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Ecosystem restoration is a necessity for addressing socio‐ecological challenges by improving ecosystem resilience and alleviating poverty through local community involvement. Here, we review a community‐based, large‐scale ecosystem restoration program, Working for Ecosystems, implemented by eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, between 2007 and 2022. For this study, we interrogated monthly and annual reports generated by the program between 2011 and 2021 to describe how the program worked to suppress invasive alien plants (IAPs) and provided employment opportunities to marginalized groups (women, youth, military veterans, and people living with disabilities). Annual budget was positively correlated with the area cleared of IAPs and effort (person‐days in the field). The program successfully incorporated marginalized groups, but military veterans and people living with disabilities remained in smaller numbers and were not well quantified. Participants were encouraged to constitute companies—Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises—that were then subcontracted to the program or could progress to other endeavors, allowing other community members to enter the program. A steady increase in the implementation budget emphasized the need for a long‐term plan to ensure accountability and sustainability of restoration and socio‐ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic development and industrialization are usually associated with severe environmental pollution. Differently, China's poverty alleviation programs did not compromise its environment for the sake of economic development. China has lifted hundreds of poverty-stricken counties out of absolute poverty following the implementation of various poverty alleviation policies. We take a staggered difference-in-difference approach within a quasi-experiment to examine the effects of "poverty hat" removal on air pollution. Using panel data of poverty-stricken counties in China for the period 2013–2018, we identify the causal effects on PM2.5, PM10, and SO2 concentration reduction. Our results suggest that removing the poverty hat prompted the counties to reduce their air pollution. By studying the mining, photovoltaic, and tourism industries, we find that removing the poverty hat has improved air quality by increasing carbon sequestration and reducing resource depletion. • Uses a staggered DID to examine poverty hat removal and air pollution. • Identifies the causal effects on pollutant reduction. • Checks the channels of resource depletion. • Tests the poverty-environment trade-off at the county level. • Finds evidence through the mining, photovoltaic, and tourism industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Microbusinesses are better able to assist many disadvantaged groups in finding employment and breaking the cycle of poverty because they require less initial capital and employ a large number of poor people in developing economies. Women run and own the majority of micro-businesses in urban Ethiopia. This study aims to investigate women's microbusiness participation decisions and the effect on poverty in the Wolaita zone southern Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a mixed-methods research approach. A total of 384 women who owned micro-businesses were chosen using a systematic random sampling technique, while 36 women were purposefully chosen for qualitative data analysis. Data were gathered through survey questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The collected data were analyzed by using a propensity score matching technique as well as contextual analysis. Findings: The study discovered that women's participation in registered micro-businesses had a higher and more beneficial impact on their food, non-food and overall consumer spending than women's participation in unregistered microbusinesses, which helped to reduce poverty. Besides, overall women's participation in micro-business increased their decision-making power and enabled them to provide resources for their families food and non-food consumption, with registered micro-business participants reaping the greatest benefits. Originality/value: This research focused on the effects of women's micro-entrepreneurship on poverty in low-income communities. Rather than providing food, clothing and/or other aid to women in disadvantaged communities, the authors asserted that assisting women and their micro-businesses allows them to be self-sufficient in terms of food and clothing as a long-term solution to poverty reduction. As a result, policymakers can use our findings to gain a better understanding of how women's micro-entrepreneurship affects poverty reduction, allowing them to develop more effective anti-poverty initiatives. This study's findings are novel and add to the body of knowledge in Ethiopia and the sub-Saharan African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many developing countries, poor households face multiple shocks that disrupt their consumption patterns and lead to an increased welfare loss. Consequently, households adopt coping mechanisms that negatively impact their overall well-being. While social safety nets have been implemented to protect vulnerable households, it is essential to assess their overall effectiveness, both in terms of their impact and their potential to replace the harmful coping strategies adopted by households. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of cash transfers provided by the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) on the consumption patterns of households in Pakistan, with a particular emphasis on how these transfers provide consumption insurance to ultra-poor families encountered with idiosyncratic and covariate shocks. The study analyzes both food and non-food expenditure to gain insights into the effectiveness of the program in providing economic security to vulnerable households. Using three rounds of the BISP survey (2011–2013–2016), the empirical analysis is done by employing regression discontinuity design (RDD), difference-in-difference (DID) technique, and ordinary least squares method. Using the DID approach, we find that from 2011 to 2016 the overall food and non-food consumption of BISP beneficiaries have increased considerably and these results are highly significant as well. However, the estimates for RDD are not significant for the years 2013 and 2016. We also observed households' consumption behavior in the presence of shocks and found that in the wake of idiosyncratic shocks, poor households can protect their consumption through informal transfer mechanisms by securing loans from family, friends, and landlords. However, this mechanism collapses when households encounter covariate shocks. Furthermore, BISP cash transfers are primarily effective in mitigating the impact of employment loss, loss of livestock, and the rise in food prices and remain inadequate in providing insurance against major other shocks encountered by the targeted poor households. The results indicate that BISP has the potential to substitute informal coping strategies used by the poor, it requires substantial transfers to offer comprehensive consumption insurance to the poorest of the poor in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines how executive motivation and firm capability jointly influence corporate contribution to poverty alleviation. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms, we find that firms whose executives possess political connections or experienced poverty in childhood contribute more to poverty alleviation. Moreover, better-performing firms with politically connected executives make even more contributions, whereas firm performance does not affect the relationship between executives' childhood poverty experience and corporate contribution. We also document that the strength of political connections and the type of childhood poverty experience matter. Moreover, executive background and firm performance only affect corporations' cash contributions but do not influence their material contributions. Overall, our study reveals that corporate contribution to poverty alleviation is affected by both strategic and altruistic motives of executives and is subject to the influence of firm performance especially when executives are driven by political motives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pivot of the legislature in addressing structural violence in a democratic polity is its responsibility of enacting legislation for good governance, representing citizens’ interests in the public policy formulation process and performing oversight functions for equitable distribution and access to public goods and services. In Nigeria, the elimination of poverty has remained a major focus of every successive government, however, more than half of its populace still live in poverty and continue to battle with challenges emanating from inequality in societal structures. This study applies a systematic literature review to gather data and analyse the legislature’s impact on poverty alleviation in Nigeria’s fourth republic. The study reveals the extent of the capacity of the Nigerian legislative institutions to push for the development of the nation the socio-political dynamic of the country impeding legislative oversight of the implementation of government policies and programmes and the implication of accountable and transparent governance in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental to national economic development through poverty alleviation and employment creation. However, credit constraints severely challenge small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) performance. Therefore, this study aims to establish the link between credit constraints and the financial performance of SMEs. The paper further examines whether the differences in performance between constrained and unconstrained firms can contribute to poverty reduction. To this end, the endogenous switching regression was applied to the cross-sectional data from a firm-level survey involving 520 SMEs from Cameroon. The paper considered four credit constraint categories: risk, quantity, price, and transaction cost. Results reveal that 74% of SMEs are credit constrained, and the majority (43%) are quantity constrained. Interestingly, risk and price-constrained SMEs are mainly more profitable than unconstrained SMEs, while quantity and transaction-cost-constrained SMEs are less profitable than their counterparts. Consequently, the impact on poverty reduction is equally varied. The scholarly and policy implications of the study are that alleviating credit constraints among SMEs does not always augment the profitability of the SMEs and contributes towards poverty eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This interdisciplinary paper blends knowledge from computer science and economics in proposing a complex dynamic system subpopulation model for a blockchain form of local complementary currency, generic to the Grassroots Economics Foundation's Community Inclusion Currency (CIC) implemented in Kenya. Our contribution to the emerging economics literature is five-fold: (i) we take a novel meso-economic approach to elicit utility from actual transactions data and reveal an 'optimal' disaggregation number of typical community subgroups; (ii) we relate the local CIC functioning to a nation-wide currency board monetary regime to argue that such a credible CIC implementation ensures trust in the CIC and makes it a valuable market-based channel to alleviate poverty, in addition to humanitarian or government aid channels. However, (iii) we also find evidence in our data that substitutes for real-world money such as CICs are perceived as inferior, and hence CIC systems can only be transitional. Then, (iv) we reveal that, for a poor population, saving dominates as a use of a cluster's CIC balance, accounting for 47%, followed by purchase of food and water, 25%. Despite these dominant patterns, (v) we uncover a considerable heterogeneity in CIC spending behavior. Our contribution to the related computer-science and Tokenomics literature is two-fold: (i) we provide an open-source scaffold for modeling CIC viability and net flows; (ii) to simulate a subpopulation mixing process, we employ a network-based dynamical system modeling approach that is better grounded in economic principles and monetary theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To synergize climate mitigation with poverty alleviation, China has implemented photovoltaic poverty alleviation (PVPA) projects since 2014, with Anhui Province being among the initial pilot regions. However, further exploration is needed to determine the extent to which this policy can improve the economic status of poverty-stricken areas. This study aims to evaluate the effects of PVPA projects in Anhui Province from a macroscopic perspective and via the panel data from 11 poverty-stricken counties, including 5 pilot counties, between 2011 and 2018. By employing the differences-in-differences (DID) model and synthetic control method (SCM) model, this study calculated the treatment effects of the PVPA policy. The analysis revealed that the policy did not significantly increase rural residential income at the county level. The insignificant treatment effects reflect a weak policy implementation. The PVPA policy tries to synergize the energy-climate-poverty nexus, requiring the coordination of various stakeholders and departments. Meanwhile, governance theory highlights the multivariate character of policy and considers the role of multiple social actors. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the governance factors when the policy implementation is weak. Further investigation of the PVPA projects reveals that the main governance challenges include insufficient motivation, information asymmetry, conflicts of interest, renewable energy curtailment, and the absence of proper maintenance and benefit distribution mechanisms. Considering the principles of good governance, recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of the PVPA policy are proposed.

