PERCEPTION OF POVERTY AND THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANISATIONS IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Abstract

This paper examines the perception of poverty in two semi-urban communities, the relative success of their community-based organisations in alleviating perceived community poverty and the reasons for this relative success/failure. The paper argues that government's strategy of development impacts strongly on rural poverty. It then suggests some measures for rural poverty alleviation. These include capacity building for community organisations, a renewed commitment to rural development by the Federal Government and the establishment of a rural development bank.