qualitative social and economic monitoring_round one report.pdf

8/10/2019 qualitative social and economic monitoring_Round one Report.pdf

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Qualitative Socialand Economic Monitoring

Round One Report

October 2012

World Bank & Myanmar evelopment Re!earc"

#ommi!!ioned by t"e $iveli"ood! and %ood Security ru!t %und


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"i! report "a! not undergone t"e revie' accorded to o((icial World Bankpublication!) "e (inding!* interpretation!* and conclu!ion! e+pre!!ed "erein aret"o!e o( t"e aut"or! and do not nece!!arily re(lect t"e vie'! o( t"e World Bank andit! a((iliated organi,ation!* or t"o!e o( t"e E+ecutive irector! o( t"e World Bank ort"e government! t"ey repre!ent)

"e World Bank doe! not guarantee t"e accuracy o( t"e data included in t"i! 'ork)"e boundarie!* color!* denomination!* and ot"er in(ormation !"o'n on any map int"i! 'ork do not imply any -udgment on t"e part o( t"e World Bank concerning t"elegal !tatu! o( any territory or t"e endor!ement or acceptance o( !uc" boundarie!)


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Acknowledgement

We 'ould like to t"anke' ealand* S'eden*contribution! to improvimo!t vulnerable peopleSecurity ru!t %und 3$4%

Disclaimer

"i! document "a! beenmark* t"e EuropeaS'it,erland* and t"e /nito re(lect t"e o((icial.u!tralia* enmark* t"e/nited ingdom)

u!tralia* enmark* t"e European /nion* t"S'it,erland* and t"e /nited ingdomg t"e liveli"ood! and (ood !ecurity o( t

in Myanmar) "eir !upport to t"e $iveli"5 i! grate(ully ackno'ledged)

n produced 'it" (inancial a!!i!tance (n /nion* t"e et"erland!* e' ealed ingdom) "e vie'! e+pre!!ed "erein c

pinion o( t"e European /nion or t"e get"erland!* e' ealand* S'eden* S'it,

e et"erland!*(or t"eir kinde poore!t andood! and %ood

rom .u!tralia*and* S'eden*annot be takenovernment! o(rland* and t"e


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"e $iveli"ood! and %ood Security ru!t %und 3$4%5 i! a multi6donor (unde!tabli!"ed in Myanmar in 2007) "e donor! to $4% are .u!tralia* enmark* t"eEuropean /nion* t"e et"erland!* e' ealand* S'eden* S'it,erland* and t"e/nited ingdom) "e donor! contracted t"e /nited ation! O((ice (or 8ro-ectService! 3/O8S5 a! t"e (und manager to admini!ter t"e (und! and providemonitoring and over!ig"t (or $4%)

$4%9! vi!ion i! to be an e((ective mec"ani!m (or c"annelling aid to implementingpartner! to ac"ieve it! goal o( improving t"e (ood and liveli"ood !ecurity o( t"epoor and vulnerable in Myanmar) $4% al!o aim! to be a collective and in(luentialvoice promoting programme co"erence* innovation* and learning* and provide aplat(orm (or en"anced policy engagement on agriculture* (ood !ecurity* and ruraldevelopment in Myanmar) $4% i! e+pected to continue operation! until at lea!t t"eend o( 201:)

"e overall ob-ective o( $4% i! to make progre!! to'ard! t"e ac"ievement o(

Millennium evelopment ;oal 1 in Myanmar* i)e)* reducing by "al( t"e proportiono( people living on le!! t"an a dollar a day* ac"ieving (ull and productiveemployment and decent 'ork (or all* including 'omen and young people* andreducing by "al( t"e proportion o( people '"o !u((er (rom "unger) $4%9! purpo!e i!to increa!e (ood availability and income! (or t'o million target bene(iciarie!)


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#ontent!

#ontent! ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) i

.bbreviation! and .cronym! )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) iv

E+ecutive Summary )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) v

4ntroduction ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 1

%ocu! area! and analytic (rame'ork ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 2

Met"od! ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) A )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) A7

Section = E+ternal .!!i!tance ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) ?

W"y analy,e e+ternal a!!i!tance> ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) ?

W"at are t"e c"aracteri!tic! o( e+ternal a!!i!tance> )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) C

@o' i! e+ternal a!!i!tance targeted and "o' eDuitable i! it> )))))))))))))))))))))) :1

W"at i! t"e proce!! o( aid delivery and deci!ion6making> )))))))))))))))))))))))))) :2

Section Si+= #onclu!ion! and Recommendation! (or QSEM 2 ))))))))))))))))))))))))))) :

#onclu!ion! ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) :

Recommendation! (or QSEM 2 ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) :?


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ii

%igure 1= QSEM .nalytical %rame'ork )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 2

%igure 2= QSEM 1 o'n!"ip Map ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) :

%igure


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able 1= QSEM 1 o'n!"ip! )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))


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.bbreviation! and .cronym!

Lakh . unit eDual to 100*000* u!ually u!ed in re(erence to money$4% $iveli"ood! and %ood Security ru!t %und

M.B Myanmar .gricultural evelopment Bank;O on6governmental organi,ationQSEM Qualitative Social and Economic MonitoringS4M Social 4mpact MonitoringThanakha . traditional co!metic made (rom ground barkViss . unit o( mea!urement* eDuivalent to about 1):< kilo! or


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E+ecutive Summary

Introduction

The Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring (QSEM) research program aims

to monitor and understand rural livelihoods in Myanmar4n order to "elp deliver"ig" Duality monitoring and analy!i! o( t"e $iveli"ood! and %ood Security ru!t%und 3$4%5 intervention!* it aim! to= develop a better under!tanding o( t"e localconte+t and compari!on bet'een region!H "elp under!tand t"e enabling andcon!training (actor! t"at a((ect t"e e((ectivene!! o( variou! intervention! andmodalitie! !upported by $4%H and enable analy!i! to "elp $4% re!pond to ne'c"allenge! t"at emerge over time) 4t al!o aim! to "elp develop local capacity tocarry out !ocial and economic re!earc" and analy!i!)

QSEM e!amines how people in rural Myanmar make a living" what wider #actorsshape their a$ility to do so" and how the $roader social and institutional#eatures o# community li#e a##ect people%s livelihoods choices and outcomes4tdoe! t"i! to provide an under!tanding o( '"at kind! o( e+ternal a!!i!tance arelikely to !ucceed in a given local conte+t* and "o' t"e rig"t c"oice! can be made'"en de!igning* (unding or implementing liveli"ood! and community developmentprogram!) 4t e+amine! t"e!e (actor! in order to "elp $4% to more e((ectivelyprovide development a!!i!tance in multiple region! o( t"e country '"o!e coredevelopment concern! and conte+t! vary greatlyH to "elp $4% move (rom !upportto !"ort6term "umanitarian need! to !upporting !u!tainable developmentH and toen!ure t"at t"e $4% program !upport! c"anging need! on t"e ground and identi(ie!ne' i!!ue! a! t"ey emerge)

QSEM aims to provide a more in&depth understandingo( 3i5 t"e local p"y!ical*

economic* !ocial and in!titutional conte+t in '"ic" $4% pro-ect! 'ork and "o't"e!e vary acro!! area!H 3ii5 "o' t"e!e local conte+tual (actor! !"ape t"eliveli"ood! c"oice! villager! make and t"eir 'ell6beingH and 3iii5 "o'* and t"edegree to '"ic"* e+ternal a!!i!tance 3including t"at provided t"roug" $4%5 i!!"aping local conte+t and leading to improvement! in liveli"ood!) 4t doe! !o bycollecting in(ormation on t"e (ive topic area! overlea() "e QSEM re!earc" andanaly!i! aim to provide a de!criptive picture o( t"e!e topic!* but al!o to provide ananalytical picture o( t"e relation!"ip! among t"e!e di((erent (actor!)

The QSEM 'ound #ieldwork took place $etween March and May * in +,villages in #our regions-states in Myanmar%s three agro&ecological .ones/#"inState 3"illy ,one5H Mag'e and Mandalay Region! 3dry ,one5H and Rak"ine State

3coa!tal ,one5) Wit"in eac" !tateIregion* t"ree to'n!"ip! 'ere !elected (rom'it"in t"e t"ree di!trict! t"at "ad t"e "ig"e!t poverty level! conditional on $4%pre!ence) "ree village! 'ere !elected in eac" to'n!"ip to ma+imi,e diver!ity int"e underlying condition! t"at a((ect t"e liveli"ood! c"oice! people make and t"ec"allenge! t"ey (ace) Enumerator! !pent about t"ree day! and (our nig"t! in eac"village) 4n(ormant! included a 'ide cro!!6!ection o( t"e village including= t"evillage "ead and ot"er o((icial village leader!H village elder! and religiou! leader!Hot"er! '"o 'ere involved in aid deci!ion!H (armer!* (i!"er!* laborer! and t"o!e inot"er occupation!H people (rom 3potentially5 vulnerable group!* including (emale6"eaded "ou!e"old!* di!abled or in-ured people and t"e elderlyH and young men and'omen) o t"e e+tent po!!ible* t"e re!earc"er! tried to get per!pective! on t"e!ame topic! (rom eac" group in order to triangulate t"e in(ormation received) 4neac" village* t"e re!earc"er! collected !tandardi,ed data to allo' (or comparativevillage* to'n!"ip and regional analy!i! and collected ca!e !tudie! to provide in6


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dept" e+ploration! o( t"(ocu!e! on variation bycompari!on along a range

Several t"eme! emerged

0ivelihoods patterns

0ivelihoods patterns vacommon (orm o( primary"ou!e"old! "ad !mall lcommon (orm o( primart"roug" !mall bu!ine!! acommon (orm o( primaryincome (rom t"eir primvillage microenterpri!e a

Di##erences in assets a#

good Duality a!!et! allo(rom money lender!) #oactivitie! to reduce ri!k)t"e year t"an poorerlandle!! laborer!) "eirbecau!e o( t"eir lackliveli"ood! activitie! 'it"

The wider physical and

There was an endemichigher interest rates

year! prior to t"e (ield''a! !till in!u((icient* and

vi

e i!!ue! emerging) .! t"e (ir!t round o(egionH (uture round! 'ill allo' (or more i

o( criteria)

