CHAPTER 14 CLOSING THE GAP

POVERTY REDUCTION n In Sept U.N. set goal cut in half the number of people living on less than $1 a day by 2015 n One scenario suggests that 11 countries may hit this target and... n 70 will see little improvement, or fall behind

POVERTY REDUCTION n Other forecasts suggest that 29 countries will hit this target while 50 countries will not reduce the gap between the rich and poor n Both scenarios point to the fact that East-Asia will reach poverty goals… n While Sub-Saharan Africa will not

WHAT MUST BE DONE n Government policies have not worked n International institutions and non- governmental organisations are beginning believe a a paradigm shift is needed n See Page 328 in text - The World Bank n What do you think about this???

Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the U.N. n “We believe… poverty to be intolerable in a world of plenty. And we are all here because we are convinced - indeed we know - that this poverty can be ended in our lifetime, with our own hands, with our own minds”

International Organizations and Poverty Reduction n The United Nations is the largest intergovernmental organization dealing with the problems of poverty

The United Nations n The U.N. has a pivotal role in reducing poverty. n Views poverty as a multidimensional problem n need more than just raising incomes n must treat problems of INEQUITY that create poverty in the first place

YOU ARE THE UNITED NATIONS n In groups of 4 n Choose 8 goals that you want 191 nations to pledge to meet to improve the quality of life for all!!!

n The United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the world’s leaders at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 200, captured the aspirations of the International community for the new century. It spoke of a world united by common values, and striving with renewed determination to achieve peace and decent standards of living for every man, woman and child. n

n Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger –reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day –reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger n Achieve universal primary education –ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling n Promote gender equality and empower women –eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, and at all levels by 2015.

n Reduce Child Mortality –Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five. n Improve maternal health –Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ration

n Ensure environmental Sustainability –Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources –reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water –achieve significant improvements in lives of at lease 100 million slum dwellers by 2020

n Develop a global partnership for development –developed further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non- discriminatory. –Address the least developed countries special needs - tariff and quota-free access to their exports. –Develop decent and productive work for youth –In co-operation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries. –In co-operation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies.

HOMEWORK n READ PAGE –Identify and discuss the three broad strategies to reduce poverty. n READ PAGE –Discuss “The UN at Work” n Use an Internet Search Engine to research Canada’s role in NEPAD