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Gender Wage Gap in Tanzania: Beyond the Hourly Rate

Gender Wage Gap in TanzaniaTanzania has made some notable progress toward gender equality, including the inauguration of its first female president in 2021 and women holding 37.4% of parliamentary seats. Yet the gender wage gap in Tanzania tells a more complicated story when researchers examine labor market data from a recent Integrated Labour Force Survey.

Small Pay Gap, Large Employment Gap

At first glance, Tanzania appears close to achieving pay equality. The unadjusted gender wage gap stands at just 2.9% at the hourly level, which economists consider too small to hold meaningful economic significance. On a monthly basis, women actually earn 4% less than men. However, these figures hide major differences in employment patterns between men and women.

Across every age group, women work fewer paid hours than men. Among employed workers, 33.4% of women work part-time compared to 17.3% of men. In other words, while women who secure paid employment tend to earn roughly the same hourly wages as men, they are less likely to work the same number of hours.

The broader employment picture shows an even more significant gap. Women’s employment rate is 75.5%, compared to 84.6% for men. Meanwhile, unemployment among women reaches 12.7% under Tanzania’s national definition; more than double the 5.8% rate for men.

Unpaid Care Work and Poverty

One of the biggest barriers affecting the gender wage gap in Tanzania is unpaid domestic and care work. Women spend an average of 4.6 hours each day on unpaid care and household responsibilities, compared to men who spend only 1.2 hours. This means women shoulder nearly four times the unpaid care burden.

That imbalance has direct economic consequences, contributing to the higher poverty rates among women. In urban Tanzania, female-headed households face a 20% poverty rate compared to 14% for male-headed households. Women who cannot commit to full-time paid work often move in and out of informal employment as well, where workers typically lack social protection, paid leave and job security. In non-agricultural sectors, 93.8% of employed women work informally, compared to 86.6% of men.

Occupational Segregation and Informality

Women and men also remain concentrated in different sectors of the economy. The Duncan Segregation Index estimates that roughly 30% of workers would need to change sectors to create equal employment distribution between men and women.

Women are more likely to work in care-related fields such as education, health and household services, while men dominate sectors including manufacturing, construction and transport. Women also face barriers to advancement within these occupations, as they hold only 27.9% of senior and middle management positions. Another area of vulnerability is contributing to family work. Nearly 40% of employed women work as contributing family members—unpaid workers assisting on family farms or businesses—compared to 18% of men. In rural areas, the figure rises to nearly 51% of employed women.

Progress and Solutions Underway

When researchers consider factors such as age, marital status, education, occupation and sector, the adjusted gender pay gap becomes statistically insignificant. This suggests that differences in working hours and occupational segregation, rather than direct wage discrimination, account for most of the observed gap. These are areas where policy interventions can make a measurable difference in reducing the gender wage gap in Tanzania.

Tanzania has already introduced laws addressing sexual harassment and gender discrimination, while also providing maternity and paternity benefits. The country has also ratified the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, which mandates equal pay for men and women for work of equal value. Together, these legal protections create a framework for equal treatment in the workplace. Financial inclusion remains another key area of focus. Expanding women’s access to banking and financial tools will help more women start businesses, manage financial risks and build long-term economic independence.

In December 2024, the World Bank signed a $104 million agreement supporting the Pamoja Project. This is an initiative that aims to directly benefit nearly 320,000 women by expanding economic opportunities and strengthening services that prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The World Bank also continues to work with Tanzania on implementation frameworks designed to turn legal protections into measurable outcomes. As the UN Women brief notes, collecting better data at more frequent intervals would improve understanding of the gender wage gap and would help policymakers shape more effective policies.

Looking Ahead

Reducing the unpaid care burden, expanding women’s access to formal employment and enforcing equal pay protections remain key to closing the gender wage gap in Tanzania. With recent legal reforms, financial inclusion initiatives and targeted projects like the Pamoja Project, these goals are becoming more realistic with each passing year.

– Camila Correch

Camila is based in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Reduction in Romania

Poverty Reduction in RomaniaWhen talking about Romania, many people still associate the country with its communist past and its significant economic struggle, which lasted for 24 years under the rule of Nicolae Ceausescu. There are different perspectives regarding decades ago and current poverty in Romania. The communist regime fell in 1989, and Romania has changed considerably since. According to the World Bank Group, poverty reduction in Romania reached 6.9% in 2024. 

Minimum Wage in Romania and Most Affected Regions

As an European country since 2007, Romania is doing better than it did decades ago. Yet, the minimum wage of 795 euros per month may lead some to question the extent of its economic growth. This positions Romania at 43rd place among the 124 countries that have the lowest minimum wage, out of the 195 countries in the world.

