17 October marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Eight years ago the UN set itself the ambitious target of eliminating severe poverty globally by 2030. But despite almost a century of steady progress, numbers of people living on less than $2 a day have actually started increasing, not dwindling down to nothing. What’s gone wrong? Why are we struggling to press forward with development in the world’s poorest communities? And was eradicating poverty ever really on the cards? This week we’re speaking to theologians and Christians working in aid and development to find out how the church is mobilising to try and push ahead in the battle to end poverty. But we’re also pondering Jesus famous words that poor will always be with us. What exactly did he mean by that, and should believers be joining the UN is aiming for total eradication of poverty?

Guests:

- Mark Preston, senior director of partnerships at Compassion UK

- Elizabeth Myendo, Tearfund’s operations lead for Southern and Eastern Africa

- Justin Thacker, theologian and author of Global Poverty: A Theological Guide

- Noirine Khaitsa, senior manager for Compassion International, based in Uganda

- Chris Shannahan, Methodist minister and theologian at the University of Birmingham