Category: Economic Development

They live in the village of Ankilinanjosoa in Anosy, a region which has suffered a series of droughts leading to the failures of multiple harvests.

Twenty-five women formed a grower’s association which has access to water as part of a project supported by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

UN News/Daniel Dickinson

Tenefo Votsirasoa is a member of a women’s growers association in the village of Ankilinanjosoa.

It’s hoped a reliable way to irrigate their crops will not only help to build their resilience to the drought conditions but also allow them to make their own decisions about how to spend their money.

Ahead of World Water Day, marked annually on 22 March, farmer Tenefo Votsirasoa explains that access to water is everything.

“In this garden of around 500m², we are growing maize, courgettes, greens, tomatoes, peppers, onions and sometimes beans. Maize especially needs a lot of water.

We get water from the village supply. It costs 100 ariary (2 US cents) for a 20-litre jerry can. We spend about 2,000 ariary (44 US cents) a day on water. 

Before, if we wanted to cultivate crops we had to buy water which was collected from the river, which cost 500 to 1,000 ariary (11-22 US cents) per jerry can, so it was very expensive to grow any food.

We have a system of irrigation provided by UNICEF, which means our crops always get enough water. We do have to rent the pump to irrigate the field, but we hope one day as an association we will be able to buy our own pump, which will ultimately save us money.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson

Water is on tap for the first time in Ankilinanjosoa village.

Supporting the family

I have eight children, five girls and three boys, and now that I have access to family planning information, I will not have any more.

The girls come to help in the field after school. It is not our culture for boys to come. They stay home to study or do other work, for example, looking after cattle. My husband left home to find work and is living a long way away towards the north of the country.

Now I can provide enough food to feed my family and can sell the rest so I can afford to send the children to school and to pay for medical care. I am also saving some money.

United Nations

SDG 5

SDG 5: EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS

 

• End all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls
• Eliminate such harmful practices as early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation
• Adapt and strengthen legislation to promote gender equality and empower women and girls
• Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life
• Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care

 

Globally, almost half of all married women currently lack decision-making power over their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

 

Village associations

The village has a population of about 1,200. Our association of farmers is made up of some of the women who have the fewest opportunities. We do not produce enough to feed everyone in the village, but many have the resources to buy food for themselves in the market.

The biggest change in my life is the independence that farming had given me. I don’t have to ask men for money as I have my own, and I don’t have to do what a man tells me to do, so I feel more equal. I think in the eyes of men, our independence is respected, and we have some worth as people.

I’m not interested in being more powerful than men; they also have an association in the village, so we can work alongside each other in our separate associations.

We have had four harvests so far, and I am very happy with our progress. It is a good idea to be in an association.

My tip for a good crop to grow is beans. If you plant 10 bags of seeds, you can harvest 100 bags of beans.”

In an alert, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said that this increase had been fuelled by the growing number of people forced to work illegally, but also by higher profits.

ILO senior research officer Federico Blanco told journalists in Geneva that traffickers and criminals make close to $10,000 per victim, around $1,700 more than they did in 2014.

“The human toll is also incalculable. These illegal profits represent wages, resources, livelihoods, effectively stolen from workers”, he said.  

“This not only affects the workers themselves, but also their families and the flow of migrant remittances, disrupting entire communities.”

The profits from forced labour are highest in Europe and Central Asia – at $84 billion – followed by Asia and the Pacific ($62 billion), the Americas ($52 billion), Africa ($20 billion), and the Arab States ($18 billion).

Lucrative sex trade

Forced sex work generates more than two-thirds of profits, even though it only involves around one in four of the overall number of people forced to work illegally.

This is because exploiters make more than $27,000 a year from each illegal sex worker, which is far more than the average $3,600 in profits generated by most other forms of forced labour.

Senegal: UN experts call for fundamental freedoms ahead of elections

Independent human rights experts on Tuesday urged authorities in Senegal to ensure that political parties, journalists and human rights defenders can exercise their right to freedom of association, assembly and expression during the upcoming electoral period.

The Human Rights Council-appointed experts have previously raised concerns with the Government about the prosecution and detention of opposition leaders and their supporters.

They also welcomed the release of over 500 detainees last week which included opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, although they only have days left to campaign before the presidential ballot on 24 March 2024.

‘Inclusive and meaningful’ poll essential

“We urge authorities to uphold the fundamental freedoms necessary for an inclusive and meaningful democratic process, and end restrictions on public freedoms that the country has witnessed in recent years,” the experts said.  

They noted that Senegal had seen “unprecedented mass protests” across the country since March 2021, in response to the arrest and trial of opposition leaders.

“Senegalese authorities appear to have resorted to frequent restrictions on public freedoms, bans on protests and temporary internet shutdowns,” the experts said, pointing to the negative impact on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful demonstrations by members of the political opposition and civil society.

“Arrests and bans on demonstrations are dangerously restricting the civic and political space that is an essential part of any democratic society,” the experts said.

“We urge Senegalese authorities to create conditions conducive to the exercise of public freedoms, and in particular the rights of peaceful assembly, association and expression during the electoral period”, they concluded.

