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The United Nations published its Sustainable Development Goals Snapshot Report  this month (September 2024), revealing a stark outlook for gender equality. Without urgent action, a girl born today won't see women achieve equal representation in parliament until she is 39. She'll be 68 before child marriage is eliminated, and it will take 137 years to eradicate extreme poverty for women and girls. Last year, 612 million women and girls (15% of the global population) endured the harsh conditions of armed conflict, which saw a staggering 50-percent rise in conflict-related sexual violence against them. There are six priority drivers for gender equality and the SDG: End violence against women and girls; Secure women’s leadership  Unlock finance to support the care economy and reduce women’s unpaid care work; Bridge the gender digital gap; Link economic empowerment to climate action and transitions to green and blue economies and Ensure accountability to the women, peace, security, and humanitarian action agendas. Another consortium of young feminist organizations, under the umbrella of What Girls Want  (WGW), has said the United Nations SDG priorities are not enough. WGW calls for 12 priorities to erase the gender gap. 1. End Inequality and Discrimination: Eradicate systemic barriers that create unsafe and unfair societies for girls, ensuring respect and opportunities for all and providing a foundation for equal opportunity and respect regardless of identity, helping to build a fairer society. 2.  Invest in Gender-Sensitive Policies:  Governments should allocate resources to policies that promote girls’ health, education, and well-being, ensuring that policies ameliorate gender-based disparities, boosting girls’ overall development and opportunities. 3. Fund Girls' Work and Activism:  Flexible, long-term funding supports girls’ leadership and community activism, empowering girls to drive change and sustain movements for societal improvement. 4. Codify Girls' Rights:  Legally recognize and protect girls' rights to a safe, supported childhood free from violence and discrimination, enforcing protections and ensuring a secure upbringing, fostering long-term well-being. 5. Ensure Decision-Making Power:  Include girls in decision-making at all levels to shape policies impacting their futures, validate girls’ perspectives, and ensure their interests are represented in policymaking. 6. Strengthen Accountability:  Demand transparency and accountability from governments and institutions regarding commitments to girls, ensuring that policies are implemented and produce real, measurable outcomes. 7. Combat Climate Change with Sustainable Practices:  Involve girls in decision-making about sustainable practices to address climate crises, mitigating the disproportionate impact of climate change on girls and fostering environmental justice. 8. Ensure Reproductive Justice:  Guarantee access to comprehensive, stigma-free reproductive health services, empowering girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and promoting health and independence. 9. Guarantee Full and Quality Education for All:  Ensure free, safe, and inclusive education for every girl while removing systemic barriers and providing foundational opportunities for personal and professional growth. 10. Build Peaceful Societies: Create inclusive societies where girls actively participate in peacebuilding, free from violence, establishing a secure environment essential for girls’ development and fulfillment. 11. Freedom from Violence:  Eliminate all forms of violence, exploitation, and discrimination against girls, ensuring the safety and mental health necessary for development and freedom. 12. Economic Justice:  Promote equal employment opportunities, fair wages, and economic independence for girls, facilitating economic empowerment and contributing to broader societal equity and growth. Sources:  https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2024 https://www.whatgirlswant.com/

What is the Problem? Air Pollution in Uganda. Uganda suffers from significant air quality issues, impacting public health. Traditional air quality monitoring methods are often too expensive and technically too demanding to implement. What is the Solution? AirQo’s Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors and Mobile App . Engineer Bainomugisha founded AirQo uses low-cost sensors ($150 USD) attached to motorcycle taxis. Its AI models monitor and measure air quality. AirQo warns users about pollution peaks on its mobile app. This makes air quality monitoring more accessible and actionable for the general public. What is the Impact So Far? The low-cost sensors and the corresponding mobile app have improved public awareness about air quality issues in Uganda. People are now better informed and can take preventive actions to mitigate the health impacts of pollution. Why is this Innovative? AirQo makes advanced air quality monitoring affordable and readily transparent to the masses, which was previously not feasible with traditional and unaffordable equipment. What Needs to Improve? While the low-cost air quality sensors and app are a significant step forward, there is room for enhancing their accuracy and reliability. Moreover, increased public education and governmental support are needed to maximize the benefits of these technological advancements and pass laws that will reduce pollution. AirQo is integrated into local government websites via its API in air quality so that air pollution levels are widely accessible. Sources:  https://www.airqo.net/products/monitor https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/using-ai-decolonize-health-care-africa https://www.afrik21.africa/en/airqo-the-technological-innovation-that-measures-and-warns-of-pollution-peaks/ https://www.africanews.com/2022/06/08/uganda-the-app-improving-access-to-information-on-air-quality-monitoring/ https://www.africanews.com/2022/06/08/uganda-the-app-improving-access-to-information-on-air-quality-monitoring/ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/ugandan-researchers-low-cost-sensors-air-pollution/

