Participation and poverty reduction: An analytical framework and overview of the issues

Abstract

In order to be most efficacious, antipoverty interventions must be economically sustainable and well-matched to the needs and culture of the audience it serves. Financiers, providers, and beneficiaries are identified as the main actors in these interventions. This article examines the benefits of beneficiary participation as providers in project implementation, especially benefits regarding implementation cost. Community participation, social capital, and trust are identified as key components of project success but also represent potential barriers to participation of the poor in fractionalized communities. The authors acknowledge the limitations of case studies and calls for more empirical analyses of beneficiary participation.