Poverty

Our research on poverty highlights effective ways of addressing its root causes and practical steps for improving access to basic needs

Also related to

Urban Matters blog

Informal settlements (slums)

Urban development

Smallholder farmers

A young woman sits working at a sewing machine in a corner of a room.

Stitching with determination: stories of women garment workers in Indore, India

07 June 2022

Two women wearing face masks are sitting at a table covered in boxes and bags of vegetables. Together they are preparing food.

Reframing the pandemic: COVID-19 relief by community networks tackles roots of poverty

Thomas Kerr and Cecilia Tacoli
30 May 2022

An expanse of water next to a bank of soil

Policymakers take note: climate displacement is driving millions into slavery

Ritu Bharadwaj
05 July 2021

People sitting at tables facing a panel and a whiteboard behind them.

Tackling inequalities through housing policy development

June 2022 - March 2023

Poorest countries at greatest risk of losses and damage from climate change

25 August 2022

A young woman sits working at a sewing machine in a corner of a room.

Stitching with determination: stories of women garment workers in Indore, India

07 June 2022

Two women wearing face masks are sitting at a table covered in boxes and bags of vegetables. Together they are preparing food.

Reframing the pandemic: COVID-19 relief by community networks tackles roots of poverty

Thomas Kerr and Cecilia Tacoli
30 May 2022

Three women holding a sack of rice between them.

Seeking cheaper, better quality rice: the cooperative rice distribution project in Jakarta

Guntoro Muhammad and Dian Irawaty
25 May 2022

An aerial view of Nairobi, with slums in the foreground alongside green space

Tomorrow’s cities: reducing disaster risk for the poor

2019 - 2024

A man lines up six bright water bottles under a series of outside taps

Definitions matter – part two

David Satterthwaite
08 December 2021

A small brick building with two steps leading to a corrugated iron door houses a pit latrine.

The case for sewers

David Satterthwaite
19 November 2021

Urban poverty

A programme of work showing how IIED is working to reduce urban poverty and to change misleading views about urbanisation.

Publications

View more Poverty publications

21151iied.pdf

From risks to resilience: action research into informal workers' health and wellbeing in Indore, India

20951iied.pdf

Scaling up community-led COVID-19 responses: five key lessons

20581iied.pdf

Climate change, migration and vulnerability to trafficking

20261iied.pdf

Education and learning for inclusive development

17771IIED.pdf

Poverty-centred local adaptation in Mozambique

10889IIED.pdf

Acquiring housing – understanding outcomes, improving choices and “leaving no one behind”

7036IIED.pdf

SPARC and its Work with the National Slum Dwellers Federation and Mahila Milan, India

Reducing Urban Poverty in the Global South

G04418.pdf

Standards for Gorilla Friendly™ Park Edge Community Products

9077IIED.pdf

Urban Poverty Reduction Experiences in Cali, Colombia: Lessons from the work of local non-profit organisations

People sitting at tables facing a panel and a whiteboard behind them.

Tackling inequalities through housing policy development

Active Project

Poorest countries at greatest risk of losses and damage from climate change

Press release, 25 August 2022

A young woman sits working at a sewing machine in a corner of a room.

Stitching with determination: stories of women garment workers in Indore, India

Article, 07 June 2022

Two women wearing face masks are sitting at a table covered in boxes and bags of vegetables. Together they are preparing food.

Reframing the pandemic: COVID-19 relief by community networks tackles roots of poverty

Blog, 30 May 2022

Three women holding a sack of rice between them.

Seeking cheaper, better quality rice: the cooperative rice distribution project in Jakarta

Blog, 25 May 2022

An aerial view of Nairobi, with slums in the foreground alongside green space

Tomorrow’s cities: reducing disaster risk for the poor

Active Project

A man lines up six bright water bottles under a series of outside taps

Definitions matter – part two

Blog, 08 December 2021

A small brick building with two steps leading to a corrugated iron door houses a pit latrine.

The case for sewers

Blog, 19 November 2021

Screengrab of a videocall with eight people in a meeting room and five more online participants

Digital tools amplify the voice of women in Peruvian communities

Blog, 11 November 2021

Informal housing and tall buildings behind.

Definitions matter – part one

Blog, 10 November 2021