Poverty and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century

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The College of Humanities recently hosted a public lecture as part of the Transformation and Leadership Lecture Series.

The lecture titled, Poverty and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century: A Critical View was delivered by Scientific Director of the Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP), Professor Alberto Cimadamore from the University of Bergen in Norway.

Taking a critical approach, the lecture held at the Howard College Theatre unpacked issues related to global poverty. ‘While poverty is decreasing in some regions of the world, notably in Asia largely driven by China and India, poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is on the increase,’ claims Cimadamore.

The public lecture examined how the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) processes addressed poverty and development at a global level. It critically evaluated the challenges posed by poverty and sustainable development at the beginning of the 21st Century and the prospects ahead.

From a political economy point of view, the lecture expounded on global poverty in an age of inequality while identifying systemic problems and biases as obstacles to eradicating poverty and reducing inequality.

According to Cimadamore, structures of governance have been historically part of the problem and the solution.

‘Understanding the role of states and its potential in contemporary International Political Economy (IPE) is crucial to design effective policies aiming to reduce inequality and eradicate, prevent poverty and built welfare states for the 21st Century.

 ‘One of the main objectives of the current partnership between CROP and UKZN (in collaboration with CODESRIA) is precisely to address these issues using science as a tool for a transformation towards a just and sustainable society,’ said Cimadamore.  

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities Professor Stephen Mutula described the lecture topic as ‘significant in many ways. This lecture talks directly to the flagship areas of UKZN. This is social cohesion, big data, African health and cities of the future.’

Words by: Melissa Mungroo

Photographer: Albert Hirasen