Purpose – This study aims to examine the effect of structural transformation on poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries with a higher share of services as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). The study specifically focuses on the value-added share as a percentage of GDP in the agricultural, manufacturing, industrial, and service sectors using time series data from 1988 to 2019. Design/methodology/approach – The study utilizes the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) bound test framework for estimation, based on the conclusions drawn from the augmented Dickey-Fuller and Phillips–Perron unit root tests, which provide evidence of a mixed order of integration. Findings – The result reveals that agriculture value-added (AVA), manufacturing value-added (MVA), industrial value-added (IVA), and services value-added (SVA) have a positive and significant impact on poverty alleviation in both the short and long run. However, the agriculture sector is found to be more effective in reducing poverty compared to the other sectors examined in this study. Additionally, this study challenges the notion that SSA countries have undergone an immature structural transformation. Instead, it reveals a pattern of stagnant structural transformation, as indicated by the lack of growth in the industrial and manufacturing value-added shares of GDP. Practical implications – To enhance productivity and reduce poverty, SSA economies should adopt a development strategy that prioritizes heavy manufacturing and industrial sectors, leading to a transition from the agricultural to the secondary and tertiary sectors. Originality/value – The study contributes to the emerging literature on structural transformation by investigating which sector is more efficient in reducing poverty in SSA countries, using the value-added share as a percentage of GDP for agricultural, manufacturing, industrial, and service sectors. The study also aims to determine if SSA countries have experienced immature structural transformation due to the growing share in the service sector.

IntroductionThe Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is among the largest U.S. social safety net programs. Although strong evidence exists regarding the benefits of WIC, take-up (i.e., participation among eligible individuals) has steadily declined in the past decade. This study addresses gaps in our knowledge regarding predictors of WIC take-up during this time.MethodsData were drawn from the 1998-2017 waves of the National Health Interview Study (NHIS), a serial cross-sectional study of the U.S.PopulationThe analytic sample included 23,645 children and 10,297 women eligible for WIC based on self-reported demographic characteristics. To investigate predictors of WIC take-up, we regressed self-reported WIC receipt on a range of individual-level predictors (e.g., age, nativity, income) and state- level predictors (e.g., unemployment rate, governor's political affiliation) using multivariable logistic regression. In secondary analyses, results were additionally stratified by race/ethnicity, time period, and age (for children).ResultsFor both women and children, older maternal age and higher educational attainment were associated with decreased take-up of WIC. Associations differed by race/ethnicity, time period, and state characteristics including caseload of other social programs (e.g., Medicaid).DiscussionOur study identifies groups that are less likely to take up WIC benefits for which they are eligible, thereby contributing important evidence to inform programs and policies to increase WIC participation among groups with lower take-up. As WIC evolves past the COVID-19 pandemic, special attention will be needed to ensure that resources to encourage and support the participation of racially and economically marginalized individuals are equitably distributed.

This study explores the potential of rabbits as a sustainable solution for poverty alleviation and food security in Burkina Faso, a country facing socio-economic and environmental challenges. In the context of limited resources and employment opportunities, rabbits offer advantages such as small size, short generation interval and high reproductive capacity. The research focuses on characterising the morphology of Burkina Faso’s local rabbit population, comparing it with two Italian breeds: a local medium-growing breed called Leprino di Viterbo (LV) and a fast-growing hybrid (a crossbred New Zealand × California, NZC). Utilising path analysis and principal component analysis, the study identifies key morphometric traits crucial for breeding programs and examines the influence of specific traits on body weight (BW) gain and heat stress resilience through ‘Transpiration Indexes.’ Findings highlight the importance of variables like chest girth (CG), abdominal girth (AG), rump width (RW) and nose to shoulders length (NSL) in influencing body weight (BW) and reveal significant size and shape differences among the breeds. The study suggests potential climate adaptation in Burkina Faso’s rabbit population, providing practical insights for breeding programs in resource-constrained regions. This research not only advances scientific understanding but also provides practical insights for breeding programs in resource-constrained regions, emphasising the importance of certain morphological traits for heat dissipation.

