Tackling Poverty in a World of Plenty

At the heart of the 2030 Agenda lies a fundamental idea: development must put people and planet first. The foundations of this vision were laid three decades ago in 1995 at the first World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark, setting a course that continues to guide our efforts today.  
 
The focus must remain on ending poverty, embracing social development within our societies and our institutions and bringing dignity to every human being. 
 
From health, education, food security to infrastructure, innovation, peace and partnerships, tackling poverty lies at the heart of these efforts. As the world marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October and looks ahead to the upcoming World Social Summit, it will be essential to keep ending poverty as the golden thread connecting the investments we make to accelerate the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  
 
Across more than 162 countries and territories, UN Country Teams led by Resident Coordinators are working with governments, partners and communities to build systems that safeguard families, create opportunities for present and future generations, and leave no one behind.  
 
Here are five insights that helps us make sense of poverty eradication and the larger goal of social development: 

1. Poverty is multidimensional and so must be our response.

Poverty is more than a lack of income; it is a lack of opportunity, access, and security. For too long, poverty was measured only in dollars and cents. But today, countries are using multidimensional poverty indices to track how people actually live - from cost of living to access to clean water and education to healthcare and internet connectivity. This shift is changing priorities and how countries are responding to poverty eradication. 
 
UN Country Teams are helping governments measure poverty in multiple dimensions, using data on education, health, housing, and connectivity to target policies more effectively.  
 
In Egypt, UN entities are working together with the Government to reduce multidimensional poverty through flagship programmes like the Hayah Kareema (Decent Life) and Takaful and Karama (Solidarity and Dignity). By improving access to essential infrastructure, education, health, and social protection schemes, the UN’s support is empowering women and expanding livelihood opportunities in rural areas. 
 
This approach ensures that national priorities are people-centered and evidence-based. When poverty is seen through a wider lens, solutions become smarter and more equitable. 

2. We must continue investing in social protection as the backbone of resilience.

Resilience must be built into social development policy. It’s not enough to fill the gaps; our systems must absorb shocks better. Protracted crises and poverty share a vicious relationship. Yet strong safety nets and inclusive services offer a ready solution to ensuring peace, security and stability. UN teams are helping countries build universal social protection systems that protect everyone, including the poorest.

Albania is seeing this progress firsthand thanks to dedicated efforts from the Resident Coordinator and UN entities to expand social protection coverage for children, elderly and persons with disabilities. Supported by the Joint SDG Fund, a Universal Child Benefit programme aims to provide financial support to all children while a Long-Term Care policy will offer comprehensive care services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Similarly, Guinea-Bissau passed an inclusive National Social Protection Policy in 2024 with the support of the Resident Coordinator and UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP, protecting vulnerable communities from future shocks and furthering gender equality.

Social protection is not just a safety net. It is a springboard that enables people to recover faster, rebuild livelihoods and invest in their futures.

3. Decent work for all drives sustainable progress.

Our surest path out of poverty lies in jobs and livelihoods that are decent, inclusive and secure. Across regions, UN agencies are partnering with governments to promote fair wages, safe working conditions, skills development and equal access to opportunity.  

Countries are prioritising decent jobs for young people, women, informal workers and workers in the green and digital economies. The shift toward inclusive growth is creating new opportunities that are both sustainable and dignified. 
 
The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, launched by the United Nations and the International Labour Organization, is helping 18 countries around the world invest in decent jobs and expanded social protection systems. In Nepal and the Philippines, sweeping employment reforms are underway, bringing together public and private institutions to align their investments for job creation and upskill marginalised populations, thanks to the Joint SDG Fund. 
 
When people’s work is valued and compensated fairly, and their rights protected, poverty reduction turns into lasting progress. 

4. Inclusion is the measure of impact, not an add-on.

Lasting development fundamentally depends on inclusion. Women still earn only 78 per cent of men’s earnings on average and it will likely take 50-100 years for this wage gap to close. Structural barriers and deep-rooted social norms and behaviours continue to exclude persons with disabilities, older persons, women, children and other vulnerable groups from fully participating in society. We are witnessing widening inequalities both within and across borders. 
 
UN teams along with governments and civil society are helping advance social justice, integrating social inclusion into every sector, from digital to health to infrastructure to public services and economic planning, to ensure that no one is left behind. When everyone gets a seat at the table, economies are stronger, communities are safer, and institutions are more trusted. 
 
In Panama, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, under the Resident Coordinator's leadership worked with the Government on the adoption of Law 431 (2024), establishing the National Care System, delivering a transformative leap for gender equality and women’s rights in the country. Similar results are seen in El Salvador where the country is rolling out one of the most progressive social reforms in the region by incorporating care work into its labour and economic policies and programmes. 
 

5. Financing for social development must be focused, flexible and fair.

The world has the resources it needs to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Ending poverty and driving social development will require smart use of these resources. This means greater investments to implement social policies, schemes and programmes. Countries facing debt challenges, that are forsaking social spending for debt financing, need to be given the means to invest in their own futures. The international community needs to work together to find sustainable solutions for debt financing, improving tax cooperation and identifying innovative mechanisms to invest in social development at scale. 
 
Initiatives like the UN’s Joint SDG Fund and Integrated National Financing Frameworks are helping countries connect public budgets, private investment, and scalable programmes behind a single goal: financing that works for people. 
 
In Zanzibar, Tanzania, through the Joint SDG Fund, the Resident Coordinator and four UN agencies (FAO, UNDP, IFAD and WFP) are working together to strengthen value chains in seaweed farming. Through an array of complementing financial solutions (de-risked credit, savings and insurance) along with digital market access and stronger cooperatives, the initiative is helping boost livelihoods for seaweed farmers (predominantly women and youth). 

At its heart, poverty eradication is about rebuilding trust between people and institutions. The upcoming World Social Summit in Doha offers a historic opportunity to forge greater trust and a new social contract based on dignity, solidarity, and inclusion. The message is clear: when societies invest in the worth and work of people, every Sustainable Development Goal becomes achievable.