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Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Working Without Pay: Aid Workers in Somalia

aid workers in SomaliaThe Suuqa Xoolaha Center for Mothers and Children in southern Somalia, like many health facilities in the country, faced indefinite closure following the shuttering of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by the Trump administration in January 2025. Up until that point, the U.S. had been by far the largest international donor to Somalia, donating hundreds of millions each year, which were distributed through United Nations (U.N.) bodies like the World Food Programme (WFP) in addition to other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Much of this financial aid was used to fund health facilities and outposts run by international relief organizations like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), located predominantly in the south of the country.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

When word spread of a young woman who had begun to give birth outside the doors of a shuttered health facility—before she was brought in by neighbors—the former employees of the Suuqa Xoolaha Center quickly sprang to action to reopen the hospital, despite now receiving no pay. Many of those interviewed at the hospital speak of protecting a sense of community in the area, one determined to survive notwithstanding the foreign aid system that can cause vital funds to dry up at a moment’s notice.

Pilgrimage in Vain

As the need for humanitarian aid becomes more urgent in Somalia, opportunities for relief continue to diminish. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Abdullahi Abdi Abdirahman states how he and his wife and their seven children walked for nine days from their drought-ravaged home toward Dollow, a town on the Ethiopian border, which until recently was an international relief outpost. When they arrived, they found tents—but no aid. The outpost at Dollow was one of many across Somalia that had not made the cut following the U.N.’s hyper-prioritization of resources in response to global aid cuts.

Yet Abdullahi’s family is just one example of the estimated 3.8 million Somalians who have been internally displaced due to factors including severe drought, floods, forced eviction and the country’s ongoing civil war. For many, these former aid outposts and facilities were a vital lifeline that provided food, water and medical assistance to the country’s most vulnerable people. Without them, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warns that almost 2 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition, with 205 of the former 800 health clinics that helped to treat malnutrition having been closed in the last year.

Aid Workers in Somalia Fighting the ‘Era of Indifference’

Kate Phillips-Barrasso, head of global advocacy at Mercy Corps, an American aid group that organizes global relief programs, states that we are living in the era of indifference. This is marked by the decision of many of the world’s wealthiest nations—principally the U.S., but also France, Germany and the United Kingdom (U.K.)—to backtrack on their former commitments to the world’s neediest. Yet where governments flounder, individuals often step forward. One such example is Abdulnasir Mohamed Farah, a 30-year-old teacher in a school previously operated within a UNICEF camp in Dollow. Despite the loss of funding, he and other aid workers in Somalia have stayed behind, working without pay. Mohamed Farah stays, primarily because his fingerprint unlocks a digital payment card provided by the WFP, which he uses to buy the meager daily meal of rice and beans for his students.

A Further Challenge

It remains to be seen how remaining aid workers in Somalia, already under significant pressure, will be further affected by the global economic consequences of the recent war in the Middle East. As the cost of food, fuel and fertilizer rise due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, aid workers will be forced to stretch already scarce resources even further to tend to the needs of the most vulnerable. Speaking from a stabilization center in Dollow, Russell warns of a situation whereby multiple crises continue to converge, with the global economic shock caused by the war in the Middle East further exacerbating the plight of Somalians experiencing displacement due to severe drought and ongoing conflict. Water costs, for example, have more than doubled recently in regions worst affected by drought. Somalia also relies on imports for 70% of its food, and many families who were already on the brink of acute food insecurity may have been pushed further into crisis by this latest shock. The WFP warns that an additional 45 million people globally could be confronting acute hunger as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. While individual heroics are by no means a substitute for a collapsing aid infrastructure, they do illustrate the willingness of ordinary people to spread themselves out and assume the sharpest edges of a burden imposed on them.

– Tomás Quinn

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

Photo: Flickr

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5 World Cup Soccer Players Who Grew Up in Poverty

Silhouette of a child playing soccer at sunset on a street. World Cup Soccer Players Who Grew Up in PovertySoccer ranks as the most popular sport in the world by a considerable margin, with approximately 3.5 billion fans across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The FIFA World Cup boasted an estimated audience of 5 billion in 2022, making it the most-watched sports event worldwide. Historically regarded as a working-class sport, soccer has evolved into a multibillion-dollar global industry that continues to use its influence to lift aspiring superstars out of poverty.

The Challenges of Rising From Poverty

The path to sports stardom is difficult, with numerous hurdles facing soccer players who grew up in poverty. These include lack of access to health care and education, proximity to crime and volatile environments, and an overall lack of confidence or motivation. The biggest barrier is often financial, due to the costs of joining youth clubs and paying for kits. However, pathways opened by clubs and foundations exist because the industry understands that a young boy playing on the street in an impoverished neighborhood with a stuffed sock can grow up to become a legend like Pelé.

World Cup Players From Humble Beginnings

Forty-eight countries qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing together hundreds of players from various cultural and economic backgrounds. Here are five World Cup soccer players who grew up in poverty.