This article explores the challenges facing the modern energy market in the context of the accelerated energy transition. It concludes that neither the objectives nor the preparation for the energy transition have been aligned with the actual needs and demands of humanity. The current goals of the energy transition are ideologically driven and unrealistic, prompting countries and companies to reconsider their previously established timelines for achieving carbon neutrality, while investors are growing increasingly disillusioned with the «green» transition. Despite trillions of dollars in investments, alternative energy sources have failed to replace traditional fuels or ensure reliable energy supply. Concurrently, the demand for electricity will continue to rise with the advancement of artificial intelligence and the expansion of data processing centers.The article highlights that in Europe, the emphasis on the «green» energy transition has led to economic downturns, while in developing countries, the implementation of the energy transition has manifested as «green» neocolonialism, characterized by resource extraction. Lobbying for an accelerated energy transition represents one form of market share competition. Another form includes unlawful sanctions and technological restrictions imposed by the United States on several countries, and the use of the dollar as an economic weapon, which has compelled developing nations to embark on dedollarization processes.The article concludes that energy development must be linked to ensuring energy security, combating poverty, and addressing the interests of the majority. Therefore, hydrocarbons will continue to be a critical component of the energy sector.

Poverty is always associated with poor green infrastructure. Indonesia has a significant poverty rate and low green infrastructure investment. Therefore, this study uses fuzzy clustering with area weighting (FGWC-HHOP) and 2018 Potential Village Census (PODES) data to analyze green infrastructure risk and poverty in Indonesia. The first cluster, which is mainly urban, is vulnerable, while the second cluster has poor air quality and green infrastructure. Future government policies should encourage sustainable development, especially green infrastructure, to reduce social vulnerability. Consider green infrastructure and social vulnerability when planning urban expansion and poverty alleviation in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bambara groundnut (BGN), a legume in the Fabaceae family, is typically cultivated on a small scale by female subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite being the largest exporter of BGN in southern Africa, Zimbabwe considers BGN a supplementary crop. Although components of BGN have been previously studied, this study involved active participation from local farmers, leading to a more community-driven understanding of perceptions and practices surrounding this legume. This study was conducted in the Syringavale community in Marula, situated in the Matabeleland South province of Zimbabwe and consisted of fifty Black African respondents [females (86%) and males (14%)]. The primary aim was to collect indigenous information on consumer perceptions, agricultural and processing practices, cultural beliefs and superstitions, and the overall significance of BGN in the community. Simple random sampling was used to select fifty households, from a list of sixty BGN-cultivating households, in the study area, followed by judgmental sampling to choose one respondent per selected household. Then after, a mixed-methods approach was applied, with structured questionnaire administered first, followed by in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to systematically identify and categorise themes, sub-themes and patterns within qualitative responses. Bambara groundnut was cultivated at household level, mostly by married women over the age of 40 and held dietary, agricultural, medicinal and traditional significance. Different components of the BGN crop, such as the seeds, leaves, flowers, roots and pods were reported to serve as food, fodder, medicine, maturity indicators and compost. Boiling, soaking, roasting, baking, cracking and frying were the cooking methods used in the community, with boiling being the most common method used by 100% of respondents. Respondents (100%) showed a preference for the mature green seed over the dry seed due to the significant time and energy consumption associated with cooking the latter. Some respondents (52%) sold their BGN produce in the open market, at home, to wholesalers, as well as in petty batter. Urbanisation, heavy rains and cultural beliefs were cited as major hindrances to BGN production. The prioritisation of BGN in terms of land allocation was recommended considering its nutritional and economic value as well as its potential contribution to the alleviation of poverty and malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the determinants of transition in economic growth among inclusive growth (IG) and non-inclusive growth (NIG) in farming households in Nigeria using secondary data from General Household Surveys for 2010, 2013 and 2016. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) and Markov chain. The result shows that mean age of the rural households were 41.8, 43.7, and 46.9 years for 2010, 2013 and 2016 respectively. Majority (65.0%, 65.4% and 65.5%) were male while 64.3%, 63.1% and 63.4% were married in 2010, 2013 and 2016 respectively. Markov probability transition matrix revealed that rural households (29.9%) remained in NIG in both periods 2010-2013 and 2013-2016 while 70.1% with NIG in period 2010-2013 moved out in 2013-2016. Rural households (46.6%) that are inclusive in period 2010-2013 transitioned into NIG in period 2013-2016. In the long run, rural households (40.2%) remained in NIG while 59.8% exited. It was concluded that with equitable resources, rural households have the probability to be inclusive and reduced non-inclusive growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined factors that help microfinance achieve sustained poverty reduction based on a systematic literature review (SLR). A search was conducted on the SCOPUS database up to December 2023. After analyzing hundreds of documents, a subset of 30 articles was subject to in-depth analysis, exploring factors and corresponding measurement indicators for sustainable poverty reduction in microfinance contexts. This article emphasizes that sustained poverty reduction is a gradual process requiring ongoing efforts from both Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and governments. Two key success factors are empowering borrowers and ensuring the microfinance programs themselves are profitable. When