QSEM Analytic 1ramework

(rom t"e re!earc")

ied $y agro&ecological .one) #a!ual labo liveli"ood in all area! apart (rom #"in Sta

nd"olding!) Small6!cale (arming 'a! t"y liveli"ood overall) Ot"er! !oug"t a prid village microenterpri!e) 4n Rak"ine Statliveli"ood) 4n all region!* "ou!e"old! !uppry liveli"ood 'it" income (rom ot"er !oud live!tock)

ected people%s livelihoods outcomes) Ric

ing better liveli"ood! return! and lo'ern!eDuently* t"ey 'ere able to diver!i(y t"ey al!o "ad a more regular (lo' o( incoeople) 8oorer people 'ere typically !mincome 'a! more !ea!onal and vulnerablo( capital* t"ey could only pur!ue !eclo' return!)

conomic structure2 pro$lems and shocks

lack o# credit" particularly #or the polt"oug" credit "ad increa!ed in !ome ar

ork* mainly due to e+ternal a!!i!tance* a(people relied on in(ormal moneylender! '

QSEM* QSEM 1n6dept" village

'a! t"e mo!te* '"ere mo!t

!econd mo!tary liveli"ood* (i!"ing 'a! alemented t"eirrce!* including

"er people "ad

intere!t rate!eir liveli"ood!me t"roug"outall (armer! ore to ri!k and*ndary income

r" who #aceda! in t"e t'o

(ordable credito c"arged "ig"


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intere!t rate!) %i!"er! "ad comparatively (e'er !ource! o( credit t"an (armer!* andprivate moneylender! "ad t"e "ig"e!t amount o( credit in circulation) "e amounto( credit in circulation* t"oug"* 'a! con!trained by t"e e((ect o( crop lo!!e! and adecrea!e in price! in t"e dry ,one on ric" (armer lender!* '"o 'ere able to lendle!! t"an be(ore) Small (armer! and (i!"er! borro'ed at lo'er intere!t rate! (romaid provider!* '"o 'ere an important !ource o( a((ordable credit) Repayment rate!on t"e!e loan! 'ere generally "ig" 3reportedly appro+imately 70 percent5* t"oug"borro'er! !ometime! !truggled to repay)

Most households #aced a high de$t $urden" which varied $y region andoccupational group) Struggle! 'it" debt con!trained people9! ability to inve!t int"eir liveli"ood! and cau!ed !ome people to lo!e land or "ave to c"ange t"eirliveli"ood!) "e greate!t level! o( land and a!!et lo!!e! t"roug" indebtedne!! 'erein "ou!e"old! t"at "ad e+perienced natural di!a!ter or ot"er kind o( !"ock)

3eople%s a$ility to save was constrained $y high levels o# de$t" crop losses and adecline in #ish yields .cro!! all region!* (armer! reported t"at debt 'a! eroding

t"eir income and ability to !ave) %i!"er! reported t"at decrea!e! in catc"e! ande+port! "ad eroded t"eir !aving! capacity)

Access to land di##ered $y wealth.lt"oug" villager! perceived t"eir !ecurity o(tenure to be "ig"er t"an e+pected* and alt"oug" t"ere 'ere no ca!e! o( pro(oundlyuneDual land di!tribution* almo!t "al( o( t"e people in t"e dry ,one and Rak"ineState 'ere landle!!) W"ile villager! under!tood !mall (armer! and landle!! laborer!alike to be poor* t"e impact o( landle!!ne!! on acce!! to credit !everely a((ectedliveli"ood! outcome!= in many place! laborer! "ad to accept 'age! t"at 'erealmo!t "al( '"at t"ey could get i( t"ey 'aited till t"e end o( t"e !ea!on to be paid)Small land"olding! al!o limited t"e number o( crop! (armer! could gro'* '"ic"made t"eir income le!! !teady t"roug"out t"e year* and reduced t"e e((iciency o(*

and income return! (rom* land utili,ation)

0and use also di##ered $y region" with impacts on livelihoods $argerland"olding! 'ere concentrated in t"e dry ,one) 4n Rak"ine and #"in State" '"ereland"olding! 'ere !maller* t"e !oil 'a! poorer* and market acce!! 'a! moredi((icult* (armer! gre' (e'er type! o( crop! and "ad (e'er "arve!t!)

1armers in the dry .one #aced water shortages Since t"ey 'ere "eavily relianton rain'ater* irregular rain(all and 'ater !carcity led to crop lo!!e!) "i!*combined 'it" a decrea!e in crop price!* con!trained income!)

The pro#ita$ility o# #ishing was a##ected $y variations in the process and costs

#or o$taining licenses and also declining yields "e co!t o( gaining acce!! to'ater'ay! (or (i!"ing varied by region) 4n Rak"ine State* licen!ing 'a! comple+)#ommercial (i!"er! "ad to apply (or licen!e! and pay (ee! to variou! department!)"i! proce!! 'a! not !tandardi,ed and t"e procedure! and amount! collectedvaried by village* 'it" no receipt! provided* !ugge!ting opacity and po!!ible rent6!eeking in t"e proce!!) %i!"er! al!o reported a !igni(icant drop in (i!" yield! in t"et'o year! prior to t"e (ield'ork* t"oug" t"i! 'a! partly mitigated by a reportedincrea!e in (i!" price!)

Di##erences in market access among regions had a clear impact on people%slivelihoods choices and outcomes illage! in #"in State and !ome area! o(Rak"ine State "ad muc" poorer acce!! to market! t"an village! in t"e dry ,one)"i! !"arply con!trained t"eir liveli"ood!= it prevented t"em (rom gro'ing ca!"crop! (or market* limited t"e amount t"ey could !ell* added to production co!t!*


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and limited t"e price! (armer! could command (or t"eir good!) Market acce!!ibility(or (i!" product! al!o varied) Better6o(( (i!"er! in one particular to'n!"ip 'it" goodmarket link! 'ere able to take advantage o( t"e!e link! to improve t"eir liveli"ood!outcome!= t"ey did t"i! t"roug" being able to !ell t"eir good! directly to t"eGangon '"ole!ale market 'it"out "aving to go t"roug" (i!" collector!) 8oor (i!"er!*in contra!t* could not a((ord t"e tran!port and ot"er a!!ociated co!t! to !end t"eircatc" directly and t"ere(ore 'ere more dependent on collector!)

"ere 'ere clear underlying link! among t"e 'ider economic and p"y!ical !tructureand people9! liveli"ood! c"oice! and outcome!=

Some o# these #actors a##ected poorer and richer households in di##erentways/ they constrained the livelihoods choices o# poorer households andmade them more vulnera$le to risk" more dependent on seasons" and madeit more challenging to cope with hardship 8oorer "ou!e"old! "ad le!! or noacce!! to land* '"ic" con!trained t"eir income!* limited "o' e((iciently t"eycould u!e land* and meant t"ey (aced "ig"er intere!t rate!) @ig" intere!t rate!

and a paucity o( credit limited t"eir !aving! ability* con!trained t"eir ability tonegotiate (or better price! (or t"eir good!* and limited t"eir !econdary income!ource!) 4t al!o made it more c"allenging (or t"em to cope 'it" "ard!"ip=poorer "ou!e"old! generally (aced "ig"er ri!k and le!! return (rom migration*"ad lo'er income! (rom remittance!* and "ad to reduce (ood or take c"ildrenout o( !c"ool* '"ic" con!trained longer6term liveli"ood! opportunitie!)

4ther aspects o# the wider physical and economic structure (particularly thelack o# credit and limited market access) a##ected $oth poor and richhouseholds" $ut with some regional variation .ll "ou!e"old! (aced anendemic lack o( credit and (aced "ig" debt level!H village! in !ome area!3particularly #"in State and !ome area! o( Rak"ine5 (aced limited acce!! to

market!* '"ic" con!trained t"eir liveli"ood! c"oice! and outcome!)

5limatic variation" #alling crop prices" pests" water scarcity and natural disasterall a##ected people%s livelihoods outcomes" though with regional variation 4nt"e dry ,one* unu!ual 'eat"er pattern! and problem! 'it" pe!t! cau!ed yield! to(all !ince 2010 '"ic"* '"en combined 'it" (alling price! (or good!* led to adecrea!e in t"e income! o( (armer!) "i! "ad knock6on e((ect! on t"e 'ideravailability o( credit= a decrea!e in income! o( ric" (armer!* combined 'it" "ig"erlevel! o( de(ault (rom borro'er!* decrea!ed t"e amount o( money t"ey 'ere ableto lend to ot"er!) Some village in Rak"ine State (aced t"e problem o( recovering(rom natural di!a!ter)

5oping strategies

6ouseholds employed a variety o# mechanisms to help cope with such pro$lems2t"e!e a((ected immediate liveli"ood! outcome! but al!o longer6term liveli"ood!c"oice!) "e!e mec"ani!m! included !trategie! to increa!e income* includingmigrating el!e'"ere in !earc" o( 'ork and relying more "eavily on remittance!*particularly (or emergencie!* and !elling or pa'ning a!!et!* and al!o !trategie! toreduce e+penditure* particularly on (ood and education) .lt"oug" t"e!e !trategie!"elped to !moot" con!umption and improve liveli"ood! outcome! in t"e !"ort term*!ome o( t"e !trategie! employedJparticularly taking c"ildren out o( !c"ool and!ending to 'ork el!e'"ereJcon!trained longer6term liveli"ood! opportunitie!)


