Archive for category: Technology

Information and stories about technology news.

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Tech Hubs and Youth Economic Empowerment in Iraq

Youth Economic Empowerment in IraqYouth in Iraq are no longer looking towards the oil fields for their future; they are looking toward the cloud. In a country where more than 90% of government revenue relies on the fluctuating oil market, a new generation is staging a digital alternative.

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

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

Photo: Flickr

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Jordan

Poverty Eradication in JordanJordan’s poverty challenge is shaped by unemployment, water scarcity, limited natural resources and the long-term responsibility of hosting refugees. However, the country is also showing how innovation can make poverty reduction more precise, practical and sustainable. Instead of relying only on traditional aid, innovations in poverty eradication in Jordan are combining digital assistance, job creation, climate-smart solutions and humanitarian technology to help vulnerable communities build more stable futures.

Digital Aid That Reaches Families Faster

One of the strongest examples is Jordan’s National Aid Fund Cash Transfer Program. According to the World Bank, the program provided monthly support to 220,000 households in Jordan. In 2021, it reached an estimated 62% of the most impoverished people in the country, making it one of the largest cash transfer programs in the Middle East and North Africa in terms of coverage for low-income individuals. 

The innovation lies not only in the money itself, but in the system behind it. The program uses digital payment methods, including basic bank accounts and e-wallets, to make support easier to receive and more efficient to manage. This matters because families experiencing poverty often face barriers to banking, transportation and public services. Digital cash assistance can reduce those barriers while giving families more control over how they meet urgent needs.

Turning Assistance Into Opportunity

Jordan’s anti-poverty innovation also focuses on employment. The World Bank reports that supported operations have helped 48,000 Jordanians secure formal-sector jobs, with women accounting for 52% of those placements. In addition, 30,000 people are receiving on-the-job training and more than 4,000 individuals have received training in the digital sector.

This is important because poverty reduction becomes stronger when families can move from short-term support to long-term income. Job training, formal employment and digital skills help people enter sectors with more stability and growth potential. For young people and women, these programs can create access to opportunities that were previously harder to reach. In this way, Jordan’s approach connects social protection with economic mobility.

Youth-Led Water Innovation

Water scarcity is one of Jordan’s most serious development challenges. It affects agriculture, household costs, food security and job opportunities. The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) “Scaling Up Water Innovation for Climate Security in Northern Jordan” project addresses this issue by supporting youth-led businesses that develop practical water and agricultural solutions. The project received a $570,000 grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the SDG-Climate Facility and focuses on climate security, water management and economic opportunity. 

The project trained 25 startups in financial modeling, customer development and value proposition design. Seven youth-led small and medium enterprises then developed solutions using artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, hydroponics, vertical farming and improved irrigation. The UNDP reported that some of these innovations reduced water consumption by up to 20% while improving agricultural productivity at the household level.

These efforts show why climate innovation is also a form of poverty innovation. When water becomes easier to conserve and agriculture becomes more productive, families and small businesses can reduce costs, protect income and adapt to environmental stress. In a country where water scarcity affects both rural and urban communities, youth-led innovation offers a practical way to connect environmental resilience with economic survival.

Humanitarian Technology for Refugees

Jordan’s innovation also extends to humanitarian assistance. The World Food Programme’s (WFP) Building Blocks system uses blockchain technology to coordinate cash-based food assistance. WFP reports that Building Blocks serves more than one million refugees in Jordan and Bangladesh and has processed $555 million in cash-based interventions through 25 million transactions. 

This technology helps aid organizations reduce duplication, protect data and save money on bank fees. For refugees and vulnerable communities, better coordination can mean more reliable access to assistance. Although blockchain alone cannot end poverty, it can make humanitarian systems faster, more transparent and more efficient in places where resources are limited and needs are high.

Looking Ahead

The most powerful innovations in poverty eradication in Jordan are not isolated projects. They are part of a larger shift that uses technology and entrepreneurship to make poverty reduction efforts more targeted, inclusive and sustainable. Digital aid helps families survive immediate hardship. 

Employment programs help people build a stable income. Water innovation helps communities adapt to climate pressure, while humanitarian technology helps assistance reach people more efficiently.

Jordan’s progress shows that poverty eradication is strongest when aid is connected to opportunity. By linking social protection, digital inclusion, youth employment and climate resilience, innovations in poverty eradication in Jordan are helping transform short-term support into long-term opportunities.

