economies, contributing to high levels of poverty among island populations. With frequent climate hazards, these challenges become further exacerbated, disrupting both livelihoods and ecosystems that are essential for long-term island sustainability and income generation. The U.N. has emphasized the importance of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing island states, as these states are at the forefront of making sustainable transitions.

The Local2030 Islands Network

To help address these issues, the Local2030 Islands Network was developed as the first island-to-island network dedicated to locally scaling up the SDGs in developing island states. This network emphasizes implementing goals in ways that reflect the realities of individual island communities. Launched in 2019, the network facilitates cooperation between island governments, organizations and local leaders to scale up sustainable development. As of 2025, 28 island states have joined the network, and many more have engaged in planning efforts and identifying localized solutions. The network serves as a platform where islands can share experiences and best practices, identify local priorities and develop actionable plans.

With the network’s support, island members commit to four key objectives to help execute development agendas. These commitments include advancing political leadership to support climate resilience, strengthening public-private partnerships, transparently measuring SDG progress and implementing concrete initiatives that address local goals. The network also includes “communities of practice” (CoP) that focus on priority island-related issues such as sustainable income generation and climate resilience. These CoP serve as digital platforms that bring together experts, civil society members, stakeholders and community representatives to utilize a combination of technical assistance, Indigenous knowledge and modern technology to address multiple challenges and areas of focus.

Guam Green Growth Initiative

One of the network’s recently implemented projects is taking shape in Guam, a United States (U.S.) territory located in the western Pacific Ocean. Known as the Guam Green Growth Initiative (G3), it is part of the island’s 10-year plan for scaling up local SDGs. This plan includes a framework for addressing local goals related to creating circular economies, expanding opportunities in green jobs and building food system resilience.

Recent assessments of Guam’s poverty rate suggest that one in five residents live below the poverty line, a figure that is double that of the U.S.

As part of G3, decision-makers are combining conservation and economic opportunity to address this issue with long-term solutions, with efforts underway to transition the island to a diversified, circular economy that offers greater financial opportunities for residents. This work includes multiple skills development and job preparation programs, as well as efforts to enhance local cottage industries. One skills development program, known as the Conservation Corps, offers paid training for individuals to learn a wide range of skills within the green jobs sector, supporting the island’s transition to a green economy.

Additional programs support the development of small businesses and cottage industries. The G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub facilitates cottage industry growth by providing local entrepreneurs and businesses with access to specialized tools, technologies and training for sustainable business practices.

G3 also strengthens partnerships with local organizations, including Guam Unique Merchandise and Art, a local nonprofit that provides small businesses with training and grants to help them grow. This support creates additional small-business employment opportunities and reduces reliance on imported products.

Strengthening Food Security and Local Resilience

G3 promotes social and economic protections by enhancing local food security. Guam imports a large portion of its food, resulting in high prices and increased vulnerability to global supply shocks. G3 addresses this issue by supporting local agriculture, aquaculture and community garden projects. The G3 community gardens offer cost-efficient and sustainable solutions that promote local food security, contribute to food banks and support food access for vulnerable populations facing homelessness and poverty.

A focus on agriculture, aquaculture and aquaponics also contributes to food sovereignty and security in Guam. Through partnerships with local nonprofits such as Guåhan Sustainable Culture, G3 provides workforce development and resources for small-scale farmers.

Additionally, five aquaculture and aquaponics projects have been implemented on the island, providing resources for sustainable, year-round crop and fish production. Through educational initiatives, community members learn to manage these systems, building capacity for the expansion of local aquafarms.

Looking Ahead

The Guam Green Growth Initiative demonstrates how locally driven approaches can advance the SDGs in developing island states. By integrating economic diversification and sustainable food systems, Guam moves toward a more resilient future. As challenges persist for island communities, the Local2030 Islands Network continues to support initiatives such as G3, which offer lessons for other islands to replicate and adapt. Continued collaboration and locally based solutions remain vital to building sustainable futures for island communities.

– Quinlan Bohannon

Quinlan is based in Portland, OR, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Advancing SDG 1 in Lebanon: Building Livelihoods

SDG 1 in LebanonWith nine out of 10 Syrian refugees in Lebanon unable to meet their basic needs, eight out of 10 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon living in poverty and almost a million citizens internally displaced, sweeping international aid cuts in 2025 threaten to plunge hundreds of thousands deeper into destitution. The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports a 74% funding shortfall for its Lebanon operation, forcing severe reductions in health, shelter and cash assistance programs. As the world pursues Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, the mission of ending poverty in all its forms, the current crisis in Lebanon serves as a poignant reminder that emergency aid alone cannot break the cycle. In response to this reality, innovative programs are pivoting to build sustainable refugee livelihoods in Lebanon, creating economic stepping stones for the most vulnerable while fortifying fractured local communities. Here is information about SDG 1 in Lebanon.

