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The Future is Now: Addressing Multidimensional Poverty for Sustainable Development
High-Level Side Meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly
Online
Wednesday 24 September 2025, 8:00-9:30am (New York Time)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network (MPPN) will host a high-level side on the margins of the UN General Assembly 2025 to showcase advancements in addressing multidimensional poverty and to highlight the global commitment to turning a corner on poverty. This event will bring together senior officials from governments and international organisations to discuss why poverty alleviation is pivotal for sustainable development, and how robust and comprehensive measurement tools, such as Multidimensional Poverty Indices (MPIs), are essential to guide policies and programmes that aim to get back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A better future for all is one in which poverty—described by the Secretary-General as “the greatest global challenge”—is a thing of the past. Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon comprising interlinked deprivations such as in housing, health and education, all of which require urgent coordinated action. The Sevilla Commitment, the Pact of the Future, the draft declaration of the Second World Summit of Social Development, and COP30 have all echoed this urgent call to address multidimensional poverty.
As a multidimensional phenomenon, poverty requires robust tools to measure it and to inform evidence-based solutions and policies. Multidimensional Poverty Indices (MPIs) make visible the interconnected deprivations that people face, providing a fuller profile of poverty at local, national, regional and global levels. At the national level, over 50 countries have developed national MPIs, which can be disaggregated by subnational areas to track progress and tailor policies to precise needs—ensuring that no one is left behind. MPIs are increasingly used for targeting, shaping integrated policies and social protection programmes, and for coordinating government and institutional efforts to address poverty. The global MPI, in addition, updated annually by OPHI and UNDP HDRO, serves to compare poverty levels and trends across over 100 developing countries., covering over 6.3 billion people. MPIs are key tools for evidence-based decision-making and have proven effective in accelerating poverty reduction towards the 2030 Agenda and beyond.
The United Nations is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and its role in building better futures for all is more important than ever. The UN continues to lead the global call to accelerate poverty reduction and to speed-up the implementation of the SDGs. This high-level side event will be a crucial platform to highlight this commitment. It will convene global leaders, senior government officials and representatives from international organisations. The event provides a platform for leaders to share their experiences and reaffirm their commitments to accelerate poverty reduction and inform innovative policy actions.
Format
In this high-level side event, senior government officials and representatives from international organisations will address the floor and share their experience and commitments.
We are pleased to offer English/French interpretation at this webinar.
Speakers
Please note there may be minor adjustments to the event programme.
Welcome Remarks: Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
- Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance, Rwanda
- Yorleni León Marchena, Minister of Human Development and Social Inclusion, Costa Rica
- Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, Maldives
- Obid Khakimov, Deputy Advisor to the President, Director of Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR), Uzbekistan
- Claudia Maldonado, Coordinator of Evaluation and Policy, National System of Statistical and Geographical Information, Mexico
- Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD
- Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
- Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
- Suahasil Nazara, Vice Minister of Finance, Indonesia
- Claudia Valenzuela, Vice Minister for Policy, Planning, and Evaluation of the Ministry of Social Development, Guatemala
- Matías Cociña, Acting Under Secreatry, Ministry of Social Development and Family, Chile
- Zuzana Brixiova Schwidrowski, Director of Gender, Poverty, & Social Policy, ECA
Moderation: Adriana Conconi, Director, MPPN and Sabina Alkire, Director, OPHI