Rural regions in Romania are the most affected, with rates three times higher than those in urban areas, where children never attend school, or they are forced to drop out of school at an early age so they can work various jobs in agriculture or construction, helping their family to stay afloat. People living in these poor rural regions endure hunger, malnutrition, limited access to health care and often live in homes without running water, sanitation or electricity. 

Projects Designed To Reduce Poverty in Romania

Given all of the above, there is hope on the horizon with promising news ahead. After decades of economic struggles, new developments and projects may signal a meaningful shift towards inclusion and opportunity, contributing to poverty reduction in Romania.

As a global development organization, The World Bank Group seeks to lower poverty levels below 3% of the global population by 2030 and Romania is one of the countries that benefits from its generosity. Elisabetta Capannelli, World Bank Country Manager for Romania, declares that the organization goal is “to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of the population.” The World Bank has contributed in Romania over the past two decades addressing policy and institutional constraints on poverty reduction. By promoting social inclusion and economic growth, this approach offers promise that vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas, will see real improvements.

In February 2016, the Government passed a comprehensive anti-poverty package of 47 measures to combat poverty in the country through 2020. Several key measures, including boosting employment and reducing early school leaving rates, are expected to play a crucial role in narrowing the urban-rural poverty gap.

Empowering Citizens

Another hopeful project comes from Real News for Romania’s Media Desert Regions, where “the funding helped the media to reach Romania’s three poorest regions (Moldova Southern Muntenia and Oltenia) to inform and raise awareness about corruption, misuse of public and EU funds.” This project demonstrates that addressing poverty is not just about money or jobs, but also involves informing and empowering citizens to hold authorities accountable. By reaching Romania’s three poorest regions, the project is helping people understand how public and EU funds are being used. The project used social media, guided by experts, to reach more people and set up a weekly newsletter. After doing so, those involved in the project now hope that audiences are more informed, more aware of their rights, and more engaged in improving public services for their communities.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, these initiatives and others yet to come, could bring lasting change by helping more families rise above poverty and improve their quality of life, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction in Romania.

Future generations of rural children may have access to education instead of working from a young age, and while challenges remain, both existing and new projects offer hope for poverty reduction.

– Elena Ghimis

Elena is based in Bournemouth, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Timor-Leste

Poverty Eradication in Timor-LesteTimor-Leste is a Southeast Asian nation with a population of more than 1.4 million people. The country, bordered by Indonesia and Australia, continues to face significant development challenges, particularly high levels of poverty. Researchers classify approximately 48.3% of the population as multidimensionally poor, and in 2024, 16% of the employed population lived on less than $2.15 per day.

In recent years, the government of Timor-Leste launched an ambitious and comprehensive poverty eradication program to improve living standards and promote inclusive economic growth. These efforts present some of the most important innovations in poverty eradication in Timor-Leste.  A central pillar of this effort is the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA). Government officials and International partners support this framework through a range of interconnected initiatives spanning social protection, education, economic diversification and overall institutional strengthening. Together, these complementary measures create a coordinated program aimed at alleviating poverty in Timor-Leste.

Putting the People First

In 2025, the United Nations published a report on poverty in Timor-Leste that outlining several key strategies the country uses to address its persistent development challenges. The first approach prioritizes strengthening the resilience and well-being of Timorese communities. One of the flagship initiatives is the Bolsa da Mãe Kondisional programme, which provides “[…] conditional cash transfers to low-income families.”

Under this initiative, eligible households receive regular financial assistance. These conditions often include ensuring children attend school consistently, participate in routine health check-ups, receive essential vaccinations, and are provided with weekly food supplies. In 2025, the program boasted an intense turnout, reaching more than 74,648 households, with particular focus on vulnerable mothers and children.

Beyond direct income support, DPoA efforts also target the structural causes of poverty, particularly through education reform and investment. The World Bank Group, through the International Development Association (IDA), partnered with the Timorese government to rehabilitate 2,780 classrooms across 535 schools and construct 102 new educational facilities. As a result, primary school completion rates increased from 56% in 2015 to approximately 62% in 2020. In more recent years, primary and secondary school enrolment rates have also improved drastically, with dropout rates falling by 50%. Higher levels of educational attainment now strengthens the foundation for future employment opportunities, helping more young people access the skills they need to participate in the workforce. Hence, these education-driven initiatives represent key innovations in poverty eradication in Timor-Leste, by fundamentally addressing long-term inequality by investing in human capital. 

“Better” Lifestyles Through Innovation 

Beyond traditional, on-the-ground development initiatives, rapid technological advancement now plays an increasingly important role in transforming Timor-Leste into a more digitally connected society. This digital expansion helps reduce  poverty by widening people’s access to information, services and economic opportunities, representing yet another example of key innovations in poverty eradication in Timor-Leste. 

