Archive for category: Technology

Information and stories about technology news.

,

The Innovative Fight Against Poverty in Papua New Guinea

Poverty in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea has abundant natural resources, but many people still face barriers to stable employment and economic opportunity. The World Bank reports that the country’s economy grew by 5.6% in 2025, but formal employment per person has declined over time. Many people continue to depend on informal work and subsistence agriculture. Innovations in poverty eradication in Papua New Guinea are creating new opportunities through agriculture, digital technology and renewable energy.

Poverty in Papua New Guinea

Poverty remains a major challenge in Papua New Guinea, especially for people living in rural communities. The World Bank identifies the most recent national household survey, conducted in 2009-10, found that 39.9% of the population lived below the country’s basic-needs poverty line. Papua New Guinea does not have a more recent official national poverty estimate. The World Bank identifies the country’s large rural population, poor connectivity and low levels of human capital as factors that contribute to continued poverty. These challenges are closely connected to employment. The World Bank reports that economic growth has not produced enough secure jobs for Papua New Guinea’s growing workforce. Most new workers have entered subsistence farming and low-productivity informal work rather than secure formal employment.

Agriculture and Poverty Reduction

Agriculture plays a major role in the lives of Papua New Guineans. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, agriculture employs between 6 million and 7 million people in rural Papua New Guinea, with the majority involved in semi-subsistence agriculture. Smallholder farmers also produce between 80% and 90% of the country’s export crops other than oil palm. However, rural farmers have trouble reaching markets, accessing financing and receiving agricultural information. Improving these areas can help farmers increase production and turn agriculture into a more dependable source of income. Investments in infrastructure, technology and agricultural services therefore have the potential to improve livelihoods in communities where farming remains a primary source of income.

Farming and the Digital Age

Digital technology is one of the innovations in poverty eradication in Papua New Guinea helping rural farmers overcome these barriers. In 2023, the EU-funded STREIT PNG Programme provided digital training to 74 lead farmers and agrifood business participants in East Sepik and West Sepik. The training taught participants how to use smartphones, apps, social media marketing and mobile payments. Farmers also learned to access weather and climate information that could help them make decisions about their crops. These skills can help farmers communicate with customers and participate more effectively in agricultural markets. Papua New Guinea expanded its use of agricultural technology again in October 2025 with the launch of its Agriculture Management Information System. The International Telecommunication Union and FAO developed the system through the EU-STREIT PNG Programme. It provides agricultural information that can help farmers and other organizations make decisions based on current data.

Renewable Energy Expands Opportunity

Access to electricity is another major challenge for communities across Papua New Guinea. According to the Asian Development Bank, about 20% of the country’s population has access to electricity. Expanding renewable energy offers one way to provide power to communities that remain difficult to connect to traditional electrical grids. One example is taking place in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The United Nations Development Programme reports that more than 80% of the region’s population lacks reliable access to energy. The Pacific Green Transformation Project led to the installation of solar panels at the Innovation Hub in Buka. The project, funded by Japan and implemented with UNDP, provides renewable electricity to the Hub, which supports innovation and economic opportunities, particularly for women and young people.

Creating Jobs Through Innovation

Creating employment is an important part of innovations in poverty eradication in Papua New Guinea. In July 2026, the World Bank reported that strengthening major agricultural value chains could generate about 330,000 additional formal jobs during the next decade. The World Bank estimates that this scenario could also reduce poverty by around 5 percentage points, potentially lifting about 500,000 Papua New Guineans out of poverty. Agricultural development could be especially important because it connects economic growth with people living in rural communities. Better infrastructure, technology and market access can help farmers move beyond subsistence farming and earn more reliable incomes.

What Is Ahead

No single project can eliminate poverty, but recent developments show how technology can address several barriers at once. Digital agricultural services can give farmers better information, renewable energy projects can support communities with limited electricity and investment in agriculture could create jobs. These innovations in poverty eradication in Papua New Guinea demonstrate how new technology can support practical improvements in everyday life. Continued investment in agriculture, digital connectivity and renewable energy could give more Papua New Guineans the tools needed to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their communities.

– Griffin Blanco

Griffin is based in Knoxville, TN, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Growing Jamaica’s Agricultural Sector Improves Rural Livelihoods

Jamaica’s Agricultural SectorWith one in three respondents suffering from severe food insecurity in Jamaica in the 2023 Caribbean Food Security & Livelihoods Survey, food poverty and agricultural production are pressing issues in Jamaica. The high cost of agricultural inputs further intensifies financial difficulties for Jamaican farmers in rural areas, where income levels are lower. However, the government and international organizations like the U.N. and the World University Service of Canada have contributed to Jamaica’s growing agricultural sector, improving rural livelihoods.

