According to UN reports, more than 700 million people still live in poverty today. The poverty rate is said to be at least 17.2 percent higher in rural areas than in urban areas.
These numbers are quite daunting, which is why they are the driving force behind the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-1), namely Zero Poverty.
Zero Poverty is a project that aims to eliminate all forms of poverty by 2030. Significant progress had been made by the time the pandemic broke out, and poverty levels were rising as most people lost their source of income and families were unable to survive the pandemic.
The decision to eliminate all forms of poverty was seen as the first necessary step toward a better nation and the world at large. When there is no longer poverty, the mortality rate will decrease and better life opportunities will open up.
These forms of poverty range from lack of food to little or no medical care in most areas, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean drinking water. If these problems are addressed and proper provisions are made, the economy of a country would change significantly.
Poverty affects a country’s economy as low-income earners usually cannot afford to pay for necessities, leading to unhealthy living conditions, malnutrition, and untreated diseases due to unsanitary habits, and if these negative effects are not addressed, they can develop over time and lead to unsafe situations in the community.
The Sustainable Development Plan targets the most vulnerable members of society by providing resources that meet their needs, supporting farmers, and developing new technologies that make these basic needs accessible even in the most rural areas.
With new innovative production systems and structures, the goal of ending poverty by 2030 can be achieved, but the fight is not the sole responsibility of governments and international organizations, since this scourge of poverty affects everyone directly or indirectly.
Where there is no poverty, there will be no hunger, and the ripple effect will continue until each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is achieved.