– Adriana Carolina Herrera

Adriana is based in Mentor, Ohio, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Smart Irrigation in Morocco is Changing Agriculture

How Smart Irrigation in Morocco is Changing Agriculture Morocco’s farms are running out of water. After years of recurring drought and rising temperatures, the country’s agricultural system is under mounting pressure and farmers are being pushed to adapt. In response, a new approach is gaining ground: the use of artificial intelligence to manage irrigation more efficiently, for a sector representing 15% of the nation’s GDP.

The Irrigation Challenge

Agriculture accounts for 85% of Morocco’s water consumption, yet much of it still relies on traditional irrigation practices inadequate to today’s climate realities. In many regions, farmers continue to use flood irrigation or fixed watering schedules, applying water regardless of soil conditions or weather forecasts.

This leads to significant inefficiencies. Large quantities of water are lost through evaporation, runoff and over-irrigation, particularly during hot and dry periods. As climate change intensifies, rainfall patterns have become more erratic, making it harder for farmers to rely on seasonal cycles. The result is a growing mismatch between water supply and agricultural demand.

In a country already facing structural water scarcity, these inefficiencies are no longer sustainable. They threaten not only agricultural productivity but also long-term food security.

Smart Irrigation in Morocco

AI-powered irrigation systems offer a way to move beyond approximation by introducing precision and adaptability. These technologies rely on real-time data to determine when and how much water crops actually need.

One of the key tools is soil moisture sensing. Sensors placed in the ground continuously monitor moisture levels, allowing farmers to irrigate based on actual conditions rather than assumptions. This prevents both under-watering, which stresses crops, and over-watering, which wastes resources.

Another important feature is the integration of weather forecasts. AI systems can analyze upcoming rainfall and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly. If rain is expected, watering can be delayed, reducing unnecessary water use.

Automation further enhances efficiency. Smart systems can operate independently, delivering water at optimal times — typically early morning or late evening — when evaporation is lower. This ensures that more water reaches plant roots, maximizing its impact.

Benefits of AI-Powered Irrigation

The advantages of these systems are both immediate and long-term. One of the most significant is water conservation. By aligning irrigation with actual crop needs, farmers can reduce water consumption substantially, in some cases by up to 70%. In Morocco’s water-scarce context, such reductions are significant.

Improved irrigation precision also boosts agricultural performance. Crops receive consistent and adequate hydration, leading to higher yields and better-quality produce. This can enhance farmers’ competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

Cost savings are another key benefit. Using less water reduces expenses linked to pumping, storage and distribution. Over time, these savings can offset the cost of adopting new technologies.

Beyond these measurable gains, digitalization is reshaping daily farm management. Tasks that were once time-consuming and labor-intensive can now be automated. In Sefrou province, a farmer growing vegetables and olives described how this shift has affected his routine: “Automating and remotely managing my irrigation system has freed up time. I now dedicate one day each week to another business activity that generates additional income.” For many farmers, this flexibility opens the door to new economic opportunities.

Where AI Has the Greatest Impact

The potential for smart irrigation in Morocco is particularly high in traditional farming systems. These account for around 85% of cultivated land and consume roughly 70% of irrigation water.

Because these systems are often the least efficient, they offer the greatest scope for improvement. Precision irrigation technologies could reduce water use in this area, representing a significant shift in resource management. By contrast, more controlled systems such as greenhouse or urban agriculture, are already relatively efficient, leaving less room for substantial gains.

Startups and Digital Innovation

A growing number of startups and initiatives are driving the adoption of smart irrigation in Morocco. Agrilink, originally founded in Europe, has developed Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions that connect soil sensors, irrigation systems and mobile applications. This allows farmers to monitor and control water use remotely, in real time.

SOWIT is another key player, combining climate data and agronomic expertise to deliver tailored recommendations. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between technology and sustainable employment by enabling young people in rural areas to gather actionable agricultural data, enhance production efficiency and support better outcomes for farmers. It targets two key groups: 280 women engaged in agriculture who are being trained in the use of precision farming technologies, and 100 independent field agents providing advisory support and expanding client networks across eight regions.

These initiatives are contributing to the emergence of a digital agricultural ecosystem, creating new opportunities for both efficiency and employment.

Looking Ahead

The expansion of AI in agriculture is closely aligned with Morocco’s Green Generation 2020–2030 strategy, which aims to modernize the sector and improve its resilience. A central objective is to connect up to 2 million farmers to digital platforms by the end of the decade.

