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Inequalities and Poverty

IDS works with global partners to generate new knowledge and evidence to identify the underlying causes of inequalities and poverty in all their dimensions and the progressive policies and practices that can help bring about transformative change.

Eradicating extreme poverty remains one of the world’s most pressing challenges, and addressing it requires the rising economic, social and political inequalities that harm people in rich and poor countries alike to be tackled.

IDS has also played a prominent part in promoting an approach that puts power at the heart of development analysis and contributed to strengthening understanding of the relationship between power, gender, sexual rights and poverty.

We continue to provide new analysis on inequalities and poverty trends, particularly in relation to the expansion of digital technologies and their impact on the lives of the poorest and most marginalised, and the growth of global cities and what this means for both urban and rural livelihoods, social relations and sustainability. Moreover, we work with governments, civil society, businesses and many others to help ensure this analysis shapes policies and programmes such as social protection and cash transfers to reduce poverty and vulnerability and strengthen livelihoods including agriculture.

People

Deepta Chopra

Professorial Research Fellow

Keetie Roelen

IDS Honorary Associate

Jerker Edström

Research Fellow

Melissa Leach

Emeritus Fellow

John Gaventa

Research Fellow and Director, Action for Empowerment and Accountability (A4EA) programme

Danny Burns

Professorial Research Fellow

Sohela Nazneen

Research Fellow

Patricia Justino

Professorial Fellow

Programmes and centres

Projects

Recent work

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Showing 14749–14760 of 15397 results

Working Paper

Social Pensions in Namibia and South Africa

IDS Discussion Paper;379

This paper documents the history of the pension in both countries and presents evidence on its economic, demographic and social impacts in Namibia. Apart from providing non-covariate income against livelihood shocks such as drought, the social pension stimulates local trade, enhances the status...

25 February 2001

Working Paper

Making a Difference? Gender and Participatory Development

IDS Discussion Paper;378

Participation, empowerment and inclusion have become the new development buzzwords. As the development mainstream takes on some of the practices of participatory development, feminist concerns about representation, agency and voice become ever more pressing.

25 January 2001

Book

Global Citizen Action

Less than ten years ago, there was little talk of civil society in the corridors of power. But now, the walls reverberate to the sound of global citizen action-and difficult questions about the phenomenon abound. This book represents the cutting edge of contemporary thinking about nonstate...

3 January 2001

Working Paper

After the Iron Rice Bowl: Extending the Safety Net in China

IDS discussion papers;377

This paper examines new forms of risk, vulnerability and exclusion arising in the process of China's transition, the (changing) needs of different groups, how (if at all) they are being met through socially provided forms of welfare, and the response of government to these changes.

1 January 2001

Working Paper

Practitioners’ Critical Reflections on PRA and Participation in Nepal

IDS working papers;122

The paper presents a diversity of views held by Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) practitioners in Nepal about the history of PRA, the challenges facing PRA practice and participation in development today, and the ways forward for participation in the future. It is intended to provoke further...

1 January 2001

Working Paper

Educational Policy Choice and Policy Practice in Malawi: Dilemmas and Disjunctures

IDS working papers;124

Following democratic elections in 1994, the Government of Malawi embarked on an ambitious programme of free primary education (FPE). As a result, access to education increased dramatically. However FPE was enacted before a comprehensive policy framework had been developed examining the...

1 January 2001

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).

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