Archive for category: Women and Female Empowerment

information and Stories about woman and female empowerment.

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How UNDP in Sudan is Helping the Country Grow

UNDP in Sudan
Since the outbreak of conflict in 2023, nearly 6.9 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty. Farming communities have collapsed, more than 70% of health care facilities in conflict-affected areas have shut, and diseases such as cholera, HIV and TB have become more prevalent. Children’s education has been disrupted. UNDP reports it plans to continue supporting Sudan in the long term, including through access to services, clean energy, training and livelihood programs that strengthen communities’ self-reliance. Here is information about how UNDP is helping Sudan grow.

Clean and Sustainable Energy

UNDP provides solar-powered energy to ensure farming, health care facilities, and businesses have a cost-effective, clean, reliable, and sustainable source of energy. For example, many of the farms around the River Nile relied on diesel-fueled water irrigation systems. With the state of the economy and conflict in Sudan, this became an expensive and unreliable form of energy. Many farms had to cut back on fuel, which led to failing crops. With UNDP’s help and funding from the Republic of Korea, 300 farms received solar-powered irrigation systems, helping to maintain livelihoods in a clean and cost-effective way.

Helping Communities Grow

UNDP partnered with the UN Interim Security Force of Abyei to provide support for individuals in communities by creating jobs, supporting farmers, empowering women, providing clean water and offering training to ensure conflict resolution and peacekeeping. UNDP set up a local community management committee, giving people a voice and enabling each community to assess needs and assistance priorities. This committee identified the need for home-grown gardens, providing women with seeds, tools and training to produce food for their families while giving them the initiative to sell excess produce. UNDP established the Village Savings and Loans Association to empower women, support small businesses, and provide financial stability for more than 170 women. In one case, the association brought together 25 women from different communities to set up and run a produce business, sharing the capital and profits.

Achievements

UNDP has been working to help the people of Sudan. These efforts have:

  • Reported reaching more than 6.3 million Sudanese people, refugees and migrants.
  • Distributed 150 metric tons of certified seeds to strengthen agricultural resilience.
  • Created more than 200,000 temporary cash-for-work jobs.

The work UNDP does would not be possible without the backing of governments in other countries and funding from supporting partners. However, the need is still growing. UNDP Sudan Resident Representative Luca Renda stated, “To truly match the courage and determination of the Sudanese people, we must do more.” UNDP continues to support the Sudanese people and its communities, helping Sudan grow in its economy, agriculture, clean energy initiative, and peace.

– Shannon Waters

Shannon is based in Middlesbrough and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Veritree Business Growth: A Step Closer to Restoring Nature

Veritree Business Growth
Veritree uses new tracking technology to manage, maintain and accurately gather data on how many trees are being planted through its projects, providing business investors and partners with accurate data.

Company Background

Veritree was officially started in 2019 by the founders of another company, Tentree. Tentree was launched in 2012 by founders Derrick Emsley, Kalen Emsley and David Luba. The company began as a consumer-based business that promised every item sold would result in 10 trees being planted. In just two years, Tentree had successfully planted more than one million trees. Two years later, the company became a certified B Corporation. In 2019, the founders launched Veritree to use technology to track and provide accurate data on trees being planted, allowing business investors to track progress accurately. Veritree reports reaching 100 million trees planted and verified by 2025.

Promise and Impact

Veritree is committed not only to the restoration of forests but also to the humanitarian impact of such development. It aims to restore communities and help developing countries through restoration, technology and job opportunities.

Woman-Led Projects

Veritree has provided women in Haiti with tools and projects to empower themselves, gain financial stability and restore the ecosystem. Along with Mother Tree, Veritree sought to reverse the trend and give women opportunities to farm, grow and create their own businesses.

Fanme Limye is one of the woman-led associations to emerge from Veritree’s project in Haiti. The association employs more than 194 artisans, 72% of whom are women. Their mission is to provide women with training and employment, offering financial stability and skills to enter the economic world. They seek to promote women’s rights, raise awareness and advocate for women.

Businesses Growing

Through Veritree’s initiative and easy-to-track technology, businesses are seeing real impact not only on their contributions but also on their operations. Oak Bay Beach Hotel stated that it has seen increased interest in its sustainability programs that can be verified with Veritree. Hopper donates trees on behalf of its customers. Hopper promotes tree planting to customers, while a BCBusiness profile reports that Veritree’s partnerships helped fuel 6,000% revenue growth since 2021. Sutton Place Hotels sought to become more sustainable while saving on labor costs. They invested in Veritree and advertised a cost-saving initiative to customers, committing to plant 10 trees for every night customers opt out of overnight housekeeping. This proved to be an effective way to engage with customers, saving $36,000 in annual costs.

Projects

Agroforestry projects in Haiti, Senegal, Rwanda and Tanzania are creating an integrated system of trees, woody plants and livestock on the same land to create healthier soil and effective biodiversity, promoting land productivity.