The period between 2024 and 2025 marks a pivotal phase in the country’s digital infrastructure development. The government and its partners installed a fibre-optic underwater cable linking Timor-Leste to Australia, enabling the country to transition from a costly and unreliable satellite to faster and more affordable broadband connectivity. In addition, the launch of a Starlink license for Timor-Leste in late 2024 has “[…] provided immediate connectivity to remote rural areas that were previously excluded from the digital economy.”

This growing technological infrastructure now allows more people to access online education, digital financial services, remote employment opportunities and government platforms has become increasingly more apparent with the help of this growing technocratic sphere in Timor. By the end of 2025, internet penetration reached 40.4%, with more than 575,000 active users nationwide.

Conclusion

Timor-Leste illustrates a rich context in which poverty reduction is gradually taking shape. The country strategically combines targeted social protection programmes, such as the Bolsa da Mãe “Kondisional,” with technological advancements and frameworks like the Doha Programme of Action, to steadily transform poverty management strategies. These efforts are not only alleviating immediate hardships but also lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable development.

– Sophia Lupo

Sophia is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Eradicating Extreme Poverty in Brazil: Brasil Sem Miséria

Brasil Sem MisériaBrazil is a country situated in South America, consisting of 26 states and is home to the official language, Portuguese. With a population of 211,140,729 as of 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it occupies nearly half of South America. A governmental social program named Brasil Sem Miséria, created in 2011, aims to lift a large proportion of the country suffering from extreme poverty. Some focuses include providing access to social services for individuals and improving rural production for farmers. The scheme has primarily been targeted in the Northeast region of the country.

Poverty in the Northeast of Brazil

The Northeast of Brazil is the largest region in Latin America suffering from rural poverty. According to the World Bank, 5.4 million of the 45 million people living in the Northeast live on around $1 a day. The area suffers from geographical struggles, such as frequent severe droughts and unequal distribution of land, causing individuals to be reluctant to engage in social programs and government assistance.

It comprises nine states, including Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, as well as Fernando de Noronha. According to ScienceDirect, more than 70% of farmers in the Northeast Region are classed as poor or extremely poor. The agricultural sector is a significant income generator for a large number of people in rural areas. Farmers, especially, are reliant on their income from agricultural work, and climate change and prolonged periods of drought have and continue to result in fluctuating markets due to the unpredictability of price, supply and demand.

Brasil Sem Miséria

Brazil Without Extreme Poverty, also known as Brasil Sem Miséria, consists of various social programs to lift Brazil from extreme poverty. Created in 2011 by President Dilma Rousseff, the program was designed to support a large number of individuals. Some targets include:

  • Targeting children
  • Full-time education
  • Access to jobs
  • Rural food production and farmers

Accomplishments So Far

  • Targeting Children. Children must learn the foundations of human development, relating to their health, intellectual mind and physical well-being, especially for those living in poverty. According to World Without Poverty (WWP), Brasil Sem Miséria provided investment worth R$450 million in 2013 to enable children to stay well-fed and motivated as they grow.
  • Full-Time Education. The program consisted of expanding school days through Brasil Sem Miséria to strengthen learning and reduce inequalities. The policy has been adopted by nearly 30,000 schools. The Ministry of Education (MEC) invested and aimed to increase the number of full-time schools in Brazil from 32,000 to 46,000.
  • Access to Jobs. Free courses were available through the Brasil Sem Miséria job program, called the Plan’s Access to Technical Learning and to Jobs National Program. To date, there are 481 choices of profession, oriented to various sectors, including industry, trade, agriculture and cattle farming. More specific courses include computing, electrician, receptionist, etc.
  • Rural Food Production and Farmers. To maintain Brazil’s rich agricultural economy, Brasil Sem Miséria intended to work with rural families to enhance their production rates so the quality, quantity and value of produce increase, contributing to increasing income for family farmers. The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Ater) was hired to support 260,000 families, according to World Without Poverty (WWP).

Looking Ahead

Extreme poverty in the Northeast rural region of Brazil remains and continues to impact a large proportion of the population. However, government social programs, like Brasil Sem Miséria, have and will continue to lift various individuals out of poverty. Young children, farmers and rural families have already experienced progress by stabilizing healthier lives for the future.

– Zara Ashraf

Zara is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil

SDG 10 in BrazilBrazil’s hosting of the soccer World Cup and Olympic Games in the mid-2010s symbolized its arrival as a confident middle-class power. Rapid economic growth and large-scale social reform had lifted millions out of poverty and gradually reversed some of the country’s extreme income disparities. But, that progress has stalled over the past decade. This article provides updates on SDG 10 in Brazil, examining the country’s performance against a core UN target – tackling inequality.