  • Luis Díaz (Colombia): Colombian winger Luis Díaz’s story is emblematic of many soccer players who grew up in poverty. An Indigenous Wayuu child from La Guajira, a Colombian region with a poverty rate of 67.4%, Díaz’s soccer destiny was uncertain due to malnutrition and financial instability. Despite his slender appearance, the 17-year-old Díaz impressed at a local soccer tournament, joining the Atlético Junior youth team. This set him on a path leading to a Premier League championship with Liverpool, a Bundesliga championship with Bayern Munich, and the Copa América Golden Boot award. Díaz has used his wealth to set up a family foundation supporting underdeveloped communities in Colombia and serves as the ambassador for The Passage and Centrepoint.
  • Luka Modrić (Croatia): Widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Luka Modrić’s childhood was tumultuous. Born in Croatia, he was five years old when the Croatian War of Independence erupted, displacing at least 170,000 Croatian civilians. Modrić recalls seeing his grandfather executed by Serb rebels, living without water and electricity for two years, and practicing soccer in hotel parking lots while bombs exploded. Initially rejected by Hajduk Split for being too skinny, Modrić signed with Dinamo Zagreb at age 16 and later played for Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid. He has won six UEFA Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, the Ballon d’Or, and led Croatia to second place at the FIFA World Cup. He founded the Luka Modrić scholarship program, offering 100 scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • Endrick Sousa (Brazil):  A 19-year-old striker from Brazil, Endrick has already made a considerable impression. At age 16, he was signed by Real Madrid in a deal worth €60 million, prompting comparisons with Ronaldo and Neymar, who also came from humble beginnings. Though Brazil has made progress with its poverty rate, reaching a historic low of 3%, it remains an inequitable country. Growing up on the outskirts of Brasília, Endrick’s childhood was marked by financial hardship; when his father abandoned the family, his mother became unemployed and homeless. Endrick and his siblings spent six months in an orphanage. With family support, Endrick joined the Palmeiras youth club and became the youngest player to play for their senior team, scoring 11 goals toward their Brasileirão Serie A victory. He is the youngest player in over 50 years to debut for the Brazil national team and was a natural choice for their 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
  • Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast):  Although the poverty rate in Côte d’Ivoire has decreased in recent years, it exceeded 50% when Amad Diallo was a child. In 2008, at age 8, Amad emigrated to Italy with his brother Hamed Traorè, gaining access to education and a better living standard. This move allowed Amad to join local club Boca Barco, leading to signings with Serie A club Atalanta and Premier League club Manchester United. An investigation by Italian authorities into soccer player trafficking brought Amad’s story into question, with allegations that he had entered the country using falsified documents. The trafficking of aspiring soccer players from Africa to Europe remains a documented problem, with estimates suggesting the number of cases could reach as high as 15,000 per year. Amad reached a settlement in the case and has not spoken publicly about it. The 23-year-old was chosen to represent Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • Alphonso Davies (Canada):  Alphonso Davies’ parents were Liberians who fled Monrovia during the Second Liberian Civil War, which displaced around half of the country’s population. They fled to a refugee camp in Ghana, where Alphonso was born and lived for five years. His family emigrated to Canada in 2005, and he obtained Canadian citizenship at age 16. He started playing soccer with Free Footie, a free after-school program, and signed with the Whitecaps FC Academy at age 14. His career skyrocketed to Bayern Munich, where he won the UEFA Champions League and the Golden Boy award. Alphonso scored Canada’s first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup and is a vocal advocate for refugee support, serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Looking Ahead

These stories show that soccer is more than a business or entertainment; it can be a means of escape for those without other options. These five soccer players who grew up in poverty have ascended beyond their humble beginnings to play at the largest sporting spectacle in the world. They have used the fame and wealth that soccer has brought them to give back, helping others from disadvantaged backgrounds realize their ambitions. Multiple groups, including the UEFA Foundation for Children and the Professional Footballers’ Association, actively work to make such dreams a reality for more people worldwide, inspiring hope and changing lives through soccer.

– Aled Warren

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

Photo: Pixabay

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Organizations Responding to the Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti

Volunteers sorting food packages for the Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti.Escalated gang violence in Haiti has brought on an unprecedented humanitarian and human rights crisis. Decades of political instability and social unrest in the country culminated with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Armed gangs took advantage of the resulting power vacuum to take control of 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and continue to expand their reach to rural areas and main roads. Due to the breakdown of central authority, these criminal groups go unchecked as they compete for territory and commit acts of extreme violence.

Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti

In 2025, an estimated 6,000 people were killed by gang violence in Haiti. About 1.4 million people, roughly a tenth of the country’s population, have been internally displaced by gang violence. Many of these people live in displacement sites without access to essential services like food, clean water and health care.

Some of the most effective work to address the ongoing crisis is being done by Haitian-led organizations, whose on-the-ground action responds to the everyday needs of those most affected by violence and displacement. The three local organizations highlighted in this article are just a few of the many Haitian-founded nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) doing crucial work in response to the country’s human rights crisis.

Nègès Mawon

Nègès Mawon is a Haitian feminist organization founded in 2015 with the mission to establish equality and autonomy for women in Haiti while liberating them from violence and oppression. Much of the organization’s work in recent years has involved providing services to survivors of gender-based and sexual violence.

