Reducing Urban Poverty: Some lessons from experience
This paper emphasises the important role that local institutions can have in reducing poverty in urban areas - a role that is often forgotten by international agencies. It highlights the many possible entry points for reducing urban poverty (including some for which little or no external funding is needed) and the many kinds of local organisations or institutions that can contribute to this. After reviewing seven particular initiatives to reduce poverty, it suggests that one of the critical determinants of the success of poverty reduction initiatives is the quality of the relationship between ‘the poor’ and the organisations or agencies that have resources or powers that can help address one or more of the deprivations that poorer groups suffer. In addition, sustained poverty reduction requires city and municipal government agencies and political structures that are more effective, more accountable, and more able to work with low-income groups and their community organisations.
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Available at https://www.iied.org/9155iied