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Migration was a very important coping strategy @ou!e"old! in almo!t everyvillage reported t"at a (amily member "ad gone el!e'"ere in !earc" o( 'orkH andvillage! reported t"at at any given time up to a (i(t" o( t"e total population o( t"atvillage 'a! 'orking el!e'"ere* and up to a t"ird o( people o( 'orking age) Suc"migrant! tended to take un!killed or !emi6!killed -ob! el!e'"ere) "eir earning!enabled t"em to !moot" con!umption and improve "ou!e"old liveli"ood!* and in!ome ca!e! even make contribution! to village in(ra!tructure) @o'ever* t"ey ri!ked(alling (urt"er into debt in order to pay agent!9 (ee! and (aced t"e ri!k o( in-ury*(atigue and illne!!) "ere 'ere demograp"ic* 'ealt" and regional di((erence! int"e pattern! o( migration* and di((erent type! o( ri!k and return) Migrant! tendedto be young 3bet'een t"e age! o( 206A05* (rom poor to medium "ou!e"old!* and'ere mo!tly men) 4n t"e dry ,one* "ou!e"old! in almo!t "al( o( t"e village! "adtaken t"eir c"ildren out o( !c"ool and !ent t"em el!e'"ere in !earc" o( 'ork*u!ually in to'n!"ip capital!) Ric"er "ou!e"old! 'ere in a po!ition to !end t"eir(amily member! abroad to countrie! reDuiring "ig"er6!killed 'orker!* !uc" a!Singapore* '"ere t"eir (amily member! could earn more money)

6ouseholds relied on such migrants #or remittances" mostly to meet emergencyor 7$ig&ticket% needs* !uc" a! buying land* repairing "ou!e! or paying !c"ool (ee!*and al!o* (or medium income "ou!e"old!* to buy "ou!e"old good! and live!tock) 4nt"e dry ,one and #"in State* "ou!e"old! al!o relied on remittance! to repay debt!(or ba!ic con!umption)

3eople tended not to change their primary occupation as a coping strategySelling or pa'ning a!!et! a! a mean! o( coping 'a! very common)

Strategies to reduce e!penditure were one o# the most common day&to&day andseasonal means o# coping with hardship4n all village!* poor and medium income"ou!e"old! reported reducing t"eir (ood intake or eating c"eaper (ood! in order to

cope) 4n #"in State* t"i! reduction o( (ood intake 'a! particularly acuteH t"ere*"ou!e"old! reported reducing t"eir (ood intake (or (our to !i+ mont"! a year) 4n allregion!* 'omen played a particularly important role in "elping to !moot"con!umption= t"ey made u!e o( (amilial and !ocial bond! to borro' (ood and get!mall amount! o( credit to meet t"eir "ou!e"old!9 daily need!* and al!o made keydeci!ion! about "o' to reduce "ou!e"old e+penditure and reduce (ood intake) 4nevery village in t"e dry ,one 3'"ic" "ad e+perienced poor 'eat"er* crop lo!!e!*and (alling price!5* poor "ou!e"old! reported taking t"eir c"ildren out o( !c"ool or(inding ot"er 'ay! to reduce educational e+penditure) @ou!e"old! in t"e dry ,oneal!o reported reducing !pending on agricultural input!)

6ousehold coping strategies were a##ected $y social structures and relationsSocial capital 'a! remarkably !trong at t"e village level) "e!e "ig" level! o( tru!tand !ocial bond! "elped "ou!e"old! to cope= (or e+ample* people borro'ed (ood(rom one anot"er during period! o( !carcity) "ere 'ere !ome gender di((erence!in coping pattern!) Women tended to be re!pon!ible (or deciding '"at area! o("ou!e"old e+penditure to reduce during period! o( "ard!"ip and !o played a criticalrole in "ou!e"old 'ell6being) Women and men al!o "ad di((erent pattern! o(migration)

E!ternal assistance also a##ected coping strategies 4n many area!* villager!reported t"at ca!"6(or6'ork program! increa!ed (ood !ecurity (or poor* and u!uallye!pecially landle!!* "ou!e"old!) "i! meant t"at '"en coping 'it" "ard!"ip t"ere

'a! le!! o( a need to reduce (ood intake)


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Social structures and institutions

5ertain social groups participated less in village a##airs than others) 8oorer"ou!e"old! reported t"at t"ey "ad to !pend a larger proportion o( t"eir time!eeking a liveli"ood t"an ot"er!* and !o "ad little time to participate in villagea((air!) e!pite t"i!* t"oug"* villager! generally reported little marginali,ation or!ocial e+clu!ion)

Social structures and relations a##ected the wider physical and economicstructure and a##ected livelihoods choices%or t"e mo!t part* level! o( tru!t and!ocial bond! 'ere !trong at t"e village level) illage leader! "elped to organi,ecollective action and enable villager! to organi,e to repre!ent t"eir intere!t!* (orin!tance* to provide a((ordable credit to one anot"er* or to re"abilitate village'ater !ource! and pat"'ay! to enable linkage! to market!) $ittle con(lict* crime ormarginali,ation 'a! reported) 4n one ca!e* "o'ever* ne'comer! to a village 'ereprevented (rom u!ing mona!tic !c"ool! and !o by virtue o( t"eir !tatu! a! economicmigrant! "ad t"eir longer6term liveli"ood! opportunitie! curtailed)

The nature o# con#lict varied) Out o( t"e ca!e! o( con(lict t"at did ari!e* !mall6!cale con(lict! ari!ing in t"e cour!e o( everyday li(e u!ually 'ere re!olved ea!ily att"e village level) $arger6!cale con(lict!* u!ually involving liveli"ood!* economicmatter!* public a((air! and community li(e* 'ere le!! ea!ily re!olved) 4n t"e!eca!e!* villager! tended to involve government in!titution! !uc" a! t"e village tractadmini!trator! or to'n!"ip aut"oritie!) "ey al!o !ometime! mobili,ed 'iderpre!!ure and involved political partie! to "elp repre!ent t"eir intere!t!)

In the vast ma8ority o# villages" villagers said that the village administration waskey in helping to manage village a##airs and mediate disputes 4n(ormalin!titution! and leader!Jincluding village elder!* yout" group! and religiou!

group!Jtended to (ocu! on !ocial and religiou! a((air!) "ey !ometime! gotinvolved in village di!pute re!olution* but in an advi!ory capacity) "e role o( aidprovider group! tended to be re!tricted to village liveli"ood!)

The decision&making style o# village administration and elders was somewhatclosed "ey u!ually con!ulted 'it" one anot"er privately to reac" agreement andannounced t"eir deci!ion! publicly) Women participated little in deci!ion6makingabout village a((air!) "ere 'a!* "o'ever* little complaint about t"i!= t"e intere!t!o( village leader! and ordinary villager! appeared not to diverge !ub!tantially) 4n!ome ca!e!* village leader! organi,ed to "elp repre!ent t"e intere!t! o( villager! innegotiation! 'it" out!ide actor!)

E!ternal assistance

E!ternal assistance a##ected people%s livelihoods outcomes and the widerphysical and economic structure#a!" (or 'ork program! reportedly improved t"e(ood !ecurity o( poorer villager!* particularly t"e landle!!* and in !ome !ampledvillage! level! o( a((ordable credit "ad increa!ed due to a!!i!tance (rom bot" t"egovernment and non6governmental organi,ation!) "e impact o( !uc" credit*t"oug"* 'a! tempered by di((icultie! 'it" repayment= !ome borro'er!* (acingde(ault on t"eir loan! (rom !uc" !ource!* borro'ed at "ig"er rate! (rom in(ormalmoneylender! in order to repay t"em) $iveli"ood! a!!i!tance bene(ited (armer!*but t"e productivity gain! o( !uc" a!!i!tance in area! 'it" limited acce!! tomarket! 'ere con!trained by broader in(ra!tructural inadeDuacie!)


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+i

It is unclear whether e!ternal assistance a##ected social structures andleadership in any #undamental way /!ually* participation on village aidcommittee! re(lected rat"er t"an c"anged e+i!ting !ocial norm!) 4n !ome village!*"o'ever* enumerator! ob!erved t"at participation in aid deci!ion6making cau!ed3at lea!t !"ort6term5 !ocial c"ange!* !uc" a! 'omen organi,ing t"em!elve! to "elpdevelop ot"er a!pect! o( t"eir communitie!)

0evels o# e!ternal assistance had increased signi#icantly in the two years priorto the #ieldwork2 it was provided mostly $y non&governmental organi.ations(9:4s) Mo!t aid 'a! targeted improvement! in liveli"ood!* (ocu!ing primarily onagriculture* (ollo'ed by a!!i!tance (or community in(ra!tructure) 4ndeed* villager!cited community in(ra!tructure and liveli"ood! input! 3including credit5 a! apriority* along 'it" 'ater and education) @o'ever* t"ere 'ere !till many unmetneed! at t"e village level particularly in community in(ra!tructure to link village!to market! and !c"ool!H t"i! 'a! !tronge!t in #"in State* (ollo'ed by Rak"ineState)

Targeting mechanism mainly re#lected the priorities o# donors= villager! "adlittle input) /!ually* villager! reported being !ati!(ied 'it" t"e targetingmec"ani!m! propo!ed* but t"ey o(ten did not (it 'it" local under!tanding! o(vulnerability) illager! and village leader! 'ere !ometime! di!!ati!(ied* arguingt"at t"e propo!ed targeting mec"ani!m! 'ould di!rupt !ocial "armony)

E!ternal assistance was most commonly delivered through village committeesset up $y aid providers) eci!ion6making on t"e!e committee! u!ually re(lectede+i!ting !ocial norm!* and level! o( tran!parency in t"e provi!ion o( a!!i!tancevaried) "ere 'ere al!o i!!ue! 'it" re!olving complaint!= alt"oug" complaint! aro!ein about "al( o( t"e village!* t"ey 'ere only re!olved to t"e !ati!(action o( villager!in t'o o( t"em)

There were some issues with the provision o# assistance" particularly in somecases with regard to credit) .lt"oug" micro(inance program! appeared to meetvillage need!* t"eir !tructure!* rule! and lo' intere!t rate! created problem!)illage leader! o(ten reported t"at a !igni(icant proportion o( villager! eit"erde(aulted on t"eir loan! or borro'ed (rom ot"er* "ig"er6intere!t ratemoneylender! to repay)


16/84


17/84

1

4ntroduction

The Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring (QSEM) research program aimsto monitor and understand rural livelihoods in Myanmar 4t e+amine! "o' peoplein rural Myanmar make a living* '"at 'ider (actor! !"ape t"eir ability to do !o* and

"o' t"e broader !ocial and in!titutional (eature! o( community li(e a((ect people9!liveli"ood! c"oice! and outcome!) 4t doe! t"i! to provide an under!tanding o( '"atkind! o( e+ternal a!!i!tance are likely to !ucceed in a given local conte+t* and "o't"e rig"t c"oice! can be made '"en de!igning* (unding or implementing liveli"ood!and community development program!)

