in_focus: FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS Community-Based Monitoring Systems
Celia Reyes and Evan Due
IDRC 2009
ISBN 978-1-55250-432-1
e-ISBN 978-1-55250-435-2
124 pp.
Disponible en français / Disponible en español
For more than two decades, governments and development agencies around the world have focused on reducing poverty. There have been advances, but progress has been uneven and nearly a quarter of the world’s population still suffers from extreme “income poverty.” Income poverty, however, is only part of the picture. A multi-faceted account of poverty and human welfare incorporates elements that go beyond income to capture the characteristics of poverty as experienced by the poor themselves.
This book presents the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS). CBMS recognizes that the poor must be involved in planning public programs that affect their well-being. It further recognizes that, to be effective, development programs must be targeted and informed by relevant, current, accurate disaggregated data. To accomplish this, CBMS brings together communities and local authorities to gather and monitor locally obtained, verifiable information about actual living conditions, and to use this information for planning and policy-making.
Drawing from CBMS experience in Africa and Asia, the authors present recommendations for policymakers, donor agencies, and researchers. They also present guidelines for developing and implementing poverty monitoring systems in other regions of the world. For more analysis, discussion, and case material, visit the companion website, www.idrc.ca/in_focus_poverty, which is included with the book, on CD.
THE AUTHORS
Celia Reyes is a Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Co-Director of the Poverty and Economic Policy research network, and CBMS Network Leader, based in Manila.
Evan Due is Senior Program Specialist responsible for economics and trade programs at IDRC’s Singapore office.
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Executive Summary 2009
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Foreword Domingo F. Panganiban
Secretary & Lead Coordinator - National Anti-Poverty Commission - The Philippines 2009
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Preface 2009
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Part 1. The Issue and Development Context 2009
For more than two decades, governments and development agencies around the world have focused on reducing poverty. Although tremendous strides have been made, approximately one in four people in developing countries continues to live below the World Bank’s international poverty line.
Measuring and monitoring poverty
Generating information for accountability
Local ownership of development
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Part 2. The Approach 2009
Wise public investment is key to reducing poverty and addressing inequalities within society. That requires timely and accurate data to measure progress and plan for investment, as well as for good analysis and policy application.
The origins of CBMS
What is CBMS?
CBMS step by step
Resources needed
CBMS around the world
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Part 3. Experiences from the Field 2009
For more than a decade, IDRC has supported CBMS researchers in 15 countries of Asia and Africa. As the various country experiences show, real benefits quickly accrue to communities as well as their governments.
Asia: Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, other initiatives
Africa: Burkina Faso, Senegal, Benin, East Africa
Conclusions
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Part 4. Lessons and Recommendations 2009
The overarching lesson from the research is that designing and sustaining community-based poverty-monitoring systems is an essential component of any program to monitor povery at the national level.
Lessons learned about the enabling conditions
Lessons learned about CBMS design and implementation
Lessons learned about the benefits of CBMS
Extending CBMS uses and benefits
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Part 5. Ways Forward 2009
How is CBMS evolving and what are the challenges this poses?
Monitoring public expenditures and donor programs
Piloting CBMS for gender-responsive budgeting
Tracking progress toward the MDGs
Better targeting of program beneficiaries
Sounding an early warning
Extending the reach of CBMS
New avenues for research
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Glossary of Terms and Acronyms 2009
FIGHTING POVERTY WITH FACTS : Sources and Resources 2009
