The end of poverty depends on how poverty can be confronted by policies that enable families earn more income with other sources. For this reason anti poverty strategies are been used. The paper reviews the various approaches used by the government of Cameroon and other stake holders to combat poverty which is a threat to livelihoods in Cameroon and south west region in particular. The paper also dwells on the fact that although the government of Cameroon is doing every thing to reduce poverty, it has not been sufficient to improve living condition of most Cameroonians in general and the people of south west region in particular. Thus, the paper will give some recommendations in curbing the barriers to improving livelihood in the region