Researchers at the University of East London are calling for a fundamental shift in how global economic cooperation is used to reduce poverty, arguing that past approaches have often failed to deliver lasting results.
In a new chapter, Poverty alleviation through global economic cooperation: the African case and context, Dr Susan Akinwalare and Professor Kirk Chang examine how earlier economic reforms imposed on African countries prioritised markets over people, contributing to inequality and long-term instability.
The chapter, in Global Cooperative Economics and Movements (Routledge, 2026), argues for a more inclusive, locally driven model of development based on partnership.
Dr Susan Akinwalare said, “Global cooperation can play a powerful role in reducing poverty, but only when it reflects the priorities and realities of the countries involved. Policies that ignore local contexts risk deepening the very problems they are meant to solve.”
The authors highlight that Africa is home to one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the world, with around 60 per cent of people under 25. At the same time, the continent holds significant reserves of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and copper, which are essential for technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
Dr Akinwalare said, “Africa is often discussed in terms of need, but it is also a place of enormous opportunity. The alleviation of poverty should be about building fair partnerships that allow countries to develop their own industries and benefit from their resources.”
The research highlights the need to move beyond traditional top-down economic models towards approaches that involve governments, businesses, communities, and academic institutions working together. It also points to the growing importance of cooperative economic structures, where people share ownership and decision-making.
Professor Kirk Chang added, “Reducing poverty is not just about economic growth. It is about creating platforms that allow people to participate fully in economic life and benefit from development. Global cooperation needs to support that, rather than impose uniform solutions.”
“Africa’s economic potential is clear, but it requires cooperation that supports local capacity rather than reinforcing dependency.”
The study also stresses that poverty is shaped by wider structural issues, including inequality, weak institutions, and the legacy of colonial economic systems. Addressing these challenges requires long-term investment, fairer trade relationships, and stronger regional cooperation.
The authors, both from the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, argue that rethinking global economic cooperation is essential not only for Africa, but for international development policy more broadly.
The chapter is published as:
Akinwalere, S., & Chang, K. (2026). Poverty alleviation through global economic cooperation: The African case and context. In J. Warren, K. Ogunyemi, A. Guerreschi & M. Szulc (Eds.), Global Cooperative Economics and Movements.