Extreme poverty seen gone in a generation

EXTREME poverty may end within a generation, a report from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said.

“For the first time in history, the world may see the end of extreme poverty — as soon as the next generation,” the UNDP said in its 2013/2014 annual report, released Wednesday.

Citing data from its Operations Support Group, the UNDP said that extreme poverty has been cut by half in two decades. More specifically, only 21% of the global population was living on less than $1.25 a day in 2010, down from the 1990 figure of 43%.

“Technological innovation is revolutionizing commerce and human interaction. Universal access to basic services is within reach, so that everyone attains a minimum threshold of well-being. Most importantly, there is enough knowledge and experience to pursue rapid economic growth while simultaneously upholding social justice and caring for the environment. And there is international agreement that this is, broadly speaking, the right path,” the report read.

The UNDP acknowledged, however, that these possibilities for growth come with challenges.

“Even in the midst of prosperity, for some people, stark inequalities remain. Economic growth alone has not reached sufficient numbers of the poor. Many of those who have escaped poverty remain vulnerable to quickly slipping back when faced with a major setback to their health, assets or employment prospects,” read the report.

The agency said its goal of poverty eradication is attainable but “requires some rethinking of development.” As such, it has come up with the new 2014-2017 Strategic Plan, to guide its partnerships with the countries whose development programs it will support.

The 2008-2011 Strategic Plan, which was extended to 2013, focused on helping countries meet national development objectives and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The new plan supports countries in making a final, accelerated push towards the MDGs and supports the creation of a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient world beyond 2015.

Under the plan, the UNDP will work toward eradicating extreme poverty and reducing inequality through actions in three areas.

First, a shift to sustainability is expected to make growth benefit poor and marginalized groups and avoid irreversible environmental damage. Second, the UNDP will support democratic systems for accountability and inclusivity. Third, the agency will “back efforts to systematically identify and prevent big risks to development … to help countries and communities with quick recovery and greater resilience to setbacks.” — B.C.P. Balaoing, Businessworld