Short News
Micro hydro-power in the mountains
365.000 people in isolated mountain areas in Northern Pakistan now have electricity after almost 200 micro hydro-power schemes have been established since 2004.
New wells in Bangladeshi slums
UNDP has dug more than 2000 wells and 12.000 latrines in the slums of Bangladesh since 2008, which has helped against infections and child mortality.
78M. fewer child workers
Between 2000 and 2012 the number of children who labour fell by 78M. But there is still a long way to go: 168M. children worldwide still have to work.
Electricity for billions of people
Since 1990 almost 2B. people have gained access to electricity. Still, 1.1B. people are without access to electrical power.
Fewer children get married
The prevalence of child marriages is declining. In 1985, 12% of the girls below 15 years worldwide would be married. In 2010, it was down to 8%.
‘Sin tax’ turns into health insurance
New taxes on tobacco and alcohol have collected 1,2B. USD in just one year. The money is earmarked for health insurance for 14M. of the poorest Filipinos.
Electricity for everyone in Vietnam
In 1990 14% of the Vietnamese had access to electricity. By focusing on rural households and subsidizing the poor, 97% had access to electrical power in 2010.
Free medicine for tropical diseases
For 3 years 80% of the people in Sierra Leone have received free effective medicine for NTD, tropical diseases that mainly affect the poor.
Desert land turns green again
Poor farmers in Burkina Faso have learned new practices. This have lessened hunger for 0.5M people and reclaimed 300.000 hectares of desert land in 15 years.
Bangladeshi poor get judicial help
Expensive lawyers, a 5 year wait and travel expenses cut the poor out from the legal system. Now, cheap village courts brings justice in just a month’s time.
China grows organic green tea
Tea farmers are using new methods to grow organic tea in China’s Luoshan Province. This means the tea fetches a better price and less damage to the environment.
Water for indigenous Colombians
New wells in Colombia now provide clean water to more than 3000 indigenous Wayuu, who live in an arid region where water is a scarce resource.