Support to Poverty Reduction and Assessment in the

Caribbean within an MDG framework: The SPARC

Initiative

Presented by Leisa Perch (Programme Manager, Poverty Reduction), United Nations Development Programme, Sub-

regional Office for Barbados and the OECS

IADB Poverty Reduction& Social Protection Network Regional Policy Dialogue –Kingston, Jamaica –

February 23-24th, 2006

Guiding Vision for Poverty and Sustainable Human Development

Everybody has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of his/herself and of his/her family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his/her control.

(United Nations, Declaration of Human Rights Article 25 (1))

What makes persons vulnerable in the Caribbean

Limited access to income and employment opportunities Limited collateral – land tenure Limited access to insurance or social security if in informal

sector Limited alternatives to traditional sources of income Dependency and crowded households Living in disaster prone areas Economic shocks, natural disasters and conflict (nat’l or

global), other external influences Gendered roles , the impact of sexual practice and ability to

negotiate

How SPARC came about?

Why Support to Poverty Assessment and Reduction?

Arose out of a concern about: State of policy for poverty reduction (disjointed) Increased rural poverty due to economic downturns in bananas etc Increasing poverty despite high levels of human development The lack of quality data on social development or socio-economic links

in development Inadequate analysis of poverty and no clear definition of poverty in the

Caribbean context Achievement of the MDGs or development - could not occur in the

absence of sound, reliable data which identified progress, challenges, who should be targeted and point to required shifts

Limited spatial analysis Absence of linkages among data collectors, analysis and policy makers

Efforts in Assessing Poverty (1992-2003)

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 20031. Surveys of Living ConditionsJamaica × × × × × ×Trinidad and Tobago

× ×

Guyana × ×Barbados ×Belize × ×Saint Lucia ×St. Vincent & the Grenadines

×

Grenada ×St.Kitts and Nevis

×

Bahamas ×2. Labour Force SurveysSaint Lucia × × ×St. Vincent and the Grenadines

× × × ×

Dominica 1983 × ×Grenada3. Social SurveyMontserrat ×

Caribbean Countries

Implementation of Poverty Assessments 1993-2003

How did we arrive at this point? Discussions – common concerns by development partners through

DPPWG and then PSSDDG Recognize that TA over last 10 yrs had not resulted in significant

institutionalized capacity except in a couple of countries – Jamaica, STL

Progress Review of the MDGs by UNDP in 2003/4 Successful pilot of CWIQ in 2004 and 2005 Specific technical research – Hutcheon study Detailed discussions amongst key donors Discussions with CARICOM Stats Advisory Group and CARICOM

w/Director of Stats Presentations at COHSOD level and other regional meetings inc.

PRSP Review in 2005 Development of a Strategy Paper on Poverty and MDG monitoring

which could guide donor collaboration on this issue (by UNDP in collab with others)

Donor networking on Social Protection

Key Findings of the Hutcheon Study (2002)

Specifically: Number of various methodologies being used and no

consistent approach to poverty assessment Limited analysis due to limited capacity On occasions no real capacity built to sustain activities –

Lack of overall social development frameworks or policy structure at the national level

No national or regional poverty, social development, MDG targets or goals

Recognition of: relative high dependency on external consultants the absence of linkages among data collectors, analysts

and policy makers

The PSSDDG

Poverty and Social Sector Development Donor Group*, chaired by UNDP, comprises:

CDB, CIDA, EU/EC,ECLAC, DfID (UK and

Caribbean offices), FAO, IDB, OECS/SPU UNDP,UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM,USAID, WB, PAHO

*part of Eastern Caribbean Donor Group

SPARC as enabler of MDG Achievement

Being developed in the context of: Localization and Regionalization at the OECS level by

UNDP through the OECS Secretariat (Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis);

Customization of MDGs by CDB; Fuller PRSP development (UNDP) New round of CPAs (CDB) Progress Reports on the MDGs in 2005 – Saint Lucia,

Barbados, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda (UNDP) Continuing support to coordination at the national level

through SIMDG committees through CARICOM (UNDP, UNFPA)

UNDP inputs informed by Focus on Training/Capacity-building in key areas

Improving Gender Analysis Capacity Joint training on Data Interpretation and Analysis Enhancing Social Assessment capacity Implementation of CWIQs in other countries

(Grenada) Thematic reports from CWIQs – a continued

assessment process Improving socio-economic assessment for HIV-AIDS HDR formulation and preparation

Intervention and Donor Regional/CountryPRS &

IndicatorsLocal Inst.

