1. Global poverty and the future of aid
Gideon Rabinowitz, Oxfam GB

2. The good news…extreme poverty (<$1
The good news…extreme poverty (<$1.90 a day) is falling, and affects fewer countries
Estimated that extreme poverty fell 137,000 a day
Expected to be mainly a feature of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as fragile/conflict countries by (25-35 countries in total)
Future scenarios sensitive to pattern of growth

3. For some this is where the story ends…

4. Who benefits from growth?
…but, this is only part of the story, and global poverty is far from being defeated…Why? Significant challenges for eradicating extreme poverty by 2030
Depth of poverty
Who benefits from growth?

5. 2. Looking beyond a (measly) $1.90 poverty line
$1.90 a day is far from adequate
In India, children living at $1.90 still have a 60% chance of being malnourished; in Niger, infants living at $1.90 have a mortality rate three times higher than the global average
Someone living on $1.90 a day is one doctor’s bill, lost week’s work or unforeseen expense from extreme poverty
Much more significant numbers of people in poverty looking at other poverty lines
National poverty lines – 1.7 billion
$3.40 a day – a lower middle income poverty line - $1.9 billion
$5.50 a day – an upper middle income poverty line - $3.4 billion

6. Billions still in poverty……while share of top 1% soars?
Trickle down in action?

7. WE MUST PURSUE INCLUSIVE and REDISTRIBUTIVE RESPONSES + ADDRESS INEQUALITY
Mainly beyond aid issue…
Global economic and financial system (global governance)
Trade and corporate policy
…BUT, aid can help to address inequality
Target the poorest countries and people
Address needs of the poor (e.g. education, agriculture, quality jobs)
Address gender equality and needs of other marginalised groups
Promote inclusive and sustainable growth
Support countries to generate own resources

8. So how well does UK aid perform?
Meets 0.7%, UK aid increasing £5-600m a year
Significant focus on poorest countries
Gender – Int’ Dev GE Act, policy + programme priority
Global health champion
Significant education focus
Strong emphasis on creating jobs for youth bulge
Support for transparency, civil society, governance

9. But… Share of aid to poorest countries falling
Share of aid on health and education falling
Growing emphasis on UK strategic interests
Increase in aid to investment funds with questionable impact
Growing share of aid budget outside of DFID, with weaker
emphasis on poverty and transparency
Less than 45% of UK Aid has gender equality as an objective
Push to change aid rules