Introduction

This chapter introduces the book’s key argument that different strands of polycrisis—namely climate-related disasters, violent conflict and economic instability—can reinforce each other to drive, prolong and deepen poverty. It asks in turn what can be done to reverse these negative poverty dynamics. As part of its overview, the chapter defines key terms related to polycrisis and poverty. It then goes on to present the mixed methods evidence on which the book draws, covering 15 low- and middle-income countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia in which the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network and its partners operate. The chapter ends by discussing the key contributions that this book makes through its holistic, multi-scalar and dynamic conceptual framework that seeks to contribute to more effective policies aimed at sustained poverty reduction.