Decade of Stagnation

When the Olympics came to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Gini Index score, which measures income inequality, had been steadily falling for decades — from more than 60 in 1990 to around 52 in 2015 —  prompting experts to celebrate the country as a beacon for social progress.

But its Gini score actually increased in subsequent years, before returning to 52 again in 2023, the most recent year of available data. That’s almost double the SDG 10 goal, of 27.5, and represents a decade of stagnation.

‘World’s Most Socially Regressive Austerity’

The economic crisis that hit in 2014 largely explains that lack of progress, after a slump in prices for Brazilian commodities such as iron ore, a major corruption scandal at the national oil producer and a raft of fiscal and monetary policies that undermined confidence in the government’s ability to manage the country’s finances.

Increased borrowing costs followed, along with legislation freezing social spending for 20 years, which one UN official described as the “most socially regressive austerity package in the world.” Millions slipped back into poverty in the aftermath of the pandemic and there has been a surge in homelessness across major cities.

Highly Regressive Tax System

Brazil’s regressive tax system is another major cause of inequality. Several millions live in poverty, but there is also more than 400,000 millionaires (in U.S. dollar terms), with the richest 1% of Brazilians earning 27% of the nation’s income.

The country’s income concentration is significantly higher than previously thought, according to a recent report by a group of Brazilian and international economists, with ultra-wealthy individuals paying relatively little tax compared to other nations.

Using a new method of calculating wealth, officials from the Brazilian tax agency and researchers from the EU Tax Observatory found those earning at least $1 million per year have far lower effective tax rates (20.6% on average) than the average citizen (42.5%).

Many other countries reverse this pattern, including the U.S., where the effective tax for million-dollar earners is 36%, compared to 29% for the average American.

Brazil’s tax system is therefore highly regressive, as the tax burden for middle-class households is significantly higher than for the very rich, which hampers efforts to reduce inequality.

New Leadership and Legislation Brings Some Relief

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s return to the presidency in 2023, replacing the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, has provided greater hope and funding support to social programs, including the flagship Bolsa Família program, which offers direct cash transfers to low-income families. Lula’s government has also passed legislation reducing the tax burden on low and middle-income households, with a minimum rate established for higher earners. In particular, the new laws ensured new levies on dividends and company profits that were previously exempt.

Observers debate the extent to which this can be celebrated, however, as some warn the highest earners are able to shield their income due to flaws in the legislation, while the changes are only expected to produce modest improvements to the Gini coefficient, of just 0.3%.

Tathiane Piscitelli, a professor of financial law at the Rio-based think tank, Fundação Getulio Vargas, has acknowledged the limited impact of the changes, but said: “It is an improvement to our system, something that has been needed for a long time… Income tax is supposed to be progressive. We had the opposite situation, where those who earned more paid less. So even if this is not the ideal reform, overall it is a major relief.”

Updates on SDG 10 in Brazil

Ultimately, tax reforms can only go so far, and Brazil will need to find ways to strengthen its economic performance to place itself in a fiscal position to dramatically increase social spending. With the government’s debt levels standing at more than 80% of GDP, up from 58% in 2016, and spending is still severely constrained, Brazil is unlikely to achieve the SDG 10 target in anything but the very long term.

Oxfam estimates it would take more than 75 years to match the income inequality levels of the United Kingdom, at the current rate of progress, which would still fall short of the targeted Gini index score of 27.5.

Reasons for Optimism

There are reasons for optimism, however, with analysts at Boston Consulting Group suggesting Brazil’s economy is “impressively resilient” and well placed to navigate the shift in global power structures. Political neutrality on the world stage helps Brazil continue to enjoy warm relations with most Western countries, while its membership of the BRICS+ group of nations provides a key leadership role among the world’s fastest growing economies.

The huge domestic market and vast natural resources should also help shield Brazil from sharp trade barrier changes, said BCG, while a vast clean energy sector and robust digital infrastructure provide solid foundations for sustainable economic growth. If growth can return and the government can respond with increased social spending and continuing improvements to the tax system, inequalities should again start to fall.

International and Non-Government Support

Brazil’s international connections should also bring foreign and non-governmental investment. Last year, for example, the World Bank agreed to fund a major project to re-introduce the Bolsa Verde Program, which offers cash assistance to rural families that commit to environmental conservation, and should benefit 55,000 families in the Amazon by December 2026. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Lemann Foundation are working to draw attention to Brazil’s challenges within influential academic circles, with major investments to establish research centers within some of the world’s leading universities.

