About "Charting Change"

A monthly blog about innovative projects in the developing world presented by Canadian Geographic and Canada’s International Development Research Centre

Photo: IDRC

Yassine Taha holds a brick that was produced in his lab using coal mining waste from the Moroccan city of Jerada. (Photo: IDRC)

Photo: IDRC
Working wonders with mine waste
How scientists in Morocco hope to turn huge slag piles of coal mining waste into bricks and transform the city of Jerada in the process
Photo: Pardee Lab, University of Toronto

Darius Rackus, a member of Keith Pardee’s lab at the University of Toronto, assembles portable diagnostic equipment that will be used to test for Zika and other diseases in South America. (Photo: Pardee Lab, University of Toronto)

Photo: Pardee Lab, University of Toronto
Zeroing in on Zika
Latin America and Canadian scientists are working on a portable diagnostic technology that could be a game-changer in the battle against diseases such as Zika
Photo: Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria

Two women share maternal and child health information during a home visit in Bauchi state, Nigeria. (Photo: Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria)

Photo: Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria
Dramatic delivery
How soap-opera-style videos are helping educate couples in northern Nigeria about maternal and child health
Photo: Bjarki Hallgrimsson

Locals from Uganda’s Kasese District show off a new hand-pedalled tricycle that converts into a wheelchair. (Photo: Bjarki Hallgrimsson)

Photo: Bjarki Hallgrimsson
The wheel deal
Opportunities once beyond the grasp of Ugandans with disabilities are now within reach thanks to a specially designed wheelchair
A farmer in India sprays hexanal on mango trees. Hexanal is a naturally-occurring compound that’s being used to prevent fruit crops in India from spoiling. (Photo: Vijay Kutty/IDRC)

A farmer in India sprays hexanal on mango trees. Hexanal is a naturally-occurring compound that’s being used to prevent fruit crops in India from spoiling. (Photo: Vijay Kutty/IDRC)

Photo: Vijay Kutty/IDRC
Stopping the rot
How a natural compound called hexanal is helping prevent India’s lucrative fruit crops from spoiling
Researchers with the Akiba Mashinani Trust examine a map of Nairobi's Mukuru slum. In August 2017, activists succeeded in having the settlement designated as a special planning area, the first step in a process that could help transform the slum and the lives of its 300,000 residents.

Researchers with the Akiba Mashinani Trust examine a map of Nairobi's Mukuru slum. In August 2017, activists succeeded in having the settlement designated as a special planning area, the first step in a process that could help transform the slum and the lives of its 300,000 residents. (Photo: Akiba Mashinani Trust)

(Photo: Akiba Mashinani Trust)
Mukuru rising
How a new designation could transform the Nairobi slum and help end the “poverty penalty” its residents face
Jemimah Njuki, a food-security expert with IDRC

Jemimah Njuki, a food-security expert with IDRC, believes that greater involvement for African women in food-security and agriculture research can benefit the whole continent.

Improving Africa’s food-security, one woman at a time
Food-security expert Jemimah Njuki explains why women are poised to take a leading role in Africa’s agriculture industry
Women study at L’École Supérieure d’Infotronique d’Haiti. The school is one of the partners of the AYITIC program, which is helping train Haitian women to take part in the digital economy.

Women study at L’École Supérieure d’Infotronique d’Haiti. The school is one of the partners of the AYITIC program, which is helping train Haitian women to take part in the digital economy. (Photo: Jairo Abud)

Photo: Jairo Abud
From disaster, a new digital economy for Haiti
In the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake, online opportunities are arising that could help resurrect the Caribbean nation
Sefiya Heliso harvests chickpeas in southern Ethiopia. Heliso is participating in a project that is encouraging people to grow and eat pulses such as chickpeas to help improve food security in the country

Sefiya Heliso harvests chickpeas in southern Ethiopia. Heliso is participating in a project that is encouraging people to grow and eat pulses such as chickpeas to help improve food security in the country. (Photo: IDRC/Petterik Wiggers)

Photo: IDRC/Petterik Wiggers
Pulse power
In Ethiopia, protein-rich crops of pulses such as chickpeas are no longer playing second fiddle to maize and wheat, a shift that’s transforming lives
A woman weaves Jamdani fabric in Bangladesh. The fabric, which UNESCO has recognized as an item that represents the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, is one of many handicrafts on the Artisan Hub website

A woman weaves Jamdani fabric in Bangladesh. The fabric, which UNESCO has recognized as an item that represents the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, is one of many handicrafts on the Artisan Hub website. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Photo: Shutterstock
Giving artisans access
How Artisan Hub is helping connect traditional craftspeople in developing countries to new and potentially lucrative foreign markets
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