Programs, Opportunities, and Challenges in Poverty Reduction: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Poverty has become the main focus of development in almost every country. Several related studies have discussed poverty alleviation recently, especially concerning the world’s pandemic phenomenon. This article aims to analyze the literature relating to programs, opportunities, and challenges in poverty alleviation in the world. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) was used as a procedure for this systematic review. Twenty-two articles were selected as primary data collected from the Scopus and WoS database. Using thematic analysis, this study found that poverty alleviation programs are implemented in urban and rural areas and through women's empowerment. In addition, social, economic, and environmental benefits are determinant factors of the implications of poverty alleviation programs. One of the opportunities for poverty alleviation is to increase household income and create community welfare through empowering women. Meanwhile, the incompatibility of program targets, lack of funding, program synergy, gender gaps, and the environment are challenges for stakeholders that must be considered in the future. Recommendations and study implications of this study are also highlighted.