H E Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of UNDP
Doha, Qatar: On the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday unveiled its new policy paper, ‘Poverty-to-Prosperity Transitions,’ outlining an ambitious roadmap to lift millions more people out of poverty and safeguard recent social and economic gains.
Speaking at a press briefing, H E Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of UNDP, highlighted both the remarkable progress achieved in recent decades and the persistent vulnerabilities that threaten to reverse these gains.
“Over the past 13 years, more than 1.5 billion people have escaped poverty,” said Xu. “Life expectancy has increased by almost seven years, and the world has seen real advances in social and economic development. Yet, around 10 percent of the global population still lives below the poverty line, defined as a daily income of no more than $3.30, and nearly 30 percent remain at risk of falling back into poverty in the event of economic or social shocks.”
Xu emphasised that the new UNDP policy paper seeks to build on this momentum through a comprehensive approach linking poverty reduction, decent work, and social inclusion, the three pillars of the World Summit for Social Development.
He explained that the policy framework introduces the concept of “prosperity floors”, measures designed to keep vulnerable populations from slipping back into poverty. According to Xu, coherent application of these measures could help lift an additional 411 million people out of poverty globally.
“We are proposing policy measures that, when applied consistently, can make a tangible difference,” Xu said. “This includes strengthening social policies that respond quickly to shocks, improving labor practices that support people in need, and investing in human resource capacity, particularly in skills development, health, and education. These are what we call pre-distribution investments, actions that strengthen resilience before income is even distributed.”
The policy paper also underscores the need for policy coherence, ensuring that trade, industrial, labor, and social protection policies are aligned to create inclusive and sustainable growth.
“We must not view income alone as the measure of social progress,” Xu noted. “Micro-level policies in trade, industry, and social protection need to work in tandem to maintain prosperity floors and ensure no one is left behind.”
He concluded by stressing that, beyond policy design, effective implementation and delivery are critical to achieving meaningful social outcomes.
The ‘Poverty-to-Prosperity Transitions’ paper is expected to guide UNDP’s future work with governments and partners, offering a blueprint for inclusive growth and resilience-building in the face of global challenges such as inequality, economic shocks, and climate change.
