The United Nations developed a set of goals, called the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), to meet the world's needs and promote healthier conditions for developing countries. In this blog post we will discuss the progress of the first goal in Bangladesh, one of Southern-Asia's developing countries.
The first goal is: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty. Included in this goal are three smaller target goals:
The first goal is: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty. Included in this goal are three smaller target goals:
- 1. A
- reduce the proportion of people whose incomes is less than $1.25 per day
- 1. B
- achieve productive employment and decent work for the entire population
- 1. C
- reduce the amount of people who suffer from hunger in half
The poverty rate has decreased roughly 40% in 2010. In 2015 hunger was reduced by 50%; meeting the MDG. Even compared to the rest of the region Bangladesh is high.
Poverty and hunger rates in Bangladesh can be explained through the 4 determinants of health:
Poverty and hunger rates in Bangladesh can be explained through the 4 determinants of health:
- Social: social class, elites dominate other classes and exploits them
- Political/Economical: antagonism between government parties causes tension which turns to violence, Islamic extremism on the rise
- Physical: Densely populated, not enough local employment opportunities for citizens, low lying country vulnerable to environmental factors
- Behavioral: seeking work abroad (illegally)
What is being done?
- The Hunger Project - has been active since 1990 (thp.org)
- two scales: focuses on the local landscape, and the other on the national
- 145,000 volunteers
- Strengthening local democracy
- Increase in labor force and decline in family size
- For more information on the UN development report visit: http://www.un.org./en/development/desa/policy/mdg_gap/mdg_gap2010/mdggap_bangladesh_casestudy.pdf
- A Ganokendra community center is dedicated to lifelong education, training and poverty (http://www.poverties.org/poverty-in-bangladesh.html)
Bangladesh community members