Terrestrial projects in Kenya, Brazil, the U.S. and Australia work to restore and expand forestry on depleted lands to reduce carbon emissions, regulate water resources and create a biodiverse ecosystem.

Mangrove restoration projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Brazil are replanting mangrove trees in coastal areas to prevent erosion, enhance biodiversity and sequester carbon emissions.

Kelp sea-forestation projects in Canada are committed to regenerating sea forests to restore ocean health, improve water quality and protect marine habitats.

These are a few of the projects that Veritree led to save the planet and restore nature. These ongoing efforts not only restore the planet’s natural resources but also provide jobs, equality and financial stability to developing countries. Veritree states its restoration projects help generate employment and support women in communities including Haiti and East Africa. The company reports having planted and verified more than 100 million trees worldwide.

– Shannon Waters

Shannon is based in United Kingdom and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Hydrogel in Zambia Could Help Women Protect Livelihoods

Hydrogel in Zambia
Forests can be an important source of income for families in rural Zambia. Forest products contribute about 20% of rural household income, while forests and other natural resources support the livelihoods of about 60% of rural households. For women who depend on these resources, environmental degradation can put an existing source of income under pressure.

The Booma Women Cooperative

In Southern Province, the Booma Women Cooperative is investigating whether hydrogel can help recently planted trees withstand dry conditions. The cooperative uses natural resources such as mongongo to produce oils and cosmetics, linking forest resources to women’s existing livelihood activities.

Women in Mukuni Village, Southern Province, collect forest resources for food and income. Mongongo nuts are one such resource, traditionally collected and processed by local communities. The Booma Women Cooperative buys mongongo seeds from local women and processes them into cooking and cosmetic oils for local shops, lodging facilities and wellness centers. The cooperative also produces cosmetic oils and butters from other locally sourced forest products.

Mendel University reports that the cooperative gives women opportunities to earn income by collecting and selling mongongo products.

Drought and Forest Pressure

These livelihoods face pressure from environmental degradation. Drought, logging, charcoal production, agricultural expansion and uncontrolled fires can place additional pressure on forests. Research from the International Growth Centre found that drought-related crop failures can push smallholder farmers toward charcoal production as a coping strategy, increasing pressure on forests.

Testing Hydrogel in Drought-Prone Areas

Hydrogel absorbs water in soil and gradually releases moisture as surrounding conditions become drier. Hydrogel can retain water in soil and release moisture gradually; its effects on seedling survival vary by species and conditions.

At the Booma Women Cooperative, researchers from Mendel University in Brno are testing whether hydrogel can support tree establishment in drought-prone areas. The project receives funding and support from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Czech-UNDP Partnership. It initially aimed to support at least 400 native and oil-bearing trees. By early November 2025, more than 1,500 seedlings from eight species had been sown, and more than 1,000 had germinated. Six species are native and two are introduced.

Women receive training in planting, hydrogel application and early seedling care, while researchers collect field data and use sensors to monitor tree growth and local conditions. A 2023 field study of four Central European tree species found that hydrogel treatment reduced seedling mortality by 1% to 9%, although responses varied by species.

Future Income Benefits Remain Uncertain

The potential economic benefit of the Booma project depends on whether the seedlings survive and mature. If they do, the trees could eventually contribute to forest resources used for activities such as mongongo collection and processing. However, the project has not yet demonstrated that hydrogel will produce this outcome in Southern Zambia.

It remains uncertain how many seedlings will survive and mature, whether the technique will perform similarly under local conditions and whether healthier trees will eventually produce enough forest products to affect women’s incomes. The cost and scalability of hydrogel also remain questions.

Most importantly, Booma members have not yet received measurable income benefits from the project. Evidence that hydrogel can improve seedling survival under some conditions does not establish that it will increase incomes in Southern Zambia.

The Booma project is testing whether a drought-adaptation technique can help protect forest resources connected to existing women’s livelihoods. Whether the approach eventually strengthens those livelihoods remains to be determined.

– Zeba Vagh

Zeba is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Improvement for Higher Education in Fiji

Higher Education in Fiji
Throughout the years, there has been some slight improvement in Fiji’s education system by increasing accessible education through zero-tuition fees. Although Fijian students are provided with free primary and lower secondary education, they still have to pay for college tuition when planning or attending a higher educational institution. Tuition and other living costs can be barriers for students from low-income households.

Affording higher education in Fiji can be a major stress factor for students from low-income households, especially when considering transportation, books, meals, housing, and other scholarly expenses. However, the Fiji government and nonprofit organizations have been making progress by making higher education affordable and accessible for all Fiji Island residents. Here are some methods reflecting Fiji’s improvement in higher education by providing equal opportunities and funding more financial opportunities.

