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This is the first blog in a series about how countries can correct course and make progress in global poverty reduction. This series was published originally on the World bank blogs.

This is the first blog in a series about how countries can correct course and make progress in global poverty reduction. This series was published originally on the World bank blogs.

Latest Climate Change COP27 feels historic already – and not just because it is the hottest one so far. For the first time, a “loss and damage fund” for countries most affected by climate change was agreed - bringing climate justice in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) back on the agenda. As policymakers begin to think about which climatic risks matter for poverty, we offer one hint based on our analysis of big data: temperature variability.

Myanmar has suffered, along with the rest of the world, from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, it has had to contend with the instability and violence induced by the military coup of February 2021. By September 2021, the United Nations was warning of a human rights ‘catastrophe’ in the country, arising from a mix of widespread violence, food insecurity and rapidly rising poverty. Ines A. Ferreira, Vincenzo Salvucci and Finn Tarp share insights from our research in the country to identify the characteristics of households particularly vulnerable to falling into poverty – insights that can play a crucial role in the design and delivery of optimally-targeted humanitarian efforts.

John Hoddinott (Professor, Cornell University and Impact Evaluations lead on our programme) grew up dreaming of being an ice hockey player but ended up dedicating his life to understanding the causes and consequences of poverty, hunger and undernutrition in developing countries.

Using innovative statistical methods, we reveal that Tanzania’s steady national poverty rate masks a much more precarious reality for households.