Momentum Can Return

The fight to achieve SDG 10 in Brazil may have stalled after earlier gains, but recent policy reforms and global shifts that should favor its economy suggest momentum can return. If growth strengthens and reforms continue, Brazil should again make significant progress in narrowing its deep inequalities.

– Lawrence Dunhill

Lawrence is based in Bristol, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Politics and Healthcare Colliding: HIV/AIDS in Serbia

HIV/AIDs in SerbiaPrejudiced attitudes toward homosexuality in Serbia are preventing early diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which has resulted in suffering and even death, as reported in 2013. Progressive groups and residents have spoken out over the years, claiming that hostile attitudes toward homosexuality in socially conservative Serbia have fostered this culture of fear. In extreme cases, individuals endanger themselves. The World Bank states that HIV/AIDS in Serbia affects 0.1% of the population, but despite this, the number of untreated cases or late-stage diagnoses remains a concern.

HIV Demographics

The main demographic of HIV sufferers is men who have sex with men (MSM), making up 80% of cases. As already vulnerable members of Serbian society, according to the foreign press and citizens alike, additional barriers to health care have a significant impact. These barriers include social stigma and a lack of self-testing, outreach or information about discreet HIV diagnosis. Additionally, since the early 2000s, the number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in Serbia per year has increased (diagnoses, not necessarily incidence). HIV/AIDS in Serbia is becoming more of a pressing issue despite modern interventions available to address it. The preventability of mortality and late-stage diagnosis remains a major concern.

In 2013, the painful and preventable death of an HIV sufferer, “Marko,” was reported. This story presents the extremes individuals may face when confronting negative social pressures. With 49.2% of new diagnoses detected late in 2021, it suggests that people may delay seeking care due to social stigma and potential repercussions.

Serbian Politics

Serbia’s prime minister (PM), Ana Brnabic, is the only openly gay leader in the Balkans and the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party. Progressive critics have reprimanded the prime minister’s leadership style, arguing that she has not adequately addressed hostility within society toward LGBTQ+ individuals.

This is not new to Brnabic, who has previously faced criticism during her leadership regarding homophobia in Serbia. Numerous LGBTQ+ spokespeople have suggested that denying the prevalence of homophobia minimizes the experiences of an already marginalized sector of Serbian society. In 2018, she was reportedly “uninvited” from Belgrade’s Pride parade.

Shift Toward Equality

As time progresses, Serbia has seen improvements toward equality. Despite decriminalizing homosexuality in 1994, the country has welcomed an openly gay leader and has numerous groups campaigning for the LGBTQ+ community. De Se Zna! (a queer activist group in Serbia) has been providing psychological and legal support as an association since 2016, advocating for queer individuals to feel safer in Serbia and increasing the sense of support and community among marginalized groups.

Out groups have long applied pressure on the government to take a more active stance. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) has been a notable group pushing for progressive legislative proposals and the establishment of a centralized database compiling homophobic hate crime offenses. These efforts highlight the lack of comprehensive information on crimes committed against queer people in Serbia. The Serbian government continues to face pressure to promote a more equitable society and improve accountability.

Looking Ahead

While stigma and late diagnoses remain challenges, continued advocacy, expanded outreach and improved access to discreet testing services can help reduce preventable HIV-related deaths in Serbia. Furthermore, ongoing efforts by community organizations and policy reform initiatives offer pathways toward improved health outcomes and greater social inclusion.

– Maya Hollick

Maya is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Renewable Energy in Kiribati

Renewable Energy in KiribatiKiribati is a nation consisting of 33 islands in the Pacific Ocean lying directly along the earth’s equator in Micronesia. The territory gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. Kiribati’s location makes it the only country in the world that falls into all four hemispheres. Sitting on the International Date Line, it has the earliest time zone in the world. The country’s natural resources are coconuts and fish. Due to the threat of rising sea levels possibly engulfing the low-lying nation as a result of climate change, Kiribati has purchased land in Fiji for potential resettlement of its citizens (approximately 116,000 people). Still, the country continues to progress, improving its infrastructure, creating jobs and advancing its resilience to fluctuating climate conditions. The use of renewable energy can be key to Kiribati’s continued growth.

Kiribati’s Energy Challenges

As a developing nation in the remote continent of Oceania, Kiribati has distinct economic challenges. Among these is its ability to provide reliable, affordable energy to all of its citizens. Not only is Kiribati dependent upon imported fossil fuel (currently about 80% of its power comes from foreign oil) but energy distribution to its outlying islands is difficult due to their long ocean distances from the inner islands. Kiribati’s outer islands currently derive their energy from limited-capacity solar power systems and biomass (mainly wood).