Academic Excellence for Women

On Sept. 20, 2023, the Permanent Secretary of Education, Selina Kuruleca, confirmed that women in Fiji are completing their education more often than men. High school graduation for female students is at a 97% rate, while male students have a 79% rate. About 60-65% of college and higher education enrollment are female-identifying students.

Nonprofit organizations have encouraged and funded opportunities for Fijian women to attend higher educational institutions. For example, Graduate Women Fiji was established in 1983 with a mission to support higher education for women by promoting fellowships and global networking for members. Graduate Women Fiji promotes women’s education and professional development, including opportunities in fields where women have historically been underrepresented. Programs that fund scholarships and grants for women pursuing higher education in Fiji exemplify how funding for women’s academic excellence can break financial barriers women face while earning a college degree.

The Higher Education Commission

The Higher Education Commission was established in 2010 to prioritize the services of higher education for Fijian residents. It is a government regulatory body that supports the delivery of higher education in Fiji. Its goals are to meet the necessities and standards of students, teachers, and other faculty members. The Higher Education Commission Fiji confirms that there is major improvement in operating grants for institutions such as the University of South Pacific and Fiji National University. The commission states, “For 2025-2026, the Government has invested $83,042,808 in operating grant to HEIs and $3,431,739 in capital grant.” Fiji National University reported signing a government grant agreement for 2026–2027 that includes FJD 74.49 million in operating funding. These grants will support more funding toward career training, workforce development, and more opportunities for students from different financial backgrounds.

Ministry of Education’s National Budget

On June 26, 2026, the Fiji Ministry of Education announced that higher education in Fiji will continue to thrive after receiving a National Budget of FJD 883 million [$392,937,119 USD]. The largest allocation of Fiji’s education system will be funded for teacher salaries, schools and scholarships. The budget provides FJD 160 million [$71,200,384 USD] for tertiary scholarships, which will help more than 23,000 new and currently enrolled college students. The government of Fiji assisted 53,000 students by writing off more than FJD 650 million [$289,251,560 USD] in college debt.

The Education Ministry in Fiji continues to plan on improving accountability by providing more scholarship programs. The Higher Education Commission’s published funding figures for 2025–2026 total FJD 86,474,547 in operating and capital grants, while the FJD 74.49 million figure relates to a separate Fiji National University agreement. Both government-led and nonprofit organizations prioritize improving higher education in Fiji by opening more grants and scholarship opportunities with less stress over affording a good college.

The Impact of Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants create a positive impact for college students from low-income families because they encourage them to pursue education that will provide the skills needed for well-paid jobs. Fiji’s methods of fighting poverty include funding higher educational institutes for students seeking opportunities in studying for a job that will offer better income. Government funding and scholarships aim to make further education and training more accessible.

Funding grants and scholarships benefit Fijian students who face poverty by providing affordable access to education and training. To give students a chance at obtaining jobs that promise higher wages after graduation, the Fiji government proposed expanding training opportunities in universities. To reduce the number of residents moving out of Fiji to find better job opportunities, the government proposed more higher educational institutions to expand training courses to ensure that every resident will develop the skills needed to prepare for a career of interest.

Fiji National University has set a strategy to expand technical and vocational education and training in response to Fiji’s skills needs. Higher education in Fiji addresses the country’s labor skills gap by creating more training programs to ensure that students will have a future where their careers are related to educational background, potentially improving access to employment and income.

– Kristen Wheeler

Kristen is based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and focuses on Good News, Technology and Solutions, Global Health, and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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South Sudan Women and Their Empowerment

South Sudan WomenAccording to the World Bank, around four in five people in South Sudan live in extreme poverty, among the highest rates in the world. Grassroots enterprise projects such as the South Sudan Women Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP) help women and their communities build local business skills so they can obtain jobs and rise out of poverty. FAO programs support women farmers and entrepreneurs with training in vegetable production, irrigation, climate-smart agriculture and livestock-related livelihoods to strengthen household nutrition and income. The Construction of Women Economic Empowerment Centers (WECCs) provides skills training, financial literacy and vital support services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

South Sudan Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project

While the $70 million International Development Association (IDA) grant was approved in 2022, the current World Bank reporting describes the four-year SSWSEEP implementation as a $52 million project. While UN Women supports the implementation, the 2022 World Bank report says that the financing was an IDA grant. This support helps female entrepreneurs formalize and scale up their business activities and helps survivors of GBV access vital services that enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.

Survivors of GBV receive immediate safety and crisis intervention, health care and medical support, mental health and psychosocial support, and legal and economic empowerment. These services help women in poverty increase their social status in society. They provide access to education, training, business services and financing. As Aya Benjamin Warile, the Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare for South Sudan indicated, “empowering women to participate fully in civic and economic life will make South Sudan more prosperous and peaceful.”

