Scientific innovation and good international relations among countries have supported globalization. Globalization has received much advocacy as a lasting solution to world problems however; poverty remains the biggest problem in many developing countries; according to the United Nation definition. Poverty is the inability to achieve and enjoy, on a sustainable basis, the human basic necessities.
The rise in globalization was thought to be a solution to world poverty problems however it has aggravated the state in some nations. Statistics released by FAO in October 2010 indicated that there are 925 million people living below the poverty line. The majority of this population (about 80%) lives in Asia, the pacific, and Africa.
Nongovernmental organizations play a crucial role in poverty reduction and development of sustainable mechanisms to eradicate poverty; such organizations include World Vision International. Social, economic, and political globalization is thought to have solution for the every challenging poverty problem in the world however some nations have continued to suffer.
When countries are trading in the international markets, they do so using the frameworks of comparative and absolute advantage. Developing countries produce similar products which they hardly manufacture when selling to the international market. The primary products fetch low prices that are hardly beneficial to the countries; this aggravates poverty in such nations.
On the other hand, globalization has assisted to reduce poverty in some countries, the main beneficiaries are developed countries that buy cheap low materials from developing countries and manufacture products that fetch good returns in the world market. This paper discusses how World Vision International contributes to poverty reduction.
World Poverty and globalization
Poverty is the inability to achieve and enjoy, on a sustainable basis, the human basic necessities; it means that a person is not able to provide himself with human basic needs like food, shelter, housing, basic education, and health.
Globalization has facilitated international trade and economic development among countries that is believed to trickle down to the less fortunate in the society, however the rate at which the benefits of globalization reach to the less fortunate is wanting.
According to WFP, poor people are not able to get clean and safe drinking water, they lack sufficient nutritious, they are hungry, they lack energy for cooking food and lightening, have inadequate clothing and beddings, and their living conditions is wanting.
The first agenda that the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 had was to eradicate poverty and hunger all over the world by 2015, although some efforts have been made, the success rate is wanting.
According to UNICEF poverty report 2010, 2.5 billion people live below 2 dollars per day, of these population 1 billion are children who are deprived one or more essential services to survival; the report further illustrated that about half a million people die every year of conditions that relate to poverty (World Food Program Official Website, 2011).
The alarming statistics brings the question of what are the cause if poverty; according to WFP, there are numerous factors that jointly or singularly contribute to poverty, they include lack of individual responsibility, unpredictable climatic conditions, bad government policy, wars, un-exploiting resources, exploitation by people, inequality, corruption, and businesses with power and influence, or some combination of these among others.
Developing countries remain to the main culprits of poverty in the 21st century, people living in the countries can handle sustain a decent living standards which on the other hand exposes them to other social and health risks.
It is with the understanding of the root causes of poverty that World Vision International, it enacts programs that address the root causes so that they remain sustainable in the future even after the withdraw of the project. World Vision International projects are community based and aim at mobilizing funds, resources, and manpower to get solutions on poverty in different parts (Michael, 2000).
In 2008, World banks measure for poverty was changed from being those people living on the equivalent of 1 dollar to 1.25 dollars; with the revised poverty cut line, the organization estimated that there are approximately 1.4 billion people who live below the poverty line.
The figure was higher than the figure that had been recorded in 2004 of 984 million. The main reason that the organization had to raise the poverty line level is the fact that food and energy prices are skyrocketing every year (World Food Program Official Website, 2011). The image below shows the poverty trends over time:
In the chart above, it is evident that world poverty rate has been on he decrease when considering China; china has benefited from international trade and globalization as it manufactured different commodities for the world. When the effect of China has been removed, the rate at which world poverty reduces is wanting, in some years there has been an increase in the poverty rate while in others there has been a decrease.
The reason why China was excluded is that it had a high reduction of poverty in the covered time frame from about 85% to 15.9%.
Distribution of income among different communities and countries has been blamed as the main cause of poverty in developing countries which account for over 80% of the poor. When globalization is factored, the countries have been used as primary producers of raw materials and consumers of finished products from developed countries.