A Multilayered Crisis for Refugees

Lebanon hosts more than 660,000 registered Syrian refugees and around 450,000 Palestinian refugees, a population whose acute vulnerability is layered upon the host country’s own profound economic collapse, ranked among the world’s worst since the 19th century. A 2025 socio-economic assessment by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) found that 90% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon now live in extreme poverty, while a U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) report found that more than 80% of their Palestinian counterparts to be in similar circumstances of pauperism.

On top of this economic devastation, the war with Israel which began in late 2023 has compounded the plight of the most vulnerable immensely with Israeli hostilities still ongoing despite an official ceasefire. As of late 2024, the warfare has displaced more than 878,000 people within Lebanon, damaged vital infrastructure like water facilities and schools and further constricted the already narrow space for economic activity, particularly in southern border regions.

The Systemic Barriers to Livelihoods

For refugees and the undocumented internally displaced, legal and systemic barriers obstruct the path to a secure livelihood in Lebanon. Restrictive work permit policies and the collapse of formal labor markets has pushed refugees into informal, precarious and often exploitative work. This reality traps families in a cycle of aid dependency, just as that aid is being withdrawn, while impeding any viable path toward real economic recovery. The humanitarian sector itself faces internal challenges in fostering sustainable solutions. Research from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) highlights that despite commitments to “localization”—the effort to empower national and community-based organizations—funding and decision-making authority often remain centralized within large international agencies. This disconnect has hindered the development of responsive, culturally attuned livelihood programs that are integrated into local economic ecosystems.

A Model for Empowerment: The IRC’s Social Recovery Project

A concrete example of an approach designed to overcome these barriers is the Support for Social Recovery Needs of Vulnerable Groups Phase II (SRP2) project, a $5.6 million initiative that the World Bank funded and the IRC implemented. Through a strategy designed to pivot away from the conventional myopic, top-down, stop-gap unilateral relief funding that perpetuates cycles of dependency, the project finances a network of Lebanese NGOs to deliver integrated capacity-building interventions. This includes critical support services such as case management for gender-based violence survivors and mental health counselling, which address the profound psychosocial distress that can prevent individuals from seeking or maintaining employment.

The project explicitly links recovery services to long-term economic empowerment through a design that integrates vocational training, digital skills development and job placement support directly into its recovery framework. Increased access to and improved quality of services for its target groups—including GBV survivors, individuals with mental health challenges and persons with disabilities—measure its success. For instance, a survivor of violence receiving psychosocial support can also access market-relevant skills training, breaking the isolation of trauma and building practical avenues to income. By channeling World Bank funds through the IRC to local NGO partners, the model actively builds in-country organizational resilience. This “graduation” approach to partnership seeks to foster stronger, self-reliant local institutions, directly addressing the localization gap identified in sectoral research.

The Imperative for Strategic Investment

Broader humanitarian planning reflects the strategic shift towards livelihoods. The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) 2025 Crisis Response Plan for Lebanon allocates $12.6 million specifically for “livelihoods and economic recovery” operating on the rationale that investing in people’s economic agency is a cornerstone of stability. IRC research has found that NGOs run nearly 70% of primary healthcare centers in Lebanon, corroborating the sector’s pivotal role where state capacity is still limited. Supporting these local actors to deliver economic programs is not only a natural extension of their work, but also a prudent use of already established and experienced local networks.

The Path Forward for SDG 1 in Lebanon

Achieving SDG 1 in Lebanon demands a layered, forward-looking strategy to confront the livelihood crisis for refugees and the internally displaced. Immediate humanitarian support remains critical to prevent a catastrophic deterioration in living standards, making the current funding shortfall an urgent priority. Concurrently, donors and implementers must strategically and significantly scale up investments in sustainable refugee livelihoods and rebuilding efforts. This means funding integrated programs that pair protection services with skills training, advocating for policies that expand legal work rights, and, most importantly, following through on localization commitments by providing flexible, direct funding to native organizations with the community knowledge to run effective programs. A durable cessation of Israeli military aggression in the south remains a fundamental prerequisite for stability and economic recovery.

Programs like SRP2 demonstrate that by intentionally linking recovery to economic opportunity and by strengthening local partners, international aid can transition from sustaining dependence to fostering self-reliance. For SDG 1 to move from aspiration to reality in Lebanon, enabling the displaced to resettle and empowering refugees to build their own sustainable livelihoods is an indispensable approach.

