World scientific research journal
https://scientific-jl.com/wsrj
Volume-40_Issue-2_June-2025
115
POVERTY AS A GLOBAL PROBLEM
Babayeva Sabinabonu Davronbek qizi
Annotation:
Poverty remains one of the most pressing global challenges of the
21st century, affecting all aspects of societal development. This article explores the
root causes and manifestations of poverty, its implications for sustainable
development, and the most effective international strategies for combating it.
Particular attention is given to social programs, infrastructure development, and
support for small and medium-sized enterprises as key pillars of a comprehensive
approach. The article also highlights the role of international organizations and the
importance of investment in human capital.
Keywords:
poverty, social protection, human capital, inequality, sustainable
development, international experience, small business, global challenges.
Poverty is a global issue whose resolution affects the well-being of millions of
people. According to the World Bank, in 2023 about 8.4% of the world's population
lived on less than $2.15 per day — the international extreme poverty line.
Contemporary challenges such as pandemics, armed conflicts, inflationary crises, and
climate disasters have intensified poverty and require a rethinking of global strategies
to address it.
Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. Researchers identify several
interrelated categories of causes:
Economic:
unemployment, unequal income distribution, low labor
productivity, labor market instability.
Social and health-related:
poor health conditions, high child mortality,
inadequate social protection systems.
Educational:
low literacy rates, poor access to educational resources,
insufficient vocational training.
Political and institutional:
weak governance, corruption, armed conflicts.
Regional:
underdeveloped infrastructure in rural and remote areas, unregulated
urbanization, migration.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), poverty in
many developing countries is intergenerational — passed from parents to children —
creating persistent cycles of inequality.
Social Programs:
Many countries implement social support programs as a
primary tool against poverty, such as:
Direct cash transfers,
e.g., Brazil’s
Bolsa Família
and Mexico’s
Oportunidades
, which target low-income families.
World scientific research journal
https://scientific-jl.com/wsrj
Volume-40_Issue-2_June-2025
116
Subsidies for utilities and food,
widely practiced in India, Egypt, and other
developing economies.
Basic income experiments,
introduced in Finland, Canada, and certain pilot
regions.
Investment in Human Capital:
Education and healthcare are recognized as
sustainable tools for poverty reduction. According to UNESCO, one additional year
of education increases an individual's income by approximately 10%. Strengthening
public health systems reduces household expenditures and prevents “medical
impoverishment.”
Infrastructure Measures:
Improving access to transportation, electricity,
water, and the internet increases mobility and access to labor and educational markets.
In Africa, infrastructure projects — such as road construction — have boosted local
employment rates by 15–20% in target regions.
Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs):
Encouraging
entrepreneurship leads to job creation and local economic growth. Examples include:
Microfinance programs,
such as Grameen Bank in Bangladesh;
Entrepreneurship education and training;
Business incubators and tax incentives.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), SMEs provide up to
70% of employment in emerging economies.International institutions, including the
World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme, implement large-
scale anti-poverty initiatives. Their support includes:
Grant funding and technical assistance,
Cross-border sustainable development programs,
Institutional capacity-building in developing regions.
Nonprofit organizations and global foundations also play a critical role in
improving education, healthcare, food security, and women's rights. The Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, funds poverty alleviation programs in Africa
and South Asia.
Poverty is not only an economic issue, but also one of social justice, access to
opportunities, and long-term development. Global experience proves that the most
effective strategies are those that combine short-term social support with long-term
investments in human capital and entrepreneurship.Achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals — particularly the goal of eradicating extreme poverty —
requires coordinated efforts among governments, international organizations, private
sector actors, and civil society. Only through such collective action can we not only
reduce poverty but also build an inclusive, just society where everyone has the chance
to live with dignity.
World scientific research journal
https://scientific-jl.com/wsrj
Volume-40_Issue-2_June-2025
117
References:
1.
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