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

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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Brief

Nested Theories of Change for Adaptive Rigour

CREID Learning Brief 2

This learning brief provides illustrative examples of three major adaptations the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID) programme has undertaken while working within fragile contexts to promote freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). These examples highlight how the...

10 December 2020

Opinion

We need high ambitions for climate justice

Global leaders need to ensure that commitments to reduce emissions are achieved in a way that is fair and inclusive for the communities already suffering the worst impacts of climate change. This weekend (12 December) the UN, UK and France convene a Climate Ambition Summit to coincide with the...

10 December 2020

Publication

Gender, Countering Violent Extremism and Women, Peace and Security in Kenya

Kenya ranks 109 out of 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, with a score of 0.671. There are significant inequalities between males and females in education attainment, health outcomes, representation in parliament, and labour force participation. This Factsheet outlines some of...

9 December 2020

News

IDS awarded UKRI funding for vital global challenges research

From sharing crucial knowledge on resilience in humanitarian crises, to re-imagining solutions for sanitation and food security for ‘off grid’ communities, IDS researchers are collaborating with global partners to deliver evidence and inform responses to the world’s most pressing...

8 December 2020

Opinion

We need trust in our politics to overcome vaccine hesitancy

As the global community celebrates the first person in the world receiving the Pfizer vaccine, we must not lose sight of the task ahead. While this news rightly represents the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, those of us who have studied the political dynamics of the pandemic would...

8 December 2020

Journal Article

How Climate Change Interacts with Inequity to Affect Nutrition

WIREs Climate Change 12.2

Climate change poses a growing threat to the achievement of optimal nutritional status, both directly through affecting food production and indirectly through altering social and economic influences in people's lives. These adverse nutrition outcomes are not evenly distributed across the world,...

Leah Salm
Leah Salm & 4 others

8 December 2020

Report

Prevalence of Health Impacts Related to Exposure to Poor Air Quality Among Children in Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries

This rapid review provides an assessment of the contemporary health impacts arising from household and ambient air pollution exposure in low income (LIC) and lower middle-income countries (LMICs), with a specific focus upon children aged under 5 years. The WHO estimates that urban air pollution...

Suzanne Bartington

7 December 2020

Report

Monitoring Air Quality in Low-Income and Lower Middle-Income Countries

Air pollution is a global environmental health threat, contributing to an estimated 3-7 million deaths per year. This rapid literature review surveys academic and grey literature on air quality monitoring in low-income (LICs) and lower middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite links between...

7 December 2020

Report

Interventions in LICs and LMICs to Improve Air Quality and/or Mitigate its Impacts

This rapid literature review summarises evidence on air quality interventions in LICs and LMICs to improve air quality and/or mitigate its impacts. The review found limited evidence derived from such countries and instead draws on evidence from reviews and compilations compiled by bodies such...

William Avis
Suzanne Bartington

7 December 2020

Journal Article

Small Towns and Land Reform in Zimbabwe

The European Journal of Development Research;

Zimbabwe’s land reform from 2000 radically transformed the agrarian structure, and with this small towns in rural areas. This article explores three such towns—Mvurwi, Chatsworth and Maphisa—examining changes in population, housing, transport and business activity between 2000 and 2020....

Felix Murimbarimba

7 December 2020

Opinion

Genome editing in post-Brexit agriculture: Which way for the UK?

In less than a month’s time, the UK’s relationship with the European Union will change dramatically. Agriculture and food will be among the biggest areas affected – from production methods and supply routes to labelling and product standards. A lot will depend on the outcomes of trade...

Dominic Glover
Dominic Glover & 2 others

4 December 2020

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).