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How Job Training for Refugees in Turkey Strengthens Communities

Job Training for Refugees in TurkeyTurkey hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, with more than 3 million registered Syrian refugees, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency. Economic pressures have made access to stable employment difficult for many displaced individuals and vulnerable citizens alike. In response, job training for refugees in Turkey has become a strategy to strengthen livelihoods while promoting shared economic participation.

Many refugees in Turkey face significant barriers when they try to enter the formal labor market, including limited access to certified vocational training, challenges with skills recognition and work permit requirements. The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that regulatory and structural obstacles push many refugees into informal employment, increasing their vulnerability and limiting long-term stability. At the same time, rising inflation and labor market instability have placed growing economic pressure on Turkish citizens, particularly workers in lower-income sectors. In response, policymakers and development organizations design programs that align vocational training with employer demand and encourage businesses to hire workers formally.

Aligning Skills With Industry Demand

From November 2022 to January 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) implemented a workforce initiative focused on Turkey’s textile sector. The project aimed to expand employment pathways for Syrian refugees and members of host communities through targeted vocational training.

The initiative, titled “Decent and Sustainable Job Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities in the Turkish Textile Sector,” aligned training directly with labor market needs. Turkey’s textile industry remains one of the country’s major export sectors and a significant source of employment across manufacturing and supply chains. The Government of the Republic of Korea funded the project with $178,620. In 2023 alone, the program directed $131,522 toward training and implementation activities.

Rather than offering generalized training, the program developed sector-specific curricula in collaboration with textile industry partners to address identified labor market needs. It provided on-the-job training at employer premises, strengthening participants’ practical skills and increasing their chances of securing formal, sustainable employment. By working closely with private-sector actors, the project connected skills development directly to hiring pathways.

Promoting Shared Economic Participation

The project targeted both Syrian refugees and vulnerable Turkish citizens, aiming to strengthen social cohesion by expanding access to vocational training and formal employment pathways.

Access to formal employment plays a key role in economic stability. Formal jobs often provide regulated wages, safer working conditions and access to social protection systems. For displaced individuals, stable employment can reduce reliance on informal labor markets, which frequently offer inconsistent income and limited worker protections.

In addition to UNDP’s textile sector initiative, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has implemented broader employment and vocational training programs to improve refugees’ access to formal labor markets in Turkey. The ILO works with government institutions, employers and worker organizations to expand skills development, promote formal hiring and strengthen labor market governance.

Economic Integration and Long-Term Impact

The World Bank emphasizes that integrating refugees into labor markets can contribute to long-term economic growth when programs align skills development with employer demand. Workforce initiatives that connect vocational education to employer needs can reduce reliance on short-term assistance while strengthening national economies.

Beyond employment-focused initiatives, international agencies have also invested in strengthening the textile sector itself. The United Nations Environment Programme’s InTex Programme trained 230 industry representatives and supported 32 small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting eco-innovation and circular production practices in its first phase. By building technical capacity within the textile value chain, such programs demonstrate how skills development can improve both environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness in refugee-hosting countries.

Employment programs are increasingly recognized as a key component of refugee response strategies. International development agencies note that long-term displacement requires economic solutions that move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance. When refugees gain access to skills training and formal employment, they contribute to local consumption, industrial productivity and broader economic activity. Host countries may also benefit from addressing labor shortages in specific sectors.

Concluding Thoughts

The UNDP textile sector project concluded in January 2025 after completing its planned activities. By combining targeted skills training, industry partnerships and inclusive enrollment, the initiative demonstrated how job training for refugees in Turkey can contribute to poverty reduction, economic resilience and shared prosperity in refugee-hosting countries.

– Isil Ertas Senturk

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

Photo: Flickr

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Ghana’s Poverty Reduction Efforts in its Northern Regions

Ghana's Poverty ReductionAlthough Ghana, a country in West Africa, experiences consistent economic growth, its impact is felt unequally. Southern regions, such as Accra, have significantly better infrastructure and schools compared to the northern regions. In many northern regions, the absolute poverty rate rises above 50%.

Several factors contribute to the spatial inequality in Ghana. Because agriculture is the primary employer in the north, there are more severe economic consequences due to the variable climate. Rainfall has declined, droughts have increased and floods have become more frequent. In addition, several cash crops, such as cocoa, are not suited to the area’s savannah characteristics.

In light of these challenges, the Ghanaian government is working to improve the economic strength and reduce poverty levels in the northern regions.

The Northern Development Authority

The Northern Development Authority (NDA) is an independent organization established in 2017 by an Act of Parliament, with one of its goals being to support Ghana’s poverty reduction efforts in the north. It succeeded the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), an organization with a similar goal but described as inefficient. The NDA facilitates the distribution of social programs and helps secure foreign investment in the region.

The NDA’s projects are gradually transforming cities and regions. For instance, in the Bunkpurugu Nakpanduri District, the organization dug 32 boreholes, providing families with access to fresh water. However, Ghanaian leaders believe that the NDA has room for improvement. The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority, Dr. Emmanuel Abeere-Inga, pointed out in 2025 that government funds rarely reach the northern regions because “it’s taken by bureaucrats in Accra,” the country’s capital.

This public concern, while highlighting challenges within the NDA, does not negate the initiatives it has implemented. The organization continues to play a role in efforts to reduce poverty in the region.

Investment Assisting Ghana’s Poverty Reduction Efforts

The Ghanaian Ministry of Food and Agriculture and AAK, a supplier of plant-based oils, signed an agreement to expand the country’s shea industry. With a planned intensification of direct sourcing, around 300,000 women from the northern regions are expected to benefit. Additionally, the creation of an “Innovation Academy” and a processing factory will expand job opportunities and support poverty alleviation.

