Tackling Poverty with Social Funds (Paperback)

Poverty is persistent in Caribbean countries like Jamaica, manifesting itself in hunger and malnutrition, substandard housing, high rates of teenage pregnancy, poor educational outcomes, and appalling levels of crime and violence. Tackling Poverty with Social Funds explores a strategy that engages citizens in small-scale projects designed to address public poverty issues, improve community living standards, and enhance the quality of life. The book focuses in part on citizen participation and social capital, analyzing the extent to which a social fund prepares a community to meet its own needs and solve its own problems. Marked by a rich, detailed description of stakeholder involvement in community-driven development, the book offers interesting insights into the character of civic and social life in local communities. It makes a compelling case for an integrated approach to development based on partnerships among the state, private sector, and civil society. This book should be of special interest to social development planners and practitioners, as well as researchers in the social welfare and community development fields.