The informal sector and migrants remittances form the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy The catch phrase 'Brain Drain' seems to be the latest development catch phrase. Cited in journalism and academia alike, its meaning is somewhat ambiguous. Is migration detrimental to society of departure, or does the workers' remittance outweigh any negative consequences? This paper seeks to explore the extent to which migrant remittance transfers to Zimbabwe affect poverty with particular reference to the medium of the informal economy and 'in kind' transfers. Methodological approaches to analysing the informal Gaining strength but losing direction in the Botswanan political economy? Few countries in the world, over a period of more than three decades, recorded an uninterrupted higher growth rate than Botswana. Whilst many neighbouring countries struggled with the after-effects of colonial administration, Botswana's post-independence political economy flourished. However, this success is not translating to other related improvements that economic development is thought to provide. This paper examines the key processes that accounted for the successful performance of the economy. Additionally, Measuring the sustainability of poverty reduction efforts in Asia and the Pacific The Asian Development Bank's (ADB) foremost goal is the eradication of poverty in Asia and the Pacific. In order to achieve this, the Bank has undertaken a number of programmes directly targeting the poor. Whilst there are a number of studies on targeting, results-based evaluations are needed, that measures the effectiveness of targeting in terms of the number of households that rise out of poverty. This evaluation analyses the effectiveness of different ADB projects, targeted and non-targeted, in reducing rural Is social protection a sustainable approach to poverty reduction? Poverty reduction is the result of several interacting factors, including importantly: redistribution of incomes, assets, and opportunities; pro-poor economic growth; and social provision and protection. This issue of IPCs journal Poverty in Focus highlights the importance of social protection in the struggle against global poverty. The issue contains a number of articles from authors of varied backgrounds and areas of expertise, including: Targeting and universalism in poverty: are social benefits a The long-term inequalities resulting from conflict in Rwanda Civil war and genocide in 1990s Rwanda saw not only millions of lives lost, but a population left behind to establish a livelihood when facing serious obstacles. This study examines the impact of the conflict on household income and poverty dynamics, particularly the transitory nature of poverty. The paper aims to uncover important differences between the effects of conflict-induced shocks on household welfare compared to well-known economic shocks. Following an outline of the history of conflict in Created by the RSSMix News Wizard