Poverty Maps: Uses and Caveats Tara Vishwanath Lead Economist World Bank

Uses of Poverty Maps A visual illustration of estimated poverty indices at DS division level or below (currently excluding N-E region due to lack of data) A visual illustration of estimated poverty indices at DS division level or below (currently excluding N-E region due to lack of data) Further benefits from overlaying poverty maps with other GIS info Further benefits from overlaying poverty maps with other GIS info Making a case for reform initiatives Making a case for reform initiatives Identifying broad policy priorities for reducing poverty and inequality Identifying broad policy priorities for reducing poverty and inequality Caveats Caveats

Poverty maps and GIS information in Sri Lanka Poverty maps Poverty maps –Headcount ratios at DS division level and below - starkly identifies the pockets of poverty Pockets of severe poverty in the least poor district - Colombo Pockets of severe poverty in the least poor district - Colombo Headcount ratio versus population of the poor: important for designing poverty programs. Headcount ratio versus population of the poor: important for designing poverty programs. –Overlaying other GIS information with poverty map can be very instructive Remoteness and Poverty Map Remoteness and Poverty Map Road Network and Poverty Map Road Network and Poverty Map Droughts and Poverty Map Droughts and Poverty Map Food insecurity and Poverty Map Food insecurity and Poverty Map Impacts of Tsunami and pre-tsunami Poverty Impacts of Tsunami and pre-tsunami Poverty

Poverty Map (Headcount Ratio)Accessibility Index

Uses of poverty maps in poverty alleviation programs: International Experience –Many countries have experimented with different policy applications Nicaragua: Used poverty map to guide expansion of health services in especially poor areas Nicaragua: Used poverty map to guide expansion of health services in especially poor areas South Africa: Combined poverty map with GIS on safe water and a map of cholera outbreak (2001) to identify high risk areas and devise protection mechanisms South Africa: Combined poverty map with GIS on safe water and a map of cholera outbreak (2001) to identify high risk areas and devise protection mechanisms Brazil: The most comprehensive use of poverty map combined with GIS to inform poverty reduction initiatives (educational programs, providing safe water and sanitation for schools, establishing health care teams, etc.) Brazil: The most comprehensive use of poverty map combined with GIS to inform poverty reduction initiatives (educational programs, providing safe water and sanitation for schools, establishing health care teams, etc.) Guatemala and Panama: Combined poverty map with GIS of road network to devise a road strategy and identifying need for roads in poorest districts Guatemala and Panama: Combined poverty map with GIS of road network to devise a road strategy and identifying need for roads in poorest districts Cambodia: Used the map to guide food aid (World Food Program food aid ( )) to alleviate food insecurity Cambodia: Used the map to guide food aid (World Food Program food aid ( )) to alleviate food insecurity

Caveats Poverty maps indicate poverty correlates (such as remoteness/droughts). Poverty maps indicate poverty correlates (such as remoteness/droughts). –However, poverty maps do not identify causes of poverty –Therefore can help policy prioritization but not actual policy design Poverty maps indicate geographic mis-targeting in poverty programs Poverty maps indicate geographic mis-targeting in poverty programs –Useful for “motivating” the need for reform but not how to design the actual reform For both, need further careful analyses with well-focused surveys For both, need further careful analyses with well-focused surveys

Example in Geographic Targeting Targeting transfers to poor areas (geographic targeting) is a well known poverty alleviation policy Targeting transfers to poor areas (geographic targeting) is a well known poverty alleviation policy –Administratively simple but politically challenging Poverty maps are considered to be very useful for aiding geographic targeting Poverty maps are considered to be very useful for aiding geographic targeting –Higher resolution maps locate poorer areas better –May even help build political consensus for geographic targeting (e.g., Panama) But: Maps need to be combined with other information to determine criteria for eligibility and resource allocation But: Maps need to be combined with other information to determine criteria for eligibility and resource allocation

Broader Issues in Geographic Targeting Desirability of geographic targeting is still an open question Desirability of geographic targeting is still an open question Resources to poor areas do not guarantee that benefits reach all Resources to poor areas do not guarantee that benefits reach all Cost–benefit analysis of whether geographic/individual or a combination of both needs further investigation. Cost–benefit analysis of whether geographic/individual or a combination of both needs further investigation. Room to explore this question in the context of Welfare Reform in Sri Lanka Room to explore this question in the context of Welfare Reform in Sri Lanka

Other Applications for Sri Lanka Explore scope for using poverty maps to plan infrastructure investments-i.e., roads Explore scope for using poverty maps to plan infrastructure investments-i.e., roads Overlaying poverty map with nutrition and health facility map could help to identify policy levers for addressing malnutrition Overlaying poverty map with nutrition and health facility map could help to identify policy levers for addressing malnutrition Overlaying satellite images of service facilities in focused areas like estates could be quite informative Overlaying satellite images of service facilities in focused areas like estates could be quite informative Scope for expanding and improving HIES for higher resolution maps. Scope for expanding and improving HIES for higher resolution maps.