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5 NGOs in Malawi Successfully Addressing Poverty

NGOs in MalawiMalawi, a small country in southeastern Africa, faces one of the highest poverty rates in the world, with more than 70% of its population living below the poverty line. This figure highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address the various challenges of poverty, including health, education, agriculture, and clean water access. Several NGOs in Malawi are actively working to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life for the people.

MBF Lifesaver Clinics

The Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) focuses on maternal and child health through its Lifesaver Clinics in Malawi. It operates clinics through local churches and has a large community-based staff. One of its key locations opened in 1937, the Bembeke clinic serves more than 29,000 residents and delivers an average of 43 babies every month. By providing critical health care services, including prenatal care, vaccinations and health education, MBF aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. The organization’s outreach efforts not only enhance access to medical services but also educate local families about health and nutrition, fostering a healthier future for impoverished mothers and their children.

Hope4Malawi

Education is a core pillar of sustainable development, and Hope4Malawi is one of the NGOs in Malawi that focuses on enhancing educational access for children in rural areas. It has made significant investments in building schools and creating essential educational resources, such as libraries and feeding programs. By supporting students from primary school through to university level, Hope4Malawi creates a cultural hub of learning and support. The organization also integrates e-learning opportunities, allowing students to access a broader range of educational materials.

Hope4Malawi intends to build and provide supplies for 12 classrooms and three libraries before 2029 through a partnership with the Ministry of Education. The organization provides sponsorships and additional support that allow students to attend secondary education who would otherwise not be able to. As a result, enrollment and retention rates have increased, creating a generation equipped with the skills and credentials needed for future success.

The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project is one of the NGOs in Malawi that has been active since 1999. The organization addresses poverty through sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives. Recognizing that food insecurity is a significant contributor to poverty, the organization provides training on modern farming techniques and crop diversification. Utilizing the Epicenter Strategy, this organization mobilizes community members against hunger and poverty until they have become self-reliant.

By promoting community gardens and cooperative farming practices, The Hunger Project empowers local farmers to improve their yield and nutrition. The organization has helped reduce malnutrition in Malawi and has provided economy-boosting initiatives to workers, such as beekeeping. The initiative not only enhances food security for families but also fosters economic empowerment, enabling communities to thrive sustainably.

WaterAid Malawi

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, and WaterAid Malawi is at the forefront of efforts to improve water and sanitation across the country. Working in 14 towns and cities, WaterAid implements projects that provide clean water and educate communities about hygiene practices. This vital work significantly reduces the spread of waterborne diseases, improving overall health outcomes. This organization intends to provide clean water to the most impoverished communities by 2030 through a sustainable development program.

WaterAid works closely with the country’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector to provide innovative technology for new toilet and water collection systems. By ensuring access to clean water, WaterAid not only improves community health but also provides individuals with more time to devote to work or studies.

Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide has developed an approach to tackling poverty from multiple angles in Malawi. The organization provides food security initiatives, such as Food Systems for Food Security, prenatal care, and vaccination programs, alongside emergency response efforts during crises such as natural disasters. Concern has implemented agriculture programs that incorporate crop diversification, intercropping and other protective methods that prepare communities for unexpected weather fluctuations.

In a three-year program, Concern helped local farms raise annual harvest intake by 72%, improving the security and nutrition of community youth. By addressing immediate needs while also working on long-term solutions, Concern Worldwide helps build resilience within communities. Its lifestyle-focused approach ensures that families can survive as well as prepare for the future of the next generation.

Overall Impact

The work of these NGOs in Malawi illustrates the diverse and integrated approaches necessary to combat poverty in Malawi. By addressing health, education, agriculture, and water access, they demonstrate that sustainable development requires collaborative efforts that engage local communities. The ongoing commitment of these organizations plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations in Malawi.

– Lauren Sellman

Lauren is based in Rochester Hills, MI, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Organizations Fighting World Hunger

Organizations Fighting World HungerGlobally, approximately one in 10 people go to bed hungry each night and nearly 3 billion cannot afford a healthy, nutritious diet. Numerous organizations around the world dedicate significant effort to solving this issue, aiming for a future where no one faces hunger. Here are three organizations fighting world hunger.

