Eliminating World Poverty: Building Our Common Future

The Department for International Development (DFID), 2009

Available online as PDF file [32p.] at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/securingourcommonfuture/conference-paper-eliminating-poverty.pdf

This background paper for the DFID annual conference "Securing our Common Future: A Conference on the Future of International Development" (9-10 March 2009, London)

“….According to the paper, the current global recession seriously threatens the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and may push more than 90 million people into poverty. Times are uncertain, because the scale of the downturn is not yet known, and the impact could be even more serious. Combined with other huge challenges already happening, or on the horizon, including the demands of a growing population and the onset of climate change, this is an important moment to reaffirm our commitment to international development and to review priorities….”

Part one briefly reviews recent progress in developing countries. Part two sets out the emerging challenges, both immediate and longer term. Part three sets out a series of questions for consideration in priority policy areas in response to the emerging challenges….”

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Introduction
Part One: Recent Progress in Developing Countries
Part Two: The Challenges
Food and Fuel Crises
Financial and Economic Crises
Poverty in Fragile and Conflict Affected Countries
Population and Urbanisation
Managing Climate and Resource Stress
The Challenge to Globalisation
Ensuring an International System Fit for Purpose
Part Three: The Response
Managing the Crisis and Re-establishing Growth
Fragile and Conflict Affected Countries
Climate Change
Ensuring System Wide Effectiveness
Overcoming Food Insecurity
The Millennium Development Goals
Bibliography