Implementation of CBMS

in Vietnam’s localities

Vu Van Toan (HEPR-MOLISA) Vu Tuan Anh (SEDEC)

Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network Meeting June 2004 - Dakar, Senegal

Activities of Vietnam's CBMS-Project in localities Piloting the national system of

poverty observatories (20 communes in 12 provinces).

Providing technical support to Ha-Tay Province to improve the provincial CBMS (30 communes-observatories).

Providing technical support to Yen-Bai Province to establish the provincial CBMS (10 communes-observatories).

(1) Piloting the national system of poverty

observatories Purposes of poverty observatory

system: To follow-up poverty tendences in

the whole country. To analyse impacts of policy and

measuses of poverty reduction to poor households and communes.

To evaluate of implementation of the National Programme of Poverty Reduction.

The national system of poverty

observatories 12 provinces, 8 regions 20 communes: + 17 rural - 3 urban + 7 mountainous - 6 plains - 4

suburban 4,026 households (aprox. 200 households per

commune) 19,700 individuals:

+ 82% ethnic majority + 18% ethnic minorities

CBMS in national poverty

observatories 3 rounds: 2002, 2003, 2004 Multi-dimensional indicators Local people collected data Data used by HEPR for: + poverty assessment + impact evaluation of poverty

reduction policies and measures + evaluate community-based poor

household identification system.

Hanoi

Dac Lac Province (Central Highlands)

Son La Province (Northern Mountains)

Tien-Giang Province (Mekong Delta)

(2) Using CBMS for improving the poverty

monitoring system of Ha Tay Province

Ha-Tay province: has 14 districts, 323 communes, 2.5 mill. persons.

CBMS: 30 communes, 3,721 households, more than 16,000 persons

Before 2003: CBMS, but with only income indicator.

Contribution of CBMS project: + multi-dimensional indicators, + survey design and techniques, + data processing.

30 poverty observatories in Ha-Tay Province

Ha Tay Province

(3) Establishing CBMS in Yen-Bai Province

Yen-Bai province: mountainous, has 9 districts, 180 communes, 730 thousands persons.

In 2004, a CBMS is established: 10 communes, 9,000 households,

40,000 persons. Role of CBMS project: + sample selection + questionnaire design, + training and monitoring data

collection, + data processing.

10 poverty observatories in Yen-Bai Province

Yen Bai Province

Indicators of CBMS in localities

Population (HH size, ethnicity, occupation) Food production Living conditions (electricity, safe water,

housing, toilete, durables) Education (illiterate, children not going to

school) Health Income (source structure, quantity) Expenditures for basic needs (food,

cloths, education, health care) Implementation of the National Program

for Poverty Reduction.

Lessons learned from work with localities

Promoting interest and initiatives of local partners: departing from existing PMS, adding CBMS components.

Partnership: + local partners are facilitators and surveyors. + project members are trainers and supervisors.

  Local ownership: local partners are owners and users of outputs. Project assistance is only for departing period.

Short-term benefits of localities from CBMS

Getting more relevant data for poverty assessment.

Understanding multi-dimensional poverty.

Monitoring implementation of poverty reduction programs and measures.

Having a comprehensive data on living standards in locality.

Long-term (expected) benefits of localities from CBMS

Enhanced poverty reduction capacity of local governmental and non-governmental leaders.

Wider participation of local people in decision-making and controlling of poverty reduction measures.

Better information system on living standards of locality.

Thank you