To be Poor is a Crime: Breaking the Cycles of Poverty

• Information

  To be Poor is a Crime: Breaking the Cycles of Poverty - Information

  Matched Team	Team 54
  Name	Jonelle Murray	Country	Jamaica
  Scholarship	Else/Uncertain	Email Address	jonelle.murray@gmail.com
  Year	2017	Program	MPM
  Workplace Category	Government	Workplace	Ministry of Finance and the Public Service
  Department	Public Expenditure Policy Coordination Division	Position	Senior Financial Policy Analyst

• Brief intro of project

  To be Poor is a Crime: Breaking the Cycles of Poverty - Brief intro of project

  Title	To be Poor is a Crime: Breaking the Cycles of Poverty
  Sustainable Development Goals	1. No Poverty
  Timely Global Issues	2. Comparative Policy Analysis
  Sub-topic that describes project	Policy Development
  Summary of your project	This research project will explore Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 1 - No Poverty, analysing the persistent cycles of poverty in Jamaica and the structural factors that contribute to its perpetuation. A key theme is how poverty is often treated as though it were a crime, with societal structures reinforcing the marginalisation of the poor and making it difficult for them to escape economic hardship. According to a World Bank Report (2024), Jamaica’s poverty rate fell to a historic low of f 9.9% in 2007 but more than doubled to 24.6% in 2013 following the global financial crisis. While economic recovery led to a decline in poverty to 11% in 2019, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp increase to an estimated 21% in 2020. By 2021, the poverty rate stood at 16.7%, illustrating the vulnerability of low-income communities and the systemic barriers they face. This project will examine how individuals living in poverty experience legal, social and economic disadvantages that hinder their progress. Key issues to be analyzed include: - Education inequality - Economic barriers and unemployment - Limited access to healthcare and social services - Social stigma and discrimination Although the primary focus is on Jamaica, the study will also explore how other countries with similar socio-economic conditions address these challenges. By benchmarking against international best practices and policy approaches, the research will provide insights into effective poverty alleviation strategies. This comparative analysis will help identify adaptable solutions for the Jamaica context, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of both the challenges and opportunities in breaking cycles of poverty.

• Alumni or organization want to cooperate with

  To be Poor is a Crime: Breaking the Cycles of Poverty - Alumni or organization want to cooperate with

  Specific alumni in mind	Alumni from both developed and developing economies.
  Specific nationality of the alumni in mind
  Specific organization(s) / workplace(s) in mind
  Specific work position(s) in mind

• Details of Cooperation Project

  To be Poor is a Crime: Breaking the Cycles of Poverty - Details of Cooperation Project

  Objective of the Project	The objective of this project is to identify the key factors that perpetuate cycles of poverty, analyze how societal structures contribute to the criminalization of poverty, and develop actionable strategies to break these cycles. This will be achieved through policy reform, education, economic empowerment, and community support.
  Expected Benefits from the Project	The project aims to dismantle the barriers that prevent individuals from escaping poverty while challenging systemic structures that contribute to the marginalization and criminalization of those affected across the world. The expected benefits include: -Advocacy for Policy and Legal Reforms - Promoting changes in laws and policies that disproportionately affect low-income individuals ensuring a more just and equitable system. - Multi-Sectoral Collaboration fostering partnerships between government agencies, non-governmental organisations and civil society to develop innovative solutions in education, healthcare, housing, labour and justice sectors. - Increased Public Awareness and Support encouraging a societal shift towards empathy and a broader understanding of poverty alleviation measures. - Enhanced Access to Legal Support ensuring that individuals who face legal challenges due to their economic status have access to legal representation and assistance. - Community Empowerment providing vulnerable communities with knowledge, skills, and resources needed to create sustainable economic opportunities and improve their quality of life. - Reduction of Poverty Stigma shifting societal perceptions of poverty, fostering a more inclusive society where individuals are supported rather than penalized for their economic circumstances. This project will highlight the systemic nature of poverty and also propose practical, evidence-based solutions that can lead to meaningful and lasting change.
  Anything you would like to inform the potential partner	Potential partners are expected to be actively involved in research and provide meaningful contributions to the project. Partners are also expected to participate in regularly scheduled meetings.