Case Studies

Aral Sea

Once the fourth-largest lake in the world, located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, severely shrunk due to water diversion for agriculture.

Amu Darya

A river originating in the Pamir Mountains, and one of the primary sources feeding the Aral Sea.

Syr Darya

A river that flows through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, also a primary source for the shrinking Aral Sea.

Joseph Stalin

Soviet leader whose policies in the 1960s led to the diversion of rivers, significantly impacting the Aral Sea.

Karshi Main Canal

One of the massive irrigation canals constructed in the 1960s to divert water from the Aral Sea.

Amu-Bukhara Irrigation Canal

Another irrigation canal constructed to facilitate cotton farming, contributing to the Aral Sea's shrinkage.

Kok-Aral Dam

A dam built to partially revive the North Aral Sea with funding from the World Bank and the Kazakh government.

Aralkum Desert

Desert formed from the exposed seabed of the drying Aral Sea, releasing toxic dust storms.

DDT

A pesticide released by the exposed seabed of the Aral Sea, linked to health issues in surrounding communities.

$86 million

Amount spent on the Kok-Aral Dam to improve the situation of the North Aral Sea.

Fishing industry collapse

Result of the Aral Sea's shrinkage, leading to job loss for over 40,000 fishermen.

75 deaths per 1,000 births

Infant mortality rate in the region during the height of the Aral Sea crisis.

10% of original size

The remaining size of the Southern Aral Sea by 2018, indicating drastic environmental degradation.

Tusome Program

An initiative launched in Kenya in 2014 to improve early-grade reading and literacy among children.

USAID

United States Agency for International Development, collaborated in the Tusome Program to improve literacy in Kenya.

79%

Percentage of teachers trained under the Tusome program to enhance literacy instruction.

$40 billion

Amount spent by Turkey on refugee support as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Women for Bees Program

UNESCO initiative started in 2020 to empower women through sustainable beekeeping.

6-7%

Interest rates charged by Grameen Bank for microloans, significantly lower than traditional lenders.

Microcredit

Small loans provided to the rural poor by institutions like Grameen Bank.

114 males for every 100 females

Gender ratio in China as a result of the One-Child Policy's sex-selective abortions.

400 million births

Estimated number of births prevented by China's One-Child Policy.

132 billion gold marks

Reparations imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I.

National Health and Family Planning Commission

Government body in China that enforced the One-Child Policy.

2040

Projected year when China's aging population will significantly strain social services.

World Bank

International financial institution that funded various initiatives including the Kok-Aral Dam.

Nicaragua vs. United States

A key ICJ case where Nicaragua sued the U.S. for supporting rebel groups.

$14 billion

Estimated losses from the collapse of the fishing industry around the Aral Sea.

30-40%

Percentage increase in income reported by Grameen Bank borrowers within two years of receiving a loan.

2 million

Number of Syrian children out of school as a consequence of the refugee crisis.

$33 billion

Monetary equivalent of reparations that Germany had to pay under the Treaty of Versailles.

Interest-free loans

One of the incentives provided to families that adhered to China's One-Child Policy.

Almond producers

Local farmers that benefited from enhanced pollination due to the Women for Bees Program.

80%

Percentage of Syrian people living in poverty by 2021 as a result of the civil war.

3% GDP growth

Projected increase in Kenya's GDP due to the results of the Tusome Program by 2035.

$40 billion

Estimated cost incurred by Turkey to manage Syrian refugees.

10%

Minimum percentage of refugee households in camps reporting food insecurity.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus

Founder of Grameen Bank, known for pioneering microcredit.

Geopolitical reshaping

Outcome of the Treaty of Versailles that altered borders and power dynamics in Europe.

4% to 12%

Increase in fluent reader rates attributed to the Tusome Program in Kenya by 2017.

Plachimada

Location in India where Coca-Cola faced severe criticism for water depletion.

Over 500 families

Number of families in Plachimada reporting reduced agricultural yields due to Coca-Cola's operations.

6.6 million

Total number of Syrian refugees who fled the country by 2021.

Coca-Cola

Company that faced backlash in India for environmental practices related to water extraction.

Food insecurity

Condition affecting over 55% of Syrian refugee households in camps.

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, collaborated in Women for Bees Program.

Environmental degradation

Long-term damage caused by urbanization linked to China's One-Child Policy.

Tourism industry decline

An industry impacted by the negative perceptions following Coca-Cola's environmental practices.

Adolf Hitler

Rise facilitated by the grievances stemming from the Treaty of Versailles in Germany.

Deforestation

Environmental consequence of refugee camps in host countries around Syria.

Internal displacement

Situation of over 6.7 million Syrians who were displaced within their own country.

80 students per teacher

Classroom overcrowding statistic encountered before the Tusome Program.

Gender imbalance

Result of China's One-Child Policy leading to millions of missing women.

1950s

Timeframe when critiques about foreign aid's dependency model began to emerge.

10-20%

Range of GDP that foreign aid accounted for in several African nations.

Social justice

A broader goal that the Tusome Program aimed to promote through literacy.

Poland

Country that benefitted territorially due to the Treaty of Versailles.

Educational disruption

One of the major effects of the Syrian refugee crisis on children.

Interest-free loans

Benefits given to compliant families under China's One-Child Policy.

Human rights violations

Issues raised in cases presented to the ICJ, such as the Kulbhushan Jadhav case.

Goosebumps

Condition arising from fear or anxiety prevalent among children within refugee camps.

Cotton producer

Uzbekistan's status in the world by 1988 attributable to Soviet irrigation policies.

20% increase

Projected increase in productivity from crops benefiting from pollinator protection efforts.

Brussels Conference

Meeting in 2012 that included discussions of the Syrian refugee situation.

Humanitarian assistance

What many thousands of organizations are providing to Syrian refugees with limited resources.

Employment disruption

Effect of Coca-Cola's practices leading to significant local job losses.

Youth unemployment

Economic issue in the region exacerbated by the influx of refugees.

Sustainable living

End goal the Women for Bees Program aimed to achieve by training beekeepers.

Economic self-sufficiency

Goal hindered by dependency on foreign aid in many African nations.

Crisis management

What became necessary for Turkey and Lebanon in response to Syrian refugees.

UNHCR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, agency involved in refugee matters.

Caribbean Economic Crisis

Historical context highlighting the challenges of relying heavily on foreign funds.

Job loss

Impact on locals experienced due to the influx of workers from outside regions.

Strategic advantages

What donor countries sought when imposing conditions on aid.

Tunisia

Southern neighbor of Syria that witnessed ripple effects from the refugee crisis.

Nuclear families

Family structure promoted by urbanization trends in China due to the One-Child Policy.

Environmental conservation

Long-term objective of the Women for Bees Program to advocate for biodiversity.

Education accessibility

Outcome of aid funding projects in African nations like schools and hospitals.

Transboundary water systems

Type of environmental disputes mediated by the ICJ.

Poverty rates

What the Syrian refugee crisis significantly escalated in host countries.

Labor shortages

Economic issue worried about by the Chinese government leading to policy relaxation.

Abandoned children

Unregistered status given to many due to the One-Child Policy's societal implications.

Social inclusion

Goal of the Tusome Program aiming to engage marginalized communities.

Crisis level

Severity of challenges faced by local communities in both Syria and host nations.

World economy

Economic systems impacted by decisions made at the ICJ.

Job creation

What is often undermined by aid conditions and foreign influence in African nations.

Environmental resilience

Outcome expected from the Women for Bees initiative via pollinator populations.

Deconstruction of stereotypes

Social goal promoted by various aid projects focused on gender equality.

Health crises

Emerging issues faced by Plachimada residents due to Coca-Cola's pollution.

Youth opportunities

What many fear would be reduced due to the influx of unregistered Syrian children.

Syrian Civil War

Conflict that led to the mass displacement of millions of Syrian people.

Peaceful dispute resolution

Core mission of the International Court of Justice.

Global stability

Long-term benefit aimed for through the ICJ's mediation in different state conflicts.

Health standards

Metrics influenced by the educational outreach of programs like Tusome.

Copaiba plants

Species expected to thrive due to enhanced biodiversity from the Bees Program.

Philanthropic efforts

Type of funding that drives many foreign aid initiatives in Africa.

Comparative analysis

Approach taken by some organizations to evaluate the implementation of environmental policies.

Environmental impact assessments

Type of report often required when assessing aid-funded projects.

Training programs

Key feature of successful initiatives like Tusome and Women for Bees.

Jordan

Example of a neighboring country feeling the burden of refugee integration.