SDG 1 goal :Why Global Progress Hinges on Africa- SDG Forum Assesses Poverty and Hunger Targets

Right now, 712 million people about 9% of the world Global Progress are living in extreme poverty. Also, progress on ending hunger is not going well. About 65% of the goals under SDG 2 (which is about stopping hunger) have either stopped improving or have gone backward.

At a big UN meeting called the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, world leaders reviewed the progress on some goals, including ending poverty (SDG 1), ending hunger (SDG 2), and building global partnerships (SDG 17). They also talked about how these goals connect with issues like gender, war, farming, the economy, human rights, and problems in how countries work together.

The leaders agreed that pollution, loss of nature, and climate change are making things worse for poor people and raising the cost of living and suffering around the world.

Ending Poverty: Africa is Key

On July 9, 2024, leaders focused on SDG 1 — ending poverty. The meeting was led by Tarek Ladeb from Tunisia and Bob Rae from Canada. They talked about how poverty has many causes and needs creative solutions.

During the event, a report by the UN showed that extreme poverty rose in 2020 for the first time in many years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Global Progress This pushed progress back by about three years. The report was presented by Li Junhua from the UN.

The report also said that the recovery from COVID-19 hasn’t been equal. Poor countries are struggling more, and without more support, it’s unlikely poverty will end by 2030. In fact, less than 3 out of 10 countries are expected to cut poverty in half by that time.

Social Protection and Human Rights

In 2023, around 1.4 billion children didn’t get help from social safety programs — like money or food support — even though many countries promised to improve this. Global Progress Shahra Razavi from the International Labour Organization said that mistakes in paperwork and data often keep the right people from getting the help they need.

Ilze Brands Kehris from the UN added that women are hit harder by poverty and that countries should spend more money to protect human rights and help those who are suffering the most.

Africa: A Continent of Immense Potential and Significant Challenges

Africa is a vast and diverse continent, full of incredible resources, vibrant cultures, and a young, growing population. It has the potential to be a major driver of global progress. However, Global Progress the continent also faces some of the most significant challenges when it comes to poverty and hunger.

High Rates of Poverty:

Sadly, a large percentage of people living in extreme poverty – meaning they live on less than a few dollars a day – are in sub-Saharan Africa. This means millions of individuals and families struggle to meet their basic needs like food, clean water, and shelter.

Widespread Food Insecurity and Hunger:

Many parts of Africa experience high levels of food insecurity. Global Progress This means people don’t have reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food. This can be due to many things, like droughts, conflicts, and not having good ways to grow and distribute food.

Rapid Population Growth:

Africa’s population is growing quickly. While a young population can be a strength, it also means more jobs need to be created, more food needs to be produced, and more resources are needed to support everyone. If this growth isn’t managed well, it can put more pressure on already limited resources and make it harder to fight poverty and hunger.

Climate Change Impacts:

Africa is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Global Progress Things like changing rainfall patterns, more frequent droughts and floods, and rising temperatures can severely damage crops and livestock, making it harder for people to feed themselves and earn a living from agriculture.

Conflict and Instability:

In some regions, conflict and political instability disrupt lives, force people to flee their homes, and destroy infrastructure needed for food production and distribution. This makes it incredibly difficult to make progress on poverty and hunger.

Limited Access to Opportunities:

Many people in Africa lack access to good education, healthcare, and job opportunities. This makes it harder for them to escape poverty and build a better future for themselves and their families.

Why Africa’s Progress is Crucial for Global Goals

Given these challenges, it might seem like focusing on Africa is just about helping one continent. But the SDG Forum’s assessment makes it clear that Africa’s progress on SDG 1 and SDG 2 is deeply connected to the success of these goals globally. Here’s why:

The Sheer Numbers: As mentioned, a significant portion of the world’s poorest and hungriest people live in Africa. If we don’t see significant progress in reducing poverty and hunger in Africa, Global Progress it will be statistically impossible to achieve these goals at a global level. The numbers simply won’t add up.

Leaving No One Behind: A core principle of the SDGs is to leave no one behind. Global Progress This means focusing on the most vulnerable populations and regions. Since Africa is home to a large number of these vulnerable communities, ignoring the challenges there would go against the very spirit of the global goals.

Interconnectedness of Global Issues: Poverty and hunger in Africa are not isolated problems. They are often linked to other global issues like migration, health crises, and even security. Global Progress Addressing these issues in Africa can have positive ripple effects across the globe. For example, improving food security can reduce the likelihood of people being forced to migrate in search of food and livelihoods.

Unlocking Potential: Africa has immense untapped potential. Investing in education, infrastructure, and sustainable development in Africa can unlock economic growth and create opportunities for millions of people. This can contribute significantly to global economic stability and prosperity, which in turn can help in the fight against poverty and hunger worldwide.

Learning and Innovation: Global Progress The challenges faced in Africa often require innovative and context-specific solutions. Finding ways to overcome these challenges can lead to new knowledge and approaches that can be valuable in tackling poverty and hunger in other parts of the world as well.