International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG)

IPC-IG uses a variety of strategies to facilitate the learning and exchange of good development and policy practices among developing countries on poverty issues. To build a foundation for this work, IPC-IG is engaged in forming a global research community of experts, networks, and institutions. IPC-IG's knowledge-sharing network of researchers, policymakers, United Nations (UN) specialists, non-governmental organisation (NGO) activists, and journalists works to gather strategic contacts linked to the development agenda (numbering more than 18,000 as of this writing, including more than 2,000 UNDP specialists, in 189 countries). In addition, IPC-IG is organising an online catalogue of Poverty Networks, which are web-based platforms that provide space for sharing and disseminating development-related information and initiatives. IPC-IG's collaborating networks help foster dialogue between researchers, policymakers, civil society, and multilateral organisations.

The IPC-IG is active in providing research support to UNDP country offices and policy specialists and governments on two major areas: 1) the measurement and monitoring of poverty and inequality; and 2) pro-economically-poor and inequality-reducing policies. Gender issues are explicitly integrated into both areas. In every area, IPC-IG seeks to enhance the policy relevance of its research. One of IPC-IG's major areas of focus is low-income countries, where it has linked its applied research to UNDP's increasing support for Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-based development strategies. This has involved intensified research on pro-economically-poor growth, economic policies, employment, and social policies. Set up explicitly as a forum for South-South cooperation, IPC-IG is also strengthening its collaboration with researchers and governments in major developing countries, such as China, India, Mexico, and South Africa. IPC-IG has collaborated with the International Poverty Reduction Center in China and Tsinghua University and has ongoing work with the South African Government and researchers on social protection and poverty reduction. In 2007, the mission to Uzbekistan provided background research for the formulation of the Government's new National Welfare Improvement Strategy, the missions to El Salvador and Paraguay undertook research and evaluations on Conditional Cash Transfers, and the Department for International Development (DfID)-supported mission to Ghana backstopped the technical assistance provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and the Fight against Hunger to the Ghanaian Cash Transfer Programme.

IPC-IG's emphasis on building capacity and connections is also reflected in its thematic workshops and policy training seminars. More specifically, IPC-IG's poverty analysis courses are designed to enhance the capacity of UNDP staff and government officials who are involved in poverty monitoring. Lectures and workshops seek to stimulate debates on policies related to poverty reduction. In 2007, IPC-IG organised intensive training sessions on an innovative new global macroeconomic model in Campinas, Brazil; Beijing, China; and New Delhi, India as part of the State of the World Economy (SOWE) research and training programme. To cite a second example, IPC-IG hosted the Learning Tour on Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction for officials from the Tanzanian Ministry of Planning, Economy and Empowerment, who participated in a series of seminars with IPC-IG and IPEA researchers and meetings with Brazilian government representatives focused on economic empowerment. IPC-IG also hosts study tours, such as one focused on social policies for ethnic minorities by a Vietnamese delegation on Economic Policies for Ethnic Minorities, which focused on targeting chronic poverty and identifying effective self-help approaches.

In addition to reaching out to researchers and practitioners where they work, IPC-IG invites those with great promise to learn and share expertise by travelling to the centre. Namely, IPC-IG's resident fellowship programme for UNDP staff and government officials from developing countries is complemented by the annual hosting of a recognised international scholar at the centre (for a period of one to three months). Also, IPC-IG offers an internship programme for new graduates and PhD students to conduct poverty research, which is particularly dedicated to bringing young talent from developing countries to the centre. IPC-IG also hosts global conferences that bring researchers and policymakers from various countries to Brazil to engage in dialogue on issues such as "Gearing Macroeconomic Policies to Reverse the HIV/AIDS Epidemic" and "Equity and Social Mobility: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba and South Africa".

IPC-IG's working paper series and policy bulletin are part of its publication series, which is designed to share current and cutting-edge poverty research with a broad audience, and to spark discussion and debate on key poverty issues. An average of two publications per week is disseminated through the IPC-IG's global network. All IPC-IG publications are available for downloading on the IPC-IG website. Also found on this online platform are thematic websites related to IPC-IG's Research Programmes on "The State of the World Economy", "Macroeconomic Policies to Combat HIV/AIDS", "Cash Transfers and Social Protection", and "Economic Policies, MDGs and Poverty".

Poverty.