2 appendices; 24 ref. Summary (En) Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB (UK)

Urban poverty is increasing alongside growing urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Women constitute a significant proportion of the urban poor but their role is often neglected by development projects. Research was undertaken with the aim of providing better definition and targeting of project interventions. Survival strategies include migration, marriage and fertility, education, links with rural areas, social networks, saving and borrowing, and home production through urban agriculture. Most women also engage directly in some form of income-earning activity. The scale of these activities varies widely but for the vast majority of poor women, it is most often the vending of foodstuffs. Poor women depend on purchased natural resources products for family food and fuel supplies, and are also involved in the trading of these products. Ways in which women's livelihood strategies could be strengthened are discussed and the need for a multi-dimensional initiatives is emphasized. Credit, confidence-building, access to information, and specific income-generating activities are highlighted as major requirements

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