ABSTRACT
In some countries in Southern Africa, and among some donors, there has been a shift in concern from rural poverty to urban poverty. There are a number of reasons for this: Urban poverty is increasing and structural adjustment programmes have made urban living very difficult for many households, urban poverty tends to be more visible with slums, beggars, increased crime and riots. Therefore, while concern for poverty in urban areas is necessary, this should not be allowed to detract from the priority of addressing rural poverty. It is also important to remember that urban and rural poverty are not separate many households have members working in urban areas and other members farming in rural areas. Food and money pass in both directions, depending on the time of year and the success of the harvest; having household members in both urban and rural areas is an important risk-reduction strategy.
