Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction

Rapid economic growth coupled with inequality and scattered poverty

Despite impressive economic growth and an enviable record in poverty reduction, including aggregate progress towards several MDG targets and goals, the Asia-Pacific region is still home to more than two-thirds of the world’s poor. Progress has been coupled with an alarming increase in inequality and persistent economic and social vulnerability. Depravations span a wide range.

Existing poverty and exclusion exacerbated by new challenges

Along with existing issues of poverty and exclusion—rural poverty, hunger, gender inequality and deprivations in health, etc.,—new challenges have also emerged in the region. The cumulative impact of the food, fuel and financial crises has in some cases reversed hard won development gains.  Moreover, rapid urbanization, rising inequalities, and the demographic shift have changed and confounded the development landscape. Adding to these issues are factors such as climate change, natural resources management, and the environmental sustainability. Since 2008, these persistent and emerging challenges have impeded MDG progress. Moreover, some of these persistent and emerging issues including poverty, inequality, urban poverty are both a cause, as well as an effect of uneven economic development.

Our Goals

The overarching objective of the work of UNDP APRC’s Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction (IGPR) Team is to sustain and accelerate progress on MDGs in Asia and Pacific, ensuring that growth is inclusive, sustainable and equitable.

Three pillars of work of the Inclusive Growth and Poverty Reduction are:

• Millennium Development Goals and Post 2015 Agenda
• Inclusive Growth
• Social Policies and Institutions