– Georgio Moussa

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Updates on SDG 2 in Sudan: The Battle Against Hunger

SDG 2 in SudanIn 2015, all U.N. member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agenda revolved around commitment to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a call to action for all developed and developing countries to commit to a unified approach to ending poverty and other global deprivations, with the U.N. Secretary General presenting annual SDG Progress Reports.

António Guterres presented the latest SDG Progress Report this year, which noted that global hunger and food, while having declined in recent history, are still above the figures from before the COVID-19 pandemic. With SDG 2 being the goal to attain levels of zero hunger, here are all the updates on SDG 2 in Sudan, including both the situation on the ground as well as the progress that is underway to combat rampant hunger in Sudan, as the African nation currently experiences a catastrophic famine.

Violence and Its Impact on Hunger

After three years of violence due to the conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Military, UNICEF reports that the conflict has affected 30 million people —  half of them children —  with violence such as summary executions, starvation, rape and bombardment displacing at least 10 million, which U.N. reports claim fit the 2008 U.N. Security Council definition for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 21.2 million people — nearly half of the population — are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, as conflict areas such as El Fasher and Kadugli have confirmed famine conditions. Restricted access due to violent conflict, as well as inflated food prices, strenuous journeys to receive aid, starving mothers’ reduced ability to breastfeed and funding cuts for said aid have driven the country to experience high levels of food insecurity.

UNICEF also reports that in the state of South Kordofan, where Kadugli is the capital, 10,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while more than 70% of hospitals in areas experiencing violence are non-operational. Hospitals in safer areas are overwhelmed with limited resources and staff not receiving pay, severely limiting any safety net for families caught in a cycle of malnutrition.

Efforts on the Ground

As previously mentioned, funding cuts for relief organizations have limited the on-the-ground support for SDG 2 in Sudan. However, the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Special Snapshot reveals that as of September 2025, acute food insecurity had slightly improved with an estimated 3.4 million people no longer falling into the same category level of hunger, being IPC phase 3 or above, that they had from December 2024 to May 2035, the previous period of analysis. Furthermore, the IPC states that it expects food security conditions to improve between October 2025 and January 2026 with the arrival of the harvest season, though these harvest gains will be limited in some violence-ridden regions.

These incremental gains for SDG 2 in Sudan reflect the persistence of agencies like FAO, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP).

  • FAO is focusing on providing emergency livestock, fishery supplies and veterinary services for animals deemed vital sources of protein and nutrition to strengthen local food systems. In the summer of 2024, FAO and its partners distributed 5,000 MT of seeds, reaching around 2.7 million people.
  • Between January and November 2024, UNICEF screened 6.7 million children under 5 for malnutrition and more than 415,772 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition were treated. UNICEF recently regained access to South Kordofan, delivering convoys of essential medicines and ready-to-use therapeutic food — a nutrient-rich peanut paste that can save children suffering from acute malnutrition. For parents like Zahra, whose three-year-old daughter Tahir was suffering from malnutrition, this convoy was the first real sign of relief and survival for her child in many months.
  • WFP delivers both food aid and cash assistance through its Food Assistance for Assets program, while distributing its micronutrient-rich product “VITAMINO” to children under 5, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. As of December 2024, WFP had delivered food assistance to more than 800,000 Sudanese at risk of famine.

In addition, both UNICEF and the WFP offer vocational training for adolescents and adults, respectively, to provide greater access to livelihood opportunities as a safeguard against multigenerational poverty and hunger.

Looking Ahead

Despite encouraging signs that progress has occurred towards SDG 2 in Sudan has not completely ceased as famine in Sudan remains one of the most urgent humanitarian crises in the world with UNICEF stating that advocacy is crucial in the desire for greater humanitarian access across conflict lines both to provide more aid and to collect more data, increased foreign aid, mainly in the form of flexible spending, as well as a cessation of hostilities, the latter of which both UNICEF and the WFP deem vital in containing food insecurity and malnutrition.

With the FAO stating its need for $156.7 million for 2025 to assist 14.2 million people, UNICEF also urges the international community, including U.S. Congress and other donor governments, to increase flexible funding that allows rapid allocation to the most vulnerable.

Despite the dire circumstances, the persistence of local farmers, aid workers and global partners continues to plant the seeds of hope that sustain SDG 2’s mission. Each harvest supported, each child treated for malnutrition and each family trained for self-reliance moves Sudan — however slowly — closer to the promise of zero hunger.

