Tag Archive for: Poverty In Cuba

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3 Ways the US Fuel Blockade Challenges SDG 1 in Cuba

SDG 1 in CubaMotivated by a desire for the island’s government to change regimes, U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14380 on January 29th, 2026, authorizing the imposition of heavy tariffs upon oil provisions sent to Cuba and delivering a huge blow to the progress made toward SDG 1 in Cuba. 

The island is one of Latin America’s poorest countries and had already been struggling with an energy crisis before Trump’s tariffs were put into place. With 12% experiencing unemployment and an astonishing 89% living in extreme poverty, Cuba’s citizens are suffering under the weight of food shortages and medicine shortages, blackouts and poor wages. 

While the island has long endured social problems, as of 2026, the poverty rate has soared by 49% since 2025, with the island now suffering from blackouts, a lack of drinkable water and outbreaks of mosquito-borne and hygiene-related illnesses, creating a nation-wide poverty crisis that is driving 78% of people living on the island to make emigration plans. Here are three ways that the U.S. fuel blockage on Cuba is threatening the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: no poverty in Cuba: 

1. Debilitated Healthcare System 

Cuba’s hospitals are unable to function effectively due to frequent power outages, leading to thousands of patients awaiting surgeries that are unable to be performed without sufficient water and electricity. Despite relying on generators during the reoccurring blackouts, hospitals and other important institutions are grappling to optimize the few hours of electricity provided each day, with laboratories shortening their workdays from five to two hours every week in order to preserve fuel.

A spike in hygiene-related and mosquito-borne illnesses, which the heaps of rubbish now piling on the streets of Cuba have caused, is putting the healthcare system under further strain. The Cuban Government responded to the fuel shortage with rationed waste collection in an attempt to save fuel, resulting in garbage piles being burned as citizens desperately scramble to get rid of the piles of waste marinating in the streets.

Health officials report that the flux of stagnant water left inside discarded waste has led to an increase in reproduction of the Aedes aegypti species. With a large number of vectors swarming inside homes and public areas, the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses has drastically increased, resulting in countless new cases of diseases like chikungunya, which causes significant pain and often debilitating symptoms in patients.

Rubbish piles further raise concern, as parents struggle to monitor their children in streets filled with waste that can cause serious health issues if consumed out of hunger or inhaled during a burning. With so few resources available, hospitals struggle to care for their rapidly increasing number of patients.

2. Grid Collapse

A preexisting energy crisis, which the fuel blockade has made worse, has left schools with no choice but to reduce the number of classes delivered to students each day, resulting in online classes and even cancellations, and businesses unable to operate, forcing them to shut down and leave workers unemployed. 

A cessation of fuel deliveries to the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant has led to frequent breakdowns and left the island powerless in the resulting outages. Without power for lights and technological devices, schools and businesses  are unable to run as usual. However, it is speculated that, due to the crumbling public transport system, attendance would be low even if there was power. With a lack of fuel affecting the everyday commutes of students and workers alike, and a high prevalence of blackouts, the Cuban workforce is  paralyzed, leaving countless unemployed and jeopardizing SDG 1 in Cuba. 

The interruption to studies has even prompted students at the University of Havana to conduct a sit-down protest in March, angered by officials’ lack of action when the U.S. first began enforcing the blockade. A rare occurrence, the protest was responded with force, until Higher Education Vice Minister Modesto Ricardo Gomez called off university security, claiming their voices had a right to be heard and taken seriously.

3. Limited Access To Clean Water 

A water shortage caused by frequent blackouts over the island has left Cubans panicked. Due to fuel shortages, the island is experiencing voltage fluctuations. This causes delays in pumping schedules and damages to machinery, thus affecting the regular delivery of clean water to citizens. With no reliable access to clean drinking water, citizens have resorted to collecting water from tanker trucks and relying on aid vessels for supplies. 

The lack of clean water is leading to an increase in hospital patients, with people suffering from dehydration in the summer heat. Low water supply also means there is little to be spared for showers and cleanliness, leaving citizens vulnerable to illnesses due to poor hygiene and unsanitary food. There is very little water that can be boiled to wash dishes or cook food, therefore creating an environment where sickness can thrive.

Here is some information about aid being delivered to combat the poverty crisis in Cuba:

The Nuestra América Convoy

In 2015, the United Nations developed a 2030 vision, outlined by 17 SDGs, the first goal being no poverty. While the U.S. fuel blockade threatens to impede SDG 1 in Cuba, there are several organizations taking action to help citizens. The Nuestra América Convoy, for example, mobilized hundreds of volunteers from more than 30 countries to deliver aid to the island in the form of critical medical and food supplies. 

Aiming to aid, and stand in solidarity with, the citizens of Cuba, the delegation of Cuban Americans partnered with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, National Lawyers Guild and U.S. Peace Council to visit Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras and Parque Maceo, which is one of the more affected parts of Cuba. 

