1. Vulnerability in Cambodia
Usha Mishra, Chief Social Policy Cambodia
and
Mahesh Patel, EAPRO Social and Economic Analysis Adviser
UNICEF

2. Definition of vulnerability
Prone to risks, susceptibility to injury or attack
Degree of vulnerability determines the likely impact of an exposure to an event or a risk

3. Determinants of vulnerability
Political
Institutional
Social
Economic
Intra-household

4. Determinants of vulnerability
Gender
Geography
Global forces
Human capital base
Economic capital
Institutions?

5. Risks in Cambodia?
Natural
Man/woman-made/controlled

6. Whys of vulnerability
Growth polices and social policies have not added up to pro-poor growth
Aggregate poverty statistics can also hide significant movements of different groups into and out of poverty over time – migrants to urban areas
Lack of a close relationship between economic growth and human development

7. Characteristics of growth in Cambodia

8. Several pluses high growth fiscal stability, steady poverty reduction
improvements on almost all developmental indicators
indeed an impressive array of achievements for a post conflict country

10. But….low poverty reduction rate
Limited linkages between the growth areas and the rest of the economy.
Given recent impressive growth, poverty reduction should have been much higher than the 15% reduction achieved over the period (from over 45% in 1994 to around 30% in 2007). (ODI, 2009)
Low- wage- low skill growth trap

11. Low wage growth

12. Persistent vulnerability
a change of income by a couple of hundred riel would have made considerable difference to the level and severity of poverty. (45% of the sample households falling in and out of poverty between ).
a significant change in the poverty between dry and wet seasons; poor have very limited coping reserve ’Moving out of poverty/CDRI, 2009’

13. Education
Enrolment ratios in neighbouring countries within ASEAN such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand are substantially higher despite a doubling of secondary school enrolment ratios in Cambodia over the decade.
Cambodia is especially far behind its regional neighbours in tertiary education. In 2007 the enrolment ratio in this sector was just 5 percent, compared to 12 percent in Lao PDR, 17 percent in Indonesia, and 28 percent in Philippines.

14. Child protection-persistent challenging context
Most children in orphanages have a living parent(s). They are placed there due to poverty.
Source: Ministry of Social Affairs, Alternative Care Database

16. Concerns: nutritional status trend

17. Reducing vulnerability?
What can be done?

18. Thank you