UNICEF Global Study on Child Poverty & Disparities - Ghana Initiating the Study, Methodology, Schedule of Study, Problems and Issues Presentation at Regional Workshop February 2008, Abidjan

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Background – why Ghana? Despite some progress towards poverty reduction and meeting the MDGs targets in Ghana, there is evidence that about 29% of the population is in poverty and 18% is in extreme poverty. Regional and occupational inequalities still persist and some cases have even increased  Very little is known about poverty levels of children and the disparities among various segments of children

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Initiating the Study The Study Guidelines were received from UNICEF NY and shared with a number of research institutions including: Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Legon, University of Ghana; and Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) Legon, University of Ghana

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Initiating the Study (continued) In the course of sharing the Concept note and Study Guide, RIPS and ISSER jointly submitted a proposal using their varied strengths: RIPS (Statistical) and ISSER (Policy). Several discussions were held between UNICEF and the research team to finalise the proposal. These discussions with the RIPS/ISSER Team were held to iron out a few issues about the methodology and the budget requested for the assignment.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Initiating the Study (continued) Final submissions and selection The outcomes of the evaluation and discussions were communicated UNICEF NY and the Regional Social and Economic Adviser in WCARO, who also confirmed the suitability of the RIPS/ISSER Team to undertake the Study based on the Team’s capacity and the quality of the proposal.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Capacity of RIPS/ISSER Team (I) RIPS/ISSER are research & training institutes in the Faculty of Social Studies at UG; Both have graduate students as stand-by pool of research assistants to assist in data collection as part of their research training. Currently, both institutes are involved in a north-south independent child migration study under the Migration Development Research Centre (DRC) on migration, globalization and poverty, a study which has a linkage with the current one.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Capacity of RIPS/ISSER Team (II) ISSER has been involved in several policy related studies, and therefore has the expertise to operationalise the policy template for the current Study. RIPS, as a population training institute has in the past employed robust statistical techniques in analysing large nationally representative data sets and therefore is well placed to operationalise the statistical template for the Study.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Communication with Partners All the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were sent copies of the study Guide and issued notification letters in October about the Study. There was also an inception meeting to introduce the Study Team, discuss the Study and solicit the support of the MDAs, notably, the Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning, the Ministry of women and Children’s Affairs, and the Ghana Statistical Service.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Community factors Resources Source of water supply Sanitation Health care facility Socio-cultural beliefs & practices National Policies on Children Food Health Education Environment, etc. Household factors Structure & composition Resources Type of household Household size Gender relations Maternal factors Age Education Marital status Occupation & income status Place of residence Religion Ethnicity Knowledge & use of family planning Child Poverty Education Nutritional status Health status Labour/trafficking status _____________________________________________________________ Source: Modified from Ramakrishnan, U. 1995:287 Conceptual Framework

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Methodology (I) There shall be a comprehensive review of national policy and institutional documents:  GPRS I and II, national budget documents, relevant reports from other local and international bodies. Further analysis will be done on nationally representative sample surveys namely, GDHS 2003, CWIQ 2003, GLSS 5 (2006), MICS 2006, etc; Further information pertaining to children’s development, poverty, rights and well-being will be collected from the following: UNICEF; MOWAC; MoH & the GHS; MoE & Sports and GES; MoF & Economic Planning; NPC, NDPC, etc.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Methodology (II) The SPSS analytical software will be used for the analysis of data employing the statistical and policy templates supplied by UNICEF; Logistic/multiple regression analysis shall be used to examine the relationship between maternal, household and district/community factors on one hand and child poverty on the other as appropriately as possible; The unit of analysis shall be the individual child less than 18 years with regional as well as rural-urban comparisons as each dataset may permit; Findings from the statistical analysis shall be used to assess national policy targets and responses to child health and poverty in Ghana.

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Schedule of Study Team 1. Complete all preliminary work, including assemblage and scheduling of all possible contacts, meeting with contacts to collect data files and information by end of February First Draft of completed Policy and Statistical templates ready by end of April Final policy template completed by mid-May Dissemination of Draft full country report with stakeholder and partners, including young people, care givers and service providers completed by end of June Final full country report ready by mid-July 08

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Work Plan ActivitiesFeb.MarchAprilMayJuneJuly Preliminary Activities First Draft of completed Policy & statistical templates Final Policy & Statistical templates ready Writing & submission of Final Report

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop Feb Challenges being faced & issues requiring clarification Readiness of GSS to provide (in good time) Study Team with soft copies of relevant nationally representative datasets for analysis; Availability of relevant secondary data including policy documents and the readiness of organisations that possess them to release them in time to study team; Late commencement of study on account of the long processes involved in getting contract signed with RIPS/ISSER.