On March 21st, the group delivered around 20 tons of humanitarian aid to a drop point in Havana, providing significant humanitarian relief to the Cuban people. Now returned from their trip, having successfully helped hospital patients and residents of the area, volunteers plead for change and emphasize that the blockade will only make the situation in Cuba, as well as the island’s relationship with the U.S., worse.

The US’s Offer of Aid

While Cuba’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, had previously rejected the offer, Cuba is now accepting the U.S. government’s $100 million in humanitarian aid. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the delivery of aid to Cuba, planning to distribute the provisions through the Catholic Church. The Cuban government claims it will accept assistance from the U.S., but explains that the island’s citizens may be confused by an offer of help by the same government that has made the poverty crisis significantly worse.

Achieving the United Nations’ SDG 1 in Cuba is critical to saving countless lives, as well as improving the living conditions of the island’s 10,899,951 residents. These three consequences of the U.S. fuel blockade, however, are not only delaying, but drastically reversing the progress made towards achieving this goal. The aid that volunteers are delivering to the island helps counteract these issues, but it is unclear whether it will be enough to combat the ever-growing poverty rate in Cuba.

– Ruby Fraser 

Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Poverty Reduction in Cuba

Poverty Reduction in CubaWhile poverty reduction in Cuba has been at the forefront of its government’s policies since the 1959 revolution, poverty, food insecurity and inequalities in universal services still exist today. As of 2019, Cuba’s multidimensional poverty index score was 0.003, with only 0.7% of its population considered poor. Although one of the lowest in the region, certain indicators, such as the Cuban childhood poverty figure, have steadily increased since 2012. With an economic dependence on the tourism industry and imports, while also suffering under the United States’ strongest trade embargo; Cuba remains at risk for instability.

Since 1959, Cuba’s socialist program has addressed poverty by prioritizing food rations, healthcare, literacy and housing for all of its citizens. Despite hardships due to frequent natural disasters, a resource-poor environment and forced isolation from the world market; the Cuban people have remained both steadfast in their principles and adaptable in moments of crisis. As Cuba recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and fights against the United States’ oil blockade, unity and creativity are of the utmost importance when reducing poverty.

Healthcare

Cuba’s planned, state-controlled economy allows for much of the national budget to fund universal healthcare, education and food rations. During the Batista regime of the 1950s, nearly half of the country’s physicians were located in Havana. The centralization of healthcare in cities created severe disparities between quality of care for rural and urban citizens. At that time, Cuba had a single rural hospital, and the rural infant mortality rate was 100 deaths per 1,000 births.

In 1960, the government formed the Rural Medical Service, placing recent graduated physician volunteers in rural areas, and by 1970, there were 53 rural hospitals in Cuba. Through the Family Doctor and Nurse Program, every Cuban has had access to one of more than 13,000 teams of neighborhood doctors and nurses since 1999. These local doctors ensure that the Cuban Health System regularly engages with all of the country’s citizens.

It also gives the government access to aggregated community diagnoses that lead to greater analysis of risk factors and the nation’s most pressing needs. This has led to a reduction of the infant mortality rate from 38.7 per 1,000 live births in 1970 to 4.0 per 1,000 live births in 2018, and has strengthened women’s health services through the establishment and expansion of the National Maternal-Child Health Program. Furthermore, Cuba’s commitment to universal healthcare and public health exceeds its own borders. Since the end of 2018, approximately 400,000 Cuban health professionals have worked in more than 150 countries.

Food and Housing

Although to varying amounts, food rations have been a staple of poverty reduction in Cuba. Recently, limited access to foreign currency for imported food, natural disasters such as Hurricane Melissa and fuel shortages have led to increased food security issues for the island. As the government-issued food baskets are almost entirely imported, Cuba has partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) for assistance in reducing imports and increasing food self-sufficiency. 

This partnership seeks to improve assistance in maintaining food access amid natural disasters, and to strengthen nutrition systems for vulnerable groups, such as expanding school lunches for children. In 2025, 1,540,107 Cubans benefitted from the World Food Programme’s aid—particularly through food assistance and disaster relief from Hurricane Melissa.

Cuba’s 2019 Constitution reiterates these goals. It defines healthcare, education, food security and shelter as human rights, and upholds the state’s goal to achieve food security and housing for all of its citizens. The Cuban government plans to increase shelter construction programs and food rations to accomplish this. By deeming these basic necessities as natural rights, the Cuban government seeks to create both a baseline of security and a healthy, well-educated workforce.

Future Strategies 

Due to the recent oil blockade, Cuba has turned to solar power. In 2025, Cuba, with financial help from China, installed around 1,000 megawatts of solar generation. As of February 2026, the Cuban government announced it would waive personal taxes for up to eight years for business people investing in renewable energy. Even local taxi drivers have installed solar panels on the roofs of their vehicles in response to the scarcity of oil. While the oil blockade presently harms Cubans, they are already preparing for an alternative future.

Leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has begun preparations for poverty reduction in Cuba amid increased sanctions and economic instability. Alongside investments in renewable energy, Díaz-Canel has prioritized a decentralization of authority—giving more power to local municipalities and state-owned enterprises—with the goal of expanding local production and reducing reliance on imports. Above all, Díaz-Canel cites “cooperation and collaboration…based on principles of solidarity, integration and complementarity,” as the core principles necessary for Cuban prosperity.

– Josh Megson

Josh is based in Albemarle, NC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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How Humanitarian Aid in Cuba Is Keeping the Lights On

Humanitarian Aid in cubaIn the last two weeks, Cuba has experienced two major blackout events, leaving nearly all 11 million residents without power. An aging power grid, coupled with disruptions in global oil trading, has left the country’s power supply faltering. 

Cuba’s Power Grid Failures

Blackouts are not a new phenomenon for most Cubans; they have become accustomed to rolling power outages. The power grid infrastructure has been relied on far longer than intended. Many businesses have had to invest in solar panels to avoid losing power midday, rather than relying on the electrical grid. Over the last few years, this problem has been exacerbated, forcing citizens to adapt to living off-grid.

Day Zero 

Despite these difficulties, life for Cubans has recently worsened. Earlier this year, Venezuela ceased sending oil to Cuba, causing massive shocks to the country’s power system. Nearly half of Cuba’s oil needs were previously supplied by Venezuela. This gap in power production has left Cuba effectively running out of fuel, creating the conditions for an island-wide blackout.

Unlike blackouts of the past, the entire island, aside from those with solar panels or generators, was without power for over a day. The Cuban national news network was even down for 1.5 hours, citing the blackout as the cause. Coupled with these problems is the loss of oil trade with Mexico, which has also halted shipments to Cuba.

Food Insecurity

The aging electrical grid and the massive oil shortage in Cuba have created a dire situation for many citizens. The United Nations (U.N.) warned that the country could be on the verge of a humanitarian collapse. Refrigerators have not been much help over the last two weeks, as they have remained shut off, leading to food spoilage.

Some Cubans have resorted to buying food daily to prevent spoilage. Government officials have encouraged citizens to conserve food, fuel, water and even phone batteries. Hospitals can operate for only two to five hours during this energy crisis.

In response to the bleak situation, Cubans have protested by gathering in the streets of central Havana, the country’s capital and banging pots and pans.

Flotilla Provides Necessary Humanitarian Aid in Cuba

Nonetheless, hope arrives at the ports in the form of aid-bearing flotillas providing humanitarian aid to Cuba. The Nuestra America Convoy to Cuba (NAAC), an “international coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to delivering critical aid to the Cuban people,” launched on March 21, 2026. The NAAC brought food, medical supplies and solar panels to help Cubans cope without their electrical grid.

Individual countries have also sent aid, with Canada pledging $8 million in food aid to Cuba. Another North American contributor, Mexico, has already sent more than 1,000 tonnes of food aid in the last two weeks. Chile, China and Italy have also pledged support. These efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba play a major role in preventing the situation from becoming even more critical than it already is.

Conclusion 

With an aging power grid and the failure of multiple oil trade agreements, Cuba has suffered. Two island-wide blackouts have occurred in the last two weeks, along with daily power outages nationwide. These problems can be addressed through long-term investment in energy infrastructure and diplomatic trade discussions. 

However, humanitarian aid to Cuba is helping citizens caught in the crisis. Envoys from around the world have descended on the country, bringing the supplies Cubans lack.

– Zaccheri Morra

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Community Health Services Sustain Health Care Access in Cuba

Health Care Access in CubaWhen blackouts and fuel shortages threaten hospitals across Cuba, it is the doctors, nurses and medical students long embedded in neighborhoods who keep the system running. The de facto blockade of Cuba’s oil supply in recent months has had serious and widespread effects across all of Cuba, notably within the National Health Service (NHS). Representing the nation at the U.N. in September of 2025, Foreign Minister Bruno Parilla described daily challenges facing Cubans: “A grave scenario of prolonged and daily blackouts, difficulties in affording food, insufficient availability of medicines, reduced public transport, limited community services and pronounced inflation, which is eroding real incomes.”

Authorities and community clinics have reorganized services to protect health care access in Cuba. This ensures the continuous availability of life-saving treatments, including oncology care, dialysis and maternal health, across rural provinces. It also maintains regular access to primary family care physicians.

