“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that generation. Let your greatness bloom.” Nelson Mandela
This is the second installment of the SDGs spotlight series. Sustainable Development Goal 1 is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” by 2030 – what a challenge! Ahead of SDG1’s review at the High Level Political Forum in July, here’s some quick background.
Poverty is defined as more than lack of income or resources: it includes lack of basic services, such as education, hunger, social discrimination and exclusion, and lack of participation in decision-making. Women and children are disproportionately affected by the implications of poverty, particularly related to their education, health, nutrition, and security.
A lot of progress has been made since the MDGs to eliminate poverty, but a lot of work remains to be done (UN):
Extreme poverty has been cut by more than half since 1990, but 836 million people still live in extreme poverty.
More than 1 in 5 people live on less than $1.25 a day, the majority of whom live in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
High poverty rates are often found in small, fragile and conflict-affected countries.
(Source: GlobalGoals.org)
Because of the SDGs’ interconnected nature, by seeking to overcome poverty, Goal 1 also aims to ensure social protection for the poor and vulnerable, increase access to basic services, and support people harmed by climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
The targets set for SDG1 are:
By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.
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.
Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.
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.
By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions.
Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication action.
Translating these targets into action means:
Improving access to sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurial opportunities and productive resources;
Providing universal access to basic social services;
Progressively developing social protection systems to support those who cannot support themselves;
Empowering people living in poverty and their organizations;
Addressing the disproportionate impact of poverty on women;
Working with interested donors and recipients to allocate increased shares of ODA (Official Development Aid) to poverty eradication; and
Intensifying international cooperation for poverty eradication.
Although the range of cost estimates for achieving all 17 SDGs varies widely, the latest estimated cost of the first two goals (no poverty and zero hunger) is $265 billion, nearly twice the total ODA available per year. This means that the MDG model that relied largely on multilateral development banks to fund the goals will be laughably inadequate this time around: Private sector players must be engaged to leverage and multiply governments’ and the MDBs’ available resources.
The type of multi-sector partnership and collaboration (SDG17) called for doesn’t preclude the opportunities for the private sector to get started. Companies can start by reflecting on their current business and sustainability practices:
Businesses can mitigate their negative impacts on poverty by paying a living wage and addressing gender pay gaps in their workforce, lags in supplier and worker payment along their supply chains, and even the implications of forced resettlement or environmental practices on people’s ability to earn an income.
Businesses can be proactive in the fight against poverty by respecting human rights, creating inclusive business models, enhancing access to goods and services that can contribute to development (e.g. financial inclusion, provision of basic services), and including diverse suppliers in their supply chains (such as women- or indigenous-owned SMEs).
Following a more traditional CSR format, businesses can also partner with NGOs who are working to combat poverty.
One example of a company taking action for SDG1 primarily by looking at its business practices is the Tata Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate with diverse businesses that span steel, motors, health care, financial services, and more. Tata is focusing on creating and selling goods and services “that also serve the poor”, creating employment directly within its companies and in its supply chains, and working in communities “to create value for people at the base of the pyramid,” including a cell phone app with personalized advice for farmers.
Corporate-nonprofit partnerships for SDG1 include Danone et Resto du Coeur, a French charity that provides free meals to people in need as well as advice and support to improve social and economic wellbeing for those facing poverty. Since 2008, Danone, Carrefour and Restos du Cœur have implemented a partnership built around a welfare-to-work initiative.
Although there are a lot of examples of solid, scalable nonprofits tackling poverty, International Movement ATD Fourth World is one that stands out: It’s an international NGO active in 34 countries that “started in a slum in France in the 1950s [and] has transformed the struggle to end poverty by recognizing poverty as a violation of human rights.” ATD Fourth World has a dedicated Stop Poverty campaign, which includes projects related to human rights, culture and education, sustainable economics, participation, and mobilizing society.
Individuals and companies can donate to Global Impact’s SDG Fund, which is a philanthropic nonprofit that, in turn, supports a select group of charities that have direct programs that are tied to many of the SDG themes, including American Jewish World Service, CARE, Heifer International, Salvation Army World Service Office, and Save the Children.
