Rural Poverty, Sustainability and Rural Development in the Twenty-First Century: A Focus on Human Settlements

摘要

Rural areas accommodate the majority of population in developing countries. In spite of the ongoing process of urbanization (and the resulting "urbanization of poverty"), the majority of the world's poor still live in rural areas. Some of the most visible ways in which rural poverty is manifested are poor shelter, infrastructure and service provision in rural settlements. Because of the multiple interrelationships and increasing interdependencies between urban and rural areas, the conventional rural- versus- urban debate (which has dominated development policies and aid investment priorities) is counterproductive and no longer based on reality. Instead, the focus should be on promoting urban-rural linkages. Improvements in shelter and infrastructure in rural areas can play an important role in strengthening urban-rural linkages, create non-farm employment, manage natural resources and contribute to sustainable development of rural dominated regions. Improvements in shelter, infrastructure and access to services in rural areas are fundamental for the expansion of markets, a diversification of the economic relationships between towns and villages, and reduce the extent and intensity of rural poverty. Towards this goal, the adoption of enabling policies are needed in many developing countries which decentralise political decision-making, guide private investments into rural areas, and support the initiatives of local communities.