Research hub hosts workshop on poverty reduction policies and programmes

a photograph of the Poverty and Social Protection workshop showing attendees, both virtual and in person, listening to the speaker

Ending poverty has always been a pressing issue, and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this crisis. The Sustainable Development Goal #1 to end poverty has been significantly derailed, and rising food and fuel prices, climate change, and conflicts have further escalated the situation.

To understand how poverty reduction policies and programmes might be made more effective, the new Poverty and Social Protection (PSP) Hub in the Centre for the Study of Global Development (CSGD) partnered with the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network (CPAN) at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) on a ‘Poverty Reduction – Rethinking Policy and Practice’ workshop on 27 – 28 September 2023. The workshop collaborated with the DSA/ EADI Multidimensional Poverty and Poverty Dynamics (MDDP) working group.

Over 50 participants from Indonesia, Ghana, Mexico, the Philippines, and other countries attended the fully hybrid workshop. Participants from different disciplines and research angles shared insights into the future of poverty and poverty reduction policies. This included quantitative estimates of future poverty rates, participatory research on the effectiveness of community savings and loan groups in reducing poverty and critical analysis of development through the lens of coloniality.

The workshop provided a platform for researchers and practitioners to share their experiences and knowledge and learn from each other. Poverty is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address, and it was insightful to engage with researchers from different disciplines. The workshop emphasised the need for evidence-based policies and programmes that consider the unique challenges communities face.