2008年-世界发展银行全球_Nicaragua___Poverty_Assessment_Volume_1_Main_Report_248页_2mb

Nicaragua Poverty Assessment Summary

Core Content

This document is the Nicaragua Poverty Assessment, part of a three-volume series, published by the World Bank on May 30, 2008. It provides a comprehensive analysis of poverty in Nicaragua, its evolution, and the opportunities for poverty reduction, focusing on macroeconomic context, human development, income generation, and public social spending.

Main Report Structure

Chapter I: Poverty and its Macroeconomic Context

• Poverty Trends (1993-2005): Poverty rates have declined slightly, but extreme poverty remains a significant issue.
• Employment and Labor Income: Employment is distributed unevenly, with lower wages and less access to formal employment among the poor.
• Growth and Poverty Reduction: Economic growth has had a limited impact on poverty reduction, especially in rural areas.
• Priorities of the Poor: Access to potable water and road infrastructure are the top priorities, followed by health, education, and productive opportunities.
• Policy Recommendations: The report suggests focusing on pro-poor public spending, improving access to education and healthcare, and enhancing infrastructure.

Chapter II: Opportunities for Human Development

• Progress Toward MDGs: Nicaragua has made progress in some areas, such as education and health, but faces challenges in others like maternal mortality and illiteracy.
• Education Opportunities:
  • Education yields returns, especially for women and urban residents.
  • Inequities in access persist, with rural and poor households having lower enrollment rates.
  • Quality of education varies significantly by region and socio-economic group.
• Preventive Health Opportunities:
  • Health status indicators are among the worst in the region.
  • Maternal and child health remain critical concerns.
  • Preventive care and health insurance access are highly unequal.
• Water and Sanitation Opportunities:
  • Access to clean water and sanitation is uneven, with rural areas lagging behind.
  • Water quality and availability are major issues in many regions.
• Malnutrition Reduction:
  • Malnutrition remains a key challenge, particularly among children.
  • Policy recommendations focus on improving nutrition programs and access to food.

Chapter III: Opportunities for Income Generation

• Productive Services and Infrastructure:
  • Road infrastructure is critical for economic development, especially for rural and agricultural communities.
  • Energy and telecommunications are also important for productivity.
• Inequities in Intangible Assets:
  • Poor households have limited access to networks, organizations, and property titles.
• Agricultural Productivity:
  • Agricultural productivity is low, especially among small and poor producers.
  • Access to certified seeds and fertilizers is a major constraint.
  • Larger producers are significantly more productive due to economies of scale.

Chapter IV: Distribution of Public Social Spending

• Public Spending Overview: Public social spending (PSS) and Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) spending are analyzed by sector and area.
• Sectoral Distribution:
  • Education, health, water and sanitation, and social assistance are the main areas of public spending.
  • Spending is not evenly distributed, with the poorest households receiving less.
• Policy Implications: The report recommends making public spending more pro-poor and progressive, especially in education and health.

Key Information

• Poverty Rates: In 2005, 46% of the population lived in poverty, with 15% in extreme poverty. Rural areas had a higher poverty incidence (68%) than urban areas (29%).
• Economic Context: Nicaragua is a small, open economy vulnerable to external and natural shocks. Per capita GNI was estimated at US$1,000 in 2006.
• Development Strategy: The report is based on the development perspective of the previous administration (Bolanos), emphasizing market-based and private sector-led growth. It does not reflect the current government's (Ortega) social-oriented approach.
• Key Priorities Identified by the Poor:
  • Access to potable water
  • Road infrastructure
  • Health and education
  • Productive opportunities
• Policy Recommendations:
  • Increase pro-poor public spending
  • Improve access to education and healthcare
  • Enhance infrastructure development
  • Promote human development and inclusive growth
  • Focus on social protection and environmental sustainability

