Archive for category: Technology

Information and stories about technology news.

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5 Ways Solar Technology in Malawi is Transforming Education

Solar Technology in MalawiFor many students in Malawi, a lack of electricity limits educational opportunities. However, solar technology in Malawi is helping schools overcome these challenges, providing reliable power, expanding access to digital learning and creating better learning environments. Solar energy could help address this gap, as an estimated 75% of Malawi’s population lives on $3 a day or less, illustrating how limited energy access and poverty can overlap in the country.

Bringing Electricity to Rural Schools

Many schools in Malawi are not connected to a reliable electrical grid. As of 2026, only 3.8% of rural households were connected to the national grid, according to the World Bank. Limited energy access is particularly challenging in rural communities in Malawi, where poverty is more widespread than in urban areas. Solar panels could help address electricity challenges these schools face without requiring major grid infrastructure. Solar power gives rural students access to resources that schools in more developed areas already have.

Without electricity, studying can become very difficult after the sun goes down. Solar-powered lights allow students to complete homework in the evening, giving them more time to study. This extra time could potentially allow schools to hold additional classes and study sessions. Solar power gives students more usable hours in their day for education. In Chang’ombe, a rural community in Malawi, students have reported improved test scores after gaining access to study at night, and teachers have observed a reduction in absences since electricity became available at their school.

Expanding Access to Digital Learning

Solar electricity can power online educational materials like computers, tablets and internet equipment that may not have otherwise been available in rural communities. Access to computers and tablets allows teachers to use digital resources for students, which can support the improvement of digital literacy. Solar systems allow schools to consistently charge these devices, making digital learning possible in schools that remain disconnected. Solar energy does more than turn the lights on; it allows rural students to connect to information and opportunities beyond their communities.

Creating Better Learning Environments

Solar technology in Malawi can provide electricity to rural classrooms, allowing them to have reliable lighting, fans and projectors. Better school facilities may make students more likely to attend and participate as the learning environments are more favorable. Improving the physical classroom can help enhance the overall educational experience. In Chang’ombe, teachers reported a reduction in absences after electricity became available. The benefits of solar power extend past lighting the classroom; it shows a direct correlation to attendance.

Solar technology is helping improve education all across Malawi, especially in rural communities. These improvements largely revolve around four areas: electricity, longer study hours, digital learning and better learning environments. Despite this progress, challenges remain, including funding, maintenance and the need for continued investment. Solar technology in Malawi is not only providing electricity – it is helping create new opportunities for Malawi’s next generation. As organizations continue expanding renewable energy to rural communities, solar energy has the potential to bring educational opportunities to thousands of students who are still unable to access online platforms.

– Tyler Rothwell

Tyler is based in Lexington, VA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Food Insecurity in Somalia: New Hope for Technology

Food Insecurity in SomaliaThe recent drought is a prominent cause of food insecurity in Somalia, leading to mass displacement as citizens leave their homes in search of new water sources. Early 2026 has proven difficult as the country faces below-average rain seasons, which are depleting water sources and grazing conditions for livestock and reducing agricultural production. The World Food Program is using new technological advancements to predict a crisis, allowing organizations to prepare assistance to curtail its impact in remote regions.

The Drought

Without the means to sustain livestock or crops, farmers take a financial hit, while the remaining portion of the country suffers from insufficient food supply. Mass displacement is not the only concern; malnutrition is another major consequence of the drought as it contributes to the issue of food insecurity in Somalia. The International Organization for Migration claims that this recent drought now accounts for three out of every four new displacements, a 22% increase from last year, resulting in a total of 62,000 people displaced.

Somalia’s geography and topography make the country susceptible to natural disasters. This unfortunately means that little can be done to reduce or prevent droughts.

The long-lasting drought has forced families to travel to find water sources, worsening a poverty crisis. The informal settlements that have subsequently emerged bring their own challenges, including overcrowding with limited water or sanitation and inadequate shelter.

