Global Development
In an increasingly globalized world, international development efforts aim to improve living conditions, equity, and human rights around the world. Our global development section tracks this globalization and reports on specific equitable and sustainable development initiatives.
These modular rooftops made of wood waste keep Indian homes cool
The vast majority of small shacks comprising the slums of Ahmedabad, India are covered with thin metal roofs that are great at trapping heat. In temperatures that exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, these housing units can get unbearably hot, rendering the inhabitants to spend most of their time outside Read More...
Cooperative Extension programs could better prepare us for the next pandemic
The pandemic has highlighted the need to improve medical and public health systems around the world, but in addition to infrastructure shortcomings, Covid-19 has also illuminated the fact that many families are not prepared to manage an emergency. Some academics believe a long-standing extension Read More...
Stimulus checks were critical in dropping hunger rates during pandemic
Back in April, we wrote about how Americans were overwhelmingly using their stimulus checks to cover basic expenses and reduce their personal debt. Now, according to new census data, stimulus checks, in conjunction with expanded access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, Read More...
Philadelphia doctor raises $500,000 to send oxygen tanks to India
As the Covid-19 crisis intensifies in India, many organizations and individuals are stepping up to offer whatever help they can to alleviate some of the sufferings. One such individual is Philadelphia doctor Ruchika Talwar. Talwar, a 28-year old resident at the University of Pennsylvania, has Read More...
Medical drone delivery project to service remote communities in Uganda
Advancements in modern medicine allow for multitudes of medical problems to be managed by the individuals who live with them, but what good are these advancements to those living in remote areas if they aren’t accessible? Ensuring that remote communities have equitable access to modern Read More...
Germany to return 19th century looted art to Benin City
The Benin Bronzes have long stood as a symbol of the vast amount of art looted from Africa during colonization. Debates have been going on for years about their restitution, and now, Germany is set to return the precious artifacts looted by British soldiers in the 19th century to their rightful Read More...
This low-cost filter fits directly onto jerry cans to provide potable water
According to the World Health Organization, at least two billion people worldwide use a contaminated drinking water source, leading to tens of thousands of deaths associated with unsafe water every year. To help expand access to clean drinking water where needed and save lives in the process, Read More...
Mangrove restoration expands carbon credit benefits to coastal Kenya
Eight years ago, mangrove forests in the Kenyan village of Gazi were greatly depleted for use as firewood and construction poles while poaching ran rampant nearby. Today, the village has turned over a new leaf. The mangrove forests are thriving once again and poaching has fallen 90 percent over the Read More...
This rural development project is helping solve water scarcity in Djibouti
As a result of infrequent rain and little surface freshwater, more than 190,000 people in Djibouti, about 20 percent of the country’s population, lack access to clean drinking water. In rural areas where pastoralism provides a critical means of survival, the welfare of entire communities is Read More...
Groundbreaking treaty protects environmental activists in Latin America
After eight years of planning, a key treaty between Latin American and Caribbean countries finally went into effect last week. Called the Escazú Agreement, the groundbreaking international legislation is the first international treaty in the region and serves to both preserve the environment and Read More...