implemented in an integrated and coordinated manner, these factors can empower individuals to escape poverty by fostering self-employment and income generation, ultimately reducing dependence on external support. Additionally, the study highlights the role of personality traits in influencing long-term entrepreneurial success. The findings provide valuable tools for MFIs and policymakers. MFIs gain a practical framework to guide their interventions towards sustained poverty reduction. Policymakers can leverage the identified factors and indicators when designing and implementing microfinance policies with a long-term focus on poverty alleviation. This study breaks new ground by presenting an operational framework that categorizes and integrates two critical factor groups: empowerment and beneficiary profitability. Furthermore, it links these factors to corresponding measurement indicators within a unified framework, enabling a more holistic assessment of poverty reduction efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Can the backward endowments of rural areas support digital village construction to attain the expected results? If the answer is yes, what are the mechanisms involved? Answering these questions is related to common prosperity. Counties are China's frontline commanders, and the urban–rural income gap is a suitable entry point for observing the urban–rural digital divide; however, there is limited research assessing the effectiveness of digital village construction from the perspective of the urban–rural income gap at the county level. In addition, counties lifted out of poverty, as counties with worse initial endowments and as counties that should be most concerned with common wealth, are more typical for examining the effectiveness of digital rural construction; however, there are few studies on counties lifted out of poverty. Based on cross-sectional data from 865 counties in China in 2020, this study empirically analyzes the impact of digital village construction on the urban–rural income gap using an OLS model. This study also conducts mechanism tests and poverty benefit tests in addition to heterogeneity and robustness tests. The findings indicate that the development of digital villages lowers the income difference between urban and rural areas, and that the shift in the industrial structure is a key driver of this effect. Different construction dimensions have varying degrees of impact, with digital infrastructure and the digitalization of the economy having the most significant impact, the digitalization of countryside governance coming second, and the digitalization of countryside life having the most negligible impact. The impact is more pronounced in the central-eastern region of China and counties that have just been lifted out of poverty than in the western region and counties that have never been in poverty. The government will benefit greatly from this study's understanding of the main themes, areas, and scope of digital rural construction, which will help to expand and further integrate the outcomes of reducing poverty and fostering shared prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Management Research: The Journal of the IberoAmerican Academy of Management is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Shaanxi Province, the natural conditions, resource endowments and economic development levels of the three plates in Guanzhong, Northern Shaanxi and Southern Shaanxi have their own characteristics. How to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation and effectively connect with rural revitalization according to local conditions is still facing many difficulties, especially in industry, employment, ecological protection, cultural inheritance, public services and talent construction. Fully considering the local natural resource conditions and the reality of economic development, it is beneficial for Shaanxi to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation and effectively connect with rural revitalization by improving the level of industrial development, solving the problem of mass employment, strengthening ecological protection, glowing the vitality of rural culture, improving the level of public services and strengthening the construction of talent team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yao People is the earliest indigenous people living in Libo, Guizhou Province. Due to the harsh natural environment, Yao People living here have long been in deep poverty. Since the implementation of the targeted poverty alleviation policy in 2015, Libo County Yao People's economic and social development and human settlements have undergone dramatic changes. On the basis of summing up and analysing the measures, achievements, experiences and challenges of Libo in helping Yao People's poverty alleviation, this paper makes a strategic discussion on how to consolidate the effect of poverty alleviation from five aspects: policy continuity, endogenous motive force, employment channel, organization guidance, and the degree of help and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We construct a multidimensional poverty index for chinese counties. • We establish a staggered DID model that controls for selection bias. • Highways significantly reduce county poverty. • The poverty-reduction effect of highways is conditional. • The poverty-reduction effect of highways diminishes with increasing altitude. This paper establishes a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) model to estimate the impact of highways on regional poverty using county-level panel data from China. We construct a multidimensional poverty index and use satellite-monitored night light brightness as a proxy indicator. The results demonstrate that highways significantly reduce county poverty and that the poverty reduction effect becomes increasingly pronounced over time. This result remains robust after controlling for non-random highway route selection. Furthermore, the poverty reduction effect of highways is conditional, with a significant poverty reduction effect in the less economically-developed western regions and non-municipal counties, and no significant poverty reduction effect in the economically-developed eastern and central regions and municipal districts. Moreover, the poverty reduction effect of highways gradually decreases as the average altitude of counties increases. Our tests provide empirical evidence for effective road investments in developing countries that incorporate poverty alleviation targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is one of the most important tasks for the work of Agriculture, Rural areas and Farmers' in the new era to consolidate and develop the achievements of rural poverty alleviation and effectively link them with the revitalization of rural industries, and agricultural science and technology plays a key role in the revitalization of rural industries. There are many problems in the ethnic minority areas of Sichuan province, such as the insufficient investment in agricultural science and technology innovation, the weak foundation of modern agriculture, the in- sufficient supply of agricultural science and technology talents, the imperfect mechanism of agricultural science and technology innovation, the relatively low scientific and cultural timber of farmers, and the insufficient endogenous motivation, it is suggested that the construction of the Double system' of agricultural science and technology innovation and achievement transformation system, building a platform for demonstration and transformation of high-level scientific and technological achievements, improving the level of scientific and technological supply, perfecting the organizational system of agricultural production and management, perfecting the service system of agricultural informationization and mechanization, establishing the quality safety and standardization system of agricultural products, strengthening the training system of agricultural science and technology talents should be started from six aspects, the achievement of consolidating and expanding poverty alleviation in ethnic minority areas in Sichuan province has been effectively linked with the revitalization of rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the Philippines that has been implemented since 2007 and now spans the Arroyo, Aquino, and Duterte administration. Through document analysis, this study aims to compare and analyze the implementation of the program of the three administrations. Results exhibited that (1) all three administrations have achieved success in their overall implementation; (2) internal and external factors became hindrances for the program, such as political motivations and financial crisis; and (3) the program lacks the manifestation of sustainable development in its implementation and outcomes. The study recommends (1) efficient mechanisms in implementation and long-term evaluation, (2) avoidance of extractive institutions, and (3) conducting scenario planning for external variables that may affect the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Educational Research is the property of National Taiwan Normal University, Department of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The province of South Sumatra is widely known as one of the most prosperous regions in Indonesia. In fiscal year 2022, the region's gross domestic product (GDRP) was Rp 591.603,48 billion, with a per capita income of Rp 68,31 billion. Additionally, this economy grew by 5,23%, exceeding the national average, and contributed Rp 9,98 trillion in actual revenue for the government. Nevertheless, the level of poverty remains significant, at 11.9%. Numerous scholarly studies have been conducted over the past few decades to investigate the interconnections between economic growth, income disparity, and poverty alleviation. The prevailing findings of these studies have consistently demonstrated that there is a positive correlation between economic growth and poverty alleviation. However, the relationship between economic growth and income inequality remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the interrelationships between economic growth, inequality, and poverty reduction in the province of South Sumatra. The methodologies employed encompass descriptive analysis and panel data analysis. The analysis utilises Gross Domestic Regional Product (GDRP) statistics at the regency level, as well as data from the National Socio-economic Survey and local government budgets spanning the period from 2015 to 2022. The findings indicate that economic growth has turned out to be the result of increasing poverty and income inequality all at once. Growth in the mining and agricultural sectors tends to increase poverty because it is capital-intensive and does not appear to absorb labour from people experiencing poverty. Additionally, increases in income inequality are positively correlated with increases in poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to analyze the role of Sharia economics in alleviating poverty in Indonesia. The method used in this research is a literature study, which is a series of activities relating to methods of collecting library data, reading and taking notes, as well as processing reading material into research data. Some of the literature that researchers use as data sources are books, journal articles, and news related to the role of Sharia economics in reducing poverty rates in Indonesia. One of the goals of religion is to encourage people from being left behind economically. Poverty is a serious problem that must be sought immediately for a solution because it can have very dangerous impacts, including disturbing one's faith or it could even disappear and that person becomes a disbeliever. The potential for ziswaf in Indonesia is extraordinary. If it can be managed professionally, it will have an impact on the welfare of society. How to overcome poverty can be done with various steps and strategies. The thing that must be done from the start to overcome the poverty that grips our society is to create an economic order that allows for a fair distribution system to be born, encouraging the birth of concern from people who have (aghniya') toward the needy, poor, dhu'afa' and mustard 'affine. One form of concern for Aghniya' is his willingness to pay zakat and issue sadaqah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore success drivers of reward-based crowdfunding for poverty alleviation in China. The results from our econometric modeling using data from 4375 reward-based crowdfunding campaigns suggest that poverty alleviation campaigns, as compared to ordinary ones, benefit from higher funded amounts, larger backer numbers, and greater success rates. The results also suggest that poverty alleviation campaigns perform better when the products sold originate from poorer (as compared to wealthier) regions and when price premiums are lower (as compared to higher). We corroborate important findings from the field study with an experimental study, showing that the consumer's feeling of warm glow accounts for the positive effects of poverty alleviation campaigns (as compared to ordinary) campaigns. We expand the applications of warm-glow theory into the context of reward-based crowdfunding campaigns for poverty alleviation and offer new insights into success drivers of such campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The “14th Five-Year Plan” period is a