As adoption increases, AI-powered irrigation could play a key role in conserving water, stabilizing yields and strengthening food security. Challenges remain, particularly in ensuring that smallholder farmers can access and effectively use these technologies. Addressing these barriers will require continued investment in infrastructure, training and digital literacy.

– Riccardo Chiaraluce

Riccardo is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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AI, Data Annotation and Global Poverty

Data Annotation and Global PovertyThe rise of AI is leading to remarkable changes in society. Many people are concerned about AI’s influence on job opportunities as the technology continues to advance and automate tasks once performed by humans. While there are definitely consequences to the pervasiveness of AI, this new development can actually create and foster new jobs for many. 

Data Annotation and Global Poverty

The development and accuracy of AI are heavily dependent on its training data. However, before this data is fed to AI for training, it needs to be labeled or annotated with the necessary context. This process has led to a new occupation known as data annotation or data labeling, in which individuals review raw data and label it with the context needed by the specific AI model. 

These annotations include outlining specific objects in pictures so that AIs know to pay special attention to that item or explaining the semantics of a word or phrase that could only be understood colloquially. The overall range of annotations depends on the model’s use. However, these examples showcase the wide range of responsibilities and the need for data annotators. 

Furthermore, human annotators provide nuance in their work that computers lack, which helps make AI models more accurate. This job is traditionally outsourced to countries in Africa and Asia, where populations live in impoverished communities. These data annotators work in poor conditions, with their workplaces even being referred to as “digital sweatshops.”

However, the tides might turn in favor of these communities with the right business practices and national policies. This is because AI companies want more qualified individuals to step into this role and annotate academic content. This shift in demand indicates the potential for AI to address economic poverty in areas with large populations of data annotators.

Impacts

Many large technology firms routinely outsource jobs to countries with highly skilled but undervalued workforces. Data annotation represents just one segment of the broader outsourcing trend within the Western AI industry. This fosters economic prosperity, benefiting the countries receiving foreign investment. 

On that note, data annotation is a new sector these countries can capitalize on for proper foreign investment. Many countries have skilled and knowledgeable human capital working in “lower-level” jobs, such as data annotation, due to a lack of opportunities in their countries. However, with the aforementioned shift in data annotation, these same individuals could easily qualify for “higher-level” positions, demand higher wages and advance professionally.

Sama’s Role in Africa’s AI Labor Economy

Sama is a subcontracting company hired by major technology firms to source and manage data annotation work in Africa. Through this model, the company has become a key part of the AI supply chain, connecting global tech companies with large workforces that label and process the data used to train artificial intelligence systems. Sama has helped lift more than 59,000 people out of poverty since 2008.

Its client and partner network includes companies such as Microsoft, Walmart, Getty Images and other AI-focused firms seeking large-scale human annotation services. 

Final Thoughts

Due to the rigorous nature of data annotation, the labor market is expansive. By leveraging current business practices, outsourced workers can capitalize on the shift to make this job more lucrative and even on par with other, more traditionally skilled occupations. This would lead to a holistic alleviation of poverty in local communities, as companies provide new opportunities to impoverished populations without losing the benefits of paying less for the same skill set.

Additionally, if national governments enact policies that both attract foreign investment and protect business practice standards, data annotation could become a powerful force in lowering global poverty and empowering international trade.

– Saanvi Mudpa

Saanvi Mudpa is based in Seattle, WA, United States and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Broadband Internet Reduces Rural Poverty in the Philippines

Rural Poverty in the PhilippinesIn the Philippines, geography has long stood between rural communities and the digital economy. Made up of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has had difficulty remaining fully connected in an increasingly digital world. However, recent investments and reforms across the country aim to alleviate this issue and, therefore, increase economic productivity.

Expanding broadband internet infrastructure is central to the Philippines’ poverty reduction strategy, with major projects targeting schools, health facilities and small businesses in often underserved, rural provinces and regions.

The Rural Connectivity Gap

Although the Philippines is largely online, large pockets of the rural provinces remain digitally isolated. In fact, roughly 28% of Filipino households had access to fixed broadband in 2023. For context, its neighbor Vietnam in the same year was at 79%, Thailand at 55% and Malaysia at 54%, according to the World Bank. 

The divide also widens by income. Between 2019 and 2022, internet penetration in the wealthiest quintile climbed from 43% to 60%, while in the underserved quintile it rose from 2% to 5%. The effects of this are felt across the daily lives of citizens. 