– Luca Hanlon

Luca is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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5 Ways Kenya is Reducing Poverty

5 Ways Kenya is Reducing PovertyKenya, a country on the East African coast, has a population of around 56.4 million, where around 39% of the population lives below the national poverty line. The Kenyan government has recently made a pledge toward Kenya Vision 2030, which prioritises meeting its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as working toward eradicating extreme poverty by turning Kenya into a middle-income country. These frameworks aim to promote long-term development while focusing on different “pillars of action”: economic empowerment, social protection, access to basic services, inclusive governance and environmental sustainability. Here are 5 ways Kenya is reducing Poverty: 

Social Protection Programs

As part of Kenya Vision 2030, social protection programs have been pushed to be implemented as a solution to rising poverty and inequalities (SDG 1 and 10). For instance, the Inua Jamii Programme transfers cash to vulnerable people, like orphans, the elderly and people with disabilities. Since 2018, the initiative has spent more than $230,000 per year helping the people of Kenya stay out of poverty. In Kenya, around 80% of its land is classed as arid and semi-arid (ASAL), meaning the amount of rainfall the regions receive annually is little to none.

The Hunger Safety Net Program (HSNP) helps provide regular cash transfers to these dry regions, which struggle to grow crops. Approximately, this program has helped stop almost 800,000 people from going hungry despite their agricultural limitations. These programs are all part of the National Safety Net Program (NSNP), which funds and promotes these various frameworks in hopes of improving the efficiency and reach of these initiatives. The NSNP is vital in helping Kenya reduce poverty across its lands.

Agricultural Transformation

Agriculture largely remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, employing around 70% of the rural population. Under the Big Four Agenda, a presidential initiative first launched in 2017, food security is a large area of focus. The government began to promote the leasing and sales of agricultural equipment to enable farmers to have access to otherwise expensive equipment.

Similarly, the implementation of more support for those in agriculture allows for a more stable income. These acts are crucial to achieving zero hunger and decent work and economic growth (SDG 2 and 8) in aid of Kenya reducing poverty while also advancing Vision 2030’s goal of a stable and growing economy.

Universal Health Coverage

Kenya’s recent push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is transforming access to health care across the country. The expansion of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which now includes access for informal sector workers and vulnerable groups, is part of this shift. Community health volunteers (CHVs) are beginning to play a key role in delivering primary care at the lower grassroots levels of society.

Pilot programs in counties like Kisumu and Nyeri have proven the potential of UHC to reduce unnecessary expenses and improve health outcomes. These initiatives help support good health and well-being (SDG 3) and promote equitable health care as part of Kenya Vision 2030.

Education Access Equity

Education reforms are expanding across Kenya, improving access and quality of teaching. Free primary and subsidised secondary education have increased enrolment rates, while school feeding programs in marginalised areas have been shown to enhance attendance and nutrition amongst the children. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are equipping youth with market-relevant skills for the wider world. Digital literacy programs like Ajira Digital and the Presidential DigiTalent Program are aiming to prepare young Kenyans for the future of work, like learning key skills of data entry or transcription. These efforts are instrumental for quality education (SDG 4) to be achieved, as well as promoting Kenya Vision 2030’s focus on human capital development; these factors reflect Kenya’s reduction in poverty as well as a sense of changing hope for the new generations to come.

Youth Employment and Skills Development

Youth employment is a huge priority for the Kenyan government, with over 75% of its population being under 35. Programs like the Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities Project (KYEOP) offer training opportunities, internships and business grants. The project has helped more than 145,000 Kenyans participate in its programs, with around 125,000 direct jobs being created. It has promoted a 50% increase in wages for its beneficiaries and allowed the employment rate to rise to around 85% among its participants.

Looking Ahead

Overall, Kenya has made significant progress toward its SDGs, helping improve Kenyan livelihoods every day. Its poverty reduction strategy is bold and inclusive; however, challenges like the changing climate and urban poverty remain. Nonetheless, Kenya is reducing poverty levels and showing ongoing reform and innovation, offering hope for the future. As the country moves toward 2030, its vision remains clear for the future of its citizens.

– Megan Burrows

Megan is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SDG 7 in Africa: Funding Africa’s Green Transition

SDG 7 in AfricaSDG 7 aims to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all,” and is currently at risk of not being realized by 2030. However, an area of the world that is making real progress is Africa, a continent that has been struggling with overreliance on costly and unsustainable fossil fuels. A recent initiative from the European Commission is highlighting how global collective action can have a real impact in accelerating the aims of SDG 7 in Africa.

Africa’s Energy Transition

Africa accounts for 60% of the planet’s best solar energy resources, as well as presiding over an abundance of geothermal, hydropower, and wind energy. Despite this, the continent only attracts 2% of global renewable energy investment, meaning that 600 million people on the continent still live without a reliable source of electricity.

