Welcome to the United Nations
The 2030 Agenda recognized that “eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.” The multi-dimensional nature of poverty requires us to go beyond economic growth to address the root-causes and the factors that perpetuate these conditions; it requires us to end hunger and food/nutrition insecurity; it requires access to basic, quality services such as health care, education, water and sanitation, sustainable energy; it requires a clean environment where everyone can have good health and prosperity; it requires social protection, empowerment, and opportunities for decent work; it requires inclusiveness and special attention to marginalized and vulnerable groups, the furthest behind, and to eliminate the discriminations against them; it requires sensitivity to the widening disparities and inequalities within and among countries and both in urban and rural areas. This session addresses the theme through the lens of its multi-dimensional nature. A panel of experts with diverse backgrounds will facilitate discussions aiming at deepening understanding and appreciation of the various dimensions and their inter-connections, in the process of which practical recommendations will be made. A short Q&A session will follow.
Proposed Guiding Questions
- How do policymakers design a multi-dimensional approach to address poverty and inequalities? Who are the key stakeholders to engage? What are the necessary institutional changes required?
- How well are we measuring multi-dimensional poverty and inequalities? What are the criteria for good measurement? What are the challenges and opportunities?
- What readily available tools would you like to recommend to policymakers to help them better address the multi-dimensions of poverty and inequalities?
Presiding Officer:
- H.E. Mr. Nabeel Munir, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Vice-President of Economic and Social Council
Moderator:
- H.E. Mr. Vikas Swarup, High Commissioner of India to Canada, Author of Q&A (adapted to film as Slumdog Millionaire)
Panellists:
- Prof. Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford
- Ms. Claudia Vasquez Marazzani, Director of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombia
- Mr. Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF
Lead discussants:
- Dr. Laura Stachel, Executive Director and Co-Founder of WeCareSolar
- Dr. Emem Omokaro, Executive Director, Dave Omokaro Foundation (DOF); LEADS Scholar, Ageing Studies Development, National Universities Commission; Secretary General, African Society for Ageing Research and Development (ASARD)
Interactive discussion
