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Digital Farming in Ukraine: A Lifeline for Global Food Security

digital farming ukraineThe United Nations’ SDG3 calls on nations to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” In Ukraine, where fields once symbolized stability and nourishment, this goal now depends on resilience, innovation and survival.

Long known as the “breadbasket of Europe,” Ukraine’s vast chernozem, or black soil, has produced crops that feed hundreds of millions. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine ranked among the world’s top exporters of wheat, corn, barley and sunflower oil—key exports supporting food security in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Yet the war turned fertile farmland into danger zones and disrupted one of the world’s most essential supply chains.

A War Against Food Security

Russia’s invasion devastated Ukraine’s agricultural economy and left Ukraine facing the world’s largest contamination problem since the Second World War. Ports and grain silos were bombed, transport lines cut, and tractors shelled in open fields. By the end of 2024, mines and unexploded ordnance contaminated nearly 139,000 square kilometres—an area larger than Greece—and drove an estimated $83.9 billion in agricultural losses

Farmers now face a deadly paradox: the world needs Ukraine’s grain, yet farming can cost them their lives. “In this village, we can only feel safe in our own yard,” said a smallholder farmer from Kamianka. “When you go outside, there is danger waiting for you.”

These disruptions ripple far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Many low-income countries rely on Ukrainian imports to prevent hunger and stabilize food prices. When exports slowed in 2022 and 2023, food prices across Africa and the Middle East surged. Each lost harvest season deepened global food insecurity, an often overlooked casualty of the war.

Digital Farming: Safety and Survival

In response, farmers and their partners have embraced digital farming in the grain sector as a vital lifeline. Digital farming in Ukraine uses data and technology like satellite imagery, drones and remote sensors to monitor soil and crops when entering the field is unsafe. These tools provide real-time information about weather, soil moisture and damage from explosives.

Farmers now rely on digital mapping to plan where planting is feasible and where fields remain too dangerous. Drones and sensors capture crop data from above, helping identify safe areas for cultivation. Precision agriculture also maximizes yields on secure land, conserving scarce inputs like fertilizer and fuel.

Organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank have supported these efforts. The FAO has enhanced the State Agrarian Registry and advanced digital mapping capabilities, while the World Bank’s Seeds of Hope project finances new technologies to restore production. Through these partnerships, Ukrainian farmers can continue working, feeding families and sustaining exports even in conflict conditions.

GRIT: Clearing the Way Forward

Digital farming in Ukraine extends beyond crop management. The new Geoinformation System for Demining (GRIT) platform is transforming how humanitarian teams clear land. GRIT integrates large data sets, maps and local reports to help identify, prioritize and monitor demining efforts.

By focusing first on high-impact agricultural zones, GRIT ensures land restoration aligns with food production needs. This evidence-based system accelerates clearance operations and coordinates national and international demining partners. As a result, fertile fields return to safe use faster, restoring livelihoods and preventing rural communities from collapsing under economic strain.

Demining also links directly to SDG 3. Clearing land reduces physical injury risks, supports income recovery, and strengthens food access, each a cornerstone of healthy living. Every hectare restored means safer work, lower food prices and renewed optimism.

Health and Well-Being Beyond Borders

Farming in conflict zones is not only an economic challenge; it’s a public-health crisis. Farmers risk severe injury from mines, exposure to toxic residues, and chronic stress. Whole families live with the psychological burden of displacement and uncertainty. Meanwhile, global nutrition suffers when Ukrainian exports falter, since wheat and corn from Ukraine form the base of diets in many developing countries.

Digital farming mitigates these threats. Satellite tools lower worker exposure, while precise land monitoring reduces contamination risks. Even a modest recovery in crop output helps stabilize local markets and global prices, keeping food affordable for households worldwide. Through this lens, technology becomes a critical health intervention.

Global Partnerships for Resilience

Ukraine’s struggle has also sparked a wave of international collaboration. Western governments, agricultural firms, and tech companies are sharing data infrastructure and tools. Private agritech firms contribute satellite services, while nonprofits distribute digital tablets and software to local cooperatives. The European Union has allocated €10 million to support access to digital solutions for rural farmers, ensuring that innovation reaches communities most affected by the conflict.

These partnerships demonstrate that resilience is not built alone. When the international community invests in digital recovery tools, it helps sustain agriculture as a global public good. Ukraine’s experience shows how supporting farmers in crisis zones protects both livelihoods and health outcomes worldwide.

Seeds of Recovery

Despite unimaginable hardship, Ukrainian farmers continue to plant, harvest and adapt. Grain exports, while reduced, have resumed through alternative routes via the Danube and land corridors to Europe. Digital farming in Ukraine allows them to make smart decisions, stretch limited resources and keep Ukraine on the global agricultural map.

