There is a lot we can learn from best-practice participatory work which has been somewhat sidestepped by the PPA process. When visiting China last year, IDS researchers Bob Baulch, Sarah Cook and Neil McCulloch visited the house of the famous 8 th century Chinese poet Du Fu. Whilst there, their Chinese hosts recited one of Du Fu's most famous short poems which, it turned out, is about poverty and inequality. Desmond A comprehensive review of knowledge about poverty in Africa, intended to renew and redirect the agenda for poverty reduction. Human Development Report for Shinyanga, northern Tanzania Martin Greeley Participatory Poverty Assessment in 8 villages, emphasising the linkages between research and planning actions for poverty reduction, and building local capacity for participatory change.
Inputs relate to microfinance, decentralisation and local-level actions for poverty reduction.
Social Safety Nets in Southern Africa Stephen Devereux Impact assessment of targeted cash transfers to the poor in Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia. Social Security in Rural China Sarah Cook Rural survey research to identify household level demand for welfare services in the context of declining collective provision, and implications for government policy. Economist Manual Howard White Produce chapter on poverty for an economics text and carry out a 'poverty audit' of the whole manual. Sustainable Livelihoods and Safety Nets in Malawi Stephen Devereux Support to the understanding of livelihood systems and informal safety nets in Malawi, towards designing effective interventions. The IDS Poverty Newsletter is published by the Institute of Development Studies.