QSEM is designed to support the monitoring and evaluation program o# the0ivelihoods and 1ood Security Trust 1und (0I1T)) $4% 'ork! in rural area! o(Myanmar and i! e+pected to di!bur!e more t"an /SK 100 million over (ive year!) 4tprovide! grant! to implementing partner! to (und pro-ect! t"at collectively aim toimprove t"e (ood !ecurity and income! o( 2 million people acro!! Myanmar) o do!o e((ectively* "o'ever* it (ace! !everal c"allenge!) One o( t"e!e i! "o' to providedevelopment a!!i!tance e((ectively in multiple region! o( t"e country '"o!e coredevelopment concern! and conte+t! vary greatly) .not"er i! "o' to move (rom!upporting !"ort6term "umanitarian need! to !upporting !u!tainable development). t"ird c"allenge i! to en!ure t"e $4% program !upport! c"anging need! on t"eground and identi(ie! ne' i!!ue! a! t"ey emerge)

These challenges mean there is a need #or in#ormation on the livelihoods needs"challenges and opportunities in 0I1T target areas and how these vary $ygeographic area" target group and over timeWit" t"i! in mind* t"ere i! a "eavyemp"a!i! 'it"in $4% on promoting learning* bot" t"roug" monitoring andevaluating program intervention! and t"roug" re!earc" t"at provide! a deeper

under!tanding o( t"e conte+t! in '"ic" t"e program i! 'orking) "e aim o( t"eQSEM i! to in(orm t"e !trategic deci!ion6making o( t"e $4% %und Board by "elpingt"e program to gain a better under!tanding o( local conte+t and liveli"oodc"allenge!)

QSEM does this through two complementary components %ir!t* periodic re!earc"i! conducted at roug"ly !i+6mont"ly interval! in A village! !elected to repre!entt"e area! in '"ic" $4% operate!) Second* QSEM conduct! a number o( t"ematic!tudie!* (ocu!ing in more dept" on i!!ue! t"at emerge (rom t"e village level(ield'ork) "i! al!o involve! re!earc" at "ig"er geograp"ic level! 3(or in!tance*to'n!"ip!5) "i! report provide! re!ult! (rom t"e (ir!t round o( t"e periodicre!earc" 3QSEM 15)

The research $uilds on and complements previous research conducted onvillage li#e in Myanmar) "i! re!earc" include! t"e 8o!t6argi! Social 4mpactMonitoring 3S4M5 !tudie! o( village li(e in t"e elta in t"e a(termat" o( t"e cyclone*including an analy!i! o( credit market! at t"e to'n!"ip levelH t"e @ou!e"old $iving#ondition! Survey! by t"e /nited ation! evelopment 8rogrammeH analy!i! o(village in!titution! in Myanmar 3LW"at $ie! Beneat"95 and (ort"coming 'ork by t"e/nited ation! evelopment 8rogramme and Myanmar evelopment Re!earc" onvillage in!titution!H t"e QSEM 0 pilot report* and t"e $4% ba!eline !urvey and ot"ermonitoring product!)


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2 Qualitative Soci

1ocus areas and analy

QSEM 1 aim! to provide a

"e local p"y!ical*pro-ect! 'ork and "o

@o' t"e!e local contand t"eir 'ell6beingH

@o'* and t"e degret"roug" $4%5 i! !"liveli"ood!)

QSEM doe! !o by collectin

1ig

QSEM #irst aims to proviW"at liveli"ood! do pea!!i!tance i! being proviliveli"ood!> W"at coping

Second" QSEM aims to udi##erent $o!es @o'*people do* on coping me!tructure! !"ape t"e loa((ect liveli"ood! c"oicrelation!"ip! bet'een t"c"annel o( impact) .!!e!to eac" ot"er can ultimc"oice! are made and "o

l and Economic Monitoring

ic #ramework

more in6dept" under!tanding o(=

conomic* !ocial and in!titutional conte+tt"e conte+t varie! acro!! area!H

+tual (actor! !"ape t"e liveli"ood! c"oice!

to '"ic"* e+ternal a!!i!tance 3includingaping local conte+t and leading to im

g in(ormation on (ive topic area!* a! !"o'n

ure / QSEM Analytical 1ramework

de a descriptive picture o# the topics wiple pur!ue in rural area! o( Myanmar>ed> W"ic" in!titution! play an importantec"ani!m! do villager! u!e in time! o( tro

nderstand the relationships $etween the(or e+ample* doe! e+ternal a!!i!tance i"ani!m! and on !ocial !tructure!> @o'* inal economic environment> @o' do copi! and outcome!> "i! analy!i! involve!di((erent !et! o( (actor!* 'it" eac" arro'

ing t"e 'ay! in '"ic" di((erent !et! o( (acttely provide a deeper under!tanding o(t"ey re!ult in di((erent outcome!)

in '"ic" $4%

villager! make

t"at providedrovement! in

in %igure 1)

hin each $o!)W"at e+ternalrole in villageble>

#actors in thepact on '"atturn* do !ocialg mec"ani!m!a!!e!!ing t"e

a "ypot"e!i,edor! are relatedo' liveli"ood!


19/84

Round One Report

Marginali,ation and !ocial e+clu!ion Social capital and collective action #on(lict and crime

@o' do in!titution! and leader!"ip a((ect liveli"ood!>

ype! and (unction! o( local in!titution! ature o( local leader!"ip egotiating intere!t! 'it" out!ide actor!

6ow do social structures and relations a##ect livelihoods=

Marginali.ation and social e!clusion

5ertain social groups" including single headed households and the poorestcommunity mem$ers" tended to participate less in village decision&makingprocesses than other $etter&o## social groups within villages"e rea!on! t"eycited (or t"i! 'ere t"at t"ey "ad to !pend a larger proportion o( t"eir time to makeenoug" money to live on and en!ure t"ey "ad enoug" (ood to eat) e!pite t"i!*t"e!e group! commonly reported t"at t"ey did not (eel marginali,ed or !ocially

e+cluded or (eel t"at village deci!ion! 'ere un(air to t"em) "e re!earc"er!attempted* t"roug" participant ob!ervation and one6on6one intervie'! 'it"traditionally Lmarginali,ed9 "ou!e"old!* to under!tand '"et"er t"e!e re!pondent!'ere under6reporting t"i! in order to L!ave (ace9 in t"e pre!ence o( out!idere!earc"er!) "ey did not (ind any evidence o( !uc" under6reporting)

Social capital and collective action

Social capital was generally strong Social capital 'a! generally !trong) 4n almo!tall village!* re!earc"er! ob!erved t"at "ig" level! o( tru!t and !trong community!ocial bond! enabled people to act to improve t"eir liveli"ood! outcome!)1"ere'ere many e+ample! o( t"i!) 4n one village* people 'ere able to borro' gold at

1"i! 'a! reportedly true acro!! 'ealt" group! a! 'ell a! 'it"in 'ealt" group!)


61/84

intere!t6(ree rate! (romanot"er* lando'ner! lenpooled t"eir re!ource!community (und to rai!elabor* borro'ed moneyvillage development ta!k

It also ena$led villagelivelihoods 4n all villa!"ared end!) "ey 'orke

1i

'esearchers also #ound#rom government #or cvillager! organi,ed to (iin!ecure area* villager! oarea) "ey al!o (ound cain negotiation! 'it" acto

5ollective action tended'it" re!pected village el

?o! / Gsi

"e (ollo'ing ca!e! are e+acted collectively to addre!

4n t"e dry ,one* !everal villan emergency* !uc" a! an at"e "ig"e!t in t"e 'orld)motivated to "elp ot"er!re!ource! and contribute 't"e cri!i!)

1:

"i! 'a! rarer t"an ccommunitie! becau!e villapriority)

Religious ceremoni

Rebu

.rimar!secondar! school

Contributing cash #or

Reno)ating or buildi

Cleaning drink

(d)ocating #or

3uilding or maintaining cor!ing to get a--ro)al #

5ngaging in #ood s

Round One

t"eir neig"bour! to u!e (or bu!ine!!t money to and !"ared !eed! 'it" !mall'it" one anot"er) 4n anot"er* villagermoney (or micro (inance) 4n yet ot"er!*

(rom one anot"er 'it"out intere!t* and c)

s to engage in collective action to ie!* community member! acted collectivtoget"er on a 'ide range o( community a

gure / Types o# 5ollective Action

cases where villagers organi.ed to try tommunity health care centres 1: 4n and (unding (or building a community bridg

rgani,ed to rai!e (und! (rom over!ea! mig!e! '"ere villager! organi,ed to repre!ent! out!ide t"e village)

to $e organi.ed $y village administratorser! and yout" group!)

ng Social 5apital to Deal with 5redit 9eed

mple! o( variou! 'ay! t"at villager! in di((er! !ome o( t"eir more pre!!ing liveli"ood! need!)

ge! rai!ed (und! (or poor community member!cident or !nake bite* (or '"ic" t"e rate! in Myypically* a village leader or !omeone '"oorked clo!ely 'it" villager! o( all backgroun

"at t"ey could to take care o( t"e community

mmunitie! organi,ing to get approval (orer! tended to perceive t"eir c"ildren9! educa

&6

42

42

%7

%6

8

6%

%

es and social li#e

ilding -atha!s

a--ro)al e##orts

school buildings

g ne religious

ing ater -onds

)illagers rights

munit! bridges r health centers

curit! acti)ities

.ercentage o# )illages in hich #ound

eport A

inve!tment) 4n(armer!* '"o

! organi,ed apeople !"aredollaborated on

prove villagely to ac"ievetivitie!)

get approvalt"er in!tance*e) 4n one (oodant! (rom t"att"eir intere!t!

in cooperation

s

nt region! "ave

'"en t"ey (acednmar are among'a! particularlyd! to pool t"eirmember! (acing

c"ool! in t"eirtion a! a "ig"er

86


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A: Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring

8ooling re!ource! to provide in(ormal credit to relative!* clo!e (riend!* and a!!ociate! 'a!(ound bot" in t"e dry ,one and in Rak"ine State) %or e+ample* people '"o o'ned gold!ometime! lent t"e gold to relative! and clo!e a!!ociate! to pa'n !o t"at t"ey could buyagricultural input!) ypically* t"ey 'ere e+pected to repay t"e gold a(ter "arve!t) 4n #"inState* villager! al!o !poke o( e+tending intere!t6(ree loan! to ot"er villager! t"roug"net'ork!)

4n !ome place!* villager! !poke o( lending !eed! to poor community member! or relative!)"i! 'a! not a ca!e o( people "aving e+ce!! !eed! t"at t"ey could !pare* but rat"er 'a! adeci!ion to "elp a! many people !urvive a! be!t a! t"ey could* even at t"e co!t o( one9! o'n'el(are)

"ere 'ere !ome e+ample! o( more (ormally organi,ed in!tance! o( villager! 'orkingtoget"er* a! t"roug" mona!tic in!titution!* to deal 'it" need! (or credit) 4n a village inMandalay Region* a village monk organi,ed community member! to contribute money to!tart a micro (inance program) "e monk !tarted t"e program in 200? 'it" a contribution o(200*000 kyat) "e term! o( t"e loan 'ere a percent intere!t rate 'it" money to be repaidby ecember o( every year) .t t"e time o( t"e re!earc"* t"e 'orking capital 'a!