Current Initiatives

The World Food Program (WFP) is a major organization working to combat food insecurity in Somalia and the rest of the world. Children, unable to work or grow food, are forced to rely entirely on their parents or guardians. This increases their vulnerability to food insecurity, which the WFP focuses on.

With the help of the WFP, schools provide more than 100,000 meals to their primary school students. This not only helps immediately feed children, it also injects more than $750,000 into the economy. Local farmers or markets supply portions of these meals, even as the conflict in the Middle East has driven food prices up drastically. The WFP addresses two major areas in this program, supporting a struggling economy and its most vulnerable citizens.

Introducing AI

One of the most recent strategies the WFP has implemented is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the hardest-hit region of Burhakaba. This technology previously existed in HungerMap Live as a platform that displays data on food insecurity to the general public. It tracks what areas of the world are in need as an estimate, but its ability to predict future hunger crises was limited.

As of April 2026, the program received an update that addressed these limitations, introducing new predictive AI features that allow governments and WFP field offices around the world to mobilize resources and act before a crisis worsens.

This new technology can help organizations identify where food assistance may be needed in the future, giving the WFP a chance to prepare and respond before a crisis worsens. By allowing provisions and other assistance to be prepared and deployed earlier, predictive technology could help reduce the severity of hunger and malnutrition during a crisis.

New Hope

While organizations like the WFP are dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable communities, sometimes their technology and infrastructure can only do so much. This new introduction of AI in Somalia provides hope for the future of technology to battle global poverty, assisting remote areas while allowing governments and organizations to act preventatively rather than in response.

– Angelica Ciaravino

Angelica is based in Toronto, Canada and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How AI and Digital Skills in Kenya can Reduce Poverty

AI and Digital Skills in KenyaKenya is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills as technology becomes increasingly important to employment, businesses and public services. This investment could support poverty reduction in a country where 39.8% of the population lived below Kenya’s national poverty line in 2022, according to the World Bank. Expanding AI and digital skills in Kenya could create pathways to economic opportunity, but ensuring that low-income and rural communities can participate will be essential.

AI, Digital Skills and Economic Opportunities

Digital skills can help workers adapt to changing labor markets and participate in an increasingly digital economy. The World Bank identifies digital skills as important for building a workforce that can take advantage of emerging opportunities. It also notes that digital technologies can support economic growth, job creation and access to services.

For people living in poverty, these opportunities can be particularly important. Digital platforms can help people access employment, reach wider markets and develop businesses. However, skills alone do not guarantee higher incomes. People also need affordable connectivity, devices and opportunities to apply their skills.

A 2024 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report highlights Zainab, a youth innovator from Garissa County, who developed a community-driven approach to youth unemployment. By integrating vocational skills training with digital platforms, her initiative empowered hundreds of young people, particularly women, to secure meaningful employment and improve their livelihoods.

Kenya Is Investing in AI and Digital Skills

Kenya is strengthening digital capacity within its public service through the Africa Centre of Competence for Digital and Artificial Intelligence Skilling. The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy, launched the Centre in partnership with UNDP, the Kenya School of Government and other partners in December 2024. The Centre aims to equip 100,000 civil servants in Kenya during its first phase with digital and AI skills.

The program is designed to strengthen digital literacy, emerging-technology skills, data governance and the ethical use of AI. In July 2025, Kenya held a validation workshop for the program’s curriculum. The curriculum is structured across four progressive levels: Foundations, Application, Management and Leadership.

The initiative can contribute to poverty reduction indirectly by strengthening institutions that provide public services. UNDP has documented public servants applying the skills gained through the Centre to understand how AI can improve service delivery, data analysis and government decision-making.

The Digital Divide Can Limit Poverty Reduction

The benefits of AI and digital skills in Kenya will not reach all communities equally without affordable access to technology. The World Bank has identified poor people, rural populations, women and other marginalized groups as communities that need better access to participate in Kenya’s digital economy.

Current data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shows that this gap remains significant. In 2024, 25% of people in rural Kenya used the internet compared with 56.6% in urban areas. Household internet access was also much lower in rural areas, at 26%, compared with 81.6% in urban areas.