Hugh Macleod/IRIN

The Blue Line, the boundary between Lebanon and Israel.

Lebanon: ‘Deep concern’ over continued hostilities

Over to Lebanon, where the UN Special Coordinator for the country on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the escalation in the exchanges of fire across, and increasingly beyond, the Blue Line – the demarcation line separating Lebanese and Israeli armed forces.

Briefing the Security Council in a closed-door meeting, Joanna Wronecka emphasized the need to restore calm, urging compliance with international humanitarian law to protect civilians.  

She highlighted the danger posed by incomplete implementation of resolution 1701 to Lebanon, Israel, and regional stability, calling for a political process addressing root causes of conflict.

“I have reminded relevant stakeholders of all parties about their obligation to comply fully with international humanitarian and human rights law, namely to protect civilians,” she said, according to a news release issued by her Office (UNSCOL)

Adopted in 2006, the resolution among other points called for the full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah, deployment of the Lebanese armed forces in southern Lebanon and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River.

UNIFIL marks 46th anniversary

Also on Tuesday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) marked its 46th anniversary, renewing calls for full demilitarization and movement towards a political and diplomatic solution.  

Aroldo Lázaro, the Head of Mission and Force Commander, commended the work of the more than 10,000 military peacekeepers from 49 countries and the civilian staff.

Despite relentless and daily exchanges of fire since the Gaza war began, they have stayed their course in monitoring the fast-evolving situation in south Lebanon, assisting local communities, he said.

Lieutenant General Lázaro also paid tribute to the over 330 mission personnel who have lost their lives serving there.

The 2023 Human Development Index (HDI) stands at a new high following steep decline during 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Rich countries experienced unprecedented development, the Human Development Report details, yet half of the world’s poorest nations continue to languish below their pre-COVID crisis levels.

The HDI is a composite of statistics measuring such factors as per capita income, educational attainment and life expectancy.

‘Falling short’

“The widening human development gap revealed by the report shows that the two-decade trend of steadily reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations is now in reverse,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“Despite our deeply interconnected global societies, we are falling short. We must leverage our interdependence as well as our capacities to address our shared and existential challenges and ensure people’s aspirations are met,” he added, noting a significant human toll behind the statistics.

“The failure of collective action to advance action on climate change, digitalization or poverty and inequality not only hinders human development but also worsens polarization and further erodes trust in people and institutions worldwide.”

Age of polarization

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the stark findings revealed by the Human Development Report, noting that while it explored the roots of polarization and the “devastating” impact on sustainable development, it also demonstrated “our best hope for the future.”

“It calls for the urgent expansion of our systems of international cooperation, so that they can deliver on people’s priorities: sustainable development; a clean environment; a liveable planet; safety, security and dignity for all,” the UN chief said.

He also emphasized the importance of the Summit of the Future, due to take place in September.

“As we prepare for the Summit, I recommend the Human Development Report as an important contribution. It shows that solutions to global problems are within our grasp – by reimagining cooperation and uniting for a better world,” he added. 

‘Democracy paradox’

The UNDP Human Development Report (HDR) also identified an emerging “democracy paradox”, with most of those surveyed expressed support for democracy but also endorsing leaders who may undermine democratic principles.

This paradox, coupled with a sense of powerlessness and a lack of control over government decisions, has fuelled political polarization and inward-looking policy approaches.

This is particularly alarming in light of 2023’s record-breaking temperatures which highlight the immediate need for united action to tackle the climate crisis, combined with the new and fast-evolving technological frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has few regulatory guard rails, UNDP said.

Threat to the common wellbeing

UNDP head Achim Stiner further highlighted that in a world marked by increasing polarization and division, “neglecting to invest in each other poses a serious threat to our wellbeing and security”.

“Protectionist approaches cannot address the complex, interconnected challenges we face, including pandemic prevention, climate change, and digital regulation,” he said.

He added that interconnected problems require interconnected solutions.

“By adopting an opportunity-driven agenda that emphasizes the benefits of the energy transition and of Artificial Intelligence for human development, we have a chance to break through the current deadlock and reignite a commitment to a shared future.”

Country ranking

The 2023-24 Human Development Report identified Switzerland, Norway and Iceland leading the national human development indices, while Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan and Somalia lagged the furthest behind.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (more commonly known as North Korea) and Monaco were not ranked in the list of countries and economies.

Kanni Wignaraja, Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, who recently visited the country, told correspondents in New York that 69 per cent of Afghans are “subsistence insecure” – meaning they do not have enough basic resources.

“Something that really hit me … was the harsh impact of continuous natural disasters,” she said, adding that many parts of Afghanistan are facing “dramatic” scarcity of water further setting back development efforts.

Lights out

Since the takeover by the Taliban in 2021, the Afghan economy has contracted by 27 per cent, leading to economic stagnation, according to UNDP. Unemployment has doubled and only 40 per cent of the population has access to electricity.

Sectors such as finance have “basically collapsed” and there are no major sources of economic activity such as exports or public expenditure, leaving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and farmers as the lifeblood of the faltering economy.

Ban on girls’ education

She also voiced concern over the situation of women and girls.

There have been severe restrictions on women imposed by the Taliban, such as on their dress code and employment in various sectors.