Investments such as these stem from government-led efforts. Recently, Ghana hosted the African Prosperity Dialogues, in which national leaders emphasized supporting inflows of investment, including restructuring investment laws to be more accessible to smaller investors. These efforts aim to grow local markets and reduce poverty, particularly in northern areas.

Free Senior High School Program

In 2017, Ghana launched the Free Senior High School program, with the aim of expanding access to secondary education across the country. Since its inception, the program has enrolled around 1.6 million students, though it continues to face capacity challenges. Many qualified students do not earn spots simply because demand exceeds supply.

Recently, Ghana initiated steps to close this gap by opening 25 private schools across all regions to participate in government-funded education. These efforts may contribute to easing poverty, especially in northern regions where rates are higher. A 2023 article by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) explains the connection between poverty and education, noting that poverty rates would be “halved if all adults completed secondary school.” In this way, Ghana’s Free Senior High School program supports education reform and contributes to poverty reduction in the north.

Looking Ahead

Through both progress and challenges, the Ghanaian government continues working to address poverty in its northern regions. Programs such as the Northern Development Authority may face bureaucratic delays, while other initiatives demonstrate measurable outcomes. Overall, efforts to reduce poverty in northern Ghana remain complex, involving multiple strategies and ongoing policy adjustments.

– Ben Anderson

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

Photo: Pexels

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Efforts Toward Poverty Reduction in Nauru

Poverty Reduction in NauruNauru, an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, benefitted from the 1900s phosphate mining industry. At its peak, Nauru’s wealth was estimated to be at “$2.5 billion.”

In 1980, a collapse in Australia’s market decreased demand for phosphate exports, pushing the phosphate-dependent nation into economic instability and widespread poverty. With a population of 11,875, around one in four people live below the poverty line.

Nauru’s poverty rate stands at 9.72%, but women are more concentrated in the country’s lower-income groups. Women make up 39.99% of those in the bottom 40% of the income or consumption distribution, pointing to greater economic vulnerability.

Women in Poverty

Poverty in Nauru disproportionately affects women and girls. Poverty for women encompasses a lack of political representation and GBV, alongside economic hardship and health care concerns.

Cultural norms and stereotypes in Nauru set the expectations of women and drive their exclusion from political and public life. As a result, women are more likely to face financial hardship, political underrepresentation, and health concerns amongst other poverty indicators.

Initiatives in poverty reduction in Nauru increasingly target women living in poverty.

Protecting Women and Girls Against Domestic Violence

The Pacific Islands have the highest rate of violence against women and girls. UNICEF found that “48.1% of ever-partnered women” have experienced GBV in their lifetime. Women and girls incarcerated in Australia’s offshore migrant detention center in Nauru also face high rates of GBV.

At a UNDP-supported training conference in 2024, Deputy Commissioner Simpson Deidanang reported that “Since 2021, over the past three years, we have received 79 cases, with 53 completed and 23 closed due to insufficient evidence.”

The Nauru Police Force and UN Women agree that women and girls are not sufficiently protected against GBV. UN Women state that “Nauru has no domestic violence, sexual harassment or family legislation, or any other legislation in place that addresses human trafficking or sex tourism.”

In response, the Nauru Police Force has launched specialized GBV training. With support from the UNDP as part of the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance Project, in 2023 the Police Force doubled their domestic violence unit, “increasing from two to five officers.” 

ICAAD is a nonprofit organization also working to protect women and girls from GBV. Its program TrackGBV includes the GBV Sentencing Handbook and a TrackGBV Legal Database for the Pacific Islands. This initiative provides information on how to analyze GBV and attitudes towards it on a judicial and community level.

Together, these efforts are working towards poverty reduction in Nauru and target the multidimensional impacts of poverty and violence that women in Nauru face.

Supporting Female Economic and Political Participation

Women in Nauru face exclusion from both economic and political life. UN Women reports that the Pacific region has the “world’s lowest overall average of women in parliament.” Only two women are present in Nauru’s members of parliament, equating to 10.5%.

Economically, women rely on informal work. UN Women report that “Between 75 per cent and 90 per cent of all market vendors in the Pacific are women.” The working conditions are poor, and the profit is low. Consequently, “Female-headed households are more likely than male-headed households to be or fall below the poverty line.”

The UNDP has partnered with the Women Empowerment Nauru Association (WENA) to increase women’s engagement with politics.

At the July 2024 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting, regional organizations and UN Women endorsed initiatives to strengthen women’s political and public participation. President Heine highlighted the links between women’s political representation, GBV and economic participation. President Heine emphasized the need to “safeguard women-led industries” to enhance political participation and strive towards poverty reduction in Nauru for women.

Initiatives Supporting Women’s Health

Women’s health is significantly at risk in Nauru, driven by limited access to sanitation. Only “66 per cent” of the population has access to sanitation facilities, restricting menstrual hygiene for many women.

Anemia remains widespread, affecting 44% of pregnant women and 32% of non-pregnant women, with long-term consequences for maternal and overall health. Natural disasters intensify these risks as women lose access to health care, shelter and food at higher rates than the rest of the population.

The nonprofit Hesperian Health Guides supports women’s health in Nauru by supplying free and accessible health information. The organization distributes educational resources covering women’s health, safety, and environmental health.  

Their titles are available in “84 languages” across “221 countries.” Its website HealthWiki is also available digitally at no cost. Its outreach is working towards poverty reduction in Nauru by improving health care autonomy.

Final Note

While poverty still affects many in Nauru, especially women, the country is taking action:

  •       The Nauru Police Force, UNDP, ICAAD and UN Women are tackling gender-based violence.
  •       WENA and regional forums are boosting women’s political and economic participation.
  •       Nonprofits like Hesperian Health Guides provide free health education and resources.

