National Catholic Reporter: Global Poverty Fight Stalls as Inequalities Deepen, Fordham Report Finds – Fordham Now

Report on Stagnation in Global Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development Goal Progress

Executive Summary

Analysis based on the 2025 Fordham Pope Francis Global Poverty Report indicates that progress against extreme poverty, a central tenet of Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty), has stalled for a second consecutive year. The findings, presented at the United Nations, reveal a polarized landscape of human development, with minor gains in some areas offset by significant regression and stagnation in others, posing a considerable challenge to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Status of Key Sustainable Development Goals

The report evaluates seven indicators of basic human needs, which directly correspond to several key SDGs. The progress is mixed:

• Goals with Minor Improvement:
  1. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): A slight improvement was noted in access to drinking water.
  2. SDG 4 (Quality Education): Access to education showed marginal gains.
  3. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): There was a minor increase in access to adequately paid employment.
• Goals Experiencing Regression:
  1. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Conditions worsened significantly regarding access to food, representing a major setback.
  2. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The report notes a decline in religious freedom, an indicator related to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies.
• Goals Showing No Progress:
  1. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Access to adequate housing remained stagnant.
  2. SDG 5 (Gender Equality): No signs of progress were observed in achieving gender equity.

Factors Impeding Progress and Challenges to SDG 17

The report identifies geopolitical shifts among wealthy nations as a primary factor for the slowdown, directly impacting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). According to Henry Schwalbenberg, the report’s director, a reduction in commitment from key global partners is undermining collective action.

• The United States government is reportedly shifting its focus away from the global fight against poverty.
• European nations are increasingly concentrating resources on regional crises, such as the conflict in Ukraine.

This redirection of focus and resources weakens the global partnership essential for achieving the SDGs. The report concludes that renewed and intensified advocacy is critical to counteract this trend and re-establish global poverty eradication as a priority on the international agenda.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses a report on the stalling of the global fight against extreme poverty, which directly or indirectly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals. The report tracks seven basic human needs, each corresponding to one or more SDGs.

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The central theme of the article is the stall in the “global fight against extreme poverty,” which is the primary focus of this goal.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article explicitly mentions that “conditions worsened in… access to food,” directly addressing the core issue of this SDG.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The report notes that “access to… education improved slightly,” linking to the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article states that “gender equity… showed no signs of progress,” which is the central aim of SDG 5.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The report found that “access to drinking water… improved slightly,” a key objective of this goal.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The mention of slight improvements in “access to… adequately paid employment” connects directly to the promotion of sustained, inclusive economic growth and decent work for all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article highlights that “Housing… showed no signs of progress,” which relates to the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, and resilient, including access to adequate housing.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The report notes that “conditions worsened in… religious freedom.” Religious freedom is a fundamental freedom, the protection of which is a component of this goal.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article suggests a reason for the slowdown is a shift in priorities among wealthy nations, with the “U.S. government… turning away from the fight against global poverty” and European countries focusing on Ukraine. This directly relates to the global partnership for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues raised in the article, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.1: Eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere. The article’s main point is that the “global fight against extreme poverty has stalled,” directly referencing this target.
2. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The worsening “access to food” mentioned in the article is a direct setback for this target.
3. Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. The slight improvement in “access to education” is a measure of progress towards this target.
4. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership. The lack of progress in “gender equity” indicates a stall in achieving this and related targets under SDG 5.
5. Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article’s mention of improved “access to drinking water” shows progress related to this target.
6. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The improvement in “adequately paid employment” is a positive step towards this target.
7. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services. The finding that “Housing… showed no signs of progress” directly concerns this target.
8. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms. The worsening conditions for “religious freedom” represent a challenge to achieving this target.
9. Target 17.2: Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments. The article implies a failure to meet this target, citing political shifts in the U.S. and Europe that are diverting focus and resources away from global poverty.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official UN indicators, but the “2025 Fordham Pope Francis Global Poverty Report” itself uses a set of indicators to track human deprivation. These serve as implied indicators for measuring progress towards the SDG targets.

• Indicator for SDG 1 (Poverty): The overall index of the Fordham report, which tracks “human deprivation,” serves as a composite indicator for extreme poverty. The article’s statement that the fight has “stalled” is a direct measurement based on this index.
• Indicator for SDG 2 (Hunger): “Access to food” is the specific metric used in the report to measure food security. The article notes this indicator has “worsened.”
• Indicator for SDG 4 (Education): “Access to education” is the metric used, which showed slight improvement.
• Indicator for SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The report measures “gender equity,” which showed “no signs of progress.”
• Indicator for SDG 6 (Water): “Access to drinking water” is the indicator used to measure progress, which the article states has “improved slightly.”
• Indicator for SDG 8 (Decent Work): “Access to… adequately paid employment” is the specific indicator used to measure progress towards decent work.
• Indicator for SDG 11 (Housing): The report’s measure of “access to housing” is the indicator, which showed no progress.
• Indicator for SDG 16 (Peace & Justice): “Religious freedom” is used as an indicator for fundamental freedoms.
• Indicator for SDG 17 (Partnerships): While not a quantitative metric, the article implies an indicator related to the commitment and resource allocation of developed nations to global poverty initiatives, which is reported to be waning.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: now.fordham.edu