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Ending Child Marriage in Guinea

Child Marriage in GuineaChild marriage occurs in many countries but Guinea has some of the highest prevalence rates in the world. The World Bank defines child marriage as a “marriage or union taking place before the age of 18.” Many often associate it with poverty and low levels of education, and it disproportionally affects girls. There are several successful programs to reduce child marriage in Guinea.

Affected Population

In Guinea, though the law states that the minimum age of marriage is 18, this is not always upheld in practice. According to Girls Not Brides, 47% of girls marry before 18 and 17% of girls marry before the age of 15. This compares with 2% of boys who are married before age 18.

Rates of child marriage differ based on location. Rates of child marriage are two times higher in rural than urban areas, which may coincide with higher levels of poverty in the countryside. Child marriage in Guinea is more common in some areas of the country than others, with the highest rate being in Labé where 76% of children marry before 18, according to Girls Not Brides.

Reasons behind Child Marriage

Child marriages are often done with parental consent and because of financial worries, as children can be offered in exchange for goods. Other reasons include religious beliefs and fears of girls falling pregnant outside of marriage, Girls Not Brides reports.

Child marriage brings many dangers to these girls; 95% of girls married before 18 experience FGM/C, according to Girls Not Brides. Girls who are married as children are more likely to give birth earlier and experience complications in these pregnancies. They also have a higher chance of contracting infections like HIV and are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence.

Child Marriage and Poverty

Guinea is experiencing high levels of poverty with, according to the World Bank, 43.7% of people living below the poverty line – this equates to 5.8 million people. Statistically, there is a strong positive correlation between rates of poverty and rates of child marriage. This can be seen in Guinea; Labé is one of the poorest areas of the country with 66% of people living below the poverty. The city also has the highest rate of child marriage in Guinea. 

UNICEF has identified that increasing access to education is a significant contributing factor to reducing rates of child marriage. According to Girls Not Brides, 63% of women without an education marry before 18, compared with 26% with secondary level education or higher. Therefore, a key aspect of tackling child marriage is increasing access to education; this is also an important aim of downsizing poverty.

Solutions

Though Guinea is amongst the highest in the world for child marriage, some changes are taking place. The country signed up to the SDGs, one of which aims to end child marriage. Guinea also signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in 2017 launched the African Union Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, according to Girls Not Brides. This campaign began in 2014 and aims to target the countries in Africa most affected by child marriage. It has given countries and leaders space to advocate for girls’ rights and has encouraged many countries to change their laws regarding child marriage. It has also led to more research on child marriage, providing important information on its impacts.

UNICEF has implemented the Fundamental Skills Improvement Programme, which trains teachers with the overall aim of improving the reading and mathematical abilities of children in Guinea. At the beginning of the program, 61% of students could not identify numbers. Just six months into the scheme this decreased to only 4%. Because of this success, many other schools are applying to the program, increasing its reach from 1,500 students to almost 6,000.

Equity Committee

The U.S. government has also offered help to increase access to education; the USAID education programme created an Equity Committee to grow the number of girls in education. The World Bank also joined this to fund studies into how to educate girls, as it was such uncharted territory, as well as running publicity campaigns to encourage more girls, and their families, to access education. This resulted in the percentage of girls attending school increasing from 23% to 36% and the percentage of boys rising from 51% to 66% in just four years.

This increase in education has had an impact on the number of child marriages in Guinea. There has been an overall decrease in the number of child marriages: the World Bank has reported that the mean age of marriage in 18-22-year-olds is 15.5, compared with 16.8 in 18-49-year-olds, therefore showing a decline.

There have been notable improvements and the future opportunities are looking brighter for Guinea’s young people as work continues to decrease child marriage in Guinea. By continuing to increase the number of children, especially girls, accessing education and by downsizing poverty, Guinea can further the progress made to eradicate child marriage.

– Eryn Greenaway

Eryn is based in England and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women in Turkmenistan

Women in Turkmenistan Turkmenistan spans 189,656 square miles in Central Asia and operates under a strict totalitarian regime that severely restricts its citizens’ freedoms, including religious practices and media access. In 2021, the country reported that 16,000 people lived in multidimensional poverty, with an additional 22,000 at risk. The nation’s isolation and oppressive government policies make daily life challenging. Women experience profound disadvantages, facing various forms of violence and lacking opportunities to participate in organizational or advocacy roles. Consequently, about 60% of women in Turkmenistan cannot make independent decisions about their health care, underscoring the significant gender inequalities prevalent in the society.

