Ending Extreme Poverty

Interfaith Initiative Aims to End Global Poverty by 2030

Ending Extreme Poverty

World Bank urges global leaders to unite and put an end to impoverishment around the world.

The World Bank has launched an interfaith initiative aimed at ending global poverty in 15 years. Combining the efforts of over 35 different religious groups from around the world, World Bank Group feels strongly that their goal of ending extreme poverty is within reach.

The timeline and challenges set by the World Bank Group seem insurmountable to many, a sentiment that World Bank President Jim Yong Kim doesn’t quite agree with.

“I believe that some of the most important leaders in the movement to end extreme poverty will be people of faith, people who are motivated fundamentally to help the most vulnerable among us,” Kim said.

“Our approach to this staggering need must be holistic, rooted in the spiritual visions of our respective faiths, and built on a shared recognition of the intrinsic dignity and value of every life on Earth,” the call issued by President Kim continued.

Extreme poverty sees more than 1 billion people on the planet struggle to live on less than $1.25 a day, President Kim stated in an April teleconference. When pressed on the timeline of the initiative, President Kim stated that world religious leaders first need to recognize and adjust strategies for the “Ending Extreme Poverty” movement to be successful.

“As a Christian organization, World Vision welcomes the opportunity to join the broader faith community in championing the cause of the world’s most vulnerable people, especially children, as we strive to eliminate extreme poverty in this generation,” says Kevin Jenkins, World Vision International President.

The initiative centers around three core concepts that are geared to improving market availability, changing nutrition and improving agricultural processes. These processes are aimed at mitigating the damage caused by climate change and increasing yields.

Market availability that bring real world results to poverty stricken regions and help stimulate environmentally stable economic growth. This specific step could prove to be the most difficult, as many of these countries lack the infrastructure to support such development.

Infrastructure is vital if the World Bank’s vision of ending extreme poverty by 2030 is to become a reality. Developing countries are often far more affected by the global climate change, where native people are dependent on rain for their crops.

Rural communities and isolated regions with limited access and options could prove to be a huge challenge. Lack of access to services and assets compound the issue of stimulating economy in a poverty stricken region.

Such a huge undertaking only underscores how important the diversity and united front of the multi-faith initiative truly is. Not only because it will eliminate unnecessary duplicate efforts, but could possibly bridge the difference between many different religions and people from all walks of life in a common goal of acceptance and love.

The collaborative effort puts a focus on world religious leaders to play a larger role in transforming their respective communities. Led by the World Bank Group the new initiative is both challenging and revolutionary, promising to equip the leaders of religious groups everywhere to make a difference.

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