Haiti has experienced an upsurge in sexual violence. The UN verified 1,863 cases of sexual violence in 2025, a 163% increase from 2024. According to Pascale Solages, co-founder of Nègès Mawon, armed gangs employ sexual violence as a “weapon of control” to terrorize and exploit. Women and girls living in displacement settlements, where there is a lack of security, are especially vulnerable to this violence.

Nègès Mawon has responded by offering holistic care to survivors of sexual violence, including medical care, psychological support, legal guidance, economic assistance and educational resources. Survivors of gender-based violence can find temporary accommodation at the organization’s Claire Heureuse House. Nègès Mawon’s mentorship program, which pairs survivors of sexual violence, seeks to create community and reduce the stigma around the topic. In 2024, the organization provided services to 1,800 women and girls, despite the ongoing threats of violence experienced by the entire community, including its staff.

Centre Hospitalier de Fontaine Foundation

For more than 30 years, the Centre Hospitalier de Fontaine in the community of Cité Soleil outside of Port-au-Prince has provided critical medical care to some of Haiti’s most vulnerable populations. The foundation’s work has become even more crucial as 70% of public health facilities in Haiti have been shut down due to gang violence, depriving about 4.4 million people of health care.

The Centre Hospitalier de Fontaine Foundation covers medical expenses and provides life-saving equipment and medication. The hospital safely delivered 1,960 babies and treated 384 NICU patients in 2024. In response to the 5.4 million Haitians experiencing acute hunger, the foundation treated 4,037 malnourished children and provided more than 20,000 with vitamin A. In all, it served more than 50,000 people, many through its mobile health services, which bring care to people unable to travel due to the threat of gang violence.

Kareen Ulysse, head of the foundation, has spoken of the increasing difficulty of ensuring the safe transport of supplies and medical personnel to and from the hospital. Despite the daily threat to their safety, hospital staff continue to provide life-saving care.

Défenseurs Plus

Founded in 2013, Défenseurs Plus is a nonprofit organization based in Port-au-Prince dedicated to the promotion of human rights in Haiti. It was established in response to the state’s failure to implement the human rights policies outlined in the conventions and treaties it ratified. Défenseurs Plus provides human rights and advocacy training to local youth and community organizations, working to raise awareness of the rights entitled to all Haitian citizens. Its Legal Intervention and Assistance Program for Victims helps victims of human rights abuses attain justice. Défenseurs Plus also monitors human rights issues in Haiti and drafts alternative reports to United Nations treaty bodies, holding state authorities accountable.

In a recent example of its advocacy work, Défenseurs Plus published a press release in response to the visit of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to Haiti on June 16, 2026. Ulrick Tintin, head of legal affairs for Défenseurs Plus, drew attention to the gravity of what he called the “systemic collapse” in Haiti and the human rights abuses its people suffer daily. He criticized the international response to the crisis as ineffective and called for “concrete action” to reestablish state authority through democratic elections.

Looking Ahead

The ongoing work by these Haitian organizations is cause for hope despite the gravity of the ongoing human rights crisis in the country. Although Haiti requires support from the international community, humanitarian aid and assistance will not succeed without the participation of local actors. Haitian-led organizations demonstrate the valuable expertise of local communities and the importance of involving local leaders and NGOs in decision-making as efforts are made to restore state authority and lessen the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

– India Kaz

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

Photo: Flickr

Oil and Poverty in Nigeria

Poverty in NigeriaNigeria is estimated to have a GDP of over $350 billion, making it one of the largest economies in Africa. A significant amount of that wealth is generated by the oil trade; Nigeria is home to one of the richest oil resource centers in the world, and recent statistics confirm it remains the largest oil producer in Africa, making up the overwhelming majority of the country’s exports and generating two-thirds of its total revenue.

Despite the wealth brought in by the oil trade, poverty remains endemic in Nigeria. More than 40% of the country’s population of 210 million is considered to be living in extreme poverty (that is, living below $3 per person per day), giving it the second-largest poor population in the world after India. While this is 10% less than the poverty rate in 1985, that decrease is not proportional to the considerable economic growth Nigeria has experienced in those years, with the country having seen an average of 3.89% in annual growth since 2011. Although the oil trade has elevated Nigeria economically, it may have exacerbated poverty rather than alleviated it.

The Resource Curse

One of the paradoxes of Nigeria’s economy is that the country’s abundance of natural resources has not translated into wealth for most of its citizens. Much of the wealth is generated from the export of oil and the leasing of oil fields to multinational corporations, with relatively little oil extracted for Nigeria’s own direct benefit. Prioritizing the oil trade has been detrimental to agricultural industries that could have capitalized on alternatives such as gold, timber and crops.

Oil spills have made Nigeria one of the worst areas affected by oil pollution, with nearly 500 incidents reported in 2025 alone. The impact has been disastrous for the country’s rainforests and rivers, as well as for communities dependent on natural resources. The Niger Delta has been the most heavily impacted, resulting in infertile farmlands, losses in vegetative biodiversity and declining fish populations, rendering local farmers and fishermen unable to support themselves.

