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] Global summits like the UK's Future of Aid conference may provide a new framing, but the lived reality is that humanitarian assistance will fall short in reaching the most vulnerable. ODI: Think change
• [New] If not, the U.S. risks a tepid recovery, with profits outpacing wage growth by up to fourfold - a scenario that could exacerbate inequality and dampen consumer demand. Northern Trust
• [New] Recent expansions to EI sickness benefits are expected to continue into 2026, with further refinements aimed at supporting workers facing serious health conditions. REALnorth Opportunities Fund
• [New] The broader goals will include raising GDP per capita above US$1,050 by 2029, reducing the trade deficit, and lowering poverty rates. / Liberia allAfrica.com
• [New] The rising prominence of misinformation, cyber insecurity, and inequality in global risk rankings mirrors challenges in Bangladesh, where rapid digital adoption, urbanization, and demographic change coexist with persistent inequity and governance gaps. The Daily Star
• [New] Until internet access inequality improves, the global entrepreneurship divide will continue to limit the role of AI in business operations. PrometAI
• [New] Access Inequality: Elite athletes move to cleaner environments, but grassroots athletes face severe health risks, widening gaps. / India PMF IAS
• [New] Interviewees experienced physical exhaustion from long periods of waiting, economic hardship, fear, and incidents of violence in Mexico, as well as fraud and theft, while access to institutional or humanitarian support steadily declined. Adam Isacson
• [New] AI could significantly impact nearly 40% of jobs worldwide, presenting both opportunities and risks for income growth and inequality. AdvisorAnalyst.com
• [New] Conflict and inequality pathways ... could expose more than 1.1 billion people - mostly in Africa and Asia - to at least one severe food crisis by century's end. Insurance Journal
• [New] Conflict and inequality could more than triple exposure to food crises compared with sustainability and mitigation scenarios that some entities are recommending. Insurance Journal
• [New] Cuts to food assistance and Medicaid eligibility under the budget legislation signed into law last year by President Donald Trump will worsen the poverty outlook for older Americans. RGB Financial
• [New] AI could worsen societal inequality and unemployment if left unchecked, calling for government intervention to ensure everyone benefits from AI development. Built In
• [New] AI could deepen wealth inequality, calling it capitalism's next biggest failure if left unchecked. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] Projections using a machine-learning model, trained on historical socioeconomic and water-resources data, reveal the impact of inequality on water security and predict that, by 2100, 63% of the global population could face severe water scarcity. Nature
• [New] The US declaration that is ready for an intervention due to humanitarian reasons and the reaction of Khomeini blaming Western countries (including UK and France) for their involvement, could trigger a Jihad in case of an attack against Iran. All About Shipping
• [New] In 2026, an estimated 10 million people - that is about two-thirds of the population of South Sudan, including over 600,000 refugees - will need humanitarian aid. Secretary-General
• [New] Millions of people in Sudan are in urgent need of humanitarian help, aid organizations have warned, as the war in the east African state marked its 1,000th day. Al Jazeera
• [New] '141m Nigerians Will Be In Poverty in 2026' - Daily Trust At least 141 million Nigerians are expected to be living in poverty in 2026, according to PwC's Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026. Radio Ndarason International
• [New] Nearly 300 million workers continue to live in extreme poverty, earning less than US$3 a day, while informality is rising, with 2.1 billion workers expected to hold informal jobs by 2026, with limited access to social protection, rights at work, and job security. International Labour Organization
• [New] Mexico needs more investment to grow and to create quality jobs that will enable us to be more competitive in high value-added industries and to offer higher wages in order to reduce poverty and inequality. Mexico News Daily
• [New] Tackling poverty and related challenges such as the affordable housing emergency will be key priorities in 2026. European Economic and Social Committee
• [New] AI has the potential to benefit students in their education, but could also exacerbate inequality in educational outcomes, particularly for students from equity backgrounds. Mirage News

Last updated: 30 January 2026