2015年-世界发展银行全球_Ending_Extreme_Poverty_by_2030___The_Final_Push_8页_224kb

Speech by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim: Ending Extreme Poverty by 2030: The Final Push

Core Content

Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, delivered a speech on April 7, 2015, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The speech outlines the World Bank Group's strategy to end extreme poverty by 2030, emphasizing the importance of economic growth, investment in people, and social insurance mechanisms. Kim also highlights the role of new development institutions and the need for global collaboration.

Main Goals and Strategies

The World Bank Group's mission is to:

• End extreme poverty by 2030
• Boost prosperity among the poorest 40% in low- and middle-income countries

Kim outlines three core strategies to achieve these goals:

1. Grow – Promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth

• Economic growth is the primary driver of poverty reduction.
• Governments must ensure that growth benefits the poor, through macroeconomic stability (low inflation, manageable debt, reliable exchange rates) and pro-poor policies.
• In poorer economies, agricultural growth is more effective in reducing poverty than industrial or service sector growth.
• Examples: China's agricultural growth, Vietnam's Doi Moi reforms.
• Infrastructure investment is critical, including roads, energy, and irrigation systems.
• Improved access to markets and better agricultural productivity can significantly increase household incomes.

2. Invest – Focus on human capital through education and health

• Early investments in children yield greater long-term returns.
• Poor nutrition and disease have lifelong effects on health, education, and earnings.
• Access to clean water and sanitation improves educational outcomes and health.
• Education and health investments are especially important for women and girls, who have a multiplier effect on poverty reduction.
• Technology can enhance educational delivery, as seen in Bridge International Academies.
• Accountability mechanisms are essential for improving service delivery in education and health sectors.

3. Insure – Establish social safety nets and disaster risk management

• Social assistance programs protect against shocks like illness and unemployment.
• Cash transfer programs, such as Brazil's Bolsa Familia, have proven effective and cost-efficient.
• Catastrophic risks (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics) require robust financial instruments like cat bonds and draw-down facilities.
• A pandemic emergency facility is proposed to provide rapid financing during outbreaks.
• Social insurance and disaster preparedness are vital to prevent poverty from deepening.

Key Information

• Global progress: Extreme poverty has dropped from 36% of the population in 1990 to 12% today.
• Poverty remains significant: Still, nearly 1 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day.
• New development banks: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank (BRICS) are emerging as important partners in development.
• Collaboration is essential: Multilateral banks, private sector partners, and new institutions must work together to achieve the goal.
• Challenges ahead: The final push to end extreme poverty will be difficult, especially in conflict-affected areas.
• Fragility and conflict: Poverty can lead to conflict, and conflict exacerbates poverty. Strengthening institutions and reducing corruption are key to preventing this cycle.
• Opportunity for this generation: Kim emphasizes that this is the first generation in history with the capability and tools to end extreme poverty.

Conclusion

Kim concludes that while the task is daunting, the World Bank Group and its partners have the knowledge, tools, and opportunity to make it happen. The strategy of Grow, Invest, and Insure is seen as a comprehensive and evidence-based approach. With global cooperation and a renewed focus on the poorest, the end of extreme poverty is not only possible but also within reach.