by social, human right activists, and NGO’s in the global arena. Is simply advertising poverty in Africa
or campaigning about poverty has any impact practically in reducing it? In fact, poverty reduction is
Africa has been discussed over decades. There are well-planned strategies in the hands of the UN
community. There are countless numbers of experts on poverty reduction schemes. All over the world,
there are message carriers, well wishers, donors, and volunteers to support poverty reduction. Today, the
global community of experts and UN aware - What to do, When, Why, and How to do. Then why we fail
to reduce poverty? The biggest challenge facing the United Nations is not developing plans or strategies but
only to bring those plans and words into implemental powerful actions. Moreover, we must
remember that, actions and changes which come from the grass-root level is the only way to eradicate
poverty rather than making any changes in the decision making level.
The role played by United Nations (UN) is viewed skeptical over the decades with regard to its
effectiveness in eradicating world poverty in general and African poverty in specific. Irrespective of well
known strategies and numerous international conference discussions, dialogues, the defined actions are
not well-implemented. Most of the poverty challenges in Africa can be effectively solved by
multidimensional action based grass-root strategies, especially influencing the global human recourse.
Poverty cannot be removed with temporary support to the poor. Essay compares the relationship between
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) to Human Development Index (HDI) in least developed countries and
draws visible conclusions. The UN should use the African countries and their citizens as the key deciders
to measure the donor aid effectiveness for evaluation and impact. The solutions must address the
challenges of educating the African youth not only on formal education but also on rural and self employment
training programs. In this direction UNU (United Nations University) can take active role in
developing training kits and self-employment programs.
My essay addresses three basic challenges from the developing country’s viewpoint. Firstly,
employment challenge of rural population - as most of the African poverty is predominantly rural.
Secondly, facing political challenges, lack of good governance, mismanagement of funds, and corruption
related to donor and receiver organizations. Thirdly, the challenges faced by rapid changes in the
developing and developed countries, and lack of good leadership training facilities. To address all these
challenges collectively, the essay proposes four schemes addressed to UN. Firstly, reaching the poor, rural
families and communities by implementing grass-root strategies. Secondly, to eradicate the growing rural
poverty - developing self-empowering, self-reliable rural employment schemes such as RUDSET (Rural
Development and Self Employment Training Institute). Thirdly, to face the political and corruption
challenges - implementing strong anti-corruption measures such as RTI (Right To Information Act).
Finally, to face the challenges with rapidly changing developing and developed world – increased
emphasize on south-south cooperation for sharing practical experience from developed countries, and
initiating methods to create effective leadership qualities among the African youth.