on the Links Between Governance and Poverty
14
October 2003: Over the last years, the alleviation of poverty
has become one of the highest priorities of international development.
In a parallel way, the definition of poverty has evolved together
with a better understanding of the nature of poverty itself and
its underlying determinants.
"Empowering the Poor: local governance for poverty reduction" analyzes some of the most important current international development initiatives and identifies some aspects of the conceptual frameworks of major international organizations and bi-laterals on poverty and on poverty reduction approaches. By focusing on a new understanding of poverty and its underlying factors, these frameworks, initiatives, and strategic thinking have achieved a broad consensus about the knowledge base on poverty and the challenges ahead.
This publication, published by the United Nations Capital Development Fund, also identifies a number of key cross-cutting issues: the multi-dimensionality of poverty; the relationships between democratic decentralization and poverty as well as between poverty and environment; the role of civil society; the importance of political commitment to favour democratic governance; sustainability issues; the need for empirical evidence concerning the connections between democratic decentralization and poverty reduction; and the role of partnership and coordination. The book analyzes the two basic conceptual dimensions of 'poverty' and 'local governance' and explores the basic argument of the comparative advantages of decentralized governance in tackling poverty. It argues that, although empirical evidence is mixed, a greater involvement of local populations in decision-making, through democratic decentralization, may significantly contribute to reduce poverty.
About the Author
Angelo Bonfiglioli is a Senior Technical Advisor at the United Nations Capital Development Fund. He has a Ph.D in social anthropology from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (University of Paris) with considerable experience in rural development, community development, and poverty reduction, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. He has carried out research in West Africa, Horn of Africa, and the Middle East and participated in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of many development projects. He has published several books and reports, among them: "Dudal. Histoire de famille et histoire du troupeau chez un groupe de Wodaabe du Niger" 1988, Cambridge/Paris, Cambridge University Press/ Editions de la Maison des Sciences de l’Homme; and "Pastoralists at a Crossroads. Survival and Development Issues in African Pastoralism’ 1992, Nairobi:UNICEF/UNSO.
Publication Details
- Paperback: 154 pages
- Publisher: United Nations Capital Development Fund; (September 12, 2003)
- ISBN: 9211261589
- UN Sales No: E.03.III.B.10
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