The challenges facing rural communities in the United States are frequently reported in the news, and frequently blamed for the urban-rural divide in politics.
Well, the challenges don't stop at national borders. Some of the poorest people in the world live in rural areas, in numbers that exceed the population of the United States.
The International Institute for Rural Reconstruction focuses on small communities in Africa and Asia, working to bring up health and living standards.
Peter Williams is the president of IIRR, based in New York. He tells us of the organization's work and mission.