Reference no: EM133283006
Assignment:
The UN Population Projections show a large range for how the global population will grow through the end of the century. Much of the uncertainty is related to the fertility rate - how many children women have on average. Around the globe, fertility rate varies widely from a low of 1.2 (South Korea, Taiwan, Portugal, and Bosnia-Hercegovina) to a high of 7.6 (Niger). The global average is 2.5. The highest fertility rates are in the poorest countries. In many cases, women wish to better plan the number and spacing of their children but do not have the means (contraceptives, reproductive healthcare, or education). In other cases, high fertility is encouraged because cultural norms dictate that women are valued only for childbearing and rearing. The sooner the global fertility rate can get to replacement level (2.1), the sooner world population would stabilize.
A number of government agencies and non-governmental organizations around the world are working to address the challenges that keep fertility rates high in the least developed countries of the world. Some of these work to provide schooling for girls, as a means of providing them with an education and future opportunities. Others work to provide family planning or healthcare to reduce child mortality. Still, others work on improving clean water and sanitation.
1. Locate an organization working on alleviating one of the challenges that face people in the least developed countries and that can affect population growth. This could be a non-governmental organization, a government or international agency, or a philanthropic foundation.
2. Write a description of the organization's work and your conclusions regarding its ability to affect population growth. Be sure to answer the following questions in your initial post.
- In what countries does the organization have programs?
- What is the average fertility rate of these countries today? (Hint: Use the map at www.WorldPopulationHistory.org to find country-specific fertility rates. Turn on the Fertility Rates Overlay and mouse over necessary countries.)
- Who does the organization serve (what is their target audience)?
- How long has the organization been working on this challenge?
- How does the organization measure success?
- What are some examples of the organization's accomplishments?