Cuba’s widespread, free-at-the-point-of-use medical system plays a critical role in maintaining access to health care, particularly during periods of economic or energy disruption. The health system’s ability to function under these conditions reflects Cuba’s family doctor and primary health care model. This model is built on principles that protect universal care and strengthen community resilience for all people in Cuba. These key principles form the foundation of Cuba’s strategy for maintaining health care access during humanitarian crises.

Accessibility and Regionalization

These first two principles establish that health care access in Cuba is universal and should remain available regardless of geography, income or social status. Before Cuba’s post-revolution health care reforms, rural Cubans had little to no access to hospital care. Today, “polyclinics,” general medical care centers are found in communities across the country, giving people outside major cities access to health care on a scale not seen since before the Spanish colonization of Cuba.

During the current fuel shortages and electricity disruptions, maintaining accessibility has required reorganizing how doctors and staff deliver care across Cuba. As a result, five million patients, including those undergoing dialysis or chemotherapy, who require constant electricity and regular specialist care, may see changes to their treatment plans.

Hospitals have prioritized electrical power for critical treatments to ensure staff can continue treating the most vulnerable patients. Thousands of cancer patients require ongoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, procedures that rely on stable electricity. Local health authorities have responded by concentrating patients in facilities with reliable power generators and hospital beds so that treatments can continue uninterrupted.

The newspaper Girón spoke with Yamira López García, the provincial director of Public Health in Matanzas, about the situation. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the operational capacity of all facilities within the public health system and expanding outpatient services so that “no patient will be left without the possibility of treatment.”

The paper also reported that radiotherapy, chemotherapy and dialysis remain available to patients and that authorities have established infrastructure for new admissions. These efforts demonstrate how the system seeks to preserve health care access in Cuba even as logistical conditions deteriorate.

Prevention

Preventive medicine is the central pillar of Cuba’s health care model. Rather than focusing solely on hospital treatment, the system relies on neighborhood doctors and nurses to monitor family health and identify risks early. The NHS has called for doctors to be reassigned to facilities near their residences to strengthen neighborhood clinics and reduce transportation pressures.

Specialists from secondary care institutions have also been temporarily deployed to community polyclinics to ensure local services remain operational. Because this regionalized network already exists, the system can redistribute medical personnel across local facilities without dismantling care. Clinics remain embedded within the communities they serve, helping maintain health care access in Cuba even when transportation and electricity shortages disrupt larger hospitals. 

These visits allow health workers to identify patients who may require urgent care before conditions worsen, reducing pressure on hospitals and helping preserve health care access at the community level in Cuba.

Community Participation

Rather than imposing health care structures on communities, Castro’s system sought to integrate local populations and emphasize organized public participation. Health care delivery, for example, is not limited to professional staff but also involves collaboration among medical institutions, local communities and educational programs. To maintain universal health care access in Cuba, medical students have joined primary care teams in clinics and doctors’ offices. 

As part of their training, students assist with household visits, patient monitoring and public health education. Their work expands the capacity of the neighborhood health system while allowing services to continue despite staffing and transportation challenges. This collective approach strengthens the resilience of local clinics. It ensures that community-based care remains a cornerstone of health care access in Cuba.

International Collaboration

Cuba’s health care strategy also includes international collaboration, with thousands of medical professionals participating in missions across Africa, Asia and Latin America. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of Cuban doctors were working in more than 50 countries. Rather than recalling them, the Cuban government asked them to cooperate with host nations in combating the pandemic.

In recent months, many of those host countries have donated thousands of tons of critical aid, reflecting how international cooperation and reciprocal support can lead to better outcomes. The Nuestra América Convoy to Cuba is one such coalition aimed at delivering humanitarian aid based on “cooperation, respect for international law and U.N. values.” Arriving in Havana on March 21, 2026, the convoy is made up of volunteers from around the world and carries food, medicines and energy supplies.

Final Remarks

The energy crisis has tested every link in Cuba’s health care system. The resilience of community clinics and primary care networks demonstrates how strong public health infrastructure can protect health care access in Cuba, even under severe resource pressures. The polyclinic model supports universal accessibility and regionalized services, while prevention and community participation make clinics more adaptable under pressure. This approach offers a potential model for other low-resource settings facing similar shocks.

– Zoey Cruz

Zoey is based in Bedfordshire, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Education Innovation in Cuba Expands Cultural Learning

Education Innovation in Cuba Expands Cultural LearningEducation innovation in Cuba is advancing inclusive classroom practices through a new interactive educational game introduced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Havana. The tool, titled “African Diaspora,” encourages students to explore African heritage and its cultural influence in the Caribbean through participatory learning.

UNESCO Launches “African Diaspora” Game

UNESCO introduced the “African Diaspora” game through its Regional Office in Havana as a new educational tool for learning about Africa and its descendants in the Caribbean. The resource uses illustrated cards, game boards and creative activities that promote collaboration and help participants place episodes, characters and Afro-descendant traditions in context.

Supporting the General History of Africa Project

UNESCO launched the General History of Africa project in 1964 to address gaps in how Africa’s history is documented and taught from an African perspective. The United Nations (U.N.) describes the project as an effort to remedy widespread ignorance of Africa’s history and to promote a fuller understanding through education.

The “African Diaspora” educational game draws inspiration from this broader initiative by focusing on Africa’s connections to the Caribbean region.

Education Innovation in Cuba and Inclusive Learning

Education innovation in Cuba reflects efforts to modernize teaching approaches while supporting student engagement through interactive classroom tools. According to World Bank data, Cuba reports near-universal adult literacy.

The “African Diaspora” tool aims to help students examine cultural traditions and historical narratives linked to Africa and Afro-descendant communities in the Caribbean.

Regional Collaboration and Broader Impact

Prensa Latina reported that the resource highlights Afro-descendant traditions from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, supporting a regional approach to learning. 

UNESCO continues to promote and expand the General History of Africa project as a long-standing effort to strengthen educational materials on Africa and its diasporas, showing how interactive classroom tools can support cultural awareness while strengthening student engagement.

– Isil Ertas Senturk

Isil is based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Success of Foreign Aid to Cuba

Foreign Aid to CubaBack in the 1950s, Cuba had the third highest per capita income in the Americas. Now, Cuba represents the longest embargoed nation on the planet, with a dwindling economy and a myriad of humanitarian issues. An aggressive U.S. policy of prohibiting trade stifles the country’s attempts at domestic development.

Why Did Foreign Aid to Cuba Cease?

For 63 years, since 1963, the United States has enforced a commercial and economic embargo against Cuba. Far more than simply an attack on Cuban trade, the U.S. policy attempts to globally isolate the island. At its core, the embargo legally bans American investment in Cuba while utilizing extraterritorial sanctions and resulting fines to deter investments from U.S. allies. 

Beyond this, the embargo prevents Cuba from selling its products in U.S. markets or to its allies. In return, it denies Cubans the ability to trade with their natural economic partner just 90 miles away, forcing them to source essential food and medicine from costly suppliers.

While the Obama and Biden administrations passed limited exemptions for travel, the foundational statutes of the embargo remain unaltered, leaving its restrictive core legally and politically intact. While the Obama and (although less) Biden administrations passed limited exemptions for travel, this was not a repeal of the statutes that brought the embargo into U.S. law and because of this the Trump administration had the ability to re-instate the full enforcement. Despite widespread criticism against the U.S., the nation is able to enforce the Embargo through its global-leading status and UN Veto.

Its Consequences

The consequences of the embargo permeate every facet of Cuban life. Though Cuba holds a strong domestic health care industry, the U.S. embargo has blocked access to new health-equipment and forced the country to rely on ‘intermediaries or substitutes, at exorbitant prices for inferior quality.’ As a result of the embargo, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cuban health industry lost $80 million – a loss that, should it persist, could lead to a breakdown of services. The U.S. Embargo also blocks Cuban farmers from accessing modern equipment and parts, leading to low-yield harvests and rationing. The nutritional deficiencies that the U.S. embargo caused have led to a rise in low birth weights and have triggered neuropathy epidemics in 50,000 Cuban adults.

Financially, U.S. law is prohibiting Cuban banks from processing dollar transactions, and foreign institutions can face billions in U.S. penalties for facilitating trade, rendering Cuba entirely isolated – such as the French bank BNP Paribas which faced an $8.9 billion fine in 2014 after engaging in Cuban transactions. This U.S. policy strangles Cuban entrepreneurs, who cannot affordably import supplies, access international credit or standard payment platforms like PayPal. The embargo also caused energy insecurities, which have led to frequent blackouts across Cuba, completely halting all activity. Consequently, the embargo forces many Cuban businesses into informality, reliant on black market cash-based deals, something that could only be ended if foreign aid to Cuba was re-initiated.

Paradoxically, although the United States created the embargo to pressure the Cuban government, it has only strengthened the regime by allowing its leaders to characterize themselves and their hardship as victims of aggressive U.S. foreign policy. Thus, the embargo continues a cycle of hardship without advancing its stated political goals, condemning the future of Cuban generations.

Solutions

Beyond the actions of the Cuban government or the remittances from the diaspora, the international community undertakes significant efforts to mitigate the humanitarian harm that the embargo caused. Multilateral organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) lead these efforts, which in 2024, fed 1,320,867 people in Cuba, in addition to providing specialist malnutrition prevention schemes for 268,497 Cubans. The global community also navigates U.S. sanctions to support Cuba, such as the EU, which has allocated $125 million in cooperation funds since 2020, or China, which has regularly tried to develop Cuban industries, including an $1.8 billion credit line so that Cuban public transportation and the logistics involved could be improved. While effective, naturally, the support of these global actors wanes with the geopolitics that the U.S. pursues.