critical period to realize the effective connection of consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Industrial development is the biggest junction between effective connection of consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Industrial revitalization is the foundation and key of rural revitalization. Under this background, to scientifically analyze challenges and constraints such as insufficient industrial driving capacity, insufficient main force for industrial revitalization, great pressure on financial guarantee, insufficient consumption driving potential and weak support foundation for industrial development of industry revitalization, in the situation of overall victory in poverty alleviation and a good start in rural revitalization in Hecheng District, western Hunan. In the new era, promotion of the western development, central China’s emergence, undertaking industrial transfer, “three high and four new” strategy and upgrading of domestic consumption have brought extremely important policy opportunities and market opportunities for industrial revitalization. To realize the industrial revitalization in western Hunan, we should fully seize the historical opportunities, adhere to optimizing the spatial layout of industrial development, improve the industrial chain, promote the construction of industrial clusters, develop new agricultural business entities, cultivate agricultural product brands, promote the accurate connection between production and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest-dwelling residents frequently collect non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for various reasons, such as food, medicine, firewood, religious reasons, or handicrafts. This study examines the multiple benefits derived from NTFPs and how they contribute to the livelihoods of Ghanaian communities to alleviate poverty. Resources and services provided by NTFPs have an essential role in providing economic, nutritional, medicinal, cultural, and environmental benefits. This study examines the diverse range of NTFPs locals collect, such as chewing sticks, games, herbs, honey, leaves, mushrooms, pestles, raffia and palms, snails, and straws. In addition to serving different purposes, these NTFPs contribute to income generation, food security, health care, cultural practices, and the protection of the environment. A qualitative research approach was used in this study to collect data through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with members on multiple collections of NTFPs and their multiple benefits. We interviewed 732 residents regarding their multiple NTFPs and their potential to improve the livelihood of the locals. The data for the study were analysed using descriptive statistics. As a result of the survey, the frequency and percentages of responses were analysed for each indicator related to multiple values of NTFPs. Both males and females collected a list of NTFPs during the survey. Regarding NTFPs used for sale, 275 were reported, representing 37.57% of the total. In addition to emphasising the importance of sustainable management practices and equitable distribution of benefits, the study explores the multiple benefits of NTFPs for poverty alleviation in Ghanaian communities. It is essential to ensure the conservation of forest ecosystems and promote inclusive policies to harness the potential of NTFPs and maximise their positive impact on livelihoods. NTFPs provide multiple benefits for Ghanaian communities, including income, nutrition, healthcare, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. To promote sustainable development, it is imperative to understand the role of NTFPs and implement appropriate strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Microfinance, as a predominant poverty alleviation strategy aimed at lifting the poor out of poverty, provides financial services to impoverished individuals. This research examines the effect of microloans on the growth of individuals' income and their ability to rise above the poverty line. It also explores how changes in the duration of financial aid to Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) impact poverty alleviation. Additionally, the study investigates the effect of marketing and increased sales probability, as complementary services of microfinance, on income growth. Therefore, this research evaluates the influence of microfinance on income improvement and poverty reduction by considering two policies: changing the duration of financial aid to MFIs and increasing the probability of product sales.Methods: In MFIs, the method of resource provision, different lending conditions, and the interactions among individuals create a complex environment. The heterogeneous characteristics and behaviors of individuals, along with their interactions in a dynamic setting, lead to complex events. Agent-based modeling (ABM) helps to understand and model these complexities. ABM is a simulation approach involving autonomous, independent, decision-making agents that are interconnected and aims to investigate system-level outcomes by modeling individual behaviors. This research employs the ABM approach.Results and discussion: The simulation results indicate that the provision of microloans increases individuals' income and enables many to escape absolute poverty. This study assumes a zero-interest rate. The findings show that the resources of MFIs, based on savings and loan repayments, can increase, allowing for a growing number of loans even with a two-year donation policy. Thus, providing interest-free microloans and limiting the duration of assistance can create a sustainable microfinance system. The policy of extending financial aid from three to four years does not significantly increase income levels, as MFIs can sustain themselves through savings and repayments. However, extending the aid duration increases the number of loans, with 155, 221, and 278 loans given under the two-, three-, and four-year policies, respectively. Moreover, increasing the probability of sales from 60% to 80% results in significantly higher income and a greater number of individuals above the poverty line. Overall, the study reveals that increasing financial aid duration does not necessarily lead to higher income or poverty alleviation. Instead, marketing and boosting product sales are more effective.Conclusions: Reducing the number of aid years and utilizing the released financial resources to create markets and enhance sales probability make poverty alleviation policies more effective. In other words, using financial resources to establish guaranteed or permanent markets for MFI members generates a greater leverage effect for income growth compared to simply extending the aid duration.