These differences matter for poverty reduction because people without reliable internet access may have fewer opportunities to use digital platforms for employment, entrepreneurship, education and public services. Without affordable connectivity, the poorest communities may remain excluded from opportunities created by Kenya’s growing digital economy.

Expanding Access Can Make Digital Growth More Inclusive

Kenya is addressing some of these barriers through the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP). Supported by $390 million in World Bank financing, the project aims to expand access to high-speed internet, improve the quality and delivery of education and selected government services, and build skills for the regional digital economy. The project also aims to increase last-mile connectivity for more than 70% of Kenya’s population living in rural and underserved areas.

Combining connectivity with skills development is important. Internet access without the ability to use digital tools effectively can limit economic participation, while training without affordable connectivity can prevent people from applying what they have learned. For AI and digital skills in Kenya to contribute to poverty reduction, both barriers need to be addressed.

Continued Investment Can Support Poverty Reduction

Kenya’s investment in AI and digital skills provides an opportunity to make technological development part of a broader poverty-reduction strategy. Digital skills can help workers and entrepreneurs pursue new economic opportunities, while stronger digital capacity can help public institutions improve services.

However, continued progress will depend on whether people living in poverty and underserved communities can participate. By expanding affordable connectivity, accessible training and pathways to employment, Kenya can help ensure that digital transformation supports stronger livelihoods and more inclusive economic growth.

– Adebisi Aliyah Adeola

Adebisi is based in Cairo, Egypt and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Digital Innovation: Supporting Poverty Reduction in Indonesia

Poverty Reduction in IndonesiaFrom digital identification systems to artificial intelligence, Indonesia is using technology to modernize public services and create new opportunities for millions of people. Despite recent progress, poverty remains a challenge, with 8.57% of the population living in poverty. As Indonesia works to reduce poverty, digital innovation has become an important tool for expanding access to economic opportunities.

Through digital identification systems, electronic payments and other digital technologies, Indonesia is modernizing the delivery of social assistance and public services. These innovations are improving efficiency, strengthening transparency and connecting more people with the resources they need. This article explores how digital transformation is supporting poverty reduction in Indonesia.

Digital Technology Is Improving Public Services

Indonesia is using digital technology to make government services and social assistance programs more efficient. By making government services easier to access and improving the delivery of social assistance, e-government systems ensure that support reaches vulnerable households.

E-government systems use digital technologies to provide public services and information to citizens, businesses and government agencies more efficiently. These systems offer an easier way for people to access services like tax filing, health care, financial aid and other government programs.

A key part of Indonesia’s e-government system is its digital identification program. In 2011, Indonesia introduced its digital identification system, centered around the electronic identity card (e-KTP). The system links with official records, including family cards, birth certificates and other identity documents. Now, it has been distributed to 170 million residents and is foundational to government and private-sector transactions.

By allowing citizens to verify their identities digitally, the e-KTP improves access to government services and social assistance while reducing administrative errors and fraud.

The World Bank is working on the “ID for Inclusive Service Delivery and Digital Transformation Project” to improve and increase the use of digital identification systems in Indonesia. The project aims to expand these systems in 12 more provinces.

By expanding digital identification systems, Indonesia improves access to essential public services and social assistance, helping more people, especially those in underserved communities, receive the support they need and contributing to long-term poverty reduction in Indonesia.

How Digital Innovation Is Expanding Economic Opportunities

In addition to improving public services, digital innovation is expanding economic opportunities across Indonesia by increasing access to financial services and digital commerce. Digital payment systems and other financial technologies help more people participate in the formal economy, particularly those in underserved communities.

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) refers to the foundational digital systems that allow governments and businesses to deliver services at a large scale, including digital identification, digital payment systems and secure data exchange.

One of the main ways Indonesia is expanding economic opportunities is through digital financial services (DFS), an important component of DPI. These include a variety of financial tools and services, such as digital wallets, electronic payment platforms, savings accounts, loans, insurance and investment products.