Institutional Corruption

Corruption has been a long-standing issue in Nigeria’s governance and administration, and consequently much of the wealth generated by oil has not been invested into areas where it is most needed, such as public services, infrastructure and job creation. Manifestations of such corruption in the oil industry include fiscal leakages, where large amounts of revenue collected by state-owned entities go unreported; bribery, where government officials accept payments from oil companies in exchange for favorable deals and licenses; and negligence, where insufficient oversight and regulation enable further corruption.

Oil Bunkering

At the heart of the oil trade in Nigeria is a practice known as oil bunkering, which refers to the theft of crude oil from pipelines to be smuggled or illegally refined. This can occur in the form of an amateur operation or a highly organized enterprise practiced by professionals with the cooperation of corrupt officials. Bunkering is regarded as a profitable venture and is estimated to cost the country 200,000-300,000 barrels of oil per day, about 10% of Nigeria’s daily production. In addition to the loss in revenue that could otherwise be invested in alleviating poverty, oil bunkering contributes to greater instability and criminality that make these collective issues harder to address.

Ongoing Efforts

In recent years, several steps have been taken to address the complicated problems surrounding oil and poverty in Nigeria.

  • Economic Diversification: Dwindling oil prices have compelled the Nigerian government to decrease its dependency on oil and prioritize other forms of revenue. Industries identified for investment include agriculture, mining and manufacturing. In line with this objective, President Muhammadu Buhari pledged at COP26 for Nigeria to transition to renewable energy sources and attain carbon neutrality by 2060.
  • Compensation and Remediation: Local communities are seeking reparations and corrective action from entities responsible for environmental damage caused by oil spills. The most high-profile case at the time of writing was launched by residents of Bille and Ogale, near the Niger Delta, against Shell plc. For the 7,000 spills that Shell is alleged to have caused since 1958, the communities are seeking $1 billion in damages, $750 million of which would be used to clean up the environmental damage.
  • Activism and Awareness: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International, ENACT Africa and Oxfam are working to raise awareness about the harms exacerbated by the oil trade in Nigeria and to advocate for urgently needed solutions. The Together Against Poverty (TAP) project, for example, is working to hold the Nigerian government accountable for its commitment toward poverty alleviation and to secure greater contributions from major international donors such as the European Union.

Looking Ahead

Some actions have led to improvements; for example, Nigeria’s investment in solar power has already led to lower living costs and improved quality of life on the local level. However, much more needs to be done to fully address the enormity of the problems surrounding the oil trade in Nigeria and the contributions it has made to poverty.

– Aled Warren

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

Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Helping After the Venezuelan Earthquakes

Nurse holding a clipboard in a hospital hallway, representing healthcare support. Charities Helping After the Venezuelan EarthquakesOn June 24, 2026, two earthquakes with 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes hit northern and central Venezuela. Since then, more than 3,500 people have died, thousands were injured, and tens of thousands remain missing. Additionally, over 17,000 citizens have been left homeless after the damage and destruction of approximately 59,000 buildings.

Before these earthquakes, Venezuela was already in a state where about 8 million people needed humanitarian aid. The aftermath has caused overcrowding, the spread of disease, and difficulty accessing food and water as thousands attempt to find shelter. This situation has pushed those already in need into a deeper crisis. Multiple charities and organizations, already working in Venezuela, have been able to provide immediate assistance. Here are five charities helping after the Venezuelan earthquakes:

5 Charities Helping After the Venezuelan Earthquakes

  • Project HOPE: Project HOPE has reached 1.2 million people since 2019, providing health and humanitarian assistance in Venezuela. Since the earthquakes, Project HOPE has focused on delivering medical care and supplies, clean drinking water, mental health support, and search and rescue teams where needed. They currently have over 100 staff members in the field, many of whom were already working in Venezuela.
  • Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders has sent about 50 staff members to respond to the crisis. Their main focus is providing medical care to those injured and sick. They have supplied eight hospitals with the resources to treat around 4,000 patients. They continue to support the country by building mobile clinics offering physical and mental health care, with the first one launched in Naiguatá, La Guaira.
  • The International Rescue Committee: The International Rescue Committee has supported women and children in Venezuela since 2021 by providing primary health care, reproductive health services, and assistance with malnutrition, food and hygiene. In 2025, they helped more than 75,000 citizens. They are currently providing medical care, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services to those affected by the earthquakes.
  • Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps has impacted over 496,000 Venezuelans since 2019. They prioritize distributing medical supplies, specifically maternal care, and providing cash assistance and entrepreneurship training. During this crisis, they continue to offer cash provisions and support to damaged community health facilities, focusing on basic needs such as nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. They have delivered sanitation and hygiene kits to 200 children in Caracas.
  • World Vision: World Vision has been providing assistance in Venezuela since 2019, focusing on children. They work with over 2,000 local partners to offer food, water, sanitation and psychological aid across La Guaira, Caracas and Miranda, helping nearly 15,000 people since the earthquakes. They have also established child-friendly spaces for structured play and psychosocial support.

