Human Development Report

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Dear Colleagues,

As explained in the concept note for the Report on the State of Pastoralism (ROSP), the ROSP is a policy-oriented research project, which Oxfam GB is facilitating. It is designed to improve the availability and accessibility of quality data from pastoral areas, so as to provide a better evidence base for policy making, planning and monitoring against international targets such as the MDGs. The ROSP is currently being set up in four countries across the Horn and East of Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It is designed as a collaborative venture, working with local research institutes and statistics bureaux, to help strengthen national capacity to generate and analyse data from pastoral areas.

The main output of the ROSP is a periodic Status report, which will provide longitudinal analysis of the situation affecting pastoral areas. At present it is intended that the ROSP will take a similar format to the HDR  covering prioritised themes and providing comprehensive statistical data. A long consultation process has agreed on an overall framework for the ROSP which includes data of particular relevance to pastoral areas. In order to effectively influence change, this will be combined with data which fits with currently accepted frameworks, such as the HDI and MDGs.

The ROSP will begin by focusing on secondary data analysis, with the obvious challenge being the quality of data currently available. It has been agreed that the initial report will focus on these gaps in data and data quality issues. This will help to indicate the paucity of data from pastoral areas, and present a challenge to those allocating resources, to invest more in statistics from pastoral areas.

• The added-value of the ROSP will be in its comprehensive analysis. This will entail the use of governmental and non-governmental data (including census data, household data, market data, socio economic data, research and project outputs etc), as well as providing regional analyses. This will be a challenging task and is further complicated by the paucity of data from pastoral areas. Other regional reports, such as the Roma HDR have dealt with these data challenges by commissioning large-scale surveys across the region, using the same methodology and collating the same data sets. Other use only qualitative data, such as the Arctic HDR. It would be useful to hear other examples of analyses on specific regions, or sub-populations. How were you able to bring together data from various sources, across different country systems whilst maintaining the credibility of the analysis?
  


• ROSP is interested in 'change': depicting the issues pastoralists are currently facing, how their livelihoods are changing, and how they and the State are adapting. Much of this will be linked to issues of risk, vulnerability, and governance, but we are keen to also provide data, which fits into national frameworks. This will enable the ROSP to highlight differences between national averages and the pastoral areas. How can we present data which balances the realities of pastoral populations with national monitoring systems, and internationally-accepted frameworks? What experience do others have in adapting the Human Development framework to reflect the specifics of certain livelihoods, or population groups?
  
  I look forward to hearing your views and opinions, and learning from the extensive knowledge of this network.

Many thanks

Sarah

Sarah Gibbons
ROSP Manager
Oxfam
Nairobi, Kenya

 

Chers collègues,

Ainsi quil est expliqué dans la note de concept du Rapport sur létat du pastoralisme (ROSP), ledit rapport est un projet de recherche orienté sur la politique et géré par Oxfam GB. Il est destiné à améliorer la disponibilité et laccessibilité de données de qualité provenant des zones pastorales, afin de fournir une meilleure base factuelle pour la prise de décisions politiques, la planification et le contrôle, par rapport à des objectifs internationaux tels que les OMD. Le ROSP est en train dêtre mis en place dans quatre pays de la Corne et de lEst de lAfrique : lEthiopie, le Kenya, la Tanzanie et lOuganda. Il est conçu comme une entreprise collaborative, amenant à travailler avec les instituts de recherche et les bureaux de statistiques locaux, afin de contribuer à renforcer les capacités nationales en vue de générer et danalyser les données provenant des zones pastorales.

Le principal résultat du ROSP est un Rapport de situation périodique, qui fournira une analyse longitudinale de la situation en ce qui concerne les zones pastorales. On envisage à lheure actuelle que le ROSP prendra un format similaire à celui du RDH  couvrant des thèmes en fonction des priorités et fournissant des données statistiques globales. Un long processus de consultation a permis daboutir à un accord sur un cadre global pour le ROSP, qui inclut des données particulièrement pertinentes pour les zones pastorales. En vue dinfluencer efficacement les changements, celles-ci seront associées aux données correspondant aux cadres acceptés tels que lIDH et les OMD.

Le RSOP débutera en se focalisant sur lanalyse des données secondaires, le défi évident étant dassurer la qualité des données actuellement disponibles. Il a été convenu que le rapport initial se focalisera sur ces questions décarts de données et de qualité des données. Ceci contribuera à mettre en évidence le manque de données provenant des zones pastorales ainsi quà lancer à ceux qui allouent les ressources le défi dinvestir davantage dans les statistiques provenant des zones pastorales.

