Sustainable Development Goals #1 No Poverty

Global Poverty Problem

Why no poverty?

While global poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 2000, one in ten people in developing regions are still living with their families on less than the international poverty line of US$1.90 a day, and there are millions more who make little more than this daily amount.

Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making.

How did we get here?

There are many factors contributing this crisis but the top 9 include:

1. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD

2. LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO LIVELIHOODS OR JOBS

3.  World CONFLICT

4. INEQUALITY

5. POOR EDUCATION

6. CLIMATE CHANGE

7. LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE

8. LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE GOVERNMENT

9. LACK OF RESERVES

What can we do?

Aside from donating and creating awareness the real changes that could impact the most people can only come from the governments and law makers

This is what they need to be focusing on doing:

1. Eliminate Gender Inequality

With two-thirds of the world’s illiterate being female, the ratio of boys and girls should be made equal in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Girls that attend school are less likely to get married before age 18, thus decreasing child marriage rates by 64 percent worldwide.

2. Create Jobs Worldwide

According to the International Labour Organization, 197 million people are without work worldwide. More employment options in a country mean more ways of how to stop poverty. To increase employment, non-literate people can be taught a few skills to make them employable.

3. Increase Access to Proper Sanitation and Clean Water

Access to clean water and sanitation directly affects health and education. Currently, 800 million people live without access to safe water and 2.5 billion live without adequate sanitation. Dirty bathrooms keep girls from attending schools, thus stopping them from receiving an education.

4. Educate Everyone

Education helps increase individual earnings for every member of a family. UNESCO points out that basic reading skills can lift 171 million people out of extreme poverty, ultimately reducing the world’s total poverty by 12 percent. UNESCO also mentions there are currently about one billion illiterate adults in the world.

How much would this cost?

Jeffrey Sachs, as one of the world’s leading experts on economic development and the fight against poverty, stated that the cost to end poverty is $175 billion per year for 20 years. To put things into perspective the annual spending for coffee in America is $300 billion each year.