The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project, operating in Africa, Asia and Latin America, employs a three-point strategy to combat world hunger. Initially, the organization empowers women by providing resources, information and personal freedoms, recognizing that regions with more autonomous women often see higher education rates, improved health and increased agricultural productivity. Subsequently, The initiative equips all community members with essential skills to enhance local opportunities, offering training in literacy, numeracy, healthy eating and local laws. This empowers individuals to lead healthy, successful lives and ensures their voices are influential in governance. The final phase involves workshops that encourage community members to propose improvements for their area and assign specific tasks to realize these visions, fostering a sense of self-efficacy and ongoing advocacy. This approach has notably reduced severe hunger by 25% in the regions where The Hunger Project operates.

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger actively combats global hunger, operating in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. This organization collaborates closely with members of the British Parliament and influential organizations to address the impact of conflict on food security. Between July 2023 and January 2024, Action Against Hunger engaged in strategic discussions with United Nations agencies and government representatives to explore solutions to hunger exacerbated by conflict and identify obstacles to implementing these solutions. In Jan. 2024, the organization participated in discussions with the International Development Committee about the United Kingdom’s efforts to combat world hunger. Additionally, in May 2024, it joined a debate in the House of Lords focusing on food insecurity due to conflict. Beyond advocacy, Action Against Hunger also implements direct interventions, exemplified by its volunteers in Gaza who delivered essential nutrients to 13,000 mothers and babies.

CARE International

CARE International, operating across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East, employs a five-step strategy to combat world hunger. This strategy includes maintaining healthy ecosystems and securing financial stability, enhancing farmer productivity to increase food availability, ensuring that all community members, particularly marginalized groups and women, have necessary rights and opportunities and equipping communities with the tools to withstand challenges like extreme weather. This holistic approach aims to significantly improve lives. As of 2023, CARE has aided 34 million people through 647 projects targeting world hunger and aims to reach 75 million people by 2030.

Looking Ahead

The fight against global hunger involves concerted efforts from numerous organizations, each playing a vital role in addressing food insecurity. The Hunger Project has made significant strides by empowering women and communities to foster local development and reduce severe hunger. Action Against Hunger collaborates with governments and international bodies to address the impacts of conflict on food security, while CARE International employs a comprehensive strategy to enhance farmer productivity and community resilience. Together, these organizations are fighting world hunger and aiming to create a future where everyone has access to a nutritious diet.

– Sue-Joyce Headon

Sue-Joyce is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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All You Need to Know About Poverty in Mexico

Poverty in MexicoFor some, poverty in Mexico is their reality. Juana, a 17-year-old girl living in Maneadero, Mexico, was born into a family with no access to education, clean water, electricity or housing. This is becoming the norm in Mexico. Juana only managed to escape these conditions through the help of foundations that built her family home and provided her with a scholarship. Extreme poverty increased by 2.1 million from 2018 to 2020, with 43.9% of the population below the national poverty line. The current government welfare system is failing to deal with increasing poverty in Mexico. Many Mexicans are not as lucky as Juana. Here is everything you need to know about poverty in Mexico that is causing the lack of opportunities and high inequality.

Corruption, Security and Justice

Mexico is not a poor country. As of 2020, it has the 15th largest economy in the world and until recently had the largest economy in Latin America. However, 15 individuals hold 13% of Mexico’s wealth and corruption is rampant across all sectors. As a result, Mexico invests less money into public services due to bribes and misallocation of resources into unproductive activities and inefficient policies. This has led to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

In fact, Transparency International outlines that “corruption is the most regressive tax in the country and a direct obstacle to the access to the most basic services for development,” Huff Post reports. This plays a key role in the rising levels of poverty in Mexico.

On top of this, in Mexico wealth is not distributed evenly, with those living in rural areas receiving less. They have little access to infrastructure or social support. The most extreme examples of this are Chiapas and Oaxaca, with poverty rates over 60%.

In addition to rising levels of poverty, people’s quality of life is also impacted by the fact that 93% of all crimes go unreported in Mexico. Crime has multiplied due to Mexican law enforcement agencies failing to hold people accountable.

The growth of drug cartels and petty crime has led to greater political instability and affected economic growth. As a result of this, 12 million Mexicans now work through the black market without the protection of social security. These individuals are often exploited. The number in this situation is only increasing.

To help support the poor, The Hunger Project has set up a scheme that advocates and creates partnerships between municipalities in Mexico. The aim is to create self-reliant communities.