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1igur

5on#lict and crime

Only nine ca!e! o( crime"e one! t"at did e+i!!tabbing and violent dieconomic "ard!"ip (aced'ere more in!tance! o( cMag'e and #"in State)

Type o# crime Man

;ambling 1iolent di!pute! 1StabMurderRape 1otal

The nature o# con#lictcon(lict ari!ing in t"e co

di!pute! among neig"bo!ati!(action o( t"e partieor "ad to be re!olved at l

0arger&scale con#lict tea##airs or community li#

5on#licts over liveli(ore!try in MandalayRak"ine State* a di!plarge6!cale -etty con!ca!e o( a di!pute oveacting on be"al( o( t"

0

3usiness

(dministrati)e a##airs

Social a##airs

Religious a##airs

Resource sharing

9nter:)illage -ro;ect

5ducation

Round One

F/ Types o# Inter&village 5ooperation

'ere reported in t"e


64/84

AC Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring

5on#licts over matters a##ecting pu$lic a##airs and community li#eincluded=in Mag'e* a village corruption ca!e and a di!pute over (inancial advantage int"e !election o( a village leaderH in Rak"ine State* a di!pute over mona!teryand primary !c"ool boundarie! and a di!pute bet'een village elder! and t"evillage aut"oritie!H a di!pute over 'ater price! and t"e maintenance o( acommunity 'ell in MandalayH and villager di!content 'it" a drunk religiou!leader in #"in State)

@illagers tended to involve government in trying to resolve such con#licts andsometimes mo$ili.ed popular pressure $ocal leader!Jparticularly villageadmini!trator!J'ere u!ually called upon to "elp re!olve !mall6!cale con(lict!arriving in t"e cour!e o( everyday li(e) illager! 'ere u!ually !ati!(ied 'it" t"i!)$arger6!cale con(lict! 'ere more di((icult to re!olve) illager! u!ually involvedgovernment in!titution! 3t"e village admini!tration or "ig"er level! o( government*at t"e to'n!"ip or even national level!5 in trying to re!olve larger6!cale con(lict!)4n !ome ca!e! t"ey mobili,ed 'ider pre!!ure to bear on t"e government in!titution!t"ey "oped 'ould "elp t"em re!olve t"e i!!ue) %or e+ample* in a di!pute over

!ervice delivery in a village in Mandalay* villager! complained to t"e nationalgovernment* '"ic" prompted t"e to'n!"ip aut"oritie! to !tep in and re!olve t"eproblem) 4n ot"er ca!e!* villager! !ucce!!(ully prompted a political party to rai!et"e pro(ile o( t"eir ca!e and put public pre!!ure to bear on government)

Ta$le / 5ases o# 5on#lict

Dispute over Institutionsinvolved

'egion Details

%ore!try o'n!"ip court Mandalay4rrigation illage aut"ority Rak"ine.nimal

tre!pa!!ing

o'n!"ip police*

L(olk9 di!putere!olutionmet"od!

#"in i!pute over a "or!e o'ner re(u!ing to

pay compen!ation (or "i! "or!ede!troying t"e crop! o( "i! neig"bour

Small6!cale(i!"ingliveli"ood!

o'n!"ipepartment o(%i!"erie!

Rak"ine i!pute over a ga! company9! motorve!!el! de!troying !mall6!cale (i!"er!9net! and re(u!ing to providecompen!ation

$andcon(i!cation

o'n!"ip $andRecord!epartment*political party

Rak"ine i!pute over a group o( 'ive! o( navyo((icer! attempting to place village6o'ned (ore!t land into t"eir name! incollaboration 'it" t"e land record!department) Re!olved '"en villager!and t"e village tract admini!tratorcomplained to t"e local politicalparty* cau!ing t"e land record!department to concede

Service delivery one #"in #on(lict bet'een villager! and t"evillage admini!trator over a lack o(electricity provi!ion in t"e villagede!pite t"e to'n!"ip aut"oritie!conducting an electricity inaugurationceremony

#orruption o'n!"ipadmini!tration

Mag'e i!pute over a village admini!tratormi!u!ing community (und! intended(or replacing village lamp po!t!)

illage leader!election one Mag'e i!pute over one villager 'inning t"evillage leader election becau!e "e "ad


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Round One Report A7

Dispute over Institutionsinvolved

'egion Details

more money and could pay (or "i!!upporter! to travel to t"e election!ite

illage land

boundarie!

Mini!try o(

Religiou! .((air!*local politicalparty

Rak"ine i!pute over t"e village admini!trator

'anting to encroac" on t"e land o( t"emona!tery to e+pand t"e boundarie!o( t"e village !c"ool) Re!olved '"ent"e village monk and board o( tru!tee!complained to t"e Mini!try o( Religiou!.((air! 'it" t"e "elp o( a localpolitical party

Service deliveryco!t!

ationalgovernment

Mandalay i!pute over a village 'atercommittee rai!ing t"e co!t o( 'ater(rom a community 'ell in order tocover maintenance co!t!) Re!olved'"en t"e to'n!"ip admini!trationcovered maintenance co!t! a(ter t"evillage complained to aypyita'

i!!ati!(action'it" religiou!leader!

one #"in . drunken religiou! leader reportedlycau!ed yout" to drink and !ocial bond!to deteriorate)

6ow do institutions and leadership a##ect livelihoods=

0ocal institutions

Cey village institutions were similar across villages in di##erent regions "eycon!i!ted o( t"e=

village admini!tration religiou! group! aid provider group! 3u!ually one or t'o in eac" village5 !ingle6purpo!e committee! 3u!ually about t"ree in eac" village5 traditional group! 3primarily con!i!ting o( village elder! and re!pected per!on!*

yout" group! and !ocial group! !uc" a! cooking or mu!ic group!5)

They also usually included government 9:4s (:49:4s)" though these were#ound in less than two thirds o# villages "e role o( ;O;O! 'a! generally toa!!i!t 'it" village !a(ety and !ecurity* including t"roug" t"e village (ire brigade andparamilitary group!* '"ic" organi,ed village !ecurity (or large gat"ering!* !uc" a!

ceremonie!) 8olitical partie! e+i!ted in a minority o( village!) Wit" one e+ception*t"ey 'ere all one! '"ere t"e village admini!trator! t"em!elve! 'ere political partyorgani,er!) "e partie! 'ere not al'ay! government partie!) 4n Rak"ine and #"int"ey 'ere regional political partie!* and in t"e dry ,one t"ey 'ere nationalpolitical partie!* bot" government and oppo!ition 3/S8 and $5)

?o! ,/ The 1ormal @illage Administrative Structure

4n 2012* a ne' Ward or illage ract .dmini!tration la' 'a! pa!!ed t"at allo'! (or t"eillage ract .dmini!trator to be elected by repre!entative! o( 910 "ou!e"old group!9 undert"e !upervi!ion o( village elder! 3!ub-ect to approval o( Duali(ication! by t"e to'n!"ipadmini!tration5) "e la' provide! (or a 'ide range o( development ta!k!* including poverty

alleviation* maintaining irrigation canal! and (i!" pond!* and di!a!ter prevention andre!pon!e* and give! 'ide6ranging po'er! to t"e village tract admini!trator* including


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0 Qualitative Soci

"ou!e"old regi!tration* adm

4n practice* QSEM (ound t"a'a! no longer in (orce* but!tandardi,ation in villageadmini!trator being above

"ou!e"old leader!9) ot all"ave a (ormal village tractL100 "ou!e"old! leader9* '"

The #ollowing is a list o#people involved in t"e!ame) "e!e 'ere u!uallincluding t"o!e (rom yout

1ormal

@illage administration

Aid provider groups3u!uallt'o in eac" village5* !uc" a illage development co $iveli"ood! developmen Sel( reliance group!

Single&purpose groups3u!uabout t"ree in eac" village*degree o( member cro!!ove 8arent6teac"er a!!ociat Sc"ool committee! Water committee! Electricity committee! Road maintenance com Market committee! 8ond maintenance com Medical (acility commit

%uneral !ervice! group! $ibrary committee!

?/>s

itical -arties

@ )

#ou

re!pa!!ing)

village !tructure"ere 'a! littlee village tract

e above t"e 910

not all village!to "ave only one

lage level"eded to be t"e"in t"e village

d per!on!

e! o( t"encluding

llages in hich

d


67/84

@ill!ide cultivation com @ealt" committee!

:overnment 9:4s* !uc" a!brigade and paramilitary gr

3olitical parties3in !ome vi

@illage institutions hadeyes o# villagers) 4n t"eadmini!tration a! beingimportant9 tended to mmo!t active role to playto lead ca!e! o( villagevillager! and t"e to'n!"iinternational ;O!) "managing t"e !ingle6purp

1igure */ @illag

In#ormal institutions (grincluding #rom youth grmanaging !ocial and re

under!tood) "ey !ometit"ey did !o it 'a! uadmini!trator!)

'eligious groups #ocusepagoda (e!tival!* rebuildmaintaining religiou! buiand over!eeing t"e be"ainvolved in liveli"ood!6religiou! li(e* !uc" a!village!* religiou! in!titutactive in religiou! in!ti

identi(ied by villager! a!

0


68/84

2 Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring

Some villages were an e!ception"ere* villager! identi(ied in(ormal in!titution!3village elder! and re!pected people5 a! being more important and in(luential t"an(ormal in!titution! 3village admini!trator!5) "e !election proce!! (or villageadmini!trator! appeared to "ave an in(luence on t"i!) Suc" village! tended to beone! '"ere village elder! 'ere po'er(ul and '"ere village admini!trator! "adtaken t"e po!t by de(ault rat"er t"an becau!e t"ey 'ere truly intere!ted 3(orin!tance* '"en t"ere 'a! only one educated per!on in t"e village able to take ont"e role and '"ere re(u!ing to do !o 'ould "ave contravened community !ocialnorm!5)

Aid provider groups normally did not play a role in wider village a##airs" #ocusingon village livelihoods matters instead evert"ele!!* in a "and(ul o( village!*villager! identi(ied aid provider group! a! being t"e mo!t important in!titution! int"eir village) "e!e 'ere al!o villager! '"ere t"e village admini!trator 'a! inactiveand '"ere ot"er! '"o 'ere involved in village public li(e* !uc" a! t"o!e active onaid provider committee!* !tepped in to a!!ume a broader role by de(ault) Single6purpo!e committee!* !uc" a! parent6teac"er a!!ociation! and electricity

committee!* normally (unctioned (or t"i! purpo!e only) "eir activitie! included(undrai!ing* management and maintenance) "ey al!o liai!ed 'it" out!ide!take"older! on !ervice6delivery matter!)

