A new UN-backed roadmap calls for a major shift in the way governments address poverty. The proposal argues that economic growth alone can no longer be treated as the main answer to inequality, social insecurity and environmental pressure.
The document was presented by Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. Titled Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth, it sets out policy options to reduce poverty without pushing the planet beyond its limits.
At the centre of the roadmap is a clear message: development policies should focus more on rights, public services, decent work and ecological limits. Therefore, progress should not be measured only through economic expansion.
“For decades, the dominant narrative has been that economic growth is the only route out of poverty,” said Olivier De Schutter, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. “Yet, this is neither realistic nor sustainable, and is often counterproductive.”
Why the growth-first model is under pressure
The roadmap challenges a long-standing assumption in global development policy. For decades, many governments and institutions have linked poverty reduction to GDP growth. However, De Schutter argues that this model has produced serious social and environmental costs and it is necessary to shape a beyond growth model.
According to the Special Rapporteur, today’s global economy has concentrated wealth while leaving many people in insecure jobs. In addition, it has increased pressure on natural resources and deepened dependence on cheap labour in the Global South.
“The global economy we have built is funnelling vast wealth into the hands of a tiny elite, weakening democratic institutions, and trapping millions in poorly paid work,” De Schutter said. “It relies on the plundering of natural resources and cheap labour in the Global South, and has caused irreparable damage to the planet.”
The roadmap also links the growth-first model to weaker labour rights and reduced public services. As a result, many communities face greater insecurity, while public systems have fewer tools to respond to social and climate-related risks.
“In the name of competitiveness and growth, governments have also weakened labour protections, deregulated markets, and cut public services — deepening insecurity and inequality,” he said.
A human rights economy
The roadmap draws on contributions from more than 400 experts. They come from the UN system, academia, governments, civil society and trade unions.
Its main proposal is a transition towards a human rights economy. This means placing social protection, decent work, democratic participation and environmental responsibility at the centre of economic decisions.
In practice, the approach shifts attention from growth targets to basic rights. It asks whether economies can guarantee access to healthcare, education, housing, care, income security and decent employment.
“There is a growing consensus on the need for credible alternatives to our growth-at-all-costs economic model,” the Special Rapporteur said.
Public services, work and income security
The roadmap outlines several policy measures. These include stronger universal public services, better care systems and access to decent work through a public employment guarantee.
It also refers to income security mechanisms such as a universal basic income. Moreover, it calls for reduced working time while ensuring fair and living wages.
These measures reflect a broader debate on sustainable development. Reducing poverty, according to the roadmap, requires more than expanding production and consumption. It also requires stronger social foundations.
“When I began my mandate six years ago, the ‘beyond growth’ agenda was at the margins. Today, as our economic structures hurtle us towards climate catastrophe and extreme levels of inequality, it is increasingly shaping the debate.”
How to finance the transition
The roadmap also addresses the issue of financing. It points to wealth and inheritance taxes as possible tools to support stronger welfare systems.
Another key issue is sovereign debt. Many countries, especially in the Global South, face debt burdens that limit investment in social protection, public services and climate resilience.
For this reason, De Schutter calls for the cancellation of unsustainable sovereign debt. This would help governments invest in people and public infrastructure, rather than using resources mainly for debt repayments.
At the same time, the roadmap does not reject growth in every context. Low- and middle-income countries may still need economic expansion to build infrastructure and improve essential services.
However, the report argues that this growth should follow a different path. It should be less dependent on exploitative supply chains and less damaging to ecosystems.
Development beyond 2030
The roadmap also looks ahead to the future of global development policy. The Sustainable Development Goals are due to expire in 2030. As a result, international institutions are already discussing what should come next.
According to De Schutter, the next generation of development goals must avoid repeating old mistakes. In particular, they should not treat growth as the main measure of progress.
The Special Rapporteur also supports the creation of a new International Panel on Inequality. Such a body could help governments better understand poverty, inequality and their structural causes.
“Both will fall short if they do not look beyond growth,” De Schutter said. “Ending poverty is one of humanity’s most urgent challenges, but it will remain out of reach unless we are willing to rethink the economic assumptions that have misguided policymaking for generations.”
Poverty, climate and inequality
The roadmap connects poverty reduction with climate action and social justice. This link is important for the sustainability debate, because environmental damage and inequality often reinforce each other.
A development model based only on growth can increase resource use and emissions. At the same time, it can leave the most vulnerable communities exposed to economic shocks, climate impacts and weaker public services.
For this reason, the roadmap calls for a different policy framework based on a beyond growth vision. Its focus is on rights, resilience and wellbeing. In this view, ending poverty means rethinking how wealth is distributed, how work is valued and how economies operate within planetary boundaries.
The message is also relevant for future climate and development strategies. Poverty eradication and environmental protection should be planned together, with stronger public institutions and fairer economic rules.