Since 2020, this has already seen success in Oaxaca. Some examples of this are The Hunger Project setting up backyard orchards in seven municipalities, introducing rainwater harvesting systems and installing ecological toilets. This has helped to deal with the issues of health care and education outlined below. The more awareness and opportunities that are introduced like this, the more people could get chances like Juana’s.

Health Care and COVID-19

As a result of corruption and instability, public institutions in Mexico fail to live up to the standards necessary to ensure people’s health and well-being. From 2012 to 2014, those with access to health care decreased by 3.5 million.

Consequently, families are likely to have more children, leading to less investment in each child. This means children develop fewer skills. As a result, families are more likely to stay in poverty. The added pressures of COVID-19 have made the situation worse, explaining the increased rates of poverty in recent years.

Moreover, 30% of the population experience nutritional problems as they cannot afford basic food items. This leads to underdevelopment in children and a higher mortality rate. As a result, human capital in Mexico is lacking.

While unemployment is high, where people do secure work, they are often weak and uneducated, leading to lower productivity. This has reduced economic growth, resulting in higher levels of poverty in Mexico.

Education

COVID-19 has also decreased access to education. Education was already limited, with only 62% of Mexican children reaching high school. This limits the opportunities for those in poverty, amplifying the divide between the rich and poor.

Furthermore, those living in rural areas have even less access to education meaning the uneven distribution of wealth in these areas is only increasing. Lack of skills and qualifications also means that many poor people cannot find jobs, resulting in extreme poverty levels of up to nearly 20% across the country.

Juana was lucky. From everything you need to know about poverty in Mexico, there is hope for a better future through schemes such as The Hunger Project. A self-reliant population could reduce the issues of elitism and corruption. Economic growth could prosper and poverty could decrease if this campaign continues. This could give Mexico the opportunity to renovate its infrastructure and institutions.

– Reuben Cochrane
Photo: Flickr

The Hunger Project Helps Protect Bangladesh

Protect BangladeshThe Hunger Project is a global nonprofit organization that strategizes to help end hunger and alleviate poverty in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. The Hunger Project has worked in Bangladesh since 1990. It focuses on achieving the U.N. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, the organization works to address corruption and gender discrimination to end hunger as a way to protect Bangladesh in 185 SDG unions. The poverty rate in Bangladesh has increased from 20.5% in 2019 to 29.5% in June 2020 due to an unemployment increase.

The Hunger Project Bangladesh Work History

Prior to COVID-19, The Hunger Project Bangladesh partnered with the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) and Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), seeking to achieve gender equality and eliminate corruption in Bangladesh. The organization has 109,319 trained volunteers who help Bangladesh SDG unions act toward ending hunger and other issues in Bangladesh. The four goals of the organization include mobilizing rural communities to take self-protective actions, empowering women, strengthening local government and helping build advocacy alliances between NGOs, CSOs and 63 civil society leaders as a way to protect Bangladesh.

The Hunger Project and Citizens for Good Governance established two COVID-19 social media live streams. One was with Hunger Project Bangladesh Country Director Badiul Majumdar and contagious disease expert Dr. MH Chowdhury Lelin co-hosted the other. The social media live streams helped spread reliable COVID-19 protection information while discouraging the spread of misinformation.

The COVID-19 Resilient Villages is one Hunger Project program. It follows World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and helps keep Bangladesh communities safe. Bangladesh village volunteers from 1,100 Village Development Teams created and distributed approximately 137,160 face masks, various hygiene products and COVID-19 protection information as of October 2020.

Organizational COVID-19 Goals

The Hunger Project continues to work with a volunteer-based approach that provides SDG and COVID-19 support. Deputy Director Jamirul Islam notified The Borgen Project that “during lockdown at the beginning of COVID-19, our volunteers started an initiative to collect cash and kind from solvent peoples” to give to homes without food. Islam told The Borgen Project that the organization implements this initiative in 129 SDG unions and 1,161 villages across Bangladesh. The organization believes “that people can be the author of their own futures, so people have to work to create their own paycheck.”

The Hunger Project advocated and supported two 2014 goals from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The organization aimed to end marriages for girls younger than 15 by 2021 and eliminate child marriages by 2041. The Hunger Project agreed with 168 organizations in the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum to stop the Bangladesh government from lowering the female marriage age to 16. This action resulted in 18 becoming the determined marriage age for girls except for if they receive parental consent. The organization also trained 9,400 people in water, sanitation and hygiene workshops in Bangladesh since March 2020.

