Using data and evidence for impact: DEEP hosts International Conference to reignite momentum towards ending extreme poverty by 2030  

More than 200 global leaders, policymakers, practitioners and researchers convened in Arusha, Tanzania, to exchange knowledge and evidence to inform efforts to effectively address extreme poverty. 

From June 11-13, 2025, delegates from more than 15 countries gathered in Arusha for the International Conference on Poverty Evidence, hosted by the DEEP (Data and Evidence to End Extreme Poverty) programme. Under the theme “Reenergising the race to 2030: Data and Evidence to accelerate progress towards SDG1”, the conference provided a timely platform for international leaders, policy makers, and researchers to reflect on global and local poverty reduction efforts, spotlight new solutions and innovations in poverty measurement, and share evidence driven poverty reduction policies and programmes designed to be responsive to a changing social, political, and economic climate.  

The world is currently off-track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 1 – to end extreme poverty everywhere. In recent years, the global landscape for economic growth and poverty reduction has undergone a dramatic shift with an alarming polycrisis developing in many Low- and middle-income countries, driven by factors such as heightened debt burdens, climate change, public health crises, and socio-political disruptions. In this challenging context, the conference responded to demand for data and evidence that reflects today’s realities, and the need for renewed ambition to accelerate poverty eradication efforts in the critical five years remaining of Agenda 2030.  

During his keynote address, the conference’s Guest of Honour, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, said:  

“The fight against poverty is not just about numbers, policies, or programmes. It is about people, their dignity, their dreams, and their right to a better life.”  

“Let this conference be a turning point where we translate evidence into impact, where research fuels real solutions, and where partnerships drive transformation for those who need it most.” 

The conference featured keynote addresses from leading figures, including Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Prof. François Bourguignon, Professor Tassew Woldehanna, Prof. Abebe Shimeles, and Dr. Himanshu. Panel discussions and research presentations explored rural & urban poverty, social protection, poverty and social norms, vulnerability and inequality, and the effectiveness of policies & interventions in driving national poverty reduction. These sessions aimed to create a bridge between research and policymakers, to further evidence-informed decision-making.  

Groundbreaking tools and innovations that redefine how poverty is measured and reported were showcased during the conference. These included Small Area Estimation, a low-cost, publicly available tool that leverages household survey data and open-source geo-spatial data, such as night light intensity and distances from water sources and health facilities, to produce poverty statistics which are accurate even for small areas and between censuses. 

As the conference came to a close, one message remained clear: the next five years are critical to ending poverty in all its forms. And at the heart of this race lies the need for timely, relevant, and policy-driven evidence to guide effective decision-making and resource allocation.  

Prof. Finn Tarp, DEEP Consortium Lead, and Professor of Development Economics at the University of Copenhagen, said:  

“A decent life is a basic human right: DEEP promotes quality research, leading to robust and sustainable development policy to end poverty in all its forms: Everywhere!”  

The DEEP programme aims to build evidence, insights and solutions to help end extreme poverty globally. To learn more about DEEP’s latest research and innovations in poverty measurement, sign up for our newsletter.