Looking Ahead

Rebuilding and recovery remain critical for Venezuela and its citizens. As charities and organizations continue their efforts, along with international assistance, the support needed is available, making the road to recovery possible.

– Ally Jones

Ally is based in Bethany, OK, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Staying Connected: Indigenous Families in Mexico City

Indigenous Families in Mexico CityIn July 2025, the sound of drums carried across Zócalo as dancers and musicians in traditional prehispanic clothing performed ceremonies marking 700 years since the founding of Tenochtitlan. Families gathered around the square while performers celebrated traditions that long predate the modern capital. Behind them stood the Metropolitan Cathedral, built from the stones of the dismantled ceremonial precinct that once occupied the same ground. The celebration honored the city’s Indigenous foundations while also reflecting something much more current. Indigenous communities continue to shape life in Mexico City despite the pressures of poverty, migration and urban exclusion that many families experience after arriving in the capital.

Strengthening Community Ties

For many Indigenous families, gatherings such as these represent more than a commemoration. They provide an opportunity to strengthen community ties that can come under pressure from economic hardship and displacement. According to the World Bank, Indigenous people across Latin America continue to experience poverty at more than twice the rate of non-Indigenous populations, with Mexico home to one of the region’s largest Indigenous populations. As families move to the capital in search of work or education, community spaces help preserve the relationships, traditions and support networks that remain important long after they arrive.

Year-Round Community Life

The ceremonies in Zócalo lasted only a day, but community life continues throughout the year. Across the city, public spaces host language workshops, artisan markets, traditional dance, communal meals and cultural events that bring Indigenous families together on a regular basis. One example is Mexico City’s PILARES network, which has expanded across the capital to around 300 community centers offering free educational, cultural, sporting and skills-based programs. Alongside workshops and artistic activities, these centers provide places where residents can meet, organize local events and strengthen community ties without financial barriers to participation. During the anniversary celebrations, President Claudia Sheinbaum described Tenochtitlan not as “a dead past,” but as “the living pulse that beats beneath our capital city,” reflecting the continued presence of Indigenous culture in everyday life.

Shared Loss and Memory

Community space also takes shape through shared loss and memory. Across the capital, anti-monuments dedicated to people who have disappeared have become regular meeting places for families, campaigners and neighbors. Relatives return carrying photographs, embroidered names and banners demanding justice for those still missing. These gatherings rarely end when speeches finish. Families exchange legal information, organize future demonstrations, collect donations and support one another through investigations that often continue for years. Places of remembrance become places of practical solidarity as well as public memory.

Visibility and Support

Community spaces cannot remove the inequalities Indigenous families continue to face in Mexico City, but they can make them less isolating. Shared meals, neighborhood events, cultural workshops and public acts of remembrance allow families to exchange practical support while preserving language, tradition and collective memory. They also help ensure that Indigenous communities remain visible in the life of the capital. By the time the ceremonies in Zócalo came to an end, the crowds began to disperse, but the work of sustaining community continues elsewhere. Across Mexico City, shared spaces continue to bring Indigenous families together, strengthening relationships that extend well beyond a single celebration.

– Elliott J Carter

Elliott is based in Mexico City and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Trachoma Elimination in Guatemala is Changing Lives

Man and child eating watermelon in Sololá, Guatemala, benefiting from trachoma elimination efforts.“Today I feel very grateful, satisfied, and happy. Now I can do my daily tasks. I used to feel a lot of discomfort and pain,” Manuela Suy Yac told PAHO, a 66-year-old resident of Guineales, a rural community in Guatemala’s Sololá department.

Yac received eyelid surgery as part of a trachoma elimination campaign supported by Guatemala’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the Government of Canada. After the procedure, she said she no longer feels the constant discomfort that once kept her from her daily tasks.

Yac’s experience reflects Guatemala’s broader efforts to eliminate trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. The country is using surveillance initiatives, health worker training, and regional partnerships to identify remaining cases and prevent future outbreaks in vulnerable communities. Recent efforts, supported by PAHO, Tropical Data, and international partners, focus on strengthening disease monitoring through training and enhanced surveys.

Understanding the Impact of Trachoma in Guatemala

Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by repeated infection with certain strains of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious scarring of the eyelids over time. In severe cases, the eyelashes turn inward and rub against the surface of the eye, which can result in permanent vision loss. Trachoma occurs most often in communities affected by poverty, where access to clean water and sanitation is limited.

Although trachoma has been eliminated as a public health problem in some countries in the Americas, Guatemala still requires active surveillance to track the disease’s prevalence and identify vulnerable populations. Researchers identified 69 municipalities in Guatemala as very high priority for trachoma surveillance, highlighting where continued monitoring is most needed.

Guatemala Strengthens Trachoma Surveillance

Since 2011, Guatemala’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with PAHO and the Government of Canada, has implemented the SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma in affected areas (p. 2). These efforts have included antibiotic treatment for more than 75,000 people across 95 communities in Sololá, as well as surgical interventions for more than 100 people between 2019 and 2022 to treat advanced trachoma-related eye damage.