Plans and Partnerships to Protect Bangladesh

Islam told The Borgen Project about how the organization empowers youth unit members and other volunteers. The organization arranges Coronavirus Resilient Village and Risk Communication in-person training. Islam said that “in each meeting, we try to connect teachers and students during COVID-19.” The Bangladesh Coronavirus Resilient Village (CRV) model has four stages that bring people together, promote COVID-19 precautions through the 3 W campaign, identify people with COVID-19 symptoms and economically support vulnerable homes and farms as a way to protect Bangladesh in approximately 1,500 villages.

Islam tells The Borgen Project that The Hunger Project Bangladesh partners with UNICEF Bangladesh, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and The Hunger Project Australia and the Netherlands. Together, they provide technical and financial support for building Coronavirus Resilient Villages. Since COVID-19, Islam noticed how “people organize themselves,” in order to be “united to fight to save themselves and to help each other.”

Islam notified The Borgen Project about how the organization partners with World Vision, Save the Children and three other NGOs to initiate the Right 2 Grow project. The project will help improve nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) protocols. It will also work on other initiatives in Bangladesh by focusing on SDGs 2, 3 and 5 from January 2021 to 2025.

The development of the project to employ SDGs 2, 3 and 5 began in November 2020 to help end hunger, ensure community health and well-being and promote gender equality. The project works in six countries including the Khulna, Patuakhali, Sathkira and Barguna Bangladesh districts. These districts have experienced repression due to various civic space issues. Both programs help villages through NGOs, CSOs and local government support while the organization focuses on peace facilitator groups related to SDG 16.

Looking Ahead

During COVID-19, the nonprofit organization taught community leaders how to advocate for COVID-19 response and circulate village resources. The Hunger Project continues volunteer CRV and Risk Communication online and in-person training in Bangladesh. The organization prepared 500,000 local leaders for COVID-19 in 13 countries as of May 2020. In September 2020, Majumdar contributed to the Bangladesh 2020 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index, which rates everything from CSO advocacy to service provisions. As Bangladesh has seen decreased COVID-19 case numbers since December 2020, the villages await vaccines that should arrive by February 2021.

– Evan Winslow
Photo: Flickr

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Uganda

innovations in poverty eradication in ugandaWhen it comes to the fight against poverty, innovation is just as important as in any other field. Coming up with creative, sustainable solutions for such a massive problem is critical in any nation. However, it is more important in developing countries, where funds allocated for poverty reduction are often limited. By thinking outside the box, governments, private sector organizations and NGOs can effectively accomplish poverty reduction efforts across many sectors. Here are just a few innovations in poverty eradication in Uganda.

The Private Sector

In fact, the private sector is often where innovation originates and forward-thinking people thrive. Normally, many people think of poverty reduction as a job for governments and NGOs. However, by involving private corporations, the fight against poverty can work outside the bureaucracy that often impedes the work of governmental agencies.

Additionally, there is a large incentive for private businesses to get involved with poverty reduction. The world’s poor represents a largely untapped market of consumers. By lifting them out of poverty, businesses will create a larger client base and ultimately more profit. Today, 4 billion people are living on less than $8 a day. This segment of the population provides opportunities for expanded market development and human capital. Indeed, there is no shortage of entrepreneurs looking to work with this demographic.

Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Uganda

The private sector is where many innovations in poverty eradication in Uganda emerge. One particular business-focused innovation that has taken hold in Uganda is microfinancing. Microfinancing practices give small loans to fledgling entrepreneurs. Recipients use the loans to grow their businesses, create jobs and positively impact their communities. This opportunity for those traditionally excluded from the banking system to obtain credit has done lots of good, particularly in Uganda.

For example, The Hunger Project is taking its microfinancing efforts one step further. Not only is it promoting economic self-reliance, but it is ensuring the inclusion of women. Women even lead its microfinancing program, giving them an influential voice in their communities. Thus, microfinancing is one among many innovations in poverty eradication in Uganda.

Empowering Women

Another success story is the Women’s Microfinance Initiative (WMI). WMI’s mission is “to establish village-level loan hubs. Local women administrate the loan hubs to provide capital, training and support services for women in East Africa. This is to help them engage in income-producing activities.” Since 2008, WMI has issued over $7.2 million in loans to more than 17,500 women in East Africa. The organization estimates that each loan provides a positive economic outcome for at least 20 people. Overall, this means that this program has reached over 350,000 individuals in the past 12 years.

