PhD defence by Deo-Gracias Houndolo

Addressing poverty remains a shared goal, and notwithstanding recent tendencies, governments around the globe have committed to eradicating it as exemplified in the first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which is to end poverty by 2030. 

While it is relatively easy to set such goals, the promise of the SDG to leave no one behind hinges on sustained political and economic stability and the ability to design, implement and evaluate innovative development interventions that are context-sensitive, evidence-based and scalable. 

An examination of such poverty reduction initiatives yields two broad types of interventions - single sector development interventions and multifaceted interventions.

Based on his research in Ghana and Benin, Houndolo concludes that trickle-down policies without a specific poverty-focus do not support poverty reduction. He also argues that it is important to pay greater attention to more than just impact and also consider longer-term financing, cost-effectiveness, scalability and sustainability.

Doctoral Board

Chair

Professor Inge Hutter

Doctoral dissertation supervisors

• Professor Arjun Bedi
• Professor Natascha Wagner, Radboud University
• Dr Edoardo Masset, National Institute of Economic and Social Research

Full Doctoral Committee

• Dr Farzana Misha, BRAC University
• Professor Alastaire Alinsato, University of Abomey-Calavi
• Dr Ama Pokuaa Fenny, University of Ghana
• Dr Nkechi Owoo, University of Ghana
• Professor Matthias Rieger
• Dr Zemzem Shigute Shuka, ISS