Agricultural and Agrifood Training

FAO-backed programs are helping some women farmers move from subsistence production toward more climate-resilient, market-oriented agriculture through training, tools and field-based support. The FAO has supported South Sudan’s food security, resilience and climate-smart agriculture in response to conflict, displacement and climate shocks. The organization has also supported development in the livestock sector, which gives millions of people in South Sudan a vital source of food, income and cultural identity. These programs show how targeted agricultural support can strengthen resilience and income opportunities.

Community Centers and Safe Spaces

Empowering South Sudan’s women and girls is the first step in fostering peace. In a country where four out of five people are in extreme poverty, women and girls ravaged by conflict, submerged by floods, and affected by repeated natural and human-made disasters are now caregivers, breadwinners and protectors for families and communities. Survivor networks and referral services empower women to support each other in seeking safety and recovery from GBV. In the business sector, villages provide women with savings and loan associations that enable them to start profitable enterprises so they feed their families and send children to school.

The Women’s Social and Economic Empowerment Project (WSEEP), in collaboration with the World Bank and UN Women, has four components that show the steps to empower women. The project centers on providing community empowerment support to women and girls, establishing a women’s economic opportunity facility, enhancing services for survivors of GBV and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.

Women’s Economic Community Centers

The construction of five new women’s economic community centers (WECCs) in states across the country will enable the provision of social and economic services for women and girls at satellite sites in these states. The WECCs will offer integrated services such as starter kits and grants, GBV response and referrals, and training in business, leadership, financial literacy, advocacy, and peacebuilding. The second component of WSEEP allows technical assistance and grants for women-led small and growing businesses. Enterprises will be sustained through crucial investments such as purchasing key equipment, accessing digital technologies and upskilling staff.

Services for GBV Survivors

The third component of WSEEP provides critical services for GBV survivors, including a national GBV hotline and the establishment of a new safe house for survivors in Juba. The hotline gives GBV survivors access to psychosocial support, health, police, child support, legal aid, and shelter offered by a toll-free 24/7 line. The safe house provides affordable basic protection services and resources like accommodation, protection, clothing, medical care and counseling and legal support.

Policymaking

Under the fourth component, the Ministry for Gender, Child and Social Welfare focuses on policymaking and coordination on South Sudan women empowerment issues. The component trains and accredits ministry social workers to address GBV cases, support family mediation, meet ministry needs and finance training, workshops and conferences. By addressing the weaknesses and strengths of the challenges that women in the poverty-stricken country of South Sudan face, the WSEEP aims to help South Sudanese women live better, more productive lives.

– Stephanie Ou

Stephanie is based in San Jose, California/Santa Clara County, United States and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solar-Powered Ice Plants in the Philippines Protect Fishing Livelihoods

Solar-Powered Ice Plants in the Philippines
Fish must be properly chilled and frozen after being caught because they are highly perishable. Yet limited access to ice, refrigeration and other post-harvest facilities can make preservation difficult in isolated coastal communities in the Philippines. An Oceana assessment estimated post-harvest losses of 40.34% in municipalities around Samar Bays and Channels and 38.39% along the San Bernardino Strait. These figures reflect the locations assessed by Oceana rather than the Philippines as a whole. Solar-powered ice plants in the Philippines offer one potential way to protect catch value as changing weather patterns place additional pressure on fishing livelihoods.

Changing Weather and the Vulnerability of Fishing Livelihoods

Changing weather is adding pressure to Philippine fishing livelihoods by affecting fish distribution, marine ecosystems and exposure to storms and other hazards. A study of 220 small-scale fishers in Davao Gulf found that changing weather patterns and rising temperatures contributed to vulnerability, alongside lower catches and the need to travel farther offshore. For households that rely heavily on fishing, these pressures can make an uncertain source of income more vulnerable.

The Hidden Cost of Keeping Fish Cold

For households that depend on fishing, keeping a catch fresh can directly affect how much money a day’s work generates. Fish can lose quality and market value without adequate preservation. A JICA study of Philippine fisheries found that deterioration during transportation could make fish less competitive in the market, while research continues to identify post-harvest losses as a challenge. The cost of ice can add another burden. In Basilan, 10-kilogram blocks previously cost fishers ₱200 to ₱240 from outside suppliers, compared with ₱60 from a nearby solar-powered ice plant.

Basilan: Solar Power Brings Ice Closer

In Lantawan, Basilan, an off-grid fishing community now has a solar-powered ice plant that produces ice locally. The facility, handed over in February 2026, can produce nearly one tonne of ice blocks a day. Before the plant opened, residents bought ice from nearby towns and reported income losses when fish products spoiled. UNDP reports that access to local ice has helped reduce dependence on ice brought from outside the community and reports that fishers say spoilage-related income losses have fallen. These are early project experiences, not independently measured long-term outcomes. The EU and UNDP co-funded the facility through the Model Lives program, with the Kasalamatan Agri-Fisheries Association managing it. Similar facilities are being developed elsewhere, including a DOST-supported hybrid solar ice plant in remote Palawan.

