No Poverty:

Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. Extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per person per day
at 2017 purchasing power parity, has witnessed remarkable declines over recent decades.

However, the emergence of COVID-19 marked a turning point, reversing these gains as the number of
individuals living in extreme poverty increased for the first time in a generation by almost 90 million over
previous predictions.

Even prior to the pandemic, the momentum of poverty reduction was slowing down. By the end of
2022, nowcasting suggested that 8.4 per cent of the world’s population, or as many as 670 million
people, could still be living in extreme poverty. This setback effectively erased approximately three years
of progress in poverty alleviation.

If current patterns persist, an estimated 7% of the global population – around 575 million people – could
still find themselves trapped in extreme poverty by 2030, with a significant concentration in sub-Saharan
Africa.

A shocking revelation is the resurgence of hunger levels to those last observed in 2005. Equally
concerning is the persistent increase in food prices across a larger number of countries compared to the
period from 2015 to 2019. This dual challenge of poverty and food security poses a critical global
concern.

Why is there so much poverty

Poverty has many dimensions, but its causes include unemployment, social exclusion, and high
vulnerability of certain populations to disasters, diseases and other phenomena which prevent them
from being productive.

Why should I care about other people’s economic situation?

There are many reasons, but in short, because as human beings, our well- being is linked to each other.
Growing inequality is detrimental to economic growth and undermines social cohesion, increas- ing
political and social tensions and, in some circumstances, driving instability and conflicts.
Why is social protection so important?

Strong social protection systems are essential for mitigating the effects and preventing many people
from falling into poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic had both immediate and long-term economic
consequences for people across the globe – and despite the expansion of social protection during the
COVID-19 crisis, 55 per cent of the world’s population – about 4 billion people – are entirely
unprotected.

In response to the cost-of-living crisis, 105 countries and territories announced almost 350 social
protection measures between February 2022 and February 2023. Yet 80 per cent of these were short-
term in nature, and to achieve the Goals, countries will need to implement nationally appropriate
universal and sustainble social protection systems for all.

What can I do about it?

Your active engagement in policymaking can make a difference in addressing poverty. It ensures that
your rights are promoted and that your voice is heard, that inter-generational knowledge is shared, and
that innovation and critical thinking are encouraged at all ages to support transformational change in
people’s lives and communities.

Governments can help create an enabling environment to generate pro- productive employment and
job opportunities for the poor and the marginalized.

The private sector has a major role to play in determining whether the growth it creates is inclusive and
contributes to poverty reduction. It can promote economic opportunities for the poor.

The contribution of science to end poverty has been significant. For example, it has enabled access to
safe drinking water, reduced deaths caused by water-borne diseases, and improved hygiene to reduce
health risks related to unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation.

Facts and Figures:

If current trends continue, 575 million people will still be living in extreme poverty and only one-third of
countries will have halved their national poverty levels by 2030.
Despite the expansion of social protection during the COVID-19 crisis, over 4 billion people remain
entirely unprotected. Many of the world’s vulnerable population groups, including the young and the
elderly, remain uncovered by statutory social protection programmes.

The share of government spending on essential services, such as education, health and social protection,
is significantly higher in advanced economies than in emerging and developing economies.

A surge in action and investment to enhance economic opportunities, improve education and extend
social protection to all, particularly the most excluded, is crucial to delivering on the central
commitment to end poverty and leave no one behind.

The global poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 is revised slightly up by 0.1 percentage points to 8.5
percent, resulting in a revision in the number of poor people from 648 to 659 million. (World Bank)

1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living
on less than $1.25 a day

1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in
poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors,
and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable

1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal
rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and
other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial
services, including microfinance

1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their
exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and
environmental shocks and disasters

1.A Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced
development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing
countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty
in all its dimensions

1.B Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor
and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication
actions

Zero Hunger:

Goal 2 is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030.The global issue of hunger and food insecurity
has shown an alarming increase since 2015, a trend exacerbated by a combination of factors including
the pandemic, conflict, climate change, and deepening inequalities.

By 2022, approximately 735 million people – or 9.2% of the world’s population – found themselves in a
state of chronic hunger – a staggering rise compared to 2019. This data underscores the severity of the
situation, revealing a growing crisis.

In addition, an estimated 2.4 billion people faced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2022. This
classification signifies their lack of access to sufficient nourishment. This number escalated by an
alarming 391 million people compared to 2019.

The persistent surge in hunger and food insecurity, fueled by a complex interplay of factors, demands
immediate attention and coordinated global efforts to alleviate this critical humanitarian challenge.

Extreme hunger and malnutrition remains a barrier to sustainable development and creates a trap from
which people cannot easily escape. Hunger and malnutrition mean less productive individuals, who are
more prone to disease and thus often unable to earn more and improve their livelihoods.

2 billion people in the world do not have reg- ular access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. In 2022,
148 million children had stunted growth and 45 million children under the age of 5 were affected by
wasting.

How many people are hungry?

It is projected that more than 600 million people worldwide will be facing hunger in 2030, highlighting
the immense challenge of achieving the zero hunger target.

People experiencing moderate food insecurity are typically unable to eat a healthy, balanced diet on a
regular basis because of income or other resource constraints.

Why are there so many hungry people?

Shockingly, the world is back at hunger levels not seen since 2005, and food prices remain higher in
more countries than in the period 2015–2019. Along with conflict, climate shocks, and rising cost of
living, civil insecurity and declining food production have all contributed to food scarcity and high food
prices.

Investment in the agriculture sector is critical for reducing hunger and poverty, improving food security,
creating employment and building resilience to disasters and shocks.

Why should I care?

We all want our families to have enough food to eat what is safe and nutritious. A world with zero
hunger can positively impact our economies, health, education, equality and social development.

It’s a key piece of building a better future for everyone. Additionally, with hunger limiting human
development, we will not be able to achieve the other sustainable development goals such as education,
health and gender equality.

How can we achieve Zero Hunger?

Food security requires a multi-dimensional approach – from social protection to safeguard safe and
nutritious food especially for children to transforming food systems to achieve a more inclusive and
sustainable world. There will need to be investments in rural and urban areas and in social protection so
poor people have access to food and can improve their livelihoods.

What can we do to help?

You can make changes in your own life—at home, at work and in the community—by supporting local
farmers or markets and making sustainable food choices, supporting good nutrition for all, and fighting
food waste.

You can also use your power as a consumer and voter, demanding businesses and governments make
the choices and changes that will make Zero Hunger a reality. Join the conversation, whether on social
media platforms or in your local communities.

Facts and Figures:

Despite global efforts, in 2022, an estimated 45 million children under the age of 5 suffered from
wasting, 148 million had stunted growth and 37 million were overweight. A fundamental shift in
trajectory is needed to achieve the 2030 nutrition targets.

To achieve zero hunger by 2030, urgent coordinated action and policy solutions are imperative to
address entrenched inequalities, transform food systems, invest in sustainable agricultural practices,
and reduce and mitigate the impact of conflict and the pandemic on global nutrition and food security.

Goals and Targets:

2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable
situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

2.2 By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed
targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of
adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.

2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular
women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal
access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and
opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.

2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices
that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for
adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that
progressively improve land and soil quality.
2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated
animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and
plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional
knowledge, as internationally agreed.

2.A Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure,
agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene
banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least
developed countries.

2.B Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including
through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with
equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round.

2.C Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives
and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit
extreme food price volatility.

Quality education

Progress towards quality education was already slower than required before the pandemic, but COVID-
19 has had devastating impacts on education, causing learning losses in four out of five of the 104
countries studied.

Without additional measures, an estimated 84 million children and young people will stay out of school
by 2030 and approximately 300 million students will lack the basic numeracy and literacy skills necessary
for success in life.

In addition to free primary and secondary schooling for all boys and girls by 2030, the aim is to provide
equal access to affordable vocational training, eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve
universal access to quality higher education.
Education is the key that will allow many other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved.
When people are able to get quality education they can break from the cycle of poverty.

Education helps to reduce inequalities and to reach gender equality. It also empowers people
everywhere to live more healthy and sustainable lives. Education is also crucial to fostering tolerance
between people and contributes to more peaceful societies.

To deliver on Goal 4, education financing must become a national investment priority. Furthermore,
measures such as making education free and compulsory, increasing the number of teachers, improving
basic school infrastructure and embracing digital transformation are essential.

What progress have we made so far?

While progress has been made towards the 2030 education targets set by the United Nations, continued
efforts are required to address persistent challenges and ensure that quality education is accessible to
all, leaving no one behind.

Between 2015 and 2021, there was an increase in worldwide primary school completion, lower
secondary completion, and upper secondary completion. Nevertheless, the progress made during this
period was notably slower compared to the 15 years prior.

What challenges remain?

According to national education targets, the percentage of students attaining basic reading skills by the
end of primary school is projected to rise from 51 per cent in 2015 to 67 per cent by 2030. However, an
estimated 300 million children and young people will still lack basic numeracy and literacy skills by 2030.

Economic constraints, coupled with issues of learning outcomes and dropout rates, persist in
marginalized areas, underscoring the need for continued global commitment to ensuring inclusive and
equitable education for all. Low levels of information and communications technology (ICT) skills are
also a major barrier to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity.
Where are people struggling the most to have access to education?

Sub-Saharan Africa faces the biggest challenges in providing schools with basic resources. The situation
is extreme at the primary and lower secondary levels, where less than one-half of schools in sub-
Saharan Africa have access to drinking water, electricity, computers and the Internet.

Inequalities will also worsen unless the digital divide – the gap between under-connected and highly
digitalized countries – is not addressed.

Are there groups that have more difficult access to education?

Yes, women and girls are one of these groups. About 40 per cent of countries have not achieved gender
parity in primary education. These disadvantages in education also translate into lack of access to skills
and limited opportunities in the labour market for young women.

What can we do?

Ask our governments to place education as a priority in both policy and practice. Lobby our governments
to make firm commitments to provide free primary school education to all, including vulnerable or
marginalized groups.

Facts and figures

Progress towards quality education was already slower than required before the pandemic, but COVID-
19 has had devastating impacts on education, causing learning losses in four out of five of the 104
countries studied.

Without additional measures, only one in six countries will achieve the universal secondary school
completion target by 2030, an estimated 84 million children and young people will still be out of school,
and approximately 300 million students will lack the basic numeracy and literacy skills necessary for
success in life.

To achieve national Goal 4 benchmarks, which are reduced in ambition compared with the original Goal
4 targets, 79 low- and lower-middle- income countries still face an average annual financing gap of $97
billion.

To deliver on Goal 4, education financing must become a national investment priority. Furthermore,
measures such as making education free and compulsory, increasing the number of teachers, improving
basic school infrastructure and embracing digital transformation are essential.
Goals and targets

4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary
education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes

4.2 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and
preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational
and tertiary education, including university

4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including
technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education
and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and
children in vulnerable situations

4.6 By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve
literacy and numeracy

4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable
development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable
lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global
citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable
development

4.A Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe,
nonviolent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all
4.B By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries,
in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for
enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications
technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other
developing countries

4.C By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international
cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small
island developing states