Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty

Summary

The video script discusses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN in 2015, aiming to transform the world by 2030 through poverty eradication, inequality reduction, and climate change mitigation. It highlights the progress and challenges in Africa, particularly Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and emphasizes the importance of social protection measures, direct cash transfers, and the role of various stakeholders in achieving these ambitious goals. The script also addresses the impact of COVID-19 on these efforts and the need for continued collaboration and data-driven interventions.

Takeaways

• 🌐 In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at transforming the world by 2030 through poverty eradication, fighting inequality, and addressing climate change.
• 🎯 The SDGs consist of 169 targets and 230 indicators, integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable development.
• 🌍 The process of establishing the SDGs was the most inclusive and transparent in UN history, involving civil society, businesses, and parliamentarians.
• 🏆 Goal 1 of the SDGs is to end poverty in all forms everywhere, with a specific target to achieve this by 2035.
• 📉 In 2015, 736 million people lived in extreme poverty globally, with 56% in sub-Saharan Africa, but progress was being made before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 📈 A 2019 Brookings report indicated that more Africans were escaping extreme poverty than falling into it, with 367 Africans escaping poverty daily.
• 🇳🇬 Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo present significant challenges in reducing poverty in Africa, accounting for over a quarter of total poverty in Africa.
• 📊 Some African countries, like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya, are projected to make substantial progress in lifting people out of extreme poverty by 2030.
• 🛑 COVID-19 has negatively impacted progress towards SDG 1, increasing poverty due to job losses and economic lockdowns, especially affecting vulnerable groups.
• 🏥 Social protection programs are crucial for moving households out of poverty, but only 45% of the world's population is covered by at least one social protection cash benefit.
• 🔄 To achieve sustainable development, it is necessary to harmonize economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, with the involvement of all sectors of society.

Q & A

What are the SDGs?

The SDGs, or Sustainable Development Goals, are 17 global goals agreed upon by 193 member states of the United Nations in 2015, aimed at addressing various issues including poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030.

How many targets and indicators are there under the SDGs?

The 17 SDGs consist of 169 targets and 230 indicators, providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable development.

What makes the SDGs different from the Millennium Development Goals?

Unlike the Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs were developed through a more open, transparent, and inclusive process that involved civil society, businesses, and parliamentarians.

What is the primary objective of Goal 1 of the SDGs?

Goal 1, 'No Poverty', aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2035, with seven targets to guide this objective.

What was the global poverty situation in 2015 according to the script?

In 2015, 736 million people lived in extreme poverty worldwide, with 56% of this population in sub-Saharan Africa.

How was Africa's progress towards reducing poverty before the COVID-19 pandemic?

Before the pandemic, a Brookings report in March 2019 indicated that more Africans were escaping extreme poverty than were falling into it, with 367 Africans escaping poverty daily.

Which African countries present the most significant challenges for poverty reduction?

Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo present the most significant challenges, as they represent over a quarter of total poverty in Africa and are expected to account for nearly half of Africa's poor by 2030.

What are some examples of African countries making progress towards ending poverty?

Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritius, and Seychelles already have poverty rates below 3%. Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Angola, and Côte d'Ivoire are projected to lift millions of people out of extreme poverty by 2030.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the progress towards SDG 1?

The pandemic has negatively impacted progress towards SDG 1 by increasing poverty due to job losses and economic lockdowns, and by disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups.

What is the importance of social protection programs in addressing poverty?

Social protection programs, such as cash benefits, are crucial for moving households out of poverty. However, only 45% of the world's population is covered by at least one social protection cash benefit, leaving 55% behind.

What are the recommendations for future resilience and poverty reduction in Africa?

Recommendations include ensuring fiscal policies have space for social protection interventions, especially for informal sector workers, and strengthening health systems and social protection coverage. Direct cash transfers have been shown to have a greater impact on poverty than subsidies.

What is the role of academic and research institutions in achieving the SDGs?

Academic and research institutions play a vital role in providing evidence-based insights, informing the development of policies and programs, and engaging in dialogue and learning with stakeholders to address poverty and promote sustainable development.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Introduction to the SDGs and Their Impact on Poverty

The first paragraph introduces the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015, aimed at transforming the world by 2030 through poverty eradication, reducing inequality, and addressing climate change. It highlights the 169 targets and 230 indicators that make up these goals, emphasizing their ambitious yet achievable nature. The paragraph also discusses the progress made in Africa toward ending poverty, with a focus on the positive trends observed before the COVID-19 pandemic. It mentions the significant challenges faced by Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while also noting the promising progress in other African countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Angola, and Djibouti. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued efforts towards achieving SDG-1, despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic.