Restrictions on Women’s Freedoms

The restrictions on women in Turkmenistan extend beyond health care and organizational rights. Recently, a “Taliban-style ban” has been imposed, prohibiting women from wearing tight clothing and using beauty enhancements such as hair dye, fake lashes and nails. Additionally, the ban extends to cosmetic surgeries, including popular procedures like lip fillers and eyebrow microblading. Women who previously had these enhancements or who attempted to bypass these restrictions are facing severe consequences, including job loss and police detention.

Enforcement and Consequences

Turkmenistan has further curtailed women’s freedoms by restricting their transportation options, barring them from sitting in the front seats of cars or being picked up by male drivers who are not relatives. These regulations were not formally announced but are strictly enforced. Authorities rigorously inspect women in both private and public settings to ensure compliance with these transportation and beauty standards. Women found violating these rules face severe penalties, including arrest, job termination and fines that are substantial relative to their monthly income.

International Aid and Women’s Advocacy

Despite numerous challenges, women in Turkmenistan can find support from international organizations aiming to improve their futures. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations (U.N.) Population Fund are actively involved in this mission. The U.N. Population Fund, in collaboration with state parties, is providing housing, shelter and work opportunities for women affected by violence in Turkmenistan. Simultaneously, UNDP initiatives are enhancing local infrastructure, supplying clean resources and energy and bolstering peace efforts. Additionally, USAID supports women by equipping national civil servants with the skills necessary to promote gender equality, offering a critical platform for change in the lives of Turkmen women.

Looking Ahead

International organizations like USAID, UNDP and the U.N. Population Fund continue to provide crucial support to women in Turkmenistan, despite the severe restrictions they face. These ongoing efforts include providing shelters, work opportunities and essential resources, along with promoting gender equality and peace initiatives. By equipping local civil servants and enhancing infrastructure, these organizations aim to create a more equitable and supportive environment for Turkmen women, offering hope amid challenging conditions.

– Yeliz Turkdil

Yeliz is based in Norman, OK, USA and focuses on World News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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WFP Pushing for Poverty Relief in Togo

Poverty Relief in TogoTogo, also known as the Togolese Republic, is the smallest country in Africa and home to roughly 8.8 million people. The Togo economy is mainly reliant on commercial subsistence agriculture as it is 60% of the labor force. COVID-19 has destroyed Togo’s well being and economy. In the Savanes region of Togo, 32% of the population are battling crisis or emergency level food insecurity. Furthermore, 23.8% of children from ages 6 to 59 months are at risk of chronic malnutrition. The surrounding landlocked countries struggling with the same issues as Togo, receive the aid they need from the Port of Lome in Togo. The Port of Lome acts as the center of control for the distribution of resources for the landlocked countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. The World Food Programme’s (WFP) initiatives broadened to other activities such as poverty relief in Togo after pairing with the African CDC to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.

WFP Provides Poverty Relief in Togo

Out of 71,991 total beneficiaries, 33,392 are male and female, from ages 5-11 years old. WFP has not given up on the nation of Togo. There is still room for improvement in WFP’s poverty relief initiative, including but not limited to cash-based transfers, asset creation and livelihood, additional resource transfers and overall beneficiaries over the age of 12. The cash-based transfers are meant to directly affect the pockets of impoverished Togo residents as well as refugees residing in the nation. In addition to the projects that the World Bank financed, with the age group of 5-11 years seeing the most beneficiaries, age groups more than 12 years old are receiving less than 45% of the expected amount.

The latest report from the World Food Programme, published May 13, 2024, displays WFP’s progress in the poverty relief of the Togolese Republic. WFP has distributed a total of 77,554 school meals, reaching 14,207 children in 50 different schools supported by WFP in northern Togo. The World Food Programme is also appealing to the United Nations for a sum of $12.5 million in order to reach more beneficiaries in Togo. WFP, along with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are aiming to assist vulnerable parts of Togo damaged by flooding in the Northern region with 185.5 metric tons of food. Furthermore, a warehouse has been established in Kara to support the humanitarian operations in the Northern Region of Togo. However, there has been some struggle in WFP’s efforts to rehabilitate Togo’s infrastructure.