What the Savings Mean for Fishers

For fisher Pating Punso in Barangay Bukut-Umus, access to local ice changed a basic fishing expense. He previously paid ₱200 for a block of ice from mainland Basilan. He now pays ₱60 for a comparable block from a solar-powered facility about 50 meters from his home. Punso told MindaNews that the local ice is cheaper and lasts longer. Another fisher, Muamar Manisan, described another cost of unreliable ice. When he ran out, fish caught from his payao could spoil, forcing him to dry some squid instead. This reflects the project’s early reported experience rather than a long-term independently measured outcome.

Women Turn a Livelihood Need Into Local Enterprise

Solar-powered ice plants in the Philippines are also creating business opportunities for women. In Lower Binembengan, Sumisip, 26 women have operated the community’s ice-block production facility since March 2026. The EU and UNDP-backed enterprise supplies ice to local fishers while giving the women a role in managing a local business. Available reporting does not quantify the women’s individual earnings, so longer-term effects remain unclear.

Why Small Infrastructure Can Matter

For fishing households, earning from a catch depends on being able to keep it fresh until it reaches the market. When ice is expensive or unavailable, fish can lose quality and value, turning spoilage into a direct financial loss. The Basilan cases show how this infrastructure gap can affect everyday fishing costs and the value of a catch. Solar-powered ice plants in the Philippines offer a way to bring ice production closer to remote fishing communities while using renewable energy. By making preservation more accessible, they can potentially help protect the value of catches in communities already facing climate-related pressures, where limited income options can increase economic vulnerability.

What We Do Not Know Yet

Solar-powered ice plants could offer benefits beyond reducing spoilage and ice costs. In San Agustin, Romblon, an ice plant faced high electricity costs because of its heavy power requirements before receiving a ₱2.186 million solar system with battery storage. At the same time, the technology requires significant upfront investment: a solar-powered ice machine in Pilar, Cebu, cost ₱3.9 million. Continued funding, maintenance and reliable operation will therefore matter to sustaining these benefits.

When Protecting a Catch Means Protecting an Income

A fishing community does not always need a new livelihood to become more financially secure. Sometimes, it needs better ways to protect income from existing livelihoods. Solar-powered ice plants can reduce preventable losses, lower a key cost and create local business opportunities. For communities with few alternatives, strengthening these livelihoods can help people earn closer to home rather than being pushed to seek precarious work elsewhere.

– Zeba Vagh

Zeba is based in Melboure, Victoria, Australia and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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STHREE RIDE Program Creates Women’s Employment in India

Women's Employment in India
In Telangana, India, a new program is creating a path into the workforce for women through an industry where they have traditionally been underrepresented. The Telangana Police Women Safety Wing launched STHREE RIDE in June 2026 to connect women with employment as bike riders, auto-rickshaw drivers and cab drivers. The initiative is part of a broader push to expand women’s employment in India, a country that continues to face a significant gender gap in workforce participation.

The Link Between Work and Poverty

For people living with limited financial resources, access to reliable employment can be an important factor in maintaining economic stability. The type of employment matters as well. The World Bank reports that 78.2% of employed women in India were in vulnerable employment in 2025, compared with 69% of employed men. Vulnerable employment often involves fewer formal work arrangements and social protections. This leaves workers more exposed to economic shocks and poverty.

Women also participate in India’s workforce at a much lower rate than men. World Bank data based on International Labour Organization estimates shows that India’s female labor-force participation rate was 32.4% in 2025, compared with 77.6% for men. The gap reflects the broader challenge facing women’s employment in India and is part of the wider effort to expand women’s economic opportunities in the country.

The barriers behind this gap are not limited to one issue. The World Bank identifies access to skills, finance, housing and transportation among the factors that can affect women’s ability to participate fully in India’s economy. Addressing these barriers can help create conditions in which more women are able to enter and remain in the workforce.

STHREE RIDE Opens a Door

STHREE RIDE is one initiative addressing women’s employment in India by connecting women directly to jobs in the transportation sector. During its inaugural phase, 55 women were onboarded and connected with mobility service providers through both gig-worker and full-time employment models. The Telangana Police Women Safety Wing designed the program specifically to create livelihood opportunities for women in transportation, a field that has traditionally had fewer women participants.

The first group represents several types of transportation work, including bike riding, auto-rickshaw driving and cab driving. The initiative combines employment connections with livelihood support, giving participants a way to apply their skills directly to paid work rather than stopping at training alone.

That model is particularly relevant to poverty because training by itself does not guarantee an income. Connecting skills development with employment can create a more direct route from learning a skill to using it as a source of livelihood. For women who face barriers to entering the workforce, that connection can be an important part of improving access to economic opportunity.

Why Transportation Matters

Transportation is also connected to women’s ability to participate in the economy. The World Bank identifies safe and affordable transport as one of the structural factors that can influence women’s access to work in India. STHREE RIDE approaches transportation from another angle by creating jobs within the sector itself.