As the world moves toward 2030, Ukraine stands as a testament that achieving good health and well-being requires more than clinics and vaccines. It requires protecting livelihoods that sustain life itself. Digital farming proves that in times of crisis, technology can be the bridge between survival and recovery, ensuring that the breadbasket of Europe continues to feed the world with resilience and courage.

– Lola Chambers

Lola is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Nanozymes hold promise for developing countries

NanozymesNano enzymes (nanozymes) are an emerging technology that could transform the fields of disease diagnosis, environmental remediation and food safety. Made from nano materials, nanozymes can mimic the functions of natural enzymes while exhibiting enhanced optical, electrical and chemical properties. Due to their low cost, high stability and ease of mass production, nanozymes hold promise for developing countries as they have the potential to provide affordable, accessible healthcare solutions to those living in poverty.

What are Nanozymes

Nanozymes are processed from various types of nanomaterials and must be biodegradable and biocompatible as they are used in living and environmental systems. Their synthetic nature makes them highly stable, unlike natural enzymes that degrade, enabling reliable mass production with standard techniques such as chemical reduction. Nanozymes are generally classified into four groups: metallic-based, metal oxide-based, carbon-based, and others (such as metal-organic frameworks).

Nanozymes possess numerous properties that make them extremely valuable, with different types of nanozymes exhibiting unique attributes and capabilities. Noble metal- (e.g. silver and gold) based nanozymes possess antibacterial activity, providing the ability to treat infectious illness. Metal- and carbon-based nanozymes exhibit antioxidant properties and have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s as well as other conditions such as cancer and kidney disease.

Due to their high catalytic activity, metal, metal-oxide and carbon-based nanozymes can function as biosensors, aiding in detection of cancer, viruses and food-borne pathogens and can also be used to treat environmental pollution due to their bioactive nature. Metal-organic nanozymes, with high porosity and catalytic activity, can also be used for environmental remediation.

Diagnosis of Ebola

The Ebola virus is one of the world’s deadliest viruses. Without treatment, up to 90% of cases are fatal. From 2014 to 2016, West Africa experienced the largest ever Ebola outbreak with more than 28,600 people infected. Due to vaccines and early isolation, the number of new Ebola cases has since decreased considerably, though innovative detection solutions could potentially reduce the rate even more. A new method that could even more rapidly detect the virus uses an MNP-based immunochromatographic strip capable of identifying the Ebola virus glycoprotein. The proposed strip provides results quickly and is simpler to use than the standard test strip, as it does not require specialized facilities and people can read it with the naked eye. With a sensitivity of more than 100 times that of standard tests, the anticipated nanozyme strip could have great benefits for Ebola diagnosis.

Nanozymes for Treatment Of Water

Industrial production can discharge high concentrations of chemicals into wastewater. This can lead to environmental pollution and human health issues without proper treatment. Traditional biochemical water treatment techniques can be inefficient in degrading wastewater chemicals, while nanozymes are capable of efficiently oxidizing chemicals and eliminating them from the wastewater. Nanozymes are just beginning to enter the water treatment market space and are another way in which nanozymes hold promise for developing countries.

Food Microbe Detection

Foodborne microbes such as Listeria and Salmonella can cause sickness and even death. The risk of foodborne illness is highest in low- and middle-income countries due to inadequate food storage conditions, poor preparation practices and lack of food safety laws.

Traditional food microbial detection techniques can be time-consuming, requiring several processing steps, while food microbe biosensing nanozymes can detect microbial contaminants in food more efficiently with high accuracy, according to Biomimetics.

Swift detection of food contaminants can halt the provocation of foodborne illness and reduce the monetary burden on individuals. Affordable food microbial-sensing nanozymes are currently on the market and can provide great benefits to those in developing countries who have minimal economic resources.

Shown to increase the speed and efficiency of key health-related activities such as disease diagnosis, food safety monitoring and environmental treatment processes, nanozymes hold promise for developing countries that could greatly benefit from their low cost, straight forward production process and their fast-acting capabilities.

– Debbie Barto

Debbie is based in Monroe, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Role of AI in Developing Nations

AI in Developing NationsArtificial intelligence (AI) is becoming seen as the technology of the future, something speculative, experimental or confined to advanced economies. But the role of AI in developing nations today is already shaping decisions that affect food security, public health and poverty reduction. Far from the abstract, these systems are becoming deeply embedded in the daily work of governments, humanitarian agencies and farmers responding to real-world crises.

The question is no longer whether AI will influence development, but how and under what conditions it can support, rather than undermine, human well-being.

Predicting Hunger Before It Becomes Famine

One of the most consequential uses of AI in developing nations is in forecasting food insecurity. Historically, famine response has been reactive: aid arrives after a visible crisis, often too late to prevent mass suffering. AI-driven early warning systems aim to change that.