Rainfall

Food security has deteriorated in 2024 due to the Sahel crisis, the inflation of food and agricultural impacts due to the Ukrainian crisis and the extreme climate crisis occurring in Northern Togo. There has been a steady decrease in rainfall in West African countries. This disproportionately affects the population since the economy is heavily reliant on agriculture. Several studies have reported that on average in a 30 year scale (1968-1997) rainfall was 15%-40% lower than the earlier 30 year margin (1931-1960).

Looking Ahead

WFP has made immense progress in bolstering fiscal policy and debt management, business employment opportunities, the energy and digital sector, as well as agricultural productivity, health resources and food security. The budget that WFP provided to Togo and donations are financing these efforts. Donors to WFP’s efforts include the European Commission, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Government of Togo, the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and more.

The European Commission is supporting poverty relief in Togo not just by donating to WFP, but through the Togolese government in the “Togo 25” roadmap for a total of 145 million euros to Togo. The strengthening of the internal infrastructure of Togo has led to immense social, political and economic growth in the struggling nation. These efforts have received support not just from the World Food Programme, but also from several other organizations and countries, pushing for humanitarian relief in the Togolese Republic.

– Petralyn Yeboah-Manson

Petralyn is based in New Jersey, USA and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How USAID Programs in South Africa Are Fighting HIV

USAID Programs in South AfricaDespite decades of efforts to reduce poverty, South Africa’s levels of income inequality still rank “amongst the world’s most extreme.” As the country struggles against colonial and apartheid legacies and a lack of economic growth, the 2014 World Bank data suggested that approximately 55% of the South African population was living below the poverty line.

E-International Relations article has identified an undeniable and inextricable link between poverty and ill health, with poverty preventing access to hospital treatment, and ill health preventing the ability to carry out labor. It may be unsurprising, then, that HIV in the country is not just widespread, but at the epicenter of the wider HIV epidemic. Despite this, USAID programs in South Africa aim to change this reality and recent developments in their work suggest a brighter future for the health of the population.

HIV Prevalence in South Africa

In 2022, the South African government estimated that 8.45 million people were living with HIV in the country, and as of 2019, 20% of all new HIV cases occurred there. The concentration of cases in the 15-49 age group, where individuals are of reproductive age further exacerbates the crisis. Combined with conditions such as low condom use in the 15-24 age group, and young men debuting sexually at earlier ages (before age 15), HIV continues to wage its war on the South African population, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

USAID’s Response

USAID is doing critical work in the health sector. The agency’s work in the region is facilitated through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a scheme through which the U.S. government has contributed more than $110 billion to the global HIV/AIDS response. PEPFAR’s funding allows USAID to work effectively against the HIV crisis in South Africa, ultimately aiming to strengthen the country’s overall health system.

Though the South African government finances almost 80% of its HIV response, according to the CSIS, USAID has also been instrumental. The agency has been able to provide more than 1.4 million antiretroviral treatments (ART) in South Africa, a treatment that prolongs the lives of those already infected with HIV. Furthermore, according to its website, it has supported the South African National TB Program in expanding its treatment capacity, an essential strategy in fighting the public health threat posed by HIV and AIDS-related tuberculosis.

A Future of Prevention

In September 2023, USAID announced that it had partnered with the South African Medical Research Council, contracting them for research and development of an HIV vaccine. This development in USAID programs in South Africa marks a notable shift from a focus on treating HIV infection, to preventing it, and fittingly accompanies PEPFAR’s plan to focus on sustainable prevention of HIV throughout the next five years, according to USAID’s website. The search for an HIV vaccine has been ongoing for 40 years, and this localized initiative will now allow South African scientists to be at the forefront of healing their country from crisis.

In USAID’s official press release for this contract, Deputy Administrator Paloma Adams-Allen emphasized that, in South Africa, “the scientific community is on the cusp of developing a vaccine to prevent HIV.” This hopeful suggestion, and the clear shift from treatment towards prevention, points to a brighter future for South Africa and is a significant step towards USAID and PEPFAR’s goal to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

– Maeve Relihan

Maeve is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Challenging Poverty in The Solomon Islands

Navigating Post-Conflict Challenges in the Solomon IslandsFor five years, from 1998 to 2003, violent civil conflict battered the Solomon Islands, leaving deep scars. Islanders still working to rebuild and rehabilitate their communities bear the burdens of social, political and economic instability. The challenges are stark: nearly 200,000 people live below the poverty line, a significant portion of the population relies on subsistence farming and 16.5% are undernourished. In response to these pressing issues, the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are actively addressing gender inequality, food insecurity, disease and poverty in the Solomon Islands.

Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Rights

The Solomon Islands is a deeply patriarchal and conservative society, but it is making significant progress toward female empowerment. The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on 18 Dec. 1979. It advances the roles of women and girls in all spheres of life, from agriculture to government. The Solomon Islands enacted its first Family Protection Act 35 years later, a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed domestic violence and significantly stepped toward protecting women from physical and sexual assault. According to the U.N. Women, the government advances women’s equity by implementing fee-free education and enacting targeted measures to increase primary and secondary education enrollment rates, enabling girls to start and stay in school.

Economic Competitiveness through Agriculture

Solomon Islanders primarily work in agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing and tourism. Their main exports—fish and timber—have been depleted. This has led to widespread underemployment and left thousands unable to provide for their families. To enhance the Solomon Islands’ economic competitiveness, USAID partnered with the largest cocoa buyer in the Solomon Islands to promote farmers’ education, develop nurseries, renew family plantations and improve processing techniques. This collaboration has significantly impacted agribusiness by increasing farmers’ productivity and income. These interventions have also improved the governance of natural resources through partnerships with national, provincial and community partners.

Enhancing Health Care and Disease Prevention

The U.N. and USAID have played critical roles in advancing health care in the Solomon Islands. Each organization has significantly protected islanders from disease outbreaks and combated endemic strains of malaria, tuberculosis and dengue. Under its Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the U.N. is upgrading the Islands’ Public Health Laboratory and enhancing access to clean water through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program. Similarly, USAID has been supporting the Solomon Islands in combating COVID-19. This is being achieved by enhanced data collection, promoting vaccination campaigns, training health workers and procuring emergency equipment. During the pandemic’s peak, USAID worked with civil society organizations to establish quarantine facilities. Additionally, they supported case tracking and assisted in repatriating Solomon Islanders stranded overseas.

Looking Ahead

The Solomon Islands are steadily overcoming the aftermath of years of civil conflict through targeted efforts by the U.N. and USAID. These organizations are focusing on advancing gender equality, improving food security and enhancing health care services. By promoting women’s rights, boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening public health systems, the foundations for reducing poverty in the Solomon Islands are being set. A brighter and more resilient future for the Solomon Islands are being established.

– Natalie Kaufman

Natalie is based in Orlando, FL, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Current State of Education in Madagascar

The Current State of Education in Madagascar Madagascar, an island country located on the Southeastern coast of Africa is the world’s fourth-largest island. It is filled with some of the most unique animals and plants such as lemurs, chameleons and baobab trees. Despite the country’s uniqueness and beauty, it is one of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also one of the only seven countries with a lower real per capita income than in 1960. This level of extreme poverty has created an educational crisis in the country, with the average Malagasy adult completing less than four-and-a-half years of school. Despite this crisis, some initiatives have been enacted recently to improve education in Madagascar.

Structure of Education in Madagascar

Education in Madagascar follows a structure similar to many Western schools, consisting of a five-year primary school, a four-year lower secondary school and a three-year upper secondary school. Education for 6 to 14-year-olds is compulsory. The students attend school from Oct. to Oct. and it typically runs from 6:30 am to 12:00 pm. Then at 2:00 pm it starts up again until 5:00 or 6:00 pm. They are given a two-hour lunch break so students can return home and come back to school by foot. Students in Madagascar take their classes in French and Malagasy. After the last year of each level of education, the Malagasy students must pass a national exam before proceeding to the next level. Madagascar education is set up for success, yet many do not finish their education.

Challenges Faced by Students and Educators

About one in three adults in Madagascar are illiterate. With 80% of the population living below the poverty line, it is hard for education to be a focal point in families. Many children have to start helping out in their homes as young as 5 years old. This keeps some Malagasy children from ever stepping foot into a classroom and for the children who do, only 60 out of 100 students will complete the full five-year cycle of primary school. However, even the students who stay in school lack literacy skills with 96% of students aged 6 to 10 unable to read a simple paragraph by the end of primary school. The lack of formal training for educators in Madagascar is seen as the cause for the poor literacy rates of those enrolled in school. 

