RETHINKING POVERTY ALLEVIATION: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF POVERTY REDUCTION MODELS AND THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

Poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has remained uneven despite the expansion of development interventions and periods of economic growth. This study examines the effectiveness of three widely used poverty alleviation strategies social protection, digital financial inclusion, and inclusive business while considering the role of governance and infrastructure in shaping outcomes. Using a mixed-methods approach, the analysis combines secondary data from regional datasets with insights from existing empirical literature. The findings indicate that social protection programmes, particularly cash transfers, play a critical role in reducing short-term vulnerability and stabilizing household consumption. However, their long-term impact is limited when not linked to broader economic opportunities. Digital financial inclusion has expanded significantly and improves resilience by enhancing access to financial services, though its benefits remain uneven due to gaps in infrastructure and digital access. Inclusive business models are associated with higher income opportunities, but tend to favor individuals who are already partially integrated into markets, leaving the most vulnerable groups behind. A key insight from the study is that governance quality and infrastructure consistently influence the effectiveness of all three approaches. Where institutional capacity and basic infrastructure are stronger, combined interventions produce more sustained outcomes. The study therefore argues for a more integrated, system-based approach to poverty alleviation one that aligns social protection, financial access, and market participation within supportive institutional environments to achieve more inclusive and lasting development outcomes in SSA.