When resources are not distributed equitably then wealth is concentrated with a small number of people while the rest live in poverty. The chart below shows income distributing among different continents:
The graph above indicates that Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Latin American have the highest inequality in the globe; apparently the continents/nations have the highest poverty rates.
When income is not equally distributed, a country has some section of its population extremely poor while others are doing well. The poor are reduced to workers of the well to do in the community thus creating difficulty in eradicating poverty.
World Vision International
World Vision International is a Christian based nongovernmental organization founded in 1977 in the United States that works with local governments, community developments and other nongovernmental organizations to eradicate poverty and injustice. World Vision International aims at assisting poor people to develop programs that can enable them provide enough food and other basic wants to themselves and their children.
The organization’s mission statement states “”to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God, ” (World Vision 2011).
The funding of World Vision comes from world governments, corporation and private donors; after receiving the funds, the organization is expected to address various programs in the best order according to need.
When conducting its business, the organization is able to operate via collaboration with governmental institutions like USAID, DFID, EuropeAid, ECHO, Save the Children, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) among others (Julie, 1998).
Poverty reduction programs undertaken by World Vision International in different countries
When undertaking poverty eradication programs, World Vision engages in numerous activities that directly address poverty among the community. One main cause of poverty that has been quoted in different parts of the world is inefficient utilization of natural resources; when people are illiterate they fail to understand the need or how to maximize/optimize their resources.
Education is one basic human need; at least primary education has become a necessity in modern globalizing world. World Vision has programs that motivate school going children to attend schools; for example in Kenya, an East African country, the international organization has a lunch program where it feed primary going children in the north eastern province of the country where poverty prevails.
The strategy in Kenya seeks to break the traditional lifestyle of the north easterners who are nomadic pastoralists; when young girls and boy attend schools they are shown other income generating programs like crop farming.
In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the world poorest county, World Vision has enacted programs that aim to increase school enrolment and attendance rates.
Some of the programs that the organization has enacted include providing nutritious mid-morning snacks and take-home rations for girls and informal boarders; such programs motivate children to go to school as they are assured of a meal and also motivate parents to send their children to school. The program that the nongovernmental operates in Lao is named “Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)”
When choosing the location to enact a certain school feeding program in either Kenya or Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), World Vision uses vulnerability analysis and mapping (VAM), the programs focuses on remote areas and urban slums.
In Cambodia, the organization has a program that seeks to stop the spread of sex tourism and child sexual exploitation, in 2009, the organization rescued 349 cases of child sexual exploitation; the program has the objective of ensuring that children remain in school and will contribute positively to the economic development of the country (World Food Program Official Website, 2011).
In times of emergency, the organization has been called for fast rescue operations where it has intervened to improve the living standards of the people despite the situation, for instance in Battambang Province , the orgnaisation fed about 10000 people affected by flood in the country on 11-12th October 2011.
Although World Vision seeks to address emergency food needs, after rescuing a situation, it works with the countries government to enact long lasting policies to reduce the poverty rate of the people. The program of micro-financing is operated through other organizations in the country where some soft loans are given to individuals and groups in communities to start income generating programs.
The policy of micro financing as adopted by the organization take the form of Muhammad Yunus micro financing strategy. The aim of the microfinance approach is to alleviate poverty by financially empowering the less fortunate in the society. Women have benefited from the scheme and are increasingly changing their traditional role; they can participate in decision making.
One of the major reasons quoted why the poor have had a large number of children than the rich is because of lack of economic activities they can do. With microfinance they are empowered and thus they have economic things to do other than getting children.
Secondly traditionally especially in developing countries the role of a woman has been to bear children. The role has changed since they can assess loans and participate equally in decision of whether to get children or not. They have opted to have few children.
Some of the nations that have benefited from the programs include Uganda; in Uganda, World Vision operates in 37 of the countries 80 districts since 1986.
Programs in Uganda are aimed at assisting Ugandan families attain and live more sustainable livelihoods; the organization offers loans to the country to come up with income generating programs like tree planting, substance and commercial farming, goat keeping, bee keeping, and cattle rearing.
Such programs target the poor in the country and have played a crucial role in poverty eradication; to operate in Uganda the organization has 46 child-focused and community-based Area Development Programmes (ADPs).
In Rwanda, World Vision has been in operation since 1976 where it engaged into partnership programs of poverty eradication and creating reunion of families.
It has also partnered with UNDP to facilitate economic development in the region. programs by the two organizations was named Integrated Family Development Initiatives (IFDI); under the program, the organizations would offer funds to potential inventors train them on basic management skills and see them implement viable businesses
In Philippines the organization has a program named “cash-for-work” project is targeted to those people who were affected by 2010 ‘s typhoon flooding, the nature of the project is that people are expected to work on the destroyed areas like buildings then they are paid using mobile phones money transfer.
The program offers about US $6.00 (about 80 percent of the daily minimum wage), with the project, the organization has been able to assist in poverty reduction among the affected people and offer them hope to rebuild themselves.
The program launched in September 2010 targets to reach about 2000 participants living in Manila; Manila was largely affected by Tropical Storms Parma and Ketsana in 2009 (World Food Program Official Website, 2011).
Most poor countries are suffering from population that is infected or affected by H.I.V. AIDS; World Vision through the policy called social protection strategy addresses the negative effects of the epidemic. Nutrition is a key component in management of HIV/AIDS; the response of anti-retroviral drugs can only be positive if the patient feeds on a balanced budget.
In poverty stricken countries patients hardly afford nutritious meals, this is the first point that World Vision intervenes; it gives patients nutritious food to boost their response. When patients are on drugs and good diet, they get strong fast and return to their respective working places to earn a decent living.
In 2003, President’s Plan for Emergency AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced that the main problem cited by people living with HIV/AIDS was lack of food, he further emphasized that if the population can be correctly fed, then its effects can be manageable.
In 2008, World Vision estimated to have assisted 2.4 million people affected by HIV/AIDS; the main assistance was through offering them balanced diet food that they can continue with their daily chore.
Some other areas that World Vision has enacted HIV/AID programs include Afar, Benishangul Gumuz, Somali and Gambella; according to the international organization website, in 2010, the organization was able to support 2.5 million people in 47 countries through its HIV or TB program.
The programs not only address the sick people when suffering but it also offers them financial support after their recovery; such efforts go a long way in reducing poverty (World Food Program Official Website, 2011).
In most poor countries, agriculture is the main activity, however the economic practice is hampered by the way it is conducted in the country and unpredictable climatic condition experienced in the world today.
With this realization World Vision has programs that educate farmers in poor countries on the most sustainable methods of farming and giving them farming inputs like seeds and fertilizers. In some nations, the organization has assumed the role of the buyer of produce; it buys them at a competitive price and stores them safely to cater for any emergency in the region.
At Nicaragua, world second poorest country according to World Bank, WFP has a program termed “Purchase for Progress” (P4P), under this program the organization buys maize and other grain foods from farmers; under the program, farmers are expected to get farm inputs like seeds and fertilizers from the organization then they will be deducted off the amount when they are being paid their dues.
Under the program, those farmers who have land but are not able to raise capital to cultivate them for their food and for selling are able to earn a living as a result.
As part of “Purchase for Progress” (P4P) farmers who have enrolled in the program get free training on management and post-harvest techniques, good manufacturing practices and cooperative systems; the program have seen the natives improve their farm produce and be able to feed their families and cater for other social needs (Gough, 2004).
The program at Nicaragua was initiated after the realization that the main problem affecting small scale farmers in the country was lack of reliable market; WFP took the challenge and offered to buy produce from the farmers.
“Purchase for Progress” (P4P) operates in six cooperatives which acts as maize collection points, according to the president of the cooperative, Luis Enrique Quezada, the program has assisted the participants earn an extra coin and reduced their rate of poverty.
In Timor-Lest one of the poorest Asian country, WFP with the collaboration of the countries government, coffee exporters Timor-Global have established a food plant that produces supplements to the country’s population which previous had to be imported.
According to the WFP Country Director Joan Fleuren, the program is expected to boost coffee farmers gains from their farming and also when exported the product is expected to be a foreign earner. With such moves, the farmers are likely to have an improved living condition and the country has an extra income derived from exports.
One problem that has continued to increase poverty is the notion that women are not expected to be working; this myth prevails in most developing countries.
Although it’s difficult to change culture, World Vision has enacted educational and supportive programs that advise on the need for women to become economically empowered. Such programs involve calling stakeholders and letting them discuss on modalities that they can use to empower women (Gough, 2004).
In Kyrgyz Republic World Vision works with the government to improve the living conditions of refugees and injured. It is estimated that there are 80,000 Uzbek refugee in the country; the program targets women-headed families and the vulnerable in the community.
The program has resulted to an increased income to the countries target population; to manage the program the organization uses women groups which contain women whose husbands has left the country in search of jobs, widowed women, and women who find them single form situations like getting a child out of wedlock.
In the Republic of Tanzania, World Vision has enacted women funding program where it offers soft loans to women groups to assist them start small businesses. When such loans have been offered, the organization sees to it that the women understand basic management skills and styles to assist them advance the business.
Loans in Tanzania are disbursed via micro finance institutions which graduate women from groups and make them stand alone that they can get loans. Some of the programs that have been funded by the program include cattle rearing, poultry keeping, bee keeping, and salons (World Vision Official Website, 2011).
The advocacy and other processes that World Vision International contributes to poverty reduction engages to make a contribution to policy
To address poverty among communities, World Vision has direct and indirect programs; when using the approach for direct projects, the organization becomes a player where it trades and facilitates economic engagements directly. In the areas of direct intervention, the organization may operate with the collaboration of other NGO’s or the government to establish the best way that it can reach the target population.
Although ensuring that the world gets adequate and nutritious food is the main objective of the organization, direct programs aim at ensuring that the community targeted can feed itself in the future.
The next approach used by World Vision to address poverty take the form of an indirect approach, under the strategy, the organization offers incentives and assistance to people in such a way that they will be able to become economically productive.
Such programs include the HIV/AIDs program where the organization give nutritious food to victims in the efforts to make them stronger and look for their living, other programs include school feeding programs where children are motivated to attend school; in the future the children are expected to offer manpower and get decent jobs (World Vision Official Website, 2011).
The effects of the World Vision International Programs
The numerous World Vision programs aim at improving target groups living standards; they are programs that have given people hope and offered them some foundations where they can start small businesses. World Vision programs address the root cause of issues facing a certain community but starts by providing them with basic human needs; before enacting policies that assist them earn a living on their own.
When individuals are economically empowered, they are able to address their own problems and provide their families with basic human wants like food, shelter, and education (World Food Program Official Website, 2011).
World Vision has numerous education programs targeting school-going children and others adults. Adult education programs are mostly on how they can earn extra income or how they can utilize their resources effectively. Such programs assist in efficient production and boosts productions thus reducing poverty. When address and motivating children to attend schools the organization has the future generation in mind.
An educated generation is more likely to address their issues and enact poverty fighting mechanisms that best fits them; this is what the organization wants to see in the future. Looking at the children education programs from another angle, when people are educated investors are more likely to prefer such counties as the labor will be informed and easy to manage (Deacon, Hulse & Stubbs, 1997).
Conclusion
The strategies adopted by the World Vision International to eradicate poverty are either direct or indirect; under the direct programs the organization engages directly in income generating programs to help the target population earn sustainable income.
Some of the direct engagements include provision of farming inputs, provision of soft loans to community groups to start small businesses, educating people on business management skills, and buying produce from farmers who cite lack of market as their main hindrance to economical agriculture.
Indirect project aims at creating better working environments that can facilitate development of economic activities currently or in the future. Such programs include education facilitation programs, food provision programs, medicine provision programs, and peace keeping mission.
References
Deacon, B., Hulse, M. & Stubbs, P. (1997). Global social policy : international organizations and the future of welfare. London : Sage.
Gough, I. (2004). Human Well-Being and Social Structures: Relating the Universal and the Local, Global Social Policy, 4(3), 289-312.
Julie, F. (1998). Nongovernments : NGOs and the political development of the Third World. West Hartford: Kumarian Press.
Michael, E. (2000). NGO Rights and Responsibilities : a New Deal for Global Governance. London : The Foreign Policy Centre.
World Food Program Official Website. (2011). World Food Program. Web.
World Vision Official Website. (2011). World Vision International. Web.