Women account for half the world’s population, but are disproportionally affected by extreme poverty. However, nearly one billion women are poised to enter the global economy over the next decade. March 8, International Women’s Day, is an opportunity for us to consider how reaching women with vital programs to support everything from girls’ education to workforce participation affects lives, communities, and nations, including the U.S.

$10 billion—that’s the estimated amount of money terrorist organizations profit from illegal wildlife trade every year. It may come as a surprise, but illegal wildlife trading on the black market is a major source of revenue for terrorist and rebel networks around the world. Animals like elephants, rhinos, tigers, turtles, and pangolins are being poached at alarming rates and sold to buyers as high-end novelty items, medicine, and pets.

Today, more people have access to mobile phones than to electricity or clean water— and it’s making a difference in the fight against global poverty. In 2000, only 4 percent of people living in low- and middle-income countries had access to mobile phones. In 2015, that number rose to a whopping 94 percent. Here’s how technology is demonstrating a real, measurable impact.

As the U.S. begins to implement the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act, recently enacted legislation championed by SFRC co-chairs Senator Corker and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), the committee sought insight from a surprising guest: Ashton Kutcher. Though Kutcher is famous for his acting, he testified on behalf of Thorn, a nonprofit he co-founded to fight human trafficking and slavery around the world.

In a world of abundant food, how is it possible that 45 percent of childhood deaths are still linked to malnutrition? You might be surprised to learn that part of the solution, according to Bill Gates, is chickens, which last year he called the best solution to global poverty. As Gates points out, chickens present a major opportunity to increase household incomes and nutrition through greater meat and egg production. That is why Feed the Future, America’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty, has teamed up with scientists at the University of California at Davis to increase poultry production by breeding healthy chickens that are heat and disease resistant.

Despite the common misperception that radio is no longer relevant in today’s digital world, it remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways of communicating in developing countries. When disaster strikes — whether it’s a hurricane making landfall on a poor island nation, or an outbreak of violence in a remote region of Africa — radio is often the only way to disseminate real-time information that can save lives. But radio’s utility in developing countries extends far beyond times of crisis. Regular access to information helps build an informed citizenry, it fosters inclusive societies, and encourages debate – promoting good governance and empowering young people, women, and other marginalized groups.

In an effort to close the gender gap and increase female interest in STEM related fields, the U.S. Department of State has teamed up with Intel, Google, Microsoft, the United Nations Foundation, and others to create the annual Women in Science (WiSci) STEAM Camp for girls interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Each year, the camp brings together students from the U.S. and around the world in a unique learning environment like Rwanda, Peru, and this year, Malawi.

Over 100 leading business and NGOs voices more than 40 diverse organizations such as Lockheed Martin, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Chemonics, and Save the Children joined together this week on Capitol Hill with one mission: secure and protect $60 billion for the International Affairs Budget in FY18. Under the banner of “Leading Globally Matters Locally,” the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) and Hill Day advocates held close to 80 meetings on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate.

Days after Donald Trump was sworn in as our nation’s 45^th President, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spoke with John Dickerson on CBS’ Face the Nation about why combating terrorism necessitates a strong investment in our civilian-led tools of foreign policy. The Senator maintained that in order to keep America safe, strong, and secure the U.S. needs to leverage the powers of foreign assistance, development, and diplomacy alongside the strength of our military.

While we wait to see who will lead the MCC and USAID in the Trump Administration, one thing is certain: Africa should be seen as both an opportunity as well as a challenge to America’s efforts to reduce global poverty and promote economic growth. If the Trump Administration seeks to leave a lasting legacy by improving global stability and economic growth, Africa should be at the center of its plans.