A research project by:
Helen Vien (14)
Poverty
Executive Summary
Poverty is a critical issue that billions of people experience worldwide. About 700 million (8.5% of the world) of these people are incapable of meeting basic needs such as food, water, shelter and healthcare (World Vision, 2024). It also limits access to education and economic growth, preventing individuals and communities from achieving lasting stability and better opportunities in life. Children in poverty often face poor nutrition, limited academic development and health risks that affect their future potential (APA, 2024). Poverty is closely linked with other global issues, including climate change, conflict and humanitarian crises. These challenges can disrupt people’s sources of income, reduce access to necessary resources, and force people to leave their homes, making it even harder to achieve economic and social stability (UNHCR, 2024). Reducing poverty remains a central focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with goal 1 aiming to eradicate poverty in all forms by 2030 (SDGS, 2025).
Addressing poverty is not only about increasing income; it requires ensuring that everyone can access basic needs and have opportunities to improve their lives. This includes providing education, creating job opportunities and offering support such as healthcare and social assistance. Improving infrastructure, including clean water, shelter, electricity and transportation, enhances living conditions and economic activity. Promoting equality and fair treatment ensures that all individuals have the chance to succeed, while adopting environmentally sustainable practices helps communities cope with challenges like climate change. With these measures, societies can reduce poverty in a lasting way and create healthier, more resilient and equitable communities.
Introduction
Poverty remains as one of the most serious challenges society faces today. It can be defined as the lack of resources to meet one’s essential needs such as food, housing, healthcare and education. Poverty is not just about low income but also about limited access to social protection and participation in society (International Labour Organization, 2023). This makes poverty both a social and economic issue with significant consequences for human development.
It can be seen that trends of poverty vary across regions of the world. In many parts of Africa and South Asia, poverty is often connected to underdeveloped
infrastructure, less employment opportunities and vulnerability to natural disasters. Whereas, higher-income countries may experience relative poverty (when people have enough to survive but cannot afford things most others in society have like education or healthcare), where inequality, homelessness and higher living costs create exclusion and setback (OECD, 2022). These differences show that poverty is a complicated issue which requires solutions adapted to specific circumstances.
Approaches to resolving poverty have changed over the years. Earlier strategies focused mainly on economic growth, while more recent methods emphasise the importance of inclusion, human rights and sustainability (UNDP, 2023).
Recognising the causes and impacts of poverty is critical for building effective policies that not only reduce hardship but also create lasting opportunities for resilience and equality within the world.
Methodology
This report uses information from reliable sources such as the UN, World Bank, World Vision and academic articles to analyse poverty. Data and facts were gathered from these sources to understand the causes, impacts and regional differences within poverty. Then, this information was then analysed to identify key themes, such as how poverty affects health, education, housing and income. This approach helped provide a clear and accurate overview of poverty and possible ways to reduce it.
Results/Findings
The research indicates that poverty has different impacts depending on the region. In parts of Africa and South Asia, lack of infrastructure and limited access to jobs contribute to severe poverty. In these areas, many communities face food insecurity, insufficient clean water and limited healthcare services (World Bank, 2023).
Data also shows that poverty affects educational outcomes. Children from low-income families are less likely to attend school regularly and have fewer resources for learning, which reduces their future employment opportunities.
In urban areas of higher-income countries, poverty is linked more to housing instability and social exclusion rather than survival needs.
Additionally, global events such as climate disasters, conflicts and economic crises worsen poverty by disrupting livelihoods and forcing relocation (UNHCR, 2024). These findings highlight the associated nature of poverty and other challenges.
Discuss
The findings suggest that addressing poverty requires targeted measures rather than universal methods. For regions with underdeveloped infrastructure, improving access to water, healthcare and transportation can directly reduce hardship.
Education emerges as a critical factor: providing schools, learning materials and support programs can break cycles of poverty by giving children greater possibilities. In wealthier areas, social policies that focus on affordable housing and reducing inequality can help those affected by relative poverty.
The research also indicates that global cooperation is vital. International aid, fair trade and emergency support programs can support vulnerable communities and help prevent temporary crises from becoming long-term poverty.
Conclusion
This report shows that poverty is a sophisticated issue with varying causes and consequences across the world. Effective solutions must be region-specific and address both immediate needs and long-term development goals.
By focusing on education, social support, infrastructure and international collaboration, communities can build resilience and create opportunities for individuals to improve their living conditions. Tackling poverty requires careful planning, cooperation and strategies that consider the unique challenges of each area.
References
https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts
https://www.apa.org/topics/socioeconomic-status/poverty-hunger-homelessness-children
https://www.unhcr .org/
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://www.ilo.org/publications/flagship-reports/world-employment-and-social-outlook-tr
ends-2023
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-economic-outlook/volume-2022/issue-2_f6da2
159-en.html
https://www.undp.org/
https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/home