The rural face of poverty
Worldwide, poverty generally has a rural face. Three quarters of the world's poor live in rural regions, often in extreme poverty and without adequate means to achieve food security for themselves or their families. Income generation opportunities are limited, with most people in rural regions making a living from farming. For that reason, access to land and water must be guaranteed, and an adequate infrastructure put in place. This includes health care and educational opportunities, as well as access to markets, which is essential for economic activity. Another difficulty is the discrimination suffered by women and girls, especially their often limited opportunities to participate in political decision-making.

The Millennium Declaration – a road map for the future
The United Nations Millennium Declaration and the associated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mark the start of a new global partnership for development. As the majority of the world's poor live in rural regions, rural development makes a tangible contribution to structural poverty reduction (MDG 1). Rural development aims to foster the partner countries' productive potential in accordance with the principle of environmental sustainability (MDG 7) and develops national and global structures (MDG 8) by delivering policy advice in the fields of agriculture, food security, agricultural trade, and coastal zone and land management policy.

Rural development makes a difference
To be successful, these strategies need broad-based approaches. In practice, rural development therefore means promoting economic, ecological, socio-cultural and political-institutional aspects in equal measure. These approaches aim to achieve sustainable growth that benefits the whole of society. Rural development helps to improve food security and promote health in developing countries. It also helps to create income and employment opportunities and is thus the precondition for successful economic development. The aim is to enable people in rural regions to devise their own sustainable methods and solutions. Cooperation with local institutions in the partner countries facilitates this process.

Rural regions as viable economic areas
GTZ therefore focuses on developing rural regions

• as sustainable and viable living and working environments for local communities,
• as the basis for secure livelihoods and economic growth that also stimulates urban development,
• and as a locus for the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.