Abstract
The term "empowerment" has different meanings in different sociocultural and political contexts. Broadly speaking, empowerment refers to the expansion of assets and capabilities of poor people to participate in, negotiate with, influence, control, and hold accountable institutions that affect people's lives. The paper explores each of these aspects and identifies access to information, inclusion and participation, accountability, and local organizational capacity as the four main elements of empowerment. These elements are closely intertwined and act in synergy, in order to create more effective, responsive, inclusive, and accountable institutions. The paper also highlights the crucial role empowerment plays in providing access to basic services and improved local and national governance. This will enable poor people to develop their own capabilities, increase their assets, and move out of poverty.