Africa faces persistent poverty challenges, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing a slower decline in poverty rates compared to global trends. While global poverty dropped from 38 percent in 1990 to 9 percent in 2019, sub-Saharan Africaʼs rate fell from 55 percent to 37 percent. On September 23, 2025, Nextier hosted its inaugural Development Festival, bringing together policymakers, researchers, development partners, private sector actors, and others to explore practical ideas to reverse this trend, focusing on Nigeria's unique context.

IPA served as a knowledge partner for this event, contributing to the event’s design and content and supporting with our resources and expertise on rigorous research. In addition, several IPA staff presented at the event, including:

• Funmilayo Ayeni (Country Director, IPA Nigeria) presented on “Housing, Water, Sanitation, and Energy Access as Poverty Drivers in Nigeria.” This presentation analyzed living standards indicators contributing to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in Nigeria, shared examples of successful interventions, and discussed the nature of the challenges, potential solutions, and pragmatic design elements.
   
• Brian Mwesigwa (Senior Research Manager, IPA Nigeria) presented on “Job Creation and Economic Participation,” analyzing job creation or work-related indicators in Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty framework and examining rural, urban, and sector-specific economic opportunities that could create jobs.
   
• Henry Chukwu (Associate Director, Policy, IPA Nigeria) presented on "Effective Social Safety Net Programmes." His presentation underscored the importance of designing social safety net programs that go beyond short-term relief to foster long-term economic empowerment and resilience. Drawing on global best practices and BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation model, he highlighted the value of sequenced interventions, combining income support, skills training, and financial inclusion to strengthen resilience among the most vulnerable populations. Following the presentation, Henry joined other experts, including Engr. Umar B. Bindir, Founder/COO of Bindir Knowledge Centre, and Dikko Bala, National Coordinator and Head of the National Social Registry, for a panel discussion and workshop to address progress made, persistent challenges and resource needs, and emerging opportunities to implement successful social safety net programs in the country.