Research Reports (2004): Economic Studies, Vol - XXII

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/12980

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Towards a profile of the ultra poor in Bangladesh: findings from CFPR/TUP baseline survey
(BRAC, 2004-09) Matin, Imran; Hadi, Abdullahel; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Akter, Nasima; Jakariya, M; Halder, Shantana R.; Rafi, Mohammad; Nath, Samir R; Haseen, Farhana; Quasem, lftekhar; Yusuf, Harun KM
Stories of targeting: process documentation of selecting the ultra poor for CFPR/TUP programme
(BRAC, 2004-04) Zaman, Shahaduz; Matin, Imran; Rahman, Hasanur; Ali, Tariq; Noor, Marufia; Rashid, Mamum-ur-; Shihab, Abu Muhammad; Parveen, Rezvina
The targeting process for the CFPR/TUP (Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction - Targeting the Ultra Poor) progranune brings together diverse strands of knowledge on ·poverty (indigenous, local, progranunatic, and academic) in identifying and selecting beneficiaries (Marin and Halder 2002). The targeting process is, therefore, multi-staged and involves a variety of actors and processes. Four researchers were trained in Dhaka on qualitative research methodology with specific focus on process documentation research (PDR). They were then sent to various CFPR/TUP progranune areas to document the various stages of the targeting process. The researchers sent back 28 reports covering t 08 events/ activities/ stages to the Head Office during March t 9-April 30, 2003. These process documentation reports in their consolidated form comprise this final report...
Health domain of the ultra poor: an exploration
(BRAC, 2004-10) Zaman, Shahaduz; Rahman, Hasanur; Edgeworth, Ross
There has been an increasing amount of materials surrounding health-seeking behaviour in recent years. However, a relatively small proportion of literature has focused upon health behaviours and types of health services used by the poor in rural Bangladesh, particularly ultra poor households. This study aimed to explore the health domain of the ultra poor, including perceptions of ill health, knowledge and treatment-seeking behaviours in conjunction with the rationale behind these decisions. Data were collected through qualitative methods from the TUP members and their husbands or eldest sons in three villages within Nilphamari district. Findings indicate the regressive nature of burdens associated with ill health carry a number of similar impacts upon TUP members compared to other poor households in Bangladesh and the developing world. Within this concept the ultra poor's experience of ill health is compounded by financial and time constraints, lack of health education and awareness of treatment facilities for particular diseases, and cultural rationality in selection of health care providers. Furthermore, a strong prevalence for self care methods was recorded for the majority of illness episodes along with traditional healers such as Kabiraj. Consequently further research should explore integrating these health providers into BRAC interventions within the CFPR/TUP programme in order to strengthen the existing medical system, ensuring the burden of ill health is minimized for the ultra poor.
Exploring changes in the lives of the ultra poor: an exploratory study on CFPR/TUP members
(BRAC, 2004-09) Malin, lmran; Walker, Sarah
Since January 2002, BRAC has started a new experimental programme for the ultra poor called, 'Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction/Targeting the Ultra Poor' (CFPRffUP). This programme targets the ultra poor who are either bypassed or fail to benefit and subsequently drop out from existing development programme. The programme uses an asset-based approach where physical assets are provided to the selected ultra poor women as grants. The intervention strategy also includes health and social development components. The overall idea of the programme is to strengthen the physical, social and human asset base of the ultra poor so that once the grant phase is over, they can attain the foundation for sustainable livelihoods, and participate and benefit from mainstream development programmes. This paper is based on an exploratory study that wanted to better understand the perceptions of change as defined by the programme members and the underlying factors that explain the changes perceived. The main finding is that initial conditions matter - households that owned homestead land, had other sources of income, had adult male labour power and did not suffer from recurrent health costs did better. The programme encouraged the members to save out of the income accrued from running the TUP enterprise, but the product was focussed on supporting the promotional needs rather than protectional needs. The circumstances of the ultra poor households differ and a sole focus on the .savings for meeting the promotional needs may thus need reconsideration .
Engaging elite support for the poorest? BRAC's experience with the ultra poor programme (TUP working paper -3)
(BRAC, 2004-09) Hossain, Naomi; Matin, Imran
This paper describes and draws lessons from the experience of engaging village elite in support of the ultra poor through the Gram Shahayak Committees (GSC), as part of BRAC's CFPR/TUP programme. The paper addresses the following questions: under what conditions can elite become engaged in support of interventions for the ultra poor? What are the risks and benefits of engaging elite in antipoverty programmes? After describing the origins and motivations behind BRAC's Specially Targeted Ultra Poor (TUP) programme, the paper goes on to explain how an important lesson from the programme as it evolved included the need for on-site, village-based protection and support for TUP participants and their newly-acquired assets. The paper goes on to explore some of the early impacts of the GSCs which were formed to fill this need, and to assess the motivations and factors underlying their effectiveness and success. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the lessons from the experience, including their implications for assumptions that dominate scholarship and programmes relating· to the rural politics of poverty in Bangladesh.
Combining methodologies for better targeting of the extreme poor: lessons from BRAC's CFPR/TUP programme (TUP working paper -2)
(BRAC, 2004-08) Matin, Imran; Halder, Shantana R.
This paper aims to assess the effectiveness and draw lessons from the targeting strategy used in a new BRAC programme called Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction-Targeting the Ultra Poor (CFPR/TUP) that aims to experiment with a different type of approach to address extreme rural poverty. The underlying theme of both the CFPR/TUP programme and the targeting methodology used is an acknowledgement of the strength of combining different methods and approaches for greater effectiveness. The programme, for instance, combines promotion and · protection oriented mechanisms. Similarly, the targeting approach used in the programme combines various targeting methodologies and knowledge streams about the extreme poor. This paper uses programme data emerging out of its targeting exercise to assess questions of effectiveness of the approach used. Combining the various targeting approaches and drawing from different streams of knowledge has been the main innovativeness of the targeting methodology used in this programme. The large differences we found between the two closely ranked groups of the poor the extreme poor and those just above, also suggest that there is a structural break, rather than a continuum in terms of deprivation of opportunities, security and empowerment that is differentiating the extreme poor from others. It is through a better understanding of the various dimensions, dynamics and interlinkages of these structural breaks that we can design the most effective strategies and programmatic approaches for this group of the poor.

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