Agriculture is not an art; it is a science. Yet, when picturing a scientist, a farmer usually is not the image that comes to mind. This creates an inherent tension: Farmers need to understand scientific best practices to be successful, but how can the latest research reach farmers who live in far-flung rural areas and…
As many people are fortunate enough to know from experience, an inspiring and informed teacher can make a world of difference in a student’s life. This is especially true in primary school, when children learn basic math and literacy skills that will prepare them for advanced study and open a world of possibilities for them…
In 2013, Chemonics began addressing the complex challenge of illegal mining operations in Antioquia, one of Colombia’s main gold producing regions. The goal was to address the root causes and develop solutions that built local capacity and created shared value for the companies and mining communities. Gran Colombia Gold was one of four companies to…
“Everyone was at the starting line, hearts pounding, entirely focused on the snowy slope. As soon as the starting shot was fired, we were off. I couldn’t believe I was ahead of the other skiers, even Gega, my fiercest competitor. But somewhere in the middle of the downward slope, I lost my balance and control…
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) — a country the size of Western Europe with a population of 80 million — ongoing conflict has debilitated public administration, infrastructure, and livelihoods since the late 1990s. Some 7 million primary school-age children are not in school, and those who are often face enormous learning barriers…
In early 2016, Christian, an eight-year-old in first grade, was struggling to understand his teacher. He was speaking French, a language Christian didn’t use at home. Like most of his peers, he only spoke Kiswahili, a language used throughout the southeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “Last year, I could not…
Malaria continues to impose enormous social and economic costs on communities and businesses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Of the country’s 70 million residents, 97 percent live and work in areas where the disease is endemic. About 180,000 lives are lost to malaria every year, with pregnant women and children under the age…
Agriculture is a vital part of Ghana’s economic ecosystem. The country is known for producing staple food crops, such as maize, yams, and cassava; cocoa is the main cash crop. More than half of the Ghanaian labor force and one-quarter of the country’s entire GDP depends on agriculture. Given the sector’s central role, it is…
Agriculture drives economic opportunity in Ghana, representing 50 percent of employment in the country. But success in the agricultural sector depends on more than productivity. It also depends on policy. National policies affect the resources allocated to implement agricultural programs. Policies even define the procedures that farmers and other sector stakeholders follow to access essential…
On April 22, USAID’s Feed the Future Haiti Chanje Lavi Plantè (CLP) project joined groups around the world to commemorate Earth Day. The project, implemented by Chemonics, worked with local communities, the private sector, children from neighboring schools, and the public sector to kick-start a tree-planting campaign at the Robin Sustainable Rural Development Center in…
A strong foundation is the key to all structures, creating a solid base so that better things can follow. In rural Colombian communities, a strong financial foundation isn’t simply built by one person; it is a collaborative effort that depends on an entire community working together. However, when political, social, or economic tensions rise, community…
Aysha*, a young woman in the West Bank, had nowhere to turn in a moment of crisis. Her marriage had begun to disintegrate. Tension between Aysha and her husband initially seemed to stem from normal relationship issues, but it escalated into gender-based violence (GBV). Desperate to salvage her marriage and protect herself, she sought counsel…