Poverty Eradication General Assembly

The report focuses on ensuring the practical implementation of the commitments reaffirmed in the Doha Political Declaration of the “World Social Summit” under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development”. The Declaration reaffirms the core commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and renews them in the context of a world that is more unequal, shock-prone, fragmented and rapidly changing. 

The report underscores that financing remains the immediate and necessary enabling condition for implementation, and that progress will depend on financing that is adequate, affordable, predictable and aligned with social development priorities. It also highlights the importance of institutional capacity, policy coordination and data systems in supporting effective implementation and sustainable progress in social development. 

The report further emphasizes the catalytic role of the United Nations system in strengthening follow-up, supporting regional and country-level implementation and advancing policy improvement and innovation through existing monitoring and review mechanisms. It is recommended that Member States strengthen integrated implementation, expand fiscal space for social investment, align financing with social development priorities and advance follow-up and policy learning in preparation for the first high-level review in 2031.

The report examines the current state of rural poverty and the structural constraints that continue to impede its eradication. It places emphasis on how land-related challenges – including degradation, fragmentation, inequalities and tenure insecurity – shape poverty in rural areas. Evidence indicates that land degradation, poverty, and food insecurity and malnutrition intersect to create acute vulnerability hotspots. Restoring soil health and reversing degradation through sustainable land management on existing croplands could substantially narrow yield gaps and strengthen the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of producers, with benefits for ecosystem services that humans rely on for their health and well-being. 

At the same time, insecure and unequal access to land – especially for women, young people and other groups in vulnerable positions – limits investment, productivity and broader livelihood opportunities. Eradicating rural poverty therefore requires policies that halt land degradation, promote land rights and tenure security and fair access to land and natural resources, and expand diversified, decent livelihood opportunities for rural communities. 

The report reviews progress, gaps and challenges in eradicating poverty and examines key drivers, including inequalities in access to education, health and social protection, climate related vulnerabilities, conflicts, constrained fiscal space and economic shocks. It highlights that progress remains uneven and insufficient, with structural inequalities, limited social protection coverage and increasing exposure to shocks constraining progress. 

The report underscores the need for integrated and shock-responsive policies and presents selected actions taken by the United Nations system. It concludes with recommendations to accelerate progress towards the eradication of poverty and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The report contains recommendations of concrete measures to advance the long-standing social commitments established in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development of 1995 and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development. Member States are called upon to: (a) close persistent gaps in access to essential services; (b) improve the quality of services; (c) invest in productive employment and decent work; (d) establish fair, effective and efficient tax systems; (e) promote transparent, inclusive and accountable governance; and (f) strengthen multilateral cooperation rooted in equity, economic security and solidarity.

The report contains an exploration of the central role of social capital as a transformative strategy for addressing multidimensional poverty and strengthening inclusive societies. Recognizing that poverty is both economic and relational in nature, the report serves to highlight how investments in trust, participation and social networks can reduce structural barriers, expand opportunities and foster a shared sense of belonging. 

In the report, national experiences are used to illustrate how social capital can be mobilized across key sectors, including employment, education, health, housing and community development, to address multidimensional poverty. The importance of inclusive governance, intergenerational solidarity and institutional trust as foundations for social inclusion is emphasized. 

The report contains key policy recommendations for Member States, including on the promotion of inclusive and participatory decision-making, support for community-driven initiatives, investment in intergroup collaboration and the integration of social capital into poverty eradication strategies. These actions are essential to realizing the vision of a just, cohesive and sustainable society for all.