Inequalities and Poverty

IDS works with global partners to generate new knowledge and evidence to identify the underlying causes of inequalities and poverty in all their dimensions and the progressive policies and practices that can help bring about transformative change.

Eradicating extreme poverty remains one of the world’s most pressing challenges, and addressing it requires the rising economic, social and political inequalities that harm people in rich and poor countries alike to be tackled.

IDS has also played a prominent part in promoting an approach that puts power at the heart of development analysis and contributed to strengthening understanding of the relationship between power, gender, sexual rights and poverty.

We continue to provide new analysis on inequalities and poverty trends, particularly in relation to the expansion of digital technologies and their impact on the lives of the poorest and most marginalised, and the growth of global cities and what this means for both urban and rural livelihoods, social relations and sustainability. Moreover, we work with governments, civil society, businesses and many others to help ensure this analysis shapes policies and programmes such as social protection and cash transfers to reduce poverty and vulnerability and strengthen livelihoods including agriculture.

People

Deepta Chopra

Professorial Research Fellow

Keetie Roelen

IDS Honorary Associate

Jerker Edström

Research Fellow

Melissa Leach

Emeritus Fellow

John Gaventa

Research Fellow and Director, Action for Empowerment and Accountability (A4EA) programme

Danny Burns

Professorial Research Fellow

Sohela Nazneen

Research Fellow

Patricia Justino

Professorial Fellow

Programmes and centres

Projects

Recent work

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Upcoming Event

Development Studies Week 2025

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS), in partnership with the University of Sussex, has been ranked first in the world for Development Studies in the QS World University Rankings for the ninth consecutive year. Did you know we provide 29 postgraduate degrees under the theme of...

1 May 2025

Upcoming Event

Food Fight: From plunder and profit to people and planet

Join us for the launch of ‘Food Fight’ – a book by food and nutrition expert Stuart Gillespie that shines a light on the evolution of our global food system from its origins in colonial plunder through the last fifty years of neoliberalism, before concluding with a set of actions to put...

29 April 2025

Working Paper

Politicisation and the Role of Business in Trade Negotiations

IDS Working Paper 620

The changing geo-political landscape has shifted focus from generalised normative preferences in trade policy towards more realist goals that seek to create the best advantage for a country under given circumstances. Consequently, as trade issues have become linked to polarised debates including...

Amrita Saha
Amrita Saha & 3 others

11 April 2025

News

Calls to prioritise climate finance as global budgets squeezed

IDS researchers are calling for a renewed focus on climate finance commitments to support adaptation and loss for those worst impacted by climate change, amid widespread cuts to development budgets. One researcher describes recent Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding cuts to climate...

10 April 2025

Past Event

Dynamics of far-right transnationalisation in Europe

Hear Manuela Caiani, Associate Professor in Political Science at the Scuola Normale Superiore discuss how far-right political movements and ideas are spreading internationally. Watch now https://youtu.be/Z-FaknUX8S4?si=aBaVFmLFRDwLL68S&t=50 The transnationalisation of illiberal parties...

10 April 2025

News

Recent graduates author IDS Working Paper on food security

IDS graduates Callum Chapman and Norma Jean Park (MA Food & Development, Class of 2024) were lead authors on the IDS Working Paper Towards Transformative Change: Grass-roots Innovations for Food Security During Crises in Brighton & Hove, UK. This Working Paper analyses the emergence and...

7 April 2025

Opinion

ODA cuts and healthcare devastation in South Sudan

Poor countries are reeling from the sudden and wide-ranging US aid cuts. Among the worst affected is South Sudan, a poor country which gained independence in July 2011. South Sudan relies on international assistance to provide basic services to its people. These cuts will devastate South...

7 April 2025

Publication

Powering Change: The Critical Role of Women and Youth in Sustainable Energy Transformation

Research for Policy and Practice

How do we build economic systems that recognise and work within the biophysical limits of our finite planet while simultaneously reducing poverty and inequality? This has become a defining question of our time, and the global transition to clean energy is increasingly considered an important...

Bipasha Baruah & 9 others

7 April 2025

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).

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