chronically poor rural households, many no longer

Rural World 5 households are chronically poor. Most have sold off or been stripped of
their asset holdings during periods of crisis. Remittances from relatives, community safety
nets and government transfers are vital to their sustenance. As a result of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, many more households are facing this precarious situation. Entrenched gender
inequalities exacerbate this problem. Social exclusion often typifies the relationship of
Rural World 5 to the larger community. Cash and in-kind transfer schemes will be critical
for this group for some time.