These efforts empower women and create real pathways out of poverty.

– Lucy Kerr

Lucy is based in Coventry, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Health Improvements and Reducing Poverty in Uganda

Poverty in UgandaUganda has experienced notable economic growth over the past two decades. Yet, poverty, food insecurity and limited access to health care remain persistent challenges, particularly in rural and refugee-hosting regions of Uganda. According to World Bank estimates, Uganda’s national poverty rate stood at approximately 21.4% in 2016, with significantly higher rates in rural areas.

Food insecurity and undernutrition reinforced these vulnerabilities, contributing to poor health outcomes and limiting educational attainment among children. In response, the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) implemented a range of initiatives to address both the immediate and structural drivers of poverty and poor health in Uganda.

WFP Initiatives: School Feeding, Nutrition and Food Security

Between 2016 and 2020, WFP implemented its Uganda Country Program, which prioritized food security as a foundation for long-term development. A central pillar of this strategy was the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program, which provides daily meals to schoolchildren while sourcing food directly from local smallholder farmers. This approach was designed to address child hunger and education outcomes while simultaneously strengthening rural livelihoods.

According to a WFP interview with a WFP Uganda program officer, the HGSF initiative has reduced hunger-related absenteeism among schoolchildren while improving household income stability for farmers through predictable local procurement. The interview emphasizes that by linking schools to nearby agricultural producers, the program treats food assistance as both a nutritional and economic intervention rather than short-term relief. WFP reports indicate that school feeding programs reached hundreds of thousands of children annually, particularly in food-insecure regions such as Karamoja, where chronic hunger has historically undermined educational outcomes.

In addition to school meals, WFP expanded maternal and child nutrition programs, targeting pregnant women and young children during critical stages of development. Evaluations of WFP’s Uganda Country Strategic Plan found improvements in household food consumption scores and dietary diversity among participating communities.

UNDP Initiatives: Inclusive Growth and Health Infrastructure

While WFP’s interventions focused on food systems and nutrition, UNDP addressed the broader economic and infrastructural determinants of poverty and health. Through its Inclusive Growth and Resilience programs, UNDP supported job creation, micro-entrepreneurship and access to renewable energy, factors closely linked to long-term poverty reduction.

One of UNDP’s most impactful interventions has been the solarization of rural health facilities. The organization supported the installation of solar power systems in 26 rural health facilities, improving health care access for more than 700,000 people. Before electrification, many facilities relied on unreliable grid power or diesel generators, limiting their ability to provide consistent care.

UNDP reports that solar-powered facilities improved vaccine storage, expanded nighttime emergency services and strengthened maternal health care. By strengthening health infrastructure, these initiatives reduced the economic burden of illness on households. They enhanced the overall resilience of rural health systems.

Measurable Impact: Poverty Reduction and Health Improvements

The combined effects of WFP and UNDP initiatives are reflected in national development indicators. Between 2016 and 2020, poverty in Uganda declined to 20.3%. While multiple factors contributed to this trend, UNDP and WFP reports identify improved food security, social protection and service delivery as key contributors.

Nutrition and health indicators also improved over the same period. National stunting rates among children under 5 declined from roughly 29% in 2016 to 26% in 2022, reflecting gains in maternal nutrition, child feeding practices and health care access. In refugee-hosting districts, WFP-supported cash transfers linked to nutrition and health services improved dietary diversity.

They reduced reliance on negative coping strategies. The WFP interview-based video evidence further reinforces these findings by illustrating how school feeding programs improved attendance and learning outcomes, thereby demonstrating the long-term poverty-reduction potential of investing in child nutrition and education.

Challenges and Ongoing Constraints

Despite measurable progress, significant challenges persist. Funding volatility poses a major threat to program sustainability, particularly in refugee-hosting areas. WFP evaluations warn that reductions in donor funding have led to ration cuts in some regions, reversing gains in food security and nutrition.

Climate shocks, including droughts and floods, further undermine agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, placing additional strain on food systems. UNDP reporting also notes capacity constraints at the local government level, which can limit the scaling and institutionalization of successful initiatives. These challenges highlight the need for sustained investment and stronger national ownership of development programs.

Conclusion

UNDP and WFP initiatives in Uganda demonstrate that poverty reduction and health improvement are most effective when addressed through integrated, multi-sectoral strategies. These programs linked school feeding to local agriculture. They expanded nutrition-linked social protection and also strengthened the health care infrastructure through renewable energy.

Together, these efforts addressed both immediate vulnerabilities and long-term development needs. The measurable declines in poverty and child malnutrition between 2016 and 2022 suggest that coordinated development interventions can deliver tangible results even in complex and resource-constrained contexts. As Uganda continues to confront climate risks, demographic pressures and funding uncertainty.

However, the UNDP–WFP model offers a compelling example of how development and humanitarian action can work together to deliver sustainable, inclusive outcomes.

– Akash Ramaswamy

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

Photo: Flickr

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Elderly Poverty in Montenegro

Elderly Poverty in MontenegroIn recent years, the population of Montenegro has been characterized by its growing number of older citizens. During the last 50 years, the population of people aged 60 and older has tripled.

The trend of a fast-aging population is concentrated in the country’s rural northern municipalities, which are home to more than half of Montenegro’s poor population. This rise is due to a stagnating birth count, increased life expectancy and a growing trend in young people moving away from the country – resulting in a reduced population base for reproduction.

The increase in an aging population is predicted to continue: by 2050, the UN estimates that 30% of the nation’s population will consist of older persons (people who are above the age of 65).

This article will identify some of the key causes of elderly poverty in Montenegro, what elderly poverty in Montenegro looks like and what solutions the Montenegrin government is rolling out to try and combat elderly poverty in a country whose population is rapidly aging.