The program also places women in roles that can increase their visibility in public spaces and challenge traditional expectations surrounding transportation work. The Women Safety Wing describes STHREE RIDE as both a livelihood initiative and an effort to increase women’s participation in public spaces and the workforce.

From a Small Start to a Larger Model

STHREE RIDE is still in its early stages, so its long-term effect on poverty cannot yet be measured. There is not enough evidence to determine whether participants will experience lasting increases in income or whether the program will produce measurable reductions in poverty. At this point, its impact can be evaluated through the opportunities it has created rather than outcomes that have not yet been established.

The Women Safety Wing plans to expand the program based on the results of its initial phase. Its longer-term plans include reaching women in urban, semi-urban and rural areas and exploring opportunities with logistics and cargo service providers. If expanded, the program could bring its employment model to women facing different economic and geographic barriers.

Measuring the program’s future results will be important. Employment numbers alone will not show whether STHREE RIDE is helping women build more secure livelihoods. Changes in participants’ income, job stability and ability to remain in the workforce would provide a clearer picture of the initiative’s economic impact.

A Path Toward Economic Opportunity

Poverty reduction requires more than addressing immediate financial needs. Expanding access to education, skills and employment can help people participate more fully in the economy. In India, where women continue to participate in the workforce at a substantially lower rate than men, increasing access to employment is one part of addressing the economic barriers that contribute to vulnerability.

STHREE RIDE began with 55 women, but its broader significance lies in the model it is testing. By connecting women with training and transportation jobs, the initiative is creating an opportunity for women to enter a sector that has traditionally had limited female participation. As more women take the wheel, STHREE RIDE offers an early, hopeful signal for the future of women’s employment in India.

– Anvitha Nakka

Anvitha is based in Frederick, Maryland, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Women’s Land Rights in Côte d’Ivoire Strengthen Economic Security

Women’s Land Rights in Côte d’Ivoire
Land ownership can provide an important source of income and economic security for women in rural Côte d’Ivoire, where agriculture supports many livelihoods. However, women have historically faced barriers to owning land independently, despite having equal legal rights to own and inherit property. Recent land registration programs are beginning to address this gap. Between 2018 and 2024, the Land Policy Improvement and Implementation Project (PAMOFOR) helped deliver more than 51,000 land certificates, with 21% of those certificates going to female landowners. Strengthening women’s land rights in Côte d’Ivoire can therefore provide greater economic security while addressing inequalities that contribute to rural poverty.

Women Still Face a Large Land Ownership Gap

Despite having legal rights to own land, women in Côte d’Ivoire remain less likely than men to own agricultural land. OECD data from its 2022 Côte d’Ivoire SIGI study show that around 5% of women own agricultural land compared with 25% of men. This gap is particularly important because agriculture provides livelihoods for many women in rural communities, yet women continue to face difficulties accessing land and other economic resources. This can restrict women’s control over an important source of income. Improving women’s land rights in Côte d’Ivoire can help narrow this gap and give women greater control over land and the economic opportunities that come with it.

Customary Practices Can Limit Women’s Land Rights

Although Ivorian law gives women rights to own and inherit land, customary practices can make exercising those rights more difficult. OECD research shows that customary inheritance practices continue to create barriers to women’s land ownership, despite reforms intended to strengthen equal property rights. Inheritance is particularly important because it is a major way people acquire land in Côte d’Ivoire. OECD data show that 50% of female landowners obtained their land through inheritance, compared with 42% of male landowners. As inheritance is an important route to land ownership, discriminatory inheritance practices can have a significant effect on whether women gain control over land. Strengthening awareness of legal rights and recognizing women’s ownership can therefore help close the gap between rights provided by law and women’s experiences in practice.

Land Registration Is Strengthening Land Security

Côte d’Ivoire has begun expanding formal land registration to give rural landholders greater security. The PAMOFOR project, which ran from 2018 to 2024, helped the government deliver more than 51,000 land certificates, with 21% going to female landowners. The World Bank also found that the project reduced women’s risk of losing their land within five years by 55 percentage points. Building on this work, the government launched the Rural Land Tenure Management Strengthening Program (PRESFOR), which is expanding land registration across 16 of Côte d’Ivoire’s 31 regions. By increasing formal recognition of women’s ownership, these programs can give women greater security over land that supports their livelihoods.

Secure Land Rights Can Support Women’s Economic Security

Secure land rights can help women protect an important economic asset, particularly in rural communities where agriculture supports many livelihoods. FAO identifies secure land tenure as important for agricultural development and investment, while women in Côte d’Ivoire continue to face barriers to accessing land. Greater recognition of women’s ownership can therefore support poverty reduction by reducing the risk of losing land on which their livelihoods depend.

