What do the Poor Have to Say about Poverty?
Most discussions about global poverty float around elite academic circles without including the voice of the impoverished themselves. The World Bank set out to remedy this situation at the turn of the century through their Voices of the Poor campaign.
More than 60,000 voices from 60 countries were heard during this process. Many criticisms are levied against the World Bank, and rightly so, but I think this campaign was spot on. The team conducting the research drew six broad conclusions:
1. The poor view poverty holistically and broadly, both on a physical, as well as a mental level. Many stated that poverty was like living in a cage and stated a general lack of opportunity.
2. NGO’s received mixed ratings. This was particularly useful feedback. NGO’s are normally given a thumbs up by my generation; however, it is important to note that there are good and bad apples in the bunch!
3. Insecurity and violence have increased. In short, this struck me because the poor feel as though things are getting worse and they have been hung out to dry by other economic opportunities.
4. Gender inequality and domestic violence is widespread. This one hurts especially because it is people causing the problem and I feel powerless to do anything about it.
5. The poor want accountable governments. Surprise surprise!
6. The poor rely on an informal economy to survive. Without clinics, they resort to the local holy man. Without credit institutions, they resort to whoever will lend them money. Without food, they turn to family. This is changing around the world; however, formal institutions still do not exist to a large degree.
What do you think? If you have traveled to a developing community, does this picture resonate with what you experienced?