World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for more political will and greater efforts to end extreme poverty by 2030 and enhance social inclusion.

Extreme poverty is a "stain on our conscience," and the World Bank is endeavoring to reduce the global extreme poverty rate from 21 percent to less than 3 percent by 2030, Kim said at a seminar held on the sidelines of the ongoing Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

To achieve this goal, progress in poverty reduction in sub- Saharan Africa and South Asia is critical, while the private sector can play a big role in financing infrastructure and other projects, Kim noted.

Meanwhile, Kim stressed that economic growth without social cohesion is unsustainable.

Ban told the same seminar that policymakers in different countries should mobilize limited financial resources to end hunger and poverty.

"What matters is political will," stressed the UN chief.

The internationally-established measure of extreme poverty refers to those living on less than 1.25 dollars per day. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)