Bangladesh poverty to go below 20% by 2030, and other news (06 Nov 2018)

Every Tuesday we highlight some of the international development stories from across the globe that have caught our attention.

• Poverty in Bangaldesh is expected to be below 20% by 2020, according to the Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon, speaking at a conference on social security programmes. Currently the poverty level is at 24.3%. Read more in the Daily Observer (Bangladesh).

• Advocating Action for Adolescent Girls (also called Siyani Sahelian) was launched in South Punjab, Pakistan this week. The programme aims to tackle gender inequality for out-of-school adolescent girls. Read more in Dawn (Pakistan).

• Irrigation can greatly help boost harvests, but is in use in only 7% of farmland in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank, AfDB, and others are now looking to provide up to $9 billion to African governments to improve irrigation. Read more in The Star (Kenya).