Below are various dimensions along which a BoP community can be segmented in order to better understand the diverse social structures and hidden assets already in place:
• Gender – In many communities, men and women perform different functions and may have different goals, needs, and values.
• Rural/Urban - The needs and social structures of urban dwellers may differ significantly from those in rural areas.
• Income Level - The BoP itself can be further subdivided along income level. Indeed, the BoP contains an economic pyramid of its own. There may be significant differences between the poorer and the wealthier members of the BoP community.
• Asset or Land Ownership – Various forms of land tenure may exit at the BoP and exert an impact on people’s needs and concerns. For example, some BoP farmers may own their land while others may rent (tenant farmers). In addition, in some cases farmers are neither land-owners nor renters, but simply own their labor (share croppers). Lastly, some are bonded or indentured workers, having no form of land title nor recognized ownership of their labor.
• Age – There may be significant differences between younger groups and older members of a community. For example, education may figure quite differently in terms of a person’s needs depending on his or her age.
• Ethnicity or Culture – Within a single community, there might be several very distinct tribes or religions, each with distinct values.