Invisibility Amidst Existence: Understanding Power, Agency, and Voice of the Severe Poor

The purpose of the research is to understand the power and agency problematic within the lived spaces of the ‘severe poor’ and critically examine the role and position of development policies and practices in addressing their poverty.

Subsequently, the research problematises the notion of ‘epistemic injustice’ prevailing in the field of development, challenging ‘the way of knowing’ the severe poor and ‘the way of doing’ development with them.

This entails a close examination of how the severe poor or marginalised are listened to, represented and targeted both by researchers and practitioners.

Empirically, the research focuses on the bottom 2% of the extreme poor targeting the three most vulnerable groups (i.e. ethnic minority, disabled and older persons) who are prone to experience severe poverty more than others.

Relying on four different novel and unique datasets from Bangladesh, the research will examine the individual, social and institutional processes of power that condition the agency of the severe poor.

By focusing on ‘epistemic injustice’, the proposed research will contribute to emerging discussions and debates about decolonising development, an idea that has so far gained more traction in development theory than research practice.

Overall, the research will make a direct contribution to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by advancing our knowledge to foster an alternative model of development that leaves no one behind.