Progress and Challenges on the Global Study on Child Poverty and Disparities Philippines EAPRO Social Policy Workshop May 2008 Bangkok, Thailand

Key Players and Roles UNICEF Focal point – WIlfredo Nuqui and Augusto Rodriguez To oversee the country work and maintain close communication with UNICEF Headquarters as well as with international partners who may play a supportive role Statistical TemplateNational Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) represented by Dr. ROMULO A. VIROLA, Secretary General, NSCB – proposal received by UNICEF and currently being reviewed. Ms. Jessamyn O. Encarnacion of NSCB presented a paper entitled “Statistics on Children in Poverty: Towards Informed Decisions for Poverty Alleviation” during the UNICEF and The Graduate Program in International Affairs (GPIA) sponsored conference in New York, April 2008 Policy TemplateProposal from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) received by UNICEF for review and consideration.

Agreements during NY Conference The Global Study is flexible, i.e., it can be prepared to highlight/focus on priorities of the participating country (in terms of country policy agendas/national statistical development programs); The use of both quantitative and qualitative data is advocated by the Global Study to ensure that a more comprehensive coverage on the analysis on the situation of children;

More analysis on the weakness of policy linkages; In the presentation of data, need to show something more – ex. CI, to challenge methodologies, to encourage improve data tools, or to influence data collection; On indicators in the Statistical Template: 1.better if policy-specific indicators will be included; 2.not only cover deprivation, but include rights- based indicators in consideration of the commitments made during the Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC). Agreements during NY Conference

Challenges: Indicators Statistical Template: 45 working tables (not to mention the level of disaggregation and cross-tabulation required) providing a more focused/concise picture of “child poverty and disparity” may be an issue. identify “core set” of indicators, which will be observed by all participating countries, while an “extended set” of indicators will address more country-specific issues/ concerns

Challenges: Data Availability Most of the data needed are available from existing surveys of the PSS. For some cases, further data processing is needed. For example, on the table on children in poverty, this can now be filled-up as results of the RAV-JOE-BBB paper directly addressed this concern. In other cases, however, these may not be generated under the Study in consideration of the TOR, available resources, time constraints, etc.

Indicators in the Template have “detailed” cross-tabulations required. While these may be possible for some indicators at the national level – the question is, how relevant these “interesting” statistics would be in terms of policy making, where program interventions are mostly at the local level and planning is decentralized. Challenges: Disaggregation of statistics

Better if indicators would already have identified/proposed policy use – to ensure that these are really relevant and would really address issues of children in poverty. Given that there are a lot of indicators, very detailed, disaggregated and cross- tabulated, collection sustainability is a concern. Challenges: Disaggregation of statistics

Challenges: communicating statistics to policymakers and data users While it is acknowledged that the design of the Statistical Template is meant to complement the Policy Template, it might also be helpful if this could be translated in a more “laymanized” manner to further maximize its use. For example, improving it in such a way LGUs could easily understand the information/”story” behind the figures – to guide them in planning and programming of their activities.

Thank You!