Feedback from Poverty Users’ Fora

a) January 10, 2003 Users’ Forum

Gathering of feedback focused on the aspects of the proposed provincial methodology, i.e., on the use of a regional menu rather than provincial, the use of ordinary rice rather than special, the use of changing FE/TBE ratio rather than constant, the use of provincial prices in estimating the food thresholds rather than regional prices, the level of disaggregation and the frequency of release. Below is the summary of feedback:

• More respondents favored the use of a regional menu.
• Majority preferred the use of ordinary rice.
• Majority approved of using provincial prices in pricing the thresholds rather than regional prices.
• Majority preferred provincial and urban-rural disaggregation of poverty statistics.
• Majority approved the release of poverty statistics every three years rather than annually.

b) Series of Users’ Fora for the UNDP-sponsored project on provincial poverty methodology held in 2000

Gathering of feedback focused on the use of a nutritionally adequate menu rather than typical, income vs expenditure approach, frequency of data release, disaggregation level and introduction of changes in the methodology.

• Majority preferred the use of nutritionally adequate menus over typical menus.
• The respondents were divided on the use of income and expenditure approach in poverty measurement although slightly more respondents favored the income approach.
• Majority opined that the triennial release of poverty statistics is sufficient.
• Majority desired provincial and urban-rural disaggregation of poverty statistics.