In this paper, the author considers alternative scenarios for reducing by one billion the number of people living below $1.25 a day. The low-case, "pessimistic," path to that goal would see low income countries outside China returning to the slower pace of growth and poverty reduction of the 1980s and 1990s, though with China maintaining its progress. This path is projected to would take 50 years or more to lift one billion people out of poverty. The author asserts that a more optimistic path would maintain the rate of progress in reducing poverty since 2000, reaching the target by around 2025-30, although this assumes inequality-neutral growth.
Poverty and health
How long will it take to lift one billion people out of poverty?
Ravallion M: Policy Research Working Paper WPS 6325, World Bank, 2013
How much would poor people gain from faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals for health?
This article, published in The Lancet, explores what further progress towards the health objectives set out in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will mean for the poor. The author notes that, unlike the MDGs overall, these health objectives do not focus specifically on poor people. “Rather, they call for improvements in national averages that can be achieved through gains in both advantaged and disadvantaged groups. As a result, any reduction in society-wide average rates of death or illness can provide a wide range of outcomes for poor people.”
Hunger exacerbating child mortality
Banda I: Inter Press News, 24 May 2007
The fourth of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) seeks a two-third reduction in the deaths of children under five by 2015. But the issues related to the first MDG, the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, will push the reduction of child mortality in Zimbabwe beyond the target date of 2015.
Hunger Map 2014
World Food Programme: November 2014
From Africa and Asia to Latin America and the Near East, there are 805 million people in the world who do not get enough food to lead a normal, active life. The World Food Programmae downloadable Hunger Map provides information that maps the distribution of food insecurity globally.
Hungry for a voice: The food crisis, the market and socio-economic inequality
Depelchin J: Pambazuka News, 4 December 2008
In this article exploring the history of socio-economic inequality, the author calls for an interpretation of the current food crisis over the historical long term. As a direct consequence of an entrenched, centuries-old capitalist system, the market as a ‘modernising’ force has consistently enriched the lives of a few while impoverishing a poor majority. Understanding the food crisis rests first and foremost on re-considering humanity’s relationship to nature and championing historical narratives true to the voices and experiences of the global poorest of the poor. Up till now, analysts have been discussing the current food crisis from the perspective of the last few decades, which is very short term, suggesting that the problem is momentary and conjunctural. It is neither and has been in the making for a very long time, as far back as 1491.
Hungry for change: An eight-step, costed plan of action to tackle global child hunger
Save the Children: 2009
More than 178 million children are currently suffering from chronic malnutrition, which contributes to a third of all child deaths globally. According to this report, a total of £150 would give a hungry child the right kind of food and support to stop them from dying from malnutrition and protect their brains and bodies from being permanently damaged by hunger. Half of the world’s hungry children live in just eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Sudan and Vietnam. The Hungry for Change report reveals that it would cost £5.25 billion a year to combat child hunger in these countries and dramatically reduce the number of children who are stunted or malnourished.
Hwange women exposed to the vagaries of coal mining. . . as one dies poaching coke
Mlevu S: Centre for Natural Resource Governance, 2020
Centre for Natural Resource Governance shared, with sorrow, news of the death of a Hwange woman after a tunnel she was using to sneak into Hwange Colliery Company Limited’s (HCCL) premises collapsed on her and her colleague. As Zimbabwe’s economy declines the Hwange Community now survives largely through several illicit activities, which include sneaking into the company premised through a tunnel to steal coking coke. The centre makes several recommendations. Firstly, that the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Women Affairs and Small to Medium Enterprises should immediately avail grants for income generating projects to support women in Hwange. This will help women who are not on formal employment to avoid risky livelihood options. They propose that the HCCL must provide safety and security measures that will inhibit people from illegally taking coal coke in their premises. HCCL should also fully implement safety, health and environment initiatives around their premises so that lives can be saved. The centre also recommends that the government provides social and economic security for women mining affected areas and that the Environmental Management Agency regularly monitors SHE compliance in all companies without bias.
I can no longer do my work like how I used to’: a mixed methods longitudinal cohort study exploring how informal working mothers balance the requirements of livelihood and safe childcare in South Africa
Horwood C; Hinton R; Haskins L; et al: BMC Women's Health 21(288), 1-15, 2021
A mixed-methods longitudinal cohort study conducted among informal women workers in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa between July 2018 and August 2019 and a photovoice activity with groups of participants to explore the childcare environment explored informal-sector working women's experience of child care. Women returned to work soon after the baby was born, often earlier than planned, because of financial responsibilities to provide for the household and new baby. They had limited childcare choices and most preferred to leave their babies with family members at home, as the most convenient, low-cost option, or mothers paid carers or formal childcare. Formal childcare was reported to be poor quality, unaffordable and not suited to the needs of informal workers. Mothers expressed concern about carers’ reliability and the safety of the childcare environment. Flexibility of informal work allowed some mothers to adapt their work to care for their child themselves, but others were unable to arrange consistent childcare, sometimes leaving the child with unsuitable carers to avoid losing paid work. Mothers were frequently anxious about leaving the child but felt they had no choice as they needed to work. Maternity protection for informal workers would support these mothers to stay home longer to care for themselves, their family and their baby, and good quality, affordable childcare would provide stability for mothers and give children the opportunity to thrive.
If the G8 really wants to make a difference, here are seven action points to create ‘The World We Want’
Global Call to Action Against Poverty: 25 May 2011
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) has proposed seven major issues that must be tackled by the G8 if it is serious about alleviating poverty. Public accountability, just governance and human rights should be enshrined in programmes financed by G8, with reporting that takes into account real prices (after inflation) and is based on consistent year-on-year calculations. The G8 must also place gender equality and empowerment at the heart of its development policies. It should reaffirm the Gleneagles, L’Aquila and Muskoka commitments in the G8 communiqué and set out an emergency plan to deliver the US$19 billion shortfall against commitments by 2012. In terms of debt cancellation, the G8 should endorse the formation of an International Debt Court to ensure a fair and transparent process that is independent of borrowers and lenders, based on clear rules, legally enforceable, comprehensive and mandated to assess the validity and legitimacy of all debt cancellation claims. The G8-Africa Declaration and related agreements must be based on fairness to both Northern and Southern countries, ensuring equitable trade conditions. Justice in terms of climate change agreements should be secured for developing countries, and peace and security should also be taken into account by the G8, as democracy is currently being undermined in Africa by continual armed conflict.
If you miss them, then you’re missing out
Riria J: Daily Nation, 7 November 2017
The author reports an estimated 65 per cent of women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the developing economies that are either unserved or underserved financially. SMEs provide 80 per cent of Kenya’s employment and contribute 20 per cent of our GDP, according to latest reports from African Economic Outlook. Data on registered firms shows that women hold ownership roles in 48 per cent of Kenyan SMEs. The World Bank says that only 51 per cent of Kenyan women have access to a simple bank account, much less a business loan or insurance to protect them financially. The author notes that microfinance can address this deficit through loans designed specifically for women-led SMEs that need access to working capital to expand their businesses, that have flexible monthly repayment amounts, security and collateral requirements, and longer repayment periods.