While they can work without restriction in sectors such as health or nursing, their employment in the public sector dropped even further to about six per cent, Ms. Wignaraja said.

“The biggest challenge is the continued edict that bans girls’ education. Not being able to move forward after the sixth grade is a major stumbling block,” she added.

“Last year, no girl graduated the twelfth grade so how are they going to jump from sixth grade to moving into technical colleges or universities need for the medical field?” she exclaimed.

Local economy reeling

The UNDP official also noted the challenges facing local economies and the lack of capital, especially in the private sector.

UNDP is supporting microfinance initiatives, but with no cash flowing through the system, results are not at the level and scale required to spur growth.

She expressed hope that recent funds from the World Bank for climate projects could prompt other global climate cash investments.

“We can still work directly with the community to make this happen,” she said.

Situation in Herat

Ms. Wignaraja also visited Herat province, the epicentre of last October’s earthquakes.

“Just driving through villages and talking to villagers, there is a huge contrast,” she said, noting that there are whole villages still living in tents without access to water and those that are starting to build permanent structures.

“For me the bottom line is that we have to let household economies and local economies pick back up. People do not want to live in tents, they cannot survive the sandstorms in tents,” she added.

Supporting women-led business

In conclusion, the UNDP official highlighted the agency’s support to some 75,000 women-owned and women-led micro and small businesses.

“They in turn employ about, on average, six other women and young people. Each of them feeds a household of ten,” she said, noted that in total about 4.5 million people benefit.

“We spend on average $42 a month per women’s business – that’s it,” she added, underscoring the resilience and boldness of women entrepreneurs.

Overall, with women farmers and traders, as well as direct cash support and household social protection prorgrammes, UNDP has reached one quarter of women across Afghanistan, she said.

“The story of this country will come back through their boldness and efforts,” she concluded.

Droughts, partly caused by climate change and the resulting lack of water, have driven many communities to the brink as they have been unable to grow the crops they rely on for survival. Many are forced to rely on humanitarian aid.

But now, the availability of electricity and water is reviving many villages, including Fenoaivo in the Anosy region, according to the WFP’s Avimaro Mikendremana.

“The people of Fenoaivo have suffered greatly. In 2020, they experienced famine-like conditions after successive rains failed, and they were unable to grow enough food to eat. The effects of the drought were very severe, and the village needed to be supported with humanitarian relief aid.

When we asked what they needed most, the answer was always water and then electricity. People told me that this combination would save them from experiencing near famine again and having to rely on others to bring in humanitarian aid.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson

WFP’s Avimaro Mikendremana.

It’s clear that water and electricity are the essential building blocks of development, so we wanted to pilot a programme which would look at what impact that combination would have on some of the poorest villages in the south of Madagascar.

In Fenoaivo, a village of about 300 households, we worked with the government and started by sinking a water hole some 35 metres beneath the surface and then built a storage tank of 20 cubic metres. This water needs to be brought to the surface, which requires a pump. The electricity to work that pump is provided by the 72 solar panels which we built on a structure that was erected in the middle of the village.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson

The availability of electricity, as part of the Rapid Rural Transformation initiative, is leading to more entrepreneurial opportunities like barber shops.

Now available: Buzz cuts

There is abundant sun, and the panels generate around 25 kilowatts of clean and renewable electricity, which is enough to power a whole range of new activities and open up opportunities that the village has never had before.

The water, which is clean and drinkable, is used to irrigate crops, including in a greenhouse where melons are growing at the moment.

A digital learning centre has been created with internet access so people can study remotely and, for the first time, there are lights in the village, which provide more security at night, especially for women.

Now, the church has electricity, and the school will follow. Small entrepreneurial activities have been established, including a restaurant and a barber shop. Men are excited to get their first ever buzz cuts as now the barber has electricity to power his clippers.

The businesses pay a small amount of money in rent and for the electricity, which is collected by the community association elected to run the project. Some of that money will be used to buy bricks to build three school classrooms.

UN News/Daniel Dickinson

Watermelons are being grown in a greenhouse in the village.

Change of attitude

This is a traditional rural community where farming has typically been the only income-generating activity, so this intervention, which is called Rapid Rural Transformation, will require people to recognize and embrace the opportunities.

The project started in January 2023, and already people are seeing that water means more food, better nutrition and less sickness. It is also helping to build the resilience of the community, so they are ready to face future climate shocks.

I am excited for the community and passionate about this work, as I can see that this is how they can make the transition from being aid dependent to being self-sufficient and independent by making the decision by themselves about how to develop their village and their future.

Small steps are being taken right now, and WFP is still providing nutritional support for the treatment of moderate malnutrition as part of the emergency response to drought. However, if this initiative is a success, then WFP will seek to scale it up to bring water and electricity to many more vulnerable villages in the south.”

United Nations

SDG 7

SDG 7: CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL

• Increase share of renewable energy globally
• Double global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
• Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern, sustainable energy services
• Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology
• Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing nations, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and land-locked developing countries

International funding for clean energy in developing countries has dropped to just $10.8 billion in 2021 from a peak of $26.4 billion in 2017.