SDG Goal 1: End all forms of poverty

The Target 1 of the UN 2030 Agenda aims to end poverty in all its forms and dimensions worldwide by 2030. The first target of'SDG Goal 1 aims to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day. The second aims to reduce the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. The third target aims to implement adequate social protection systems and measures for all and by 2030 to achieve substantial coverage of the number of poor and vulnerable people. Finally, the fourth target aims to ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources, access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate technologies and new financial services.

Despite the progress made in the fight against poverty since 1990, still more than 800 million people live in extreme poverty today. SDG goal 1 aims to eliminate poverty by 2030, but this requires a comprehensive approach to poverty as a whole. The poor are particularly vulnerable to economic and political crises, biodiversity and ecosystem problems, natural disasters and violence. To ensure that people who have escaped poverty do not fall back into it, the goal also includes measures to strengthen livelihood resilience and social security systems. Poverty is not only about income, but also about access to basic services such as clean water, health services and education, as well as the ability to participate in the political and social life of one's country. Poverty is a complex and urgent problem that requires a global and coordinated effort to find sustainable solutions.

In Italy, poverty is a serious and widespread problem. According to data Istat in 2020 the absolute poverty rate was 5.3%, while the relative poverty rate was 19.1%. Almost 5 million people are in a situation of relative poverty, i.e. they live in households with anincome below the poverty line. To reduce poverty in Italy, the government has adopted several policies and measures: the Citizenship Income, the Citizenship Pension, the Purchasing Card and the Active Inclusion Support. These programmes aim to provide financial support to families by helping them to access essential services such as education, health and vocational training. Despite these efforts, the situation remains critical: young people and people with disabilities are among the groups most at risk of poverty and social exclusion. To address these challenges, a sustained and coordinated effort is needed to provide effective and sustainable solutions to poverty in Italy.

The pandemic crisis has had a significant impact on poverty in Italy and worldwide. The health emergency has led to an increase in the number of people in extreme poverty, with long-term economic and social consequences. In Italy, the pandemic has particularly affected the most vulnerable population groups, such as the elderly, the unemployed and precarious workers. The crisis has made the need for effective social policies and a robust social protection system even more evident. The challenges to counter the increase in poverty caused by the pandemic are numerous, but solutions can be found through collaboration between the government, non-governmental organisations and civil society. The priority is to ensure equitable access to health services, training and employment, so as to sustain economic and social recovery and prevent further growth in poverty.

Companies can play an important role in the fight against poverty by adopting sustainability and sustainable development policies. In particular, companies can create jobs for people in vulnerable situations, thus improving their living conditions. Moreover, many companies have developed partnerships with local and international organisations to develop innovative solutions to reduce poverty. These partnerships can lead to microfinance initiatives, training and support for community development programmes. Companies can also invest in infrastructure and services for poor communities, improving their accessibility to clean water, medical care and education. In this way, companies can contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development, creating a positive impact on people and society as a whole.

The fight against poverty is a global challenge that requires the collaboration of all actors in society, including governments, businesses, non-governmental organisations and local communities. Creating a poverty-free world requires working together to develop targeted policies and programmes, promote sustainability and financial inclusion. It is also important to address the root causes of poverty, such as economic injustice, social inequality and lack of access to resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has made even more evident the importance of addressing poverty and working together to build a more equitable and sustainable world. Achieving SDG goal 1 - zero poverty - represents an ambitious challenge but a necessary one to create a better world for all. We are all called upon to play our part, working together to create a world without poverty and build a sustainable future for generations to come.

The mission of 3Bee is to support companies in the transition to more sustainable business practices and in adopting a data-driven approach to managing their businesses. However, we recognise that fighting poverty and promoting sustainable development requires an integrated and collaborative approach. For this reason, we engage in sensitisation and sharing our knowledge with companies and organisations that share our values. At 3Bee we do not intervene on all SDGs goals, but we support companies that need a data-driven approach and engage in awareness-raising. Although we do not intervene directly on SDG goal 1, we are committed to raising awareness on the importance of sustainable development and the fight against poverty. Contact us to find out how we can help your company design sustainability and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.