Some of the population that relies heavily on the internet, such as students, small online businesses and enterprises, struggle to access key communication tools and even digital public services. Roughly 18 to 19 million Filipinos remain offline, largely due to affordability and missing infrastructure. 

A $287 Million Push for Rural Broadband

In 2024, the World Bank approved $287 million for the Philippines Digital Infrastructure Project. This crucial funding thrusts forward the development of the country’s national fiber-optic backbone and middle-mile network. It is designed to connect rural schools, health facilities and other public institutions in regions such as Mindanao. One of the many aims is to incentivize operators to build last-mile links to households. 

The project is expected to expand broadband internet in the Philippines to more than 20 million people by 2028. 

The Konektadong Pinoy Act: Opening the Market

The Konektadong Pinoy Act, signed on August 24, 2025, streamlines the licensing process for new internet providers, supports the introduction of infrastructure sharing and establishes cybersecurity standards. Before this, providers faced roadblocks, including the need to secure congressional approval to operate. This became a barrier that made it almost impossible for remote communities to build their own networks, according to the Internet Society. 

Benjz Sevilla of the Internet Society Philippines Chapter noted that providers serving geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas can now register as Data Transmission Industry Participants. The law was passed with support from the government, industry, academia and civil society after years of multi-stakeholder advocacy. 

National Fiber Reaches the Provinces

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is building the National Fiber Backbone, a government-owned network that stretches from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao. By mid-2026, the third phase of the backbone will be completed, providing high-capacity bandwidth to local government units and lowering entry costs for smaller third-party providers. Telecommunications towers nationwide nearly doubled, from 17,850 in 2020 to more than 35,000 in 2023, expanding coverage in previously unreachable areas. 

Broadband Internet in the Philippines Is Already Changing Lives

By 2026, the World Bank projects that the share of Filipino households with fixed broadband will rise to 35%. It also predicted that the cost of a fixed broadband basket will fall from 11.3% to 8.5% of gross national income per capita. With sustained investment, smarter policy and growing rural demand, broadband internet in the Philippines is becoming a powerful engine for inclusive growth and poverty reduction. 

– Jamie Noone

Jamie is based in Dublin, Ireland and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Satellites are De Risking Poverty in Guatemala

Poverty in Guatemala In Guatemala’s driest corridor, farmers have lived for generations at the mercy of the region’s violent weather patterns. In the 1,600-kilometer stretch of tropical dry forest, the changing climate has transformed the traditional seasonal rhythm that brought rain into an extreme cycle of drought and flash flooding. Farmers like Maria Lopez, who depend on a small plot of maize and beans, face collapse from a single dry month, which no longer just means a poor harvest — it means total financial ruin, food insecurity for their children and the possibility of dangerous migration, a situation made more acute by recent cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Organizations estimate that 2.7 million people across the subregion face persistent food insecurity and the changing climate threatens to worsen the ongoing crisis.

How Aid Is Helping Farmers

In the past, smallholder farmers would rely on traditional insurance to cover crop failures, which typically failed in most cases. Indemnity-based insurance requires manual adjusters to travel to remote mountain slopes to verify damage — a slow, expensive process that results in payouts arriving months after seeds have already withered. A technological shift is changing this for millions of Guatemalans. By leveraging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites and parametric insurance, international aid organizations such as USAID and the World Food Programme (WFP) are helping farmers build a social safety net that triggers financial aid the moment a drought begins, breaking the multigenerational cycle of poverty in Guatemala. WFP covered insurance premiums for 5,484 farming households between 2025 and 2026, providing 24,720 people with a monetary safety net to weather drought and excess rainfall.

How New Technology Is Improving the Situation

Monitoring Central American agriculture has historically been difficult for optical satellites, which take pictures like a camera and cannot see through the thick tropical cloud cover that masks the region during the critical growing season. The launch of a SAR satellite by NASA in 2025 dramatically changed this. Unlike optical sensors, SAR is an active sensor that emits its own microwave pulses, which refract from the earth’s surface. These waves penetrate through clouds, smoke and tree branches. By analyzing the backscatter — the way these waves return to the satellite — scientists can measure the moisture content in the soil.

An image of the Earth is taken twice every 12 days, with sensors resolving individual plots as narrow as 10 meters. This allows stakeholders to monitor week-to-week changes in small-scale holdings as well as broader agricultural shifts. When soil moisture levels drop below a scientifically determined threshold, the system recognizes a trigger event. Because the insurance is based on a measurable parameter rather than a physical inspection, the payout is automatic.

