Interpreting sustainable development goals for 2030: implications for Malawi

The paper assesses the likelihood of Malawi achieving its post-2015 sustainable development goals by 2030, especially goal number 1 of eradicating extreme poverty. The results show that for Malawi to eliminate extreme poverty of less than $1.25 a day from an estimated 74.4% in 2015 to as low as 1.0% in 2030; real GDP per capita is expected to grow at a rate of 21% p.a. If this is to be achieved, Malawi will be expected to invest approximately US$136 billion within the post-2015 period in order for real incomes to increase to levels that eliminate extreme poverty. These are extreme and very hard growth conditions to be achieved for a low-income economy like Malawi; especially when the average growth in real GDP per capital during the period 2010-2014 averaged 1.6% p.a. The study concludes that concerted efforts and significant financial support from the global community is required and needs to be put in place as quickly as possible if countries with high poverty incidences like Malawi are to achieve this ambitious goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030.