Poverty Reduction
Poverty has multiple faces and encompasses more than just low income. Regardless of how it is defined, poverty results in massive underutilization of human capital, primarily that of ethnic minorities, the long-term unemployed, and the internally displaced. Rural populations, women and young people are also at risk. Even in wealthier countries, persistent pockets of poverty exist. The financial crisis will likely push incomes still lower, exacerbating conditions for many vulnerable groups. .jpg)
UNDP’s Poverty Practice in Europe and the CIS offers the latest approaches to:
UNDP’s capacity in the region to promote poverty reduction is demonstrated through our portfolio of more than 420 initiatives in 28 countries with an annual turnover of more than US$ 126 million. Roughly two-thirds of these projects contribute to fulfilling the UNDP goal of ‘Promoting inclusive growth, gender equality and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’.
Our practice team of about 100 UNDP Country Office-designated professionals and high-level experts across the region offer a comprehensive set of knowledge and skills for tackling poverty-related problems. They cover broad-based inclusive, equitable and human-centred growth in the region. We also rely on 86 external practitioners from NGOs, academia and think tanks who partner with us.
The specific capacity areas cover:
Improving the understanding of human development and embedding the MDGs in national development strategies: Our focus areas cover human development reports, advice on how to translate the human development concept into sector-specific policies, pro-poor macro-economic policies, employment, social inclusion and vulnerability. The goal is to ensure that national development instruments reflect the human development concept and the MDGs.
Data to assist governments in designing and implementing policies that benefit the poor: Timely and informative statistical data are necessary for policy formulation. In particular, disaggregated socio-economic data on vulnerable groups and on the geographic dimensions of poverty, unemployment and vulnerability. Activities focus on strengthening the capability of national institutions in monitoring human development, the MDGs, social exclusion and poverty reduction. Work also continues on strengthening the capacity of policymakers, country offices and civil society organizations to make better use of poverty data.
Promoting private sector and inclusive market development: Support is provided on policy reforms and private sector investments that result in increased market access for the poor as producers, employees, and consumers. Activities focus on value chains in sectors that are important to the poor and on brokering commercially sustainable investments at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’. Emphasis is on developing viable agribusiness/agriculture sectors that benefit producers in marginal rural areas and promote value added—and hence income generation—through processing, packaging and grading.
Fostering civic engagement: Interventions aim at improving legislative, financial and regulatory frameworks for civil society organizations, strengthening them (through training and networking) and improving their viability. Particular attention is paid to developing social enterprises as a way of providing goods and services to vulnerable groups.
Ensuring that globalization benefits the poor: Assistance is focused on shaping trade policies that promote human development. The aim is to help small-scale private firms and governments capitalize on trade opportunities for poverty reduction. Support includes enhancing the capacity of the private sector to gain from trade and helping governments to interpret and negotiate trade agreements.
In addition to its own capacities, the regional practice can link to UNDP experience and expertise present in 147 countries with a portfolio of $1.3 billion.
Recent Human Development Reports:
- Central Asia Human Development Report: Bringing down barriers: Regional Cooperation for Human Development and Human Security;
- At Risk: Roma and the Displaced in Southeast Europe;
- National Millennium Development Goals: A Framework for Action.