The institutions most involved in livelihoods&related matters were villageadministrators and aid provider groups$iveli"ood! group! 'ere (ormed a! part o(aid program!H t"e re!earc"er! did not (ind any liveli"ood! group! t"at "ad ari!enorganically or t"at "ad pre6e+i!ted aid program!* !uc" a! (arming cooperative!)

0ocal leadership

Cey leaders in most villages were administrators or elders) illage admini!trator!

3i)e)* (ormal leader!5 tend to play t"e lead role) "i! 'a! e!pecially true in #"inState* '"ere village admini!trator! 'ere !elected t"roug" popular electionHre!earc"er! ob!erved t"at level! o( tru!t bet'een villager! and t"e villageadmini!trator! in t"o!e village! 'ere "ig") 4n Rak"ine State* in(ormal leader!3compri!ed o( village elder!5 'ere more important) 4n t"o!e village!* villageadmini!trator! tended to be "ave been appointed by t"e to'n!"ip aut"oritie! att"e recommendation o( village elder! and "ad accepted out o( a !en!e o( !ocialobligation* not becau!e t"ey 'anted to "old t"e po!t 3any c"ange! to t"e !electionproce!! introduced by t"e illage ract .dmini!tration la' "ad not yet takene((ect5)

0eaders generally played a central role in village decision&making" dispute

resolution and collective action "ey took t"e lead in village level deci!ion6making* 'ere actively involved in village development and !ocial a((air!* ledcommunity development and (undrai!ing initiative!* interacted 'it" to'n!"ip andot"er aut"oritie!* and played a central role in re!olving di!pute!) "ey al!o tendedto "ave multiple role! 'it"in village!* being involved in !everal kind! o( villagein!titution! a! leader! or advi!or!) illage leader! 'ere u!ually not involved indirect day6to6day liveli"ood! activitie!* but t"ey did play an active role in initiatingcollective action and ot"er village development activitie! undertaken to addre!!t"e 'ider development and liveli"ood! need! o( t"eir communitie!)

@illage administrators and elders tended to $e richer than ordinary villagers"

$ut were not necessarily the richest .! t"e (ollo'ing grap" !"o'!* villageleader! tended to be eit"er Lmedium9 compared to ot"er community member! orbetter o(()


69/84

1igur

The educational level ogovernment regulation!*education) illage admieducation* u!ually becau(ini!"ed "ig" !c"ool)

1igure / Educ

The post o# village adillager! o(ten !aid t"atcau!ed problem! 3becau!and 'ere under pre!!ure

conduct activitie!5 and* b

The pro#ile o# village ascope o# power o# theadmini!trator! 'ere Lbetto be Lmedium9) Re!earcand !cope o( po'er o( ttended to control village"o'ever* '"ere villageleader! tended to be o(

1?

"i! i! borne out by in6dand $eader!"ip in MyanmaSu!anne empel5)

0 2

Mage

Mandala!

Chin

Rakhine

0 1

Mage

Mandala!

Chin

Rakhine

Round One

/


70/84

A Qualitative Soci

4n Rak"ine and MandalaRak"ine* "o'ever* '"erecommendation o( villa

1igure

In selecting administratan important role in a$Mandalay and three inadmini!trator ba!ed onvillage elder! e((ectively

The 7local space% variwomen%s participation iclo!ed deci!ion6making !tto reac" agreement andgroup! and t"e poor 'erand t"ere 'a! lo' repreand planting time! '"en

'elations $etween villaState* relation! 'ere ge'ere mo!tly average* t"o"ere 'ere a (e' e+ampot"er or '"ere t"e lead'ere clo!e enoug" !ociainvolving leader! and villvillage admini!trator! 'ovillage organi,ation! 3!upro-ect!)

?o! /


71/84

Round One Report

cook (or village event!* but men tended to make t"e actual deci!ion!* even about '"atcurrie! to make and (or "o' many people to cook) 4n all 1C village! in t"e dry ,one* aidprovider! "ad committee! '"ic" reDuired 'omen9! involvement) But !tillJapart (rom inone or t'o e+ceptional ca!e!J'omen9! participation 'a! limited to providing input andcontributing to di!cu!!ion!)

4t 'a! unclear '"et"er t"i! a((ected 'omen9! intere!t!* but 'omen9! and men9! prioritie!di((ered !ome'"at) Women and men alike 'ere intere!ted in village in(ra!tructure* but'omen tended to cite t"e need (or in(ra!tructure to bene(it t"eir (amilie!* (or e+ample torepair road! and bridge! connecting t"em to t"eir c"ildren9! !c"ool!)

The role o# institutions and leaders in negotiating village interests with outsideactors

There were some cases o# villagers organi.ing to represent their interests"!ometime! 'it" t"e a!!i!tance o( village leader!)

?o! F/ 9egotiating with 4utside Actors

4n one village in Rak"ine State 'it" a population o( about A00600 people* an international;O "ad come in to "elp (i!"ermen and paddy (armer! 'it" grant! to !upport t"eirliveli"ood!) $andle!! laborer! 'ere al!o included in t"i! pro-ect) "e villager! reported t"att"ere 'ere no problem! 'it" t"e !upport to (i!"ermen or to (armer!) @o'ever* t"ere 'a! aproblem 'it" targeting t"e landle!! laborer!) "e original pro-ect "ad accommodated 2landle!! people* eac" o( '"om 'a! to receive A0*000 kyat* but t"ere 'ere


72/84


73/84

?

Section = E+ternal .!!i!tance

Summary/ QSEM (ound t"at alt"oug" level! o( e+ternal a!!i!tance provided mo!tlyby ;O! "ad increa!ed !igni(icantly in t"e t'o year! prior to t"e (ield'ork* t"ere'ere !till many unmet need! at t"e village level* particularly in community

in(ra!tructure) Mo!t aid 'a! targeted at improvement! in liveli"ood!* mo!tly(ocu!ing on agriculture* (ollo'ed by a!!i!tance (or community in(ra!tructure)illager! over'"elmingly cited community in(ra!tructure a! a priority* (ollo'ed bya((ordable credit* 'ater and education)

argeting mec"ani!m mainly re(lected t"e prioritie! o( donor!= villager! "ad littleinput) /!ually* villager! reported being !ati!(ied 'it" t"e targeting mec"ani!m!propo!ed* but t"ey did not (it 'it" local under!tanding! o( vulnerability) illager!and village leader! 'ere !ometime! di!!ati!(ied* arguing t"at t"e propo!edtargeting mec"ani!m! 'ould di!rupt !ocial unity)

E+ternal a!!i!tance 'a! mo!t commonly delivered t"roug" village committee! !etup by aid provider!) eci!ion6making on t"e!e committee! tended to re(lecte+i!ting !ocial norm!* and level! o( tran!parency in t"e provi!ion o( a!!i!tancevaried) "ere 'ere al!o i!!ue! 'it" re!olving complaint!= alt"oug" complaint! aro!ein about "al( o( t"e village!* t"ey 'ere only re!olved !ati!(actorily in t'o o( t"em)

%inally* t"ere 'ere !ome i!!ue! 'it" t"e provi!ion o( a!!i!tance* particularly inca!e! 'it" regard to credit) .lt"oug" micro(inance program! appeared to meetvillage need! '"ere t"ey e+i!ted* t"eir !tructure!* rule! and lo' intere!t rate!created problem!= villager! eit"er de(aulted on t"eir loan! or borro'ed (rom ot"er*"ig"er6intere!t rate moneylender! to repay)

in the #orm o# support #rom government" 9:4s"international organi.ations" the private sector" religious institutions andothers>can represent a signi#icant proportion o# resources #lowing into avillage 4t! impact on people9! liveli"ood! c"oice! and outcome! can t"u! be!igni(icant) "i! can take a variety o( (orm!) 4t can directly a((ect people9!liveli"ood! !trategie! by increa!ing t"eir a!!et!* a((ect t"e 'ider p"y!ical andeconomic !tructure* and "elp "ou!e"old! to cope better 'it" problem! and !"ock!)"e 'ay e+ternal a!!i!tance i! provided determine! it! impact) %or e+ample*community6driven development program!* in '"ic" communitie! t"em!elve! arere!pon!ible (or deci!ion6making about a!!i!tance* can provide a (orum (or

community debate and di!cu!!ion t"at can "elp mediate ot"er e+i!ting ten!ion!)Sometime!* t"oug"* e+ternal a!!i!tance may "ave negative con!eDuence!) $arge6!cale di!tribution o( (ree (ood* (or e+ample* can drive do'n e+i!ting (ood price!and drive (armer! out o( 'ork* making communitie! dependent on e+ternala!!i!tance (or !urvival) QSEM t"u! e+amine! "o' muc" e+ternal a!!i!tance "a! beenreceived* '"et"er problem! "ave ari!en 'it" it* and t"e impact o( e+ternala!!i!tance on 'ell6being and on 'ider economic (actor!)

