States and non-state actors cooperate by combining state authority and public resources with external funding, specialist knowledge, local access and service delivery. This can reduce poverty more effectively, although unequal power and weak accountability may limit success.
This question belongs to the Poverty topic area in the IB Global Politics HL extension. Poverty is multidimensional, including inadequate income, healthcare, education, housing and economic security.
| Actor | Contribution to cooperation | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| States | Governments legislate, collect taxes, coordinate policy and provide services. | Ethiopia's government has run the Productive Safety Net Programme since 2005, providing cash or food through public works or direct support. In 2021, it reached about eight million food-insecure people. |
| NGOs | NGOs supply local knowledge, personnel and community access. | CARE and other NGOs have connected Ethiopia's national programme with local households. |
| International organizations | These actors provide loans, grants, research and technical assistance. | The World Bank and international donors have financed and advised Ethiopia's programme. |
| Businesses | Firms provide employment, financial services and payment technology. | Kenya's Hunger Safety Net Programme uses private banking agents to deliver government cash transfers in remote northern counties. |
This cooperation demonstrates interdependence because actors possess different resources. It also raises questions about power and sovereignty: donors may influence policy through funding conditions, while governments retain formal authority. Legitimacy depends on transparency, community participation and whether assistance reaches intended recipients.
A common misconception is that non-state actors simply replace weak governments. Sustainable poverty reduction normally requires coordination: NGOs may deliver services, but states must establish rights, infrastructure and long-term social protection.
For an HL Paper 3 response, identify each actor's distinct role, use a dated case with a measurable outcome, and evaluate donor dependence, corruption, exclusion errors or weak participation. Connect Poverty to another HL topic area, such as Equality, Health or Technology.
