Poverty in Africa is multifaceted. It is characterized by, among other things, a lack
of purchasing power, rural predominance, exposure to risk, insufficient access to
social and economic services and few opportunities for formal income generation. On
average, 45-50% of sub-Saharan Africans live below the poverty line - a much higher
proportion than in any other region of the world. This article assesses the
socio-economic dilemma of poverty in Africa and suggests an alternative policy
framework for improving the well-being of the region’s poor. The premise
of the article is that including the poor is a necessary and progressive step in any
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