The World Bank developed the Famine Action Mechanism (FAM) in collaboration with the United Nations (U.N.) and the World Food Programme (WFP). It uses machine learning models to forecast food insecurity months in advance by integrating satellite imagery, climate indicators, market prices, conflict data and household surveys. Complementing this effort is HungerMap LIVE, a real-time food security monitoring platform developed by WFP.

HungerMap LIVE is currently used across Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Bangladesh. The platform integrates mobile phone surveys, remote sensing and predictive analytics to produce continuously updated risk assessments. These systems directly inform when and where resources are deployed, enabling earlier cash transfers, targeted food assistance and preventative interventions.

Evidence from WFP and the World Bank shows that anticipatory action is both more humane and more cost-effective than emergency response after crisis onset.

AI on the Farm: Empowering Smallholder Farmers

Agriculture remains the primary livelihood for hundreds of millions of people in developing nations. Yet smallholder farmers often lack timely agronomic expertise. AI is beginning to close that gap.

In Kenya and across East Africa, the PlantVillage Nuru app uses smartphone-based computer vision to diagnose crop diseases in real time. Designed to operate offline, Nuru enables farmers to identify threats such as cassava mosaic disease and fall armyworm by photographing affected plants. Research published by Penn State University and FAO partners shows that early detection through AI-based diagnostics significantly reduces crop losses and improves smallholder resilience.

Still, limitations remain. Unequal smartphone access, language localization challenges and the need for contextual agronomic knowledge highlight that AI tools must be embedded within broader agricultural support systems, not treated as standalone fixes.

Expanding Health Care Access Through AI Screening

In health care, AI’s most immediate promise lies in early detection, particularly in regions where trained specialists are scarce. In India, the health-tech company Niramai has developed Thermalytix. This AI-based breast cancer screening system uses thermal imaging rather than mammography.

The technology is portable, radiation-free and significantly lower-cost, making it viable for rural clinics and mobile health camps. Clinical studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals show that Thermalytix demonstrates high sensitivity in detecting early-stage breast cancer, particularly among younger women. Importantly, though the system is designed to assist clinicians, not replace them, it reinforces AI’s role as decision-support rather than autonomous authority.

How Institutions Are Integrating AI

AI adoption in developing nations is not happening in isolation. Major institutions, including the World Bank, WFP, FAO, UNICEF and national ministries, are integrating AI into policy planning, service delivery and crisis response. This integration involves building a larger infrastructure for data models and storage, training local staff, establishing accountability mechanisms and partnering with local organizations.

The Risks Beneath the Promise

Despite its potential, AI, while still in its development stages, raises serious concerns. Predictive models are only as good as the data they rely on. In many developing regions, data is incomplete, uneven or biased.

U.N. reports warn that algorithmic bias, financial incentives and extractive data practices can entrench inequality and potentially harm individuals if governance safeguards are absent. The U.N. Technology and Innovation Report 2025 warns that up to 40% of global jobs could be affected by AI, with economies that rely on low-cost labor potentially losing their competitive edge. There is also the risk of over-reliance on algorithmic forecasts, in which predictive outputs are treated as objective truth rather than probabilistic guidance, sidelining local knowledge and accountability.

Recognizing these risks, international bodies and governments are developing safeguards. UNESCO’s Ethics of Artificial Intelligence framework emphasizes human rights, transparency, accountability and data sovereignty. Similarly, UNICEF’s Guidance on AI and Children focuses on protecting children and vulnerable populations from harm, surveillance and exclusion resulting from AI’s prevalence.

Meanwhile, multiple developing nations are drafting national AI strategies to align technological deployment with development priorities rather than external commercial interests.

AI as Development Infrastructure

AI will not end poverty or hunger on its own. But when treated as infrastructure rather than innovation, embedded in institutions, guided by ethics and grounded in local realities, it can meaningfully improve how societies anticipate crises, allocate resources and expand access to essential services. The role of AI in developing nations will not be decided by algorithms alone, but by governance choices: who designs these systems, who controls the data and whose lives they are built to improve.

– Matt Irwin

Matt is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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How Public Libraries Are Alleviating Poverty in Rural South Africa

Poverty in Rural South AfricaIn rural South Africa, where access to education, technology and employment opportunities is often limited, public libraries are playing a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of poverty. These libraries have transformed into vital community hubs that offer much more than just reading materials. They are gateways to education, digital literacy and skills development, providing rural populations with the tools they need to improve their livelihoods.

