Background
The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Mr. Olivier De Schutter, has launched an 18-month project to develop a “Roadmap for eradicating poverty beyond growth” (see concept note ), which he intends to present as part of his final report to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in June/July 2026.
This initiative builds on the Special Rapporteur’s July 2024 report ‘Eradicating poverty beyond growth’ to the UN Human Rights Council, which challenged the prevailing growth-centric development model and traditional poverty reduction strategies that have failed to deliver on their promises, and advocated for a shift to a human rights economy ‒ an economic system that places the well-being of people and the planet at the heart of economic policies, investment decisions, consumer choices, and business models, with the aim of advancing the effective realization of human rights for everyone.
Taking this report as an initial assessment of why a post-growth approach to poverty eradication is required and what it could look like, the Special Rapporteur now intends to propose how this transformation could be achieved.
A blueprint for policy action
The Roadmap for eradicating poverty beyond growth will therefore consist of a practical ‘plan B’, a blueprint for concrete policy action, to guide governments and international agencies in adopting policies that prioritize human rights, care, and well-being within planetary boundaries. It will include a comprehensive catalogue of policy measures covering in particular social protection, the provision of public services, employment, care work, the social and solidarity economy, taxation and innovative financing mechanisms, trade, stewardship of the commons, as well as governance.
The Roadmap will provide a toolbox of short-, medium-, and long-term policy actions that can be tailored to different governance levels – local, national, regional, and global – and to a diversity of contexts, allowing to take into account the specific situation of developing countries in general, and of low-income and lower-middle income countries in particular. Where feasible, these policy measures will be paired with indicators, both quantitative and qualitative, to monitor progress. In doing so, it will serve as a multiyear action plan to guide the governance of a just and sustainable transition to a human rights economy.
To inform the Roadmap, the Special Rapporteur invites all interested governments, international organisations, trade unions, civil society organisations, academics, activists and local actors, companies, and others, to provide written input. Contributors are encouraged to propose evidence-based policy recommendations, to address policy actions across governance levels, and to consider the need for a diversity of solutions suitable to low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Recommendations should ideally be supported by concrete examples of successful practices.
Key questions and types of input/comments sought
The central questions that guide the Roadmap are the following: What concrete policy actions can be implemented to fight poverty, reduce inequalities, and enhance human well-being within planetary boundaries, without relying on economic growth as a condition sine qua non? Which policy initiatives can serve to improve people’s lives and their enjoyment of human rights, without requiring to increase the GDP first?
The Special Rapporteur welcomes submissions from all interested stakeholders and submissions do not need to follow a strict format. You may forward existing reports, case studies, or research findings.
Where possible, the Special Rapporteur particularly encourages submissions that propose concrete short-term (2-3 years), medium-term (5 years), and long-term (10 years) policy actions, include evidence-based recommendations, and share existing examples of successful practices. Contributors are also invited to specify the governance level (local, national, regional, or global) and economic context (e.g., low-, middle-, or high-income countries) in which these measures would be applicable or adaptable. The contributions could ideally identify potential implementation barriers, and suggest indicators to monitor progress.
Policy areas
While all submissions are welcome, and the policy areas outlined below are not exhaustive, the Special Rapporteur would be particularly grateful for policy recommendations in the five indicative policy areas listed below. Contributors may provide input on one or multiple areas.
- Policy Area 1: Access to social protection and services This policy area focuses on ensuring that every individual has access to essential services, income support and social protection. It includes measures to establish and expand social protection floors, adapting social protection to climate-related risks, provide universal access to healthcare, education, housing, energy, nutrition and food security, water and sanitation, and other essential services, and address digital exclusion; as well as policies that could strengthen social capital by building trust in institutions, fostering collective action, promoting inclusive urban planning, and embedding participatory decision-making processes.
- Policy Area 2: Labour policies and the care economy This area covers on the world of work writ large, including measures addressing the casualization of work, working conditions, green jobs, job guarantee schemes, fair wages, industrial relations, democratisation of the workplace, etc. It also includes the recognition and support of formal and informal care work, along with promoting gender equality in the workplace and valuing contributions traditionally overlooked in economic frameworks.
- Policy Area 3: Economic systems transformation This policy area includes measures through which economic systems can be reimagined to prioritize sustainability and well-being over consumerism and GDP growth. It addresses both pre-market measures to support an inclusive economy and post-market redistribution, emphasizing the alignment of fiscal systems with human rights obligations—particularly economic, social, and cultural rights—as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key aspects include monetary policies, macroeconomic policies and fiscal reforms to finance public services, the promotion of social and solidarity economy models, and the adoption of green, social, and gender-responsive budgeting. This area also covers the development of new national accounting systems and macroeconomic models that measure well-being and sustainability as central indicators of progress.
- Policy Area 4: Climate, environment and resources This policy area addresses the intertwined social and ecological dimensions of environmental sustainability, focusing on the disproportionate impacts of climate change and resource depletion on poor and marginalized populations. It also considers the social and economic risks posed by climate mitigation and adaptation policies, particularly for vulnerable groups affected by the phase-out and transformation of industries, rising energy costs, and job displacement. Key priorities include addressing carbon inequalities and advancing environmental justice, protecting communities from the impacts of a degraded environment, and ensuring equitable access to and management of shared natural resources. Policies in this area aim to promote climate justice, climate finance, equitable use of ecosystems, investments in renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure, food security, access to water and sanitation, and biodiversity protection. Proposals may also focus on strengthening governance of natural commons, implementing community-based resource management systems, and supporting equitable transitions to low-carbon economies that prioritize social equity and resilience.
- Policy Area 5: Trade, finance, debt and global solidarity This policy area examines the interdependencies of global trade, finance, and debt systems and underscores the need for international solidarity to address global inequalities and persistent neocolonial structures of economic domination. Key aspects include mechanisms for fairer terms of trade, debt restructuring or cancellation for low-income countries, and establishing stronger regulatory frameworks to prevent exploitative practices. Additionally, this area emphasizes the role of multilateral institutions in fostering global partnerships, redistributive mechanisms, and financing public goods such as climate adaptation and poverty eradication. Contributors are encouraged to propose measures that ensure equity across borders and strengthen global governance systems to promote sustainability, solidarity, and justice.
How inputs will be used?
The Special Rapporteur greatly values the effort invested in these contributions and looks forward to reviewing all submissions. As well as helping to inform the Roadmap, submissions will be published as part of a dedicated Beyond Growth Roadmap online repository, a living repository of policy proposals for eradicating poverty beyond growth. If you prefer your submission to remain confidential, please explicitly indicate this in your submission.
Beyond the submission phase, the Special Rapporteur aims to foster an ongoing dialogue with contributors. He will convene a series of consultations, workshops and UN events to refine the proposed measures. These sessions will bring together diverse stakeholders to identify synergies, address gaps, and adapt recommendations to various regional and governance contexts. This collaborative process will ensure that the roadmap is both practical and grounded in the lived realities of affected populations.
Ultimately, your contributions will play a key role in shaping the Special Rapporteur’s final report to the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in June/July 2026, influencing global discussions on eradicating poverty beyond growth.
Media inquiries
The final publication of the Roadmap will coincide with the Special Rapporteur’s final report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June/July 2026. However, the Special Rapporteur hopes to release a first version of the Roadmap in advance of the Second World Summit for Social Development (3-6 November 2025).
Media inquiries may be directed to François Denuit (francois.denuit@srpoverty.org) and Halida Nasic (halida.nasic@un.org).
Twitter:@DeSchutterO and @srpoverty