E!ternal assistance also a##ects social structures and relations .!!i!tance tomarginali,ed people may provide t"em 'it" more liveli"ood! opportunitie!Hconver!ely* it may add to t"eir !ocial e+clu!ion by L!ingling t"em out9 or cau!ingre!entment! among t"eir neig"bour!) "e e+perience o( 'orking to build e+ternallyprovided community in(ra!tructure may increa!e t"e !trengt" o( !ocial bond!H


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C Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring

conver!ely* perceived ineDuitie! may (uel local ten!ion) QSEM t"u! e+amine! t"etargeting o( e+ternal a!!i!tance* tran!parency and accountability)

0astly" assistance can a##ect institutions and leadership "e proce!! o(delivering e+ternal a!!i!tance may create ne' leader! and overturn e+i!ting po'er!tructure!H conver!ely* it may entrenc" t"e po'er o( e+i!ting leader! and becaptured by e+i!ting elite!) QSEM t"u! e+amine! "o' aid deci!ion! are made andt"e 'ider impact on in!titution! and local leader!"ip)

QSEM t"u! e+amined=


75/84

t"i! increa!e) 4n #"in SMandalay Region! receivagricultural loan!* butcompari!on 'it" #"in St2007 e+cept (or agriculincrea!ed !"arply in t"e

1igu

0i#tunded pro8ects cregions"particularly in M

1igure /

Most development aidprovided by ;O! 3intergovernment) .!!i!tanceidenti(ied in t"i! !tudy*

17

.id provider! recorded b!tatu! 'a! not di((erentiadi((erence and kne' only '

Rak

be#ore 2000

2000:200&

2006:2007

2010:2012 &

0

10

20

%0

40

&0

60

num

berofprojects

0 10 2

Rakhine

Mage

Mandala!

Chin

Round One

ate* t"e increa!e in aid (lo' 'a! gradud !ome e+ternal a!!i!tance* mainly t"rouverall level! o( e+ternal a!!i!tance t"erte) 4n Rak"ine State t"ere 'a! no a!!i!tatural loan! in a (e' village!* but e+te(termat" o( #yclone ;iri in 2010)

e B/ E!ternal Assistance $y 'egion

ntri$uted signi#icantly to the increaseag'e and Mandalay Region!)

9um$er o# 0I1T&1unded 3ro8ects $y Hear

was provided $y 9:4s 17 "e bulk o(ational and local5* /nited ation! organi,rovided by ;O! covered percent o(

'"ile 1C percent and 20 percent 'ere (r

t"e !tudy included donor! and implementingted becau!e community member! u!ually di "o t"e aid provider 'a!)

ine Maga! Mandala!

10 6

4 6

& 2

4 2% 22

0 %0 40 &0 60

otal numbe

.ro;ects

otal numbe

2010:2012

eport 7

l) Mag'e andg" government

'ere lo' ince (rom 20006

nal a!!i!tance

in aid in all

a!!i!tance 'a!tion!* and t"ell aid pro-ect!m government

agencie!) "eirnot kno' t"e

Chin

1

8

17

44

o# Li#t:#unded

o# -ro;ect in


76/84

:0 Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring

and /nited ation! organi,ation!* re!pectively) .!!i!tance 'a! al!o provided byindividual!* t"e private !ector* and (ait"6ba!ed organi,ation!)

The most common o$8ective o# e!ternal assistance was improvements inlivelihoods" mostly #ocusing on agriculture@o'ever* t"i! 'a! al!o u!ed by !omepro-ect! a! a mean! o( reac"ing ot"er ob-ective!* !uc" a! developing communityleader!"ip capacity or en"ancing (ood !ecurity) 4n all region!* agricultural loan!"ad increa!ed !ince mid62011) $oan !i,e! (rom t"e Myanmar .griculturalevelopment Bank "ad doubled* increa!ing (rom 20*000 to A0*000 kyat per acre*and loan! 'ere al!o being provided (or a !econd !ea!on or a !econd crop) Moreover*t"e duration o( loan period! "ad been e+tended) .bout "al( o( a!!i!tance to t"e(arming !ector 'a! provided a! loan!* mainly (rom t"e government and ;O!)Ot"er additional (orm! o( a!!i!tance 'ere t"e provi!ion o( agricultural tec"nologyand input!* and building or repairing agricultural in(ra!tructure)

Across the regions" assistance #or community in#rastructure was the secondmost common #orm o# support "irty nine percent o( t"i! a!!i!tance 'ent (or

better acce!! to 'ater* 2 percent (or building !c"ool!* and 22 percent (or betterroad!) "e ma-ority o( t"e!e pro-ect! 'ere implemented t"roug" ca!"6(or6'ork tolocal communitie!* e!pecially employing landle!! laborer!)

5ommunity mem$ers prioriti.ed good roads" more #arming inputs" credit" water#or agriculture and drinking" and good school $uildings#ommunitie! in t"e t'odry ,one region!* Mandalay and Mag'e Region!* !tated t"ey needed pond! (orcollecting rain 'ater* '"ile village! in #"in State !aid t"ey needed concrete 'atertank! to collect 'ater (rom natural !pring!* bot" (or (arming and "ome u!e)

In 5hin State and 'akhine State" community mem$ers particularly identi#ied theneed #or $etter roads to link them to markets 4n #"in State* almo!t no village

"ad any kind o( regular tran!portation* and mo!t !u((ered (rom very poor roadcondition! during t"e rainy !ea!on) .! a village leader (rom a remote village in #"inState put it* We -u!t need riceJi( 'e "ave rice to eat* 'e can build a road) Eveni( 'e don9t receive ca!" to build a road* i( 'e can get !ome rice* 'e can build aroad to connect our village to t"e to'n)N 4n Rak"ine State* condition! 'ere notmuc" di((erent* 'it" t"e addition o( time6con!uming and ri!ky boat tran!portation)illager! in Rak"ine State al!o cited t"e need to repair embankment! de!troyed in#yclone ;iri)

6owever" there was no signi#icant assistance #or improving roads in eitherstate Only one road in(ra!tructure pro-ect 'a! reported in #"in State) 4n Rak"ineState* enumerator! identi(ied (our road6related in(ra!tructure pro-ect!) O( t"e!e

pro-ect!* "o'ever* t"ree 'ere only (or u!e 'it"in t"e village* and only one 'a! toconnect t"e village to el!e'"ere) Road! connecting remote village! to largerto'n!* e!pecially market to'n! o( !u((icient !i,e to ab!orb local product!* 'ere!till an unmet priority)

5ommunity mem$ers also identi#ied the need #or livelihoods inputs such ascredit" the provision o# which varied $y region "e bulk o( credit 'ent toMandalay and Mag'e Region! 3'"ere t"ere 'a! t"e "ig"e!t level o( agriculturalactivity5) @o'ever* according to villager!* t"e amount o( credit available to(armer! 'a! in!u((icient)

5ommunity mem$ers reported that water was also an unmet needMo!t 'ater

a!!i!tance pro-ect! 'ere in t"e dry ,one* alt"oug" reported need! e+ceeded t"elevel o( a!!i!tance provided) Out!ide o( Rak"ine State* mo!t villager! needed 'ater


77/84

Round One Report :1

(or bot" drinking and agricultural u!e) 4n #"in State* t"e overall need (or 'ater (oragricultural u!eJand t"ere(ore t"e need to create pond! and tank!J'a! great* butin t"e QSEM village! t"ere 'ere no pro-ect! to provide better 'ater acce!! or!torage)

3rimary school education appeared to $e a #urther unmet need "roug"out t"e!tudy area* mo!t communitie! !poke o( t"e need (or primary !c"ool! in t"eirvillage!) illager! (aced many "urdle!= many did not "ave t"e (und! to build !c"ool!or (ind teac"er! to !ta(( t"em* on top o( '"ic" it 'a! di((icult to obtain permi!!ionto build a primary !c"ool (rom to'n!"ip education o((icer!) O(ten villager! "ad tobribe o((icial! in order to get t"e nece!!ary permi!!ion) #"in and Rak"ine State!(aced particular di((icultie! in t"at t"ere 'ere not !u((icient number! o(government teac"er!) %urt"ermore* communitie! o(ten "ad trouble paying teac"er!proper !alarie!)

6ow is e!ternal assistance targeted and how e;uita$le is it=

Targeting mechanisms mainly re#lected the priorities o# donors2 villagers hadlittle input 4n all pro-ect!* aid provider! and donor! t"em!elve! !elected targetpopulation! ba!ed on t"eir o'n criteria* analy!e!* and prioritie!) %or e+ample*a!!i!tance 'a! !ometime! targeted at particular liveli"ood! group!* !uc" a!(armer!* or at group! t"at aid provider! deemed vulnerable* !uc" a! landle!!laborer! or 'omen) #ommunity member! 'ere not normally involved in deci!ion!about targeting criteria)

9evertheless" community mem$ers usually reported that such targeting was#airly e;uita$le and inclusive 4n !ome ca!e!* t"oug"* t"ey 'ere di!!ati!(ied*arguing t"at t"e targeting mec"ani!m! did not (it 'it" local condition! orunder!tanding! o( vulnerability or need or 'ould di!rupt !ocial unity) 4n !ome o(

t"e!e ca!e!* a! in t"e one! outlined belo'* community member! 'ere able tonegotiate 'it" aid provider! to c"ange t"eir targeting mec"ani!m!)

?o! / 5ase Studies/ Targeting Decision&makingand 0ocal Gnderstandings o# 9eed

4n one village in Mag'e Region* an aid provider "ad a clean 'ater pro-ect t"at aimed todi!tribute t'o concrete 'ater !torage (acilitie! to "ou!e"old! 'it" c"ildren under t"e ageo( (ive) #ommunity leader!* "o'ever* di!agreed 'it" t"e targeting mec"ani!m propo!ed*arguing t"at becau!e t"eir village 'a! in t"e dry ,one* every "ou!e"old needed rain 'ater!torage (acilitie!* and al!o t"at all "ou!e"old! needed clean 'ater (acilitie! becau!e t"eincidence o( diarr"oea in one "ou!e"old 'ould a((ect ot"er "ou!e"old! in t"e village) .(ter

negotiating* t"e aid provider agreed to provide 'ater !torage (acilitie! to all "ou!e"old! int"e village)

4n anot"er village in Rak"ine State* an aid provider aimed to provide unconditionalliveli"ood! grant! to t"e poore!t landle!! "ou!e"old! in t"e village u!ing a 'ealt" rankingproce!!) /nder t"e 'ealt" ranking* only t'o t"ird! o( landle!! "ou!e"old! in t"e village'ere to be provided a!!i!tance) @o'ever* t"e village admini!trator* 'it" t"e !upport o(village elder!* negotiated 'it" t"e aid provider to provide a!!i!tance to all landle!!"ou!e"old! in t"e village* arguing t"at all landle!! "ou!e"old! 'ere poor and t"at !ocialunity 'ould be di!rupted i( only !ome landle!! "ou!e"old! received a!!i!tance) .! a re!ult*t"e aid provider divided t"e available a!!i!tance eDually among all landle!! "ou!e"old! int"e village)