Africa’s demand for energy could increase eightfold by the year 2050, and in order to feed this demand in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner, there needs to be a transition away from fossil fuels to renewables, according to the Global Africa Business Initiative.

Scaling up Renewables in Africa Campaign

In a bid to accelerate Africa’s energy transition, the European Commission, in collaboration with advocacy organization Global Citizen and the Republic of South Africa, launched the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign. Inaugurated on the eve of the 2024 G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, the campaign will conclude with an event as part of the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg. Founded on the target agreed upon at COP28, to triple the planet’s capacity for green energy by 2030, the campaign is centered on accumulating commitments and finance from the public and private sectors, as well as from global banks and philanthropists, in order to accelerate the green transition throughout Africa.

New Funding

On September 30 2025, the European Commission announced a raft of new funding. The package totaled €545 million and was announced at the Global Citizen Festival. The €545 million should go on projects across the African continent, to expand access to electricity, update aging energy infrastructure and increasing the use of renewables. The timing of this announcement feeds into the broader aims of the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign, building momentum for its conclusion at the November G20 summit in Johannesburg.

Affected Projects

Among the projects announced are the construction of a more efficient regional energy distribution network in Côte d’Ivoire, for €359.4 million; an investment of €59.1 million in Cameroon to electrify rural areas, impacting more than 2.5 million people; and a €45.5 million pledge to make renewable forms of energy more accessible and affordable for Somali communities, furthermore, helping move towards achieving SDG 7 in Africa. Smaller projects affected by this announcement include funding for the Renewable Lesotho program, helping to realize the country’s potential hydro and wind energy production, a solar farm in Ghana and the installation of mini grids in Madagascar’s rural interior.

Impacts on Poverty

The links between poor access to electricity and poverty are evident. Through increasing access to electricity, rural households throughout Africa will be able to escape the vicious cycle of poverty through more efficient lighting, heating, cooking, communication and even financing. This frees up more time for economic productivity and education, which in turn leads to higher earnings and the potential to eliminate economic poverty.

Increasing access to renewable energy renders the transition out of poverty sustainable, allowing countries to modernize without jeopardizing their future environmental health. The excessive use of fossil fuels is a potential existential threat to the biodiversity of African nations, harming many people’s way of life. Green electrification, as offered by the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa campaign, is a perfect answer to the often-competing targets of environmental conservation and poverty alleviation, as well as providing a more cost-effective solution than economic development built on fossil fuel usage.

Final Notes

The pledge of €545 million is a major indicator of the global community’s commitment to SDG 7. Since this announcement, the EU pledged a further €618 million to fund an even wider array of projects across the continent, moving closer to achieving SDG 7 in Africa. This demonstrates the continued emphasis that the European Commission is placing on championing renewables in Africa and signals the continuation of the positive momentum in Africa’s green transition heading into the G20.

– Henry Weiser

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

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 5 in Argentina

SDG 5 in ArgentinaArgentina has made significant progress in advancing gender equality, and according to the Sustainable Development Report, it is one of the few countries, not just in Latin America, but globally, that is on track to achieve SDG 5 by 2030. Argentina has implemented “100% of the legal frameworks under the SDG that promote, enforce and monitor gender equality.” This article dives into updates on SDG 5 in Argentina.

Sustainable Development Goal 5

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replaced the Millennium Development Goals, aiming to transform the world. As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, all United Nations member states adopted the SDGs, which comprise 17 goals and 169 targets aimed at achieving development by 2030. 

 The fifth goal, or SDG ,5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Its targets include ending all forms of discrimination, violence and harmful practices against women, among others. It also aims to ensure women’s equal representation in leadership at all levels of different spheres of life.

SDG 5 Progress in Argentina

The following section highlights recent updates on SDG 5 in Argentina, based on certain indicators of the goal. Among the indicators that the goal uses to measure progress, one focuses on the labor force participation of women by evaluating the ratio of female-to-male labor force participation. As of 2024, the rate was 73.73%, an increase from 67.59% in 2000, representing a slow but sustained rise.

Another indicator, measuring the ratio of the mean years of education that women and men aged 25 and older received, reached a peak of 104.92% in 2021. With relation to this indicator, the country has remained predominantly consistent over the last two decades, routinely surpassing the intended target of 100, demonstrating that, on average, women receive more years of education.

Meanwhile, a third indicator has shown a drastic improvement from the turn of the century. From holding less than 30% of seats in National Parliaments, the country, at its best, in 2024, witnessed nearly 45% of women leaders. There has been a slight dip in 2025, but so far it seems to be on track to achieve 50%.

