Global Progress on Sustainable Development Goal 1: A Report on Poverty Eradication Efforts

The State of Global Poverty and SDG 1

Efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1: No Poverty) face significant challenges, as nearly 700 million people globally live in extreme poverty. According to World Bank data, this classification applies to individuals surviving on less than $2.15 per day. This figure represents a direct contradiction to the primary target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is to eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.

• Extreme Poverty (SDG Target 1.1): Approximately 8.5% of the world’s population, or 700 million people, live below the international poverty line of $2.15 per day.
• Moderate Poverty: An estimated 1 billion people live on incomes between $2.15 and $3.65 per day.
• Broader Poverty Metrics: Nearly half of the global population, approximately 3.5 billion people, survives on less than $6.85 per day, a threshold often considered the poverty line in upper-middle-income countries.

Recent Trends and Setbacks to the 2030 Agenda

A United Nations report indicates that after decades of consistent decline from 1990 to 2019, the trend toward poverty eradication has reversed. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global crises have triggered the largest increase in extreme poverty in decades, severely impeding progress toward SDG 1. Since 2019, there has been minimal advancement in poverty reduction. Projections for 2030 suggest that approximately 7.3% of the global population will remain in extreme poverty, indicating that the world is not on track to meet its foundational sustainable development target.

International Mobilization for Poverty Eradication

The United Nations General Assembly designated October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty to promote global awareness and mobilize efforts toward achieving SDG 1. This year’s theme, focused on ending social and institutional mistreatment by ensuring respect and support for families, aligns with the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind” and addresses the social dimensions of poverty. The day serves as a critical platform for international cooperation and policy dialogue aimed at accelerating poverty reduction initiatives.

Regional Disparities and the Challenge for SDG 10

The geographic concentration of poverty highlights significant challenges related to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reveals that the majority of the world’s poorest countries, measured by per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, regions such as East Asia, the Pacific, and South Asia have demonstrated the most significant progress in poverty reduction over the past 25 years. The ten countries with the lowest per capita GDP are:

1. South Sudan ($251)
2. Yemen ($417)
3. Burundi ($490)
4. Central African Republic ($532)
5. Malawi ($580)
6. Madagascar ($595)
7. Sudan ($625)
8. Mozambique ($663)
9. Democratic Republic of Congo ($743)
10. Niger ($751)

United Nations Framework for Achieving SDG 1

Within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN has established a comprehensive framework to guide the eradication of poverty in all its forms. This framework underscores that achieving SDG 1 is fundamental to overall sustainable development. Key strategic objectives include:

• The implementation of targeted programs and policies by developing countries to address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty.
• The mobilization of adequate and predictable resources to support national poverty eradication strategies.
• The establishment of effective national and regional policy frameworks grounded in pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies.
• Ensuring that by 2030, all people, particularly the poor and vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, access to basic services, and control over land and other forms of property.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The primary Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) addressed throughout the article is:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article’s central theme is the global state of poverty, its measurement, recent trends, and the international efforts to eradicate it. It explicitly mentions the UN’s goal of “eradicating all forms of poverty” as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The entire discussion revolves around the number of people living in extreme poverty, the monetary thresholds used to define it, and the geographical distribution of the world’s poorest populations.

Additionally, the article implicitly connects to:

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By highlighting the vast disparities in wealth and poverty between different regions, the article touches upon the issue of inequality. It points out that “most of the world’s poorest countries… are located in Sub-Saharan Africa” and contrasts regions that have made progress (East Asia, Pacific, South Asia) with those that lag behind. The data on per capita GDP for the poorest countries further underscores the economic inequality between nations.

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

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets under SDG 1 can be identified:

1. Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day (the international poverty line has since been updated to $2.15, which the article uses).
   • Explanation: The article is built around this target. It repeatedly mentions the international poverty line of “$2.15 per day” and states that “Nearly 700 million people around the world are classified as living in extreme poverty” based on this measure. It also discusses the projection that by 2030, “about 7.3% of the global population will still be living in extreme poverty.”
2. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
   • Explanation: The article addresses this target by discussing poverty beyond the extreme threshold. It notes that the UN aims to eradicate “all forms of poverty” and highlights broader measures of economic hardship, stating that “nearly half of the world’s population survives on less than $6.85 per day.” This acknowledges that poverty is a multidimensional issue that extends beyond the single metric of extreme poverty.
3. Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance.
   • Explanation: The article directly references the components of this target in its final section. It states that by 2030, the UN aims to “ensure that these countries have equal access to economic and natural resources, fundamental services, and rights through the establishment of effective national and regional policy frameworks.” This is a clear alignment with the goal of ensuring access to resources and services for the poor.

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

Yes, the article mentions several explicit and implied indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line.
   • Explanation: The article provides precise data points for this indicator. It states that “about 8.5% of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty,” which translates to “roughly 700 million people.” The international poverty line itself is clearly defined as “$2.15 per day per person.”
2. Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
   • Explanation: While not using national definitions, the article implies this indicator by providing data on poverty at different monetary thresholds, which reflects the broader dimensions of poverty. It mentions that “Globally, around 1 billion people live on incomes between $2.15 and $3.65 per day, while nearly half of the world’s population survives on less than $6.85 per day.” These figures serve as measures of poverty beyond the extreme level.
3. Indicator related to Target 1.4: The concept of access to resources and services is mentioned, but no specific numerical data for an indicator (like Indicator 1.4.1: Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services) is provided.
   • Explanation: The article implies the importance of this measurement by stating the UN’s aim to “ensure… equal access to economic and natural resources, fundamental services, and rights.” Although it doesn’t provide a percentage or number, it confirms that access to these services is a key component of the UN’s poverty eradication strategy, making it a crucial area for measurement.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aa.com.tr