Mckenzie Howell

M.A Candidate in International Affairs

American University | School of International Service

Policy Analysis | Features | Essays

Bayanihan: Community Pantries in the Philippines

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Approximately one-tenth of the global population suffered undernourishment in 2020. Starting in early April 2021, the Philippines faced further food insecurity under extended lockdowns. In the absence of adequate government support, average citizens — from farmers to health care workers — came together to fight hunger and embody bayanihan, or “collecting community effort,” by setting up community pantries in the Philippines.

Dr. Jamie Dasmariñas of the Council for Health and

Distance Learning in Africa Goes the Distance

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The pandemic saw a rapid shift toward distance learning as schools shut down across the globe. Unfortunately, hundreds of millions lacked ready access to remote education resources, whether online or over the airwaves. Distance learning in Africa became a priority throughout the pandemic. Now, many have to learn to adapt to live with the pandemic to survive. As a result, remote education has become part of a broader conversation about African development.

Bearing in mind curr

Project HOPE: Help is on the Horizon During COVID-19

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Project HOPE is a global health nonprofit that “has responded to nearly every major disaster since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.” Bearing this in mind, it is almost a given that Project HOPE is also an active force in the global fight against COVID-19. In an interview with The Borgen Project, Project HOPE CEO Rabih Torbay discusses Project HOPE’s humanitarian response to COVID-19 and the importance of working with local communities to address any health crisis.

Project HOPE

Experimenting With Impact Bonds Continues

More than 10 years into the Impact Bond experiment, pandemic conditions have tested the financial tool’s effectiveness and sustainability. In the course of these trials, the market managed to expand and produce new case studies. It is no longer just the developed world experimenting with impact bonds.

Impact Bonds (also known as Social Impact Bonds, Development Impact Bonds or Pay-for-Success Projects) are a relatively recent financing tool for implementing public works, introduced in 2010 in t

A4AI: UN Joins the Alliance for Affordable Internet

As social distancing measures and lockdowns isolated people, the internet helped keep communities connected and functioning. Households ordered groceries online, adults telecommuted to work and students attended school via distance learning. The internet asserted itself as a necessary utility. However, affordable internet access is far from universal. The United Nations has partnered with the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) to address this by increasing affordable internet access in deve