StrengtheningCensus-related

Income, Consumption,

LSCsQualitative

Assessments Annual

Monitoring

CDBSocial Analysis Training Regional XPRAPS SKN & Anguilla XPoverty Mapping Dominica X X X X XBasic Needs Trust Fund 10 BMCs X

DFIDSD Assist. to CDB 10 BMCs XPR and Gender/CS Dev BRB, SVG, GUY, JAM & T & T X

EUSocial Data Capture SLU X X X X X XPSAF* SVG X X X X X

UNDPCapacity Building for Social Data etc Regional XSD for Poverty Erad. Grenada XSocial Stats and Indicators Regional X X X XPrep. Asst - Poverty Erad. in OECS Regional X X XPoverty TTF BAR & OECS, T & T, JAM & GUY X XSD & Poverty - Harmonization* Regional X XCWIQ Pilot Saint Lucia X

UNIFEMWomen, Gender & Poverty in Wis Grenada & SLU XGender & Budgets Belize X XGender Analysis Training BAR & OECS, T & T, JAM, GUY XGender & PRSPs* OECS Sub-region XGender and RBA* OECS Sub-region X X

WBMini-mecovi OECS X X

IDBSPARC Regional XSocial Data Guyana X X X X

How does Donor support match up to the needs?

Conclusions from PSSDDG Technical Review in 2004 and Discussions in 2005 Gaps:

Census-related Qualitative assessments

(impact) Consistent (Annual) M&E

Information needs: depth of poverty and other

human development challenges;

quality of challenge; change over time.

Exposure to natural disaster

Nation

(Individual,

Household or

Community)

Social Susceptibility Social Resilience

Measure of social vulnerability

Source: ECLAC (2005 Presentation on Social Vulnerability and the PRSPs

Follow-up Process in 2005

Consultative: Present revised SPARC framework at the MDG

Launch and PRSP Review Meeting, (March/April 2005).

Present SPARC at SLC training (April 2005) Strategic:

Prepare and present a strategy paper on to COHSOD (April 2005). Endorsed by COHSOD

Implementation of another CWIQ survey Programme Finalization:

Discussions amongst Technical Working Group Refine document based on feedback and Prepare

project support document for SPARC (end 2005)

SPARC – Moving Forward

Supporting Poverty Asst and Reduction in the Caribbean

Overarching Goal: To assist governments to design and implement a planning

framework that speaks to the specific needs of the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in reducing poverty and enhancing social development.

… is designed to facilitate multi-donor programming to

deliver a comprehensive package of assistance to Caribbean countries to strengthen national and regional capacities to systematically collect, analyze and disseminate social data for poverty assessment as well as critically inform social policy formulation at national levels.

Key Approach under SPARC Strengthening institutional capacity Local ownership for Sustainability Building lasting local technical

capacity at the regional and national level –harnessing existing capacities at all levels

Sound reliable data A “system of surveys” approach Balancing specific country needs and

the sub-region or region strategic direction

A strategy and a framework for donor intervention and inputs

A strategic approach for MDG and poverty monitoring and the required M&E

Dedicated resources for training and research

Proposed MDG and Poverty Monitoring Framework

Tools for measuring the depth and determinants of poverty (Understanding)

HBS, LSMS etc., Participative Poverty Monitoring (listening to the poor)

Tools for comparing differences over space (Targeting)

Local admin. records Pop. Census + Hhold survey =

Poverty maps Tools for monitoring changes

over time (Tracking) service delivery monitoring Administrative data/MIS;

Institution-based surveys; household surveys, CWIQ

Project Support Document Developed end of 2005 Enhanced issues relating to country ownership, technical

inputs Local Ownership enabled by multi-stakeholder

participation Participation of civil society Building sustained capacity Making data collection and analysis routine and a shared

responsibility Engagement with senior policy-makers – creating

champions Partnership building and coordination with civil society Encouraging the demand for experiental data Reflected joint UN system response and inputs into SPARC

MDGs embedded in SPARC with a Simple Vision of SHD

Revised Programme Components

Building National Capacity for Data Collection and Survey Design - assisting in designing surveys to collect data, enhancing data analysis, updating and harmonizing, support to continuous poverty and human development assessments, analysis, evidence-based policy-making and programmes

