STWR - Share The World's Resources

While economic growth can be a powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty, increases in GDP often fail to trickle down to much of the population. Alternative measures of well-being are required to ensure issues such as inequality and redistribution are put on the development agenda, say Save the Children.

Jeffrey Sachs' influential proposals for ending poverty lack an acknowledgement of the ongoing plunder of Africa’s resources by corporations and governments. To tackle impoverishment, development assistance must focus on justice rather than aid, argues Jason Hickel.

Growing global inequality presents a major obstacle in the fight against poverty. Redistributing resources more fairly requires a greater cooperation between governments that eschews the current ‘cut-throat’ nature of international free trade competition, says Justin Frewen.

The official launch of the STWR publication ‘Megaslumming’ took place in Nairobi on 20th January 2010 with around 200 people attending a panel discussion and public debate at the National Museum of Kenya.

Upward trends in inequality and hunger call into question conventional approaches to poverty reduction. Rather than depending on deregulated markets to encourage growth, governments should take a central role in promoting sustainable economic development, argues a report by UNDESA.

Expert panellists and film director Philippe Diaz discuss the structural causes of poverty and suggest possible solutions at the UK premiere of ‘The End of Poverty?’ on 12th December 2009. The event was coordinated by STWR and the British Film Institute (BFI).

Poor countries across the globe are struggling to respond to the global recession that continues to slash incomes, destroy jobs and has helped push the total number of hungry people in the world above 1 billion, writes Oxfam.