Ending poverty and hunger once and for all – is it possible?

The COVID-19 crisis has led to the first rise in extreme poverty and food insecurity in 20 years. Is it realistic to end these two scourges once and for all? Ahead of the Commission for Social Development this month, we ask UN DESA’s Wenyan Yang about this and what is needed to ensure that all people, everywhere, can live a healthy life in dignity.

People have been suffering poverty and hunger for as long as our species exists. Is it realistic to end these two scourges once and for all?

“It is true that poverty and hunger have long been the unfortunate part of the human condition. Today, productivity growth, technological progress and the productive capacity of our societies have reached levels unprecedented in human history. Yet there are still hundreds of millions of our fellow human beings living in extreme poverty and as many millions suffering from hunger.

The fact is that there is enough food produced and wealth generated to end these two scourges once and for all. It is a moral and ethical obligation and materially feasible task, although relative poverty and variations in nutritional status across populations may persist. What we need is the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development everywhere and for all people.

Much progress had been made in reducing the numbers of people mired in extreme poverty and hunger before the COVID-19 pandemic. There are examples of successful plans and innovative solutions that can inform strategies for an inclusive and resilient recovery from the pandemic to get back on track to achieve the SDGs.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out years, even decades of progress on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. What are countries doing to get back on track? Can you give us examples of some strategies that have been more successful than others?

“The World Bank estimates that the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 pushed more than 97 million additional people into extreme poverty in 2020, and the number of people living in extreme poverty in 2021 is projected to be still greater than in 2019 despite a decline of 20 million compared to 2020. Between 720 and 811 million people faced hunger in 2020; 161 million more than in 2019. Setbacks would have been worse if not for the swift and large-scale emergency response measures countries took to protect people and their livelihoods. These measures provide lessons and the basis on which to implement strategies to get back on track to accelerate progress on the SDGs.

Expansion of social protection measures stood out as the most successful measure to reduce poverty and hunger. 18% of global stimulus packages were spent on social protection measures, with total spending increasing by almost 270% between December 2020 and May 2021, reaching $2.9 trillion (or 3% of global GDP) in 2021. Countries provided COVID-19 cash transfers to poor families and families with children to ensure a basic monthly family income; social protection benefits were raised, albeit often temporarily; and coverage of social protection programmes were extended to previously uncovered population groups.

Governments successfully leveraged digital technology to deliver needed public services and improve efficiency of public administration, while also enhancing investment in human capability and wellbeing. Costa Rica established a national emergency platform with education materials; Qatar launched a new online learning platform offering digital and interactive resources for students. Togo used machine learning, geospatial analytics, and mobile phone metadata during the pandemic to identify 57,000 new beneficiaries among vulnerable populations for prioritized contactless social protection payments.

Many countries rolled out targeted measures to support small businesses and the self-employed, and to provide incentives for companies to retain workers during the pandemic. For example, Brunei supported micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises through a dedicated on-line platform to market their goods and services during the pandemic; Lithuania gave hiring subsidies to employers for the creation of jobs for the most vulnerable persons, including persons with disabilities, older persons, young people, long-term or low-skilled unemployed; Namibia provided support to businesses through interest rates reduction, wage subsidies and negotiated debt repayment holidays, and credit support; South Africa  increased the number of projects and hires, especially in essential services, under the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Governments also included support to the agricultural sector to combat hunger and food insecurity during the pandemic in their fiscal packages and implemented measures to promote food security and sustainable food systems. For example, Brazil’s package includes debt restructuring assistance, lower interest rates for rural credit, and special credit lines to support family farmers, especially those in hard-hit sectors (e.g., dairy, floriculture, and aquaculture); Japan launched the “Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems ‘MeaDRI’” in May 2021 to enhance both productivity and sustainability of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food industries through innovation. Thailand fostered cooperation between private sector food producers and large-scale food retailers to boost food security and improved nutrition.”

The 60th Commission for Social Development is meeting this month. What are the main issues Member States, activists, scholars and other partners will discuss together? Can this forum bring about change?

“The Commission for Social Development is the primary intergovernmental body responsible for following up on the World Social Summit and the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a platform for engagement and experience-sharing for Member States and all social partners.

The 60th session will focus discussions and policy deliberations on poverty and hunger to enable an inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19 and to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The social dimension of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development is also in its work programme. A Ministerial Forum will engage participants in a discussion on strengthening multilateralism to deliver well-being and dignity for all by addressing food insecurity and poverty.

The Commission will make its contribution to the work of ECOSOC and the High-level Political Forum. It will also provide guidance, from the social perspective and emphasizing policy integration and coherence, to national Governments in their efforts to recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic and to get back on track to fully implement the 2030 Agenda for all. The objective of the Commission is to bring about change that will make a positive difference in people’s lives. This can be accomplished when nationally-owned inclusive and sustainable development strategies that promote the wellbeing and dignity of all are supported and implemented.”

Learn more and follow the work of the Commission for Social Development here.