USAID and Poverty in Guatemala

USAID has been a central architect in scaling Insurtech solutions. Initiatives such as the Feed the Future program and partnerships with the Microinsurance Catastrophe Risk Organization have shifted the goal from reactive aid to anticipatory action. As of April 2026, the United Nations (U.N.) The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) released more than $10 million to preempt drought affecting Guatemala’s dry corridor. The funding does not wait for a famine to be declared. Instead, it provides cash to keep the parametric insurance pools solvent, guaranteeing that as soon as SAR data confirms a moisture deficit, farmers receive mobile payments directly to their phones.

The speed of these payments is critical for poverty alleviation in Guatemala. A farmer receiving a payout at the onset of a drought does not have to sell livestock or take out high-interest loans to buy food. The capital can be used to purchase drought-resistant seeds for a second planting or invest in small-scale irrigation.

Insights From the Field

To understand the mechanics behind SAR technology, Geospatial World interviewed Matt Wood, Vice President of Go to Market and Business at Capella Space, about the shift from traditional imaging to SAR technology.

Wood explained that, unlike traditional satellites that rely on reflected sunlight, SAR satellites emit their own energy source, which reflects off the earth and is received back by the satellite. Traditional optical satellites, he said, are limited by the same cloud cover that humans see from the ground.

On accessibility, Wood noted that SAR technology was historically the domain of defense and intelligence agencies and required very large antennas and rockets. Advances in miniaturization have changed this, allowing multiple smaller satellites to launch on a single rocket and making SAR data increasingly available for humanitarian and commercial use.

Wood cautioned that SAR data cannot be used in isolation. It needs to be combined with optical satellites, ground-based sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and other data sources to be effective. He described SAR satellites as filling a key gap in global information on a regular basis.

Looking Ahead

The combination of SAR technology and parametric insurance represents a meaningful shift in how international aid organizations support farmers in Guatemala’s dry corridor. By delivering automated, data-driven payouts at the onset of drought, these tools help smallholder farmers avoid poverty and food insecurity that have persisted for generations in Guatemala. As weather patterns continue to change across Central America, scaling these solutions will be essential to long-term poverty reduction in the region.

– Haydn Goodboy

Haydn is based in Massachusetts, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Fog Harvesting Technology and Clean Water in Rural Morocco

fog harvesting technologyFog harvesting technology in rural Morocco is helping address water scarcity in some of the country’s most arid and isolated communities. In rural Morocco, limited rainfall, scarce groundwater resources, and the effects of extreme weather patterns have made access to clean drinking water a long-standing challenge. By capturing moisture from fog and converting it into usable water, fog harvesting technology in rural Morocco is providing a sustainable solution for families in need. Dar Si Hmad has been central to developing and expanding this innovation.

How Fog Harvesting Technology Works

Fog harvesting technology uses large vertical mesh nets to capture tiny water droplets from fog. As wind passes through the nets, moisture condenses on the fibers, forming larger droplets that flow downward into collection channels. The collected water is then filtered and stored for household use, including drinking, cooking and sanitation.

According to Dar Si Hmad, the system deployed in southwestern Morocco is the largest operational fog-collection network in North Africa. The organization explains that the technology relies on consistent fog patterns in mountainous coastal regions, making it especially effective in the Anti-Atlas area. As described in project research materials, “The research aims to optimize fog collection means and create strong, self- sufficient nets that can withstand extremely hard conditions.” This reflects ongoing efforts to improve durability and efficiency in extreme environments while expanding access to clean water in rural communities.

Fog Harvesting in the Anti-Atlas Mountains

One of the most significant implementations of fog-harvesting technology in rural Morocco is in the Ait Baamrane region of the Anti-Atlas Mountains.

Dar Si Hmad described the fog-harvesting system in southwestern Morocco is described by Dar Si Hmad as “the largest functioning fog collection project in the world,” which has brought “positive transformations to the communities, particularly the women, and the environment.” The project uses CloudFisher technology at Mount Boutmezguida to capture fog and supply water to nearby villages, supporting both climate adaptation and local development.

Social and Economic Impacts

Procedia Engineering highlights the broader impacts of fog harvesting in rural Morocco. The study explains that the fogwater harvesting initiative “provides a holistic approach to addressing complex development challenges” and that it “delivers potable water to hundreds of rural residents who have never had running water.”The research further emphasizes that the project combines engineering innovation with community participation to improve water access, reduce poverty, and support sustainable development in underserved regions.

