1. Child Poverty Indices in Vietnam: a new policy tool Keetie Roelen, Franziska Gassmann and Chris de Neubourg, 27 June 2007

2. Development of a child poverty approach for Vietnam Research project for Unicef Vietnam, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Molisa); First part of project completed in December 2006, extension of project takes place from July 2007 – June 2008; to develop a practical child poverty measurement tool.

3. Why do we want to measure child poverty? Children are more vulnerable to poverty; Poor children become poor adults; Children have different basic needs than adults; “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”.

4. Why do Unicef Vietnam and Molisa want to measure child poverty? Two main purposes: 1)Advocacy; putting the issue on the agenda 2)Policy information; feeding into the policy process

5. What did we learn from existing child poverty approaches? Approaches range from income- or consumption based to multi-dimensional focus; Approaches range in using single indicator output products to all-compassing analyses; Approaches are built up around the same structure: - overall concept and rationale - dimensions - indicators - end products

6. (Child) poverty as understood in Vietnam Monetary concept; Poor children represent one of nine categories of Children under Special Circumstances; Input based rather than outcome based.

7. Concept of child poverty approach Multi-dimensional; Outcome based; Based on the Conventions of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the basic needs approach; Incorporates children up to 16 years of age.

8. Theoretical framework (1) – choice of domains Use of various selection methods: 1)Assumptions and expert opinion; 2) Public consensus; 3) Participatory processes; 4) Assessment of data availability.

9. Theoretical framework (2) – choice of domains 8 domains: -Education; -Nutrition; -Health; -Shelter; -Water and sanitation; -Labor; -Leisure; -Social inclusion and protection.

10. Theoretical framework (3) – selection of indicators Selection criteria: -Child-specific; -Easily observable and measurable; -Easily interpretable; -Objective; -Decomposable.

11. Theoretical framework (4) – selection of indicators Illustrations of the selection process: -access to education: indicator on travel distance or travel time to school? -having private space: indicator on m 2 per household member of having own room/bed? -dental hygiene: indicator on number of visits to dentist or use of toothbrush?

12. Recommendations for end products/presentation of output Advocacy purpose: Child poverty rate Policy input purpose: Child indicator matrix Child domain indices Child poverty index

13. What distinguishes this approach from other child poverty approaches? Approach is country-specific; Approach has a positive outlook; Approach is child-specific; Approach is versatile.

14. Next steps Applying the theoretical framework to the data: -use of VHLSS 2004 and MICS 2006

15. Child Poverty Indices in Vietnam: a new policy tool Keetie Roelen, Franziska Gassmann and Chris de Neubourg, 27 June 2007 keetie.roelen@governance.unimaas.nl