• La valeur ajoutée du RSOP viendra de son analyse globale. Celle-ci passera par lutilisation de données gouvernementales et non gouvernementales (dont les données de recensement, les données sur les foyers, les données du marché, les données socioéconomiques, les résultats des recherches et des projets, etc.) ainsi que la fourniture danalyse régionales. Cette tâche constituera un véritable défi, qui sera compliqué encore par le manque de données provenant des zones pastorales. Dautres rapports régionaux tels que le RDH de Rome ont traité de ces problèmes de données en commanditant des enquêtes de grande envergure dans la région, au moyen des mêmes méthodes et en regroupant les mêmes séries de données. Dautres utilisent seulement des données qualitatives, tels que le RDH de lArctique. Il serait utile de recevoir dautres exemples danalyses concernant des régions spécifiques ou des sous populations. Comment avez-vous réussi à regrouper des données de sources différentes provenant de différents systèmes de pays tout en maintenant la crédibilité de lanalyse ?
  


• Le ROSP sintéresse aux « changements », dépeignant les problèmes auxquels les pasteurs font actuellement face, la manière dont leurs moyens dexistence sont en train de changer et comment lEtat et eux-mêmes sont en train de sadapter. La majeure partie de ce point sera liée à la question des risques, de la vulnérabilité et de la gouvernance, mais nous désirons également fournir des données qui correspondent aux cadres nationaux. Ceci permettra au ROSP de mettre en exergue les différences entre les moyennes nationales et les zones pastorales. Comment pouvons-nous présenter des données qui instaurent un équilibre entre les réalités des populations agricoles et les systèmes de surveillance nationaux, et les cadres acceptés internationalement ? Quelle expérience ont les autres pour ce qui est dadapter le cadre de développement humain en vue de refléter les spécificités de certains moyens dexistence ou groupes démographiques ?

Jattends avec impatience vos idées et vos opinions ainsi que les riches enseignements apportés par ce réseau.

Tous mes remerciements à lavance.

Sarah

Sarah Gibbons
Responsable du ROSP
Oxfam
Nairobi, Kenya

 

Estimados Colegas:

Como les expliqué en la nota conceptual del Informe acerca de la Situación del Pastoreo (ROSP por sus siglas en ingles) el ROSP es una investigación, que Oxfam GB está poniendo a disposición, orientada hacia la formulación de políticas. Ha sido diseñada para mejorar la disponibilidad y acceso a datos de calidad en áreas de pastoreo, con el propósito de proporcionar una mejor base para la elaboración de políticas, planificación y supervisión en comparación con metas internacionales, tales como los ODM. El ROSP se está estableciendo en cuatro países a lo largo del Cuerno del África y Àfrica Oriental: Etiopía, Kenya, Tanzania y Uganda. Ha sido diseñado como proyecto de colaboración, para trabajar con institutos locales de investigación y con las oficinas de estadísticas, ayudando a fortalecer la capacidad nacional para generar y analizar datos de áreas de pastoreo.

El producto principal que genera el ROSP es un informe periódico acerca del Status, este informe proporcionará un análisis longitudinal de la situación que afecta las áreas de pastoreo. En la actualidad la intención es que el formato del ROSP sea similar al del IDH  cubriendo temas prioritarios y proporcionando datos estadísticos exhaustivos. En un largo proceso de consulta, se ha acordado proporcionar al ROSP un marco global que incluya datos de especial relevancia para las áreas de pastoreo. Con el propósito de influenciar eficazmente el cambio, éste será combinado con datos que se adecuen a las estructuras/sistemas aceptados actualmente, tales como las del IDH y los ODM.

El ROSP comenzará enfocándose en datos secundarios, y el obvio desafío será la calidad de datos actualmente disponibles. Se ha acordado que el informe inicial se enfocará en los vacíos existentes, así como las cuestiones relativas a la calidad de datos. Esto ayudará a indicar la insuficiencia de datos de las áreas de pastoreo, y presentará un desafío para los que asignan recursos, y el desafío será invertir más en estadísticas de áreas de pastoreo.

• El valor agregado del ROSP será su exhaustivo análisis. Esto supondrá el uso de datos gubernamentales y no gubernamentales (incluyendo datos de censos, datos de hogares, datos del mercado, datos socio-económicos, investigación y resultados del proyecto, etc.), así como los análisis regionales que proporcionará. Esta tarea será un desafío y será aún más complicada debido a la insuficiencia de datos de áreas de pastoreo. Otros informes regionales, tales como el IDH sobre Romanies y la manera cómo para la producción de este se contrataron encuestas de gran escala a lo largo de toda la región, usando la misma metodología y cotejando los mismos conjuntos de datos. Otro uso solamente de datos cualitativos, tal como el IDH del Ártico. Será muy útil conocer otros ejemplos de análisis de regiones específicas, o de áreas sub-pobladas. ¿Cómo se pudo reunir datos de varias fuentes, a lo largo de sistemas de diferentes países entretanto manteniendo la credibilidad del análisis?
  


• ROSP está interesado en el cambio: representando los problemas que los pastoralistas enfrentan actualmente, cómo está cambiando su sustento, y cómo ellos y el Estado se están adaptando a estas cuestiones. Mucho de todo esto estará vinculado a cuestiones de riesgo, vulnerabilidad, y gobernabilidad, pero nosotros también tenemos un gran deseo de proporcionar datos, que sean adecuados para las estructuras/sistemas nacionales. Esto permitirá que el ROSP haga resaltar las diferencias entre los promedios nacionales y las áreas pastorales. ¿Cómo podemos presentar datos que equilibren las realidades de las poblaciones pastorales con los sistemas nacionales de monitoreo, y los marcos internacionalmente aceptados? ¿Qué experiencia tienen otros proyectos para adaptar el marco de Desarrollo Humano de manera que refleje los aspectos concretos de ciertas subsistencias, o de grupos de poblaciones?

En espera de conocer sus puntos de vista y opiniones, y aprender del exhaustivo conocimiento con el que cuenta esta red.

Les quedo agradecida,

Sarah

Sarah Gibbons
ROSP Manager
Oxfam
Nairobi, Kenya

Edited: 03/07/2007 at 04:30 PM by HDR - Measurement Sub-Network Moderator

Dear Sarah,

This is a very interesting platform as it brings and engages practitioners and researchers.

It is true that the lack of information about pastoral areas and issues has been sounding alarming bells, given the necessity for socio-economic development to reconcile efficiency and equity.

And referencing one of your queries: How can we present data which balances the realities of pastoral populations with national monitoring systems, and internationally-accepted frameworks?

As a point of departure it is important to use reliable literature reviews and fieldwork, in order to align national policies within the scope of international commitments in such areas as land rights, livelihoods, or participation in policy development, just to name a few.

In my opinion, it is true that relying on such an approach can provide some beneficial outcomes. It would be useful to identify the necessary indicators, followed by direct observations, interviews with local communities, and leaders or key stakeholders to collect the information you require.

In a nutshell, by emphasizing this kind of combination, it is vital for the process of M&E to take into consideration an integrative framework as a way to clearly identify results and shortcomings, and thus, match the countrys development objectives with the best programming approaches to strengthen access to basic needs at local levels; using the most reliable information about the social and cultural realities.

A praxis where for example, the management, identification, collection and consolidation of information can facilitate the dissemination of data (both in terms of programming and policy implementation) throughout all levels of stakeholders; and enable regular reviews to improve the methodological process.

I hope that these two cents can be helpful for your approach.

Best -- -- Emmanuel

Emmanuel Asomba
Advisor, Development Gateway, dgPoverty Team
www.developmentgateway.org/poverty

Associate, ESRC UK Centre for Evidence Based
Policy and Practice, King's College
London,UK,  School of Social Science and Public Policy

 

 

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Emmanuel Asomba
Advisor
Development Gateway - dgPoverty Team

DATA ON PASTORALISM IN AFRICA

The question is about data related to pastoralism in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and how data connected to the MDGs can be found on this group (an issue underlined in the concept note on pastoralism).

Data problems for pastoral areas and peoples are similar in principle to the data problems for other minorities, in that data may be scarce and expensive to collect. In these notes we refer to data sources for pastoral groups but the same sources are also helpful for other minorities too, especially in countries where data are scarce.

For pastoral areas there are a couple of points to raise. First is the identification of the group. Agriculture surveys have the potential to identify this group since these surveys collect data on animals. But such surveys rarely collect health and education data that are needed for MDG social goals (1-7). On the other hand, the social surveys often do not ask questions on animals. The second point is the mobile element - many household and agriculture surveys use a base of fixed households. It is possible for them to cover nomadic populations using an alternative methodology - but they rarely do.

So does this mean there is going to be little in the way of data? Not exactly. There are two particular series of surveys that are potentially helpful. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS - to be found at http://www.measuredhs.com/ ) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS - to be found at http://www.childinfo.org/mics/mics3/). These are national-level household surveys that collect relevant MDG data - the DHS can collect data on close to half of the MDG indicators for goals 1 to 7, and MICS3 (the latest version of MICS) can collect data on two-thirds of the MDG indicators for goals 1 to 7. What is more, these surveys use standard internationally supported definitions for the indicators (a point of concern in Sarah Gibbons’ note).

A primary reason that DHS, or MICS3, may collect data on animals is for use in generating a household wealth index. However these questions also have the potential for identifying pastoralists. For example the DHS in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania (3 of the 4 countries on the immediate action list in the pastoralism concept note): the Ethiopia questionnaire asked a direct question on animals (see ETH-DHS05-hhldQ.pdf), Tanzania asked an indirect one re land used for grazing (see TNZ-DHS04-hhldQ.pdf) and the 2003 DHS in Kenya had no such questions. Therefore, for Ethiopia, there is considerable potential for not only identifying pastoralists, but also in generating a selection of MDG indicators for them, and also comparing their levels with other groups in Ethiopia and with the national level. At the same time, care has to be taken on the mobile nature of the pastoralists. As noted in the final DHS 2005 report, the sample did not cover some of the nomadic population (see ETH-DHS05-sadesign.pdf). Tanzania is more limited, but something useful should also be feasible with the DHS data there.

The MICS3 series of surveys that are now starting to produce their reports, contained an optional household questionnaire module (see MICS3-Q-Opt-hhld.pdf) that included a question on animals. The main household questionnaire did not contain such a question. Hence the MICS3 data situation is likely to be similar to DHS, where in some countries the animals related question was asked, in others not. It is a pity that this interest in pastoralism did not appear before the MICS3 process across about 60 developing countries was started, as it would have been relatively easy to include the animals question for more countries.

This brings us to another aspect - not only use of past data, but of being able to collect comparable internationally standardized data in the future across many countries. The MICS4 series may well be collecting data within the next 2 to 3 years. And DHS are continuing surveys that cover 10 to 15 countries per year. This is an important possibility since collecting high quality survey data across countries is rare. Furthermore, these surveys also provide easy access to standardized microdata files for use by others in doing further analysis.

Of course there are other surveys both international and national. At the international level there are the LSMS and CWIQ surveys sponsored by the World Bank. The LSMS does not have the cross-country standardization of the DHS or MICS: but the CWIQ, which focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, tends to be more comparable across countries, though the range of data will be different. Then there are the national surveys - these can be highly variable in both data quality and access to the microdata for further analysis and will depend on the country.

Clearly these surveys will not provide all the data wanted for pastoralists, but they do offer an excellent starting point for both accessing relevant data for the recent past, and even more for data in the future. Evidently there will also need to be additional and more focused studies. But these surveys offer a good starting point.

Let us end by saying that we are great admirers of the DHS and MICS surveys that are providing so much information in just those countries where data are extremely scarce otherwise. Should you have more specific questions in this regard please contact Gareth Jones (gareth@adeni.ca).

Tom Griffin and Gareth Jones

+44 20 8313 0306
www.TheStatisticsPartnership.com

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Consultant to HDRO/UNDP

I would agree with the suggestions of Tom Griffin and Gareth Jones on the potential of MICS and DHS to provide MDGs related data on target population, either by geographical areas or by social or ethnic groups. But in some cases this is constrained by lack of reliable estimates of the target population. This becomes all the more significant when such target population is large in size and/or they are mobile such as pastoralists. For countries like Somalia, pastoralists form a sizable population.

The last reliable census for Somalia refers to 1975 and two-thirds of the population was estimated to be pastoralists. Some attempts were made over the years to estimate and project urban population and total national population (and to some extend settled population), but no attempts were made to estimate the pastoralist population. The current estimates of pastoralists vary considerably. While some maintain the same share, others argue for a lower share, as low as one-third, due to a number of factors including declining livelihoods opportunities and urbanization. This acts as a major constraint to undertake a proper sampling framework.

Two major surveys carried out for Somalia during 2002 (the Socio-economic household survey and the reproductive health survey) disaggregated the population into urban and non-urban (rural, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists) in the absence of a proper sampling framework for the pastoralists population. The MICS3 for Somalia did attempt to cover pastoralists households, but it is not clear whether the final report will have disaggregated tables for pastoralists.

UNDP Somalia and local partners under the LICUS programme of World Bank carried out a settlement level census in 2006 covering about 7000 settlements, 3000 water points and 1000 temporary nomadic settlements (covering about 90% of population and geographical area) as part of an exercise for poverty analysis and mapping. This has generated a wealth of information at community level for planning, programme formulation, monitoring and impact assessment, all of which are MDGs related. DevInfo 5.0 which is web enabled would facilitate online access of this data and generate tables, charts and maps at any functional level of hierarchy of settlements – community, district, region, zones and nation as well as by geographically aggregated occupational groups.

KNS Nair
UNDP Somalia

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knsasidharannair