Poverty in the Land of Plenty and the Unfinished Sustainable Development Agenda in Developed Countries

Discussions about poverty and sustainable development often focus on Africa and other developing regions.

These conversations are necessary because poverty, unemployment, inequality, food insecurity and inadequate access to housing, energy, education and healthcare remain urgent challenges across the continent.

However, sustainable development is not an agenda for developing countries alone. Poverty and economic insecurity also persist in some of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced nations.

This raises an important question: How can poverty exist in a land of plenty?

I addressed this question at the Second International Conference on Finance and Sustainable Business, hosted by the Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business at the Namibia University of Science and Technology in Windhoek from 9-10 September.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are universal. Sustainable Development Goal 1 calls for an end to poverty in all its forms everywhere, while the 2030 Agenda commits countries to leaving no one behind.