Key Issues That the Elderly in Montenegro Face

Older and elderly people are already among the nation’s vulnerable, and a vast majority of them live in the most rural areas of the country – particularly in the nation’s north, where urbanization has been slower to progress.

The Red Cross of Montenegro has reported that many elderly and older persons are increasingly isolated from younger family members and the youthful population. The youth of Montenegro are more inclined to move away from rural areas towards the cities in the south, or are likely to seek opportunity further afield – through travel, work or study abroad. As a result, elderly and older citizens are increasingly cut-off from opportunity and resources: older persons living in poverty in Montenegro’s rural areas have less access to social transport options, are less likely to access medical services and are less able to rely on assistance from younger people.

The elderly living in poverty are thus at risk of a lack of community, as the physical and social gap widens between this age group and younger generations. As the elderly population’s physical mobility becomes reduced, the logistics of travelling from place to place becomes more restricted, particularly in rural areas where transport options are few and far between.

One can see the roots of elderly poverty in Montenegro in the wider context of poverty within the country. In October 2025, Marina Medojević, President of The Food Bank – one of Montenegro’s many NGOs committed to tackling domestic poverty – stated that one-fifth of the country’s population lives in poverty. Medojević emphasized that the nation’s most vulnerable groups – including ‘‘the unemployed, sick, and elderly” – feel the effects of poverty the sharpest.

Government Efforts

Poverty affects a large percentage of Montenegro’s population, but elderly poverty is particularly an issue, as the population of older persons increases and many of them exist on a very low income. More than half of retirees in Montenegro are surviving on minimum benefits – an income that is less than half the average salary. Moreover, many elderly and older persons rely on the material support (MO) benefit, which UNICEF has reported to be “inadequate for households which rely solely on this program as their source of income to meet their basic needs.”

As the government of Montenegro works towards gaining EU membership, some are calling for it to treat elderly poverty in Montenegro as a priority when it comes to modernizing social systems. The government has already taken steps to address elderly poverty in Montenegro:

In 2024, responding to the pressures to increase social benefits for older and elderly citizens, the government raised minimum monthly pension benefits  to EUR 450 – more than doubling the previous allowance. The Montenegrin government increased social transfers from 11% of total GDP in 2021 to 13.8% in 2024, demonstrating an effort to reform some of the social systems that protect vulnerable citizens, including the elderly. The government has also invested in constructing residential homes for the elderly, in order to meet the increasing demand due to the rate of growth of the elderly population.

The Red Cross’ Work

Other organizations, such as the Red Cross, help target the issue of elderly poverty and elderly isolation in Montenegro, by facilitating home care and social clubs. As part of its social clubs, the Red Cross connects elderly people with experts across many different fields – including doctors, psychologists and lawyers – to provide them with advice and opportunities to keep learning and to benefit their health and wellbeing.

UNDP and Local Programs

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also supports local programs aimed at supporting the elderly population of Montenegro. This includes the Andrijevica Retirees Association, who were able to start the “Veterans” project with funding from the EU. This project promoted social activities in the local community for older persons, focusing on fostering wellbeing and improving quality of life for the elderly. The “Veterans” project further sought to make information about health care facilities more accessible for elderly citizens living in Andrijevica, a small town in the nation’s north. 

Moving Forward

Many organizations are still calling for further action to occur. In its Social Protection Situational Analysis of 2022, UNICEF reported that “the country will need to further improve its poverty-targeted programs,” and that the “financing of social services has been low and a minimum level of services cannot be guaranteed…which will only be exacerbated by an aging population requiring long term care.” This analysis predicts that greater demand will lead to greater strain on Montenegro’s social services, if the government does not implement reforms to prevent this.

– Anna Clare

Anna is based in Chester, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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HIV/AIDS in Tunisia

HIV/AIDS in TunisiaHIV/AIDS in Tunisia is still a challenge, but the country is making steady progress through better testing, treatment and community support. New data highlights the need for continued action to protect vulnerable groups and expand access to care.

Recent studies show that HIV/AIDS in Tunisia is shifting with new infections and AIDS-related deaths rising in recent years. In 2024, researchers estimated that 9,750 people were living with HIV in the country with more than 1,000 new cases recorded. Although national prevalence remains low, the epidemic is concentrated among key populations who face higher risks and significant barriers to care.

The Current Situation in Tunisia

Tunisia’s HIV epidemic remains relatively small, but recent data shows a worrying upward trend. In 2024, an estimated 9,750 people were living with HIV, and more than 1,030 new infections were reported. AIDS-related deaths also reached around 485 people, highlighting gaps in early detection and consistent treatment.

The epidemic is concentrated among key populations, including men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs—groups that face high stigma and limited legal protection. According to UNDP, only about 20% of people living with HIV in Tunisia know their status and receive treatment, meaning many individuals remain undiagnosed and at risk of developing severe illness. Although overall national prevalence is still low at 0.1%, according to the World Bank, the increase in new infections shows that Tunisia needs stronger prevention, testing and community-based support systems.

Barriers and Challenges

Despite progress in health care, Tunisia still faces several challenges that make it difficult to control the HIV epidemic. One of the biggest issues is stigma and discrimination, especially toward key populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs. UNDP reports that gaps in anti-discrimination laws leave these groups unprotected, making many afraid to seek testing or treatment.

Another major challenge is low testing and awareness. Only around 20% of people living with HIV know their status, which means thousands remain undiagnosed. Without early detection, individuals cannot begin treatment, increasing the risk of AIDS-related complications.

Poverty and Barriers To Accessing HIV Care

For many people living in poverty in Tunisia, getting consistent HIV care is still a major challenge, especially when transportation costs, lack of insurance and financial barriers limit access to clinics.