The project has had a significant impact on women in rural communities. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Dar Si Hmad is a “women-led NGO in Morocco” that designed and installed “the world’s largest operational fogwater harvesting system.” The organization also reports that Dar Si Hmad’s female team leaders have conducted more than 20 capacity-building workshops with rural berber women to promote literacy and income-generating projects. By training female villagers to monitor and maintain the fogwater system, the initiative strengthens local participation and empowers women as managers of water resources in climate-vulnerable regions.

Benefits for Women and Children

A major impact of fog harvesting technology in rural Morocco is the reduction in the time spent collecting water. In many rural communities, women and girls are traditionally responsible for this task, often walking long distances daily.

With the fog water system installed closer to villages, women and girls do not have the burden of long daily walks for water. According to Procedia Engineering, the project helps “free women and children from the time-consuming chore of collecting water” and contributes to the “Release of young girls from water gathering chores, enhancing the possibility they will attend school.” This shift can improve gender equity and create more opportunities for education and community development.

Health and Environmental Benefits

Access to clean water from fog harvesting systems has also improved public health outcomes. Reliable drinking water reduces exposure to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, which disproportionately affects children in rural areas.

In addition, fog harvesting technology in rural Morocco is environmentally sustainable. The UNFCCC describes the project as “an environmentally friendly water source to combat the effects of desertification.” Powered in part by solar panels and requiring little energy to operate, the system offers a cost-effective and low-impact solution for water-scarce regions facing the effects of extreme weather patterns

Fog harvesting technology demonstrates how an innovative, low-cost solution can address critical water shortages in vulnerable regions. Through the efforts of Dar Si Hmad and local communities, fog is being transformed into a reliable source of clean drinking water. This technology not only improves health and reduces daily burdens but also strengthens education, economic opportunity, and climate resilience in rural Morocco.

– Grelby Santos

Grelby is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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From Seeds to Market With the DeHaat App

dehaatFounded in 2012 by university graduates Shashank Kumar, Amrendra Singh, Adarsh Srivastav and Shyam Sundar Singh, DeHaat is a digital platform designed to support farmers across India. Today, it serves more than 1.4 million users by offering a range of services including: “frequent crop reminders, voice calls in regional languages, crop advisories, weather reports, and local mandi (market) rates.”

By combining technology with agriculture, DeHaat is helping to modernize the farming sector through modern agrotech solutions for farmers, making information and resources far more accessible. In doing so, the app is simultaneously helping farmers increase crop productivity and secure better prices for their produce.

The following sections outline the key features of the app and how each one of them contributes to reducing poverty and promoting long-term economic stability.

Crop Insurance

One of the most significant advantages of this app is its provision of crop insurance, which plays a critical role in alleviating poverty among farmers. A major challenge in the Indian agricultural sector is the impact of extreme weather events on harvests.  In India, since 2020, floods, storms or hailstorms have damaged“[…] 1.32 million acres – nearly seven times the size of New York City.”

Such losses could be devastating and force farmers to restart from the beginning, wiping out their income and pushing them deeper into financial insecurity. However, through integrated insurance services, DeHaat provides a vital financial safety net. This support ensures that farmers are not left without resources in times of crisis, helping them recover quickly and stabilise their income.

Therefore, by protecting farmers against unpredictable losses, the platform not only strengthens agricultural resistance but also promotes long-term economic security, making it a potent tool in the broader effort to reduce rural poverty.

Weather Alerts

Similar to its insurance feature, the app’s frequent weather alerts also play a key role in alleviating poverty. By providing timely meteorological updates and guidance for different stages of the growing season, farmers are able to plan ahead more effectively. This allows them to choose the right crops for specific conditions, allowing them to plant produce at optimal times.

For instance, if a storm is forecast to reach their farmland, farmers can prepare by fortifying crops or adjusting their harvesting schedule to minimize damage. These proactive decisions could help reduce crop losses, ensuring the farmer retains more of their income and produce.

Consequently, these agritech solutions for farmers could help lower the risks associated with unpredictable weather. DeHaat helps farmers to maintain more consistent earnings, reducing farmers’ vulnerability to condition-induced poverty over time.

Farm Tagging and Connect with Experts

A third significant feature of the app is its ability to directly and swiftly connect rural farmers with expert agriculture advice. Through the Dehaat platform, farmers can access guidance on critical aspects of farming such as pest control, irrigation techniques and the appropriate use of fertilizers. This immediate access to professional knowledge helps address one of the key challenges faced by smallholder farmers: the lack of reliable support.

