How to stop the poverty pandemic Apr 12,2021 - Last updated at Apr 12,2021 By Lindsay Coates, John Floretta WASHINGTON, DC/CAMBRIDGE — Globally, extreme poverty is increasing for the first time in 20 years. Although some poor countries are now receiving COVID-19 vaccines, the pandemic is set to drive nearly 150 million people into extreme poverty by the end of 2021, reversing decades of progress. But the world has a huge opportunity to help prevent this outcome, and not only through more generous aid and vaccine distribution. Lower-income countries also need assistance in adapting and scali...