Developing a Local Poverty Profile LAPS Capacity Building Seminars 2006

What is a Poverty Profile  A full and accurate picture of the nature and extent of poverty in the area  Systematically identifying, gathering and mapping information on the social and economic need in the area  Should identify the areas and communities that experience the highest levels of disadvantage and the nature of that disadvantage

Developing a Local Poverty Profile  By identifying local poverty issues, it can help:  Draw up a local needs appraisal  Target resources in the most effective way  Carry out follow-up action and evaluation  Add to needs appraisal at national level

Developing a Local Poverty Profile  First step – find out how much work has been done already, so as to avoid duplication and increase people’s understanding of the issues  Keep the following questions in mind: -  Is the material valid and based on verifiable research?  Is the material inaccurate or inconsistent?  Are there gaps in datasets?  Is the same definition being applied to particular terms or different terms  Arte the research findings statistically reliable?  Can the statistics or research results over time or between different geographical areas be compared?

Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Remember the following:-  Information does not need to come solely from the local authority, use other sources  Information gathered should be as IT friendly as possible (useful to have an IT staff member involved)  Work with other stakeholders, many will have expertise across a number of themes and may be key sources of data

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Selection of Themes  Selection of Indicators  Data identification and gathering  Basic data analysis  Mapping, preferably using a Geographic Information System (GIS)  Presentation and Review

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Themes/Domains: These are the broad headings, policy areas or function areas that are used to organise information for the poverty profile.  They typically include:  Housing; Health; Welfare dependency; Educational disadvantage  They may include:  Transport; Community amenities; Quality of Life  Themes may also include specific target groups such as  Women; Older People; Children; Ethnic Minorities; Travellers

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Indicators: Most commonly a number, percentage, rate or ratio that shows the extent to which an event or phenomenon is present or absent.  Examples:-  Welfare Dependency: Number of recipients of Unemployment Assistance; Number of Recipients of Lone Parents Allowance  Housing and Accommodation: Number assessed by local authority as being in housing need; Number of population who are local authority tenants

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Selecting Indicators  National policies and indicators, e.g. NAPS; NESC; NDP  Local Authority databases  Databases held by other national, regional and local organisations  Previous local research studies  National and international publications, e.g. DSFA, CSO, EU, UN

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Choosing the Right Indicators  Easily understood  Addressing priority issues  Conceptually valid and analytically sound  Measurable  Available for the specific area  Balance between too few and too many. All indicators should be reviewed regularly due to changing priorities and circumstances and the availability of data

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Identifying and Gathering Data: Finding and gathering appropriate data is one of the key tasks of developing a local poverty profile. It takes a lot of time and should be planned  Sources of Data: Check out the most obvious sources of data on poverty and social exclusion first  Geographic Area: Consider which geographic area is most appropriate, District Electoral Division (DED) most common

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile  Basic Data Analysis: Make sure the categories or groups are relevant. For example, a dataset on educational attainment grouped by gender tells little unless it also shows socio- economic status or labour market experience  Mapping Data: Clear picture, have more of an impact, easily understood. GIS possible to map a variety of datasets simultaneously

Steps in Developing a Local Poverty Profile Presenting and Reviewing a Local Poverty Profile  Description of the theme  Description of the indicators and reason for choosing them  Source and regularity of the data  Baseline data collected  Key issues or trends emerging  Gaps in information