‘Global Impact and Vulnerability Alert System’ Warns of Increased Poverty Ahead
September 29th, 2009
The severity and pervasive character of the economic crisis continues to push millions into poverty, reversing some of the hard-won development gains of the past decade, according to a new United Nations report on the impact of the crisis.
The report – Voices of the Vulnerable: the Economic Crisis from the Ground Up – supplies a sobering picture of the crisis’ impact on people and households around the world. The key message of the report is that, while we may be seeing the “green shoots” of recovery, the economic crisis far from over for hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
The report and supporting materials are available online at:
The report is part of a larger United Nations initiative called the Global Impact and Vulnerability Alert System, referred to as GIVAS. GIVAS is being developed to provide early, real-time data to the international community on how external shocks, such as the economic crisis, are affecting the welfare of the vulnerable and poor. GIVAS will fill the information gap that currently exists between the time when a global crisis impacts vulnerable populations and when decision makers get information through existing channels.
As part of the new initiative to monitor and draw attention to emerging crises, the report provides a realistic assessment of the social and economic impact of the current crisis and highlights key areas to watch. The report warns that the “near poor” are in danger of becoming the “new poor”. It also cites estimates that, due to the crisis, 100 million more people are likely to have been pushed below the poverty line. Global unemployment could also increase by up to 61 million between 2007 and 2009.
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