© 2010, Cate Biggs
Global Poverty
Know the facts. Understand the issues.Engage in the solutions.
http://graspglobalpoverty.wordpress.com.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Global Poverty
• Who are the world’s poor?• How is being poor in a poor country different from
being poor in a rich country?• Why are countries poor in the first place?• How can we help?• Why does all this matter?
© 2010, Cate Biggs
6 Billion People in the World:Haves and Have-Nots
• 1 billion people live in countries where they havewhat they need for a long quality life.
• 4 billion live in countries where they have the hope ofgetting what they need.
• 1 billion live in countries that have very little at all.
Being poor in a poor country is different from
being poor in a rich country.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
The Bottom Billion*…
Live on $1 per day,many of them on less than $1 per day
(the cost of an iTunes song)
Around $7 per weekClose to $30 per monthLess than $400 per year
*Credit: Paul Collier
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Where Do the Bottom Billion Live?
• In Poor or Least Developed Countries (LDCs) - alsoknown as the Global South or Third World
• Concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central andSouth Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean (Haiti)
• China and India are not considered LDCs.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Poor people in poor countries face hugechallenges…even if they work really hard.
• Water• Food• Electricity• Roads• Education• Disease• Health Care• Rule of Law• Land Rights
Poor countries lackInfrastructure
Like the systems ofyour body…
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Why Countries are Poor:Place
Size and Location
• Climate?• Coastlines?• Diseases?• Natural resources?• Neighbors?
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Place: The United States(the world’s wealthiest nation)
• The third-largest country inthe world, spread out overhigh quality, arable land in atemperate climate.
• Abundant coastlines andrivers.
• Minimal climate-relatedpests and diseases.
• Diverse, rich base of naturalresources.
• Only two land neighbors,both of whom are mostlyfriendly and stable.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Place: Chad (Central Africa)(one of the world’s poorest nations)
• Small• Land-locked• Harsh climate with little
arable land. Inadequaterainfall. Main water sourceis fast disappearing.
• High climate-related diseaseand pest burden.
• Few natural resourcesbesides oil reserves,opening it up to the“resource curse.”
• Six land neighbors. Manyare unfriendly and in crisis.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Why Countries are Poor:Past
• History of slave trade?• Colonial history?• How were borders drawn?• When did independence come?• Outsiders meddling during Cold War?• Chance to develop own leaders?
© 2010, Cate Biggs
PastUnited States• British colony• Independence 1776• Peace and expansion
across continent• Civil War 1860s• Great Depression
1930s• Superpower 1940s-
present
Chad• French colony• Independence 1960• Civil wars 1960-1990• Invasions by Libya,
Sudan• Near constant civil war
up to present day• Involvement in
neighbors’ civil wars
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Why Countries are Poor:People
• How many?• What age?• How healthy?• Are they educated?• Where do they live?• Different ethnic groups and languages?
© 2010, Cate Biggs
PeopleUnited States• 2 children born per
woman• 1 in 4800 women die
during pregnancy,childbirth
• 6 of 1000 babies die• Life expectancy 78• Average age 37• 99% of adults can read• 82% live in urban areas• 3 main languages• Immigrant destination
Chad• 5 children born per
woman• 1 in of 10 women die
during pregnancy,childbirth
• 100 of 1000 babies die• Life expectancy 47• Average age 16• 25% of adults can read• 27% live in urban areas• 2 main + 120 languages• Refugee destination
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Why Countries are Poor: Politics
• Is there rule of law?• Are citizens and leaders educated about laws?• Do citizens participate in making laws and choosing
leaders?• Do people know what leaders are doing?• Are communities connected?• Leaders too strong?• Leaders too weak?
© 2010, Cate Biggs
PoliticsUnited States• Nearly all voters literate• Government institutions• Checks and balances• Free press (2,218 tv
stations)• Connected communities• Government is stable and
secure
Chad• Less than 25% of voters
literate• Dictatorship• Small group controls country• State-controlled press (1 tv
station)• People spread out with few
roads, phones• President in constant danger
of military coup
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Why Countries are Poor: Peace
• Wars with other countries?• Where are the wars fought?• Civil wars?• How many wars?• How long are wars?• Risk of wars resuming?
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Peace
United States• Few wars on US
mainland (1776, 1860)• No danger of invasion
by neighbors• Oceans keep other
enemies out• Neighbors at peace
Chad• Constant civil wars• War with neighbors• Borders easily crossed• Spill-over from
neighbors’ wars (Darfur)
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Poverty is a Cycle
For individuals and forcountries…
Things that make youpoor in the firstplace create otherdisadvantages thatkeep you in poverty.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Especially in a “globalized” world…
LDCs are not part ofthe global economythat has lifted othercountries like Indiaand China to the
middle income level.
Technology is linked todevelopment.
© 2010, Cate Biggs
The United Nations MillenniumDevelopment Goals
(MDGs)
End Poverty and HungerUniversal Education
Gender EqualityChild Health
Maternal HealthCombat HIV/AIDS
Environmental SustainabilityGlobal Partnership
© 2010, Cate Biggs
International Development AssistanceHelping the Bottom Billion
Donor CountriesThe United Nations
World BankFoundationsIndividuals
CorporationsNon-GovernmentalOrganizations (NGOs)
Civil Society Organizations(CSOs)
Microfinance Institutions
Public ~ PrivatePartnerships ~ Collaborations
Global ~ Local
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Some Types of Development Assistance
• Cash Aid and Grants• Special Projects• Loans• Debt Relief• Microfinance• Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI)• Trade Policy• Peacekeeping• Climate Change
Prevention
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Aid to the Bottom Billion is controversial…
• How much?• How?
• To Whom?• Why?
Impact Mutual Accountability
Best Practices
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Effects of the Global Recession onthe Bottom Billion
Economic isolation hadits benefits initially.
But the second wavehas beendevastating…
• Aid levels• Investment• Consumers• Remittances
© 2010, Cate Biggs
Coming Soon:Haiti
The 5Ps explain much about why theearthquake was so devastating, and why the
relief and recovery process has been sodaunting.