The concept poverty cannot be overemphasised, thus its nature is multi-dimensional which has been supported by The Human Right Approach by underlining the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. The Human right approach describes poverty in terms of a range of interrelated and mutually reinforcing deprivations, and drawing attention to the stigma, discrimination, insecurity and social exclusion associated with poverty. Poverty is not only a matter of income, but also, more fundamentally, a matter of being able to live a life in dignity and enjoy basic human rights and freedoms (UN high commissioner for Human Rights n.d). Poverty can be explained in different perspectives and approaches such as income poverty approach, capability approach, inequality approach, human right based approach.
Income poverty approach which refers to Incomes below a “minimum subsistence” or 50% or 60% below the median. (UN high commissioner for Human Rights n.d) This means that the income that the citizens in a state receive is lower than minimum survival for existence. Most countries which the West has reduced to underdeveloped countries face this type of poverty.
Another approach used to interrogate poverty is basic needs approach. This approach sees Poverty as scarcity of resources and opportunities to satisfy basic needs. (Spicker P. n.d :230) Basic needs include shelter, food, clothes etc. Looking at this definition of poverty, countries like the war torn countries can be placed in this category.
A different approach to poverty is the capability approach which views poverty as deprivation and lack of prerequisites for self-determined life, “lack of capabilities” to manage one’s life. Capabilities to take care of one self and family. For a country scope, it covers the lack of capability to take care of her citizens, nation goals and inability to aid development of that country due to lack of the capability,
Other approaches include well-being approach which perceives poverty is the flipside of well-being, it is bad life, and it is ill-being. Poverty is seen as a multidimensional lack of resources and conditions to achieve satisfaction of physical, social and psychological or self-actualisation needs (Koivusilta Mira) .
Human Rights Based Approach: Poverty is a violation of basic rights and fundamental freedoms. It is a multidimensional and comprehensive perspective. (Koivusilta Mira) Human right is perceived as an “entailment to treatment that a person enjoys simply by virtue of being a human being”[1] these rights are evident in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948 (Holfman J. and Graham P. 2009. )
The last approach to the study of poverty is inequality approach which understands poverty as a process. Its essential root causes are embedded in inequality, insecurity, vulnerability, discrimination and exclusion. Thus, the ways to attack poverty are related to more equal opportunities, decent work, economic and social security, non-discrimination, empowerment and making social and economic institutions more fair and accountable. (World Bank 2006).
There are various types of poverty which include; absolute poverty, extreme or serious poverty, overall poverty and relative poverty (Koivusilta Mira). Overall Poverty has various manifestations, including: lack of income and productive resources sufficient to ensure sustainable livelihoods; hunger and malnutrition; ill health; limited or lack of access to education and other basic services; increased morbidity and mortality from illness; homelessness and inadequate housing; unsafe environments; social discrimination and exclusion; characterised by lack of participation in decision-making and in civil, social and cultural rights (Koivusilta Mira).
Absolute poverty is a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services (World Summit 1995).
Poverty thus have a detrimental effect on humans, individuals, society and the world at large which in turn affects development. Examples can be drawn from how poverty leads to criminal activities which leads to high level of insecurity. Poverty has led deprivation of basic human amenities such as food, water, shelter, health facilities , education etc. Poverty, lack of education and awareness goes further to affect the society and countries as it has made countries make decisions that is detrimental to the society.