Burning of biomass can release particulates and chemicals that can cause respiratory issues, heart problems and cancer. A lack of reliable, affordable energy can affect the health and well-being of island inhabitants. The use of renewable energy in Kiribati can provide a sustainable, economic solution to the country’s energy challenges and could push Kiribati’s current long-term growth rate from slightly over 2% to 4% and significantly reduce poverty.

Kiribati’s Energy Roadmap

In 2017, Kiribati developed an “Integrated Energy Roadmap” to address its energy dilemma. The roadmap defines a plan for making Kiribati’s energy supply not only more cost effective, but also greener, targeting a 22% reduction in fossil fuels. Reducing fossil fuel use will not only help to lessen the global carbon footprint but can also manifest social inclusion by providing affordable energy to all of Kiribati’s citizens. The country’s proposed strategy can help Kiribati to achieve energy independence and enhanced economic development by harnessing natural resources and utilizing indigenous workers. The energy roadmap includes strategic choices tailored to various islands’ characteristics. Plans for renewable energy in Kiribati include more efficient solar programs, wind power, biofuels and ocean energy.

The Green Hope Foundation

Kiribati has made progress towards its goal. The Green Hope Foundation has installed solar water distillation systems that purify seawater for drinking and agricultural use on several islands. Purification systems are essential as Kiribati’s groundwater is being depleted due to rising sea levels. Indigenous women help manage the facilities and educate their communities on water conservation. The distillation systems currently serve 1,900 people on three islands. Green Hope has plans to serve five additional communities of 6,500 individuals. Also in the works is a grid-connected solar photovoltaic project in Tarawa, the nation’s capital city that holds almost half of its 116,000 residents.

Other Types of Energy

Wind power holds promise for some of Kiribati’s islands. Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island) has sufficient wind speeds to provide energy generation for its population of about 7,000 people. However, certain issues, such as noise, safety and the need to cut down coconut trees that provide much of the country’s income must be resolved prior to implementation.

Biofuel from coconut oil holds potential as nearly 80% of Kiribati’s land is covered in coconut trees. A coconut oil mill owned by Kiribati Copra Mill Limited in Tarawa has done trials mixing coconut oil with diesel fuel and with kerosene. The trials were reasonably successful, and commercialization is feasible in the near future. This biofuel could potentially be used across the country. 

Kiribati’s location and environmental conditions are optimal for ocean energy development. Indeed, the country’s energy roadmap includes plans for a 1-megawatt ocean thermal energy conversion plant. Testing and development have already occurred in South Tarawa. Though results demonstrated that such a plant would be feasible, it would require high startup costs and has logistical challenges such as the need for specialized vessels, ongoing maintenance, subsea cabling and material corrosion issues.

Outlook for Implementation of Renewable Energy in Kiribati

The use of natural resources for energy is an economical and environmentally friendly choice; however, implementation does not come without complications and challenges, including high installation costs. Kiribati and other developing countries do not always have the funds to build the required energy infrastructures. However, large-scale renewable power projects can attract investors who expect to receive a substantial return on their investment. The World Bank has contributed a considerable amount of funding, helping to enable renewable energy in Kiribati to become a reality.

Not only does Kiribati’s energy plan benefit the environment and help to accelerate its rise from poverty, but it also addresses social issues such as inclusion and women’s resilience. Indeed, Kiribati’s approach is a reminder that a well-thought out, inclusive policy to address energy challenges can have benefits far beyond the dollar.

– Debbie Barto

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

Photo: Flickr

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Agricultural Initiatives Bringing Poverty Reduction in Peru

Poverty Reduction in PeruSince the early 21st century, Peru has led Latin America in expanding their economy and improving quality of living. The poverty rate fell from 60% to 24%, while non-traditional agricultural exports rose by 15 times in value. Many of these achievements trace back to the divisive presidency of Alberto Fujimori from 1990 to 2000. Although he ruled with an authoritarian hand, Fujimori enacted drastic market reforms and created programs aimed at building schools and roads in poorer regions.

From 2013 onward, though, Peru’s rapidly expanding economy, including its agriculture industry, slowed. And recently, after COVID-19 hit Peru especially hard, recent events such as the war in Ukraine have skyrocketed inflation, worsening the food crisis. About half of the population is moderately food insecure as staple foods like potatoes suddenly have become unaffordable. Recently, though, effective initiatives expanding the agricultural industry have offered hope of a major turnaround toward economic growth and poverty reduction in Peru.