Furthermore, the vulnerability of female employment in Argentina has also improved since 1991. As of 2023, the rates were 20.6% among women and 23.8% among men. In both cases, it is lower than the average rate in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lower vulnerable employment rates also have a relatively positive impact on poverty in the country, given that workers in vulnerable employment are more likely to fall into poverty.

Areas for Continued Growth

While Argentina has made notable progress in achieving SDG 5, certain areas require continued work to address necessary gaps. One such aspect that remains a challenge is physical and/or sexual violence. In 2018, among women aged 15-49 years, 4.5% reported that they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.

With respect to labor, men spent 9.2% of their time on unpaid care and domestic work, while women and girls aged 15 and above spent more than 20%. The adolescent birth rate per 1,000 women aged 15-19 also rose to 0.9 in 2021. Though not a concerning figure, it was a slight increase from 0.8 in 2020.

Additionally, Argentina is working to close existing gender data gaps to fulfil its SDG 5-related commitments. A key area where data gaps exist is gender and poverty. Given that the female poverty rate is higher than the male poverty rate globally, this data could have a significant impact on empowering women and alleviating poverty in Argentina.

UN Women’s Initiative

Nonetheless, various initiatives have been and continue to be put in place to overcome these challenges. One such example is the Connected to the Future: The Potential of Digital Training to Accelerate Equality initiative, which U.N. Women launched in collaboration with Nokia aimed to bridge the digital divide. This multisector collaboration aims to enhance women’s access to employment in key sectors and to promote entrepreneurship through training and the development of local networks in Argentina.

As a part of the initiative, 80 women from across 52 municipalities in Puntos Mujer participated in the training surrounding cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, personal finance and digital violence, among others. The program also supports the U.N. Women Strategic Plan 2022-2025, particularly the digital inclusion strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean and encourages women’s economic empowerment in digital spaces, which is a feature critical for sustainable economic development in communities.

The Women’s Forum for Equal Opportunities

The citizens are also empowered, and they, too, are increasingly championing women’s rights throughout the country. For instance, indigenous and feminist women’s groups throughout Argentina are campaigning to stop racist sexual violence and femicide. The Women’s Forum for Equal Opportunities is one such organization. It has established women-led community networks by training local leaders on gender issues to assist survivors of violence. This has played a significant role in supporting survivors from regions with no access to telephone lines or the internet.

Looking Ahead

While Argentina faces some challenges in its path to achieving SDG 5, the programs and initiatives being implemented are working actively to bridge the gap by the end of the decade. 

– Priya Doshi

Priya is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Farming for Peace: SDG 2 in Colombia

SDG 2 in ColombiaSDG 2 is a development goal set by the U.N. to create a “world free of hunger by 2030.” Global food insecurity has been increasing alarmingly since 2015, caused by factors like the pandemic, war and deepening global wealth inequality. The U.N. reports that in 2023, 2.3 billion people faced food insecurity, increasing from 383 million in 2019.

As promoted by the U.N., SDG 2 requires coordinated national efforts to alleviate hunger. Reform and investment in sectors such as agriculture and farming can break rural poverty cycles by offering employment, opportunity and building food security during disasters and violence.

Colombia’s Poverty Problem

Despite Colombia’s status as an upper-middle-income country, food insecurity and poverty are critical issues, particularly in rural areas. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that in 2025, 25% of the population is food insecure. Many rural Colombians rely on farming to make a living.

Yet, structural challenges and the prevalence of drug production often make this livelihood unstable. As the Colombian Council of Ministers stated, 1% of landowners control the Casa de Nariño, 65% of fertile farming land. Lower-income farmers are often given no legal or formal recognition of their lands.

Due to Colombia’s terrain, many farming communities are remote, with limited infrastructure, investment and access to opportunities. Faced with this, many Colombians become trapped in the cycle of growing the more accessible and demanded coca plant, used to make cocaine, as an option for survival. Coca displaces crops, reduces local food availability and deepens drug-related violence and displacement, contributing to the cycle of food insecurity and poverty.

Creating Change

Introduced in February 2025, President Gustavo commenced the initiative “Pact for Land and Life: Revolution for Life.” It addresses inequalities and promotes rural livelihoods through agricultural reform and farming. The pact focuses on land redistribution and the eradication of coca production.

The program offers farmers financial incentives to transition to sustainable crops such as coffee, sugarcane and livestock. Transition is assisted with technical training, funding and equipment, with some towns requiring infrastructure such as new roads to improve market access. This promotes food security by giving farmers the dignity and opportunity to start again, earn money more safely and trade within the law.