Government Investment

The agricultural industry employs close to one in five Jamaicans. Demonstrating its commitment to improving the livelihoods of agricultural workers, in April 2025, the Jamaican government invested over $4.5 billion through the Rural Economic Development Initiative II (REDI II) Programme, which focuses on strengthening the agricultural and tourism sectors.

The investment involves an upgrade in agricultural infrastructure, including the installation of greenhouses in 22 sites, cold storage facilities and irrigation facilities, making crops more resistant to decay and variations in temperature and rainfall. REDI II also aims to increase farmers’ access to hotel and export markets. As of December 2025, more than 5,000 beneficiaries have received income-generating small grants, while close to 1,000 have received training and agricultural inputs, facilitating higher crop yields and more stable sources of income for Jamaican farmers.

Combating Praedial Larceny

Praedial larceny, the theft of agricultural produce, farming equipment and livestock, has been extremely damaging to Jamaica’s agricultural sector, resulting in losses of millions of dollars per year and reducing investment. Addressing this problem, the government set up the Agricultural Protection Branch within the Jamaica Constabulary Force in June 2025.

This specialized unit provides training in agricultural laws, educating officers in investigating and prosecuting cases of farm theft. Additionally, through gathering intelligence, increasing patrols, and teaching farmers about preventive measures, the unit heightens security on the farm, deterring potential criminals. In the span of a year, reports of theft in Trelawny farming communities dropped to almost zero. Given that praedial larceny threatens local production and supply, the unit’s work is vital in securing the livelihoods of farmers as well as in stabilizing Jamaica’s food supply and agricultural economy, protecting Jamaica’s growing agricultural sector.

UN Project Increases Resilience in Kitson Town

The efforts of international organizations have also been instrumental in Jamaica’s growing agricultural sector. The Improving Rural Livelihoods through Resilient Agrifood Systems project, carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, concluded this March, laying a solid foundation for the continued development of agricultural businesses in Kitson Town, St. Catherine.

Under the project, more than 200 participants received training in protected agriculture (growing crops in a controlled environment), the management of livestock and business skills, while agricultural programs for high school students paved the way for future prosperity in agricultural communities.

Furthermore, the provision of greenhouses and related production inputs such as fertilizers, organic pesticides and pH meters, fortified crop production and farmers’ income sources against unpredictable climatic patterns, enhancing rural livelihoods. The project was particularly empowering for women, who accounted for over 60% of its participants, increasing their independence and contributions to agricultural production.

Helping Farmers Recover from Hurricanes

The World University Service of Canada is committed to consolidating Jamaica’s growing agricultural sector through both short-term and long-term approaches. Due to frequent hurricanes in Jamaica, the organization strives to improve farmers’ abilities to respond to and recover from natural disasters. More than 1,000 farmers acquired agricultural recovery kits, consisting of essential production inputs, facilitating the resumption of agricultural production in the wake of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.

Regarding long-term measures, the “trade-and-aid” initiative both secures access to export markets and revitalizes potato production in Jamaica through the provision of Canadian agricultural technology, ensuring farmers possess the necessary resources to earn a living. By offering storm-preparedness training and promoting climate-smart agricultural systems, the organization equips vulnerable rural communities with the knowledge and tools to protect their livelihoods against an increasingly volatile climate.

Stronger Agricultural Economy Benefits Jamaican Farmers

These various efforts are continually supporting Jamaica’s growing agricultural sector, enhancing its resilience and improving the lives of Jamaican farmers. The agricultural sector grew by close to 14% in the second quarter of 2025, demonstrating a swift bounce back from Hurricane Beryl, which struck in the summer of 2024. Infrastructure, material aid, education and security measures have made significant progress in increasing production, strengthening income stability and reducing food insecurity.

– Katy Wong

Katy is based in Hong Kong and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Kazakhstan’s Economic Diversification and Technology

Kazakhstan's Economic DiversificationIn an attempt to diversify and expand its economy, improve long-term stability and potentially reduce poverty, Kazakhstan is turning to AI, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Kazakhstan has traditionally relied on fossil fuels, minerals and other raw commodities, leaving its economy vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. The country’s economic diversification beyond natural resources is therefore critical to achieving long-term economic stability.