This study highlights the current status of rabbit production, potential challenges facing the industry and the prospects for rabbit farming in Dodoma city, Tanzania. Data from 60 individuals keeping rabbits were collected through a structured questionnaire and direct observation. Results showed that 60% of the respondents were men and 40% women. Rabbits were kept mainly as a source of meat for families and income generation. Main sources of rabbit stock were local breeders (55%) and missionaries (25%), while the remainder were from agricultural institutes. The dominant rabbit breeds reared were California white (50%), New Zealand white (30%), Chinchilla (10%) and Dutch (10%). Ninety-five percent of the farmers kept rabbits in cages, while 5% confined them at night and let them out during the day to forage for feed. Fifteen percent of the respondents fed commercial rabbit pellets, 5% vegetables and kitchen waste only, whereas 80% fed both rabbit pellets, vegetables and kitchen waste. The number of rabbits kept by an individual farmer ranged from 5 to 180, with mean stock size of 22.80±11.20 (mean±standard deviation). Rabbits were sold at 8 to 12 wk of age and each rabbit was sold for 20 000 to 30 000 Tanzanian shillings (8.00 – 12.00 USD). Major challenges in rabbit production were lack of feed resources, lack of readily available market, poor quality of breeding stock, low knowledge of rabbit production techniques and lack of technical support from extension services. Although rabbit farming in Dodoma is carried out at subsistence level, it is associated with a decrease in poverty among urban and peri-urban farmers. In conclusion, rabbit production in urban and peri-urban areas of Tanzania has the potential to contribute to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation, thus improving living standards.

This research examines the development and evaluation of an optimization framework for the strategic deployment of financial resources in microfinance initiatives in Barranquilla, Colombia. The framework incorporates an array of variables, including market dynamics, institutional elements, project attributes, and firm-specific factors, to optimize project outcomes and long-term viability. With approximately 3,500 microfinance projects currently operating in the country, Colombia has a thriving microfinance sector that plays a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion and economic development. To ensure a representative sample for this study, 21 microfinance projects were selected using stratified sampling based on key characteristics such as sector, size, and years of operation. The optimization framework developed in this study incorporates an array of variables, including market dynamics, institutional elements, project attributes, and firm-specific factors, to optimize project outcomes and long-term viability. Comprehensive statistical techniques, such as factor analysis, principal component analysis, ANOVA, and t-tests, demonstrate substantial enhancements in critical performance indicators when the optimization framework is implemented. The experimental group, employing the framework, displays superior investment returns, reduced loan defaults, expanded beneficiary reach, and amplified employment generation compared to the control group utilizing conventional allocation strategies. These outcomes corroborate prior studies emphasizing the merits of data-driven methodologies for financial resource allocation in microfinance. The research contributes to the comprehension of effective capital deployment in microfinance initiatives and offers institutions a practical instrument to boost performance, attain financial sustainability, and support poverty reduction and economic growth. The findings have implications for microfinance organizations, policymakers, and academics, underscoring the significance of incorporating a comprehensive set of variables and integrating social capital considerations into microfinance approaches. Subsequent research can expand upon these discoveries to further investigate the efficiency of capital allocation and develop innovative strategies to strengthen microfinance programs.