Global Scans · Poverty · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Due to a deteriorating global economic outlook, more than 130 out of 189 countries will experience reduced income growth, with the average global GDP growth rate falling from 4.1 percent to 3.1 percent between 2011 and 2030. Almost all of the countries with large numbers remaining in extreme poverty in 2030 will be in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.

• [New] Given the debt burdens and austerity already imposed on so many countries in the Global South, hundreds of millions more people will be pushed deeper into poverty and hunger. Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
• [New] Closing the gender digital gap could unlock as much as US$ 1.5 trillion in global GDP and it could lift 30 million women out of poverty. UN Women - Headquarters
• [New] Globally, the nowcasted estimates project a decrease in extreme poverty from 10.4% in the current line-up year of 2024 to 10.0% in 2026. World Bank Group
• [New] Globally, the nowcasted estimates project a decrease in extreme poverty from 10.4% in the current line-up year of 2024 to 9.8% in 2026. World Bank Group
• [New] High food costs and persistent poverty continue to keep nutritious diets out of reach for billions worldwide, leading to micronutrient deficiencies that are linked to poor health, increased risk of disease, and poor cognitive development. National Today
• [New] Countries already facing poverty, fragility and limited safety nets are projected to see the fastest deterioration in food systems, despite having contributed the least to global emissions. The Guardian
• [New] The absence of humanitarian workers in Akobo will have serious implications for the population who rely on humanitarian support. Radio Tamazuj
• [New] The US retreat from its longstanding tradition of humanitarian leadership is likely to create a vacuum that no other country could fill in the near term. Elcano Royal Institute
• [New] The war in the Middle East could cause the worst disruption to lifesaving humanitarian work since COVID. UN News
• [New] A humanitarian crisis is brewing that Israel has a unilateral opportunity to either prevent or exacerbate. Atlantic Council
• [New] As fossil fuel-driven floods, storms and hurricanes hit more and more countries, and inequality widens as the world approaches its first trillionaire, negotiators are starting to wake up to the huge opportunity. Greenpeace International
• [New] Families across the Occupied Palestinian Territory are concluding the month of Ramadan amid deepening humanitarian needs and heightened exposure to violence, displacement and destruction of property; UN human rights officials warn of a pattern of unlawful killings. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitar
• [New] Continued international support for Ukraine by the EU and reports of civilian abductions highlight a protracted and escalating conflict, sustaining elevated security and humanitarian risks, especially now the negotiations for a cease fire are intensifying. All About Shipping
• [New] Disruptions to and closures of airspace, transportation, shipping routes and key humanitarian crossings across the Middle East are impacting humanitarian operations and commercial supply chains, including availability and prices of basic goods and pharmaceuticals. UNOPS
• [New] The crisis reserve for humanitarian emergencies has been cut, though by less than expected, from £85m to £75m. The Guardian
• [New] Economic risks are closely interconnected with inequality, which remains the most interconnected global risk for the second consecutive year. Swiss GRC | Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
• [New] The declining trend of global inequality will continue. Brookings
• [New] Inequality within countries has become relatively more important and is projected to account for more than half of global inequality by the mid-2030s. Brookings
• [New] A recent report from Global Parametrics has acknowledged that catastrophe bonds can be part of the solution to risk financing for humanitarian organizations. Artemis.bm - The Catastrophe Bond, Insurance Linked Sec
• [New] The popular initiative endangers Switzerland's prosperity, internal security and humanitarian tradition. INSIDENOVA.COM
• [New] Environmental and humanitarian experts warned that targeting desalination plants risks severe regional consequences in the water-scarce Persian Gulf region. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
• By 2030, AMR will cost the global economy $3.4 trillion yearly, and by 2050 it will have pushed 28 million people into poverty. Milken Institute

Last updated: 03 April 2026