Global Scans · Poverty · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Due to a deteriorating global economic outlook, more than 130 out of 189 countries will experience reduced income growth, with the average global GDP growth rate falling from 4.1 percent to 3.1 percent between 2011 and 2030. Almost all of the countries with large numbers remaining in extreme poverty in 2030 will be in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.

• [New] Income inequality in North Carolina will continue rising in 2026. Business North Carolina
• [New] Uneven access to AI-enhanced learning could widen inequality, even as productivity improves. Mexico Business
• [New] The humanitarian crisis in Yemen will dramatically worsen in 2026, with funding cuts reversing a decade of gains against malnutrition and disease. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] The lives of children worldwide are threatened by preventable circumstances including, but not limited to, diseases, poverty, malnutrition, death penalties and environmental degradation. TRANSCEND Media Service
• [New] Economic inequality stands out as the most interconnected global risk for the second consecutive year. HRD Canada
• [New] By framing Gaza reconstruction as both a humanitarian duty and an economic opportunity, Russia positions itself as a system-builder rather than a donor. RUSSIA'S PIVOT TO ASIA
• [New] At a time when conversations around AI are often dominated by concerns about job displacement, security risks, and technological inequality, New Delhi is positioning itself as a country that wants to steer global AI governance toward a more inclusive and sustainable model. Economic Times
• [New] Afghanistan's humanitarian collapse will generate refugee flows. Daily Times
• [New] If images of renewed urban warfare in Gaza or a humanitarian catastrophe reappear, it will sour segments of U.S. public opinion. Israel Brief
• [New] With millions of Ukrainian civilians at risk of being trapped in freezing darkness for days at a time, the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe is obvious. Atlantic Council
• [New] Millions in the UK could be lifted out of effective poverty, as car ownership becomes a choice rather than a need. The Loop
• [New] Any financial transaction or humanitarian aid that can be traced back to the designated branches in the Middle East puts U.S. persons at risk of federal prosecution for material support to terrorism (18 U.S.C. § 2339 B). Cyber News Network
• A manufacturing-led pathway could add US$ 168 billion in output, create 35 million more jobs, and lift 19.1 million people out of poverty by 2043. ISS Africa
• Full AfCFTA implementation could increase Africa's economy by US$ 650 billion by 2043 and lift 32 million people out of extreme poverty. ISS Africa
• In 2026, as income inequality widens and housing instability rises, the need for high-opportunity neighborhoods, where every child has a fair shot at a brighter future, has never been more urgent. Purpose Built Communities
• Haiti's deepening gang violence has forced the withdrawal of critical humanitarian services, underscoring the regional humanitarian and security spillover risks. RileySENTINEL
• An estimated 33.7 million people will need humanitarian aid in 2026. / Sudan World Health Organization: WHO

Last updated: 20 February 2026