Acronyms and Abbreviations

• ADD: Acute Diarrhea Diseases
• BCN: Central Bank of Nicaragua
• CA4: Central American Four Countries
• CAP: Public Service Center
• CCTs: Conditional Cash Transfers
• CDD: Community Driven Development
• CEDLAS: Center for Distributional, Labor and Social Studies
• CEPAL: Economic Commission for Latin-American and Caribbean
• CIDA: Canadian International Development Agency
• CNU: National Council of Universities
• CONAPAS: National Commission for Water and Sanitation
• CPI: Consumer Price Index
• DANIDA: Danish International Development Agency
• DPT: Vaccine (against Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus)
• DR-CAFTA: Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement
• EMNV: Living Standards Measurement Survey
• EMPS: Associated Medical Firm
• ENACAL: Public Water and Sanitation Company
• EU: European Union
• FISE: Emergency Social Investment Fund
• GDP: Gross Domestic Product
• GIC: Growth Incidence Curves
• GON: Government of Nicaragua
• GNP: Gross National Product
• HIPC: Highly Indebted Poor Countries
• IDA: International Development Association
• IDB: International Development Bank
• IDR: Rural Development Institute
• INAFOR: National Forestry
• INATEC: National Technological Institute
• INEC: National Statistics and Census Institute
• INETER: Institute for Terrestrial Studies
• INIDE: National Institute for Development Information
• INSS: Nicaraguan Social Security Institute
• INTA: Nicaraguan Agricultural Technology Institute
• INTECNA: National Institute of Technology
• IPADE: Institute for Development and Democracy
• PAININ: Comprehensive Care Program for Nicaraguan Children
• PRS: Poverty Reduction Strategy
• PSS: Public Social Spending
• PER: Public Expenditure Review
• PINE: Comprehensive School Nutrition Program
• PROCOSAN: Health and Nutrition Community Program
• RAAN: North Atlantic Autonomous Region
• RAAS: South Atlantic Autonomous Region
• SDC: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
• SETEC: Presidential Secretariat
• WFP: World Food Program
• WDI: World Development Indicators

Tables and Figures Highlights

• Table 1.1: Macroeconomic indicators show modest growth and reduction in poverty.

• Table 1.2: Poverty rates vary with and without remittances.

• Table 1.3: Employment has shifted from agriculture to services.

• Table 2.1: Progress on PRS and MDGs is mixed.

• Table 2.2: Prospects for achieving MDGs by 2015 are uncertain.

• Table 2.3: Returns to education are higher for women and urban residents.

• Table 2.5: Literacy rates are lowest among the poorest and rural youth.

• Table 3.1: Indigenous and agricultural households have the lowest access to paved roads.

• Table 3.3: Urban access to electricity is higher than rural.

• Table 3.6: Cellular technology is the main way to access phone services.

• Table 4.1: Public spending is concentrated in certain sectors and areas.

• Table 4.3: Spending participation varies significantly by quintile.

• Table 4.5: Education spending is not evenly distributed.

• Figure 1.1: Poverty rates are higher in rural areas.

• Figure 1.5: Inequality has remained high over the years.

• Figure 2.1: Selected PRS indicators show progress but are not all on track.

• Figure 2.19: Nicaragua has the highest rate of young women with children in the region.

• Figure 2.20: Maternal mortality rates are among the highest in Latin America.

• Figure 2.33: Stunting rates remain high, especially among poor children.

• Figure 3.1: Indigenous and agricultural households have the lowest road access.

• Figure 3.8: Inequality in access to capital and land is higher than to labor and supplies.

• Figure 4.1: Public spending is unevenly distributed across sectors and areas.

Funding and Collaboration

• The report was funded by the Government of Nicaragua, the World Bank, DFID, and other international donors.
• It was co-produced with various institutions and teams, including the National Institute of Statistics, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education.

Conclusion

This Poverty Assessment serves as a critical reference for the Nicaraguan government and development partners in understanding poverty dynamics and formulating effective strategies. It highlights the need for a more inclusive and socially oriented approach to poverty reduction, focusing on human development, infrastructure, and public social spending. The report emphasizes the importance of continued efforts in education, health, and water and sanitation, while also addressing the challenges of economic growth and public policy effectiveness.