The measures to be taken to end child poverty will require immediate and long-term investment by government, civil society, faith communities and families in securing children’s rights and well-being. Fortunately, the dividend for such investments far outweighs the cost. Spending on a child’s health, nutrition, education, social, emotional and cognitive development is an investment in a healthier, more literate and ultimately more productive population.

The measures to be taken to end child poverty will require immediate and long-term investment by government, civil society, faith communities and families in securing children’s rights and well-being. Fortunately, the dividend for such investments far outweighs the cost. Spending on a child’s health, nutrition, education, social, emotional and cognitive development is an investment in a healthier, more literate and ultimately more productive population.

We need to move from the conventional ways of fighting poverty to a holistic approach that includes not only structural poverty like corruption, poor governance and inequality; but also, the spiritual causes; like greed, hatred, fear and ignorance that cannot be legislated—an approach to which Arigatou International, through the Inter Faith initiative to End Child Poverty is committed to.

It is unlikely that government alone, even while acting through bilateral and multilateral arrangements, can match the mission of the broad-based effort that is required to decisively scale back poverty. Any effort to eradicate poverty, especially in the post 2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development must result in a broad coalition between governments, multilateral organizations, civil society and faith-inspired organizations. Given this joint cooperation and the necessary resources, WE CAN END CHILD POVERTY!