As part of these elimination efforts, the country hosted a regional Training of Trainers workshop in February 2025 focused on expanding surveillance capabilities across regions. Organized by PAHO with support from Tropical Data and funding from the Government of Canada, the workshop trained health professionals to conduct enhanced trachoma surveys and collect additional data to help identify remaining cases. These efforts are designed to improve the quality of surveillance and provide public health officials with better information to guide elimination strategies.

Unlike standard trachoma surveys, the enhanced “plus” surveys include conjunctival swabs and dried blood spot samples, which provide additional information about transmission and exposure. According to Tropical Data, these methods support more integrated disease surveillance by allowing health officials to screen for multiple diseases with a single sample and detect disease patterns across communities. As Guatemala moves toward trachoma elimination, these tools support a more multi-disease surveillance approach to public health monitoring.

Regional Partnerships Expand Elimination Efforts

Regional partnerships have played an important role in supporting trachoma elimination in Guatemala. As reported by Tropical Data, the 2025 training workshop brought together 14 delegates from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Participants received training they can share with health professionals in their home countries, helping to strengthen surveillance capacity and standardize methods across the region.

Beyond trachoma, these collaborative efforts support broader disease surveillance and elimination goals across the Americas. Tropical Data notes that integrated approaches to disease monitoring improve both the efficiency and the reach of public health surveillance. By strengthening partnerships and sharing expertise across borders, countries can build more sustainable public health systems while working toward the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.

Improving Lives Across Guatemala

The benefits of this work extend beyond improved health outcomes. According to PAHO, restoring eye health allows people to resume daily, economic, and family activities that were limited by the disease. As communities gain greater access to treatment and prevention, trachoma elimination can reduce the burden of preventable vision loss in vulnerable populations.

The progress made so far shows how investments in public health can create lasting benefits for communities. Through continued surveillance, training, and collaboration with regional and international partners, the country is eliminating a disease that has long affected some of its most vulnerable residents. While challenges remain, these efforts are helping move Guatemala closer to a future free from trachoma-related blindness.

For patients like Yac, this work is more than a public health achievement. It represents a personal transformation. Reflecting on the impact of her surgery, she put it simply: “I am free of trachoma.” As Guatemala continues its elimination efforts, stories like hers highlight the life-changing potential of accessible health care and disease prevention.

– Lily Hoch

Lily is based in Midway, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixnio

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Brazil’s Legislative Strategy for Informal Workers

 

Brazil's legislative strategy for informal workersHistorically, Latin American economies have left informal laborers and gig economy workers completely outside state regulatory safety nets. This structural gap traps millions of street vendors, domestic cleaners, and ride-hailing drivers in structural vulnerability. In Brazil, where approximately 37.3% of the workforce operates informally—representing over 38 million citizens—the lack of formal protections historically meant that a medical emergency, an economic downturn, or a sudden vehicular breakdown could instantly plunge low-income families into absolute destitution. However, a major legislative turning point is underway in South America. The Brazilian federal government, through the Ministry of Labor and Employment, has systematically advanced groundbreaking labor frameworks designed to formally absorb informal workers into the state’s social architecture. This proactive strategy provides a scalable blueprint for developing nations worldwide, proving that targeted poverty reduction can effectively align with modern technological growth.

Aligning With Global Progress and the ILO Treaty

Brazil’s transformative domestic policy is moving forward alongside historic international milestones. In June 2026, the United Nations’ International Labour Organization officially adopted its landmark global treaty on platform work, known as the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention (Convention No. 193). This groundbreaking treaty represents the first time the global community has established a binding international standard to guarantee fundamental rights, algorithmic transparency, and social safety nets for those earning their livelihood via digital platforms. The convention still requires individual member states to ratify it before it becomes legally binding in those countries.

By positioning its domestic laws to align with the June 2026 ILO treaty, Brazil has demonstrated notable leadership on this issue. The synchronization between international guidelines and Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers has accelerated the implementation of vital safety nets across the country. Rather than viewing technological innovation as a legal loophole to bypass labor protections, Brazil’s current approach utilizes these modern business models to systematically lift citizens out of precarious financial situations. The shared momentum between Geneva and Brasília ensures that millions of ride-share drivers and couriers now operate under a recognized, legally protected framework that guarantees algorithmic transparency, a predictable baseline income, and clear avenues for legal recourse against unfair platform account deactivations.

The Dual Strategy

At the heart of Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers is a sophisticated, dual-pronged strategy that directly addresses the root causes of systemic financial insecurity. The first component focuses on legal enforcement and immediate economic stability. The federal framework introduces a mandatory minimum hourly wage specifically calculated for app-based workers, ensuring that corporate algorithms cannot drive base payouts below a livable standard. Simultaneously, the legislation establishes strict working-hour caps. These caps actively prevent individuals from enduring the extreme exhaustion and hazardous conditions that previously characterized unregulated gig labor, directly fostering a healthier, safer, and more sustainable working environment.

The second component of the strategy secures long-term structural mobility by integrating these newly recognized workers into the official state public pension and maternity benefit systems. Historically, an informal courier or driver had no access to retirement security or paid parental leave. The new system remedies this through an innovative, shared social security contribution model. Under this architecture, digital tech giants are legally mandated to co-contribute to the state social security fund alongside the workers, meaning that companies pay a fixed percentage of the labor costs directly into the social security system to match the individual worker’s inputs.

This model effectively shifts the sole burden of risk away from the individual and shares it with multinational digital platforms. These policy adjustments deliver clear, measurable safety nets for vulnerable households:

  • Guaranteed Retirement: Platform workers accumulate verifiable years of service toward a state pension.
  • Maternity Protection: Female gig workers and domestic cleaners access full maternity benefits, protecting maternal and infant health without risking a total loss of household income.
  • Injury Buffers: Universal coverage provides automated disability and workplace injury buffers, preventing temporary health crises from turning into long-term economic disasters.

The CNPJ Surge and the Decline of Informality

The positive impacts of Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers extend far beyond the digital gig economy. Simultaneously, a national surge in registrations within the Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica (CNPJ), Brazil’s official National Registry of Legal Entities, has transformed the country’s broader macroeconomic landscape. By simplifying the registration process and offering clear fiscal incentives, the government has encouraged millions of micro-entrepreneurs, independent traders, and traditional street vendors to formalize their small businesses.

According to data released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2026, this national wave of formalization has driven the country’s informality rate down to 37.3%, the lowest level recorded in over five years. At the same time, IBGE tracked a historic rise in the usual real monthly earnings of Brazilian workers, reaching an average of 3,652 Brazilian reais (BRL), which represents a 5.4% increase in an annual comparison. Transitioning into the CNPJ registry opens up a vast array of previously inaccessible economic opportunities for independent workers. Registered individuals can now open official business bank accounts, secure low-interest public credit lines through state-backed banks to expand their operations, and issue legal tax invoices.

This shift meaningfully changes the socioeconomic outlook for millions of citizens. By replacing structural vulnerability with institutional legitimacy, the registry acts as an engine for upward financial mobility. It transforms survival-based informal labor into thriving, more protected micro-enterprises.

A Sustainable Blueprint for Global Poverty Reduction

The measurable success of Brazil’s legislative overhaul provides an encouraging template for the global development community. For decades, international organizations combating extreme poverty struggled with the reality that informal economies in developing nations represent a massive, unprotected block of human labor. Brazil’s current trajectory suggests that modern states do not need to choose between technological advancement and human rights; instead, regulatory frameworks can evolve alongside digital platforms.

By successfully absorbing vulnerable populations into the formal state architecture, Brazil is effectively building a stronger defense against sudden poverty. The positive outcomes visible across the country—ranging from stabilized weekly household incomes to comprehensive social protection access for over 38 million citizens—illustrate that targeted legislative action yields significant systemic benefits. As other emerging markets look to address the expanding gig economy, Brazil’s legislative strategy for informal workers stands out as a notable example of progressive, balanced socioeconomic policy.

– Ioana Marin

Ioana is based in Bucharest, Romania and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Auto-Disable Syringes Make Immunization Safer

Auto-Disable SyringesOver the last century, the development of vaccines has greatly reduced the transmission, severity, and fatality of many diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and influenza. Global immunization efforts have been so effective that in 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox, which contributed to millions of deaths for thousands of years, to be the first infectious disease to be eradicated. However, this innovation brought a new complication, especially for low-income regions. Due to a lack of funding, many low-income countries struggle with low supplies of needles and syringes, leading to increased unsafe injection practices, such as reusing needles. In 1999, it was estimated that about 30% of immunization injections were unsafe, putting both patients and health care providers at risk of contracting blood-borne illnesses such as Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS.

Blood-Borne Illnesses in the Eastern Mediterranean

Although cases of HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have been deemed low for many years, a 2025 scientific review suggests that it is one of the few regions in the world where the prevalence of HIV is rising. In 2025, Saadia Alsomali and colleagues examined several studies on the prevalence of HIV and other blood-borne diseases in Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, Pakistan, and Palestine. The results suggest that between 530,000 and 610,000 people in the EMR were reported to have HIV, and cases of new infections have almost doubled within the last decade.

The prevalence of HIV varies across countries and demographics; however, there are some notable trends. Pakistan has the highest prevalence of HIV in the EMR at 33%, while most other countries in the EMR have a prevalence of less than 10%, below the average of other global regions. The fact that Pakistan is the most populous country in the EMR likely contributes to the high prevalence of HIV. Additionally, marginalized groups such as female sex workers, intravenous drug users, and non-heterosexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV, contributing to 97% of HIV cases in the EMR. Their marginalized status and the lack of accurate information about HIV may contribute to less than 10% of people from these populations being tested for HIV, meaning the true prevalence may be higher. Intravenous drug users are at particular risk of contracting HIV, as only nine out of 22 EMR countries have needle and syringe programs.

How Auto-Disable Syringes Help

Auto-disable needles prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases via a safety mechanism that locks the plunger of the syringe after one use, preventing reuse and decreasing the risk of accidental needle sticks. These syringes have been a staple of many global immunization efforts because they allow health care workers to immunize large volumes of people safely and reduce the transmission of serious diseases. Also, since many low-income regions lack resources and health care services, auto-disable syringes ensure people living in any region, regardless of socioeconomic status, can be immunized safely.

That is why more nonprofit organizations, such as UNICEF, are incorporating auto-disable syringes into their immunization campaigns. In 1999, UNICEF, as well as WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), released a joint statement affirming their dedication to making immunization efforts safer. Since then, UNICEF has become one of the largest buyers of auto-disable syringes, purchasing about 40% of the global supply. It delivers these syringes to immunization programs in over 90 countries, providing about 800 million childhood vaccinations every year.

Looking Ahead

Auto-disable syringes are an important innovation used in global immunization campaigns. By preventing reuse, these syringes make immunization safer by reducing the risk of transmitting blood-borne diseases such as HIV. Since the risk of contracting blood-borne diseases is especially high in low-income regions and marginalized populations, widespread use of auto-disable syringes can improve health equity around the world.

– Lily Alexander

Lily is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Rawpixel

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NGOs Working in Syria

Children in a Syrian refugee camp, highlighting NGO humanitarian initiatives. NGOs Working in SyriaThe role of nonprofit organizations (NGOs) working in Syria encompasses a broad range of activities, providing fundamental necessities such as food, water, shelter, and legal aid. NGO-led cash aid has contributed to Syria’s monetary resilience over time. These organizations focus on providing civilians with health care services and psychological support.

Syria’s Demolished Economy

The economy in Syria has suffered a GDP loss of $800 billion over 14 years of conflict. One-third of all housing units were destroyed during the conflict, leaving 5.7 million people in need of shelter support today. Over half of all water treatment facilities and sewer systems are impaired, leaving roughly 14 million people without clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. The conflict has caused 618,000 deaths and 113,000 disappearances. Many lives have been lost due to the collapse of the health system. One-third of the health centers collapsed, and nearly half of ambulance services were impaired. Energy production has dropped 80%, with over 70% of power plants and power lines damaged, diminishing the national grid capacity by more than three-quarters.

British Red Cross Mission in Syria

The British Red Cross is one of the NGOs working in Syria that has assisted over 6 million Syrians since the conflict started in March 2011. The charity has supplied lifesaving aid such as food, blankets, mattresses, and other assistance. The British Red Cross has trained many Red Cross volunteers in Syria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided masks and food packages so families could protect themselves. The British Red Cross helped people in Syria during the 2023 earthquake, which affected 153,000 people, providing emergency cash support for essential household items. The organization stated that they have aided 43,600 migrants with residences and care coordination within the United Kingdom. The British Red Cross is a leading contributor to a $130 million IFRC emergency appeal to provide food, health care, and psychological assistance for those experiencing trauma.

Oxfam Beating Poverty in Syria

The global organization Oxfam has been working closely with local and national NGOs in Syria since 2013 to assist people impacted by poverty and conflict. Oxfam has refurbished wells and pumping stations, sewage, and water supply structures that help more than 490,000 people in Syria. This work includes providing generators to help water pumping methods operate correctly. In March 2025, Oxfam’s partner GOPA-DERD provided 1,000 hygiene products, including soap and menstrual products, to families who lost their homes in Jableh. In July and August 2025, Oxfam provided water by truck to cities near Latakia affected by wildfires and plans to build two water pumping terminals. Oxfam reached more than 92,000 people and spent 844,536 euros on food and living responses between Oxfam KEDV and Oxfam in Syria. They provided cash to 1,000 households to buy food at local markets after wildfires destroyed their agricultural assets.

World Food Programme Support

In 2026, the World Food Programme (WFP) increased its efforts in food assistance for displaced families in North Syria. Areas such as Al-Hasakeh now shelter families in schools and camps. WFP provides date bars, dietary supplements, and food boxes to displaced families in sanctuaries, schools, and Newroz camp in Al-Hasakeh governorate. They have recently resumed food deliveries in Al-Hol camp, aiming to ensure all residents receive two months of food assistance. WFP has also provided support with fortified flour to more than 300 bakeries across the nation, enabling 4 million people to obtain subsidized fresh bread. The organization is spending $189 million in 2026 to stabilize crucial nutrition in Syria, reaching 1.6 million of the most vulnerable people and securing access to affordable bread for millions.

International Rescue Committee Building Hope in Syria

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has over 1,000 staff in Syria providing life-saving medical care, protection, and personalized support to communities. The IRC partners with local and emigration groups to ensure the continuous flow of crucial medicines, supplies, and equipment. The IRC runs classes, counseling, and security services for children in camps and communities, incorporating mental health services into its main work. The IRC has provided more than 166,000 people with access to medical care, including primary and hospital-level health services and care for mothers. They have partnered with the European Union, increasing funding to local partners from 30% to 48%. Finally, the IRC is building household monetary stability with career training, apprenticeships, and small business support for Syrians.

– Ruba Alghurab

Ruba is based in Florida, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels