DEBT

The issue

Many countries are stuck in poverty because every year a huge amount of the money they have has to be paid back to the rich countries that lent it to them.

Having to pay back the money they borrowed is difficult enough. But things are made far worse because they also have to pay back a large amount of interest (in other words, a "fee" for being able to borrow the money in the first place).

This is all too much for many countries, and means they can’t spend money on things that will improve the lives of their own people – such as building schools, hospitals and roads.