What is the Problem? Access to clean and safe water is a significant issue for many rural communities, especially in parts of Africa. Women and children often spend hours each day collecting water, usually in heavy, cumbersome containers they carry on their heads or backs. This takes a toll on their health and consumes time they could be used for school or work. What is the Solution? The Hippo Water Rolle r, designed by South African Grant Gibbs, is a cool invention that simplifies water collection. It’s a durable plastic barrel that holds about 90 liters of water and is rolled on the ground using a built-in handle. This design allows people to transport much water with minimal effort, reducing the physical strain and time spent on this critical daily task. What is the Impact So Far? Since its inception, over 50,000 Hippo Water Rollers have been distributed. They've made a significant difference in the daily lives of thousands of families by enabling them to fetch water more efficiently. This has freed up time and energy for other essential activities like education, work, and community engagement, particularly benefiting women and children. Why is this Innovative? The innovation lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. The Hippo Water Roller leverages basic physics principles to solve a complex problem. Rolling the water rather than carrying it significantly reduces the strain, making it accessible even for children and the elderly. It's an innovative, user-friendly solution that addresses critical needs without complex technology or extensive training. What Needs to Improve? While the Hippo Water Roller is a fantastic solution, there are still areas for improvement.  Price must come down. Expanding distribution and making the rollers more affordable for even the poorest communities is crucial.  Improve durability. Additionally, ongoing efforts to increase durability and adapt the design for different terrains could further enhance its effectiveness.  Expansion of reach. Lastly, integrating the roller into broader water sanitation and infrastructure initiatives would maximize its impact. Sources: https://hipporoller.org https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/hippo-roller-relieves-water-woes-and-educates-on-water-scarcity/ https://www.borgenmagazine.com/hippo-water-roller/

The Human Welfare Council states that 80% of Indian women and children struggle with financial literacy. India is expected to become the third-largest economy by 2027, and for it to continue to reach the next level, women need to be empowered to make better financial choices. Over 50% of India’s population is female, and 62% of women don’t have a bank account or have limited access to banking services. Financial literacy training and access to age-appropriate and girl-centered financial services allow girls and young women to practice saving money, budgeting, investing, and managing finances so they make strong financial decisions when they are older. More women are joining the workforce worldwide, and they need to be financially literate to thrive in their careers and protect themselves from exploitation to build wealth and be financially free. In India, men hold most of the top financial positions, while women are usually teachers despite studying finance-related subjects. Starting early and teaching girls about personal finance will give them the confidence to succeed in leadership positions in the financial world. Closing the financial literacy gap is crucial because it can empower women to build wealth and contribute more to the global economy. Studies show that reducing the economic gender gap could lead to significant economic growth. In 2023, Annamaria Lusardi, a professor at the George Washington University School of Business and founder of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, along with Olivia Mitchell, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, conducted a critical review of financial literacy programs as a follow up to their 2013 working paper. Their research concludes that financial literacy is a crucial form of human capital that should be integrated into economic growth models. Isolated initiatives will not effectively address poor financial decision-making, and wealth inequality should consider the impact of low financial literacy. It is necessary to incorporate financial education into syllabi, textbooks, and economics courses at all levels to improve accessibility. Financial literacy should be included as a macroeconomic indicator in national statistics to assess a nation's well-being, and promoting financial literacy can lead to individuals living more financially secure lives. Case Studies National Stock Exchange (NSE) Academy has partnered with Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd to introduce a basic course in personal financial management for young adults and working professionals. The course covers income, taxation, expenditure, savings, investment