1. Sustainable Development and the Cycle of Poverty
Daniel Eden
VP Communications EWB McGill Chapter
Courtney Miller
Junior Fellow, Ghana, Summer 2008
Co-VP Member Learning EWB McGill Chapter

2. Overview
Complexity of Poverty Status of our world Cycle of poverty EWB Case Study Courtney in Ghana YOUR Responsibility Privileges Obligations

3. But first, let’s dance!
Ari chi cha, ari chi cha, ari chi cha, hey! 3

4. Our World How many people live without access to clean drinking water?
250 Million
500 Million
c) 950 Million

6. Our World How many people live without access to sanitation?
500 Million
1 Billion
c) 2.6 Billion 6

7. Access to sanitation: UNEP (www.unep.org)

8. Our World How many children die each year from hunger? 500,000
6 Million
c) 1 Billion 8

9. Percentage of population affected by malnutrition by country
according to United Nations statistics
35% % % – 4% <2.5%

10. Our World 1 in 7 people live without access to safe drinking water
- that means 4900 children die each day due to diarrhea alone
2.6 billion live without access to sanitation
6 million children under the age of 5 die each year from hunger alone
- that is about a fifth of Canada’s population
1 in 6 people live under 1$US a day (1.1 billion)
- about 3 billion under 2$US a day

11. 4 Simple Ideas Poverty is a complex cycle
Q. What are some of the factors ?
Geography
Politics
Economics
Social

12. Complex Cycle Geography Drought, unstable water source Infertile soil
Limited resources

13. Complex Cycle
Politics
Warfare
Government instability
Corruption

14. Complex Cycle Economics Debt servicing Global market tariffs
No subsidies

15. Complex Cycle
Social
Education
Health care
Infrastructure

16. Can’t afford to send children
Money is scarce
Can’t afford to send children
to school ?
Cycle of Poverty
Vulnerable to
changes in weather
and unable to
produce excess food
Children won’t
become literate
and numerate
New generation
depends on
inappropriate
farming techniques

17. Can’t afford to send children
No access to
local markets
Can’t afford to send children
to school
Children won’t
become literate
and numerate
New generation
depends on
inappropriate
farming techniques
Vulnerable to
changes in weather
and unable to
produce excess food
Money is scarce
Cycle of Poverty

18. Can’t afford to send children
No access to
local markets
Local school
can’t afford teacher
Can’t afford to send children
to school
Children won’t
become literate
and numerate
New generation
depends on
inappropriate
farming techniques
Vulnerable to
changes in weather
and unable to
produce excess food
Money is scarce
Cycle of Poverty

19. Can’t afford to send children
No access to
local markets
Local school
can’t afford teacher
Can’t afford to send children
to school
Children won’t
become literate
and numerate
New generation
depends on
inappropriate
farming techniques
Vulnerable to
changes in weather
and unable to
produce excess food
Money is scarce
Cycle of Poverty
No healthcare or clinic
Disease strikes family

20. Can’t afford to send children
No access to
local markets
Local school
can’t afford teacher
Can’t afford to send children
to school
Children won’t
become literate
and numerate
New generation
depends on
inappropriate
farming techniques
Vulnerable to
changes in weather
and unable to
produce excess food
Money is scarce
Cycle of Poverty
Government
Debt inhibits
farmer aid
No healthcare or clinic
Disease strikes family

21. Poverty is a complex cycle It is not impossible – there are successes
4 Simple Ideas
Poverty is a complex cycle
It is not impossible – there are successes

22. Success Story: Zambia The Objective: The Problem: The Solution:
Introducing sorghum as a more appropriate crop instead of corn
The Problem:
Social stigma views sorghum as a “poor man’s crop”
The Solution:
Work with local farmers and entrepreneurs to break
down stigma

23. Success Story: Zambia
Sorghum
Corn

24. Poverty is a complex cycle It is not impossible – there are successes
4 Simple Ideas
Poverty is a complex cycle
It is not impossible – there are successes
It will be difficult
What needs to change in community?
What needs to change in development work?
What needs to change in the West?

25. Change in the Community
Break down stigmas and stereotypes
Self-sufficiency
less reliant on nature and land
water capture and irrigation

26. Change in the Community
Creating ownership
Ensures maintenance and repair
Entrepreneurs
Leaders in the community
Catalyze change

27. Change in Development Work
Technology vs Implementation
Appropriate technology for appropriate community
“Doing” vs Building Capacity
helping communities help themselves

28. Change in Development Work
Sustainability
Created, maintained,
and controlled by community
Not just a financial issue

29. Aid Change in the West Politics Make it an issue Quantity and Quality
Trade
Barriers and tariffs

30. Change in the West Politics : Make it an issue Use Your Vote,
Your Voice
Your MP represents You
Shift in Aid (see

31. Aid: More and better foreign aid
Change in the West
Aid: More and better foreign aid
0.7% of GDP
commitment
Tied and
restrictive aid

32. Trade: Barriers and tariffs
Change in the West
Trade: Barriers and tariffs
Aware consumers
Fair Trade
Fair Cooperations
Global markets
African Trade

33. 4 Simple Ideas Poverty is a complex cycle
It is not impossible – there are successes
It will be difficult
What needs to change in communities?
What needs to change in development work?
What needs to change in the West?
4. Abolishing poverty is possible and You can drive that change

34. THANK YOU!