1. Poverty and Social Impact Assessment: The Case of Popular Participation By M. Adil Khan UN-DESA

2. Discussion Framework Some definitional Issues Some definitional Issues The Backdrop of Participatory Methods The Backdrop of Participatory Methods Insights from country practices Insights from country practices Lessons learnt Lessons learnt

3. Definitional Issues and their Substantive Implications Definitions have implications on what to measure/assess and how, when etc. to measure Definitions have implications on what to measure/assess and how, when etc. to measure As ‘poverty’ is often defined from a variety of perspectives, it is inevitable that their measurements/assessments etc. entail more than one methodology – some quantitative, some qualitative, some passive, some participatory. As ‘poverty’ is often defined from a variety of perspectives, it is inevitable that their measurements/assessments etc. entail more than one methodology – some quantitative, some qualitative, some passive, some participatory. Social Impact Assessment also implies two important Social Impact Assessment also implies two important methodological connotations – that both the content of the impact as well as the methodology of measuring the impact must be social in nature. methodological connotations – that both the content of the impact as well as the methodology of measuring the impact must be social in nature.

4. Backdrop of participatory methods Multi-dimensional perspectives of poverty indicate that not everything can be measured quantitatively and passively. Multi-dimensional perspectives of poverty indicate that not everything can be measured quantitatively and passively. Assessment of certain aspects of poverty such as accessibility, non- income issues of poverty including the assessment of political dimensions of poverty, social vulnerability etc. require application of participatory methods. Assessment of certain aspects of poverty such as accessibility, non- income issues of poverty including the assessment of political dimensions of poverty, social vulnerability etc. require application of participatory methods. Community-based poverty monitoring efforts help in understanding poverty reduction processes better, especially the macro-micro linkages. Community-based poverty monitoring efforts help in understanding poverty reduction processes better, especially the macro-micro linkages. An appropriately structured PSIA and planning linkage has the capacity to empower poor and induce pro-poor policy change. An appropriately structured PSIA and planning linkage has the capacity to empower poor and induce pro-poor policy change.

5. Insights from Country Practices Philippines’ participatory poverty monitoring by the SWS reveal that poor regard equally, if not more the non-income elements as the sources of poverty Philippines’ participatory poverty monitoring by the SWS reveal that poor regard equally, if not more the non-income elements as the sources of poverty In 1993 by following both quantitative as well as participatory methods, Bangladesh produced two different HDRs, revealing information not captured through the former method but were crucial to understand causes of poverty in the country. In 1993 by following both quantitative as well as participatory methods, Bangladesh produced two different HDRs, revealing information not captured through the former method but were crucial to understand causes of poverty in the country. In India, sub-national HDRs (some up to district level) produced through intense participatory processes are increasingly becoming powerful tools of planning and political accountability in poverty reduction. In India, sub-national HDRs (some up to district level) produced through intense participatory processes are increasingly becoming powerful tools of planning and political accountability in poverty reduction. In Myanmar, UNDP’s multi-stage poverty assessment, community -based programme planning, implementation and monitoring are making useful contributions in tackling the problems of poverty in the poorest of the poor villages in that country. In Myanmar, UNDP’s multi-stage poverty assessment, community -based programme planning, implementation and monitoring are making useful contributions in tackling the problems of poverty in the poorest of the poor villages in that country.

6. Lessons Learnt Participatory methods help deepening the understanding of both the causes of poverty as well as the impacts of policies and programmes on poverty. Participatory methods help deepening the understanding of both the causes of poverty as well as the impacts of policies and programmes on poverty. Participatory poverty monitoring becomes more effective and accountable when indicators, at least some of them are defined by the poor themselves. Participatory poverty monitoring becomes more effective and accountable when indicators, at least some of them are defined by the poor themselves. Participatory methods are no substitute to statistically-based methods, rather one complements the other, but the required synergy is missing. Participatory methods are no substitute to statistically-based methods, rather one complements the other, but the required synergy is missing. Participatory methods must be sustained and followed through with programme feedback to encourage continuous participation in the process. Participatory methods must be sustained and followed through with programme feedback to encourage continuous participation in the process. The role of the civil society organizations and NGOs in supplanting poverty monitoring through participatory data require proper recognition. The role of the civil society organizations and NGOs in supplanting poverty monitoring through participatory data require proper recognition.

7. THANK YOU! M. Adil Khan Chief Socio-economic Governance and Management Branch UN-DESA E-mail: khan4@un.org