The State of Teaching in Madagascar

Teachers in Madagascar receive minimal training and lack support from their administrations. Only about 4% of primary teachers possess the basic pedagogical and subject matter knowledge needed for effective teaching. In addition, about 80% of the Malagasy teachers have had no formal training. This disparity is largely attributed to the teacher recruitment process in Madagascar. Instead of focusing on selecting professional educators, they try to meet the demands of civil servants, leaving many of the teachers to lack formal training. This has caused the illiteracy rates to continue to be high, even for those who have been educated. 

Positive Developments in Education

Despite these educational challenges there have been strides for improvements. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) returned to the Malagasy Education Sector in Jan. 2024 after 15 years. Their new five-year, $10 million, Lova Project, is set to work on building foundational skills for a better future. Along with the National Ministry for Education, they plan to improve literacy, math and socio-emotional instruction for 65,000 students in 500 primary schools and enhance professional development for 1,500 teachers. They also aim to develop an early-grade reading curriculum. This will provide teacher training, learning materials and remedial classes focused on basic reading and math. The Lova Project shows great steps toward building a greater tomorrow for youth and teachers in Madagascar.

Looking Ahead

Madagascar’s education system faces significant challenges due to extreme poverty and insufficient teacher training. However, recent initiatives, such as the USAID’s Lova Project, aim to address these issues by improving literacy, math and socio-emotional instruction for thousands of students and enhancing professional development for teachers. These ongoing efforts represent a hopeful step toward overcoming the educational crisis and building a brighter future for Madagascar’s youth.

– Ellie Buss

Ellie is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Protecting the Future: USAID Programs in the Pacific Islands

USAID Programs in the Pacific IslandsThe Pacific Islands are composed of 12 countries, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa, each with its own vibrant culture and environment. However, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, a quarter of Pacific Islanders cannot attain basic needs, especially as natural disasters drastically destroy livelihoods and food security. Nonetheless, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs in the Pacific Islands address development, illegal fishing and adverse weather conditions.

Protecting Biodiversity: OurFish OurFuture

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities and ocean ecosystems. It costs the global economy between $26 and $50 billion annually, harming local and international economies. In the tuna industry in the Pacific Islands, commercially caught Pacific tuna generated $22 billion in 2012 and 2014, while IUU fishing generated $616 million a year. IUU fishing affects more than the economy; it also affects fish populations and oceanic biodiversity, as it accounts for one out of every five fish caught.

The OurFish Our Future program works to combat IUU fishing. It is five years long, spanning from 2021 to 2026 and provides $15 million to address the factors of IUU fishing that degrade coastal biodiversity and impact food stability. This program focuses on the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The program brings together communities, providing opportunities for all ages and genders to participate in the design and implementation of security programming. Its ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) contributes to policies that will “improve coastal fisheries data systems, improve enforcement capacities and strengthen collaboration of enforcement authorities.”

Fostering Development: Pacific American Fund

As a result of the Pacific Island Countries’ (PICs) geography, they are vulnerable to environmental disasters perpetuated by changing climatic conditions, instability in government and present gender inequities, all while maintaining a critical role in the global economy. PICs are small and isolated, which leaves them prone to tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, droughts and volcanic activity that destroys their buildings and crops. PICs also suffer from unsafe living conditions, including unclean water, pollution and harmful chemicals, which lead to a rate of 70% of deaths related to noncommunicable diseases such as cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.

The Pacific American Fund (PAF) is a “five-year grant facility that addresses critical development challenges.” It supports the countries of the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The PAF aims to “improve the quality of life in vulnerable communities and improve access to services for remote communities in the region” through increased preparation for natural disasters and climate change, economic development and access to health care and education. One of its programs is small-scale construction in the Malita Province to improve and adapt the environment for increased trade and expansion into agribusiness.

Agribusiness in the Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are prone to natural disasters that affect their economy, requiring their communities to seek agribusiness advancements to protect and revive their economy. In October 2023, tropical cyclone Lola caused severe damage, affecting more than 22,000 people and 100 buildings and damaging water sources. Furthermore, many of the crops were destroyed, including breadfruit trees, which are one of the Solomon Islands’ main sources of carbohydrates. This left locals scared of starvation as they relied on their local agriculture for sustenance.

USAID programs in the Pacific Islands include the Solomon Islands Strengthening Competitiveness, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) plan. SCALE is a five-year, $25 million project focused on developing the agribusiness sector in the Solomon Islands. Additionally, SCALE Trade and Investment (T&I) “focuses on reducing the cost and steps of obtaining business permits and licenses; strengthening trade and investment facilitation; and improving agribusiness value chain growth.”

SCALE engages community members in its program through its T&I plan. It aims to increase its exports and the role of women in trade. SCALE T&I oversaw the creation of the Advisory Committee for Agribusiness in Malaita Province, which will work with the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce. USAID programs in the Pacific Islands, such as SCALE, improve conditions of poverty by providing funding and opportunities for locals to work, innovate and protect against environmental factors.

Impact of USAID Programs in the Pacific Islands

USAID programs in the Pacific Islands strengthen their economic and environmental resilience through advancing policies and funds. Through USAID help, PICs have accessed more than $500 million in climate financing to prepare for adverse climatic conditions and natural disasters. USAID programming supports local development, marine ecosystems and access to affordable energy. Its work in the Pacific Islands will continue through these long-term programs to ensure stability.

One success story from USAID’s programs for Pacific Islanders came through its partnership with Aquaculture Technologies of the Marshall Islands. USAID provided a $1.7 million grant to allow the company to manufacture its own fish feed and to train individuals such as Sonya. Sonya remained in the Solomon Islands after her family moved because she wanted to pursue aquaculture and secure a stable future in her home country.

Sonya now manages the fish hatchery and nursery, inspiring more women to become trained as independent aqua farmers and fish feed manufacturers. The Marshall Islands now produce 400 pounds of moi fish per week, which supplies local businesses and is exported.

– Astrid Burns

Astrid is based in Roseland, NJ, USA and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Empowering Women Boosts Southeast Asia’s Energy Sector

Empowering Women Boosts Southeast Asia's Energy SectorEnergy poverty levels vary within Southeast Asia’s energy sector. Some countries in the region reveal lower energy poverty levels and others much higher. Countries lower in energy poverty are Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia. In contrast, the highest levels of energy poverty are in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia. Cambodia has the highest energy poverty in the region, ranking 69th in the world.

Increasing women’s education, specifically preparing them for careers in the energy sector, could be a driving force in reducing energy poverty. The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Mission Director for Regional Development Mission for Asia, Dr. Steven G. Olive, says that “it is a missed economic opportunity for countries, companies and communities”  to keep women on the periphery of the energy sector. 

USAID

USAID is spotlighting the connections among women, education and the workforce in Southeast Asia through its Enhancing Equality in Energy for Southeast Asia (E4SEA) program. This initiative seeks to address gender disparities in the region’s predominantly male energy industry. E4SEA is opening up deeper career opportunities for women in this sector. USAID’s priorities for this initiative include increasing the number of women entering the industry. The initiative provides support for women currently employed in the industry and offers scholarships and internship programs to women.

Spotlight: Scholarship Programs

Thai universities, in partnership with E4SEA, have developed the Gender Inclusive Energy Scholarship. This scholarship program aims to break down gender discrepancies within the energy sector. This opportunity encourages women to apply for either a two-year full-time master’s degree program or for a part-time semesterly scholarship. Women can also apply for a four-month paid energy internship – an opportunity available to bolster career outcomes. The flexible options demonstrate E4SEA’s commitment to women’s education. 

ASEAN

ASEAN’s Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) is now in its second phase, which began following the 2016-2020 initiative and will extend through 2025. This plan aims to increase the integration of renewable energy throughout the region. In its efforts, APAEC emphasizes the vital role of women in the energy sector, recognizing them as key contributors. Under APAEC, women notably make up the majority of the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) team. The ACCEPT team focuses on three main priorities: understanding women’s perspectives in the energy sector, acknowledging the critical roles women play in this field and promoting women as leaders of change.

Spotlight: Monika Merdekawati

After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering Monika now works for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a researcher. With ASEAN, she focuses her efforts on policy, technology and mitigation while encouraging other young women to enter the energy sector field. Monika’s advice for women looking to enter the field is to “focus on enhancing your knowledge and skills, to be confident and to be generous in empowering fellow women.” 

Looking Ahead

USAID and ASEAN initiatives are actively addressing energy poverty and improving Southeast Asia’s energy sector. This is achieved by promoting women’s education and careers in the energy sector. Programs like E4SEA and APAEC provide scholarships and internships, encouraging greater female participation and leadership in this field. By integrating more women into the energy sector, these ongoing efforts aim to reduce energy poverty and support sustainable economic development throughout the region.

– Carlee Unger

Carlee is based in Pembroke, NC, USA and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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USAID Pledges $176 Million to Combat Poverty in West Africa

USAID Pledges $176 Million to Combat Insecurity in West AfricaThe West Africa region is grappling with significant challenges, including food insecurity and economic instability. These challenges severely affect the quality of life, especially among vulnerable communities. As of April 2024, Mali, a nation steeped in conflict, faces acute food shortages. An estimated 2,600 people are at risk of severe starvation daily.

In Northern Nigeria, about 31% of women aged 15 to 49 suffer from acute malnutrition. Additionally, predictions indicate that around 55 million people in West and Central Africa could experience food insecurity during the lean season from June to August 2024. Furthermore, in West Africa, eight out of 10 children between 6 to 23 months old do not receive the minimum required food intake for healthy growth and development. In response, countries worldwide are pledging aid and support to those struggling with poverty in West Africa.

The U.S. Provides Aid to West Africa

On May 28, 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it would provide an additional $176 million in humanitarian aid to West Africa. This funding aims to address the region’s severe security challenges and assist vulnerable communities. This contribution follows a previous allocation of $150 million on March 16, 2023. Funds were allocated to countries in West and Central Africa and the Sahel region. The funding supported refugees and internally displaced persons with health care and nutritional services through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). USAID’s efforts in West Africa are coordinated with United Nations (U.N.) agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to facilitate USAID’s humanitarian assistance.

Details of USAID’s $176 Million Aid

USAID’s $176 million in foreign aid to West Africa encompasses food and nutritional support as well as health care services. In 2022, for example, USAID’s regional office in the Sahel provided emergency food assistance to about 1.8 million vulnerable individuals in Chad. Furthermore, they constructed 70 shelters for those displaced by local conflicts. Additionally, in Burkina Faso, this office facilitated pregnancy, natal and neonatal health care for roughly 405,000 mothers and their newborns. This support is crucial. More than 370 health care facilities in Burkina Faso were at risk of closure by February 2024 due to ongoing conflict between the government and armed rebels. This situation has left approximately 3.5 million people in urgent need of health care services. These ongoing efforts underscore the significance of the United States’ (U.S.) recent relief efforts in West Africa, where many countries face crises similar to those in Burkina Faso.

How U.N. Agencies Utilize Aid Funds

USAID’s $176 million foreign aid package to West Africa includes funding for U.N. agencies to help address critical issues like food insecurity and health care access in the region. For instance, between July 2022 and January 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Mali supported approximately 75,000 people in the Menaka region. The organization provided medical and nutritional assistance, including treating 1,034 malnourished children. Additionally, these funds enable the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue airlifting food to countries such as Burkina Faso. More than 1.2 million displaced individuals have benefited from these ongoing efforts. This underscores the vital role U.N. agencies play in ensuring that international aid is effectively utilized to support vulnerable populations.

Looking Ahead

West Africa faces ongoing challenges of food insecurity and economic instability, affecting millions of vulnerable people. USAID’s $176 million aid aims to reduce poverty in West Africa by providing essential food and health care support. Collaborating with U.N. agencies, this initiative strives to alleviate the severe conditions in the region, underscoring the necessity for continuous international assistance.

– Abdullah Dowaihy

Abdullah is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

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Using Technology to Combat Drought in Kenya

How Kenya Uses Technology to Combat DroughtIn Kenya, only 27 weather stations are operational and they are spread over vast distances. This scarcity leaves many farmers without accurate weather forecasts, particularly rainfall, crucial for their agriculture. Farming in Kenya, a region prone to droughts, depends heavily on timing. The absence of reliable rainfall predictions forces farmers to risk planting seeds that may fail if expected rains do not materialize. This ongoing challenge is compounded by the region’s climate, which is not only prone to erratic rainfall and frequent droughts but is also expected to experience worsening conditions over the next decade.

The Impact of Drought in Kenya

Droughts in Kenya pose severe threats to the livelihoods of the poorest populations, who are predominantly smallholder farmers and pastoralists. These groups rely heavily on rainfall for irrigation and extended droughts often deplete alternative water sources like boreholes and rivers. The primary impact of drought is the destruction of agricultural assets. Without adequate water, crops fail prematurely, leaving farmers without food or income from harvests. Additionally, the loss of crops prevents future planting due to the loss of seeds. Livestock farmers face similar challenges, with water scarcity leading to the death of essential forage and, subsequently, their animals. Recent reports have highlighted extreme conditions, with visuals of even camels perishing from dehydration, symbolizing the dire situation in the region.  

Recurring and intensifying droughts in Kenya have left more than 4.35 million residents of arid and semi-arid regions facing severe food shortages and limited access to clean water, leading to widespread malnutrition. These droughts not only pose immediate threats but also perpetuate chronic poverty. A study from the Technical University of Berlin reveals that households impacted by drought often experience deteriorating living conditions and reduced educational spending up to 10 years later. Moreover, early exposure to malnutrition significantly impairs cognitive development in children, affecting their abilities into adolescence and adulthood.

The Bridge Between Bird Songs and Weather Stations

Information Technology and Indigenous Knowledge with Intelligence (ITIKI), is a groundbreaking drought forecasting tool. This system integrates conventional meteorological data, inputs from locally stationed wireless sensors and indigenous weather indicators, processing all this information through artificial intelligence to deliver highly accurate weather forecasts.

ITIKI stands out among forecasting tools because it uniquely incorporates local indigenous knowledge into its predictions. This allows for highly specific, micro-level forecasts that the Kenyan National Meteorological Services cannot provide. Indigenous knowledge includes local signs that correlate with weather patterns, such as specific bird calls or the behavior of dragonflies, which are traditionally recognized as indicators of imminent rainfall. Residents report these signs through communication channels and the ITIKI system processes this data with artificial intelligence. Professor Masinde, a user of ITIKI, recounts, “My sister and I would hear that bird, we’d have to run home because it would rain precisely three hours later. It’s so precise.”

Kenya’s youth often dismiss indigenous knowledge as outdated, viewing it as a primitive forecasting method. Yet, from a data analysis perspective, indigenous knowledge represents a long-standing correlation between natural phenomena and meteorological patterns, as recognized by local observations. Although these traditional indicators may be too general to serve as the sole method for predicting droughts, when integrated with modern forecasting technologies, they significantly enhance accuracy at the local level by contributing specific meteorological insights.

ITIKI Combatting Drought in Kenya

With a remarkable micro-level precision of 500 meters, ITIKI boasts a 98% accuracy rate for forecasts up to 18 months and 70% for those extending to four years. This precision enables smallholder farmers to receive specific rainfall predictions for their villages, enhancing their agricultural planning. Professor Muthoni Masinde explains the practical applications: farmers can save seeds and funds by not planting ahead of anticipated dry spells, investing in drought-resistant crops if only limited rainfall is expected or even relocating if long-term forecasts predict insufficient rainfall.

The 2019 USAID performance report on ITIKI highlighted its impact on agricultural practices, with 74% of users reporting improved crop yields due to the system’s accurate forecasts. Additionally, all interviewed users expressed their endorsement of ITIKI to other farmers. The adoption of drought-resilient crop varieties increased among ITIKI users, who, leveraging precise weather predictions, often planted before anticipated rainfall, enhancing crop survival rates.

ITIKI’s Future

The ITIKI project, currently operational in Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa, assists smallholder farmers in managing drought in Kenya. According to a USAID report, while ITIKI has been beneficial, farmers have shown reluctance to pay for subscriptions themselves. In response, Professor Masinde has pivoted to a business-to-business model, partnering with government institutions keen on enhancing self-sufficiency among these farmers. Furthermore, Professor Masinde plans to broaden ITIKI’s user base across Africa, refine forecast accuracy and incorporate predictions for other environmental threats like locust invasions. This project offers a promising avenue for enhancing drought resilience and addressing poverty in innovative ways.

Looking Ahead

ITIKI’s integration of traditional knowledge with modern technology offers precise weather forecasting, vital for smallholder farmers in managing drought in Kenya. By providing accurate, village-specific rainfall predictions, ITIKI helps farmers make informed decisions, improving crop yields and reducing losses. As the system expands across Africa and incorporates additional environmental threats, it promises to enhance agricultural resilience and combat poverty in the region.

– Siwon Kim

Siwon is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr