Effective ways to eradicate poverty

AS WE observe the “International Day for the Eradication of Poverty” on October 17, let us look at the challenges and prospects of addressing this global problem and whether there are more effective ways than the ones currently used.

- FLORA TECKIE

According to the United Nations Statistics Division, in 2025 an estimated 808 million people live in extreme poverty — up from the previous estimate of 677 million — representing 9.9% of the world’s population, or one in 10 people.

Poverty is a problem for all of humanity, not just for the poor.

Poverty eradication should be addressed from a human rights perspective, and linked to justice and obligation, rather than charity.

The focus of current poverty eradication programmes — mainly the transfer of financial resources — has not resulted in significant social improvements.

In fact, the gap that separates the rich and the poor is widening each year.

This is an indication that current systems are incapable of solving the problem they aimed to address.