The Role of Public Libraries in Rural South Africa

Public libraries in rural South Africa play an essential role in enhancing the local information environment by providing equitable access to information, education and digital tools. In areas with limited resources, these libraries serve as crucial community hubs, offering a wide range of services, including access to books, the internet and educational programs. By bridging the digital divide, public libraries empower individuals with the skills needed to navigate the digital world, improving their chances of economic success and social inclusion.

Furthermore, libraries facilitate lifelong learning by offering various educational opportunities, from early childhood literacy programs to adult education and vocational training. In this way, public libraries help address information poverty, promote equality and contribute to sustainable development, alleviating poverty in rural communities across South Africa.

Empowering the Next Generation

One of the most significant ways libraries help reduce poverty in rural South Africa is through their work with children and young people. In under-resourced communities, libraries serve as spaces for learning and personal development. Programs such as after-school tutoring, reading clubs and skills workshops help improve literacy and encourage a lasting interest in education.

By supporting the education of the next generation, libraries play a vital role in breaking the cycle of poverty that has held many families back for generations. For young adults, libraries offer opportunities for personal development and career advancement. Workshops on job readiness, training on resume writing, application processes and interview skills are often conducted in collaboration with organizations.

These programs give young people the tools they need to succeed in the job market and secure employment, thus enhancing their economic prospects and contributing to local economic growth.

Access to Information and Resources for Adults

Public libraries also serve as vital resources for adults seeking to improve their lives. In rural South Africa, many adults face unemployment or underemployment, often due to limited skills or restricted access to information. Libraries help address this gap by offering resources that go beyond traditional reading and language support.

Today, public libraries play an important role in promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL). In an increasingly digital world, they help individuals develop the skills needed to critically engage with information, assess sources and use digital tools responsibly. Supported by UNESCO, MIL equips people to navigate online spaces safely and build trust in digital technologies.

This includes addressing challenges such as the spread of misinformation and disinformation, hate speech and the growing decline in trust toward media and digital technologies like artificial intelligence. By offering MIL resources alongside traditional literacy programs, libraries empower individuals to make informed decisions and engage more effectively with the information ecosystem. Over time, these efforts contribute to reducing poverty in rural South Africa by strengthening digital confidence, critical thinking and access to opportunity.

Success Stories: Impacting Lives in Rural Communities

One notable success story is the African Library Project. This nonprofit organization establishes libraries in rural and underserved communities across Africa. The initiative has played a key role in improving literacy rates and expanding educational opportunities by collecting and distributing books to schools and local libraries.

Through partnerships with community members and volunteers, the African Library Project helps create sustainable, resource-rich libraries that support both students and adults. These efforts not only provide access to essential learning materials but also encourage a culture of reading, helping to bridge educational gaps and promote lifelong learning across the continent.

Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead

Despite the positive impact that public libraries have had, challenges remain. Many libraries in rural South Africa face challenges, including a lack of competent, qualified staff and outdated, limited resources. However, there is hope.

Efforts are underway to address these challenges. Recent studies and advocacy initiatives highlight the important role libraries play in development, particularly as public access points for information and communication technologies (ICTs) and community-based programs. Organizations such as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) are actively working to amplify the impact of African libraries and expand their role in development efforts.

These efforts, supported by local and international advocates, reflect a growing recognition of libraries’ transformative power to foster development and improve access to information in underserved communities. With sustained support, public libraries can become powerful agents of change in the fight against rural poverty. By providing access to knowledge, skills and opportunities, they help individuals build better futures for themselves and their communities.

– Chris Tang

Chris is based in Singapore and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Technologies Help To Fight Disability and Poverty in The Gambia

Disability and Poverty in The GambiaToday, thanks to recent technological advancements and the work of various humanitarian initiatives, 3D printing promises to improve the lives of millions of amputees across the world. This comes as cause for optimism, especially in developing countries such as The Gambia, where amputations are relatively common. The work of Gambian organizations such as Make3D, specialists in printed prosthetics, means that amputation does not have to signal a life of social ostracization and lesser opportunity.

Disability and poverty in The Gambia are perpetual issues. One of the smallest countries in Africa, The Gambia has one of the most vulnerable economies on the continent. Rain-fed agriculture employs around 70% of the population, meaning the livelihood of many lives and dies with the country’s climate. Poverty levels are high. In fact, according to the Gambia Poverty & Gender Assessment 2022, 53.4% of Gambians lived below the national poverty line in 2020. Amputees catch the brunt of this trend due to the labor-intensive nature of farming, which offers few opportunities to those with physical disabilities. 

