Knowledge development and management for urban poverty alleviation

This paper assesses the performance of poverty alleviation projects, asks why so many have failed, and why successful projects have been successful. It gives a retrospective overview of the development of the concept of poverty, and argues that the way towards poverty eradication goes through holistic, participatory, approaches that build on sharing of knowledge and learning by doing. Projects and programmes should build on the full knowledge of all stakeholders. This way we can create dynamic collaborative environments that build knowledge strategically by developing and applying knowledge as it comes available. It is suggested that approaches should be guided by an enabling framework, within which a multiplicity of partnerships can develop and be effective. Common sense and holistic systems thinking are found to be essential starting points for improvements of the quality of decision-making and the learning and innovation in poverty alleviation efforts.