Three ways organizations are closing the inequality gap
SDG 10 aims to reduce inequality within and among countries, by 2030. Looking across 927 real projects tracked on this platform, three distinct approaches keep recurring.
Inequality shows up as a gap in access — to financial tools, to a fair economic system, and sometimes just to a community that treats someone as a neighbor instead of an outsider. Looking at real organizations instead of policy language, three approaches keep showing up.
1 Give underserved communities financial tools that already exist elsewhere
A lot of inequality is really an access problem — the financial products and technology that middle-class households take for granted simply aren’t available to everyone. Platforms extending crowdfunding, devices, and financial services to people the mainstream financial system doesn’t reach directly serve target 10.2’s push for economic inclusion.
2 Rebuild the economic system to distribute more fairly
Beyond individual access, some organizations are working at the level of the economic system itself — how capital gets allocated, whether investment returns are structured to benefit only owners or a broader base. This is a slower, more structural version of target 10.4’s call for wage equality and social protection policies.
3 Turn outsiders into neighbors, one community at a time
Some of the sharpest inequality isn’t economic at all — it’s social exclusion, where migrants, asylum seekers, or marginalized groups are physically present in a community but structurally shut out of it. Organizations doing this reconnective work serve target 10.7’s mandate for safe, orderly, and responsible migration and inclusion policy at the ground level.
What the UN’s own targets actually require
- 10.1 — Reduce income inequality within countries
- 10.2 — Promote social, economic, and political inclusion for all
- 10.3 — Ensure equal opportunities and end discriminatory laws and policies
- 10.4 — Implement policies for wage equality and social protections
- 10.7 — Ensure safe and responsible migration policies
Frequently asked questions
What is SDG 10?
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities is the tenth of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals under Agenda 2030. It focuses on addressing income disparities, eliminating discrimination, and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
Why is SDG 10 important?
Inequality leads to poverty, social unrest, and limited access to opportunities. Reducing inequalities fosters stronger economies, fairer societies, and better human rights protections.
What are the key targets of SDG 10?
Reducing income inequality within countries; promoting social, economic, and political inclusion; ensuring equal opportunities and ending discriminatory laws; implementing wage equality and social protection policies; and ensuring safe, responsible migration.
How does SDG 10 relate to Agenda 2030?
SDG 10 is closely linked to poverty reduction (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), and decent work (SDG 8). Reducing inequalities creates a more sustainable, fair, and peaceful world.
What are the biggest challenges to achieving SDG 10?
Wealth concentration and income disparities, discrimination based on gender, race, disability, and economic status, limited access to education and financial services, and weak enforcement of protections for marginalized communities.
How can governments help achieve SDG 10?
Governments can implement fair tax policies and social safety nets, ensure equal access to education and healthcare, enforce anti-discrimination laws, and support marginalized groups through financial inclusion.
What role do businesses play in SDG 10?
Businesses can ensure fair wages and diverse hiring, eliminate workplace discrimination, support minority-owned businesses, and develop inclusive financial services — the three approaches above are what that looks like in practice.
How can individuals contribute to SDG 10?
Support businesses that promote social and economic equality, advocate for policies that reduce discrimination, donate to and volunteer with organizations fighting inequality, and speak out against exclusion locally.
How is progress on SDG 10 measured?
The UN tracks income growth of the poorest 40% of the population, wage equality and access to financial services, social mobility, and the impact of policies on economic and social inclusion.
Will the world achieve SDG 10 by 2030?
Despite progress, economic gaps, systemic discrimination, and unequal access to resources remain major obstacles. Achieving SDG 10 requires global cooperation and stronger policies to dismantle inequality.
Related goals
Every organization above is one of 927 real, catalogued SDG 10 projects on this platform.
Explore the full list →Sourced from Keys for Tomorrow’s project catalog and the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework (sdgs.un.org).