Persistence of Poverty – Trends and Progress in Turbulent Times

Date: Tuesday 4 March 2025
Time: 3.00–4.30 p.m. CET
Location: Lilla studion, Kulturhuset, Sergels torg, Stockholm
Registration and more information: Persistence of Poverty – Trends and Progress in Turbulent Times

Please note: This event will not be live streamed or recorded.

Global poverty reduction has slowed to a near standstill during the past five years, and prospects are bleak. If economic growth continues to be slow and inequality remains unchanged, current poverty reduction goals will remain out of reach for many decades to come.

The global reduction of extreme poverty is facing strong headwinds due to interrelated crises such as conflicts, social fragility, climate change, environmental and other vulnerabilities. Extreme poverty is increasingly concentrated in countries with slow growth, not least in sub-Saharan Africa, where high inequality also prevails.

What do these trends imply for the global fight against poverty? How can we understand and counteract factors and processes that keep people trapped in extreme poverty? How can we accelerate progress in times of slower economic growth and increasing planetary pressures? And how can better insights on poverty strengthen development cooperation?

Join a discussion on the current state of play in poverty reduction, aid, and development with leading voices in this field.

• Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva, Global Director for Poverty and Equity, World Bank, will present the latest global estimates and projections on poverty while highlighting new policy insights.
• Elina Scheja, Chief Economist, Sida, will discuss new approaches to strengthen evidence-based decision-making in development cooperation to respond to increased challenges.
• Mats Hårsmar, Deputy Managing Director at Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA), will bring insight on what works in poverty reduction based on recent evaluations of aid.
• Jan Pettersson, Managing director at Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA), Moderator.