A new era in the fight against poverty

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has special significance this year. Last month, the world community adopted an ambitious, universal agenda that will guide development over the next 15 years.

The Sustainable Development Goals, which are at the heart of Agenda 2030, represent an entirely new level of ambition. Most notably, countries have committed to eradicating extreme poverty altogether. To lift people out of poverty, countries will need stronger and better social protection systems. 

But to sustainably eradicate poverty, they will need to create many more jobs.  By 2030 ñ the target year of the new development agenda ñ we will need to create 469 million new jobs.   Approximately 40 per cent of these jobs need to be created in the worldís least developed countries, which currently account for only 1 per cent of global economic output.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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