This year’s  International Day for the Eradication of Poverty  (IDEP) marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This landmark human rights treaty sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.

In the spirit of this anniversary, and to match this year’s theme for IDEP - “Acting together to empower children, their families and communities to end poverty” - the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network (CPAN) presents a topical discussion drawing on findings based on the recently launched Chronic Poverty Report on Growth.  In this video, CPAN authors of the CPR4 report, Andrew Shephard and Vidya Diwakar examine the issues surrounding the report’s themes of economic growth and poverty reduction among the poorest groups.

Eradicating, or escaping poverty in a sustained way, should include policy measures aimed at promoting ‘growth from below’, that is small investments such as agriculture in the rural non-farming economy and the urban informal sector. Currently governments seem to be more inclined to promote ‘growth from above’ involving large, formal investments. The Chronic Poverty Report on Growth argues strongly that to encourage poverty escapes in a sustained way, there needs to be a balance between ‘growth from above’ and ‘growth from below’.  At the same time, the video points at the importance of the enabling environment for poverty eradication measures to be effective as well of promoting gender-inclusive ‘growth from below’. These two elements are indeed key to nurture improved child wellbeing and therefore be conducive to sustained poverty eradication under Agenda 2030.

To watch the video, click below.