Somalia has come a long way in the last few years. The economy has been growing steadily and recent agreements on debt relief should boost funding for health, infrastructure and other development projects. Government services are expanding to reach more people every year. Progress on constitutional reform and power-sharing arrangements are paving the way for long-term stability.

But alarm bells started going off last year. In November 2019, huge floods displaced more than half a million people — the latest in a series of inundations that cost hundreds of millions of dollars almost every year. Shortly after, the same rains that had washed away homes and farms created the perfect growing conditions for the largest locust invasion for a quarter of a century. …

A clean, sustainable and cheap energy source guarantees the well-being of rural communities and reduces deforestation in Botswana.

Botswana is more than half a million square kilometres and its 2.5 million inhabitants are thinly spread over a large area. To build and maintain an electrical grid in these circumstances is a challenge. At the same time, the country is one of Africa’s largest producers of cattle. About 2.5 million cows, 300,000 goats and 200,000 sheep graze fields in the rural areas where access to energy is the most complex.

So why not use energy that is abundant, safe, and just as sustainable as solar power? …

The endless fields of immortelle and lavender might conjure up images of the south of France, only it’s not in the Mediterranean, but in eastern Serbia. The picturesque sight is in the town of Gornja Mutnica, in the vicinity of Paracin, on about 315 hectares of land owned by the Serbian-Belgian company Sanicula. As well as lavender, other typical Mediterranean plants such as lemon balm, thyme and heather are organically grown. After the harvest season, these plants are distilled into essential oils which, due to their quality, are attractive for customers on the world market.

There are benefits for the local community too. The company employs about 200 families from nearby villages. Every morning, they start the day with a cup of coffee made by Novica Šutić, founder and owner of the company. …

At the entrance of Sathyandan’s house hangs a painting that depicts diversity and harmony among different ethnicities in Sri Lanka. Promoting reconciliation requires reintegrating ex-combatants into civilian life and this is essential for post-conflict recovery.

Sathyanadan and his four brothers were born in Paranthan, Kilinochchi. In 1988 his brothers had to fight in the conflict.

“During the Mullaitivu battle in 1996, I lost my right hand and two of my brothers died,” he says.

After serving in the conflict for 17 years, he was sent for rehabilitation to help him integrate back into civilian society. Two years later, he is now the owner of ‘Kani Product’, a company that sells fruit flavoured drinks. …

Paraguay is a country of friends. A common saying among citizens of this unique land, located in the heart of South America. …

At a time when businesses are seeing dark days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a few organizations in Nepal have been helping women make steady incomes by producing masks.

“Sewing is not just my passion, it is also my livelihood,” says Bina Pariyar of Tarkeshore, Balaju, Kathmandu. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, Bina’s source of income dried up. …

Let’s ensure that #HalfTheWorld isn’t left behind by the COVID-19 and climate crises

UNDP is launching a global campaign to end poverty and raise awareness of the alarming rate at which COVID-19 and climate change are increasing inequalities around the world.

Among those hit hardest by both crises are the 4 billion people–fifty percent of the world’s population–who live in poverty and lack any social protections, such as unemployment benefits or healthcare. The World Bank estimates that up to 150 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty by 2021.

If we don’t address the COVID-19 and climate crises together, half of the world will be left behind. …

Using social media to help marginalized groups get HIV services during COVID-19

In response to increasing COVID-19 cases, Panama imposed rigorous restrictions to contain the disease. People were limited to six hours outside the home each week, with men and women allowed out on alternate days. The measures had some success, leading to a gradual easing of restrictions, but concerns regarding the impact of lockdowns on marginalized groups, particularly those most at risk of HIV, have been mounting.

Isolated in their homes for six months, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people — faced a frightening new reality. With many health facilities closed or re-purposed to fight COVID-19, people struggled to access life-saving HIV services. Transgender people faced the threat of increased discrimination when leaving their homes on particular days, and sex workers faced the dilemma of either being pushed further into poverty or continuing to work at increased risk to themselves and their clients. …