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	Introduction Series Overview Schedule Seminar Presentations Reading List Participants
	1: Why an Interest in the Links between NRM and Poverty? 2: Power and the Social Dimensions of Poverty and NRM 3: Assets, Poverty Traps and Rights 4: Markets and Trade 5: Migration, Marginal Lands, and Least-Favored Areas 6: Key Macro and National Level Issues 7: Programmatic Issues and Tools 8: Conflict, Corruption, NRM and Poverty Reduction
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Poverty Reduction and NRM Seminar Series

Seminar 2: Power and the Social Dimensions of Poverty and NRM

USAID contractor works with Afghan village to improve local livelihoods.

This seminar focused on improving participants’ understanding of power and social capital, and their dynamic, mediating effect on natural resources management and poverty reduction at multiple levels—from the farm to the policy boardroom. In exploring levels of inequality and power related to the natural environment, participants were encouraged to think in more nuanced and complex fashions regarding labels used by USAID and many development practitioners, such as “the poor,” “traditionally marginalized people,” “women,” “local communities,” and “indigenous groups.” How, for example, does USAID’s use and internalization of terms such as “pro-poor” impact programming in poverty reduction and natural resources management, especially given that rural people in many locations may be cash-poor but resource-rich in terms of their social capital and networks?

Building on the participants’ own experiences and expectations, this seminar used a workshop format to explore USAID’s understandings of power and social (in)equality and to discuss the implications for USAID’s day-to-day work. With valuable insights and reflections from two experienced practitioners, participants used a case study and small-group work to analyze possible programmatic responses to a natural resource management and poverty reduction challenge.

At the end of the session, participants were able to:

1. Define the following terms and their relation to poverty reduction and natural resource management:
• Participation and empowerment
• Social capital
• Decentralization
2. Relate these terms and concepts to their respective USAID roles and responsibilities.

The seminar’s facilitators were Ruth Meinzen-Dick from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and USAID’s Margaret Sarles in the Office of Democracy & Governance; Democracy, Conflict & Humanitarian Assistance Bureau.

Seminar 2:

• Reading List
• Presentation

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