These investments have already contributed to greater financial inclusion. Today, 88.7% of the population has access to formal financial services, with the government aiming to increase that figure to 93% by 2029.

These digital payment methods are more inclusive and accessible, particularly for people with limited access to traditional financial services. By reducing geographical barriers and enabling remote transactions, digital financial services make it easier for individuals to save money, receive payments, access financial products and participate more fully in the formal economy.

These benefits are especially significant for rural producers, who often face greater barriers to accessing markets and financial resources. Hengky Kohan, a consultant specializing in data and artificial intelligence, told The Borgen Project in an interview that digital innovation can improve economic opportunities for rural producers by making them more visible within digital supply chains. He said, “A farmer who exists in a traceable digital supply chain can be paid more fairly, qualify for certification premiums and access financing based on verifiable production records.”

How Digital Governance Strengthens Poverty Reduction

Beyond improving public services and expanding financial inclusion, digital innovation is also strengthening governance in ways that can support poverty reduction. By improving how information is collected, shared and analyzed, digital technologies help governments make more informed decisions and deliver resources more efficiently. Kohan explained that the Indonesian government has begun treating “data as national infrastructure” rather than simply as isolated information. He added that integrating data systems can strengthen policymaking, improve public services and support economic development.

He also noted how stronger digital governance improves transparency and efficiency. For example, digital reporting systems for exports help reduce revenue leakage and provide governments with more accurate information about economic activity. He told The Borgen Project, “The poverty connection is fiscal: every dollar of leakage that better data recovers is a dollar available for health, education and social assistance.” By reducing revenue losses and improving data accuracy, policymakers can make more informed decisions and allocate public resources more effectively. By strengthening digital governance and improving access to reliable information, Indonesia is building a more efficient public sector that can better support economic development.

Conclusion

While challenges such as digital literacy and unequal access to technology remain, Indonesia’s investments in digital innovation demonstrate how technology can support long-term poverty reduction in Indonesia. By improving access to public services, expanding financial inclusion and strengthening government transparency, digital transformation is helping create greater economic opportunities and build a more inclusive future for communities across Indonesia.

– Michelle Kurniali

Michelle is based in Dallas, TX, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Senegal’s Digital Transformation

Senegal's Digital TransformationIn recent years, many developing countries have taken advantage of technological progress to improve their social, political and economic standings. Low- and middle-income countries that have embraced the digital revolution have seen broad advancements in their quality of life.

Senegal’s Technological Advancements

Senegal, where more than one-third of the population lives below the national poverty line, has leveraged technology to its benefit. The West African nation has long faced disparities and barriers in areas like education, economic stability and access to health care.

Thanks to the country’s recent embrace of digital infrastructure, more opportunities are opening for Senegalese to escape extreme poverty and overcome these challenges. Here is what to know about Senegal’s digital transformation and how technology is improving the lives of citizens.

Increased Internet Access

One of the most impactful developments in Senegal has been the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure. In December 2025, estimates suggested that continued digital reforms would bring 2.6 million more Senegalese online by 2030.

This trend will likely accelerate with recent investment. Last month, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development began its first project in Senegal by committing up to €270 million to telecommunications initiatives in Senegal and Kenya.

This financing will support the expansion of 4G and 5G mobile networks, among other advancements intended to improve the connectivity of Senegalese with one another and the rest of the world.

Access to the internet opens up a wide range of new opportunities. Enhanced connectivity can help alleviate poverty and improve quality of life by expanding access to virtual educational materials, allowing individuals to open and operate digital businesses, increasing access to telehealth and helping employees find better-paying jobs.

Job Growth

Even before the forthcoming investments in telecommunications, government policies and programs to expand information and communication technology have accelerated job growth. This is extremely impactful in a country where the expanded unemployment rate was about 19% in 2025, according to Senegal’s national statistics agency, Agence Nationale de la Statistique et de la Démographie (ANSD), and where unemployment remains a primary driver of poverty.

