Where millions were lifted out of poverty

In 2000, the United Nations (UN) formulated the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a framework for global development. The MDGs are about addressing poverty, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, and global partnerships. The target date to achieve the MDGs was 2015 or within 15 years.

The world’s governments, under the aegis of the UN, set about working toward achieving the MDGs in their respective countries. Considerable progress was made, but only MDG1 or halving extreme poverty and hunger was fully achieved within the timeframe of 15 years.

The reasons that other MDGs were not fully realized were many and varied. Some countries spent inadequate financial resources to support their implementation. Developing countries, for one, found it difficult to mobilize the requisite funds. There was also lack of political will and commitment from all levels of government. Political instability, corruption, and governance issues hindered progress as well, and resulted in a lack of effective policies and programs. Many developing countries lacked the necessary infrastructure, human resources, and institutional capacity.

Marginalized groups, such as women, ethnic minorities, and people living in remote areas, often found it difficult to access essential services and opportunities. Resources and efforts that could have been directed toward achieving the goals were diverted to address immediate emergency needs, thus slowing down or reversing progress.

The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 and subsequent economic downturns had adverse effects on many countries, particularly those heavily dependent on foreign aid and exports. Some countries lacked reliable data systems and encountered problems in monitoring and reporting progress effectively, making it harder to assess the progress of achieving the MDGs accurately.

Halving poverty at the global level was attributed to the high economic growth in China, which accounted for 75 percent of the global achievement in poverty reduction (MDG1). The other countries that achieved MDG1 include Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, and Rwanda.

According to the World Bank, between 1981 and 2015, China lifted close to 800 million people out of poverty. The country’s success in poverty reduction can be attributed to several factors. Sustained economic growth created employment opportunities and increased incomes, particularly in urban areas. Agricultural reforms, such as the household responsibility system and the development of rural industries, contributed to increased agricultural productivity, rural incomes, and food security. Implementation of social policies and programs targeted the poor, such as the “dibao” (minimum living allowance) system, rural health insurance, and education initiatives.

These programs aimed to provide social safety nets and improve access to basic services. Investments in infrastructure, including transportation, telecommunications, and rural electrification, helped improve connectivity and access to markets, leading to economic growth and poverty reduction.

China definitely made significant progress in reducing extreme poverty and hunger within its borders. Its poverty reduction strategies, such as the targeted poverty alleviation campaign, have received international attention for their scale and effectiveness. These initiatives involved identifying impoverished areas and households, providing targeted support, and implementing measures like infrastructure development, access to education and health care, and income generation programs.

China has shared its experiences and knowledge of poverty reduction with other countries, particularly through UN. Still, differences in political systems and a focus on community participation and human rights in democratic countries have hindered their acknowledgment of China’s success in poverty reduction. China achieved economic progress, true, but has a spotty human rights record. Thus, nothing much is heard about adopting this country’s “targeted poverty alleviation” campaign and its other strategies in pursuing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which replaced the MDGs.

What a pity! Many countries would have benefited tremendously by now from China’s experience in achieving the SDGs on “no poverty” and “zero hunger” by 2030.

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Nono Felix worked for an international NGO as a corporate planning, monitoring, and evaluation manager, covering 13 Asian countries.