The poverty dilemma in Africa: toward policies for including the poor

Abstract

Poverty in Africa is multifaceted. It is characterized by, among other things, a lack of purchasing power, rural predominance, exposure to risk, insufficient access to social and economic services and few opportunities for formal income generation. On average, 45-50% of sub-Saharan Africans live below the poverty line - a much higher proportion than in any other region of the world. This article assesses the socio-economic dilemma of poverty in Africa and suggests an alternative policy framework for improving the well-being of the region’s poor. The premise of the article is that including the poor is a necessary and progressive step in any attempt to sustain growth, development and socio-economic transformation in Africa.