This creates a stronger relationship between rural farmers and the government, boosting the likelihood of further investment and infrastructure in rural communities. It would also stop the prevalence of drug production and the associated violence that it brings.

While the threat of drug violence, difficulties in accessing remote regions and the challenge of generating adequate funding have slowed government plans, nonprofit organizations such as Mercy Corps have stepped in. They provide essential support in alleviating food insecurity.

The Work of Mercy Corps

Since 2005, Mercy Corps has worked in Colombia to tackle the root of coca cultivation, focusing on sustainable agriculture, land formalization and economic inclusion. In rural, impoverished and conflict-affected regions like Catatumbo, where farmers are forced to rely on coca to get by, Mercy Corps helps farmers transition to legal and sustainable forms of income.

Through initiatives such as ALGO Nuevo, more than 3,000 farmers have replaced more than 1,800 hectares of coca with crops such as coffee and yucca. The charity also works alongside the National Land Agency and local governments to develop marginalized groups’ property rights and reduce land formalization costs.

Conclusion

The effect of agricultural focus on reform in Colombia shows the potential of farming in alleviating food insecurity and achieving SDG 2. Land redistribution, coca eradication and training have provided invaluable socioeconomic opportunities to the nation’s most marginalized and vulnerable groups. It builds greater stability, promotes peace and builds resistance to occurrences of violence and displacement, as well as facilitating individuals to have dignified work.

Colombia serves as a case study for the coordinated efforts required for SDG 2 and how farming unlocks a new reality for some of the world’s most impoverished and remote communities.

– Mia Keen

Mia is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Azerbaijan’s Poverty Rate: Progress and Challenges

Azerbaijan's Poverty RateAzerbaijan’s poverty rate trends reflect progress and persistent challenges as the country works toward the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent social reform packages, including the Agency for Sustainable and Operative Social Provision (DOST Agency) model and expanded pensions, show the government’s commitment to strengthening social protection. Yet, rising living costs, gender inequality in the workforce and the reliance on hydrocarbons highlight gaps that could leave vulnerable populations behind.

This article examines how Azerbaijan’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021–2025) shapes poverty reduction and identifies the steps needed to achieve lasting progress.

Poverty Trends in Azerbaijan

Over the past two decades, Azerbaijan has made significant progress in reducing poverty. In 2001, nearly half of the population lived below the national poverty line, according to the State Statistical Committee. By 2023, the Asian Development Bank estimated that only 5.2% of the population lived below the poverty threshold. Economic growth, social protection reforms and targeted poverty alleviation programs have driven progress.

Azerbaijan’s poverty rate indicates that, despite overall improvements, poverty disproportionately affects certain groups more than others. Rural areas, internally displaced persons, children from large households and individuals with disabilities continue to experience higher rates of poverty.

Social Protection and Reform Initiatives

The government implemented the DOST Agency to support its SDGs. The government expanded pensions to cover a broader range of groups, including families of martyrs, persons with disabilities, women with more than five children and low-income households, marking the fifth social reform package implemented since 2018. These programs aim to reduce Azerbaijan’s poverty rate.

Persistent Challenges

Azerbaijan’s economy remains highly dependent on oil and gas exports, leaving it vulnerable to global price fluctuations and energy transitions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that, although growth in the non-oil sector is increasing, the economy remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbons. Inflation rose to 4.9% in December 2024, partly due to price adjustments in energy, transportation and utilities.

Key social and economic challenges include limited income-generating opportunities for women, youth and smallholder farmers and unequal access to essential public services in health, education and social protection.

Looking Toward 2030 Goals

Azerbaijan is advancing toward the U.N.’s 2030 SDGs. The government has prioritized all 17 SDGs, 88 targets and 119 indicators, coordinating progress through the National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development. Voluntary National Reviews and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) have highlighted private sector engagement, social protection and inclusive education achievements.

The UNSDCF emphasizes people-centered policies and economic diversification beyond the hydrocarbon sector. Addressing these priorities aims to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda and mitigate the risk that marginalized populations are left behind. These coordinated efforts aim to reduce Azerbaijan’s poverty rate, ensuring economic growth benefits all population segments.

– Isaac Nelson

Isaac is based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 9 in Colombia: Hydrogen, Jobs and Innovation

SDG 9 in ColombiaIn 2021, Colombia’s Ministry of Energy unveiled an ambitious plan to transition to clean energy by 2050 by replacing fossil fuels with a low-emission hydrogen solution. As of 2025, not only has Colombia remained consistent in its efforts, it is on track to becoming a regional leader in energy sustainability. This article lists some updates on SDG 9 in Colombia.

