Authors: Chen Taotao, Song Qing, Feng Jian, Qiao Ziyi, Rong Yu

The "5W1H+" toolkit is designed to deeply analyze poverty reduction mechanisms and innovatively integrate cross-cultural perspectives to promote the exchange and transfer of international experiences. The development philosophy of this toolkit draws on the essence of "Factor Analysis" (i.e., providing several key directions for thinking by asking questions about a series of core factors such as events, time, and location). However, traditional factor analysis tools lack sufficient refinement and precision in addressing the specific needs of poverty reduction research, and their adaptability is insufficient. To address this, we have developed this toolkit based on in-depth analysis and summarization of numerous poverty reduction cases, combined with a cross-cultural perspective. It precisely delineates six key elements of poverty reduction issues: —— What, When, Where, Why, Who, and How. First, it aims to meticulously dissect poverty situations and poverty reduction strategies, deeply revealing the internal mechanisms of the poverty reduction process. On this basis, the toolkit uniquely offers a "cross-cultural perspective," encouraging users to expand their analytical focus from single cases to poverty issues in different contexts, thereby understanding the commonalities and differences in poverty reduction efforts across different countries and cultural backgrounds, exploring the transnational transfer of poverty reduction experiences, and promoting learning and cooperation internationally.

I. Dissection and analysis of the internal logic of poverty alleviation and poverty reduction programs

The six-element analysis in the "5W1H+" toolkit is primarily aimed at breaking down poverty scenarios and analyzing poverty reduction strategies. The relatively independent and interactive analysis of different elements allows us to progressively interpret poverty reduction issues. Through summarization, the internal logic of poverty creation and poverty reduction strategies can be divided into two main levels of analysis: the first is the analysis of poverty scenarios and causes, including identifying poverty (what), describing poverty (who, when, where), and analyzing poverty (why); the second is the analysis of poverty reduction strategies and implementation, including determining core poverty reduction strategies (how) and building a network of multiple stakeholders (who).

(1) Analysis of poverty scenarios and causes

1. Discover poverty (what)

The connotation of poverty is profound and multidimensional, spanning many levels, which requires us to have a keen eye and an open mind to insight and discover the real poverty in life.

Poverty is not merely a simple issue of insufficient income; it encompasses problems at various levels, from basic living needs, educational opportunities, and healthcare to emotional needs and cultural deficiencies. When we broaden our perspective, we can see that many phenomena around us reflect the true face of "poverty". For example, with the increasing proportion of the elderly population, more and more seniors are experiencing loneliness, lack of social interaction, and barriers to social integration. These issues further lead to health and social challenges such as depression, cognitive decline, and increased risk of chronic diseases, which undoubtedly represent a specific manifestation of the essence of "poverty." Another example is children growing up in slums, where their communities are rife with drug abuse, instant gratification, hedonism, and the brutal survival competition of "social Darwinism." This vicious cycle in cultural environments also constitutes a unique form of "poverty." As defined by the United Nations Development Programme (1999), the deeper meaning of poverty lies in people losing access to basic development opportunities and choices. It is these opportunities and choices that can guide individuals toward sustained, healthy, and creative lives, enjoying a life with dignity and respect for freedom, autonomy, and others. Therefore, discovering the phenomenon of real poverty is the cornerstone of our description and analysis.

2. Describe the scenario of poverty (who, where, when)

After the discovery of poverty, because the phenomenon of poverty is characterized by different situations, it is required to decompose and analyze the phenomenon from multiple aspects and angles to describe the scenario of poverty, including but not limited to the comprehensive description of key elements such as characters, places and times.

People affected by poverty (who): In each specific poverty scenario, there may be different "poverty" groups directly targeted. To accurately describe poverty phenomena, we need to distill the key characteristics of the key people involved, such as illiterates, unskilled workers, disabled people, the elderly, the unemployed, and the urban fringe groups.

The geographic areas of poverty occurrence (where): From the overall environment of a country or region to the topography, landforms, and infrastructure conditions of villages, communities, and surrounding areas, all contribute to the characteristics of geographic regions where poverty occurs. Accurately describing poverty phenomena also requires us to identify the key location elements, such as remote rural areas, urban-rural fringe areas, resource-scarce regions, and ethnic minority areas.

The time when poverty occurs (when): In the temporal dimension, describing the context of poverty not only requires pinpointing the exact moment it happens but also delving into the broader time frame and background at that moment. Accurately depicting poverty also involves precisely capturing and refining the characteristics of key time elements, such as periods of natural disasters, economic transitions, policy adjustments, and seasonal employment downturns.

Characters, locations, and times—these three key elements, like the axes of a map, collectively sketch out a detailed picture of poverty. In this picture, the living conditions of specific groups, the development status of specific regions, and the social background of specific historical periods intertwine to form a three-dimensional poverty analysis model. Such a model not only provides rich analytical pathways for our in-depth exploration of poverty causes, enabling us to understand the mechanisms of poverty generation from micro to macro levels, but also offers foundational conditions for designing more precise and effective poverty reduction strategies.

3. Analyze the causes of poverty (why)

After a comprehensive description of the scene elements such as people, places and times involved in poverty, the analysis of the causes of poverty needs to rely on these elements as the starting point to explore the specific causes of the formation of specific poverty conditions.

Analyzing the causes of poverty is typically a complex and comprehensive task, involving the integration and logical restructuring of multiple related factors. Taking the Malhadinha community in Brazil as an example, this community is located in the remote inland area of the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil, with a hot climate and a lack of clean water sources, and extremely inconvenient transportation conditions (where); the community residents are mainly descendants of slaves who historically fled from southern farms, generally having low levels of education (who); since its formation, the community has remained in a state of undeveloped economic poverty throughout history until it was discovered by State Grid Brazil Holding S.A. during an environmental impact assessment for a project in 2015 (when). In this specific context, the causes of poverty in the community can be interpreted from two levels (why): on one hand, the remote geographical location of the community has led to its failure to integrate into national development plans historically, which constitutes a general cause of poverty; on the other hand, constrained by existing survival traditions and environmental conditions, residents have had to rely on traditional methods to harvest fruits and sell them as juice, a production method that is inefficient and unhygienic, constituting a specific cause of poverty.

In short, systematically integrating existing information resources and building logical links and chains between various elements is the key to deeply understand the root causes of poverty and accurately grasp the essence of poverty.

In summary, poverty has multiple layers and dimensions. It not only requires us to identify and discover it with care but also demands a precise grasp of key elements such as individuals, time, and place. We need to meticulously sketch out the specific scenarios of poverty and, on this basis, conduct a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the multiple causes of poverty. This process is crucial for understanding the essence of poverty and formulating targeted poverty reduction strategies and measures.

(2) Analysis of poverty reduction programs and implementation

After completing the process of "identifying poverty —— describing poverty —— analyzing poverty," and gaining a thorough understanding of poverty scenarios and causes, we need to rely on the existing poverty reduction foundations within these scenarios and available external poverty reduction resources, and consider targeted poverty reduction strategies, which requires us to first determine the core poverty reduction strategy (how) and also build a network of multiple stakeholders (who) to facilitate the implementation of these strategies.

1. Identify core poverty reduction strategies (how)

The formulation of poverty reduction programs is a systematic project. However, behind every successful poverty reduction strategy lies a clear core action plan. The formation of this core strategy is the result of deep reflection and meticulous planning based on a thorough analysis of the characteristics of people affected by poverty, the geographical features of where poverty occurs, the historical context in which poverty phenomena emerge, and the comprehensive analysis of the causes of poverty.

Poverty reduction strategies are diverse and flexible, allowing for approaches from various perspectives and leveraging knowledge from different fields. For instance, some programs focus on creating new, sustainable livelihood models for the poor, thereby improving their inefficient production methods. Successful cases like China’s "tourism poverty alleviation" and "e-commerce poverty alleviation," as well as the State Grid Brazil Holding S.A.’s transformation of the Malhadinha community from "hand-made juice" to "juice factory-scale production," vividly illustrate this transition process. Other programs target specific causes of poverty, introducing new technologies or designing new products to address poverty issues. For example, in Kenya, the introduction of solar drip irrigation systems effectively solved the problem of farmers struggling to develop agriculture and animal husbandry due to insufficient water sources; in China, innovative financial products such as apple futures and corn options launched by the China Securities Regulatory Commission have specifically enhanced the risk resistance capabilities of impoverished farmers, ensuring their income stability. Although the core poverty reduction strategies in different programs vary, they all form the central axis of poverty reduction actions, guiding multiple forces to work together toward a common goal.

2. Build a multi-subject network (who)

Poverty reduction is usually the result of the collaboration of multiple actors and institutions, which requires careful planning on how to coordinate different participants and how to integrate diversified resources and forces on the basis of establishing core action strategies, so as to ensure the smooth implementation of poverty reduction programs and promote the long-term sustainable development of poverty reduction goals.

Unlike the "who" factor in poverty scenarios, in the design and implementation stages of poverty reduction programs, "who" refers to the network of multiple stakeholders involved in poverty reduction efforts. We need to not only break down the specific responsibilities of each stakeholder but also delve into their logical connections and interactions in poverty reduction actions.

First, we need to focus on key entities or institutions that play a leading and driving role, understanding their positioning in social structures, as well as their motivations, strategic choices, and practical approaches in poverty reduction efforts. These leading entities or institutions often assume multiple roles such as strategists, resource integrators, and action coordinators. Their actions not only directly impact poverty reduction outcomes but can also have profound effects on the construction of the entire poverty reduction ecosystem. Therefore, in-depth research on these entities helps us better grasp the overall direction of poverty reduction work.

Secondly, no single leading institution can possess all the resources and capabilities required to implement a comprehensive poverty reduction program on its own; therefore, it requires the collaborative efforts of various sectors of society. Governments, higher education institutions, enterprises, non-profit organizations, and others each have unique resources and expertise. They can play an indispensable role in key areas such as funding, organizational mobilization, technology promotion, and continuous monitoring of poverty reduction programs. Exploring how these entities collaborate under the leadership of the leading institution to jointly advance the implementation of the program is also crucial for ensuring the success of poverty reduction efforts.

In conclusion, the implementation of poverty reduction programs should be based on a clear core action strategy, such as innovating livelihood models, introducing new technology, and promoting new products. On this foundation, it is essential to first consider the key entities that play a leading and driving role, while also considering how various social organizations can form a poverty reduction network under their leadership, working together to implement the program.

2. Tips on the use of toolboxes in cross-border learning from poverty reduction programmes

After breaking down the poverty scenario through six core issues and clarifying the internal mechanisms of poverty reduction programs, the "5W1H+" toolkit encourages users to explore the transnational transferability of poverty reduction experiences with its unique "cross-cultural perspective," promoting mutual learning and exchange among countries. When considering transferability, it is essential first to focus on the precise description of poverty scenarios and a clear understanding of the causes of poverty in different countries and institutional cultural contexts; on this basis, attention should also be paid to the objective conditions for implementing poverty reduction programs in different countries and institutional cultural contexts, particularly the potential differences in the roles played by various actors.

(1) Pay attention to the exact description of poverty scenarios and the exact grasp of the causes of poverty in the context of cross-cultural background

In different countries and institutional and cultural backgrounds, the characteristics of "character", "time" and "place" in the context of poverty show certain differences and commonalities. A deep analysis of these differences and commonalities can help us to grasp the fundamental causes of poverty more accurately.

On the one hand, the cross-border application of poverty reduction programs requires overcoming differences between countries, necessitating a meticulous analysis of the variations in scenarios. For instance, due to different stages of development and diverse era characteristics, these factors significantly influence the emergence of poverty. A cautious consideration of these differences is crucial for the successful transfer of poverty reduction programs.

On the other hand, international poverty reduction programs need to fully tap into commonalities to facilitate cross-border transfer. For example, despite varying stages of development, countries share the same world and face many common challenges of our time. Events such as the global economic crisis in 2008 and the global pandemic of COVID-19 in 2020 have had extensive impacts on different regions and countries, leading to a significant number of people falling back into poverty. These global challenges not only highlight the universality of poverty but also enhance the replicability and transferability of international poverty reduction experiences, providing valuable opportunities for mutual learning and reference among different countries. Therefore, when formulating poverty reduction strategies, we should focus on identifying and utilizing these common factors.

(2) Pay attention to the objective conditions for the implementation of poverty reduction programs in a cross-cultural context, especially the potential different roles of various players

Once the similarities and differences in the scenarios and causes of poverty in different countries and institutional cultures have been precisely grasped, there is a need to consider the different objective conditions under which established poverty reduction programs may be transferred, and in particular the differences in the roles played by the different agents on which poverty reduction depends.

Different countries have varying levels of economic development, natural resources, cultural traditions, and political systems, which create objective differences in the conditions for cross-border poverty reduction programs. For example, China’s rapid economic growth and well-developed infrastructure provide a solid foundation for implementing diverse poverty alleviation strategies such as e-commerce and tourism. In contrast, some Sub-Saharan African countries have lower levels of economic development and underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in road networks, power supply, and communication facilities. This lack of logistics infrastructure may make it difficult to promote China’s e-commerce poverty alleviation model in Africa.

It is particularly noteworthy that in poverty reduction efforts, the roles and functions of various actors can vary significantly due to differences in political, economic, and social structures across countries. For example, in China, the government typically plays a central leadership role in poverty alleviation, responsible for formulating and implementing poverty reduction policies, while also investing substantial funds and resources to promote the poverty reduction process. In contrast, in overseas contexts, governments may lack such strong leadership capabilities, so enterprises and international non-governmental organizations may play more critical roles in poverty reduction practices.

In summary, in the process of cross-cultural communication, it is crucial to understand the differences and commonalities in poverty scenarios and identify which international experiences have reference value for poverty reduction efforts. Integrating successful practices from home countries with local characteristics in host countries is key to achieving effective poverty reduction strategies. In host countries, ensuring that appropriate institutions assume suitable functions and make necessary localization adjustments based on local conditions are critical to addressing core issues such as fund raising, organizational mobilization, technology promotion, and continuous monitoring. Only in this way can the potential of international experience transfer be maximized.

Brief summary

The "5W1H+" poverty reduction toolkit, an innovative achievement based on in-depth exploration and meticulous refinement of numerous poverty reduction practices, represents a significant attempt in our field of poverty analysis. It integrates traditional factor analysis tools, adapting them to address poverty issues. This effectively compensates for the shortcomings in tools and methodologies found in previous poverty research. With its unique perspective and comprehensive consideration, it contributes significantly to the field of poverty reduction.

The core of this toolkit revolves around six key elements: —— characteristics of poverty (What), historical context (When), location-specific features (Where), causes of poverty (Why), stakeholders (Who), and poverty reduction strategies (How). —— It constructs a comprehensive, multi-level analytical framework. This framework not only provides us with a new perspective to deeply understand the challenges of poverty reduction, allowing us to meticulously analyze poverty phenomena, but also helps us uncover the logic and internal mechanisms behind poverty reduction actions, laying a solid foundation for formulating more scientific and rational poverty reduction strategies.

Under this framework, we particularly emphasize the exchange and mutual learning of poverty reduction experiences across different cultural contexts. Through the "5W1H+" poverty reduction toolkit, we can not only identify and summarize successful practices and experiences from different regions in the process of poverty reduction, but also promote the dissemination and application of these experiences globally, achieving synchronized communication and mutual learning among poverty reduction experiences.