
1 NO POVERTY
Goal 1. End poverty in all its
forms everywhere
One in five people in developing countries
live on less than $1.25 a day. Millions of others live on only
slightly more, and are at risk of slipping back into extreme
poverty. Poor health and lack of access to education both result
from poverty and help perpetuate it. Conflicts and disasters also
contribute to these dire circumstances, undermining social and
economic stability.
UNFPA works with governments, other UN agencies and partners to
improve access to sexual and reproductive health care in developing
countries, where reproductive health problems are a leading
cause of ill health and death for women and girls of
childbearing age. Reproductive health care – which includes
maternal health services and family planning – enables
women to protect their health and choose the number, timing and
spacing of their children. This empowers them to study, work, and
raise their families out of poverty.
UNFPA also works to eliminate harmful practices like child marriage, which keep girls from school,
and advocates for young people’s access to health care, skills
development and jobs. Healthy, educated, employed and empowered
young people improve not only their own prospects but the prospects
of their community as well. Nations may realize a ‘demographic dividend’ – a boost
in economic productivity – when there are growing numbers of
people in the workforce relative to the number of dependents.
UNFPA also responds to the reproductive health needs of people
caught in emergencies. Together, these measures help some of the
world's most vulnerable people realize their rights, maintain
their health, seek opportunities and reach their full potential.
See more: Obstetric fistula: The road to
recovery – and respect, In one
girl's stand against child marriage, a path forward for
development, Investing in youth pays
dividends, evidence from Sri Lanka shows