Press release
Rethinking progress: fighting poverty beyond growth
The Special Rapporteur calls for expanded social protection and a redefinition of progress that puts people, not GDP, at the centre.
GENEVA (25 June 2026) — There must be a fundamental shift in global anti-poverty strategies, moving beyond the idea that economic growth is the only path to eradication, Elena Díaz Galán said.
“What matters to people living in poverty is not abstract economic expansion, but real improvements in living conditions. Poverty is multidimensional and lived.”
The report and Roadmap, prepared by former Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, highlight the transformative potential of national strategies developed through genuinely participatory processes.
When people experiencing poverty help define priorities, policies become more ambitious, realistic and effective. They also strengthen democratic decision-making by placing those most affected at the centre of public policy design.
These strategies challenge the belief that growth is a precondition for social progress. While growth remains necessary, particularly in low-income countries, it must be shaped so it does not worsen inequality or environmental degradation.
The Roadmap is the result of an 18-month collaborative process involving more than 400 contributors from governments, trade unions, civil society, academia and UN agencies.
“Poverty is not inevitable — it is the product of policy choices. Ending it requires democratic participation, political courage and a redefinition of progress itself.”
The Roadmap expands the policy toolbox beyond the grow-tax-transfer model, combining redistribution, market reforms and social investment.
About the Special Procedures
Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council. They serve in their individual capacity, work voluntarily and are not United Nations staff.