Complementing these governmental efforts, a network of international NGOs are working at the grassroots level to support the people of Cuba. One example is Oxfam, which works in rural and urban provinces to provide supplies and helps address the damage of natural disasters. Another critical NGO is Cuba Vive, which works yearly to raise more than £200,000, all of which goes back to Cuba as medical supplies/personnel.

What Needs to Be Done?

As The Washington Office on Latin America said, the embargo “no longer benefits any players in the game— not the United States and certainly not the Cuban people.” The United States-Cuba Trade Act bill would repeal the core embargo statutes (the Helms-Burton and Torricelli Acts) and restart the flow of foreign aid to Cuba, opening humanitarian channels, reuniting families and reintegrating the Island into the world.

As a 2023 UN General Assembly report concluded, the embargo continues “the adverse… on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries.” Cuba’s recovery hinges on the Embargo’s erasure and replacement by the UN and U.S. courts with a new paradigm of foreign engagement. One that replaces hostility with genuine economic partnership and brings foreign aid to Cuba again.

– Eli Thomson

Eli is based in Preston, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Poverty, Fragility and the Rule of Law in Cuba

The Rule of Law in CubaPeople have always seen Cuba putting the most vulnerable first. Cuba aimed to achieve a state with no poverty, no unemployment, full literacy, strong education and strong health care. In other words, Cuba aims to be a successful socialist state. However, the socio-economic situation in Cuba today presents an entirely different picture. Today, Cuba is one of the poorest countries in the world with only 1.5% GDP growth between 2016-18, well below the 5% growth needed for sustainable development. The social services system has deteriorated and the employed are not working jobs where they could be most efficient. These factors have all contributed to increased levels of poverty in Cuba. Here is information about fragility and the rule of law in Cuba and how it relates to poverty.

Fragile Rule of Law in Cuba

Fragility of law has contributed significantly to poverty in Cuba. Cuba has high levels of corruption. Systemic failures in enforcing laws ensure that essential resources never reach the people. A lack of transparency has led to people not having any legal recourse to ensure better living and working conditions. The Cuban government also requires any aid coming from international organizations to go through the state agency in charge and work with local actors connected to the state. Therefore, in actuality, international organizations have very little control over how the aid provided is utilized or even where it is allocated. Weak rule of law and limited institutional capacity mean that vulnerable groups (women, people with HIV and the elderly) continue to face stigma and lack equal access to services

Poor Governance and Food Security in Cuba

However, a more pressing issue is bad governance. Poor fiscal policies have led to anemic economic growth and in the last two years the economy contracted from 1.8% in 2022 to -1.9% in 2023.

This contraction is far below the 5% needed for sustainable growth and to create the income needed for the government to provide basic services to the people. Cuba, according to the World Food Program (WHO), spends at least $1.7 billion annually on food imports. This is an increase from $1 billion of food imports in 2017. Weak enforcement of agricultural policies and poor incentives for producers contribute to persistent shortages. It is clear that the needs of the people are not being met. Severe food shortages have led people to rely more on income from outside sources other than the government such as dealing and working on the black market, remittances from outside aid or community networks.

Efforts To Address Poverty

However, there is some hope. Despite restrictions from the Cuban government, organizations such as the World Food Program (WFP) are having some success in providing aid to fight poverty. The WFP has implemented food security programs such as school feeding programs, nutrition education and training for farmers. It also collaborated with local authorities to enhance food systems and social protection mechanisms. These programs have had a noticeable impact on food security in Cuba. The WFP has managed to provide aid to more than 1.3 million people in Cuba through such programs.

Looking Ahead

According to a report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, more than 89% of the Cuban population live in extreme poverty. There is severe inequality, corruption and a lack of basic services that not only increase poverty but sustain it. While there has been some success, without a strong change in policies and an increase in effective governance, the situation is not likely to change. In the end, addressing fragility and the rule of law in Cuba is essential for reducing poverty and ensuring a more equitable future for its citizens.

– Akash Ramaswamy

Akash is based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Food and Electricity: Cuban Mothers’ Activism Against Poverty

Cuban Mothers“Food and electricity” has been the rallying cry for Cuban citizens since the 2021 Cuban protests. In July 2021, Cubans took to the streets in record numbers to protest the COVID-19 response, scarcity of food and medicines and governmental restrictions on their rights. Continuing blackouts due to the energy sector’s collapse fueled protests. As of early 2025, only six of the country’s 15 oil-powered plants remained functional.

The blackouts paralyzed businesses, disrupted schools and caused mass spoilage of household food. According to reports by civil society organizations, around 290 protests driven by the National Electric Power System collapse took place between June 2024 and June 2025. Other factors have spurred the demonstrations, such as the decades-long U.S. embargo, which began in 1958 and has since tightened under the Trump administration; currency reform, which led to soaring inflation; and the COVID-19 pandemic.

