The world was on a significant trajectory to eradicating extreme poverty (those living on less than $2/day). As you can see in the graph below, the world went from 1.9 billion people in extreme poverty in 1990 to 650 million people in extreme poverty in 2018. That is huge and wonderful! As you can see in the graph, most of the poverty reduction took place in South Asia and East Asia & Pacific, and most of that poverty reduction came as a result of business development. Unfortunately, the number of people in extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa actually slightly increased over the same period of time.
However, the pandemic significantly altered this trajectory and the progress in the global number of people in extreme poverty is expected to increase by 100 million. That is heartbreaking. The graph below shows what the line looked like for Pre-COVID predictions and then with the reality of COVID.
The graph below breaks out by region where the new poor are going to be. Many will be in Africa.
Because of this, Discipling Marketplace Leaders launched a campaign last week to raise funds for business development for our partners, to augment what they started last year in the form of pig farms, goat farms, fish farms, mushroom farms, rice farms, and other business development. Last year we gave more than $150,000 and for this campaign we are looking to raise $55,000 to promote business sustainability projects.
The important thing to remember is that the money that many of you gave last year is still working as our partners require that the first piglets or baby goats are passed on to another person so that they too can start farming! We are so thankful for last year's gifts that keep giving today!
In this last week, we received a challenge grant in the amount of $10,000, for which we are so thankful!
Would you prayerfully consider contributing something toward this before the end of March? To do so, please
click here and select the "Continued Connections, Flourishing Partners" Campaign.
100% of your gift will go to these business development projects.
Please pray as well. With the help of God and the body of Christ working together, we can mitigate some of this poverty.
