Global poverty is at the core of illuminAid’s mission. It’s a reality affecting millions, but there’s hope: Poverty rates have significantly declined over the past few decades. Between 1990 and 2015, the percentage of people living in poverty fell from 36% to 12%. This is largely thanks to a United Nations initiative that granted debt forgiveness to many countries. Freed from overwhelming debt, these nations were able to invest in health and education, leading to transformative changes. India and China saw remarkable progress, with China prioritizing infrastructure projects to bring clean water to rural communities.
However, recent global challenges threaten to undo these gains. In 2024, nearly 700 million people live in extreme poverty. Many live on less than $2.15 dollars a day. In Sub-Saharan Africa, inflation has driven up food prices, while rising U.S. interest rates have placed additional strain on developing nations. Feeding citizens and providing healthcare is increasingly challenging for these countries.
The World Poverty Clock projects that by 2030, stable nations will eradicate extreme poverty, but one-third of people in developing regions will still live in dire conditions. Africa, home to fragile states like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is expected to bear the brunt, with a third of the world’s impoverished population.
illuminAid is committed to combating these trends. In Kenya, we partnered with Africare to create educational videos on nutrition, and in Burkina Faso, we worked with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund to address farming, healthcare and water, sanitation and hygiene issues. These initiatives drive economic growth and improve lives. Together, we can make a difference — because when everyone contributes, we all grow.
