Untold stories: the human face of poverty dynamics. Policy Brief No. 11.

Abstract

To show the human face of chronic poverty, this policy brief offers vignettes from the life stories of five people. The lives of Maymana and Mofizul, Bakyt, Vuyiswa and Angel (from Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa and Zimbabwe) demonstrate the varied and multiple causes of chronic poverty, and how social protection has, in some cases, helped them improve their wellbeing. The policy brief suggests that such life history material can be an important source of data for policy. Whilst life histories are not representative, they highlight key themes and processes which are 'typical' of individuals with similar sets of sociobiographical characteristics who live in similar social, economic and political circumstances.

Citation

CPRC Policy Brief No. 11, Chronic Poverty Research Centre, London, UK, 6 pp.

Untold stories: the human face of poverty dynamics. Policy Brief No. 11.

Published 1 January 2008