Academic paper Mozambique: Monitoring and evaluating poverty reduction policies in Mozambique, study 1: social relations of rural poverty

Source: ELDIS Poverty Reporter
Monitoring and evaluating poverty reduction policies in Mozambique, study 1: social relations of rural poverty

Authors: Paulo,M.; Ros rio,C.; Tvedten,I.
Produced by: Chr. Michelsen Institute, Norway (200

In Mozambique, the government and the donors have invested considerable resources and effort in economic and social development. Nevertheless, Mozambique is still one of the poorest countries in the world. This short brief presents the first in a series of three participatory and qualitative studies on poverty in Mozambique. The studies will be used as baselines for monitoring and evaluating Mozambique’s poverty alleviation efforts, by following the implications of government policies and interventions at the local level and ascertaining changes in the conditions, perceptions and relations of poverty after periods of three years.

The authors present a set of broad policy implications arising from the baseline study that they believe are important to follow up for alleviating poverty in remote rural areas like Murrupula. These include:

* the definition of ‘the household’ as the key analytical unit used in censuses and national household surveys in Mozambique should be reassessed to better reflect realities on the ground, and combined with questions putting emphasis on social relationships of individuals and households that are vital for the survival of the poor

* if the state and its poverty alleviation efforts are to have an impact in areas like Murrupula, there is a need to further strengthen the local government’s human and economic resources in line with the intentions in the Local Government Act

* improved access to markets and improved bargaining positions vis a vis external traders are important for enhancing production and income from agriculture. Both should be further developed through improved road networks, the development of associations and possibly some form of marketing board to reduce the exploitative nature of current relations with traders

* many children do not go to school due to poverty, domestic work and early marriage/pregnancy amongst girls, who tend to drop out first. Access to education should be improved and provisions should be made for young mothers to continue their education after childbirth

* the very poorest households and individuals in districts such as Murrupula are characterised by non-involvement in state and community institutions (including those of education, health, the church and associations), and are marginalised or excluded from traditional family networks due to their inability to contribute in a setting where relationships have to be reciprocal. For these, targeted interventions and social protection measures will be necessary.

Available online at: http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/?doc=36379