Poverty is a word that describes a condition, a set of circumstances, that people are in. Poverty exists in a system of factors including family relationships, government leaders, economic flows, personal mindsets, and individual choices. All of these are human, and the process of change in the systems affecting poverty is a process of human change. As such, I believe poverty alleviation and human development share a basis of fundamental ideas about human change.

Human change is possible at all ages.

Human change happens in a bumpy and unpredictable long-term process. It involves new awareness (thinking differently) and testing new choices (acting differently).

Human change happens through human interaction in groups and relationships.

It takes an holistic approach – single factor “silver bullets” tend to be overwhelmed by the inertia of the system.

Effectively influencing change in others depends on self-awareness, a humble desire to learn from others, and a great deal of listening to others. Attempts to force others to change through control or superiority are doomed to fail. Ample funding and correct ideas are not sufficient to bring about human change.

All of the above apply to poverty alleviation, because it is a process of human change.

Thanks to Andy Agaba, president of the poverty alleviation organization Hiinga for a great discussion contributing to this post.