These protests have been marked with resilience, especially by Cuban mothers who have been leading the charge. Cuban mothers’ activism has been the loudest, filling the void in the protest movement.

Mothers on the Front Line

Forced to bear the weight of being both caregivers and wage-owners, mothers in Cuba, especially single mothers, bear the brunt of the economic hardships disproportionately. Becoming the main opposition to the Cuban regime, Cuban matriarchs are demanding basic needs such as food, water, electricity, health care and housing. Worried about how the living and economic conditions may impact the lives of their children, Cuban mothers’ activism has brought these issues to the fore.

One poignant example of mothers spearheading the protest movement is 33-year-old Amelia Calzadilla. In a social media video, Calzadilla asked local authorities to run a gas line to her block, one of the few areas in Havana that does not have government-provided gas service. Since her initial video, she began sharing more openly antigovernment stances about Cuba’s deteriorating living conditions. Juggling activism, a paid occupation and caring for three children, Calzadilla represents the multifaceted pressures Cuban women are facing.

In more recent protests, mothers who were unable to feed their children have blocked highways. During the country’s frequent blackouts, matriarchs are protesting through the streets, banging pots and pans until the electricity resumes. Local media reports that more than 30 of these protests occurred in 2023. Women have also been the most vocal in denouncing the government’s detention of at least 45 minors for their participation in the 2021 protests. They have called out children being detained and interrogated without the presence of adults.

Moving Forward

Cuban mothers’ activism has become a formidable force, confronting social and economic issues while they shoulder the weight of being a matriarch. Their feat is all the more monumental considering the danger of detention that protestors face.

– Libby Foxwell

Libby is based in Sherborne, Dorset, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Unlocking the Future of Renewable Energy in Cuba

Renewable Energy in CubaThe island nation of Cuba, located in the Caribbean, is at a critical juncture in its energy development. Cuba has considerable renewable energy resources, including sunlight, wind and biomass. However, its energy grid relies heavily on imported fossil fuels, especially from Venezuela, making it vulnerable to price volatility, geopolitical changes and concerns over energy security.

Renewable energy in Cuba has the potential to be about more than just technology; it can offer economic independence, a climate-resilient future and sustainable development opportunities in a country where energy development has long been constrained by existing energy infrastructure and a lack of foreign investment options.

Renewable Energy in Cuba

Currently, renewable energy sources contribute to less than 5% of Cuba’s total electricity generation. This is incredibly low compared to the government’s target of 24% renewable energy generation by 2030. Cuba’s energy infrastructure remains outdated, inefficient and frequently experiences breakdowns. The result is regular blackouts and, in rural areas particularly, energy poverty complicating any efforts for economic activity and the modernization of living standards.

Notably, Cuba has significant untapped solar capacity, receiving an average of 5.4 kWh/m2 per day and significant capability in wind, biomass and small hydro. The potential for real transformation is incredible. However, the challenge is fostering the conditions to attract investment, skills, capabilities and partnerships to harness that potential.

For investors, Cuba’s renewable energy sector is a largely untapped multibillion-dollar market that could encourage local job development, reduce carbon emissions and modernize the energy grid. If successful, Cuba could gain some degree of economic sovereignty through a low-carbon energy project.

However, foreign investors face numerous complications and sometimes, impenetrable obstacles, including red tape, legal uncertainty and financing. Furthermore, U.S. sanctions present an additional layer of difficulty in exploring partnership possibilities, which, in many cases, innovative financing and creative partnerships can help to advance projects.

Public-Private Partnerships Gaining Traction

In light of these challenges, there are hopeful signs on the horizon. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are starting to emerge. These partnerships allow foreign firms to contribute equity and technology as partners with the Cuban state-owned enterprise. New financing options, including green bonds and blended finance models, may provide a pathway to mitigate the risks of investing in Cuba’s renewable energy market.

Cross-border projects, particularly with European countries and Latin American neighbors, demonstrated a potential for scaling renewable projects. For example, Spanish and Chinese firms have engaged in various levels of partnership with Cuba, committing to constructing solar parks and wind farms. These cross-border collaborations have revived the feasibility of industrial-scale renewable energy projects across the Cuban landscape.

What Cuba Needs for a Successful Energy Transition

Interviews with Cuban engineers and energy policy specialists suggest that Cuba’s transformation to renewable energy will depend on three factors. The first is regulatory reform, which could streamline the approval of renewable energy projects by dealing with the current layers of licensing and approval that can be cumbersome.

The second relates to financing mechanisms, which may require the government to establish ways to de-risk investments for foreign entities interested in participating in the energy transformation. Third is capacity building, which includes developing a local skilled workforce.

There are lessons that Cuba can learn from other emerging economies, such as Costa Rica’s remarkable transition to renewables to achieve 99% of its electricity from renewables and Uruguay’s successful public-private partnerships.