05:04

📉 Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty and the Way Forward

The second paragraph delves into the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the progress of SDG-1, with a focus on increased poverty due to job losses and economic lockdowns. It underscores the importance of social protection programs in mitigating the effects of poverty and highlights the inadequacy of current coverage, with only 45% of the world's population covered by at least one form of social protection. The paragraph also discusses the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups and the rise in poverty and hunger, particularly in Africa. It calls for the need to strengthen health systems, extend health and social protection coverage, and implement social assistance programs to address existing poverty gaps. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the role of various stakeholders, including academic and research institutions, governments, the private sector, and the general public, in achieving sustainable development and harmonizing economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.

Keywords

💡SDGs

SDGs stands for Sustainable Development Goals, which are 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015 to be achieved by 2030. They encompass a wide range of social, economic, and environmental objectives aimed at transforming the world. In the video, the SDGs are the central theme, with a focus on how they were identified to potentially change the world and integrate all three aspects of sustainable development.

💡Poverty Eradication

Poverty eradication is one of the key objectives of the SDGs, specifically Goal 1, which aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The video discusses the progress made towards this goal, highlighting the number of people living in extreme poverty and the impact of policies in African countries to reduce poverty rates.

💡Inequality

Inequality refers to the unfair or unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and outcomes within a society. The SDGs aim to fight inequality as part of their broader mission to promote sustainable development. The script mentions fighting inequality as one of the potential changes the SDGs can bring about by 2030.

💡Climate Change

Climate change is a significant global challenge that the SDGs aim to address, particularly through Goal 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The video script emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change as part of the SDGs.

💡Targets and Indicators

The SDGs consist of 169 targets and 230 indicators, which provide a framework for measuring progress towards the goals. These targets and indicators are essential for tracking the effectiveness of actions taken to achieve the SDGs, as mentioned in the script.

💡Open and Transparent Process

The script highlights that the process of establishing the SDGs was the most open, transparent, and inclusive in the history of the United Nations. This approach involved engaging with civil society, businesses, and parliamentarians to ensure a broad consensus on the goals.

💡COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is mentioned in the script as a significant disruptor to the progress made towards the SDGs, particularly in increasing poverty rates and affecting vulnerable groups due to job losses and economic lockdowns.

💡Social Protection

Social protection refers to policies and programs designed to prevent or alleviate poverty and vulnerability. The script discusses the importance of social protection programs in moving households out of poverty, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

💡Cash Transfers

Cash transfers are a form of social protection that directly provide money to individuals or households in need. The script mentions cash transfers as an effective intervention for poverty reduction, with evidence from the Transfer Project, a research initiative on the impact of national cash transfer programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

💡Economic Growth

Economic growth is a key element for sustainable development, as it provides the resources needed to address social and environmental challenges. The script emphasizes the importance of harmonizing economic growth with social inclusion and environmental protection to achieve the SDGs.

💡Data Gaps

Data gaps refer to the lack of comprehensive and consistent data needed to effectively plan and evaluate interventions. The script points out the problem of data gaps in Africa, which hinders the ability to plan interventions that address poverty and track progress towards the SDGs.

Highlights

In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at transforming the world by 2030.

The SDGs include 169 targets and 230 indicators, covering social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable development.

Goal 1 of the SDGs is to end poverty in all forms everywhere by 2035.

In 2015, 736 million people lived in extreme poverty globally, with 56% in sub-Saharan Africa.

A Brookings report in March 2019 showed progress in reducing extreme poverty in Africa.

Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo present significant challenges for poverty reduction in Africa.

Some African countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mauritius, and Seychelles, have poverty rates below 3%.

Ethiopia is projected to lift 22 million people out of extreme poverty by 2030.

Kenya is projected to lift 3.5 million citizens out of poverty by 2030.

COVID-19 has negatively impacted progress towards SDG 1 due to increased poverty and job losses.

Only 45% of the world's population is covered by at least one social protection cash benefit.

Africa has 13% of its population covered by at least one form of social protection benefit.

The absence of comprehensive and consistent data sets makes it difficult to effectively plan interventions to address poverty in Africa.

Social protection measures, including social assistance and transfer funds, are needed to fill poverty gaps.

The Transfer Project, a UNICEF-funded initiative, provides evidence on the effectiveness of national cash transfer programs in Africa.

For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection.

Transcripts

[Music]

what are the sdgs in 2015

world leaders of 193 member states of

the united nation

agreed to 17 global goals

officially known as the sustainable

development goals

and pronounced sdgs these goals were

carefully identified as having the

potential to change the world by 2030

through poverty eradication fighting

inequality

and addressing the urgency of climate

change the 17 goals constitute of 169

targets and 230

indicators the global goals are

ambitious but achievable

it integrates all three aspects of

sustainable development

and they are social economy

and environmental

[Music]

unlike the millennium development goals

this has been a process that's been the

most open

transparent broad deep

one that we've had in the united nations

ever this is where we have gone out to

civil society we've gone out to business

to

parliamentarians

go one no poverty goal one is to end

poverty in all forms

everywhere by 2035.

there are seven targets in goal 1.

in 2015 736 million people

lived in extreme poverty across the

world

56 percent of this population were in

sub-saharan africa

before the kovy 19 pandemic and for the

first time since the start of the sdgs

a brookings report in march 2019

reports that more africans were escaping

extreme poverty

than where fallen or being born below

the poverty line

deliberate pro-poll policies were

yielding impact

across africa

the march 2019 brookings report showed

that

367 africans were escaping

extreme poverty daily it projected an

increase by the end of 2019 to 3 000

people per day

which will eventually result in one

million

person reduction in total african

poverty by

2020. the report went further to say

that if broad trends continued

by 2030 africa would reduce the ranks of

its extremely poor

by 45 million due to their population

two african countries nigeria and the

democratic republic of congo presents

the most significant challenges for

reducing

poverty in africa combined both

countries represent more than one

quarter of total poverty in africa today

and are expected to represent almost

half of africa's poor

by 2013 reports shows that while nigeria

and the drc

have challenges the prospects

looks bright for some countries who we

are making progress towards

ending poverty these countries already

have poverty rates below 3

equatorial guinea gabon mauritius

and seashells the projection is

promising for six

other african countries ethiopia is

projected to lift

22 million people out of extreme poverty

by 2030. ghana is projected to lift

approximately 2 million people out of

poverty

by 2030 kenya will make a leap frog

and is projected to lift 3.5 million

of its citizens out of poverty

angola is currently experiencing a

short-lived period

where poverty is rising if this trend

can be reversed

sooner then the country also stands a

great chance of fulfilling

[Music]

code devoir will also make substantial

progress in poverty reduction

by 2030 5.3 million of its citizens

are projected to be out of poverty

the djibouti the smallest country in

this set of poverty reducing economies

is projected to reduce relative poverty

from 14.2 percent to 4.6

lifting over 80 000 of its citizens out

of poverty

by 2013.

prior to kovid 19 if current trends had

continued without disruption

ethiopia and kenya were projected to

achieve sdg-1 by 2032

ghana angola and codevoir in 2033

while the djibouti will follow a year

later

in 2034.

pre-covered the world was off track to

end poverty by 2030

with a global poverty rate in 2019 of

8.2 percent

according to the sdg report of 2020

[Music]

coveted 19 has negatively impacted on

goal 1's progress

as a result of increased poverty due to

job losses and economic lockdown

and secondly disproportionate impact on

vulnerable groups

an intervention that successfully moves

several households

out of the poverty bracket is social

protection

programs only 45 percent of the world's

population

is covered by at least one social

protection cash benefit

the remaining 55 percent have been left

behind

africa has 13 percent of its population

covered by at least one form of social

protection benefit

and 13 of its children covered by social

protection

systems due to the pandemic

domestic lockdowns in poor countries

would rob the poor

of their meager daily revenue thereby

causing a rise in poverty

and hunger the poverty rate in africa

has gone down

but the number of people living in

poverty has increased

and global poverty will increasingly

become

african future landscape

what is the way forward data gaps exist

and it is problematic when data exists

it is not comprehensive nor consistent

the absence of these critical data sets

makes it difficult in africa to

effectively plan

interventions that address poverty

reducing poverty in african countries

remains an unfinished agenda

and kovid 19 threatens to move africa

further off track the sdg target

to rebuild albert zufak chief

economist for africa at the world bank

says and i quote

it is important to ensure that fiscal

policy

builds in space for social protection

interventions

especially targeting workers in the

informal sector

and sows the seed for future resilience

of our economies

there is a need for social protection

measures including social assistance

transfer funds to fill existing poverty

gaps

and raise more vulnerable people to a

minimum

income base in the medium to long term

according to an oecd report in

partnership with the international

community

governments should continue to

strengthen health systems

and extend health and social protection

coverage

to all unc is faculty and research

engaging with this goal

evidence shows that direct cash

transfers have greater poverty impacts

than subsidies

professor handa sudanshu is kenan

eminent professor of public policy

at the university of north carolina in

chapel hill

he is one of the principal investigators

for a unicef funded project

called the transfer project

the transfer project is a multi-country

research initiative

on the impact of national cash transfer

programs on

households and children in sub-saharan

africa

using research professor handa and his

team

provide evidence on the effectiveness of

large-scale

national cash transfer programs in

africa

using the same evidence through dialogue

and learning with stakeholders

informed the development of cash

transfer and social protection policies

and programs in 10 african countries

in conclusion for sustainable

development to be achieved

it is crucial to harmonize three core

elements

economic growth social inclusion and

environmental protection

for the goals to be met everyone needs

to do their part

academic and research institutions

governments the private sector civil

society

bilateral and multilateral institutions

the development community and the

general public

to learn more about the sdgs in africa

please visit www.sdgcafrica.org