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“This is where I belong now”: Niger tries a new refugee model as Nigerians flee bandit attacks

Zubaida Baba-Ibrahim

August 01, 2024 |

Minority Africa |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Niger

“Opportunity Villages," a collaborative initiative between the Niger government and the UNHCR, help refugees from Nigeria become economically self-sufficient by living and working alongside their host communities, developing a more sustainable alternative to traditional refugee settlements. In the five years since their founding, these Villages have supported tens of thousands of refugees.

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Niger tries a new refugee model as Nigerians flee bandit attacks

Zubaida Baba-Ibrahim

August 01, 2024 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

Video |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Niger

To help settle and integrate Nigerian refugees, Niger's government and the UNHCR have collaborated on "Opportunity Villages," which provide not only security and survival resources for refugees, but also long-term economic independence through farming opportunities, marketplaces for trading goods, and other business initiatives. To date, these Villages have supported thousands of refugees while benefiting the local communities alike.

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After historic floods, the safety net failed small farmers

Sarah Trent

August 01, 2024 |

High Country News |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Two-thirds of California’s farms are considered small, cultivating less than 50 acres, and they play a critical role in food security and climate resilience for the whole country. As climate change makes extreme weather more unpredictable, these farms have to rely on government disaster relief and crop insurance to get back on their feet.

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The best plan to help refugees might also be the simplest

Jacob Kushner

June 23, 2024 |

Vox |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

The nonprofit GiveDirectly provides refugees with cash to help them sustain themselves, focusing on those living in cities, as they’re less likely to receive the same assistance as humanitarian camps do. Nearly 1,200 people were given $925 to spend however they wanted — some opening bank accounts, others starting businesses — and reported they were able to nearly double their monthly income and after six months, 88% of recipients were earning more money than ever before.

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One Small Credit Union Is Powering Brooklyn's Economy

Oscar Perry Abello Lucas Grindley

May 13, 2024 |

Next City |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

The Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union provides small business loans to local Black and Brown businesses, through average investments of $24,000. This small, community lender provides more funding to local businesses than larger national banks like Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, helping support local businesses and finance community development.

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Sinsinawa Dominicans spread mission through collaborative farm programs

Margaret Plevak

April 18, 2024 |

National Catholic Reporter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Wisconsin

The Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm, run by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, aims to make farming more affordable and accessible for those just starting out in the industry. People with less than 10 years of farming experience can rent a plot of land and equipment from the collaborative and access resources to help them create a business plan.

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South Africa's SAB Foundation: Why 90% of its investees are still in business five years later

Anna Patton

April 04, 2024 |

Pioneers Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa, Johannesburg

The SAB Foundation is an independent trust set up by South African Breweries (SAB) as part of the government’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment scheme. It helps businesses — particularly underserved entrepreneurs like women and people with disabilities — grow and thrive. Since 2010, the Foundation has backed more than 6,400 social impact businesses in their early stages.

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How Unfamiliar Fish Are Helping Mainers Fight Food Insecurity

Kea Krause

March 28, 2024 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association launched a program to support local fishing businesses and address food insecurity during the pandemic that continues to do so today. The nonprofit buys fish at a more than fair price from local businesses and donates them to food banks and public school food programs.

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How Does Paris Stay Paris? By Pouring Billions Into Public Housing

Thomas Fuller

March 17, 2024 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Despite soaring housing costs, the city government in Paris aims to achieve mixité sociale. That essentially means it's preventing economic segregation to ensure residents from a broad cross-section of society reside in the city and own businesses there. It’s doing so by nabbing real estate to create public housing and providing real estate subsidiaries for small businesses.

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Fewer Illinois residents using payday lenders after state capped interest rates

Amy Yee

March 15, 2024 |

Chicago Sun-Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

The Predatory Loan Prevention Act caps loan interest rates at 36%, including all fees. Before the Act passed, rates were extremely high, including 297% for payday loans and 178% for auto-title loans. The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus pushed for the Act to pass in an effort to close the racial wealth gap and address socioeconomic disparities, as these high-interest rates historically affected minority groups.

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