Managing digital infrastructure has been a source of new jobs. With about 60% of the population now using the internet, opportunities have opened up in business process outsourcing, IT engineering and contact centers. These roles provide steady employment for Senegalese seeking to lift themselves out of poverty.

Online businesses have also increased employment. The internet creates an opportunity for pre-existing business owners to optimize their services and reach a wider range of consumers, and it allows more individuals to become business owners.

Digital startups have seen major growth in popularity in Senegal. One potential reason is the country’s youthful population, with more than 60% of citizens under age 25. Younger citizens are more likely to start online businesses and turn them into a lucrative source of revenue.

Whether in IT engineering or online retail, Senegal’s digital transformation has helped decrease the nation’s unemployment rate, which has been a primary driver of poverty in the country.

The Digitization of Health Care

Public health is a sector in Senegal that has long needed improvement. Diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS persist, and many communities lack reliable access to clean drinking water.

Senegal’s government has begun to integrate modern technology into the country’s health care sector. One key example is diagnostic centers. With technology transfer from the UK and the Republic of Korea, Senegal’s Diatropix facility increased production from 2 million to 75 million disease tests annually by 2024.

Since then, the government has adopted a national digital health policy, partially financed by the World Bank’s $150 million Digital Economy Acceleration Project. The policy aims to expand access to health technology to underserved rural communities, which remain disproportionately impoverished.

Looking Forward: The New Deal Technologique

These recent strides to integrate technology into the lives of Senegalese are part of a broader strategy by Senegal’s government to leverage technological progress in a way that benefits its citizens.

The New Deal Technologique is the government’s 10-year plan to secure digital sovereignty, grow Senegal’s economy and position the nation as a leader of African innovation. The national framework includes plans to increase international partnerships, garner investment and solve some of Senegal’s most pressing issues through technological progress.

While work remains to improve the country’s quality of life, Senegal’s digital transformation has opened up more opportunities, fueled job growth and revolutionized sectors like the health care industry. As the New Deal Technologique is further implemented, more advancements can be expected.

– Brogan Jones

Brogan is based in Norman, OK, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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eAgrar: The Digital Platform for Small Farms in Serbia

digital platform for small farms in SerbiaAccording to the World Bank, Serbia’s economy grew by only 2% in 2025, a notable decline from 3.9% the year before. Poor weather conditions were a major factor, particularly affecting farm output and dragging down overall growth. The poverty rate held steady at about 7.8% in 2025, and while further decreases are expected, they will likely come slowly. Many of those still living in poverty face long-term unemployment, which makes it difficult for them to share in the benefits of economic recovery. On a more hopeful note, Serbia’s gross domestic product (GDP) per person stood at $15,262 in 2025, and the economy is projected to pick up in 2026 as consumer spending and investment strengthen.

Farming remains vital to rural communities across the country, yet the sector struggles with ongoing challenges that contribute to these poverty trends. Even so, the government continues to invest heavily in agricultural support. A report from the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) in April 2026 found that Serbia allocates more than 100 billion Serbian dinars (RSD), about $920 million each year to farm subsidies, with roughly 280,000 to 300,000 farmers submitting applications annually. In 2023, to make this system more open and user-friendly, the Ministry of Agriculture introduced a digital platform for small farms in Serbia named eAgrar.

What Is eAgrar?

eAgrar is an online platform designed to modernize how farmers register their agricultural properties and apply for government subsidies. Before this system existed, farmers had to register in person at government offices, filling out paperwork by hand and spending hours waiting in lines. The platform allows farm owners to handle the entire process online from home, on a computer or a device such as a smartphone or tablet. In its first year, more than 330,000 farms were registered through the system, showing how quickly Serbian farmers embraced the change.

eAgrar helps farmers update records faster and with fewer issues, while the system keeps a history of all past changes. Farmers can also view their own registration information and subsidy applications at any time, and the platform’s connection with other government databases simplifies verification without extra documents. Overall, this digital platform for small farms in Serbia is helping small-scale farmers access financial support more easily. One reported estimate suggests that farmers who keep their registration current and use available subsidies earn 15% to 20% more than those who do not, supporting incomes and Serbia’s rural economy.

eAgrar’s Reach

According to an article published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the platform has made a difference for farmers like Milivoje Ćosić, a smallholder from the village of Mionica who took over family land passed down through generations. Before eAgrar, applying for subsidies was a slow process that could stretch over a week. Now, Ćosić uses the platform to request financial support from home using just his smartphone. He says going digital has made farm registration easier and simplified the steps for getting aid, making agriculture more appealing to the younger generation. His daughter Irina shares this outlook, viewing the platform as part of a modern farming landscape that gives people her age the chance to start their own agricultural businesses on family land.

What eAgrar Means for Serbia

eAgrar stands as a pivotal digital platform for small farms in Serbia, changing how farmers access financial support. This easier access to subsidies and registration can help lift farming families out of poverty and support a more resilient agricultural economy. In a country where agriculture plays an important role in economic output, platforms like eAgrar show how modernization can help address rural poverty.

– Melody Ruiz

Melody is based in Bronx, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Female Empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Women in eHealth

Two women in a hospital setting discussing healthcare, representing female empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Female Empowerment in Sub-Saharan AfricaThe population of sub-Saharan Africa is growing rapidly. According to a recent analysis, the region is expected to account for 37% of the world’s population by 2100 due to a decline in infant mortality and an increase in life expectancy. With an average of 4.2 births per woman, sub-Saharan Africa continues to have one of the highest birth rates in the world.

As the study highlights, a high birth rate indicates that much work remains in the fight against poverty. The World Bank reports that 43.3% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lives in poverty. Poverty disproportionately affects women: 74% of all women living in poverty are from sub-Saharan Africa. They continue to face structural barriers, low levels of education and a lack of adequate health care.

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working with women in eHealth in sub-Saharan Africa have set goals to combat poverty through a strategy focused on female empowerment in the health care sector. These organizations have recognized the potential of the female workforce when women in digital health receive proper training and support—with benefits for economic growth across the region and globe.

Downsizing Female Poverty

To reduce the negative effects of high birth rates in sub-Saharan Africa, women’s health and female empowerment play major roles. Research found that female educational levels and fertility rates in that region strongly correlate, in a study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, the University of Vienna and the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital. The more educational opportunities women have, the greater their chances of pursuing better careers in higher-income groups. Statistically, these women have smaller families and longer intervals between births.

The positive impact of education and health initiatives on individual women also extends to the broader society. The study analyzed data from 39 sub-Saharan African countries between 1986 and 2022. The research found that education for women positively influences the demographic development of the region. It also points out that women in communities who receive education and change their fertility behavior often influence less educated women in their community.

Telemedicine and apps can provide women with valuable health information, reaching even the most remote areas. This support helps with the use of contraceptives and improving maternal health. When the number of infant deaths is high, families in sub-Saharan Africa tend to have more children to compensate. Due to a decline in infant mortality, birth rates have also dropped in developing regions.

Female Empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa

By offering specific educational programs exclusively for women in digital health, eHealth Africa (eHA) aims to provide the necessary IT and business management skills. The training encourages women to build businesses and relationships with the organization. This way, women have an easier transition into professional life in the health care sector. Women represent 33.3% of eHealth Africa’s workforce and 34.7% of leadership positions.

For eHealth Africa, the inclusion of women as decision-makers in the health care sector is a strategic investment. Gender-conscious recruitment practices, leadership development opportunities, mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements and family-friendly policies open opportunities for female careers. In collaboration with EHA Impact Ventures (EIV), eHealth Africa recently trained 213 women from 11 Nigerian states to acquire the necessary operational skills and meet compliance requirements. This helps overcome structural barriers and improves their chances of securing institutional procurement contracts.

African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH) is an organization focused on promoting career paths for women in sub-Saharan Africa. AWiDH’s education and development programs are specifically designed to strengthen the presence of women in the African health care sector to provide customized services necessary for improving women’s health.

African Women in Digital Health advocates for the systematic integration of gender perspectives and strives for greater representation of women in the African health care sector. To this end, the organization offers training sessions, workshops and webinars that develop leadership and IT skills and cultivate the mindset and self-confidence needed to take on leadership roles.

Conclusion

The demographic development in Africa in the upcoming years is decisive for countries’ economic growth and a positive development of the poverty rate in sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, women’s health and their overrepresentation in the health care sector play key roles in reducing fertility rates in sub-Saharan Africa and utilizing the full potential of women in eHealth in the workforce.

Closing the women’s health gap could boost the global economy by at least $1 trillion annually by 2040, as the World Economic Forum reports. To continue the successful work of NGOs in health care in sub-Saharan Africa, they depend on foreign aid and assistance policies.

– Oliwia Kowalak

Oliwia is based in Berlin, Germany and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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The New Chengdu-Kunming Railway

Chengdu-Kunming RailwayThe original Chengdu-Kunming Railway was built to reach people who were being left behind. For the first time, the railway linked remote mountain communities with the wider world, cutting across some of the most difficult terrain in southwest China. Its purpose was always to move people, not just out of rural areas, but also out of poverty.

Built to Last — and Rebuilt to Go Further

The original line stretched 681 miles, and traveling from one end to the other took about 19 hours. In 2010, China Railway Chengdu Bureau Group decided to modernize the route. Engineers introduced new alignments, longer tunnels and a two-track operation. These upgrades shortened the route to 569 miles, increased speeds from 50 to 99 mph, and cut journey times to just 7.5 hours. The rebuilt corridor now has 11 major bridges and seven tunnels. Crews added 30 new stations and upgraded 18 existing ones. The entire modernization project finished on Dec. 26, 2022.

The Slow Train That Changed Everything

Even after the rollout of the upgraded, high-speed train system, the railway continued running its well-known “slow trains.” One of these, the No. 5633 train, has fares as low as 2 yuan (about 30 cents), a price rural villagers could manage. The train runs 353 kilometers through the Daliang Mountain area, home to some of China’s largest communities of the Yi ethnic group, and connects 26 stations to the villages nearby. For mountain communities without highway access, the slow trains became the main way to move crops, building materials and goods to market. This access to public transportation not only helps reduce poverty by giving people the chance to reach government services and marketplaces, but also supports tourism growth and local jobs. Today the line offers daily morning, mid-morning and afternoon services, an extensive station network and substantial goods capacity.

A Conductor’s View From the Slow Train

Axi Aga began working as a train attendant on the No. 5633 train in 1996, at age 21. About 90% of her passengers come from the Yi ethnic group, and she has watched their lives change over nearly three decades. In the past, passengers carried potatoes, maize-flour pastry and radish soup; even instant noodles were considered a luxury. As poverty-alleviation policies took hold, Yi families began building new homes. The train became the way to move in building materials for people without highway access. Axi remembers using spare carriages to carry timber, bricks, tiles, steel bars and doors.

More recently, she has noticed a shift toward education. Families once thought it more practical to send children, especially girls, to work early rather than to school. Now she sees the train filled with students in uniforms every Friday and Sunday, commuting to schools in nearby counties. Passengers have started calling the train “the train to markets,” “the train to schools” and “the train to wealth.”

More Than a Train

The Chengdu-Kunming Railway did not just move people and goods. It moved communities forward by connecting those who were isolated to the wider world. It opened doors to markets, education and opportunities that had long been out of reach. That is a rare result for any infrastructure project, and it is why this railway remains one of the most significant in China.

The Chengdu-Kunming line is only one part of a much larger effort. China Railway, the state-owned operator, runs parallel poverty-alleviation programs across the country, including in Henan, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Xinjiang provinces. These programs operate separately from this specific corridor, but they reflect the same broader strategy: using railway infrastructure and company-led local investment to help isolated communities escape poverty.

– Debra Pierre

Debra is based in Miami, FL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Space Technology is Reducing Food Insecurity

Space Technology is Reducing Food InsecurityThe concept of space technology is almost always associated with astronauts and exploration; however, some of the most important impacts are actually occurring on Earth. World hunger is becoming an increasing risk, particularly to developing nations, under the influence of the changing climate. An estimated 266 million people across 47 countries are facing acute food insecurity. Space technology is helping vulnerable countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh and Ethiopia predict climate risks, improve agricultural productivity and distribute aid more effectively. In Bangladesh, extreme poverty is projected at 9.3%, though nearly one-third of the population remains vulnerable. Kenya’s overall poverty rate sits at nearly 40%. Ethiopia projects an increase to 43%.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, space technology is reducing food insecurity by improving flood prediction and disaster management. Google has created its own platform called Flood Hub, an interactive map that satellite technology continuously monitors and updates. This platform allows individuals worldwide to check the expected risk severity of floods. It is particularly useful for farmers because it provides a high-resolution and accessible platform, transforming flood disaster management from reactive to anticipatory. This allows farmers to protect agriculture and food supplies, since its warnings incentivize them to harvest earlier and prevent large-scale crop losses.

A more recent and unique adaptation in Bangladesh to severe flooding and prolonged waterlogged land is the creation of “Floating Vegetable Gardens,” or dhap. Humanitarian agencies use satellite terrain data and historical inundation mapping to identify areas that remain flooded for months. This data guides the calculated placement of the dhaps to utilize wetland resources. As a result, communities gain up to 40% more arable land to grow nutrient-dense food, even when the landscape is underwater.

Kenya

In Kenya, 4.4 million people struggle to feed themselves. Space technology is reducing food insecurity by improving drought prediction and climate-smart farming. It does this by providing detailed information on the strength, location, spatial extent and duration of droughts. Satellites such as Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) can map soil moisture, since a stronger signal indicates a higher concentration of water in the soil. Another method that helps forecast droughts is the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), which measures how green the vegetation in a specific area is compared to the past. Satellites photograph the land, allowing scientists to compare differences in wavelength bands across images and track how vegetation conditions change. This method can detect canopy moisture loss and thermal stress before visible signs of wilting appear, meaning experts can spot natural droughts weeks before they manifest on the ground.

Satellite technology can combat widespread hunger through smart farming. One example is where space data is paired with the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence tools on platforms such as Synnefa. Synnefa is a Kenyan agritech company founded in 2014 that operates across 13 African countries. It helps more than 32,000 farmers optimize operations through its FarmCloud platform and smart hardware. The platform gives farmers access to sensor data such as temperature, soil moisture and nitrogen levels in the soil. This access lets them make informed decisions about when to irrigate or fertilize their crops, which maximizes crop yield and reduces vegetation death.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, researchers are testing predictive machine learning models that use satellite data to help predict crop yields, forecast droughts and optimize harvests. These models scan the Earth using multispectral imagery combined with live vegetation index, historical weather patterns, soil health registries and temperature grids. The models then process this dense geospatial data and translate it for farmers through text messages, automated voice calls or interactive chat channels in native languages like Amharic or Oromo. Early research from Eastern Ethiopia shows these models can meaningfully improve crop yield forecasting accuracy. However, results vary by crop and region, and researchers say further work is needed before the technology can be deployed at scale across Ethiopian farms.

Although space technology may seem far removed from the daily realities of poverty and hunger, its impact is increasingly being felt in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. From improving flood forecasting in Bangladesh to enabling climate-smart farming in Kenya and AI-powered crop prediction research in Ethiopia, satellite technology is helping farmers make better decisions, protect livelihoods and increase food production in the face of climate change. As food insecurity continues to affect millions across the globe, investment in innovative technologies such as these could play an important role in building more resilient agricultural systems and advancing progress toward ending hunger.

– Sumi Shrestha

Sumi is based in Tonbridge, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

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