Technology is now central to that strategy. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described AI adoption as a “matter of national survival,” arguing that Kazakhstan must remain a key player within the global technological race. The country hopes to have a fully digital economy by 2029. Its ambition is not simply to create a technology sector, but to use technology to create new industries, better-paid employment and a more resilient economy.

Building a Digital Economy

Kazakhstan’s abundance of critical materials and energy resources, combined with its strategic position between Europe and Asia, provides a strong foundation for investment in digital infrastructure and advanced industries. Thirteen international transport corridors cross the country, and around 85% of rail cargo traveling between China and Europe transits through Kazakhstan.

Through economic diversification in the technological sector, Kazakhstan hopes to widen its job diversity, thus opening up greater employment possibilities. International investment is critical to this transition. The Tumar Fund, supported by the World Bank’s Fostering Productive Innovations Project and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, encourages private investment into innovative businesses by matching allocated project funding with private investor contributions. The objective is not simply to finance individual startups, but to encourage an entrepreneurial culture capable of generating businesses and jobs outside traditional industries.

On March 13, 2026, the World Bank approved a $600 million loan to support private-sector-led growth, create better-paid jobs and strengthen economic resilience in Kazakhstan. Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank country manager for Kazakhstan, said that strengthening energy efficiency, expanding renewable energy, advancing digital connectivity and data protection, and improving access to social assistance would help create a “more dynamic, inclusive, and resilient economy.”

Technology and Employment

For technology to reduce poverty, infrastructure must translate into employment and higher incomes. Digital skills are therefore crucial to Kazakhstan’s strategy. According to the World Bank, around two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s population report having basic digital skills, while approximately 41% report intermediate skills.

Crucially, digital skills are associated with higher wages. People with basic digital skills in Kazakhstan earn around 25% more than those without them. Those with intermediate skills earn around 46% more, while workers with advanced digital skills earn around 50% more. Although these figures show an association rather than direct causation, they highlight the potential of digital skills to improve employment and income prospects. This association helps explain why investment in digital skills is an important part of Kazakhstan’s human-capital strategy and may improve access to better-paid work.

E-governance

Digitalization can affect poverty at several levels through creating jobs, improving wages, increasing productivity, and making access to public services more efficient. Kazakhstan’s technological transformation extends to e-governance. According to the country’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, 92% of government services are available online, with 85% accessible through mobile devices. The government is now moving toward an AI-GovTech model, using integrated data analytics to inform and improve policy and public service provision.

By introducing a digital, data-driven employment system that tracks labor trends, maps investment flows, forecasts potential employment and assesses vulnerability, Kazakhstan hopes to spot key areas for development more easily. Digitalization is therefore being used not only to create economic activity but to identify vulnerabilities and reshape the economy itself.

Conclusion

Kazakhstan’s economic diversification is about more than joining the global AI race. It is a broader strategy to reduce dependence on volatile natural resources, modernize the economy, create new opportunities, and support long-term prosperity. In 2025, the economy grew by 6.5% and GDP exceeded $300 billion, according to President Tokayev. Meanwhile, accumulated net foreign direct investment surpassed $150 billion, with significant investment flowing into manufacturing, high-tech industries and deep processing.

Technology alone cannot eradicate poverty. Kazakhstan’s diversification strategy depends also on sustained economic growth, and strategies which ensure the benefits of technological growth reach the wider population.

While Kazakhstan’s economic diversification does not provide a simple blueprint that any other country can copy, its experience does raise a wider global question for other resource-dependent economies. Venezuela, like Kazakhstan, has historically relied on oil, leaving it vulnerable to global price fluctuations. However, technological development could potentially provide a similar route toward diversification for the nation.

– Cecilia Catmur

Cecilia is based in the UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

,

The Economic and Social Impact of the Bangalore Metro System

Bangalore Metro SystemBengaluru, India, is one of the country’s fastest-growing economic centers, but its rapid growth has created a major transportation problem. Long commutes, traffic congestion, expensive private transportation and unequal access to jobs can make it difficult for lower-income residents to take advantage of the opportunities the city offers. The Bengaluru Metro, formally recognized as the Bangalore Metro System and locally known as Namma Metro, is increasingly becoming an important part of the solution. High-capacity mass transit connects residents to employment, education, health care and commercial centers that would otherwise be difficult or costly to reach.

