Status, distribution and determinants of poverty in the COMESA region:

AUTHOR

Kabubo-Mariara, Jane; Massawe, Stella; Karugia, Joseph T.; Kirui, Oliver; Wanjiku, Juliet

SERIES NAME

ReSAKSS Working Paper

YEAR

2011

ABSTRACT

Poverty and vulnerability are among the major problems in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA). To design appropriate poverty reduction initiatives for the region, it is not only important to understand the distribution of poverty but also the determinants. Various reports have documented information on the status, distribution and determinants of poverty in each of the countries. Nonetheless, not much information has been documented in a form that is easily accessible to decision makers and planners involved in designing and implementing programmes for addressing poverty reduction and food insecurity at the regional level. This paper reviews the existing knowledge on the status, distribution and determinants of poverty in the ESA region to fill that knowledge gap. It emerges from the literature that poverty in the region differs across socio-economic groups and across space.

PUBLISHER

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)