Abstract
This paper presents a framework to show how information drawn from different sources for any city allows the construction of poverty profiles and maps. These not only help local governments to act but they also provide a catalyst for more participatory and integrated approaches to poverty reduction. The paper also gives examples of how this framework was used in two cities in Argentina. This framework brings out the multi-dimensional nature of urban poverty, including environmental and political dimensions which are not made evident by conventional definitions of poverty. The framework also highlights the complex linkages between the different dimensions and shows how the environmental dimensions (including housing conditions) are not just visible features of poverty but also key “entry points” through which social, economic and political dimensions can be understood and addressed. Mapping environmental conditions also brings out key social and spatial inequalities.