Tool 2: Wellbeing monitoring step-by-step

Step 6. Present findings

After collecting and analysing the poverty monitoring data, present the findings to the communities to discuss the following questions:

  • Compare the findings to their real life experience. Do the data reflect the real situation?
  • Compare the results from their community with neighbouring communities. Why are there differences?
  • Are the results useful in understanding poverty?

Discuss how they can use the information. Suggest that they can use the results to identify the community’s development priorities and justify action plans for the next year(s). An example of a community-based follow up after a wellbeing–poverty monitoring in Kutai Barat, using the NESP model, is described in Box 25. Suggest that the communities participate in scenario-based planning (see Tool 4).

Box 25. Local poverty indicator-based development planning at the community and subdistrict level

Figure 16. Monitoring and
planning cycle in Kutai Barat.

After the household wellbeing survey in Kutai Barat (2006), we reported the results back to the communities. The community members first discussed the validity of the data and then used the wellbeing poverty colour diagrams to identify the most critical wellbeing aspects. They discussed the causes of these problems and then compiled a one-year action plan and submitted it to the subdistrict planning session.

The various proposals were reviewed at the subdistrict level. Authorities discussed intercommunity problems, such as polluted rivers and poor road access, and they looked for solutions together. They checked the activities proposed by the communities against the development priorities resulting from the surveys and NESP analysis, and reviewed the rationales provided by the communities. The authorities then developed the annual subdistrict development plan, which reflected the targeted priorities and available resources. Figure 16 shows the principal monitoring and planning cycle.

Share the results with local government:

  • Present the findings to local government members in a workshop. Discuss how to meet the needs of different offices or sectors. Encourage informal exchange among officials in different sectors.
  • Identify needs for coordination.
  • Publish and distribute a written report.
  • Make sure that the data is easily accessible to anyone wishing to find additional information during the course of the year.

Box 26. Tips for getting started

Developing a poverty monitoring system is easier than it sounds. Statistical agencies or university scholars can help with the sampling strategy, data analysis and with team training. In many cases, it might even be sufficient to add some indicators to ongoing monitoring programmes in order to get a more comprehensive poverty picture (as in NESP). The best way to get started is:

  • Find out which poverty monitoring programmes already exist
  • Identify the gaps and deficiencies of these programmes (e.g. indicators are not locality specific, poverty is only defined by income or consumption)
  • Develop your own poverty model (NESP can be used as a starting point)
  • Develop (additional) poverty indicators to bring your model to life
  • Discuss the design and logistics of the (new or amended) poverty monitoring system with your statistical agency, academicians or others (NGOs, projects) who are willing to help
  • Test your monitoring system in at least two trials and refine it until your findings reflect the real poverty situation of your area
  • Institutionalise your poverty monitoring system to ensure sustainability
  • Publish your findings and report back to communities
  • Link the monitoring programme to the development planning system of your area
  • Check the validity of your poverty model every 5 years—poverty causes can change!

You can find a full description of the NESP model in:

Gönner, C., Haug, M., Cahyat, A., Wollenberg, L., de Jong, W., Limberg, G., Cronkleton, P., Moeliono, M. and Becker, M. 2007 Capturing nested spheres of poverty: a model for multidimensional poverty analysis and monitoring. Occasional Paper No. 46. CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia.

The following manual describes step by step how the poverty monitoring system of Kutai Barat has been developed and implemented:

Cahyat, A., Gönner, C. and Haug, M. 2007 Poverty monitoring manual. CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia.
< back

 

 

 

© 2007 Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Contributors and copyright information