By creating a more informed and responsive farming environment, the platform enables farmers to make better decisions and manage their land more thoroughly. Rather than relying on trial-and-error procedures, farmers can instead implement reliable and proven science-based solutions.

From a poverty-alleviation perspective, such expertise could be truly transformative because it could reduce the likelihood of crop failures, which would subsequently lead to lower production yields. In the long term, this intellectual exchange between farmers and experts empowers farmers to cultivate a secure and stable farming career, which could increase their ability to make money.

Market Linkage

The final, and most significant, feature of the app is its ability to connect farmers directly to local markets and facilitate the sale of their produce. Historically, the Indian agricultural sector has faced challenges related to corruption and exploitation. For example, findings from the BBC and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) identified that, “90,000 farmers between April 2011 and March 2012 found serious irregularities,” underscoring the vulnerability of small holders within traditional market systems.

By enabling direct access to institutional buyers, DeHaat could help reduce farmers’ reliance on intermediaries who may exploit information systems, helping ensure fairer pricing and more secure transactions, which helps farmers to avoid falling into debt traps. This greater financial independence contributes to a more equitable farmer experience that plays a role in reducing declines into rural poverty.

Conclusion

Ultimately, this app is an extraordinary example of how technology can provide effective solutions to reduce rural poverty by strengthening every stage of the farming process. From crop insurance to weather alerts to formal market guidelines, DeHaat agritech solutions for farmers help foster a proper, long-term, stable economic future for many individuals.

– Sophia Lupo

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

Photo: Flickr

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How Are Smartphones Driving Financial Inclusion in South Asia?

Financial Inclusion in South AsiaA silent revolution is taking place in South Asia’s markets and rural areas, where the digital gender gap is being challenged significantly. Recent studies show that despite women being 32% less likely than men to use mobile internet in South Asia, those who have access use smartphones as an all-in-one financial and educational hub, effectively avoiding traditional banking systems that have historically excluded them. Here is some information about how smartphones are driving financial inclusion in South Asia.

‎The Rise of the “Portable Bank Branch”

In South Asia, women in rural areas often face challenges in accessing physical banks. Women are compelled to rely on cash, which increases the risk of theft and prevents them from building a credit history. This lack of formal financial access traps women in a cycle of poverty. Women cannot access the capital required to grow a small business or save for investments.

In countries like India and Pakistan, the smartphone has transitioned from a communication device to a portable bank. The rise of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become essential for women entrepreneurs as it processes more than 20 billion transactions per month. In Bangladesh, women manage their earnings using digital wallets such as PhonePe or bKash, without needing to visit a bank in person. Visiting a bank was a significant hurdle for women in remote areas where social norms or distance often restricts mobility.

‎This shift helped the rise of the micro- entrepreneur. In Pakistan, initiatives like Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) have successfully migrated to digital wallets such as JazzCash to ensure that the aid and business earnings reach women directly. This digital advancement enables women to maintain control over their financial assets, often using their savings for critical life improvement areas such as their children’s education or their own growth.

Financial Inclusion and the Poverty Gap

Poverty disproportionately affects women in South Asia. In Pakistan, the poverty rate among women is often higher because of a lack of property ownership and formal employment. Women are restricted to the household and often face hurdles to achieving financial freedom. Women with no control over income and finances are more likely to have less influence over household spending.

Cultural, economic and systemic barriers often constrain women’s autonomy in South Asia. In many rural areas, women require permission to leave home, and in some regions, women are restricted from stepping out of their homes. Women in rural areas are often dependent on male relatives for basic needs. People in those areas often see financial independence as rebellion.

Lack of access to technology does not limit digital inclusion; it is more about autonomy, according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report. The research findings indicate that while the overall gender gap in South Asia remains wide, the frequency of use among connected women is rapidly increasing. Women in this region are increasingly tech savvy, as they are not using these devices for just entertainment but to increase their awareness, access property rights information and health services. Utilization of mobile internet for e-learning is also becoming very popular.

Organizations are further working to improve women’s experience by creating safe, digital-first spaces where women can learn to invest and save. Organizations like India’s LXME, founded in 2018, further accelerate this trend. LXME created a women-only digital community. Women can learn about mutual funds, insurance, saving in a jargon-free environment and in local languages. Since its establishment, LXME has empowered more than 1000,000 women to decide their financial future. Making financial literacy accessible in local languages and easy-to-manage interfaces is bridging the gap between having a phone and having financial power.

‎Closing the Final Gap

‎While this silent transition is improving, challenges persist. Significant efforts are required to improve the situation, as 60% of the world’s unconnected women live in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Millions of women risk being left behind in a rapidly digitalizing global economy, and aggressive investment in digital literacy and affordable information and communication can mitigate the risk.

‎As access to mobile internet is increasing, South Asian women’s situation is moving from helplessness to innovation. Financial inclusion in South Asia has improved as millions of women can make transactions via QR codes and manage business from their palms. A smartphone is not just a gadget; it is a new factor contributing to an equitable economy.

‎– Noor Ul Ain Ameer

Noor is based in Islamabad, Pakistan and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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AI Reducing Poverty and Inequality in South Africa

Poverty and Inequality in South AfricAround the world, governments are developing strategies to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). Countries such as the U.K. and India have introduced national plans to strengthen innovation, improve public services and boost economic growth. These strategies highlight the growing importance of AI in South Africa and other developing nations, where governments increasingly recognize AI’s role in shaping future economies and reducing inequality.

South Africa has positioned itself within this global shift through its National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework. This framework guides how industries and institutions should use AI technologies while managing risks such as inequality, unemployment and ethical concerns. It aligns AI development with national priorities, including economic growth and social inclusion. As a result, AI in South Africa has become a central tool for addressing long-standing development challenges.

South Africa continues to face significant poverty and inequality. Many communities struggle with unemployment, limited access to services and food insecurity. AI presents an opportunity to address these issues by improving productivity, expanding access to resources and creating new job opportunities. By strengthening digital skills and supporting innovation, AI in South Africa can help reduce poverty and promote long-term economic stability.

Driving Economic Growth Through AI in Agriculture

Agriculture remains a critical sector in South Africa, yet farmers face serious challenges such as changing weather patterns, droughts and rising food insecurity. In 2023, nearly 20% of households experienced food insecurity, highlighting the urgent need for innovation. AI-powered tools can help farmers respond to these challenges by improving efficiency and reducing risk.

AI technologies allow farmers to analyze weather patterns, soil conditions and crop performance. These tools provide predictive insights that help farmers make better decisions about irrigation, planting and pest control. For example, Aerobotics uses drones and satellite data to detect crop diseases early, helping farmers protect yields and reduce losses. Such innovations demonstrate how AI in South Africa can directly support rural livelihoods.

AI also contributes to broader economic growth by improving agricultural productivity and market access. Digital tools help farmers allocate resources efficiently, reduce waste and increase output. This strengthens food systems white supporting export growth and economic diversification. As agriculture becomes more technology-driven, AI in South Africa plays a key role in building a more resilient and competitive economy.

Transforming Healthcare and Education Through AI

South Africa’s healthcare system faces major challenges, including staff shortages and unequal access to care, particularly in rural areas. AI technologies help address the gaps by improving diagnostics and supporting medical professionals. AI-powered systems can analyze large datasets to detect diseases earlier and recommend treatments, improving patient outcomes and reducing pressure on healthcare systems.

Education also requires significant improvement, especially in underserved communities where schools often lack resources and qualified teachers. AI-powered learning platforms provide personalized education tailored to individual student needs. These tools help bridge the educational gaps by making high-quality learning accessible regardless of location. This highlights how AI in South Africa can expand opportunities and promote equality in education.

Private Sector and Global Support for AI Development

Private sector investment plays a crucial role in advancing AI in South Africa. Companies like Google and Microsoft are funding training programs to build digital skills across the continent. Google has committed millions of dollars to AI education and infrastructure, while Microsoft plans to train one million South Africans in AI and cybersecurity skills by 2026. These initiatives aim to prepare the workforce for the digital economy.

International partnerships also support AI development. For example, the U.K. has launched initiatives such as the AI Evidence Alliance for Social Impact to evaluate how AI can reduce poverty and improve development outcomes in Africa. These collaborations ensure that AI solutions remain inclusive, effective and aligned with local needs.

What This Means for the Future

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape global economies, AI in South Africa offers a powerful opportunity to address poverty, inequality and unemployment. By integrating AI into agriculture, healthcare and education, the country can improve essential services while driving economic growth. 

Through strong policies, investment in skills development and partnerships with global organizations, South Africa is building a more inclusive and sustainable future. If implemented effectively, AI will not only transform industries but also improve the lives of millions of people across the country.

– Annie Hodgkinson

Annie is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr