POVERTY MAPPING AND MONITORING USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW

1. POVERTY MAPPING AND MONITORING USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW

2. Background Demand � request from countries for technical assistance on poverty mapping Interdivision project: Poverty mapping and monitoring using Information Technology Expert group meeting Background document on status methodologies and policies uses of poverty mapping

3. Objectives of the EGM Review the status of methodologies and policies regarding use of poverty mapping ; Examine a number of country case studies Identify key issues for determining applicability of various methodologies ; Assist in defining UNESCAP�s role in the promotion of poverty mapping techniques

4. Mechanics Four country case studies (methodology, uses and impact) Panel presentations and discussions -sharing practical experiences, methodology, uses, policy issues and impact Synthesis and recommendations

5. Key issues on poverty mapping Targeting direct programmes to benefit the poor (household) Income generation Health Housing Sanitation Targeting direct programmes to benefit poor regions Mitigating land degradation Mitigating forest degradation Increasing watershed cover Improving physical infrastructure

6. Key issues on poverty mapping Resources are to be directed to Where the poor live Poor regions (with less potential for economic development Various levels of decentralized resource allocation planning Federal planners ? State and provinces Provincial planners ? Districts District planners ? Villages Village planners ? Communities/households

7. Production and use of poverty maps Production issues Poverty maps uses small area distribution of economic welfare estimated from statistical data which are normally available for a country (combination of household survey and population census)

8. Production issues How to combine the two data sets Data � household survey / census Estimation of the income/consumption model Simulation of income/consumption of all household in population census Poor-nonpoor classification by using poverty lines Aggregation of poverty for small areas; districts, sub-districts, villages

9. Geographic Information System (GIS) Spatial representation of income poverty as well as attributes/indicators of poverty, such as ecological dimension of poverty, watershed atlas, vulnerability atlas, food security and natural resources Stand alone maps could identify poor region but not �poor region housing large number of poor people� Maps of transport information, public service centers and urbanization Superimposing �attributes� with �poverty status� maps

10. Issues regarding use of poverty maps Who will use the maps? What will be the use: Locating where there is a concentration of the income poor and resources should be allocated Locating where there is a concentration of �poverty attributes� (degraded land and forest cover, lock of watershed, etc.) and resources should be allocated Resource allocation planning and monitoring impact of policies Reliability of poverty and other maps for allocating resources and monitor impacts

11. What do we expect from this meeting? Identification of priority constraints and recommendations for alleviating those Creation and adoption of appropriate and reliable methodology Human resources for production, interpretation and use of poverty maps (national capacities) Financial resources Institutions (multidisciplinary?)

12. Possible role of UNESCAP Technical assistance in organizing poverty mapping exercises Technical assistance in providing training Providing forums for experience sharing (expected results?) Advocacy

13. Poverty Mapping � An Overview Recent interest in poverty mapping Policy applications Methods of poverty mapping Key issues: methods and use poverty maps For my part of the presentation, I will be covering the basics of poverty mapping within 20 minutes. I will begin with some reasons for the recent interest on poverty maps, describe the generics of steps of poverty map production, give you some concrete applications, and propose some key issues for discussion. Hopefully, this will serve as an introduction on the subject matter of this meeting, before proceeding to the more technical country case studies presentations. I will cover this outline within 20 minutes. I will offer some reasons for the recent interest in poverty mapping, give some examples on policy applications, describe approaches to poverty mapping and highlight key issues regarding methodology and use of poverty maps For my part of the presentation, I will be covering the basics of poverty mapping within 20 minutes. I will begin with some reasons for the recent interest on poverty maps, describe the generics of steps of poverty map production, give you some concrete applications, and propose some key issues for discussion. Hopefully, this will serve as an introduction on the subject matter of this meeting, before proceeding to the more technical country case studies presentations. I will cover this outline within 20 minutes. I will offer some reasons for the recent interest in poverty mapping, give some examples on policy applications, describe approaches to poverty mapping and highlight key issues regarding methodology and use of poverty maps

14. Poverty mapping � not new! At the outset, poverty mapping is not a new invention! It is an old tool. Over 100 years ago, poverty maps were already used in London. Poverty mapping basically involves estimating or measuring the extent of poverty or food security for some geographic areas.At the outset, poverty mapping is not a new invention! It is an old tool. Over 100 years ago, poverty maps were already used in London. Poverty mapping basically involves estimating or measuring the extent of poverty or food security for some geographic areas.

15. Recent Interest in Poverty Mapping Global agenda on poverty reduction Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Challenge � inequality! �In many countries, the letter of the Goals may be achieved if efforts focus on people already doing the best in society. But the spirit of the Goals is not met if countries that cross the finish line leave behind many poor people� (Human Development Report 2003) Needs effective targeting, including geographic Promotion by World Bank, UN agencies, etc. The spirit of MDGs made clear the need for relevant and reliable indicators or data to monitor progress, set policies and evaluate results. This is beautifully expressed in this statement taken from the latest Human Development Report 2003 The spirit of MDGs made clear the need for relevant and reliable indicators or data to monitor progress, set policies and evaluate results. This is beautifully expressed in this statement taken from the latest Human Development Report 2003

16. Advancement in Information and Communication Technology (computers, GIS, Remote Sensing) GIS is a computer software that links geographic information (where things are) with descriptive information (what things are) GIS produces digital maps. Unlike a flat paper map, a GIS digital map can present many layers of different information of the map Most types of poverty mapping increasingly depend on GIS generated data. Recent Interest in Poverty Mapping

17. Recent Interest in Poverty Mapping Advancement in statistical modeling techniques Small area estimation Use of available data (household surveys and census to estimate poverty indicators)

19. Policy applications of poverty maps Targeting of emergency food aid and poverty reduction programmes Planning of health services Development of early warning system Distribution of scholarship programme Planning and targeting infrastructure projects Targeting of livestock research Environmental assessment

20. Targeting of poverty reduction Viet Nam�s Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy will use district level poverty maps to improve targeting of poverty reduction programmes Provide new jobs to 1.4-1.5 million people per year Improve quality of education Provide clean water to 85% of population Upgrade irrigation systems

21. Planning health services Maps of poverty, sanitation, water supply and cholera incidence were heavily used to help contain a cholera outbreak in South Africa in 2001

22. Assessment of food security Cambodia, WFP has used commune level poverty maps since 1995 to help identify the most food-insecure communes, especially for the �food for work� programme Allocating US$ 50 million in WFP food aid (2001-03)

23. Planning infrastructure projects The World Bank is using Guatemala�s poverty map in conjunction with other data to help develop a road strategy. This will influence the allocation of US$ 100 million for road improvement

24. Education Poverty map was used in Guatemala to verify whether scholarships had been allocated to the poorest municipalities

25. Methods of poverty mapping 1. Small area estimation Household-level data Community-level data Advantages Use available datasets (census and household survey) Proven feasible in many countries Nicaragua, Ecuador, Panama, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Guatemala, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, etc. Reliability of estimates can be checked easily Institutional and technical backing of the World Bank Disadvantages presents a number of computational and econometric challenges Large size datasets Timing of data sources High level of technical expertise Household survey data are used to estimate econometrically the relationship between poverty (or household expenditure) and a series of household characteristics, including household size, education attainment, occupation, housing characteristics, access to utilities, ownership of consumer goods Appropriateness and applicability of various methodologies for different policy applications.Household survey data are used to estimate econometrically the relationship between poverty (or household expenditure) and a series of household characteristics, including household size, education attainment, occupation, housing characteristics, access to utilities, ownership of consumer goods Appropriateness and applicability of various methodologies for different policy applications.

26. Methods of poverty mapping 2. Composite indexes Community-level data Variables are selected (typically > 3 variables) Weighting schemes (equal weights, use statistical techniques) Transform several variables into one index Rely of population census dataset Examples: Marginality index (Mexico) Literary, access to water, drainage, electricity, household size, floor, occupation Human Development Index (HDI), UNDP Life expectancy, literacy, Income Advantages: Less data requirements than small area estimation Requires community-level averages from census Disadvantages High level of technical expertise Accuracy of estimates unclear Household survey data are used to estimate econometrically the relationship between poverty (or household expenditure) and a series of household characteristics, including household size, education attainment, occupation, housing characteristics, access to utilities, ownership of consumer goods Appropriateness and applicability of various methodologies for different policy applications.Household survey data are used to estimate econometrically the relationship between poverty (or household expenditure) and a series of household characteristics, including household size, education attainment, occupation, housing characteristics, access to utilities, ownership of consumer goods Appropriateness and applicability of various methodologies for different policy applications.

27. Methods of poverty mapping 3. Combination of qualitative information and secondary data Rapid rural appraisal techniques Semi structured group interviews Supplemented with secondary data Examples: FAO, WFP for food security assessment Advantages: Permits incorporation of qualitative information Less data requirement Requires lower level of expertise and instead more field experience Disadvantages: Subjective Unclear how use of qualitative information effects outcomes and precision of estimates Procedure undeveloped Household survey data are used to estimate econometrically the relationship between poverty (or household expenditure) and a series of household characteristics, including household size, education attainment, occupation, housing characteristics, access to utilities, ownership of consumer goods Appropriateness and applicability of various methodologies for different policy applications.Household survey data are used to estimate econometrically the relationship between poverty (or household expenditure) and a series of household characteristics, including household size, education attainment, occupation, housing characteristics, access to utilities, ownership of consumer goods Appropriateness and applicability of various methodologies for different policy applications.

28. Key issues and challenges Selection of method - different methods could lead to different results Precision of estimates, statistical error Local demand Applicability and limitations Costs Availability of local technical expertise Risk of misinformation Availability, access and quality of input data Sustainability like other tools, there is risk of being abandoned once donor�s funds and support have waned Difficulty in sustaining costly information system Deceptively relative ease of constructing a colorful and informative poverty maps, when different methods or different data could lead to very different results.Deceptively relative ease of constructing a colorful and informative poverty maps, when different methods or different data could lead to very different results.

29. Poverty mapping � is a tool! Powerful tool for information and analysis Clear objectives in mind to guide interpretation of the maps and determine the appropriate methodology to utilize It can lead to misinterpretation and to serious policy and analytical mistakes.