avenues, borrowing, managing risk, and budgeting. It is currently available at select MKCL's Authorised Learning Centres. Home Credit India, a local consumer finance provider branch, collaborated with the Indian Development Foundation (IDF) on a 9-month project to educate 30,000 marginalized women and girls in financial literacy. The project has benefited individuals from semi-urban, rural, and tribal areas of Delhi-NCR, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. What Makes a Successful Program? Financial literacy courses need proper funding, curriculum, materials, and trained teachers. They must be less generic, one-size-fits-all instructions with little follow-up, which will lead to failure. Teaching financial literacy early at home and in school is crucial for developing good financial habits. Successful financial literacy programs should focus on key financial concepts, specific financial instruments, and financial rights and obligations. The courses should be engaging and relate financial decisions to personal happiness. And they should be taught as early as possible and frequently throughout childhood so girls don’t forget these concepts. Sources https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2023/05/16/1176189034/the-case-for-financial-literacy-education https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w31145/w31145.pdf?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20230515&utm_term=8426880&utm_campaign=money&utm_id=30140543&orgid=309&utm_att1= https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w18952/w18952.pdf?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20230515&utm_term=8426880&utm_campaign=money&utm_id=30140543&orgid=309&utm_att1=

On March 10, 2024, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that 33% of Palestinian children under the age of two are malnourished. Save the Children reports that families in Gaza are scavenging for leftovers to feed their children and resorting to eating leaves to survive, as the ongoing war and diminishing aid resources puts all 1.1 million children in Gaza at risk of starvation. The UN reports that Israeli forces rejected over 50% of aid missions to areas north of Wadi Gaza, where starvation levels are highest, between January and mid-February 2024. On February 5, the UN also stated that Israeli forces shot at one of its convoys delivering food supplies in central Gaza. The use of starvation as a tactic of war is forbidden by international law, and these tactics will result in severe consequences for Palestinian children. The United States increased the frequency of airdrops of aid in Gaza recently; however, humanitarian experts emphasize that relying solely on this aid delivery method is inadequate to meet the overwhelming needs of Palestinians. The 2.3 million individuals struggling to survive in Gaza cannot be adequately nourished and treated through airdrops alone. Why Airdrops Are Not the Answer for Humanitarian Aid There are better ways to get aid into a region than food airdrops. Catherine Russell of UNICEF states, “It’s not the most efficient or cost-effective way to get in aid…There is no question that road access is the best…but frankly, we’ll take anything.” Airdrops are not as effective as land transport when providing large volumes of assistance. While a convoy of five trucks can carry up to 100 tons of lifesaving aid, recent airdrops have only delivered a few tons each. Airdrops also pose a danger to civilians, with reports of at least five people killed by falling aid packages in Gaza. Humanitarian aid requires professional teams with experience organizing distributions and providing direct assistance. Aid deliveries need a human touch to properly assess needs and restore hope and dignity to a traumatized population. After enduring months of hardship, the people of Gaza deserve more than just minimal charity dropped from the sky. While any aid is appreciated, air and sea transportation should be seen as supplementary to land transport, not a substitute, as it cannot replace the assistance delivered by road. Sources: https://www.wfmz.com/news/cnn/top_stories/raw-unicef-airdrops-not-the-best-but-well-take-anything/video_94303122-61a2-5308-9f7d-49156dbe8d5d.html https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-families-forced-forage-food-left-rats-11-million-children-face-starvation#:~:text=Gaza%3A%20Families%20forced%20to%20forage,starvation%20%2D%20occupied%20Palestinian%20territory%20%7C%20ReliefWeb https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/03/07/how-us-airdrop-aid-to-gaza-works/72842736007/# https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-agency-gaza-says-one-three-children-under-2-is-acutely-malnourished-2024-03-16/ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/03/gaza-airdrops-and-sea-routes-are-no-alternative-to-aid-delivery-by-land/