Treatment services are unevenly distributed across the country — most specialized HIV centers are located in Greater Tunis, Sousse, Monastir and Sfax — leaving the entire western region without coverage, which forces low-income patients to travel long distances they often cannot afford. Limited access contributes to poor treatment adherence, and Tunisia continues to fall behind global HIV goals, with only 32% of people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy despite years of international commitments.

NGOs in Tunisia report increasing drug resistance and worsening health outcomes among patients who struggle to stay in care, underscoring the need for better support for vulnerable and poor communities.

Promising Efforts and Progress

Even with these challenges, Tunisia is taking important steps to strengthen its response to HIV. UNAIDS highlights the country’s leadership role in the region, noting its commitment to rights-based health policies and stronger engagement with young people.

Tunisian youth organizations have partnered with UNAIDS to push for better education, more inclusive services and meaningful participation in decision-making. UNDP is also supporting national efforts to update Tunisia’s HIV Strategic Plan, focusing on human rights, gender equality and better protection for key populations. This includes reviewing laws that limit access to services and working with local groups to improve outreach.

Broader health reforms are helping too. According to WHO and UNICEF, Tunisia is expanding community-based health programs and investing in stronger primary care. These reforms improve access to prevention, testing and counseling, especially for people in underserved areas. Together, these initiatives show that Tunisia is not only aware of the challenges, but actively working toward a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable HIV response.

Conclusion

HIV/AIDS in Tunisia continues to present real challenges, but ongoing reforms and community-led efforts show that progress is possible. With stronger prevention programs, better legal protection and wider access to testing and treatment, Tunisia can reduce new infections and support more people living with HIV. Continued collaboration between the government, NGOs and youth organizations will be essential to building a healthier and more inclusive future.

– Aila Alsakka

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Sustainability in the Wake of the Colombian Armed Conflict

Sustainability in the Wake of the Colombian Armed ConflictIn the Colombian armed conflict, land ownership and agricultural strongholds for rebel forces were a form of political power. The peace owed to the 2016 disarmament of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has since raised questions over state policies of sustainability. The Borgen Project spoke with Dr Camilo Uribe Botta and assessed the role of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to find out.

In the last decade, Bogota was the site of a critical period in contemporary Colombian history – the 2016 peace settlement where the revolutionary FARC guerrilla group agreed terms with the government to demobilize. The FARC’s long history of violent struggle revolved around agrarian reform. Aligning with a communist ideology, land rights and agricultural communes were central to FARC policy in the Colombian hinterlands. Their strategic aim was to ensure that Colombia’s poor had access to land rights. In the aftermath of 2016, a fiercely contested debate surrounding the environmental impact of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions has been topical. Some argue that the FARC were environmentally conscious in ways the Colombian government has not been. On the other hand, the role of peaceful humanitarian organizations, such as the UNDP, have been successful in their efforts to improve Colombian sustainability.

2016 as a Turning Point or a Step Backwards?

The FARC-EP disarmament in 2016 provoked a debate over whether the signed peace agreement was really a turning point in the wider narrative surrounding the Colombian armed conflict. Teaching Fellow Dr Camilo Uribe Botta, an environmental history specialist at the University of Warwick, reveals the issues that have plagued ongoing land dispute debates in spite of political tensions.

“This isolation of rural areas in Colombia does not mean they are pristine lands. On the contrary, they remain at the center of disputes over land ownership and exploitation between big companies, large landowners, rural inhabitants, Indigenous communities and armed groups. Illegal mining, logging and deforestation are significant challenges.” — Dr. Camilo Uribe Botta, Oct. 28, 2025.

Rural land ownership and legal property rights have long been geographical sites of contestation between a variety of actors. However, in 2021, the government recorded “174,000 hectares deforested in 2021” heavily concentrated in the Amazon region of Colombia – a region of beauty renowned for biodiversity and identified by climate activists as an area which needs legislative protection. This statistic appears to lend weight to those who believe that FARC occupied the Colombian hinterland and limited deforestation levels comparable to the post-peace period. In reality, these claims have been found to be false.

Legacy

The enduring legacy of the revolutionary group continues to prove detrimental to the environment through an offshoot of dissident factions that have emerged as a result of the 2016 peace agreement. Hostility and violence toward farmers has continued in rural regions of Colombia, with these groups using forces of intimidation and extortion to coerce local communities into the practice of deforestation. Dr. Uribe Botta mentioned that more than “350 ecological leaders” had been assassinated in the country since 2018, making it clear that state solutions to the Colombian armed conflict have proved dangerous. The role of the UNDP in preserving peace across the region has continued to accentuate with the coinciding fatalities and discontented sentiment as a result of government action. Sustainability and peace are therefore interlinked entities that separate the politics of FARC disarmament from any correlation with an improvement in sustainability.

The UNDP: Protecting the People, the Andes and the Amazon

Dr. Uribe Botta fears the violence toward state-appointed environmental leaders is an enduring legacy of the Colombian armed conflict. The preservation of the natural world and Colombia’s beauty also has hugely positive implications for the diverse population that lives amongst it. This is greatly realized in the priorities driven by the UNDP, which have resulted in the World Bank branding Colombia as the nation “leading the path toward sustainability in Latin America.”

The year 2022 marked a stellar period in environmental progress within Colombia because a green taxonomy system was implemented nationwide. This initiative champions economic activity through a system of green bonds granted to local businesses. The money must align with the sustainability targets set by the government and whilst these measures may appear restrictive to a free market economy, Colombia’s GDP actually rose by 8.5% in the first quarter of 2022. Unlike during the Colombian armed conflict, national policy, which has consulted with international organizations, has sought to depoliticize environmental issues effectively.

The UNDP has liaised with local stakeholders to ensure the aforementioned green taxonomy system continues to prevail. Within the indigenous communities of Colombia, the forests have a sacred dimension and adopt a position of integral cultural importance. The Indigenous Communities for the Forests was set up alongside UNDP representatives, designed to preserve the cultural heritage of the Andes. In the highlands of Nukanchipa, “80 hectares” of the iraca plant were planted by the local community, which boosts biodiversity and the survival of the forest. From a historical perspective, the iraca ruler led the Muisca peoples through the brutalities of Spanish colonialism – the legacy of the indigenous communities lives on through the symbolic nature of the iraca plant. 

Awareness in Academia

Difficult memories of the Colombian armed conflict for Dr. Uribe Botta remain vivid. He speaks of “the news about attacks, explosions and mass kidnappings” and a childhood which involved seeing a large military presence in Bogota. 

“Our movement was minimal; people preferred not to travel by land in many parts of the country due to the risk of abduction. I remember that, for many school years, there was no school trip because the recommendation was not even to leave the city of Bogotá” — Dr. Camilo Uribe Botta, Oct. 28, 2025.

His academic journey has culminated in an impressive PhD funded by a scholarship obtained at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. Writing on the “commerce of orchids” in 19th-century Colombia, Uribe Botta has sought to trace the environmental impact of orchid extraction. His thesis presents the orchid as a marker of state success; if orchids are flourishing in a region, then sustainability practices are being implemented to effect.

Unfortunately, the orchid was at risk of extinction in the 19th Century, but important work like Uribe Botta’s has contributed greatly to the discipline of environmental history. The historiographical turn toward tracing environmental progress over time has not gone unnoticed by contemporary policymakers and activist groups. Orchids for Peace is an initiative that has targeted the conservation practices of the flower in the aftermath of the Colombian armed conflict. Exactly 1,000 planned orchid sanctuaries reflect the initiatives’ stress on “orchids as symbols of peace.”

Sustainable Goals without Political Undertones

The debate over the sustainability practices of the FARC-EP has a strong political edge. Placing the Colombian armed conflict at the heart of climate-related issues has resulted in a violent competition for land and resources post-2016. These disputes have resulted in an alarming rate of deforestation in deliberate opposition to the national state policy. Despite the unstable political climate in the aftermath of the Colombian armed conflict, the nation has made significant progress toward preserving its natural beauty, diverse communities and unique biodiversity. Importantly, these changes were sparked by nongovernmental actors.

The UNDP continues to work alongside local communities to protect their social and environmental interests. This has yielded fantastic results in relation to the nation’s GDP, as hailed by the World Bank. In addition to these measures, the intellectual field of environmental history continues to promote the positives of Colombian sustainability by highlighting important lessons learnt from the past. The cohesion between nonprofit workers, international organizations and environmental scholars has formed the basis of successful progress toward a greener, peaceful Colombia.

– Ash Fowkes-Gajan

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Vocational Education Training Centers in Yemen

Education Training Centers in YemenVocational education training centers in Yemen are giving young people the tools to rebuild their futures. From classroom learning to community rebuilding, these centers are helping reduce unemployment and foster economic resilience in one of the world’s most vulnerable nations. 

About Vocational Education Training Centers in Yemen

Vocational education training centers in Yemen have faced immense challenges since Houthi rebels seized the capital city of Sanaa in 2014. The prolonged civil war has devastated Yemen’s social and economic structures, making it difficult for educational and training institutions to operate effectively. Regional intervention and years of political instability have fueled the conflict, driving millions of elders, women, children and innocent lives into poverty. Experts consider the conflict in Yemen one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, following the 2025 Gaza genocide, including widespread famine and disease outbreaks.

After nearly a decade of war, Yemen continues to face extreme economic, social and health challenges that will affect Yemenis’ lives in the long run. With collapsing infrastructure, limited job opportunities and severe disruptions to education, young people are among the most affected. According to the World Bank, the country’s real GDP per capita has dropped by nearly 60% since 2015, and more than half of Yemeni’s population now faces food insecurity. Poverty and war have forced many families to withdraw children from school or depend on unsatisfactory, informal labor just to survive.

In Yemen, where some children search for a loaf of bread to ease their hunger and families struggle to meet even their most basic needs, vocational education and training centers have emerged as a vital solution. By equipping youth and adults with practical skills in fields such as construction, agriculture and technology, these programs provide pathways to employment, support local economies and help restore a sense of stability and hope for a long-term recovery.

Skills for Stability

Vocational education training centers in Yemen are offering practical, life-changing skills to communities in crisis. These centers teach trades such as plumbing, solar installation, tailoring and information technology. Teachers at vocational centers teach skills that directly meet the needs of local markets in Yemen. According to UNICEF, programs supporting technical and vocational education in Yemen have helped thousands of youth, particularly women and displaced people, gain the expertise needed to secure jobs and rebuild their communities. 

In a country where years of conflict have left many without traditional schooling, these centers serve as safe havens for learning and empowerment. Students often share classrooms powered by solar panels they install themselves, blending education with action. Each new skill learned represents a step away from dependency and closer to resilience for individuals and communities in Yemen.

Amina’s Story

Despite the challenges, Amina, a young woman from Yemen, refused to give up hope. Her school principal nominated Amina to join a UNICEF-supported like-skills and vocational training program, and she eagerly embraced the opportunity. After more than two months, she learned sewing and business management and upon completing the training, Amina received a sewing machine and materials to start her own small business.

“My life has changed. I was afraid of meeting people before, but now I am more confident and independent. I can now provide all my needs without depending on others,” said Amina.

