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] Beyond annual risk, the cumulative exposure is staggering: more than 1.16 billion people experience at least one famine crisis this century under the inequality pathway, whereas the sustainability pathway could spare about 780 million by 2099. Joint Research Centre
• [New] Rising food prices and declining farm incomes are putting increasing pressure on the global food system, with up to 720 million people at risk of falling into extreme poverty. National Today
• [New] Without immediate funding, the World Food Programme said that it will be forced to halt humanitarian assistance by April. / Somalia United Nations
• [New] Global inequality remains a significant issue in 2026, with 17% of faculty considering it a top threat and 31% identifying it as a key opportunity area for business. forbesindia
• [New] SNAP cuts are expected to increase poverty, food insecurity, and hunger by terminating or cutting food assistance for about 4 million people, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• [New] A workers' government in the United States, simply by laying its hands on the $1 trillion increase in wealth for 19 households, could abolish poverty, hunger and homelessness. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Major questions loom over the future of Georgia's decades-old Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula for public schools as $15.3 million in pilot funding expires for an opportunity weight designed to account for the higher costs of educating students living in poverty. Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
• [New] The genocide in Gaza and humanitarian crises around the globe threaten more innocent civilian deaths every day. rabble.ca
• [New] Projected entries remain inconsistent due to the continued return of humanitarian aid trucks to Egypt, delaying offloading. Question of Palestine
• [New] Cuba's desperation: The UN Secretary-General warned this week that Cuba risks humanitarian collapse if it does not receive fuel. The Rio Times
• [New] In Central America and Mexico, natural hazards, violence, and displacement have all exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
• [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

Last updated: 27 February 2026