Conceptualising Poverty in Poverty Reduction Projects: Experience from the South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

The outcome of poverty reduction projects (PRPs) largely depends on the way poverty is conceptualized. Research has shown that there are usually discrepancies in the way poverty is conceptualized in PRPs and the way poor women and men perceive poverty. Using empirical data, this paper highlights the fact that this difference in the conceptualization of poverty negatively affects the success of PRPs.  The paper contributes to the debate that to increase the success rate of poverty reduction projects, poverty has to be conceptualized from the point of view of the poor.