In a modest room made of stone and clay, Amina set up her own small workspace, where she now tailors vibrant dresses for women and girls in her neighborhood. What began as a simple effort to practice her new sewing skills quickly turned into a thriving business as word spread throughout her community. Today, she earns roughly 20,000 Yemeni riyals each month (about $84 USD), which is enough to support her parents and ten siblings. Amina’s journey shows how access to vocational education can transform lives, turning hardship into independence and hope into opportunity.

Economic Ripple Effects

Vocational education in Yemen does more than create jobs; it lays the foundation for long-term economic development. By equipping people with practical skills, training programs help reduce unemployment, boost productivity and encourage small business creation. According to the World Bank, Yemen’s economy had contracted by nearly 60% since 2015, making the rebuilding of human capital crucial for its recovery.

As trained workers begin to rebuild infrastructure and launch microenterprises, they stimulate local markets and attract investment opportunities. Indeed, international partners, including the World Bank and UNDP note that investing in job training in Yemen can also open new avenues for economic cooperation and trade, creating pathways for growth that extend beyond national borders. This progress highlights the importance of vocational education in Yemen as a driver of job training and economic development.

The Good News

Despite the challenges, success stories are emerging across Yemen. In Taiz, a women’s sewing collective launched in 2022 with support from UNICEF has trained more than 200 women in tailoring and business management. Many of these women now run small businesses that provide clothing for their communities and income for their families. In Sana’a, a solar training program that the Social Fund for Development created in partnership with local schools has equipped young people with the skills to install and maintain solar panels, helping restore electricity to schools and homes in areas that power shortages affect.

These programs restore livelihoods and strengthen hope, showing that even amid a crisis, education can rebuild lives and communities. Yemen’s vocational training centers demonstrate that opportunity can flourish in conflict. Supporting these initiatives helps transform crises into capacity, giving young people tools to rebuild their country. 

Advocating for policies and funding that expand the vocational education training center in Yemen remains essential to promoting long-term stability and economic recovery. Strengthening these centers helps create employment opportunities. Supporting local economies and empowering communities to rebuild their future through education and skill development.

– Furdeuce Mused

Furdeuce is based in Oakland, CA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Uzbekistan

Gender Wage Gap in UzbekistanWith a population of around 37.2 million people, Uzbekistan is a country located in Central Asia which covers around 448,000 square kilometers. As one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies, the country is transforming how it educates, employs and empowers its citizens. Among its most ambitious goals is advancing gender equality and closing the gender wage gap in Uzbekistan.

On average, women in Uzbekistan earn about one-third less than their male counterparts, a disparity that occupational divides, cultural expectations and limited access to higher-paying sectors have largely shaped. These reasons largely demonstrate the complexities faced when trying to close the gender wage gap, even in a country determined to move forward.

Over the past few years, the government has taken significant steps to strengthen women’s participation in the workforce and promote fair pay. Legal changes, like the 2022 labor code, mark an important milestone in Uzbekistan’s journey towards a more inclusive economy, one that values skill over gender.

Education as a Foundation for Change

In classrooms, Uzbekistan’s gender story looks like a success; with literacy and school enrolment rates to be nearing almost level between the genders.  More young women are enrolling in universities and vocational programs than ever before, many entering fields that men once dominated. Government scholarships and training initiatives are encouraging women to pursue studies in science, technology and engineering, which are sectors critical to Uzbekistan’s growing economy. With programs like Technovation Girls Uzbekistan and the UniSat International Education Program for Girls, women from 8-24 are receiving encouragement to participate in things like skills workshops and social entrepreneurship, and they are promoting the breaking of gender stereotypes within STEM. Starting with a cohort of around 250 girls, the career ladder for young girls is increasingly expanding.

Yet, as more women graduate, ensuring this education translates into equal earnings remains a challenge. Women are heavily represented in the teaching and health care sectors, professions that are socially valued but financially undervalued. But, the shift is underway: women are increasingly going into more leadership roles in STEM.

Reform To Open Doors

Legal and policy reforms are driving the country’s shift to close the gap. In 2022, the country adopted a new labor code that explicitly prohibits wage discrimination and removes many outdated job restrictions. Alongside this, around 66.7% of Uzbek legal frameworks aim to focus on working towards achieving gender equality under the SDG indicator (including a focus on reducing violence towards women).

Uzbekistan’s National Gender Strategy aims to boost women’s economic participation and ensure their pay and promotion is based on merit. It is based in legal and institutional reform to instigate concrete actions. Uzbekistan created a national commission on gender equality in parliament with a separate ‘gender expertise’ requirement to ensure new policies are regulated to have a positive gender impact. Similarly, gender-responsive budgeting and quota restrictions aim to integrate gender-responsive budgeting into national and local planning while also setting targets for women to undergo successful employment. It is reported that the share of women in leadership roles has increased to 27% from just 7% in 2016, proof that Uzbekistan’s strategies to close the gender wage gap are working.

Partnerships with organizations like the World Bank or the UNDP aim to create pathways for women through entrepreneurship programs and public leadership. With more companies adopting these initiatives, conversations about closing the gap have entered mainstream public life. A partnership between the UNDP and the Hamroh company created the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Programme. Additionally, financial support via preferential loans and bank-driven programs have supported more than 130,000 Uzbek women with their entrepreneurial initiatives, showing Uzbekistan’s commitment to improving gender equality and reducing the gender wage gap in the job sector in Uzbekistan.

Shifting Social Attitudes

While policy opens doors, social change is integral to keeping them open. With attitudes towards women’s work and leadership evolving across Uzbekistan; professionals are now challenging traditional gender roles. The government has also launched campaigns to spread the benefits of gender equality, not just for women but for the economy as a whole. According to the World Bank, closing the pay gap and increasing women’s labor participation could lift more than 700,000 people out of poverty and raise national income by nearly 30%. Not only would this change be good for women, but for Uzbekistan’s future.

