When thinking about this theme, we may ask what we consider to define poverty. The indicators of poverty here are real incomes, the proximity of real incomes to the so-called poverty line and inequality. Such indicators are useful to gauge progress, but they do not encapsulate what the aims of any poverty eradication strategy should be. With regard to this question, the concept of sustainable livelihoods must be brought in. Another sub-theme of this African Regional Dialogue points to the importance of respecting cultural diversity.
Culture is about livelihoods.
If we are convinced that maintaining cultural diversity is important, then we must also be convinced that maintaining diversity of livelihoods is important. So, a critical indicator of poverty is the decreasing choice available to African peoples in terms of our livelihoods. Thus an end and an indicator of gains in the struggle against poverty is the ability to choose between livelihoods, between modes of production that we ourselves own and control. Therefore, it is appropriate to focus on sustainable livelihoods and how our choices of livelihoods are being decreased by the national and international policy choices we are making with regards to finance, trade and investment. In the south of Tanzania, in Lindi, there is a center called the Mtwara Media Center.