Definition of Inequalities under SDG 10 by the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10) is aimed at reducing inequalities within and among countries, a concept defined by the United Nations as disparities or exclusion in income, opportunities, and outcomes based on age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic status, or other recognized grounds under international human rights law. According to the UN, inequalities entail any distinctions, exclusions, restrictions, or preferential treatment that impair or nullify the recognition or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal footing in political, economic, social, or cultural life. Such inequalities may manifest as income gaps, unequal access to education, health and social services, participation in decision-making, or systemic discrimination and exclusion from economic and social opportunities. The UN emphasizes that both the direct dimensions (such as income inequality) and indirect factors (such as structural discrimination and lack of representation) are central to the SDG 10 mandate.
Countries Experiencing the Worst Effects of Inequalities
The worst effects of these inequalities are experienced predominantly in countries with very high income disparities, fragile welfare systems, limited access to basic services, and entrenched structural discrimination. Among these, South Africa and Namibia are notable for their extremely high Gini coefficients, indicating intense income inequality, while Colombia also faces severe inequality, particularly affecting indigenous and minority populations. Broader regions suffering acutely include parts of Southern Africa, Latin America, and segments of Asia, especially in developing or least developed nations. These regions are marked by poverty, marginalization of communities, and systemic exclusions rooted in historic, social, economic, and political factors.
How People Cope with and Respond to Inequality
In these countries, people facing inequality engage in various coping mechanisms and survival strategies, given that formal social protection is often insufficient. Many individuals and families depend on support from extended kin or community networks, borrowing money, receiving informal assistance, using limited savings, or engaging in additional income-generating activities to meet basic needs. For example, in countries like Namibia and South Africa, there is a normalization of reliance on mutual aid, especially among historically disadvantaged groups who have limited access to employment, social security, or formal credit. Community-based initiatives, grassroots advocacy for equal rights and access, and informal social safety nets often act as buffers against extreme deprivation. Yet, persistent marginalization means that many families are unable to escape cycles of poverty without broader systemic reforms.
Other Pressing Challenges Faced by High-Inequality Countries
Countries grappling with the worst impacts of inequality simultaneously contend with a host of other interrelated challenges that perpetuate and exacerbate disparities. These pressing issues include:
Extreme Poverty: Many of the most unequal countries also have significant portions of their populations living below the international poverty line, undermining social mobility and reinforcing stratification.
Food Insecurity: Persistent hunger and malnutrition are common, especially in rural and marginalized urban communities.
Weak Health and Education Systems: Inadequate public health infrastructure and limited access to quality education exacerbate income and opportunity gaps, entrenching disadvantage across generations.
Political Instability and Conflict: Many high-inequality states are beset by political unrest, corruption, or outright conflict, further undermining efforts to address societal divides.
Rapid Population Growth and Urbanization: Population pressures and urban migration place additional strain on limited public resources and infrastructure, especially in rapidly growing cities.
Environmental Vulnerability and Climate Change: Marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by disasters, drought, and environmental degradation, and often lack the means to adapt or recover.
Gender Disparities and Social Exclusion: Women, ethnic minorities, migrants, and people with disabilities face heightened barriers in access to resources, representation, and services.
Migration and Forced Displacement: High levels of internal and cross-border migration, including large numbers of refugees and displaced persons, strain social safety nets and deepen existing inequalities.
United Nations Institutions Active in High-Inequality Countries
Multiple United Nations agencies are actively involved in supporting the realization of SDG 10 in the most affected countries, coordinating their programs to address both direct inequality and its underlying causes.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UNDP leads efforts to reduce inequalities through capacity building, inclusive governance promotion, and poverty alleviation programs. It collaborates closely with national governments to foster equitable policy frameworks, support community resilience, and strengthen social protection systems.
International Labour Organization (ILO): The ILO plays a pivotal role in promoting labour rights, fair wage policies, social protection, and efforts to combat discrimination and exclusion in the labor market—central to narrowing income and opportunity gaps.
UN Women: UN Women focuses on advancing gender equality, economic empowerment, and the elimination of legal, political, and social barriers for women and other marginalized groups. As gender discrimination is a key contributor to overall inequality, UN Women’s programming is closely tied to SDG 10 targets.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): In contexts marked by displacement and migration, UNHCR ensures protection for refugees and internally displaced persons, supporting their integration and access to essential services.
UNICEF: UNICEF addresses inequalities affecting children, advocating for universal access to education, child protection, and health services, thereby breaking intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.
World Health Organization (WHO): WHO supports health system strengthening, targeting inequities in healthcare access and outcomes—a key dimension of SDG 10.
Joint SDG Fund: This fund draws on the strengths of multiple UN agencies to finance joint programs aimed at reducing inequalities, supporting inclusive growth, and testing integrated solutions in partnership with governments and civil society.
Regional UN Economic Commissions: Regional agencies, such as the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), provide region-specific research, policy support, and coordination to address structural disparities.
How United Nations Institutions Support SDG 10 Targets
UN institutions support SDG 10 targets in high-inequality countries through a range of coordinated strategies:
Policy Development and Technical Assistance: They provide expertise for governments in designing and implementing equitable fiscal, wage, and social protection policies, and in establishing anti-discrimination frameworks.
Social Protection Programs: Agencies implement or help scale up social protection, such as conditional cash transfers, universal healthcare, unemployment insurance, and targeted support for the vulnerable.
Advocacy and Capacity Building: UN bodies promote inclusive governance, encourage civil society participation, develop monitoring mechanisms for progress, and raise awareness about the importance of reducing all forms of discrimination.
Direct Service Delivery: Where state capacity is limited, UN agencies fill critical gaps in education, health, food security, and protection, prioritizing those most at risk of exclusion.
Data Collection and Monitoring: Institutions like UNESCO, UNDP, the World Bank, and UNAIDS improve data collection and the use of standardized inequality metrics—such as the Gini coefficient and Palma ratio—to inform policy and advocate for change at national and international levels.
This multi-dimensional support aims to dismantle structural obstacles, promote the social and economic inclusion of all, and help countries achieve sustained progress towards SDG 10 by 2030.
