A definition of poverty The Opportunities Leadership Roundtable members ground their work in the concepts embedded in the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA), a framework developed in the 1990s by the UK Department for International Development. [...] The Opportunities Leadership Roundtable (LRT) decided upon a definition of poverty that was in line with the beliefs and principles of their community, and that aligned well with the Sustainable Livelihoods and Vibrant Communities approaches. [...] A Board of Directors is the fiduciary agent and paid staff members are charged with acting on the advice of the LRT and Board. [...] Opportunities summarized the learning with an understanding that policy development and implementation – at whatever level – should adopt a framework for ensuring that the values of social inclusion, dignity and integrity of the individual are at the heart of policy development. [...] In the second year, the research findings will be brought to the attention of the local community and policy-makers at all levels.