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Poverty Initiative Opens Pathway to New 
Research Opportunities in the Global South
Innovating Pathways out of Poverty in 
Forested Landscapes
This research program is intended to design 
and pilot community-based interventions that 
reduce rural poverty while also protecting natural 
resources. Seeking to understand why many 
interventions have fallen short and to determine 
what strategies produce more sustainable 
outcomes, this multi-country study attempts 
to measure how community-based efforts can 
achieve a balance between human well-being and 
the environment. In the first year of this study, the 
team is conducting a systematic literature review 
of randomized control trials (RCTs) in rural forest 
areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) 
to examine outcomes related to environmental 
protection and poverty reduction.
Countries: India, Kenya, Peru
Faculty Leadership: Dan Miller, Krister Andersson, 
Lakshmi Iyer, and Ellis Adams
Additional support provided by the Poverty Initiative is already impacting our efforts to support this 
endeavor. New research led by Pulte faculty and other researchers is underway to address barriers to 
human flourishing specific to sustainability and education; initial findings are expected from each in the 
second half of 2024.The two multi-country studies are examining:
The Pulte Institute for Global Development
Accelerating Pathways out of Poverty 
Through Literacy Interventions
The Pulte Institute is partnering with three 
international organizations to  implement 
ongoing foundational skills programs to answer 
the question “What combination of interventions 
is necessary to change the trajectory of a child’s 
life in early grades?” Incorporating classroom 
instruction, afterschool and summer school 
remediation, and engaging with school- and 
community-based partners, the research seeks 
to identify the most effective ways to address 
differences in school persistence and student 
outcomes to support long-term economic 
outcomes and well-being.
Countries:  Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal
Faculty Leadership: T.J. D’Agostino, Patrizio 
Piraino, Maurice Sikenyi, Fernanda Soares
On these pages: Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners convene in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2023 for the Forests and Livelihoods: Assessment 
Research and Engagement (FLARE) Annual Meeting, a conference dedicated to promoting cutting-edge research that improves lives in rural communities 
through sustainable forestry practices. Image by Phillip Rachel Ventures Entertainment.
Read about the breadth of the Pulte Institute’s work to end global 
poverty and promote sustainability in the pages that follow.
23 | 2023-24 Annual Review

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