Transportation Challenges

The scale of Bengaluru’s transportation challenge can be seen in the growth of Namma Metro itself. The system began operating in 2011, and its network has expanded substantially since then. Official operational data from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited indicates that by 2024, approximately 76 kilometers of Metro lines were operational. Namma Metro’s average daily ridership hit a record high of around 762,000 passengers in July 2024. The network crossed the one-million-rider mark for the first time on Aug. 11, 2025, with 1,048,031 passengers in a single day, days after the Yellow Line opened. Ridership climbed further in August 2026, when the system recorded its highest-ever single-day ridership of 1,119,815 passengers on Aug. 10, illustrating how heavily Bengaluru residents depend on mass transit.

Impact on Low-Income Households

This expansion matters particularly because transportation costs can have a large effect on low- and middle-income households. A study of 1,350 low- and low-middle-income households in Bengaluru examined how residents choose between different transportation options. Researchers found that travel cost was the most important factor influencing transportation choices, followed by travel time and travel distance. The study also found that Metro use remained relatively low among lower-income residents even when a station was accessible, largely because Metro fares could still be difficult for some households to afford.

This finding demonstrates both the potential and the limitation of urban rail transit. A train station alone does not guarantee economic opportunity. If a worker cannot afford the fare, has to pay for another vehicle to reach the station, or cannot easily get from the station to their workplace, the benefits of the Metro are reduced. Researchers therefore argue that affordable fares and better connections between Metro stations and surrounding neighborhoods are essential if public transportation is going to serve lower-income residents effectively.

Expanding Job Opportunities

When transportation is affordable and accessible, it can significantly expand the geographic area in which people can search for jobs. Instead of being limited to employment opportunities within walking distance or a short bus ride, workers can potentially reach major employment centers across the city. This is especially important in Bengaluru because jobs are concentrated in particular economic corridors, including areas associated with the city’s technology and business industries. Better transportation allows workers to consider jobs farther from their homes without necessarily having to move.

Economic Development

The economic effects of rapid transit extend beyond individual commuters. A study analyzing job proximity along the Bangalore Metro System found that transit infrastructure can influence the location and density of commercial activities. Researchers found that station-area job densities are not yet strongly correlated with current ridership, and recommended that policymakers prioritize job density in future transit-oriented development planning. In other words, a Metro station can become more than a transit stop: it can serve as an anchor for offices, stores, housing, services and other economic activity.

Property markets provide another measurable example of transit’s economic reach. Research published in Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice found that the Metro was associated with a 4.5% increase in land values across the city. The study noted that this land value appreciation extended beyond the traditional 500-meter station catchment area, demonstrating that the economic influence of transit infrastructure reaches surrounding neighborhoods rather than remaining limited to the immediate station entrance.

Travel Time and Environmental Benefits

The Metro’s impact can also be measured through travel time savings. Bengaluru experiences significant traffic congestion, and long travel times impose a direct economic cost on workers. Every hour spent commuting represents lost time for employment, education, family care, or rest. Faster and more predictable transportation increases the personal time available to commuters. For a worker traveling five days a week, a 30-minute reduction in daily travel adds up to approximately 130 hours per year — equivalent to more than five full days.

Environmental benefits provide an additional dimension to transit investments. Data reviewed by India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs indicates that average daily Metro ridership nationwide increased from approximately 2.8 million passengers per day in 2013 to 2014 to more than 11.2 million per day by 2025. Government analysis highlights urban rail systems as an effective mechanism to reduce reliance on private vehicles, ease road congestion, conserve fuel and reduce overall vehicle emissions. Bengaluru’s transit development therefore contributes directly to urban sustainability and pollution reduction goals.

Future Expansions

The Bangalore Metro System is also continuing to expand. The planned Pink Line covers approximately 21 kilometers connecting Kalena Agrahara and Nagawara, while the planned Blue Line covers approximately 58 kilometers, connecting Silk Board with Kempegowda International Airport. These expansions are designed to extend high-capacity public transportation to additional commercial and residential sectors of the city.

Ultimately, Bengaluru’s Metro demonstrates that transportation infrastructure functions as an economic and social policy. For low-income residents, reliable public transportation reduces the distance between where people live and where opportunities exist. It makes employment centers, schools, hospitals, and businesses more accessible while encouraging new economic activity around stations. However, these benefits depend on broader policy alignment. Research involving 1,350 low- and middle-income households shows that affordability remains a critical factor, highlighting the importance for policymakers to integrate fare structures, feeder buses, pedestrian infrastructure, and last-mile connectivity into long-term transit planning.

– Shreya Aman

Shreya is based in San Ramon, CA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

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

, ,

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

,

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

,

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

,

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