Establishment of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for monitoring and evaluating poverty reduction and social development policies. Monitoring of processes and outcomes; enabling independent monitoring and evaluation and enhancing coordination

Data Dissemination: addressing dissemination strategy and supporting the publication of data through various reports

Revised Programme Components (2)

Regional coordination building on CSME efforts and seeking to harmonize data collection efforts at the regional level and among donors

Symposia for Senior Policy Makers – awareness building for and advocacy with senior policy-makers and promote linkages between users and producers of data

Build Partnerships: partnerships enabled and fostered amongst government institutions through SIMDG committees, and also with donors, regional and international statistical and research organizations

Proposed Programme Outputs Building National Capacity for Data Collection and Survey Design

(a) Capacity to conduct CWIQ, CPAs and to utilize other appropriate assessment tools related to health, children, gender etc; (b) Localization of the MDG – targets and indicators

Establishment of M&E Systems (a) Improved National policy frameworks, (b) Specific M&E guidelines

harmonized across programme countries (c) Enhanced capacity for reporting on policies

Data Dissemination (a) Increased reporting on the state of poverty and social development; (b)

readily available data and data sets, (c) Annual/Bi-ennial Monitoring Reports, (d) Biennial Human Development

Reports Regional Coordination

(a) Regional Plan for MDG and Poverty Monitoring; (b) Effective programme implementation enabled by a fully functioning and

operational PSC

Alignment of Gaps with current or new activities

Census Related CARICOM/TFSCB

CARICOM/UNFPA

OECS MECOVI/SLC

Qualitative Assessments

OECS/MECOVI/SLC

UNDP (CWIQ)

EC (Impact Monitoring Methodology)

Census Related

Annual Monitoring

CDB (PPA)

UNECLAC

UNECLAC

UWI/UG – University Systems

UNDP/CARICOM

Operationalization of the Vision

Harmonization of approaches Identification of development priorities and

targets Localization of MDGs Documentation of best practices and lessons

learnt A system of surveys Consistent data collection and the right type of

data (e.g. disaggregated by sex, measuring income equality)

Consistent and appropriate M&E Reduce dependence on external

consultants/build and sustain local capacity Recognize the inter-dependencies b/ween issues

and sectors Financial and technical commitment Build on CARICOM Stats Framework Improved Donor coordination Better programming and targetting (who is at

risk?) Improved strategies and policies

Where are we now?

Finalization of Project Document

PSSDDG/Donor Review held February 14th, 2006 Main outcomes

UNDP will be the implementing partner for SPARC Agreed that a Project Manager and support would be housed at UNDP CDB, IDB and UNDP would meet after CDB/IDB meet to finalize

their agreement on SPARC activities Agreed on constitution of Steering Cttee at high level including core

and rotating members as well as the continuing role of the PSSDDG as a technical advisory group

Agreed on the joint, parallel modalities Agreed on the need for better reflection of ongoing activities in the

background SPARC will support the development of process and outcome

indicators which would better support poverty reduction

Finalization of the PSD (2)

PSSDDG Review agreement: Expand on the dissemination component to include a

public information and awareness component (often the citizenry don’t know much about what is going on or how a study fits into the larger picture)

Specifically address the need to legislative reform to address access to information throughout government, by citizens and by universities or research agents and donors

Need for arrangements to facilitate access to expertise at relatively short notice while enabling cooperation amongst countries

Likely Implementation Arrangements

A multiple modality framework funded by various donors contributing to specific components through (i) a single mechanism or (ii) their own mechanisms e.g. cost-sharing/parallel funding

Joint UN system contribution Joint M&E by all partners Mechanism to support and provide TA to countries on request Operationalization of the Project Steering Cttee A possibly Phased approach – which in Phase 1 – could focus

on the OECS with expansion to wider region in Phase 2

Commitments to-date World Bank approved $200,000 of the Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity

Building (TFSCB) grant to support follow up project for UNSD/CARICOM programme (2004-2005).

World Bank approved US$400,000 of the Institutional Development Fund (IDF) grant in 2003 to support the mini-MECOVI component for strengthening, via the OECS Secretariat ( 2004 to 2006/7).

