Poverty Reduction

The first UN Sustainable Development Goal is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Coping with strife, climate impacts and a broken economy

Because of long-lasting civil strife, climate impacts and a dysfunctional economy, the humanitarian situation is bad in the DRC. The development and adoption of eco-friendly farm practices would put local communities in a better position to ensure their own fo...

Healthy diets

Eco-friendly agriculture must reduce farmers’ costs

The global food system is not only environmentally harmful, but also makes poverty worse in rural areas of emerging markets and developing countries.

Literature

How can we infer the colour of a person’s skin?

Toni Morrison’s short story about two girls – one black, one white – gives no clue about which is which.

Food habits

Popular street food in Uganda

Among the low-income earners the chapati has taken a distinct identity as a staple food.

Young people’s attitudes

How young people in the MENA region see their future

Recent study assesses hopes and attitudes of the youth in the Middle East and North Africa – with sobering insights.

Sovereign debt

Sri Lanka has made important steps towards debt restructuring

Multiple negotiations with different sets of creditors are too cumbersome to help an ailing economy fast and decisively.

Agriculture

Cultivating easier crops

Due to multiple shocks like skyrocketing of prices of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers, many Malawian smallholder farmers are giving up tobacco growing.

Public affairs

Development is thwarted where corruption corrodes the common good

Officials strain the social fabric when they take private money to deliver public services – and even more when they sell illegitimate personal favours.

Pakistan

Tourism boom in Baltistan

More and more Pakistani vacationers are discovering the remote mountainous region in the country’s north-east. The trend is bringing in buying power and creating jobs, but it also harbours the risk of social and ecological conflict.

Labour market

Youth unemployment remains one of India’s great challenges

In spite of high growth rates, masses of Indians are being left behind – and young people in particular struggle to find good jobs.

Female empowerment

What Zanzibar's spices have to do with gender equality

Zanzibar is one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations. By guiding visitors through their spice gardens, women are also beginning to benefit from this popularity in an otherwise still patriarchal society.