Women Have Been Underrepresented in Land Governance

Women’s land rights in Côte d’Ivoire are also affected by who participates in local decisions about land. Historical World Bank data from 2014 found that nearly 40% of Village Land Tenure Committees had no female members, while a further 55% had only one or two women among an average of 13 committee members. These committees play an important role in identifying customary land rights within villages, meaning limited female representation can reduce women’s influence over decisions that affect land ownership. PAMOFOR sought to address this by encouraging women to participate in village land committees and by providing gender-sensitive information about the registration process. Increasing women’s involvement in local land governance can help ensure that their legal rights are considered when communities identify and register customary land.

Legal Rights Do Not Always Translate Into Ownership

Although Côte d’Ivoire has strengthened legal protections for women’s property rights, access to land remains unequal in practice. While women received 21% of the land certificates delivered through the PAMOFOR project, this figure refers specifically to certificates issued under that program. More broadly, the African Development Bank reported in 2026 that women held only around 12% of registered land certificates in Côte d’Ivoire. The bank also highlighted the importance of improving women’s awareness of their rights and access to legal institutions, particularly in rural communities. Although the figures measure different things, both show that women still face inequalities in registered land ownership.

Looking Ahead

Côte d’Ivoire has made progress in formally recognizing rural land rights, but ensuring that women benefit fully from these reforms will require continued attention. PRESFOR is expected to expand land administration across the country and includes measures intended to strengthen women’s land rights. By 2029, the program aims to register 270,000 women with customary ownership rights and another 75,000 women with land-use rights. Continued efforts to involve women in registration, improve awareness of their legal rights and increase their participation in local land governance could help address barriers that still limit women’s ownership. As Côte d’Ivoire expands its rural land reforms, ensuring women can obtain and retain secure rights to land could strengthen their economic independence and make rural development more inclusive.

– Aniya Akram

Aniya is based in Bradford, United Kingdom and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Building a Better Future: Girls in Accra

girls in AccraIn Ghana, poverty is increasingly concentrated in rural communities, where many families depend on agriculture to survive. According to Opportunity International, 43% of Ghana’s population lives in rural areas, while 29% of the country’s workforce is employed in agriculture. Cocoa, the country’s largest export crop, supports millions of livelihoods and has the potential to help families build more secure futures. But for households living close to the poverty line, that future can be fragile. A bad harvest, unexpected medical bill or lack of access to education can quickly turn a difficult year into a crisis.

Poverty Pushes Girls to Accra

Some young women and girls leave their communities as a way to cope with limited opportunities. Many adolescent girls migrate from northern Ghana to Accra, the capital, to find work, hoping to earn money to support themselves and their families.

Once in Accra, children work to support themselves and their families as street vendors, head porters, cart pushers, restaurant workers and in other jobs. Some also face violence and exploitation. A 2012 census found that more than 61,000 children were living or working on Accra’s streets. Girls made up 57% of that number, compared with 43% boys. Many girls work as head porters, also known as kayayei.

Life in Agbogbloshie

Agbogbloshie is in central Accra. The area covers about 146 hectares and is home to nearly 40,000 people. Many of the homes and businesses are small structures built by residents themselves.

The community began in the late 1970s when people who could not afford housing in the city built small shelters near the Korle Lagoon using whatever materials they could find. The area sits on land traditionally belonging to the Ga people, the Indigenous people of the Greater Accra Region.

Today, the area is crowded, and many residents live in small wooden kiosks or shacks without enough access to clean water and bathrooms. Some people pay to share a kiosk, with payments made weekly or even daily instead of paying rent months in advance. Residents also have to pay to use public toilets, showers and water.

Support for Girls in Accra

Girls in Accra can find support from organizations such as Street Girls Aid (S. Aid), a nonprofit established in February 1994 to help children and young people living and working on the streets. S. Aid focuses mainly on girls and young women after seeing the specific challenges they faced while living and working on the streets. The organization is non-religious and non-political and is run by Ghanaian staff.

Its early work focused on helping girls in difficult situations, including pregnant girls living on the streets. Today, S. Aid provides services to about 1,500 children and young people each year.

What Street Girls Aid Does

  • Street Outreach Program: Outreach workers go into markets, lorry parks and other busy areas of Accra every day to find and speak with young people who may need help. Instead of simply giving people information, the workers spend time building relationships and listening to their problems and needs. They also speak with families when possible to better understand why children are living or working on the streets.
  • Young Mothers Support Program: S. Aid runs a support center for vulnerable girls in Accra. The center provides a safe place for girls and young mothers to stay while they work toward becoming more independent. Girls in Accra who enter this program receive basic necessities, including food, clothing and shelter. The program teaches parenting and nutrition skills so young mothers can better care for themselves and their children.
  • Vocational and Life Skills Training: Skills training includes cooking, sewing, hairdressing, beauty care, laundry and soap making. Girls can choose from different types of training depending on what interests them and what could help them earn money. The program goes beyond teaching a trade. Participants also learn literacy, life skills and basic business management. Business lessons can help girls understand how to manage money and potentially run a small business. The goal is to give girls practical skills that can help them find paid work or create their own source of income rather than depending on street work.
  • Early Childhood Development Program: This program offers early education and family support.