What is Cholera and its Impact Cholera is a highly virulent infection that happens when you ingest food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae. Cholera can cause severe watery diarrhea, and severe forms of the disease can kill a person within hours if left untreated. Cholera significantly affects malnourished children. Not only do their weakened immune systems leave them more susceptible to falling ill, but malnourished children are also five times more likely to die if they do. Most people infected with cholera have mild or moderate symptoms, and an oral rehydration solution provides relief. Severe cases can lead to acute watery diarrhea with severe dehydration; without timely treatment with IV fluids and antibiotics, these patients can die in a matter of hours. Countries across Africa are battling some of the worst cholera outbreaks seen in decades. UNICEF is working alongside government and local partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and elsewhere to contain the spread of the often deadly waterborne disease. According to UNICEF, Since 2023, 13 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have been battling some of the worst cholera outbreaks to hit the region; for some, their worst in decades. As of Jan. 15, 2024, there are reports of over 200,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths. While safe drinking water and advanced sanitation systems have made Europe and North America cholera-free for decades, the disease still affects at least 47 countries, resulting in an estimated 2.9 million cases and 95,000 deaths per year worldwide. Prevention and Treatment Regular handwashing with soap and maintaining separate water and sanitation facilities prevents Cholera. Monitoring and surveillance activities are critical for containing the spread. Most people can be treated successfully with an oral rehydration solution (ORS). The WHO/UNICEF offers an ORS sachet dissolved in 1 liter of clean water. Rapid access to the ORS treatment is essential during a cholera outbreak. Oral rehydration should be available in communities, including at specific oral rehydration points (ORPs), in addition to larger treatment centers that can provide intravenous fluids and 24-hour care. With early treatment, the case fatality rate can be below 1%. Cholera kills the poorest and most vulnerable people. The map of cholera is essentially the same as a map of poverty. Every death from cholera is preventable with the tools we have today, putting the goal of ending its public health impact within our reach. Controlling cholera requires a multi-sector approach—including clean water, sanitation, hygiene services, oral rehydration solutions (to treat cholera), and oral cholera vaccines (to prevent cholera). Sources: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/what-unicef-doing-about-cholera-crisis-africa https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera https://www.unicefusa.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/gtfcc-ending-cholera-a-global-roadmap-to-2030.pdf

In Sudan, the ghost of hunger looms large as it battles a crisis that is disproportionately impacting children. According to a recent report by UNICEF, over 17,000 Sudanese children are facing crisis-levels of hunger, a situation exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, economic instability, and climate change. Humanitarian organizations such as Save the Children and the World Food Programme (WFP) are raising red flags about the dire state of food insecurity. A sharp rise in hunger rates has pushed Sudan to the brink, with vulnerable populations, especially children, bearing the brunt of the crisis. Save the Children warns that if aid and support are not provided, the number of children facing severe malnutrition could increase rapidly in the coming months. The third wave of COVID-19, coupled with persisting violence, further worsens the situation, making it even more challenging to address the nutritional needs of children in Sudan. To combat the crisis, UNICEF calls for immediate humanitarian assistance, emphasizing the need for funding to provide vital nutrition programs, therapeutic feeding, and life-saving supplies. UNICEF aims to reach 59,000 severely malnourished children and provide them with the necessary support. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) is working to respond to the global hunger crisis, including in Sudan. WFP's efforts to alleviate hunger have been hampered by funding shortages, making it difficult to provide food assistance to those in need. The organization emphasizes the need for sustained funding and support to tackle the long-term impacts of hunger in Sudan and other countries facing similar crises. The interconnectedness of conflicts, economic instability, and climate change in Sudan has worsened the country's food security situation. Ongoing conflicts have displaced communities, disrupted agriculture, and hindered the access of humanitarian aid organizations. Economic instability, marked by soaring food prices and unemployment, has further restricted access to sufficient and nutritious food. Additionally, the effects of climate change, such as droughts and irregular rainfall patterns, have led to crop failures and livestock losses, exacerbating the already dire situation. The situation in Sudan is a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to address hunger and its underlying causes. Both short-term and long-term solutions are required to tackle this multifaceted crisis. Immediate intervention through increased funding, provision of essential supplies, and targeted nutrition programs is crucial to save the lives of thousands of children. Addressing the root causes of conflicts, promoting sustainable economic development strategies, and implementing climate change adaptation measures are essential for long-term food security in Sudan and other vulnerable regions. Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/04/africa/sudan-children-unicef-intl-afr/index.html https://www.savethechildren.net/news/sudan-17000-children-day-fall-crisis-levels-hunger-september https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/fall-impact-update-wfps-response-global-hunger-crisis