The anecdotal evidence above as well as the available data show that microfinancing initiatives are effective innovations in poverty eradication in Uganda. According to the World Bank, the percentage of those living below the poverty line in Uganda decreased by 11.4% from 2006 to 2013. The organization credits much of this progress to agricultural innovations, many of which use microfinancing. This goes to show that often, innovation and progress happen from the bottom up.

Moving Forward

However, if this progress is to continue, innovators looking to further innovations in poverty eradication in Uganda need to focus on malnutrition, education, sanitation and electricity. Without access to these services, innovation efforts will fall short. Therefore, a potential approach to poverty reduction in Uganda would be a blend of governmental, NGO and private sector efforts. Long-term, inclusive and sustainable solutions can go a long way toward reducing poverty in Uganda and elsewhere.

– Addison Collins
 Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Mexico: The Continuing Fight

Hunger in Mexico

Mexico struggles with multiple food-related health issues that range from malnutrition to obesity. Many families do not have access to the proper nutrients that their bodies need. However, this is not because of a lack of resources but rather because they cannot afford the available food. Approximately 36% of Mexicans are poor, with 7% in extreme poverty, making hunger in Mexico a significant problem. 

A Failed Crusade Against Hunger

Almost 22 years ago, in January 2013, and in the face of over seven million Mexicans living in extreme poverty, President Peña Nieto created the National Crusade Against Hunger. The program was designed not only to fight poverty and hunger in Mexico but also to completely eradicate both. The program centered around five main objectives: to achieve zero hunger through adequate food provisions, improve child nutrition rates, increase monetary income and food production for rural farmers, minimize food loss during transportation and promote internal community awareness. The Crusade allowed Mexicans in local communities to choose what objectives they wanted to focus on. The hope was for the program to address the diverse needs of varying regions. 

However, two years after the Crusade began, Mexico’s National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy observed that it had made no substantial progress towards the five listed goals. Additionally, the Federal Auditor’s Office found that the program only covered approximately 60% of the population. Moreover, those that the program did cover failed to report adequate data on the aid received. After advising that the program be shut down in 2018, the Federal Auditor’s Office labeled the Crusade a failure. 

The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project (THP) has been a long-time supporter of hunger reduction efforts in Mexico, having worked with the people of Mexico for over 30 years. (As a prominent Mexican citizen, Mexico’s country director of The Hunger Project had participated in the activities of the Crusade). By providing training, education and monetary support, THP aims to teach communities how to take care of themselves long-term. In 2024, THP is particularly targeting indigenous and marginalized communities in rural areas, working to bring them to self-reliance. The current recipients include elderly indigenous women entrepreneurs, indigenous girls and adolescents, mothers, children under 5 and families, as well as indigenous men. Their work includes nutrition intervention, “indigenizing” food systems, training to build sustainable food security and Eat Well programs.

Global FoodBanking

In 2023, Mexico’s network of (56) food banks (Red de Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico, BAMX), a certified member of the Global FoodBanking Network, served almost 2.5 million people (over 847,000 children) and supported over 2,000 community service agencies with over 70,000 volunteers. GFN focuses worldwide on solving challenges to food security, hunger and sustainability. 

Saving Food, Reducing Hunger

Roadrunner Food Bank, established in 1979 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the largest food bank in the state and a member of Feeding America. In the summer of 2024, RFB signed an agreement with BAMX to establish the International Food Exchange Project. Through a food rescue process, millions of pounds of quality but “unsaleable” fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be unused and wasted, will have an outlet, first through BAMX food banks, with any excess going to southwestern U.S. food banks. Says Dana Yost, president and CEO of RFB, “[T]he big win is that it increases nutritious food access to people facing hunger whether they live here [New Mexico] or in Mexico. After all, hunger has no border.” The process will include the participation of growers, producers, exporters and other partners. One task will be to identify donor support and funding needs. The project is currently a pilot effort, but the intention is eventually to create a guide to the project that will allow it to expand. While food rescue and food sharing are not new concepts, this is the “first of a kind” arrangement between binational food banks and can become a model for similar efforts between other countries.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: October 28, 2024

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Poverty in Ghana From Wealth Disparity

Ghana, a small country located in West Africa, has dealt with tremendous economic struggles since the 1990s. The good news is that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently shared new data that confirms that positive strides have been made to improve multiple dimensions of poverty in health, education and living standards.  The report confirms that between 2011 and 2017, poverty in Ghana decreased by nine percent.  In addition, its GDP almost doubled from 2011 to 2019.

Ghana made significant changes to facilitate this progress. First, the nation diversified its economy to create more products and services in different sectors. This led to increased greater consumerism and higher employment, which allowed Ghana’s economy to flourish.  However, with increased consumerism also came disparity.  Because that disparity increased, poverty in Ghana continues to be a challenge.

Ghana’s Disparities in Consumption, Health and Regions

Wealth disparity in Ghana is extreme.  The top 10% of Ghanaians consume more than the bottom 60%, and the lowest 10% only consume only 2%.  Health disparities include the fact that only 2% of those in poverty are covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme and that wealthy children are three times more likely to live past age five than poor children.  Further, there is a disparity in poverty rates between regions and also between urban and rural Ghanaians.  The Northern Region has the highest multidimensional poverty with eight out of 10 people being multidimensionally poor.  The Upper East Region is close behind with seven out of 10 people multidimensionally poor. People in rural Ghana are twice as likely to be poor than people in urban areas.

Change to Eliminate Disparity and Continue to Improve the Economy

The UNDP is championing specific tactics to eliminate disparity and to continue to improve the Ghanaian economy.  First, it suggests investment in better healthcare in all regions and an emphasis on getting all Ghanaians national health insurance.  Second, it advocates for a focus on enhanced school enrollment and completion in some regions and better nutrition for children in others.  Third, it calls for a poverty reduction strategy for those regions where poverty is extremely high.

Other organizations are joining the UNDP to improve conditions in Ghana.  These include The Hunger Project, in working toward alleviating poverty in Ghana. Since 1995, The Hunger Project has aided over 300,000 people by focusing on improving infrastructure, education reform and sanitation. The project focuses on building community centers, or “epicenters”, in order to collectively unify communities within Ghana and provide resources, such as electricity and clean water. As of now, over 40 epicenters receive clean water and sanitation, and almost all of them have health committees and clinics.

Finally, many families in both the Upper West and Upper East Regions have found creative means of accumulating extra income, such as the production of Shea butter. Some businesses, like Star Shea, provide loans for women as a means of starting production and accommodating transportation costs.

Many women believe these loans were advantageous in pursuing more educational opportunities. For example, Mrs. Atorneygene, a local resident in Ghana, utilized the proceeds from her Shea butter production to provide educational tools for her granddaughter. Changes being made on a local level, such as the production of Shea butter,  have proved to be beneficial in providing opportunities to marginalized regions.

Outlook for Ghana

Even with the problems that Ghana has faced in the past, the nation has reached tremendous milestones and has made effective improvements within the last decade. With the help of the government, the UNDP, The Hunger Project and people in the community, Ghana has been able to make positive changes relating to its economy and wealth disparities. Now, Ghana has set a precedent regarding the instrumental changes needed to alleviate poverty.

– Aishwarya Thiyagarajan
Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Benin

Hunger in BeninThe Republic of Benin, a former French colony, is a coastal West African country with a 2024 population of over 14 million, equally distributed between urban and rural areas. Just under two-thirds of the population is under the age of 25. 

Benin’s most recent poverty rate measured by the international poverty line ($3.65) is only 12.7%, but as measured by the national poverty line, over a third (36.2%) of the population is considered to be poor. The urban-rural poverty gap saw a 10% difference (40.6%-30.8%) at the last assessment, with significant regional, gender, age and sociodemographic disparities. 

Background

Benin ranks 91 out of the 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, its score of 22.6 putting it in the “Serious” category. This score is an improvement from 33.9 in 2000. The measured indicators of undernourishment, child mortality and child wasting are now all at or below 10%, but child stunting remains over 30%. Child stunting measures the proportion of children under five with low height for their age, which reflects chronic undernutrition. 

Benin exemplifies some of the successes that international organizations and state governments have had in collaborating with Benin’s leadership to create positive change. Key players in Benin’s fight against hunger include the nonprofit The Hunger Project, the U.N.’s World Food Programme and the World Bank.

The Hunger Project in Benin

The Hunger Project (THP) has been working in Benin since 1997 to fight hunger and poverty. THP’s approach to rural development is the “Epicenter Strategy,” where they partner with individuals and communities to achieve sustainable self-reliance. In Benin, THP established 18 epicenters in eight of the country’s twelve departments, sixteen of which have already declared self-sufficiency. The strategy begins by empowering women as change agents, mobilizing people to build individual capacity, leadership and confidence, and then creating partnerships with local government. Nutrition programs achieve synergy with farming and food security and multiple other programs, including health, water and sanitation, education, adult literacy and microfinance. 

In 2023, THP initiated four new projects in Benin’s central and northern regions as part of a vision for 2027 to improve nutritional and food security. THP’s mission to empower youth, women and other vulnerable groups is targeting the 450,000 residents in rural Benin. 

WFP’s Role in Alleviating Hunger in Benin

The U.N.’s World Food Programme reports high food insecurity in Benin, noting that almost 83% of households cannot afford a healthy diet. WFP began its support in Benin in 2017 by initiating integrated school feeding programs in 75% of Benin’s public primary schools. The Government of Benin is committed to full coverage, allocating $200 million for a five-year program cycle.

At its November 2023 Executive Board session, WFP approved a three-year country strategic plan for Benin (2024-2027), based on Benin’s own 2021-2026 national action plan. Continuing the national school feeding program, along with policy advisory work and technical assistance, three outcomes are WFP’s focus: Meeting urgent food and nutrition needs by people affected by global, regional and climate shocks; enhanced nutrition, health and education for communities and school-age children through access to basic social services and affordable, nutritious diets; and increased capacity of targeted systems and institutions to implement programs that promote food security and nutrition. It is intended that the strategic plan will contribute to the achievement of multiple Strategic Development Goals, including SDG  1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). 

World Bank Group Support in Benin

The World Bank Group established a Country Partnership Framework with Benin covering 2018-2023, with a new CPF to begin this year (2024-2028). The World Bank Group’s commitment of $2.7 billion finances seven regional and 19 national projects. COVID-19 responses included activation of the Emergency Response Component of the Early Childhood Nutrition and Development Project.  

In June 2024, the World Bank approved $150 million in additional International Development Association support to improve Benin’s food security and productivity through increased production of market garden produce and rice, as well as support for various agricultural supplies, production technologies and advisory services. The World Bank country manager for Benin reports that two-thirds of Benin’s population is employed in agriculture so investment in this sector is “an important pillar for food security and a key driver of fragility prevention mechanisms.” 

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: August 24, 2024

Tackling the World with One Common Goal

One Common Goal
Common Goal has 765 members who benefit 133 organizations with just a 1 percent pledge. All it takes to overcome the social challenges of the world is one common goal. Common Goal has a large team, larger than the 11 players that usually suit up to take on an opponent on the soccer field, but it takes all players sharing one common goal to tackle the social problems of the world.

The Cause

Common Goal’s campaign unites “the global football community in tackling the greatest social challenges of our time.” With one common goal, the world’s toughest opponents, like HIV/AIDS, gender discrimination and youth employment, must face a team of 765 individuals committed to a better tomorrow.

Two hundred and sixty-five million people play soccer, with 5 million more refereeing the game. Soccer is without a doubt the world’s most popular sport as nearly 4 percent of the global population is involved with the game to some degree.

Members of the Common Goal campaign donate 1 percent of their earnings to a central fund which then allocates the resources towards the advancement of the United Nations’ global goals.

Signature Names

Soccer superstars from around the world pledge their commitment to a common goal, acknowledging that individuals are only so powerful, but as a team, they can change the world. The United States’ Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, Spain’s Juan Mata, Canada’s Christine Sinclair and Germany’s Mats Hummels are among those representing their countries with one common goal.

World leaders identified 17 goals that the world should achieve by 2030. With eliminating poverty at number one, the top five global goals include zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education and gender equality.

Health and Hunger Crisis

Poverty and hunger are linked. The Hunger Project identifies hunger as a “dimension of extreme poverty” and “the most severe and critical manifestation of poverty.” While not every person living in poverty faces chronic hunger, nearly all facing chronic hunger live in poverty. Resources like The Hunger Project combat the hunger problem by increasing women’s economic support, boosting agricultural support efforts and creating self-reliant food banks.

Political, social and economic injustices are often the causes of poor health worldwide. Poor health sometimes entraps individuals in poverty in which poor health then traps communities in poverty. In turn, this negatively affects economic growth. Disease and infection often impact marginalized groups the most. The Global Goals’ action reduced childhood deaths by half over the past 15 years showing the world’s ability to win against every illness and disease. Worldwide good health is possible through healthy lifestyles and efficient health care.

Knowledge is Power

Education is one way to prevent the cycle of poverty. In some situations, people living in poverty often forgo education to work, and then the cycle continues. Educational programs, like those provided by ChildFund International, aim to provide programs by teaching literacy and numeracy skills to open a world of opportunity.

Across the world, women’s voices are often deterred in favor of their male counterparts. Young girls are the ones who miss out on educational opportunities because people see their worth as less. Girls and women’s human rights are at risk in poverty situations. Equality across all frames benefits not only females, but it could unlock the world’s potential. Gender Equality Programming aids women by ensuring equal access to decisions and humanitarian aid.

The Common Goal campaign looks to combat these social problems. A young soccer player from Chile cites soccer as a source of life. Chile faces a poverty rate of 18 percent. Common Goal and Wash United combated period poverty in India, a nation where people do not often talk about periods.

Through the reach of the soccer community, millions of people are united in the fight. In fact, the world’s social challenges have no chance against a team of 765 members.

– Gwendolin Schemm
Photo: Flickr

Empowering African Women Farmers

Empowering African Women Farmers
More than 60 percent of Sub-Saharan African women work in the agricultural sector and contribute to nearly 80 percent of the food supply. However, they only own 15 percent of the land. These women are the backbone of their families’ and communities’ agricultural production. They are still facing tremendous hardships and barriers due to their gender that limits their rights and opportunities. Hence, supporting and empowering African women farmers is necessary for Africa to be able to reach its full potential.

The U.N. has estimated that if women have equal access to opportunities and resources, they can increase yields on their farms by 20-30 percent. This will raise the total national agricultural output by 2.5 to 4 percent. Below are a few initiatives that work towards empowering African women farmers.

Securing Land Ownerships

The majority of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have limited property rights. They are only able to access land through a male relative. This gender disparity in landownership leaves the women farmers vulnerable at the constant risks of displacement. Death of the husband or father and a simple change of the man’s mind can take away the means of the women. With such insecurity, long-term investments in enhancing the productivity of lands do not seem appealing or make much sense to African women farmers.

Ending gender discrimination in land ownership can empower women to earn more and contribute more to the economic growth and food security of the community. In Tanzania, women with strong property and inheritance rights can earn up to 3.8 times more income. Compared to men, improving landowners’ tenure security for women can have a much more positive impact. The World Bank reports that rights improvement can lead to women increasing investments in their lands by 19 percent.

Many countries have taken important steps to promote and protect women’s land rights when they realize the impact of women on the economy. The government of Ethiopia has mandated joint land registration between husband and wife, formally recognizing women’s rights to their farmlands. Such reforms have led to increased investments in their land.

Improving Access to Financial Services

Lack of access to credit and financial services is another major obstacle for African female farmers. Without sufficient finance, women farmers are unable to afford adequate inputs to advance their agricultural activities. Many different development agencies and NGOs designed and provided women-focused financial services and programs. Additionally, they want to improve their access to agricultural inputs.

The Hunger Project (THP) is a U.S.-based international NGO has created a micro-finance program that provides training. THP gave financial advice and credit to African women farmers. In addition, THP loaned about $2.9 million to women farmers in eight African countries. This helps increase the beneficiaries’ production levels.

Another micro-finance institution based in Mali, Soro Yiriwaso, supports women in boosting food security. More than 93 percent of the institution’s borrowers are women. Additionally, over two-thirds of the loan go into agriculture. The institution also gave agricultural loans to women members in 90 villages between 2010 and 2012. This enables farmers to have access to agricultural inputs and increased investments.

Empowering African Women Farmers

U.N. Women has recently launched a project funded by Standard Bank Group known as Contributing to the Economic Empowerment of Women in Africa Through Climate Smart Agriculture. The project seeks to close the gender gap in agricultural productivity and has a commitment to empowering African women farmers by increasing women’s access to markets.

Standard Bank commits around $3 million for the project, with Malawi receiving $450,000. Many expect that over 50,000 women in Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa will benefit from this three-year-project.

Many have recognized agriculture as the sector most able to provide sustained economic growth and social inclusion in Africa. The agriculture and agribusiness combined have the potential to become a $1 trillion sector in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, with the likelihood of women continuing to be the backbone of the industry. Empowering African women farmers and closing the gender gap should be the focus and priority to help the African countries realize their full potential. In addition, this will effectively reduce poverty and attain sustainable economic growth.

– Minh-Ha La
Photo: Flickr