Reasons for High Numbers of Amputations in The Gambia

Experts cite the country’s complex and divergent cultural makeup as one of the reasons for the high incidence of disability and poverty in The Gambia. Colonial and Gambian native histories converge in many ways. According to scientist Ryan Anderson, this coexistence of divergent cultural traditions “is exemplified in The Gambia’s health care system.” Many Gambians prefer to visit traditional healers when seeking treatment for an injury. In fact, many rural communities rely exclusively on the practice of these traditional healers, such is the lean presence of large hospitals in remote regions. These traditional practitioners, while popular, often do not have access to modern facilities or advised levels of sanitation. This results in infections and ultimately the need for amputations in patients.

Dr. Ammar Al Jafari, chief medical director of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, a modern university facility in Banjul, stated that around 70% to 80% of amputation cases at his hospital stem from initial preference for traditional fracture treatments. These patients often seek his hospital’s treatment once infection has set in to an inadequately treated fracture. Speaking to Africa Press in 2024, Dr. Al Jafari said, “If the patient falls today or has an accident today and has a fracture in the bone, if they come on that very day, in one week we can do the operation, but after three months, we cannot do the operation and they will blame the hospital.” Poverty and disability in The Gambia is often perpetuated by the complex national interplay between tradition, regional circumstances and a lack of accessible, modern health care.

Amputations also occur in large numbers in The Gambia thanks to medical conditions such as Type 2 diabetes. According to STAND, an NGO specializing in providing support for Africa’s amputee community, as many as 40% of all amputations in sub-Saharan Africa result from the condition. Thus, disability and poverty in The Gambia stems in many cases, from the prevalence of known and treatable illnesses.

Challenges for People With Disabilities

Fatou Nije, president of LEGS (Ladies Empowered for Growth and Success), says, “Here in Gambia, if you are disabled, you face many challenges.” Indeed, many amputees find themselves cut adrift from typical societal institutions such as school and work due to a lack of accessibility and support on offer.

While it exists, assistive technology is not yet widely available, meaning many Gambian amputees are unable to live, work and most importantly, earn with as much independence as their able-bodied compatriots. Families can face destitution if a parent undergoes amputation and is subsequently unable to resume work. The Gambian Amputee Association is the only organization of its kind in the country. It supports around 100 amputees with rehabilitation and social facilities, although there are doubtless many more amputees in need of care and medical attention.

Fighting Against Disability and Poverty

Thankfully, amidst these issues there are certain groups dedicated to the fight against disability and poverty in The Gambia. Most of these efforts focus on improving treatment and opportunities for Gambian amputees. For example, the work of STAND and Make3D is rooted in the supply of prosthetic limbs to Gambian patients in need.

STAND specializes in the provision of refurbished and surplus prosthetics from Europe. These prosthetic limbs, which otherwise would go to waste, the organization rescues and supplies to the people who need them most. Since 2016, the organization has supplied almost 1,000 rescued prosthetics to The Gambia alone, as part of nearly 6,000 total supplied to African countries across the period.

Make3D, on the other hand, deals in the low-cost construction of new, 3D-printed prosthetics, using sustainable materials and small-scale manufacturing processes that allow their products to service the hearts of small communities nationwide. In 2021, the company held a design competition in conjunction with Nottingham Trent University in which the university invited artists to submit designs for new prosthetics utilizing sustainable and local materials. The winner’s design went to production for a small run of prosthetics designed for a select group of grateful, young Gambian beneficiaries.

Looking Ahead

While disability and poverty are prominent in The Gambia, initiatives like these are leading the way in providing a source of hope for the next generation of Gambian amputees. There may very well be a day when the loss of a limb in The Gambia does not condemn a patient to a life of destitution.

– Louis Sartori

Louis is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Emerging Role and Evolution of AI in the Caribbean

evolution of AI in the CaribbeanThe Caribbean consists of 16 independent countries and 18 associated territories, resulting in many unique problems that AI can solve. In an interview with The Borgen Project, University of Central Florida (UCF) Professor Rohan Jowallah, who works as a consultant for AI and AI policies in the Caribbean, provided necessary insight into AI in the Caribbean and what the future potentially looks like with AI.

Professor Rohan Jowallah’s Insight

In The Borgen Project’s interview with Professor Rohan Jowallah, The Borgen Project asked him about his most recent presentation on AI in the Caribbean and how the region has used AI. The organization also questioned him on how his role as a consultant has been beneficial to the Caribbean as a whole and the impact of the policies the region has enacted.

AI has benefited a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, transportation, hospitals and agriculture. There have even been instances of people using ChatGPT to promote real estate. According to Jowallah, the Caribbean is using AI “to simulate how guests should be served” in restaurants. Meanwhile, Trinidad is using AI in education. AI has become more prominent in the education field as it can support learning by being available to students at any time of the day.

When asked about his presentation on AI in the Caribbean and how he felt about the impact of that presentation, Jowallah stated that there is a lot to keep in mind, such as “the transformation of teaching and learning, how it’s going to shape how people learn, and how it’s going to shape how content is delivered.” He also stated that the way teachers teach will not be the same in the future as new advancements occur, also noting that “critical AI literacy” is going to be a necessity in order to navigate spaces with AI.

Upon being questioned about his role as an AI consultant, Jowallah said that the main thing to consider through the use of AI is how to safeguard the future. Finally, the last question that The Borgen Project asked was about where he thinks policies are regarding ethical concerns for AI, with his main thought being that it was simply too early to tell.

Addressing Problems With AI

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten aligned itself with CARICOM to address problems with AI. It implemented AI in public administration to resolve problems like limited institutional capacity, scarce resources and heightened vulnerability. The hope is that with AI, and also knowing the opportunities and risks to worry about, there will be a greater understanding of how AI can accelerate sustainable development and resilience in the Caribbean, with many experts in their respective fields all coming together to better understand what AI can do for the region.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also has pillars already set regarding the speed at which the emerging role and evolution of AI in the Caribbean is happening. Examples of a few of these pillars include culture and creativity, safeguarding intellectual property rights and promoting AI-driven creative industries. Another pillar is education and upskilling, which aims to integrate AI education/training across sectors to best utilize AI’s potential, thus leading to economic growth. With these policies, the emerging role and evolution of AI is finding a more definite role in the Caribbean.

In the case of the emerging role and evolution of AI in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has recently opened up the door to permitting the usage of AI in exams in 2026. This is for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence with clearly defined rules and regulations in place to ensure smooth sailing.

Looking Ahead

The Caribbean is right there as far as AI discussions go, as there is a foundation in place to ensure that in any capacity AI is being used in, it can be used safely and in any imaginable sector. Experts like UCF Professor Rohan Jowallah are at the forefront of the emerging role and evolution of AI in the Caribbean, looking to continue to push boundaries and innovate. With AI being readily available to assist in education or provide training for jobs, AI in the Caribbean could transform lives.

– Amari Jennings

Amari Jennings is based in Orlando, FL, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Pay-As-You-Go Digital Water Services in Kenya

Pay-as-you-go digital water services in KenyaKenya continues to face serious water insecurity in both rural and urban regions. Many households still depend on distant or unsafe water points because traditional billing systems require large monthly payments that low-income families cannot always make. Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya offer a different model. Families buy small amounts of water through mobile payments and smart meters deliver accurate and dependable service. This structure increases affordability, improves service reliability and strengthens utilities in ways that help them expand clean water access to underserved communities.

Mobile Money Makes Clean Water Affordable

Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya let households buy water in small increments through mobile money platforms like M-Pesa. This matters because many Kenyans earn irregular daily wages and cannot manage large monthly bills. When families pay only for what they need, they avoid debt and gain steady access to safe water, which supports health and financial stability.

Waterborne diseases spread quickly in communities that rely on unsafe sources. Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya distribute treated water that meets safety standards, which reduces illness and lowers medical expenses. When families stay healthy, they attend school, work more regularly and invest their income in food and education rather than treatment costs.

Smart Meters and Water Kiosks

Smart meters record water use in real time and deliver prepaid service that prevents leaks and illegal taps. These problems create major losses for utilities and weaken their ability to maintain infrastructure. When utilities reduce losses, they provide more reliable service and reach more households with clean water, which raises community health and overall quality of life.

Families in many Kenyan settlements spend long hours each day collecting water. Digital water kiosks in neighborhoods reduce this travel time and offer 24-hour access through mobile payments. More available time allows children to attend school consistently and gives adults more hours for work, which strengthens household income and supports long-term development.

Digital Water Systems Create Jobs and Strengthen Utilities

Digital water systems create new roles for technicians, field agents and mobile service operators. These jobs build technical skills and support local employment. Stronger utilities also operate more reliably and expand service to new regions. When utilities stabilize financially, they improve infrastructure that helps entire communities gain safe water access.

Pay-as-you-go digital water services in Kenya improve clean water access by combining mobile payments with smart delivery systems. These services reduce financial barriers, improve public health and create jobs that support economic growth. As the model expands, it offers a practical path toward universal water access and long-term poverty reduction.

– Shahzeb Khan

Shahzeb is based in San Ramon, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solar-Powered Fridges are Fighting Hunger in India

Fighting Hunger in IndiaFood loss and waste drive hunger and poverty across the world. Each year, people lose or waste 1.3 billion tons of food, reducing incomes and leaving families without reliable nutrition. India illustrates this crisis clearly. In 2019, India lost or wasted 56 million tons of food worth about $10 billion, largely because producers lacked cold storage.

Perishable foods such as milk, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish spoil quickly without temperature control. Developing countries lose 23% of perishable foods before they reach markets. These losses reduce farmer incomes and restrict access to nutritious food, especially in rural areas.