Why Agricultural Growth Aids Poverty Reduction in Peru

There is ample evidence suggesting an increase in agricultural growth can help lower rates of poverty. Investment in agriculture is two and a half to three times more successful at raising the income of the poor than non-agricultural investment, and in the 1990s and 2000s, countries experiencing exceptionally high agricultural growth rates, such as Malawi, Mozambique and Brazil also saw large reductions in poverty. In fact, higher agricultural growth marked early development in several places, such as Western Europe and Japan. Therefore, in order to decrease rates of poverty in Peru, targeting the productivity and development of the agricultural sector is essential.

World Bank Group Projects

Over the years, the World Bank Group has spearheaded numerous efforts to reduce poverty in Peru through improvements in agriculture. About 189 member countries operate the organization, who act as shareholders and have an impressive history in combating poverty: they built an international system of agriculture research centers in 1971, aided in the reconstruction of Yugoslavia in 1995, and financed $5 billion for education projects in 2010.

Since the early 2000s, the World Bank has been successful in improving Peru’s irrigation sector, especially in coastal areas. In 2010, the World Bank approved an ambitious project directed at improving irrigation for farmers in Peru’s Sierra, or mountainous regions of the Andes. At the time, the Sierra held a third of all irrigated land in the country, and agriculture represented the largest share of household income. Through the implementation of pipes, filters, small reservoirs and promoting the creation of farmers’ groups, crop yields increased, impacting nearly 18,758 farmers.

In 2025, the World Bank approved a 10-year, $200 million program to expand access to clean water in the cities of Lima and Puno. As a result, the hindrance farmers encounter from untreated wastewater and droughts will fall significantly, thereby boosting the agricultural industry. This will build onto the irrigation improvements realized earlier in a country where agriculture employs a quarter of the workforce. As a result, rural areas of Peru with higher poverty rates will experience increased development and economic growth.

The Hand-in-Hand Initiative

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) created the Hand-in-Hand Initiative in 2019, developing into one of its primary programs. The organization has pushed for agricultural development in 83 countries, including Peru.

In the Sierra, the project is connecting smallholder farmers to larger markets and fair contracts with private companies. As a result, farmers such as Irineo Núnez Vargas have brought their crops to global markets through contracting with companies like Tiyapuy thanks to these initiatives.

The Inter-American Development Bank

After World War II, leaders formed the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to lead economic development in Latin America. Though the United States is the largest shareholder, nearly every nation in the Western Hemisphere is a member. The IDB achieves its goals through grants, loans and economic research.

In 2024, the IDB approved an $85 million loan with the purpose of increasing productivity in Peru’s agricultural sector. It is set to benefit about 92,000 farmers, especially focusing on women and ethnic groups. Unlike the other initiatives, the IDB plans to enhance agriculture technology and agriculture research throughout the country, not only limited to a single ecosystem.

Takeaways

History shows that if farmers struggle, an entire nation usually struggles too. While focusing on agricultural improvements in Peru might appear slow and indirect at confronting poverty, it is actually one of the best methods at doing so. As a result, these many initiatives are essentially laying the groundwork for economic growth and poverty reduction in Peru for decades to come.

– Ben Anderson

Ben is based in Madrid, Spain and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Aquaculture Mapping: Fighting Hunger and Poverty in Côte d’Ivoire

How Côte d’Ivoire is Using Aquaculture Mapping to Fight Hunger and Poverty The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, or Ivory Coast, sits on the coast of West Africa and uses aquaculture mapping to fight hunger and poverty as part of its development strategy. From 1842 to 1960, France ruled Côte d’Ivoire. After gaining independence from France, Côte d’Ivoire established itself as a model of stability and economic prosperity in Africa. In 1999, Côte d’Ivoire experienced its first military coup, which caused the economy to collapse and triggered a civil war that split the country in two.

Persistent Food Insecurity

Côte d’Ivoire has made strides toward economic improvement and poverty reduction since this period of political destabilization. Yet progress remains limited and is especially apparent in the nutritional deficiencies that keep many citizens food insecure.

According to the World Bank, 44.2% of citizens experience moderate and severe food insecurity and about 7.7% of the total population is malnourished. Children face the most severe impacts, with 8% suffering from acute malnutrition and 20.2% experiencing impaired growth.

Stable production of basic staple crops has eased some of these issues, but it does not provide the necessary nutritional value for a healthy life. To improve outcomes for its people, the government created the Strategic Program for the Transformation of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire (PSTACI), focusing on broader efforts in aquaculture mapping to fight hunger and poverty.

PSTACI

The Strategic Program for the Transformation of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire (PSTACI) aims to combat poverty and food insecurity by strengthening the aquaculture sector. Its goals include:

  • Increasing employment for youth and women
  • Creating a self-sufficient fisheries sector in the economy
  • Eliminating Côte d’Ivoire’s deficit in aquaculture production

To accomplish these goals, the government partnered with PROBLUE, an Aquainvest platform created by the World Bank to support sustainable aquaculture development. PROBLUE’s aquaculture mapping methodology uses a multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) to identify the most productive locations in Côte d’Ivoire for aquaculture sites.

Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE)

The MCE evaluates site suitability using three categories:

  • Infrastructure. Evaluations consider distance from water sources, roads, urban areas, hatcheries, airports and communications installations.
  • Natural conditions. Evaluations consider soil type and land topography.
  • Land constraints. Evaluations consider whether a site lies in a protected area, military zone or urban area.

After applying these criteria to Côte d’Ivoire, World Bank analysts concluded that 99% of the country’s topography offers suitable land for aquaculture. They found that the soil types most suitable for aquaculture contain 18% to 35% clay.

When analysts accounted for land constraints, they found that 76% of the country lies outside protected areas, military zones and urban pockets. Based on infrastructure criteria, PROBLUE identified at least 70% of existing infrastructure as potentially suitable for aquaculture.

The Future of Aquaculture in Côte d’Ivoire

PSTACI plans to develop Sustainable Aquaculture Economic Zones at 30 sites that meet the necessary criteria. This plan offers an opportunity to rebuild the country’s food systems and reduce poverty and malnutrition. By attracting investors and entrepreneurs to these areas, Côte d’Ivoire can build a more stable economy. Additionally, this could lead to expanded opportunities for young people and the continued use of aquaculture mapping to fight hunger and poverty.

– Sachin Kapoor

Sachin is based in Atlanta, GA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Inside the 2025 G20 Summit

Inside the 2025 G20 SummitThe 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg marked a significant moment in history. It was the first time the summit was held in Africa, with the presidency intentionally highlighting Africa’s development priorities. With the absence of the United States (U.S.), leaders pledged to commit to tackling some of the continent’s long-lasting challenges, such as climate resilience, debt, energy access and equitable resource governance. The summit raised questions about whether the 2025 G20 ambitions can translate into life-changing outcomes for Africans.

Mission 300 and the Energy Gap

One of the 2025 G20 summit’s most significant legacies is Mission 300, which promises to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The World Bank and the African Development Bank back this initiative, which aims to address Africa’s persistent energy poverty through grid expansions, mini-grids and off-grid solar.

Currently, more than 600 million Africans lack access to electricity and about 1 billion rely on unsafe cooking fuels, which are associated with more than 2 million premature deaths each year. Despite agreement on the urgency of the situation, many challenges remain. Sustainable financing continues to pose a major issue. Private sector participation, technology transfer and strong regulatory frameworks will be essential to turn commitments into infrastructure. Without predictable financing and policy support, critics warn that progress could lag behind its targets.

Climate Action and Tackling Debt

The 2025 G20 summit took place around the same time as the COP30 climate negotiations, increasing global scrutiny on climate commitments. The summit reaffirmed support for climate resilience and scaling renewable energy capacity, aligning with broader calls for climate justice.

However, many controversial aspects of global climate politics remain unresolved. At COP30, negotiators did not secure an agreement to phase out fossil fuels or guarantee meaningful climate finance. Although G20 leaders expressed ambitions to mobilize additional climate financing, the absence of several wealthier nations in Johannesburg limited concrete commitments.

Debt sustainability was also a central topic at the summit. Leaders acknowledged gaps in debt management, transparency and fiscal capacity, particularly in low-income economies, as well as the need for reforms to the global financial architecture.

Economists suggest that effective debt relief should be linked to verifiable green investments. The U.S. absence complicated negotiations, leaving a gap in financial commitments that could weaken the G20’s influence on global finance reforms.

Critical Minerals: Turning Debt Into Development

Resource governance also emerged as a key topic. Africa holds a significant share of the world’s critical minerals, including cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements, which are vital for renewable technologies and digital infrastructure.

The G20’s critical minerals framework aims to promote sustainable supply chains and stronger governance standards. If widely implemented, the framework could shift countries away from dependence on raw exports and toward more equitable partnerships in global markets. However, the framework remains voluntary and nonbinding.

From Promise to Implementation

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Johannesburg summit demonstrated Africa’s ability to lead and influence global debates. The Global South, particularly African nations, has gained visibility in setting priorities on climate, development and globalization. Whether this momentum is sustained depends on implementation by governments, private sector partners and civil society.

The G20 summit outlined goals for energy access, climate resilience, equitable resource governance and debt reform. These goals signal a shift toward prioritizing the needs of the Global South and Africa’s development agenda. For Africa to benefit, these frameworks must be matched with financing and political will. While Johannesburg provided a blueprint, the true test lies in execution.

– Gloria Bwenge

Gloria is based in New York, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr