Particularly if poverty reduction is the goal, listening to the poor, in- volving them in decisionmaking, in the planning and implementation of programs and projects that affect their lives is a must. Empowerment of the poor is as critical to their well-being as giving them the projects, investments, and programs to improve their quality of life. Some of these insights implicitly or explicitly shape and influence the thinking of social funds, but this is an evolving process. New insights are made every day. This discussion of the future of social funds should be informed and take into account these broad trends, which are not confined to any particular country.