Amid these challenges, solar-powered fridges are fighting hunger in India. By providing reliable, off-grid cooling, they help farmers preserve perishable crops, maintain income streams and reduce food waste. These fridges also support health and nutrition by safely storing vaccines, medicines and dairy products while lowering dependence on polluting diesel generators and unreliable electricity grids.

What Is a Solar-Powered Fridge?

Cold storage plays a central role in reducing food loss, but traditional refrigeration creates serious risks. Conventional systems rely on fossil-fuel electricity and refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which trap heat far more effectively than carbon dioxide.

Exporting these systems to low-income regions would lock communities into carbon-intensive infrastructure. Solar-powered refrigeration offers a different path. These systems run on renewable energy and avoid dependence on unreliable grids or diesel generators. In India, where power cuts remain common, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, solar refrigerators provide consistent cooling for food, medicine and vaccines. As a result, solar-powered fridges are fighting hunger in India directly.

Real-Life Impact

In northeastern India, farmer Lalmuankimi Bawitlung experienced the impact firsthand. Rising heat forced her to discard about one-third of her 350-kilogram annual orange harvest after fruit ripened too quickly to sell. In January, the state installed a 10-ton solar-powered cold storage unit in the nearby village of Khawzawl.

The Mizoram Science Technology & Innovation Council worked with Inficold to build the facility, which now serves about 235 farmers. The system uses solar-powered ice battery technology that stores thermal energy and keeps produce cool for months. Lalmuankimi stored oranges until the off-season and sold them for five times the usual price, turning losses into income.

India already has more than 8,200 cold storage facilities, but most rely on the electricity grid. High energy costs and frequent outages force farmers to use diesel generators or abandon cold storage altogether. Solar-powered units address both problems. They reduce operating costs and continue working during power cuts, which often follow floods, landslides or heat waves.

Solar-Powered Fridges Supporting Health

Solar refrigeration also supports health and nutrition. Refrigerators allow households to store food longer and reduce trips to markets. During the COVID-19 pandemic, off-grid refrigerators helped families limit exposure while protecting food supplies. In an Indian pilot, 70% of solar refrigerator customers reported monthly profit increases of about $57 by selling cold beverages and dairy products from home-based businesses.

Health systems also depend on refrigeration. Clinics require cold storage for vaccines, blood, insulin and other temperature-sensitive medicines. Millions of children missed routine immunizations before the pandemic, largely because health facilities lacked reliable cooling. Delivering COVID-19 vaccines to 60%–70% of the world’s population requires a massive expansion of cold chain infrastructure, especially in poorly electrified areas. Solar-powered refrigerators provide a practical solution.

Looking Ahead

Solar-powered fridges are already transforming rural communities by keeping food fresh, protecting incomes and strengthening health systems. Across India, these systems reduce food loss, expand access to nutritious products and create opportunities for women and small-scale farmers. By cutting reliance on polluting energy sources, they also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Solar-powered fridges are fighting hunger in India by offering a practical, scalable solution that improves lives village by village.

– Mollie Skogen

Mollie is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How AI is Fighting Global Poverty

AI Is Fighting Global PovertyWhen someone mentions AI tools such as ChatGPT, for many, it is seen as a tool for high school or college student asking AI to complete their homework. The stereotype that AI is only suitable for doing homework, making presentations, or writing papers is far from its true potential. In reality, AI is actively doing a variety of ongoing projects and solutions, fighting global poverty across the humanitarian sector.

A Hunger Free World?

AI algorithms are powering AI-driven tools that reduce hunger and improve nutrition. The algorithms take the data, analyze it, and use the results to provide farmers with accurate crop management information. For example, AI agriculture applications can monitor soil and weather conditions. The data tells the farms how much water to use for irrigation (to conserve water) and how much pesticide to use. The more farmers utilize these AI resources, the more crop production feeds more mouths. A world without hunger is a demanding task; therefore, it requires AI assistance as the world grows. Of course, AI cannot create a zero-hunger world by itself, but it can make an enormous difference.

Natural Disasters

During Hurricane Fiona in 2022, the storm hit the Caribbean as a Category 4 storm. The results were devastating to the community. The damage was so widespread and abundant that emergency humanitarian aid was not able to get there fast enough to document the damage manually. That’s where AI was able ot step in. Digital Engine for Emergency Photo-analysis (DEEP) performed a proper damage assessment in just a few hours, compared to a manual assessment that would take a few days, according to the World Food Program (WFP). DEEP was able to locate communities that were severely impacted and rapidly sent crisis relief services.

After the heartbreaking earthquake that broke infrastructure in Turkiye-Syria in 2023, SKAI was able to respond rapidly for disaster relief. SKAI is a free AI tool that proactively assesses disasters at 33% of the cost and more than 10 times as fast as manual assessments.

Similarly, in crisis settings, AI-enabled chatbots are enabling people to access instant information, register their needs, and receive services in their own language. These tools are speeding up aid delivery, reducing communication barriers, and helping frontline workers reach the most vulnerable faster.

Education

AI is notorious for its ability to assist in homework. However, its ability speaks volumes to potential students who lack a computer or internet connection in impoverished places. AI can transform from tutor to teacher and utilize its intelligent chatbot to teach intellectual material to anyone. AI is accommodating to a multitude of learning methods, whether you are a visual learner, listener, hands-on, etc. AI is giving the power of education to anyone who desires it.

Utilizing AI’s teaching capabilities provides evidence of long-lasting financial benefits for users, which is highly beneficial for poverty alleviation. According to The ChatGPT Revolution, ChatGPT is redefining economic development and reducing poverty with its easily accessible search engine.

AI Opportunities

Unfortunately, the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools for the purpose of fighting global poverty is just the beginning. Therefore, the expansion of its assistance is at a minimum. However, the research and feedback delivered suggest that ChatGPT support has been promising in combating global poverty. Its results have reached many private companies, including ChatGPT, which are now investing in AI tools to help alleviate poverty worldwide.

For example, Meta is increasing funding for AI programs that will mark impoverished areas as target zones, planning to strengthen infrastructure, education, and community grants. Another example is the WFP’s investment in AI operations, which it recently announced in its March 2025 Artificial Intelligence Strategy

– Mireya Aguilar

Mireya is based in Layton, UT, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Schools Advance Tsunami Readiness in the Asia-Pacific

Tsunami Readiness in the Asia-PacificCountries in the Asia-Pacific are among the most vulnerable to tsunami hazards. The region accounts for a significant portion of the Ring of Fire, a string of coastal countries along the Pacific Ocean where nearly 80% of all tsunamis occur. Asian-Pacific nations also have a significant number of coastal communities, including some of the world’s largest megacities. This high level of coastal residence puts millions at risk, evident in the fact that the region accounts for 99% of global tsunami deaths. To reduce fatalities and enhance tsunami readiness in the Asia-Pacific, many affected countries are taking unified action. Central to this effort is increasing the resilience of school communities to these threats.

The Regional Tsunami Project

Responding to a widespread need, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan created a joint initiative to help countries across the Asia-Pacific enhance their tsunami preparation. The Regional Tsunami Project works with governments, schools and communities to develop locally adapted plans of action to address tsunami risk. More than 800 schools across 24 Asia-Pacific countries are involved, integrating tsunami education and evacuation drills into their curricula.

Evacuation drills give community members the knowledge and tools they need to take quick action in the face of danger. It is especially important for schools to participate in regular drills, as children remain highly vulnerable to disasters. The project’s guidebook, Regional Guide for Schools to Prepare for Tsunamis, provides actionable steps for administrators and educators to enhance planning and implement safety curricula. Widely adopted practices include educating students on how to identify tsunami hazards, using the phrase “Feel. See. Hear. Run.” as a guiding technique. During evacuation drills, students learn where their nearest safe zones are and practice moving from classrooms to these areas.

The Use of Digital Tools

Technology is changing the way communities advance tsunami readiness in the Asia-Pacific. In fact, within school administration and disaster planning, digital tools have become essential. One tool developed by the Regional Tsunami Project is STEP-A (Strengthening Tsunami and Earthquake Preparedness Assessment), an online platform used in Indonesian schools.

STEP-A helps schools determine their tsunami preparedness through self-assessment, engaging students, educators and administrators. Once preparedness levels are identified, the application provides recommended steps for improvement. School readiness information across Indonesia is then integrated into InaRISK, the national disaster-monitoring tool, which provides real-time information on community hazards.

Schools are also adopting other innovative digital tools. In Samoa, students use virtual reality headsets that simulate what their surroundings may look like during a tsunami. This technology helps younger students, many of whom have never experienced a natural disaster, visualize evacuation routes and understand flood scenarios.  Research shows that immersive exercises improve knowledge retention and help students feel more confident in their ability to respond quickly during an emergency.

A Safer Future for the Asia-Pacific

The Regional Tsunami Project has laid a strong foundation for natural disaster resilience and tsunami readiness in the Asia-Pacific, especially in schools where preparation is essential to keeping younger generations safe. Digital tools will continue to play an important role, strengthening cooperation and enhancing preparedness among communities. Tsunamis will remain a serious threat in the region; however, by building the capacity to respond effectively, the Asia-Pacific can move toward a safer and more resilient future.

– Quinlan Bohannon

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

Photo: Flickr