IDB approved US$350,000 to support SPARC to facilitate, via CDB, the strengthening of institutional capacity in statistical offices in Caribbean countries to collect, analyze, and produce high quality statistical information required to formulate social policies and strategies, and to monitor their progress.

CDB has indicated that it will seek to match the IDB amount in providing support in similar areas.

IDB approved a US$3,450,000 for Guyana to improve and sustain the capacity of the country to generate social data, to undertake evidence-based policy analysis, and to monitor the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) implementation and impact.

UNDP Regional programme provided support in the last 2-3 years to CARICOM on harmonization of stats and support to national coordination mechanism (US$ 150,000).

UNFPA has committed resources to the 2010 census and has supported analysis of the 2000 census through a CARICOM effort.

UNDP has committed US$450,000 over 3 years.

Next Steps Finalization of the PSD for internal UNDP purposes and

allocation of resources for 2006 Finalization of a general document for other agency

internal uses Further discussions and finalization of inputs from UN

system – follow-up with UNFPA from meeting on Monday 22 Feb

Signing of MOUs with agencies on agreed areas of contribution and based on existing work and comparative advantage

Further Resource Mobilization (continuous and ongoing) Initiation of project activities including expansion of

CWIQ in one or 2 other countries in 2006 and support to the CPA process of 2006 in Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis

Proposed Programme Activities for 2006

Launch of the project Inventory of existing data and cleaning (UNFPA and

CARICOM) Workshops – Incorporating MDG targets and indicators into

national planning frameworks (UNDP, CDB, OECS) Seminars to develop M&E guidelines (UNDP, CDB) Workshops – Training in data collection and survey design

(UNDP, CDB, OECS & partners) 1st Symposium or policy makers Survey Administration - 3 CWIQ surveys (UNDP, CDB) Annual Human Development Report Data Dissemination including establishment of Regional

Poverty Information Website

Conclusions

Resulting Partnerships from SPARC approach

Successful partnership with the EC and the Govt of Saint Lucia on CWIQ pilot 2004

UNDP and EC collaboration on strategy paper on Social Policy and operationalization in the context of social protection

UNDP/UNIFEM collaboration on Study on Issues and Challenges facing Rural women in Saint Lucia linking to economic growth and trade (2005)

Capacity building – OECS, WB, UNDP, CDB Donor collaboration on Social Protection

Resulting Partnerships from SPARC (2)

Strengthening collaborative efforts with CDB to link CPA and policy efforts including data on MDGs in ANT and STL

CDB/OECS/UNDP linking to support localization of MDGs in 2 OECS countries (DMI and SKN)

CDB and UNDP joint support to national coordination mechanisms for CPAs; UNDP/CARICOM in similar activities across the board

Greater involvement of /collaboration by UNDP and CDB in regional implementation of MECOVI

UNDP, CDB, UNECLAC and UNIFEM support to a CWIQ in Grenada including focus on gender and vulnerability – Key outcome for 2005 – 1st CWIQ Report

Outcomes for the Countries Saint Lucia has:

a data series of welfare for 2004,2005 A gender analysis of welfare (2005)

Grenada has: up-to-date data on welfare and social development post-Ivan and a sense

of where social services may need enhancement Enhanced capacity in survey design and implementation Primed capacity wise for 2006 CPA Information disaggregated by sex in Grenada Gender analysis of impact of Ivan available

Saint Lucia able to provide technical support to GRN in 2005 CWIQ A growing cadre of resources amongst the countries – DMI supporting SVG

in CPA MDG Progress reports for Grenada, Barbados, STL in 2005 MDG Task Force established in Antigua Localized MDGs and implementation plans in progress in Dominica and

SKN Regional approach to MDG Localization pending in 2006

Our continuing challenge

To provide support that addresses poverty in the way that it must concern us : “the poverty of a life lies not only in the impoverished state in which the person actually lives but also in the lack of real opportunity-due to social constraints as well as personal circumstances-to lead valuable and valued lives” (using the capability concept – based on Amartya Sen’s work)

For More InformationContact:PSSDDGc/o Leisa Perch, Programme Mgr, Poverty

ReductionUN House, Marine GardensHastings, Ch. ChBarbados, West IndiesTel: 246 467-6005Fax: 246 429-2448Email: leisa.perch@undp.orgWebsite: www.bb.undp.org/poverty/html

THANK YOU!!!