To the extent that population categories - people with disabilities, elderly, orphaned children - are closely identified with acute levels of poverty and disability, ethical perspectives which justify that assistance should be directed to those that are worse off in society are dominant. Alternatively, a stronger basis for assisting these groups might be found in ethical perspectives on recognition (Fraser, 1995).This view highlights the perception that vulnerable groups are denied their value and contribution to society through unjust economic and political institutions. However, recognition policies are distinct in nature and scope from anti-poverty policies. These programmes assume that in the absence of a sufficient level of productive assets, raising consumption will not address poverty sustainably.