The 2015 Paris Agreement to reduce the rate of global warming spurred nations into modernizing their energy sources. Part of Colombia’s SDG 9, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, is a commitment to reducing emissions by 51% by 2030. This is a goal it plans to achieve by transitioning to hydrogen, which it could then potentially export internationally. 

Hydrogen, most commonly used in refining, fertilizers and other chemicals, also serves as a low-carbon alternative that could power small appliances and large vehicles alike. Global demand for hydrogen is likely to increase exponentially in the next two decades. Broad international interest, support and investment have the potential to create thousands of jobs to poverty-stricken regions like Cartagena, Colombia.

Close to 10 million people suffer from energy poverty in Colombia, mostly in rural areas like the Amazonía, Chocó and Orinoquía. While hydrogen is not yet an affordable alternative, mass production and naturally-occurring white hydrogen will make it a competitive alternative by 2030.

Progress for the People

The advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promises several benefits to Colombians, particularly the people of Cartagena, where the state-owned company Ecopetrol bases its operations.

  1. Job Creation: According to Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), 41.1% of Cartagena’s population lived in poverty in 2023. The rate of poverty in the region has been increasing since 2021. The city’s unemployment rate for the first semester of 2025 was 9.8%, which hovers above the national average of 8.6% during the same period. Colombia’s roadmap anticipates the creation of 7,000 to 15,000 new jobs. In 2024, Ecopetrol announced the hiring of 344 employees as it expanded its operations. The construction of a new processing plant, new pipelines, the necessity for trained professionals, engineers and more is expected to create further job opportunities for Colombians in the coming years.
  2. Education, Training and Research: The sectors in Cartagena that saw a decrease in new jobs included professional, scientific, technical and administrative roles. In 2023, Ecopetrol invested the equivalent of more than $10 million in career training for its workforce. Ecopetrol is also working with the Inter-American Development Bank, the national vocational education center SENA, several top universities, among others. In a joint effort, they plan to build the first Innovation and Technology Center in the Caribbean.
  3. Health: Hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapor and warm air, reducing carcinogens and other pollutants in the air. Vehicles powered by hydrogen are quieter, limiting noise pollution.
  4. Investment Opportunities: Several companies, including ENGIE, Siemens Energy and Porsche Colombia have shown support for Colombia’s initiatives.

Updates on SDG 9 in Colombia

The Colombian government has already taken several steps to advance its SDG 9, which include industry, innovation and infrastructure. As of 2025, there are 36 projects in multiple phases of progress.

  1. Strategy: In 2022, Ecopetrol announced that its development of a pilot program would occur in three phases. First, it would focus on the expansion of hydrogen operations at an industrial scale. Second, it would focus on sea and air transport and the search of commercial opportunities across Europe and Asia. Third, it would promote mass use of hydrogen.
  2. Legislation: The Energy Transition Law, enacted in 2021, laid the foundation for the regulations needed for hydrogen development and offered tax incentives to attract projects. In 2024, Decree 1597 established guidelines and regulations for the development of the hydrogen sector.
  3. Discovery of white hydrogen: Colombia discovered white hydrogen in the Cordillera Oriental and Sinú-San Jacinto basins. White hydrogen can be extracted at a lower cost than other types of manufactured hydrogen.
  4. Blending: Promigas’ Cartagena Plant began operations in 2022. Promigas started green hydrogen production and subsequent injection into the natural gas grid. It is the second company in Latin America to utilize blending in its distribution systems.
  5. International investment: Viridi RE declared its intention to build a green hydrogen and methanol plant in La Guajira.
  6. Pipelines: Promigas has been approved for a two-way pipeline between Barranquilla and the Ballena gas field that is expected to begin operating in 2027. Additional planned pipelines include Mariquita-Gualanday, Jamundí-Valle del Cauca and Barrancabermeja-Ballena.
  7. Hydrogen bus: Ecopetrol is looking to build a hydrogen-powered bus capable of transporting 50 passengers to be used in Bogota’s public transit system.

Looking Ahead: SDG 9 in Colombia

Colombia has impressed the international community with its unshakeable commitment to produce and implement a low-carbon source of energy. Ecopetrol and several private investors are financing initiatives, building infrastructure and promoting scientific research.

The nation’s natural resources and strategic geographical location may prove advantageous in the race to become a major hydrogen exporter in the coming years. Moreover, the advancement of SDG 9 through the investment hydrogen industry contributes to the creation of more jobs, healthier communities, learning opportunities and overall poverty reduction for Colombians.

– Johanna Lorena Arredondo Gonzalez

Johanna is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Freepik