The SDGs Advanced – Reduced Inequalities

The delivery of services through economic and social infrastructure is one of the most important functions of the government. People want and need the availability of services like clean water, public transport, establishments, internet access, and electricity. In 2018, 90 percent of people had internet access via 3G or faster networks.

Equality is essential because it promotes social and economic inclusion as well as prosperity. 80 percent of the world’s one billion disabled people live in developing countries. However, only 28% of people with disabilities in the world have access to disability benefits, with only 1% in low-income countries.

Inequality affects the migrant labor market as well. The migrant pay gap has widened in certain high-income countries over the last five years. Furthermore, according to a report by the Centre for Ageing Better, older women are more likely than older men to live in poverty, be socially isolated, live in poor housing, become ill, and die younger. It is the result of a lifetime of unequal pay and working conditions only for women.

Social protection programs urge the most vulnerable people to stay healthy, pursue education, and look for work to avoid poverty. Particularly because people with disabilities are five times more likely than the general population to have high health care costs, such systems have been pushed to expand their services globally.

The Takaful and Karama programs “Solidarity and Dignity”, which began in Egypt in 2015, provided financial assistance to families in exchange for their children staying in school and receiving good health care. Poor citizens over the age of 65 have also benefited from the program, which provides them with tiny monthly pensions. The initiative benefited more than 10% of Egypt’s population.