Improving participation and empowerment of the poor

The poor of any community are not a homogeneous group. They include young and old, men and women and those of different cultural backgrounds. Usually lacking access to the productive resources of capital, land and water, they tend to miss new opportunities that become available in their area because they do not have the education, position or the contacts, or because they are afraid to offend those upon whom they depend.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends mechanisms to improve participation by poor people in local community groups.