Inequality, Poverty and the Role of Social Protection in Closing the Gap: Global Evidence with a Focus on Ghana

According to a recent report released by UNICEF, The Ghana Poverty and Inequality Report-2016, Ghana has experienced steadily increasing growth of over 7% per year on average since 2005, achieving its status as a middle income country. Despite this growth, inequality has been increasing in the country and poverty remains prevalent in many areas. One in four people in Ghana remain stuck in poverty and the gap between rich and poor is now at its all-time highest.

This seminar focused on a recent World Bank flagship report, Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2016, on poverty and inequality, and the role that social protection can play in reducing such inequality, ending extreme poverty and improving the livelihoods of the poorest. Jose Cuesta of UNICEF’s Office of Research presented global evidence on recent country experiences where social protection and public policies have shifted inequality, bolstering poverty reduction and creating shared prosperity. Commentary was provided by experts on Ghana, before, the audience engaged to strengthen the discussion.

Lead Presenter: Jose Cuesta, Chief of Social and Economic Policy, UNICEF Office of Research, co-author of the global report Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2016