While cultural expectations still influence women’s career paths, specifically in rural areas, women are continually balancing their professional ambitions with domestic duties. It is predicted that Uzbek women spend 22% of their time on household duties versus 9% in the case of men. If Uzbekistan continues to close its gender wage gap and lessen the domestic burden on women, earned income can increase while poverty reduces. As Uzbekistan continues to help relieve women of these pressures, women can continue to stay and thrive in the workplace.

Looking Forward

Uzbekistan’s journey towards closing the gap is still a work in progress, but the direction is clear. The foundations have been laid in education, reforms and societal growth, but Uzbekistan’s main challenge is now to turn equality on paper into practice. Bridging the gap will take time, but doing so could unleash the potential of half the country’s workforce, redefining what progress means for the nation.

– Megan Burrows

Megan is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Renewable Energy in Benin

Renewable Energy in BeninBenin, a small West African country, is making significant strides towards a sustainable, energy-secure future. With only 57% of its population currently having access to electricity, Benin ranks low in energy consumption among African nations. The country is at a critical point in its energy development and transition; strategies implemented now will determine whether the country can progress sustainably and guarantee nearly half of its citizens a way out of energy poverty. Fortunately, Benin has demonstrated considerable progress and commitment to utilizing renewable energy resources, particularly through solar power.

A National Investment in Solar Power

Renewable energy in Benin is rapidly expanding with the government aiming to increase its share of renewables in the energy mix to 31% by 2030 and achieve 100% energy independence by 2050. Currently, much of the population’s energy is imported from neighboring nations such as Ghana and Nigeria in the form of fossil fuels. As these imports become more of a cost burden, the government is investing in locally generated energy sources. Benin’s recently enacted National Renewable Energy Development Policy (PONADER) supports various projects and strategies aimed at increasing energy security through renewable resources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. This includes new investments in the private solar energy sector with Axian Energy and Sika Capital currently developing four large-scale solar power plants. These plants will fuel Benin’s centralized power grid; as a result, project developers expect 50,000 urban households to gain access to decarbonized power.

Electrifying Rural Areas

Rural populations often face numerous challenges that keep them in a cycle of impoverishment. However, energy security addresses many of these issues. Initiatives to increase energy access help communities build capacity by powering schools, health facilities, homes and businesses. In turn, this positively impacts educational, health and economic outcomes, all important determinants of poverty.

Bringing decentralized energy to Benin’s underserved rural areas, where only 17.4% of the population has access to electricity, has become a main focus in local government policy. Grid extensions and importing energy sources remain expensive, making local energy production more economically viable. Renewable energy in Benin expands further on the potential of solar power with the government establishing the Africa Minigrids Program. Implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility, this program aims to bring clean energy to communities not connected to the central power grid using solar mini-grids. Such a program will help reduce existing energy inequalities in Benin, with current large disparities between urban and rural populations.

This program reinforces the work that private solar energy providers are already doing in rural Benin. The company ENGIE Energy Access, in partnership with the Beninese government, implemented Benin’s first solar mini-grid in 2024 and is in the process of building several more across the country. This project is anticipated to bring electricity to 30,000 people living in rural areas. ENGIE is also one of the main providers of in-home solar systems in West Africa, providing households with affordable and reliable access to electricity. Without this resource, people are currently depending on biomass to power their homes, a technique that is inefficient and produces pollutants.

Job Creation

Job creation and reducing underemployment will play a large role in poverty reduction in Benin. The World Bank found that in 2022, 72% of Benin’s workforce struggled with underemployment, while 90.1% worked jobs in the informal economy. Those who work in the informal sector or have inconsistent employment often see lower wages at irregular intervals, making job security difficult to achieve. These factors contribute to monetary poverty and a lack of access to basic necessities, highlighting a need for increased job opportunities. 

Energy access is highly associated with economic growth and prosperity, empowering individuals to start businesses, diversify incomes and increase productivity. While electricity access enables individuals to engage in new income-generating activities, they will also be able to build upon existing ones. In developing countries like Benin, many rely on subsistence agriculture as a main source of income and to meet personal needs. With improved energy security, Benin’s farmers and the agricultural sector will benefit from more efficient farming practices.

Solar Electric Light Fund

Many communities are already seeing these benefits, with the nonprofit Solar Electric Light Fund establishing solar gardens across 10 villages in rural Benin. These gardens use solar power to operate water pumps and drip irrigation, making food production possible even during the long dry seasons. With a reliable harvest, these farmers generate consistent incomes and increase food security, contributing to their well-being and that of their families and communities.

An Increase in Green Jobs

There is also a rapidly growing demand for green jobs in Benin, as well as for the rest of Africa. These demands are beginning to be met in Benin through newly emerging programs that provide training and mentorship in renewable energy fields. Operating under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and financed by the World Bank, the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) is facilitating the growth of small-scale solar energy businesses and entrepreneurs in West Africa. Participants receive training in solar PV installation, maintenance and technology development, equipping them with the technical skills necessary to join the formal solar energy workforce. They are also trained in financial management and business strategies, helping them create startups and contribute to ongoing solar projects. ROGEAP also focuses on supporting youth and women-led enterprises, addressing gender inequality in the region.

A Future To Look Forward to in Benin

Renewable energy in Benin offers hope for its populations still living in energy poverty. Indeed, through the implementation of programs designed to increase energy security and strategic partnerships between the Beninese government and private solar power providers, the future for Benin’s energy sector looks bright. Building upon the capabilities of solar power will aid in the country’s prospective transition to energy independence and reduction of fossil fuel use. 

– Quinlan Bohannon

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

Photo: Unsplash