Approximately 896 million people in developing countries live on $1.90 a day or less. Between 1990 and 2008, efforts to impact this issue were successful, and the number of people living in poverty decreased by nearly half, from 48 to 26 percent. But according to the latest United Nations reports food prices are back on the rise, causing an increase in global poverty for the first time in nearly two decades.
Poverty, food prices and hunger are inextricably linked. Poverty causes hunger. Not every poor person is hungry, but almost all hungry people are poor. Millions live with hunger and malnourishment because they simply cannot afford to buy enough food, cannot afford nutritious foods or cannot afford the farming supplies they need to grow enough good food of their own. Hunger can be viewed as a dimension of extreme poverty. It is often called the most severe and critical manifestation of poverty.
Rural households are the most heavily burdened by the consequences of poverty and hunger. In addition to causing hunger, poverty limits a rural community’s ability to invest in its own development. Over 30 percent of rural girls living in poverty are kept out of school to save money, opposed to the 15 percent of urban girls not in school. Studies have shown that lack of general education leads to higher adolescent birth rates; births that in turn over-burden an already economically strained community, perpetuating a cycle of gender inequality, poverty and hunger.
Recognizing the urgency of this issue, world leaders have made poverty a top priority as a part of Millennium Development Goal 1.
The Hunger Project takes a holistic approach to hunger, which means addressing its root causes – including poverty. In our Program Countries, we build the capacity of women and men to move beyond poverty, training them in the skills, methods, knowledge and leadership needed to take self-reliant actions so they can meet their own basic needs, improve their communities and build better futures for themselves and their children.
What We Do
- At our epicenters across Africa, thousands of women food farmers are increasing their incomes through training and credit, and strengthening their clout in the marketplace. Over 71,000 women and men participate in our Microfinance Program, and in 2011, they deposited nearly $2.4 million in savings in epicenter Rural Banks and revolving loan funds.
- The ultimate objective of the Microfinance Program is to gain government recognition and operate as a licensed saving and credit cooperative (SACCO) or Rural Bank. Owned entirely by community members, the Rural Bank then provides the entire epicenter community with sustainable access to savings and loan facilities. There are now 22 Rural Banks that have gained government recognition at our epicenters in Africa.
- Trained partners implement income-generating activities, often joining together in self-help groups: from sewing projects in Mexico to cow-fattening projects in Bangladesh. In 2014, 20,977 of our African partners participated in income-generating workshops to learn new and innovative methods of increasing household income.
- In Africa, The Hunger Project empowers people to create, stock and manage their own food banks at the community level, which helps stabilize day-to-day food prices in local markets during times of crisis. In 2014 alone, 582,553 kg were added to food banks in Africa.
- Through agricultural trainings and increased access to farming inputs, small farmers in communities are able to increase their crop yields, enabling them to grow enough food to feed their families, diversify their crops and even sell surpluses at market.
- In Burkina Faso and Senegal, a warrantage program allows farmers to not only contribute their share, but also to store their excess harvest in the epicenter food bank until market conditions shift. As a result, farmers can sell their produce for higher prices.
The effects of poverty are intricately and deeply connected. However, it is helpful to individually identify its numerous effects before observing them in relation to one another. This, in turn, will provide insight as to the causes of poverty well as how to alleviate poverty entirely.
Education
Only 14 percent of the variation in a child’s performance can be attributed to school quality, according to Donald Hirsch, advisor to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This means that a child’s background has a significant effect on their performance in school.Children who come from low-income families are far less likely to perform well in school. According to Department for Education statistics, by the end of primary school, pupils in need of free school meals are estimated to be almost three terms behind their more affluent peers.
Only 14 percent of the variation in a child’s performance can be attributed to school quality, according to Donald Hirsch, advisor to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This means that a child’s background has a significant effect on their performance in school.Children who come from low-income families are far less likely to perform well in school. According to Department for Education statistics, by the end of primary school, pupils in need of free school meals are estimated to be almost three terms behind their more affluent peers.
Child Development
Children living in poverty are more likely to learn poor health behaviors and are more susceptible to mental illness as they grow older. Children living in constant poverty also show the worst cognitive development, compared to children from higher socio-economic backgrounds.Children who are poor are often unable to participate in social, leisure and celebratory activities, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and friendships. They may feel less able to take advantage of learning opportunities in school, which can eventually hurt their future employment prospects.
Children living in poverty are more likely to learn poor health behaviors and are more susceptible to mental illness as they grow older. Children living in constant poverty also show the worst cognitive development, compared to children from higher socio-economic backgrounds.Children who are poor are often unable to participate in social, leisure and celebratory activities, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and friendships. They may feel less able to take advantage of learning opportunities in school, which can eventually hurt their future employment prospects.
Crime
The Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime found that poverty had a significant and direct effect on young people’s likelihood to engage in violence at age 15. Young people living in a family where the head of the household was unemployed were also more likely to participate in criminal behavior.Even poor individuals with “low risk” backgrounds were more likely to engage in violence. This means that for certain types of young people, living in a poor household increases their risk of engaging in violence beyond what one would expect.
The Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime found that poverty had a significant and direct effect on young people’s likelihood to engage in violence at age 15. Young people living in a family where the head of the household was unemployed were also more likely to participate in criminal behavior.Even poor individuals with “low risk” backgrounds were more likely to engage in violence. This means that for certain types of young people, living in a poor household increases their risk of engaging in violence beyond what one would expect.
Low Social Mobility
Children born into poverty are also more likely to grow up to be poor. For example, poor teenagers in Britain in the 1970s are twice as likely to be poor as adults, while poor teenagers in the 1980s are four times as likely to remain poor.When parents cannot find stable work, they are unable to provide their children with necessary attention and resources. This ultimately makes it more difficult for them to build a better life for their children in the future.
Children born into poverty are also more likely to grow up to be poor. For example, poor teenagers in Britain in the 1970s are twice as likely to be poor as adults, while poor teenagers in the 1980s are four times as likely to remain poor.When parents cannot find stable work, they are unable to provide their children with necessary attention and resources. This ultimately makes it more difficult for them to build a better life for their children in the future.
Extra Social Spending
When adults are unable to meet their full potential in society, they contribute less productively to the economy. They often receive payment benefits and reduced tax revenues, which necessitates extra social spending.The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that child poverty costs the United Kingdom at least £25 billion a year. This includes £12 billion a year on public spending on services that alleviate the immediate effects of poverty. The remaining £13 billion accounts for the annual costs of below average employment rates.
When adults are unable to meet their full potential in society, they contribute less productively to the economy. They often receive payment benefits and reduced tax revenues, which necessitates extra social spending.The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that child poverty costs the United Kingdom at least £25 billion a year. This includes £12 billion a year on public spending on services that alleviate the immediate effects of poverty. The remaining £13 billion accounts for the annual costs of below average employment rates.
The key to alleviating poverty is to coordinate humanitarian efforts between these many factors. Once we understand the effects of poverty and their many dimensions, we can take the necessary steps to eradicate the issue altogether.