78/84

:2 Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring


79/84

Round One Report :@o' do village !ocial !tructure! !"ape t"e local economic environment!> @o' docoping mec"ani!m! a((ect liveli"ood! c"oice! and outcome!> /nder!tanding "o'!uc" di((erent (actor! relate "elp! to gain a more nuanced under!tanding o(liveli"ood! i!!ue! in Myanmar and in!ig"t! into "o' $4% and ot"er !ource! o(e+ternal a!!i!tance can be!t !upport village liveli"ood!) Several t"eme! emerged(rom t"e re!earc")

3eople%s livelihoods and choices and outcomes were a##ected in clear ways $ythe wider economic and physical structure and pro$lems and shocks

Some o# these #actors a##ected poorer and richer households in di##erentways/ t"ey con!trained t"e liveli"ood! c"oice! o( poorer "ou!e"old! and madet"em more vulnerable to ri!k* more dependent on !ea!on!* and made it morec"allenging to cope 'it" "ard!"ip) 8oorer "ou!e"old! "ad le!! or no acce!! toland* '"ic" con!trained t"eir income!* limited "o' e((iciently t"ey could u!eland* and meant t"ey (aced "ig"er intere!t rate! and "ad le!! a((ordable credit)@ig" intere!t rate! and a paucity o( credit limited t"eir !aving! ability*con!trained t"eir ability to negotiate (or better price! (or t"eir good!* andlimited t"eir !econdary income !ource!) 4t al!o made it more c"allenging (or

t"em to cope 'it" "ard!"ip= poorer "ou!e"old! generally (aced "ig"er ri!k andle!! return (rom migration* "ad lo'er income! (rom remittance!* and "ad toreduce (ood or take c"ildren out o( !c"ool to cope 'it" "ard!"ip* '"ic"con!trained longer6term liveli"ood! opportunitie!)

4ther aspects o# the wider physical and economic structure (particularly thelack o# credit and limited market access) a##ected poor and rich householdsalike"but 'it" !ome regional variation) .ll "ou!e"old! (aced "ig" debt level!Hvillage! in !ome area! 3particularly #"in State and !ome area! o( Rak"ine5 (acedlimited acce!! to market!) "i! con!trained t"eir liveli"ood! c"oice! 3(ore+ample* only village! in t"e dry ,one 'ere able to produce ca!" crop! (or !alein ot"er market!* and "ou!e"old! in #"in State limited t"eir production

capacity to good! t"ey could carry on (oot* by "or!e or by motorbike5) 4t al!ocon!trained t"eir liveli"ood! outcome!) $o' level! o( credit con!trained


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people9! ability to make inve!tment! 'it" "ig"er return!H t"i!* combined 'it"limited market acce!! limited t"e ability o( producer! to negotiate betterprice! (or t"eir good!)

5limatic variation" #alling crop prices" pests" water scarcity and naturaldisaster all a##ected people%s livelihoods outcomes" though with regionalvariation 4n t"e dry ,one* unu!ual 'eat"er pattern! and problem! 'it" pe!t!cau!ed crop lo!!e! '"ic"* '"en combined 'it" (alling price! (or good!* led to adecrea!e in t"e income! o( (armer!) "i! "ad knock6on e((ect! on t"e 'ideravailability o( credit= a decrea!e in income! o( ric" (armer!* combined 'it""ig"er level! o( de(ault (rom borro'er!* decrea!ed t"e amount o( money t"ey'ere able to lend to ot"er!) Some village in Rak"ine State (aced t"e problem o(recovering (rom natural di!a!ter)

6ouseholds employed a variety o# coping mechanisms to help cope with suchpro$lems2 t"e!e a((ected immediate liveli"ood! outcome! but al!o longer6termliveli"ood! c"oice!) "e!e mec"ani!m! included !trategie! to increa!e income*

including migrating el!e'"ere in !earc" o( 'ork and relying more "eavily onremittance!* particularly (or emergencie!* and !elling or pa'ning a!!et!H and al!o!trategie! to reduce e+penditure* particularly on (ood and education) .lt"oug"t"e!e !trategie! "elped to !moot" con!umption and improve liveli"ood! outcome!in t"e !"ort term* !ome o( t"e !trategie! employedJparticularly taking c"ildren outo( !c"ool and !ending to 'ork in to'n!Jcon!trained longer6term liveli"ood!opportunitie!)

6ousehold coping strategies were a##ected $y social structures and relationsSocial capital 'a! remarkably !trong at t"e village level) "e!e "ig" level! o( tru!tand !ocial bond! "elped "ou!e"old! to cope= (or e+ample* people borro'ed (ood(rom one anot"er during period! o( !carcity) "ere 'ere !ome gender di((erence!

in coping pattern!) Women tended to be re!pon!ible (or deciding '"at area! o("ou!e"old e+penditure to reduce during period! o( "ard!"ip and !o played a criticalrole in "ou!e"old 'ell6being) Women and men al!o "ad di((erent pattern! o(migration)

E!ternal assistance also a##ected coping strategies/in !ome area! ca!"6(or6'orkprogram! decrea!ed t"e need to reduce (ood intake) 4n many area!* villager!reported t"at ca!"6(or6'ork program! increa!ed (ood !ecurity (or poor* and u!uallye!pecially landle!!* "ou!e"old!)

Social structures and relations a##ected the wider physical and economicstructure and a##ected livelihoods choices/it enabled people to act collectivelyto improve village liveli"ood! and improve credit* but al!o !ometime! con!trainedliveli"ood! c"oice! and outcome!) %or t"e mo!t part* level! o( tru!t and !ocialbond! 'ere very !trong at t"e village level* and village leader! "elped to organi,ecollective action) %or e+ample* !uc" relation! enabled villager! to organi,e toprovide a((ordable credit to one anot"er* and to re"abilitate village 'ater !ource!and pat"'ay! to e!tabli!" linkage! to market!) 8eople organi,ed t"em!elve! to getapproval (or primary and !econdary !c"ool!* and in at lea!t one ca!e organi,edagain!t land con(i!cation) $ittle con(lict* crime or marginali,ation 'a! reported)

E!ternal assistance a##ected people%s livelihoods outcomes and choices" and thewider physical and economic structure #a!"6(or6'ork program! reportedly

improved t"e (ood !ecurity o( poorer villager!* particularly t"e landle!!* and in!ome !ampled village! t"e amount o( a((ordable credit "ad increa!ed due to


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Round One Report :?

a!!i!tance (rom bot" t"e government and non6governmental organi,ation!) "eimpact o( !uc" credit* t"oug"* 'a! tempered by di((icultie!= !ome borro'er!*(acing de(ault on t"eir loan! (rom !uc" !ource!* borro'ed at "ig"er rate! (romin(ormal moneylender! in order to repay t"em) $iveli"ood! a!!i!tance bene(ited(armer!* but t"e productivity gain! o( !uc" a!!i!tance in area! 'it" limited acce!!to market! 'ere con!trained by broader in(ra!tructural inadeDuacie!) Overall*"o'ever* need! at t"e village level 'ere !till great) illager! over'"elmingly citedt"e need (or better community in(ra!tructure to link t"eir village! to market! and!c"ool!)

It was unclear whether e!ternal assistance a##ected social structures andleadership in any #undamental way /!ually* participation on village aidcommittee! re(lected rat"er t"an c"anged e+i!ting !ocial norm!) 4n !ome village!*"o'ever* enumerator! ob!erved t"at participation in aid deci!ion6making cau!ed3at lea!t !"ort6term5 !ocial c"ange!* !uc" a! 'omen organi,ing t"em!elve! to "elpdevelop ot"er a!pect! o( t"eir communitie!)

'ecommendations #or QSEM

3art o# the QSEM process is to continuously adapt and improve themethodology %ield'ork (or t"i! round o( QSEM 'a! (airly !moot"* t"oug" t"ere!earc" team (aced problem! in one or t'o location! 'it" re!earc" acce!! andillne!!) "ere 'ere more c"allenge! 'it" data entry and analy!i!) Ba!ed on(eedback and di!cu!!ion! among t"e (ield re!earc" team and ot"er partner!* area!t"at reDuire modi(ication in t"e ne+t round o( QSEM include=

Simpli#ying some o# the data #ormats to decrease the emphasis on collecting;uantitative data at the village level and ensuring that no e!traneous dataare gathered;at"ering and entering !uc" data took up con!iderable time* and

a(ter t"e (ir!t round o( QSEM* t"e team "a! a muc" better !en!e o( '"ic" datato prioriti,e)

Simpli#ying and streamlining the data$ase to ena$le #aster data entry"eteam no' "a! an e+ten!ive databa!e '"ic" !"ould be integrated 'it" t"e $4%databa!e* along 'it" a village pro(ile report (or eac" village)

'e#ocusing training and #urther improving the #ield guideto en!ure a greater(ocu! on and under!tanding o(=

$inkage! bet'een liveli"ood! and market! 3al!o po!!ibly to be e+amined in at"ematic !tudy5

;ender Marginali,ation 4nter6village relation! at t"e village tract level and linkage! among village

tract! Relation! bet'een (ormal and in(ormal leader! at t"e village level* and link!

bet'een t"e village and t"e to'n!"ip #ommunity dynamic! around e+ternal a!!i!tance and deci!ion6making*

particularly t"e participation o( villager! in e+ternally6(acilitated villagecommittee!

More #ocus on training teams to analy.e data rat"er t"an de!criptive

pre!entation!)


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:C Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring

As #urther rounds o# QSEM are rolled out the spatial (diversity $etween regions)and temporal (seasonality and time) aspects o# this research program willemerge Suc" in(ormation !"ould provide a u!e(ul in!ig"t into "o' communityliveli"ood! c"ange and adapt over time* and t"e (actor! t"at drive c"ange) %urt"erround! o( QSEM !"ould al!o enable more in6dept" analy!i! o( inter6village* rat"ert"an inter6region* variation* by cla!!i(ying village! according to t"eir di((erentc"aracteri!tic! and doing cro!!6village analy!i!)

Cey areas #or #urther investigation eit"er t"roug" t"ematic !tudie! or !"ortanalytical note! include=

ebt and creditJparticularly on t"e impact o( and u!e o( "ig"er amount! o(a((ordable credit

Marketing and trade around liveli"ood value c"ain!* !uc" a! rice $and di!po!!e!!ion and c"ange! in land availability .cce!! and rig"t! to natural re!ource!* including (or (i!"ing Migration and it! impact on liveli"ood!

qualitative social and economic monitoring_round one report.pdf

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