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Research During a Pandemic: Leaner and Faster Poverty Measurement in the Time of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing research projects around the world to move from face-to-face data collection to shorter, phone-based methods. But as Elliott Collins and John Branch at Innovations for Poverty Action point out, these changes can present challenges for researchers studying how the pandemic affects poor and vulnerable households. They explore some strategies for measuring poverty under these constraints, based on IPA’s experience with lean, remote research.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Impact Assessment
- Tags
- COVID-19, data, poverty alleviation, research
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The SDGs Are Falling Short on African Poverty: SME Investment Could be a Game Changer
Though the UN's first Sustainable Development Goal aims to eradicate poverty, this goal is not on track to be met – particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where projections indicate that over 23% of the population will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030. Trevor Hambayi argues that there's a clear need to look past the UN's favored strategies of addressing poverty through government and NGOs, and to focus instead on unlocking the potential of Africa's small and medium enterprises.
- Categories
- Finance
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Cash Transfers Lead the Social Assistance Response to COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries are using cash transfers — a tool that can be fast and support local economies. The humanitarian sector has used this tactic for years to ensure that communities living through crises don’t slip into deep poverty.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Coronavirus Could Turn Back the Clock 30 Years on Global Poverty
Half a billion people could be pushed into poverty as economies around the world shrink because of the coronavirus outbreak, a new study has warned.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
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Distribute Cash, not COVID-19: Five Ways Policymakers in Sub-Saharan Africa Can Provide Cash Transfers Safely
As COVID-19 spreads around the world, 35 countries have introduced new cash transfer programs in response to the pandemic. Cash is one of the most effective ways to support people during a crisis, say Martin Gould and Nate Vernon at IDInsight. But administering cash transfers in low-income countries can raise some big questions for policymakers. They discuss five ways governments in sub-Saharan Africa can manage these programs safely and effectively.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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Report: Almost 25 Million Jobs Could Be Lost Worldwide as a Result of COVID-19, Says ILO
An initial assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the global world of work says the effects will be far-reaching, pushing millions of people into unemployment, underemployment and working poverty, and proposes measures for a decisive, co-ordinated and immediate response.
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Press Release: JPMorgan Chase Makes $50 Million Philanthropic Investment to Help Address Immediate and Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19
JPMorgan Chase announced a $50 million global philanthropic commitment to address the immediate public health and long-term economic challenges from the COVID-19 global pandemic.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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Optimizing Online Auctions: How Technology Can Help to Alleviate Poverty among Smallholder Farmers, One Bid at a Time
World Bank data shows that 78% of the world’s poorest people are farmers. A critical challenge they face is the lack of infrastructure to improve their market access, price transparency and competitive position in relation to more powerful downstream buyers. Yanchong Zheng at the MIT Sloan School of Management explores a digital auction platform in India that's addressing this power imbalance – and shares some ways it can be optimized for the benefit of farmers.
- Categories
- Agriculture
