Rural poverty in Africa presents a paradox — often described as the “paradox of plenty.” Despite the continent’s abundance of natural resources, millions still live in extreme poverty, according to data from the United Nations and the World Bank.
Yet, the reality of poverty in rural Africa — where many communities depend on farming, livestock, forests, rivers, and lakes — is far more complex. The World Bank’s measure of extreme poverty at $2.15 a day, often fails to capture the nuances of rural livelihoods or local understandings of well-being.
This week on Talk Africa, we explore poverty through an African lens — examining what it truly means and how rural Africa can be revitalized through locally grounded solutions and community-driven development.