Conclusion

Through its work, Street Girls Aid is helping girls in Accra gain the skills and support they need to become more independent and provide for their children. While poverty remains a challenge, programs like these can give young women more options to earn an income and create a more secure future.

– Daniela Escobar

Daniela is based in Huntington, NY, USA. and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Higher Education in Cambodia

Higher Education in CambodiaSince the introduction of the Policy on Higher Education 2030, higher education in Cambodia has made significant progress, especially in enrollment percentage. However, due to access issues for the rural poor and women, it is uncertain whether they will achieve their 2030 goals across the whole population. The Khmer government and local organizations have therefore mobilized to introduce scholarships and support programs to set young people, and their communities, up for success.

Cambodia’s Higher Education 

Between 2004 and 2019, enrollment in higher education in Cambodia increased from 6% to 15% of the eligible population, reflecting stakeholders’ prioritization of tertiary education. However between 2019 and 2022, enrollment fell by 15% due to rising costs and disruptions to secondary school education during the pandemic.

Even before the pandemic, only 5% of students from the poorest quintile graduated from high school, compared to 52% of students from the wealthiest quintile. Limited access to laptops and poor internet infrastructure in rural areas, where the majority of the poor live, meant more children were out of school, thus widening the graduation gap between wealth quintiles.

While efforts have been in place to return high school graduation rates to pre-pandemic levels, declining literacy and math proficiency in primary and lower secondary schools means this remains a concern for the coming years.

Beyond this, higher education costs have risen by 62% in the last decade, making it increasingly hard for the poor to send their children to university. Indeed, the lowest wealth quintile only accounts for 4% of tertiary enrollment while the wealthiest makes up 46% of the student population. Unless addressed, this divide will continue to grow, limiting both national and regional development as the poor continue to miss out on opportunities.

National Scholarships 

To address this, the Khmer Government intends to introduce national scholarships. These scholarships would focus on increasing access for the poor, women, those in disadvantaged areas, disabled students and those enrolling in STEM programs. By offering free tuition to these target groups, the government hopes to increase enrollment and thus lift more of its vulnerable population out of poverty.

Their focus on STEM programs links to hopes for technological innovation, as this will raise the value of goods and services Cambodia produces. Unlike other ASEAN countries where STEM-associated degrees make up the majority of tertiary education, in Cambodia, 41% of students are enrolled in business and management degrees. While this helps maintain current sectors, there is limited opportunity for innovation, thus hindering economic growth.

The Question of Quality 

Beyond access, the quality of higher education in Cambodia also remains a concern. Since funding is allocated according to institute age rather than research or graduation percentage, there is little incentive for older universities to invest in developing their programs. Only 9% of full-time academics have PhDs, the staff’s limited research expertise limiting both their students’ learning and university progress. Furthermore, the focus on enrollment rather than graduation means less than 60% of students complete their studies.

To help address some of these barriers, Lotus Outreach established the Cambodian Tertiary Education and Leadership Youth Training (CATALYST). The program provides vocational training for high school graduates from Cambodia’s poorest rural areas through scholarships, mentoring and workshops. The aim is to ensure disadvantaged students are able to thrive and complete their studies, rather than be forced to drop out due to financial or academic struggles.  

CATALYST has also sponsored 266 women through higher education. Its vocational training and workshops run alongside the scholarships and mean that all 20 of the 2025 graduates secured salaried employment following their graduation.

Charity Organizations 

Lotus Outreach is among many charitable organizations seeking to help the disadvantaged to pursue higher education. 

The Life and Hope Association’s Program Advancing Girls Education (P.A.G.E) tackles the gaps in secondary school education, giving full-time accommodation and teaching to 36 girls from rural areas near Siem Reap. The girls live in the city with the monks who run the organization and are given the support and space needed to complete their education, rather than being pushed into domestic care.

The Asia Foundation has also made huge strides, funding 146 scholarships for rural girls to achieve bachelor’s degrees from Western University. Paired with the Foundation’s Career Development plan where the young women acquired English language, computer and leadership skills, the graduates have gone on to pursue careers in both civil and private sector organizations.

Since only 11% of girls in Cambodia continue to upper secondary school, these programs have proved vital in opening doors for young women. 

Looking Ahead 

Higher education in Cambodia has developed significantly in the last two decades, however there remains work to be done. National scholarships and charitable organizations are helping to tackle access issues. If this is paired with budget reform and support programs, the country can ensure students thrive at both university and beyond.

– Elizabeth Holden

Elizabeth is based in Kent, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash