Abdul-Mumin Abdulai

Theory and Practice on the Nexus Between Poverty, Natural Resources and Governance

This chapter is about theory and practice on the relationship between poverty reduction, natural resources and governance. The objective in this chapter is an attempt to offer a systematic explanation to the questions: Why poverty? Can poverty be alleviated? And if yes, by what strategies or how can livelihoods be made sustainable? The underlying objective of any theories is to provide systematic explanation between phenomena or events and their occurrence. Having settled on specific theoretical stance, individuals and/or societies will then embark on implementing such theoretical precepts, hence the practice. Therefore, this chapter incorporates Islamic theoretical stance and other conventional theoretical perspectives on the subject matter.

The Incidence and Trend of Poverty in the Muslim World

This chapter examines the indicators of poverty and the measurement of these indicators. The authors have examined both the conventional and Islamic perspectives of poverty and the various dimensions of poverty in this chapter. Finally, the trend of poverty has been looked at using the poverty headcount, poverty gap and squared poverty gap indexes within the three regions into which the Muslim world has been categorised.

Governance and Poverty Alleviation in the Muslim World

This chapter examines good governance because it is indispensable approach to poverty alleviation and the entire sustainable livelihood process. Good governance becomes even more crucial in ensuring efficient resource utilisation, which is essential for socio-economic development in a country. The components of good governance looked at in this chapter include political instability, institutional support or commitment to poverty reduction, i.e. planning, implementation and delivery. The authors have attempted an impact assessment of sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction programmes in some selected countries. Finally, constraints and weaknesses of the programmes have been examined.

Zakat as Policy Tool to Reduce Poverty and Improve Livelihoods

This chapter examines Zakat (a faith-based institution) as a potent wealth mobilisation and redistribution mechanism, which has the efficacy to reduce poverty significantly not only within countries but also among countries. Zakat occupies a central position among the five pillars upon which the edifice of Islam rests. This centrality should manifest in the fight against poverty. In its central position, Zakat should serve as a link between wealth and poverty, affluence and deprivation and, for a want of better term, between the nonpoor and the poor. Data on Zakat have been empirically gathered. A structured questionnaire has been used to elicit first-hand information on the role of Zakat in poverty reduction and livelihoods sustainability in the selected countries. The data were collected from the state’s departments responsible for the administration of Zakat in the selected countries. That is, these are the few countries where Zakat has been given a legislative backing because Zakat has not been institutionalised in the majority of the OIC countries.

Techniques and Methods Used to Investigate Poverty in the Muslim World

This chapter discusses the techniques and methods used to investigate poverty, natural resource endowments and governance in the Muslim world. A sustainable livelihood framework has been presented in this chapter with emphasis on the types of resources that are deemed essential in scaling up livelihoods and reducing poverty. It also highlights factors that can constrain livelihood sustainability, the measures to ameliorate these inhibiting factors and sustainable livelihood outcomes that countries should strive to achieve. Furthermore, most of the key concepts used in this book have been operationally defined to shed more light on the exact meanings as used in this book.

Natural Resource Endowments and Development Trend in the Muslim World

This chapter addresses the following questions: What is the magnitude of natural resource endowments in the Muslim world? Which countries are heavily endowed with natural resources? What is the level of economic growth in these countries in terms of productivity, manufacturing, investment, savings and trade? What is the level of socio-economic development in terms of human capital enhancement, provision of infrastructure and social amenities? Discussing these parameters is vital because they constitute the crucial determinants of livelihood sustainability and poverty reduction.

Towards a Practicable Development Collaboration

This chapter addresses the following question: what kind of collaboration or cooperation should be pursued to successfully improve livelihoods and reduce poverty substantially in the Muslim world? In the light of the findings that showed dismal performance of many of the Muslim countries in scaling up livelihoods and reducing poverty, the authors have proposed a general pattern of collaboration known as Development Collaboration Octagon Model (DeCOM) that seeks to pull resources and expertise to build stronger synergy equal to the daunting task posed by the deteriorating livelihood chances underpinning the general socio-economic underdevelopment in the majority of the selected Muslim countries . Out of this generic pattern , divisional and subdivisional patterns of cooperation may emerge that will capture the realities on the ground, particularly at the local and grass-root levels.

Addressing Pertinent Development Questions in the Muslim World

This chapter addresses both the research questions and the objectives upon which the entire book has been structured. The research questions have been raised based upon the authors’ assumption that inasmuch as the poverty alleviation frameworks designed and implemented in the Muslim world may yield some positive results, the impact will not reflect uniformly in all the Muslim countries taking into account the existing differences in their natural resource endowments, level of socio-economic development and the creed of governance . For that reason, the following questions have been addressed in this chapter: what is the scale of poverty in the Muslim world ? To what extent do resource endowments and utilisation influence social and economic development , thereby impacting poverty alleviation in the Muslim world ? How potent and successful are the public poverty alleviation strategies and programmes pursued in the Muslim countries? And to what extent has the institution of Zakat been effectively incorporated into the public poverty alleviation strategies in the Muslim countries?