Poverty Reduction

Economic growth will not reduce poverty, improve equality and produce jobs unless it is inclusive. Inclusive growth is also essential for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The globalization process, when properly managed, becomes an important ingredient for inclusive growth. In this context, UNDP works to make real improvements in people’s lives, opening up their choices and opportunities.

Our Goals

UNDP promotes inclusive and sustainable human development and works to reduce poverty in all its dimensions. We focus our efforts on making growth and trade benefit everyone in developing countries. Fast Facts about UNDP and Poverty Reduction

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Match Against Poverty 2011

As in previous years, UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinédine Zidane mobilized their friends to take on the Hamburger Sport-Verein in Hamburg, Germany on 13 December. Most of the proceeds will go towards addressing the ongoing food crisis in the Horn of Africa. more

Our Stories

Projects and Initiatives

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Microfinance in Mongolia

A nation in transition In the 1990s Mongolia transformed from a centrally planned to a market-driven economy. By 2004 the private sector’s share of GDP had... more

Jamaica Debt Exchange Frees Resources for Human Development

Jamaica spends most of its government revenues on the repayment of debt and its interest, with little left over to spend on poverty reduction and infrastructure. A recent Jamaica Debt Exchange programme lightened its debt servicing burden by restructuring Jamaica’s domestic debt. more

Poverty and Social Impact Analysis of the Economic Crisis

Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) studies help developing countries analyse the impact of the economic crisis and come up with policies to better deal with consequences of the crisis on poor and vulnerable people. more

India's Rural Employment Guarantee Act

A pioneering piece of legislation that recognises work as a fundamental right and guarantees 100 days of employment a year to people in rural areas is emerging as a ray of hope for India’s poor, who have been left even more vulnerable by the aftershocks of the global economic crisis. more

Understanding Poverty and Inequality in Namibia

As a middle-income country with very unequal income distribution, Namibia is a place of poverty amid plenty. Although statistics about poverty and inequality are collected, they are rarely analyzed to understand how poverty and inequality are related to each other and how to bridge the gap between rich and poor. more

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In the media: How can we eradicate poverty?
Development in an age of economic uncertainty by Selim Jahan on Al Jazeera

A new report by UNDP, Towards Human Resilience: Sustaining MDG Progress in an Age of Economic Uncertainty, provides us and policymakers around the world with an extensive account of lessons taken from the experience of developing countries over the past 15 years.

Featured Publications
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Towards Human Resilience: Sustaining MDG Progress in an Age of Economic Uncertainty

This report addresses essential questions about economic vulnerability and resilience. Most significantly, it explores the following: How do macro-economic crises affect the world’s most vulnerable economies?

 

Regional Integration and Human Development: A pathway for Africa

The report discusses four main channels linking integration and human development: income; access to services, empowerment, and sustainability.

 

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Illicit Financial Flows from the Least Developed Countries 1990-2008

This paper explores the scale and composition of illicit financial flows from the 48 LDCs. This issue has been recognised by the UN as important for development and the MDGs.

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