2001年-世界发展银行全球_Mongolia___Participatory_Living_Standards_Assessment_2000_62页_3mb

Mongolia Participatory Living Standards Assessment 2000 (PLSA) Summary

Core Content

The Mongolia Participatory Living Standards Assessment 2000 (PLSA) was a pioneering effort to understand poverty and well-being in Mongolia through a participatory approach. It aimed to inform national policies, particularly as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), and to build the capacity of the National Statistical Office (NSO) to use participatory methods in future assessments. The PLSA combined traditional household surveys with participatory learning and action techniques, allowing community members to define and articulate their own experiences of poverty and well-being.

The assessment was conducted between March and September 2000 by the NSO with support from the World Bank and other international agencies. It included a wide range of data collection and analysis methods, such as well-being rankings, livelihood strategies, and community case studies, and covered both rural and urban areas across Mongolia.

Main Findings

1. Perceptions of Well-being and Ill-being

• Well-being was understood to include more than just income and assets; it encompassed freedom from dependence, self-respect, and family support.
• Ill-being was associated with unemployment, domestic violence, and alcohol abuse, particularly affecting women.
• The PLSA highlighted that poverty is multidimensional, with different levels of severity and vulnerability.

2. Livelihood Sources and Strategies

• Livelihoods became more diverse and complex in the 1990s, combining rural activities (herding, seasonal work) with urban opportunities (petty trading, micro-enterprises).
• Informal labor markets emerged in herding, where poorer herders relied on informal arrangements with wealthier households for access to resources and grazing.
• Inter-household transfers and social networks were crucial for the survival of poor families, especially in urban areas.

3. Insecurity and Vulnerability

• The gap between rich and poor widened significantly between 1995 and 2000.
• Unemployment and seasonal income variations increased due to the privatization of state-owned enterprises and pastoral collectives.
• Drought and dzud (severe winter weather) posed major threats to livestock production, increasing vulnerability in rural communities.
• Banking sector illiquidity and late payments of salaries and pensions forced people into debt cycles and asset disposals.

4. Key Dimensions of Poverty

• Geographical location became a significant factor in economic opportunity, with urban centers offering more access to services and markets.
• Migration, both seasonal and permanent, became a key strategy for those seeking better livelihoods.
• Family splitting was observed as a common response to livelihood opportunities across the rural-urban divide.
• Children were often forced into degrading or illegal activities due to poverty and lack of support.

Main Recommendations

• Policy makers should recognize the complex and differentiated nature of poverty, moving beyond income-based measures to include non-monetary dimensions.
• Future poverty assessments should integrate participatory methodologies with household surveys, emphasizing assets and capabilities rather than just income and expenditure.
• Urban-rural linkages and social networks must be considered in policy design, as they are essential for poor and vulnerable groups.
• Formal and informal safety nets should be understood as complementary, with a focus on enhancing the capabilities of poor people to secure their own livelihoods.
• Public investment should be directed towards reducing risks in pastoral livestock production, including pasture management and micro-finance.
• Social services and infrastructure should be improved, especially in rural areas, to support local economies.
• Citizens should have a greater voice in public spending and policy formulation.

Key Information

• Participants: Over 2,000 community members were involved in the PLSA, providing first-hand insights into their perceptions of poverty and well-being.
• Supporting Agencies: The PLSA received financial and technical support from the World Bank, DFID, ADB, UNDP, UNICEF, and IMF.
• Methodology: The PLSA used participatory well-being ranking, field site analysis, and household case studies to capture the multidimensional nature of poverty.
• Language: The report was published in both English and Mongolian.
• Impact: The PLSA was presented at the Donor Consultative Group Meeting in Paris, May 2001, and served as a foundation for Mongolia's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Structure and Organization

• Foreword: Provided by Prime Minister Nambariin Enkhbayar and World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn, highlighting the importance and impact of the PLSA.
• Acknowledgements: Recognized the contributions of staff, consultants, and international agencies.
• Research Team: Comprised NSO staff, World Bank experts, and local consultants.
• List of Abbreviations: Included key terms such as PLSA, LSMS, PRSP, and NPAP.
• Currency Equivalents: Provided exchange rates for Mongolian Tögrög (Tg.) to US Dollar.
• Glossary of Mongolian Terms: Explained local terminology used in the report, such as aimag, sum, dzud, and khot ail.

Conclusion

The PLSA marked a shift in poverty analysis in Mongolia, emphasizing participatory methods and community voices. It provided new insights into the complex and dynamic nature of poverty, highlighting the need for inclusive and holistic policies that address both economic and social dimensions of well-being. The assessment also laid the groundwork for future participatory research and policy development in the country.