Socioeconomic Benefits of a Greener Grid

Cuba’s renewable energy implications extend beyond electricity. From a microeconomic perspective, a greener grid could mean lower household costs. This could have a ripple effect in reducing risk from air pollution-related health outcomes, creating thousands of new jobs in installation, maintenance and manufacturing.

From a macroeconomic perspective, decentralized power using solar and biomass could facilitate reliable access to power in rural regions. It could unlock local economic development through agricultural growth, small and micro-enterprises development and improve educational delivery.

In urban agglomerations like Havana and Santiago de Cuba, renewable-powered public transit, such as electric vehicles or other clean energy systems, offers a promising shift in urban mobility. Paired with new energy-efficient infrastructure designed to meet local environmental conditions, these developments could significantly transform both the economy and the environment in these regions.

Yet, any sustained progress will rely on long-term commitments and funding. Most of Cuba’s renewable energy projects are funded through one-off grants, pilot programs or developmental loans and lack funding to assist with continued operational costs. Cuba could struggle to reach its renewable energy commitments and aims without stable policy frameworks and continued periodic financial assistance from rich states and multilateral institutions.

Conclusion

Cuba’s renewable energy sector may be nascent, but the possibilities are considerable. Through the appropriate policy alterations, financial instruments and international arrangements, Cuba may become a model of clean energy development in the Caribbean. The opportunities remain largely unrealized, coolly waiting for much political, economic and technological convergence, potentially to reshape Cuba’s energy future.

– Sophia Scelza

Sophia is based in Lindenhurst, NY, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pxhere

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Globalization’s Effect on Vocational Education Centers in Cuba

Vocational Education Centers in Cuba

Cuba has one of the world’s most complex geographical and political dynamics. It is located just 90 miles from the U.S. coast and stands on the opposite end of the political spectrum. For much of its modern history, Cuba has remained in a time capsule, with citizens restricted from accessing much of the world’s technology and trade. While the country has attempted to engage with globalization, progress has been slow.

In 2011, Raúl Castro announced a series of economic reforms targeting agriculture, small businesses and foreign investment. Fidel Castro called such globalization reforms “concessions to the enemy,” but his brother Raul was more receptive. However, the 2011 reforms have been unsuccessful due to state-imposed restrictions. This paradox of attempted modernization and government scrutiny has created a series of issues for vocational education training centers in Cuba. Without the implementation of a progressive vision, vocational education training centers in Cuba will remain stagnant.

Cuba is a highly educated but struggling nation. Cuba’s literacy rates are “more comparable to developed countries,” yet according to The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights, 88% of people still live in extreme poverty. This can be attributed partially to the U.S. embargo, but mostly to a repressive regime that prioritizes creating model citizens for the regime instead of creating an adept workforce. Something within the Cuban system needs to change, but it is unlikely to be within formal education.

The State of Vocational Education Training Centers in Cuba

Vocational education is one of the most effective tools in combating poverty. Unlike traditional education, it provides the skill sets necessary for a singular career. When someone is fighting for life-saving resources, the time needed for advanced education is not always an option. Vocational education provides a clear path to upward mobility. According to the World Bank, each additional year of schooling increases a student’s future hourly income by 10%.

Currently, vocational education training centers in Cuba still follow Soviet-era ideology. In upper secondary education, the equivalent of high school in the U.S., students are placed on either a university or vocational track. After schooling, they complete internships at state-run companies and earn certification within four years. Recent trends show that more students are directed toward vocational training. In 2001/2002, two-thirds of students pursued this path.

Generally, private corporations have limited influence on vocational education and training centers in Cuba, with private employment often stemming from either the informal labor market or family connections. The lack of involvement from private corporations poses several issues. Students’ autonomy is limited, resulting in an adversarial relationship with their work. Additionally, with the state still exerting significant control, the populace remains unprepared for the global economy.

SFUVET and the PROFET Program

The Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) is dedicated to enhancing vocational education for international partners. Its mission is to create harmony between the education system and the labor market. It currently has programs in Cuba and more than five countries.

In October of 2022, the organization launched the PROFET program in Cuba. Its initial aim was to educate 10,000 students across 29 universities in agriculture, construction and hospitality. Initially supposed to run through 2023, the project has been renewed for a second phase that will last till the end of 2025.

PROFET focuses on improving employment access and modernizing Cuba’s education system to prepare students for the global economy. Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the program aims to train vocational educators within four years.

Conclusion

Despite Cuba’s challenges, its commitment to vocational education remains clear. Organizations like SFUVET provide funding and instruction vital to the success of young people in Cuba. While the PROFET project comes to a close soon, the knowledge it offered to students will be invaluable to vocational education training centers in Cuba.

– Patrick Feeney

Patrick is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr