Often associated with cultural exchange and diplomacy, Sister city partnerships can, however, also play a meaningful role in expanding access to education in underserved communities. By connecting local institutions across borders, these programs create opportunities for students who may otherwise have limited exposure to global learning experiences.
The partnership between San Diego and Jalalabad offers a lens through which to examine how city-to-city collaboration can support educational access while also highlighting the broader impact and limitations of these initiatives.
Sister City Partnerships and Access to Education
Sister city programs, often coordinated by organizations such as Sister Cities International, are designed to foster mutual understanding through cultural, economic and educational exchanges. In many cases, these partnerships include student programs, school collaborations and community-led initiatives that contribute to long-term development goals. Education, in particular, serves as a key pathway through which these relationships can address inequality and expand opportunity.
Bryan Fisher, the president of the Matsuyama-Sacramento Sister City Corporation, highlighted how these partnerships function at the community level. “We have great access to high schools in the SCUSD district,” Fisher told The Borgen Project in an interview. “At C.K. McClatchy High School, we have a large economically disadvantaged population. Through our sister-city relationship with CKM, we have students who do a homestay there during the spring and summer. We also sponsor a student trip to Japan every two years with Rosemont and CKM.”
Programs like these provide students with opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom learning. Through homestays and exchange visits, participants gain firsthand exposure to different cultures and educational environments. The Sacramento-based program, for example, hosts students from Japan and organizes trips abroad for local students every two years, allowing participants to engage in immersive learning experiences.
Building Long-Term Impact Through Exchange
These types of exchanges can have lasting educational and social impacts. According to Fisher, one of the most important outcomes is the formation of long-term relationships. “When students host students from Japan and travel to Japan, it’s a great opportunity for them to make those long-term relationships and connections,” he explained. “Many of my students do and still maintain those relationships.”
The structure of these programs contributes to their effectiveness. Unlike short-term or virtual interactions, extended exchanges allow students to build deeper connections. “The proximity and the ability to get to know the students for two weeks go beyond the superficial encounters students would get online,” Fisher said. This level of engagement can enhance cultural understanding, improve communication skills and broaden educational aspirations—particularly for students from underserved backgrounds.
In regions affected by conflict and economic instability, access to education, especially for girls, can be limited. Sister city collaborations can help address these gaps by supporting local initiatives, providing resources and facilitating knowledge exchange between communities.
Challenges Facing Sister City Partnerships
While these programs offer meaningful benefits, they are not without challenges. One of the most significant barriers is funding. “The biggest struggle we have is long-term funding and engagement from our community,” Fisher noted. Like many volunteer-driven organizations, sister city programs often rely on sustained local support, which can fluctuate over time.
Demographic shifts also present challenges. As founding members of these organizations age, maintaining momentum can become more difficult. “Our organization has been around for 45 years and the community that founded it is aging out,” Fisher said. “Finding new and younger people is a struggle.”
Access and equity within the programs themselves can also be uneven. While some schools and families are well-positioned to participate in exchange programs, others face barriers related to cost and resources. “It’s often easier to find families interested in hosting at some schools like CKM that have a student population with some wealth and with room to host,” Fisher explained. “Going beyond these types of schools and families, our organization has trouble with funding more expensive experiences that we could offer to more disadvantaged groups.”
These limitations underscore the importance of sustained investment and inclusive program design. Without adequate funding and outreach, the benefits of sister city partnerships may not reach the students who could benefit most. Addressing these gaps is essential for ensuring that educational opportunities are distributed more equitably.
Final Remarks
Despite these challenges, sister city partnerships remain a valuable tool for expanding access to education and reducing global inequality. By fostering direct connections between communities, these programs create pathways for learning, cultural exchange and long-term collaboration. When supported by consistent funding and community engagement, they can help broaden opportunities for students in both partner cities.
While sister city programs alone cannot resolve systemic barriers to education, they offer a practical and community-driven approach to expanding access and fostering connections that extend far beyond the classroom.
– Jason Hill
Jason is based in Fullerton, CA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Sister City Partnerships and Access to Education
The partnership between San Diego and Jalalabad offers a lens through which to examine how city-to-city collaboration can support educational access while also highlighting the broader impact and limitations of these initiatives.
Sister City Partnerships and Access to Education
Sister city programs, often coordinated by organizations such as Sister Cities International, are designed to foster mutual understanding through cultural, economic and educational exchanges. In many cases, these partnerships include student programs, school collaborations and community-led initiatives that contribute to long-term development goals. Education, in particular, serves as a key pathway through which these relationships can address inequality and expand opportunity.
Bryan Fisher, the president of the Matsuyama-Sacramento Sister City Corporation, highlighted how these partnerships function at the community level. “We have great access to high schools in the SCUSD district,” Fisher told The Borgen Project in an interview. “At C.K. McClatchy High School, we have a large economically disadvantaged population. Through our sister-city relationship with CKM, we have students who do a homestay there during the spring and summer. We also sponsor a student trip to Japan every two years with Rosemont and CKM.”
Programs like these provide students with opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom learning. Through homestays and exchange visits, participants gain firsthand exposure to different cultures and educational environments. The Sacramento-based program, for example, hosts students from Japan and organizes trips abroad for local students every two years, allowing participants to engage in immersive learning experiences.
Building Long-Term Impact Through Exchange
These types of exchanges can have lasting educational and social impacts. According to Fisher, one of the most important outcomes is the formation of long-term relationships. “When students host students from Japan and travel to Japan, it’s a great opportunity for them to make those long-term relationships and connections,” he explained. “Many of my students do and still maintain those relationships.”
The structure of these programs contributes to their effectiveness. Unlike short-term or virtual interactions, extended exchanges allow students to build deeper connections. “The proximity and the ability to get to know the students for two weeks go beyond the superficial encounters students would get online,” Fisher said. This level of engagement can enhance cultural understanding, improve communication skills and broaden educational aspirations—particularly for students from underserved backgrounds.
In regions affected by conflict and economic instability, access to education, especially for girls, can be limited. Sister city collaborations can help address these gaps by supporting local initiatives, providing resources and facilitating knowledge exchange between communities.
Challenges Facing Sister City Partnerships
While these programs offer meaningful benefits, they are not without challenges. One of the most significant barriers is funding. “The biggest struggle we have is long-term funding and engagement from our community,” Fisher noted. Like many volunteer-driven organizations, sister city programs often rely on sustained local support, which can fluctuate over time.
Demographic shifts also present challenges. As founding members of these organizations age, maintaining momentum can become more difficult. “Our organization has been around for 45 years and the community that founded it is aging out,” Fisher said. “Finding new and younger people is a struggle.”
Access and equity within the programs themselves can also be uneven. While some schools and families are well-positioned to participate in exchange programs, others face barriers related to cost and resources. “It’s often easier to find families interested in hosting at some schools like CKM that have a student population with some wealth and with room to host,” Fisher explained. “Going beyond these types of schools and families, our organization has trouble with funding more expensive experiences that we could offer to more disadvantaged groups.”
These limitations underscore the importance of sustained investment and inclusive program design. Without adequate funding and outreach, the benefits of sister city partnerships may not reach the students who could benefit most. Addressing these gaps is essential for ensuring that educational opportunities are distributed more equitably.
Final Remarks
Despite these challenges, sister city partnerships remain a valuable tool for expanding access to education and reducing global inequality. By fostering direct connections between communities, these programs create pathways for learning, cultural exchange and long-term collaboration. When supported by consistent funding and community engagement, they can help broaden opportunities for students in both partner cities.
While sister city programs alone cannot resolve systemic barriers to education, they offer a practical and community-driven approach to expanding access and fostering connections that extend far beyond the classroom.
– Jason Hill
Photo: Flickr
Tech Hubs and Youth Economic Empowerment in Iraq
Background
The urgency for youth economic empowerment in Iraq is driven by demographics, with roughly 60% of the population under the age of 25. The private work sector finds itself limited in size and scope while trying to accommodate this influx of talent. While the public sector remains the traditional anchor of the economy, it has become a room with no remaining seats; today’s graduates are stepping into a workspace that is already at capacity.
As a result, Iraq records a higher percentage of 13.5% unemployment and lower labor force participation rates of 38% than the regional average. This highlights why digital hubs have become the primary engine for youth economic empowerment in Iraq. As of 2026, in an economy where petroleum still anchors over 90% of the national budget, these hubs are carving out a non-oil economy and growing steadily since last year.
Digital Leap
By providing high-speed internet infrastructure, resources often unavailable in private homes, these centers enable a “digital leap” for a generation entering the job market. Through courses in high-demand fields like AI data labeling and cybersecurity, the internet could connect young Iraqis to the global “gig economy.” This could allow graduates to bypass a stagnant local labor market and earn stable, international-level wages in US Dollars.
This decoupling is a critical lifeline, ensuring the financial future of Iraqi youth is no longer tied to global oil prices. Furthermore, these hubs could help narrow the gender gap; by 2024, targeted outreach has begun to raise the historically low female labor participation rate by offering remote work pathways that respect local cultural contexts.
Silicon Valley of Baghdad
The “Silicon Valley of Baghdad” narrative finds its blueprint in the south, within a specific Public Youth Center.
Souq Al-Shoyukh Community and Climate Hub (SSCH) is Iraq’s very first government-based community innovation center. With the efforts and partnership of UNDP-Iraq, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Nahr Al-Uloom Foundation, this shared space now harnesses local knowledge into real solutions and ventures.
While most tech hubs cluster in northern cities like Erbil or Mosul, the South has historically lacked opportunities for technical development. Indeed, the SSCH model addresses this gap by creating a government-supported infrastructure that bypasses the short lifespans of private, donor-dependent hubs. By providing reliable electricity and industrial-grade equipment, hubs like this act as a safe space for digital creation and a rescue from existing infrastructure gaps.
Looking ahead
The expansion of these digital hubs signals a fundamental shift in Iraq’s social contract. By 2026, the success of centers like the SSCH proves that the future of youth economic empowerment lies in a high-tech synergy between public infrastructure and private initiative.
Rather than replacing traditional sectors, these hubs could act as a bridge, equipping a new generation to modernize Iraq’s economy from within.
By connecting local talent to the global digital frontier, Iraq is repositioning its most valuable resource: the intellectual capital of its youth.
– Celine Dib
Photo: Flickr
7 Things To Know About Water Quality in South Africa
One of the clearest measures of this inequality is water quality. A country’s water systems reflect far more than environmental conditions; they reveal the strength of public health systems, infrastructure and government capacity. In South Africa, fragile political stability and infrastructure gaps have placed strain on key water resources. Here are seven key things to know about water quality in South Africa.
7 Things To Know About Water Quality in South Africa
Looking Ahead
South Africa’s response to water scarcity mirrors the country’s wider development path. Progress has been real, but it is incomplete. The government has strengthened policy, improved regulation and invested in long-term planning. Yet, delivery remains uneven. Aging infrastructure, historic inequality and rapid urban growth continue to put strain on resources.
South Africa has the institutional capacity and economic potential to improve water security. How the country manages its water will shape not only public health and equality, but the direction of its advancing economy.
– Harriet Willars
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Singapore
Poverty in Singapore
Singapore currently has a population of 6,036,860. Out of this number, around 3% of Singaporeans are in absolute poverty, or unable to meet a minimum standard of living requirement, and 25% experience relative poverty, meaning they may struggle to access the same opportunities and services as the average resident. Poverty in Singapore does not necessarily mean the lack of financial well-being, but rather a lack of access to opportunities such as proper housing, education and good health.
Singapore’s Public Housing System
One of the major innovations in poverty eradication in Singapore is its public housing system through the Housing & Development Board (HDB). Singapore established the HDB in 1960 to address housing shortages and improve living conditions for residents. Over the decades, the program expanded into one of the world’s largest public housing systems, helping millions of Singaporeans access affordable housing, with close to 80% of Singaporeans living in public housing today.
Affordable housing plays an important role in reducing poverty by lifting financial pressure on low-income families. Singapore’s emphasis on providing affordable public housing supports long-term financial stability. Stable housing helps families access schools, public transportation and employment opportunities more easily, without the stress of unstable housing. Lower housing costs allow families to prioritize necessities such as food, healthcare and education, supporting economic security and reducing poverty.
Government Support for Low-Income Families
Recent developments in public housing policies have increased housing grants for both singles and families. These grants are financial assistance programs that help residents reduce the cost of purchasing homes. Through the HBD, the total grants for new flats for families have increased from S$80,000 to S$120,000. For low-income families, housing grants improve access to stable living. By focusing these grants on groups of need, such as families with young children, the elderly and widows, Singapore’s housing system aims to make housing more accessible for those who need it.
The Future of Affordable Housing in Singapore in 2026
Singapore continues to expand public housing. In February 2026, HDB launched more than 9,000 flats through new and resale housing programs, aiming to increase housing availability.
The program will also continue its mission of providing affordable housing for low-income families by expanding into new areas. In March, Minister for National Development, Mr. Chee Hong Tat, announced plans to develop public housing projects in areas such as Pearl’s Hill and Toa Payoh West, helping to improve access for Singaporeans. Expanding these projects will increase housing options for Singaporeans and ensure the inclusivity of all citizens.
Singapore’s government also plans to improve the conditions of public flats. For example, newer rental flats include improved natural lighting and ventilation, while older rental blocks undergo regular maintenance and upgrades. Singapore also aims to support elderly residents by building more Community Care Apartments.
By focusing on vulnerable residents, Singapore’s housing system prioritizes long-term stability and overall quality of life. As one of the leading innovations for poverty eradication in Singapore, the HDB continues to help provide housing for low-income families in line with these future goals.
Conclusion
While housing affordability challenges persist, Singapore’s public housing system continues to support low-income families through housing grants, expansion projects, and an inclusive program. Through these investments, the country emphasizes how access to stable housing improves economic stability and aims to reduce poverty through one of its most successful innovations in poverty eradication in Singapore.
– Michelle Kurniali
Photo: Pexels
Missing Figures: The Gender Wage Gap in Turkmenistan
About the Gender Wage Gap in Turkmenistan
According to the Government of Turkmenistan’s 2022 Census, both men and women share similar employment and economic status within the country. This census did not measure the gender wage gap in Turkmenistan. Considering that, many Turkmen questioned the validity of this official data, believing that the government altered figures to meet the outward image of the country they were portraying.
However, one can use some of the other known laws Turkmenistan has in place to paint an image of the view that Turkmenistan society holds of women. Human Rights Watch reports that the country holds tight control over its civilians’ rights including restrictions on women and girls. The country’s schooling promotes abstinence with a lack of sexual education, domestic violence is not illegal and there are reports of authorities enforcing informal dress codes for women in the capital, Ashgabat. Additionally, reports alleged that authorities would threaten women’s dismissals if they did not follow the dress codes.
The Women of Cotton Picking
Agriculture is an important aspect of Turkmenistan’s GDP, with cotton farms being a large part of that. The International Labor Organization (ILO) conducted an observation of this industry and found that more than 90% of the cotton pickers were women. The ILO’s observation also found that these workers were often underpaid and the majority of which did not have written contracts.
Additionally, the ILO also found an element of forced mobilization within the industry. Around 12% of public employees participated in cotton picking during harvest season despite their original positions being that of cleaners, teachers or nurses. Workers reported that they could face consequences for refusing to help with cotton picking hence why the ILO was concerned that this work was forced. This presents evidence of a female dominated industry facing unfair compensation and working conditions.
The Turkmenistan Government did formally agree to improve this after the publication of ILO’s report. It increased the number of labor inspections occurring which resulted in the discovery of 2,269 violations and repercussions for those businesses. While this increase was not sufficient in covering the country’s full labor force, it does show the country taking action after the intervention of external organizations.
Obstacles for Turkmen Gender Equality
Currently, two aspects are guarding the steps towards uncovering the gender wage gap in Turkmenistan. The first is whether or not people can trust the statistics that the government is presenting and the second is the fears Turkmens may experience towards speaking out.
It is considered an act of treason in Turkmenistan to oppose the current government, and many activists and independent journalists have faced imprisonment or disappearances for doing so. There are Trade Unions, but the state appoints the leaders and so members may not be comfortable speaking freely about right violations.
Solutions
Pressures from external sources have the potential to make a bigger difference. After the ILO report, the Turkmenistan government did make changes to its labor regulations and there are other organizations that have been in contact with Turkmens to find out their reality.
The Turkmen Helsinki Foundation works with Turkmens living in and outside of the country, conducting interviews of people’s real lives. It has claimed that the gender wage gap in Turkmenistan is closer to 23% based on testimonies of civilians.
The United Nations (UN) reported that Turkmenistan still has a lot of work to do in terms of its legal frameworks in ensuring the achievement of gender equality and the country did sign onto the UN Development Programmes’ Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 which allowed the UN to work directly with the Turkmenistan government to make gender equality a priority so that both men and women had the same opportunities. The Programme in Turkmenistan received a BRONZE level Gender Equality Seal for reaching important milestone to progress gender equality in the Turkmen workplace.
Looking Ahead
There are still lots of missing figures and the gender wage gap in Turkmenistan is yet to be released in official government statistics. However, due to external pressure from Turkmen based organizations, the UN and the ILO, Turkmenistan is making slow progress to not only uphold the equal rights of women in the country but also to make its violations and progress more visible to the outside world.
– Alice Dunn
Photo: Flickr
2024 Landslide in PNG and The Next Natural Disaster
Increasingly volatile rainfall patterns, driven by warmer weather, continue to destabilise already fragile mountain slopes. NASA’s Earth Observatory has documented how extreme rainfall events linked to cyclones and shifting weather systems are becoming more frequent across PNG’s mountainous interior, raising the likelihood of future landslides
Vulnerability to Landslides
The 2024 PNG landslide revealed the structural fragility of many Highland communities. Villages are often built on steep, erosion‑prone slopes where even moderate rainfall can trigger soil movement. When days of heavy rain saturated the ground in May 2024, entire sections of the mountainside collapsed, burying homes under metres of mud and rock. Local authorities struggled to determine how many people were missing because the terrain remained unstable for days. Rescue teams were forced to navigate treacherous slopes, and in many cases, villagers used shovels and their bare hands to search for survivors.
One survivor, Rocky Peter, told ABC News: “A rock has rolled down from the mountain up there, and there was a big bang … For those of us who heard the sound, we were able to escape. But the ones who didn’t hear were buried in their sleep.”
The 2024 disaster exposed the logistical challenges of delivering aid in the Highlands. Many communities are accessible only by narrow mountain roads that wind through unstable terrain. When these roads collapse, entire districts become unreachable for days or even weeks. Helicopter access is limited, and unpredictable weather often grounds flights. Even when national authorities mobilise quickly, the physical geography of the Highlands slows every stage of the response. These conditions were widely reported during the 2024 event, which affected more than 4,000 people and destroyed critical infrastructure.
Entire Communities Become Invisible
The humanitarian consequences of PNG’s landslides extend far beyond the initial collapse. In 2024, blocked roads left families unable to reach clinics, markets or relief centres. Many communities in Enga and Hela rely on a single unpaved road for food and medical supplies, that once blocked, escalate shortages rapidly. UNDP assessments from earlier landslides highlight the same challenges, namely unstable terrain, dangerous rescue conditions and the near‑impossibility of deploying heavy machinery to remote sites.
Children also faced particular risks as families fled damaged homes and sought temporary shelter. UNICEF reports show that PNG’s landslides often disrupt schooling and expose children to heightened protection risks.
Schools frequently double as evacuation centres, suspending education for weeks at a time. The 2024 humanitarian situation report for Enga documented how displacement compounded existing vulnerabilities in communities already facing poverty, limited health care access and chronic underinvestment in basic services.
The long‑term consequences were equally severe. IFRC documentation of the 2024 Enga landslide describes prolonged displacement, blocked waterways and repeated slope failures, conditions that increase the likelihood that communities will face recurring crises without sustained international support. Two years later, many of these structural vulnerabilities remain unchanged.
Revealing the Cost of Weather Extremes
Two years on, the 2024 PNG landslide stands as a stark reminder of how weather extremes magnify existing inequalities. Remote highland communities, already facing limited state presence, poor road networks and under‑resourced clinics, remain on the front line of increasingly volatile weather patterns. When disasters strike, these communities could lack the buffers that wealthier or more connected regions rely on, such as emergency shelters, stocked health posts, reliable communications and rapid‑response teams. The invisibility of these crises on the global stage compounds the problem. While major cyclones in Fiji or Vanuatu often receive international coverage, slow‑onset or geographically isolated disasters in PNG rarely break through. This lack of visibility contributes to chronic underfunding for disaster‑risk reduction and climate adaptation, despite PNG being one of the most hazard‑exposed nations in the world.
Strengthening Disaster Relief in PNG’s Highlands
As the rainy season approaches, preventing another tragedy like the 2024 PNG landslide depends on ongoing investment in climate‑resilient infrastructure, early‑warning systems and community‑level preparedness. The UNDP continues to support Highlands provinces with all‑weather roads, reinforced bridges and slope‑stabilisation projects to keep communities connected during extreme rainfall events.
Humanitarian agencies such as UNICEF are also expanding pre‑positioned supplies and stocked health posts, proven measures that reduce casualties and displacement during natural disaster emergencies. Sustained international support remains vital to help PNG strengthen its disaster‑response capacity and protect vulnerable highland communities
The 2024 PNG landslide revealed how weather extremes deepen existing vulnerabilities, yet the country’s ongoing relief efforts do show resilience in motion. From UNDP’s infrastructure projects to SPC’s hazard‑mapping initiatives and UNICEF’s community‑based response networks, these programs demonstrate that PNG is building disaster preparedness piece by piece. As global attention often drifts elsewhere, these sustained efforts stand as proof that even in the world’s most remote highlands, coordinated humanitarian action can turn isolation into strength.
– Max Kenway
Photo: Flickr
Cycling Out of Poverty: A Ride Toward a Better Development
While countries like the Netherlands and Denmark have made bicycles one of their most recognizable cultural staples, riding a bike is not as common in other parts of the world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Here are some reasons why bikes could be beneficial in certain communities, along with the aims of the foundation Cycling out of Poverty (CooP).
Poverty in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa
Rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa are among the world’s most impoverished regions. As of 2024, about 67% of the world’s impoverished live in sub-Saharan Africa. About 40% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lacks access to clean drinking water, while 70% of children suffer from deprivation in vital sectors, including health care, education and nutrition.
This systematic lack of access to quality education, health care facilities and job opportunities compromises the well-being of entire communities.
About Cycling Out of Poverty
CooP is an organization that believes focusing on mobility could be an indispensable turning point to provide access to other facilities for underserved communities. CooP believes that providing access to alternative mobility solutions could drastically reduce the development shortfalls local communities face. It proposes using bikes to gain access to better services, thereby improving the region’s socioeconomic conditions.
According to a report, bikes can improve education and economic development by enabling riders to access facilities they would not otherwise have. In 2004, after a tsunami hit the Sri Lankan coast, World Bicycle Relief donated 24,300 bicycles to people affected by the disaster. A bit over two years later, 88% of recipients relied on the bicycle as part of their livelihood, while 82% of women recipients reported that their bicycles were used for income-generating activities.
Improving footpaths and promoting the use of nonmotorized vehicles can be an efficient way to transition from subsistence agriculture to small-market production, thereby developing local economies. This is the key innovation CooP aims to introduce. The organization believes bicycles can play an indispensable role in the development of rural communities.
As a result, it partnered with the social enterprises Bikeventures and Greenhub Shops to bring more bicycles to rural communities in Uganda and Kenya. The goal is simple: to improve the livelihoods of African families by making bicycles more accessible and widely available.
Initiatives of Cycling Out of Poverty
CooP runs several branches of the project, including Bike4Work, Bike4School and Bike4Care, which promote entrepreneurship, education and health care, respectively. Beyond providing bicycles, the organization also offers training in bicycle mechanics and maintenance, as well as traffic rules and road safety practices. While bicycles can be indispensable, safe road conditions and responsible practices are equally important.
The organization aims to equip the next generation with the knowledge and tools to recognize and advocate for their needs as cyclists, including improved roads and traffic conditions. This serves as an important first step in helping communities fully benefit from bicycles and use them to improve their living conditions.
Final Remarks
Through these projects, CooP is advancing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First and foremost, it supports SDG 1: No Poverty, as bicycles have been shown to improve the socioeconomic conditions of their users. Through Bike4School, the organization also contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education, while Bike4Care supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
The initiative also addresses SDG 5: Gender Equality, as women are more likely to access employment and achieve economic independence when they have reliable transportation to reach their workplaces. In the end, something as simple as a bicycle can become a powerful tool for change and social mobility. While it may not be the ultimate solution to global poverty, it offers a practical and effective way to address many of the everyday challenges caused by poverty and underdevelopment.
– Alice Girardi
Photo: Unsplash
Statistics and Support: Elderly Poverty in Sao Tome and Principe
Since its establishment, Sao Tome and Principe’s economy has relied on food and fuel imports and produced agricultural exports. Its population is increasing steadily, with a projected population of 245,000 by 2026. However, the country has high income inequality, and in 2024, 16.8% of the population lived on less than $2.15 USD per person daily. For those of working age in Sao Tome and Principe, the job market is not robust and many are leaving the country in search of job opportunities. However, this is not a viable option for the elderly and brings into question the poverty rates among the elderly population of Sao Tome and Principe.
Statistics for Elderly Poverty in Sao Tome and Principe
According to the World Bank, 8.1% of citizens aged 65 or older in Sao Tome and Principe live on the international poverty line of $3 USD per day or less. This is about 7 percentage points lower than the poverty rate among children aged 14 years or less, which stands at 15.1%. The difference may partially reflect Sao Tome and Principe’s relatively large youth population, while adults aged 65 and older make up only about 5% of the population.
As socio-economic vulnerabilities persist, looking at the most vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, is important to protect the growing population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lower income and instability, as well as dependence on family members, can lead to abuse and abandonment if support is unavailable. As a result, attention to statistics around elderly poverty in Sao Tome and Principe is essential as the country’s population continues to increase.
Solutions
Many organizations are working with the elderly population to support those living in poverty and prevent isolation or violence. The Red Cross in Sao Tome and Principe has hosted a welcome center for the elderly since 2005. It hosts around 18 residents and welcomes and supports other elderly visitors. It receives funding from churches, associations and members of the diaspora.
This welcome center not only provides water, meals and washrooms for its visitors and residents, but also becomes a space for the community to develop among the elderly living there. Volunteers not only provide basic needs for the residents but also social connections.
There is also Stitchting Lagalaga, a newer NGO established in 2023. In 2024, its volunteers provided direct aid to more than 45 individuals, children and the elderly. In its policy plan for 2025-2027, a core objective of theirs is to provide wellness visits and social programs for isolated elders without state pensions, alongside monthly aid packages, ensuring their health and dignity.
Looking to the Future
Though the islands may be subject to economic volatility, significant progress has been made in Sao Tome and Principe. Life expectancy is steadily increasing, averaging almost 70 years in 2024. As life expectancy increases, so will the elderly population of Sao Tome and Principe, making improved living conditions a necessity for their well-being. With the support of the World Bank, Sao Tome and Principe continues to improve access to electricity and education for all its residents, as well as strengthen public financial management, road and digital connectivity and the climate resilience of its coastal communities.
– Daphne Komut
Photo: Flickr
Addressing the Gender Wage Gap in Chad
Social History Behind the Gender Wage Gap in Chad
Deep-rooted patriarchal traditions have shaped Chadian society alongside cultural practices reinforcing gender hierarchies. In south-eastern regions of Chad such as Salamat, Sila and Guera, the traditional practice of female genital mutilation continues. This practice aims to control female sexuality and enforce celibacy until marriage, driven by fear of community rejection.
Child marriage in Chad is widespread. According to UN Women, 35% of girls are married before the age of 15 and 60% are married before the age of 18. This traps generations of women in cycles of limited freedom and economic dependence.
These factors contribute to what UNICEF’s researchers call the Pygmalion effect, when a society holds low expectations for women, those expectations continue to shape behavior and reinforce stereotypes. As a result, external expectations limit female economic growth and widen the gender wage gap in Chad.
Gender Wage Gap in Chad Today
The gender wage gap in Chad is stark. While precise data on the imbalance between hourly wage data remains limited, the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap report ranked Chad 146th out of 149 countries, with an overall gender parity score of 51.7%.
Further, the UN Women reported that 36.9% of the female population of Chad are employed below the international poverty line, compared to 35.8% of the male population.
While the majority of the female population in Chad hold agricultural roles, 98.99% of women in non-agricultural roles are in informal employment, which can range from family-based enterprises to street vendors or domestic workers. Such work is often unregulated, untaxed and lacking social security, leaving women without financial safety nets.
Women in formal non-agricultural roles face additional barriers to financial equality. Only 14.85% of women aged 15 years and older hold an account at a financial institution, compared to almost 30% of men owning a bank account, according to UN Women. Additionally, 63.6% of the female population do not own a home. Once can trace the gender wage gap to the Chadian school system, which reportedly witnesses a 48% out of school rate for girls in comparison to 29.6% for boys. This study suggests that community and economic pressures divert young girls out of school into domestic work, further increasing the gender wage gap.
Efforts To Close the Gender Wage Gap in Chad
Several initiatives are striving to combat this pay inequality. Launched in early 2022, UNICEF’s Women in Learning Leadership program works to empower women in school leadership roles, which in turn helps young girls. Evidence across 11,754 schools shows that female-led community schools have a 5.3% lower student dropout rate than male-led schools. Additionally, research shows that there is a strong positive correlation between the decreasing dropout rates for girls as the proportion of female teachers rises. The Women in Learning Leadership program is currently running in 15 provinces across Chad.
Alongside UNICEF’s WiLL program, the World Food Program (WFP) partnered with local Chadian authorities to provide daily nutritious meals in schools, supporting more girls to remain in education. WFP noted how 57% of the 2.3 million school-aged children in Chad go without quality and inclusive education, with many low income households unable to provide children with resources needed to go to school. As a result, the World Food Program distributed school meals to 125,000 children in refugee-hosting areas in 2025. As well as this, the World Food Program revealed that the average pass–rate for girls in WFP assisted schools is 2.5% higher than Chad’s national average.
Literacy and Vocational Training
Beyond school, UNESCO’s Capacity Development for Education program supports women and youth through literacy and vocational training. This initiative trained 9,400 teachers and with its huge success, UNESCO advocated for the program to be expanded. This led the Chadian government to include a focus on literacy and non-formal education in a new $10 million project titled Emergency Project to Reinforce Education and Literacy in Chad.
Further, the Chadian government and UNFPA established the Observatory for the Promotion of Gender Equality and Equity in 2022 to advance women’s rights. In 2023, the Observatory delivered trained 400 members across Ministries and the National Human Rights Commission on integrating gender mainstreaming into plans and budgets.
Conclusion
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. As of February 2024, women held 26.4% of parliamentary seats in Chad, a meaningful marker of political representation and a step closer toward closing the gender wage gap. Another indicator of progression is the percentage of literate women compared with men’s literacy. While both figures are concerningly low, women’s literacy sits at 22.3% in comparison to men’s literacy rate at 14%, representing a result of the drive for girls in education. At a national level, the Ministry of Women continues to advocate for women’s rights, signaling a structural shift in how some are addressing the gender wage gap in Chad.
– Helen Turnbull
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Wales
The Welsh Third Sector, made up of non-governmental organizations and charities in Wales, plays an essential role in advancing this cause through such programs as Wales and Africa. Moreover, statutes such as the Well-Being of Future Generations Act 2015, with its commitment toward creating a globally responsible Wales, have also empowered the Welsh populace to provide much-needed aid to developing nations around the world. Here are five charities operating in Wales that are contributing to that effort.
1. Welsh Refugee Council
The first of the charities operating in Wales is the Welsh Refugee Council. Operating in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Wrexham, and working with local communities all over Wales, the Welsh Refugee Council’s stated mission is to help asylum seekers and refugees build new futures in Wales. Of the tens of thousands of displaced peoples who flee to the U.K. each year to claim asylum, there are currently 3,353 asylum seekers receiving support in Wales.
The Welsh Refugee Council is one of the main charities in Wales providing such support, which includes English and Welsh language classes and access to other education, assistance in seeking work (when legally allowed) and forming local connections, and arranging accommodation and basic financial support to pay for food, clothing, toiletries, transport and other essentials. One of the principles that governs this charity is “integration from day one,” the belief that people are more likely to make positive contributions to their communities when they feel connected, supported and empowered to do so.
2. Size of Wales
Founded in 2010, Size of Wales works with indigenous and local communities in developing nations to protect tropical forests in areas measuring 2 million hectares — the size of Wales. In addition to the conservation activities that such work entails, this involves supporting deprived communities in South America, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, and helping to address social injustices and break down barriers. One example of this is the charity’s project in the Madre de Dios and Ene regions of the Peruvian Amazon, where support from Size of Wales has helped indigenous groups attain sustainable livelihoods that empower them to protect their forests.
Another is the project in Fuluma Butta in Uganda, which is striving to promote gender equality by helping women grow their incomes and become active agents in their communities. Size of Wales understands that changing weather patterns and global poverty are inextricably linked and that raising such communities out of extreme poverty is a vital step in addressing deforestation.
3. The S.A.F.E. Foundation
The S.A.F.E. Foundation is a Welsh-based group that has modelled itself in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the United Nations outlined in 2015, the first point of which is to end poverty in all of its forms. Like other charities in Wales, this group works both domestically and abroad and is committed to bringing about positive change through humanitarian projects, with particular focus on health care, education and human rights for impoverished communities. One of its ongoing projects is a fundraiser for a boundary wall and secure gates to be built at Kankalay Islamic Primary School in Sierra Leone, to keep the school safe from risk of break-ins and allow the children of Lumpa and Freetown to pursue their education in peace, an endeavor that will cost £12,000 to complete.
Donations to the S.A.F.E. Foundation go towards funding similar projects, and individuals who wish to make a difference can also apply to volunteer with one of the organization’s partners overseas.
4. Dolen
Dolen’s mission is to curate a communal bond between the two similarly-sized countries of Wales and Lesotho. Launched in 1985, Dolen has overseen a 40-year-relationship between the two nations, an alliance founded on collaboration and mutual friendship and respect, going beyond humanitarian aid to promote cultural exchange and common action. Projects funded by this charity have helped bring clean water and sanitation to deprived communities, Red Cross first aid training to correctional officers, and perhaps most critically support for the COVID-19 response initiative in Lesotho, including donations of masks and other personal protective equipment. Dolen has also forged links between schools in Wales and Lesotho, promoting greater understanding of issues such as global poverty to young children and empowering them to take positive action.
5. Tools for Self-Reliance Cymru
Based in the town Crickhowell in Powys, Tools for Self-Reliance works in partnership with the Kalwande Vocational Training Centre in Tanzania to bring artisan tools and sewing machines to rural communities, helping to create new opportunities and improve the livelihoods of local craftspeople. The donated tools that this small charity collects are supplied to local skilled workers such as carpenters, bricklayers and tailors, along with free training, and the sewing machines have been especially prized by women’s and girls refuges for helping survivors learn a trade through which they might rebuild their lives. Supporters can contribute not only through donations, but also by purchasing vintage and collectable tools from the organization’s online store.
Looking Ahead
With proposals from some parties within the Welsh Senate to scrap “international aid” programs that the charities operating in Wales support, public support is vital if Wales is to remain a globally responsible nation.
– Aled Warren
Photo: Flickr