Jostein Nygard, Marija Kuzmanovic

1. Poverty-Environment Nexus in the Lower Mekong Sub-regionCambodia, Lao PDR and VietnamPEN Conference in Vientiane June 21-22, 2006 Jostein Nygard, Marija Kuzmanovic

2. Outline • Conference Objectives and Participants • Conference Agenda • Why focus a PEN study on this region? - The lower Mekong Sub-regional context - Unique & shared poverty – environment features • Objectives of the study • Measuring Poverty and Environment • Main challenges the study faced • Sector selection, identified study areas • Finalization, next steps

3. PEN Conference in Vientiane Objectives: • Present findings from the PEN study (conference edition published) • Share knowledge and experience on PEN issues in the greater Mekong sub-region; Participants • National and local governments (5 countries) • National and international research institutes; • International and bilateral donors; • Non-governmental organizations; • the media.

4. Conference Agenda Follow the structure of the conference edition report • Introduction • Chapter 1 – Introduction • Chapter 2 – PEN findings in Cambodia • Chapter 3 – PEN findings in Lao PDR • Chapter 4 – PEN findings in Vietnam • Add PEN experiences in China and Thailand • Chapter 5 - (Sub)-regional Findings (common, specific) • Possible areas for collaboration (information sharing, inter-boarder subjects)

5. The Lower Mekong Sub-regional Context • one of poorest regions in East Asia (IDA eligible countries) • Rapidly growing economies and significant poverty reduction, particularly in Vietnam • long legacy of conflict (wars) • Lao PDR & Vietnam –transition economies; Cambodia - mostly a market economy

6. Unique and Shared Features of Environment and Poverty in Sub-Region

7. Objectives of the Study (p.4) Based upon a combination of national analyses and agreed case studies in each of the three countries: • (i) identify and elaborate upon poverty and environment linkages; • (ii) review policy implications vis-à-vis these identified PENs (integration in poverty-reduction work); • (iii) If possible, establish relevant links to ongoing PEN project initiatives in the sub-region (p. 7)

8. Measuring poverty • One definition: poverty is inability to meet one’s basic consumption needs (food, clothes, housing etc). • Defined as such, poverty be measured through determining someone’s income or consumption expenditure • Also significant: • non-monetary poverty • relative poverty i.e. level of inequality • Poverty Indicators: • Depth of poverty –measures how far below the poverty line people are; • Poverty density - measures how many poor people live in particular area; shows where most poor people live

9. Poverty: From Provincial to local perspectives (Example from Cambodia)

10. Environmental Indicators • Sustainable land use indicators • Forest cover • Land gradient • Access to water and sanitation • Industrial pollution • Indoor air pollution • Outdoor air pollution • Health impacts • Natural disasters

11. Environmental indicators (continued) Access to Water Access to Sanitation

12. Data Analysis • Combination of national analysis and case study work at more local levels; as such, studies complement each other and provide comprehensive scope of analysis • “Micro-level” analysis includes province, district, commune, village and household level • Modes of analysis: - Correlation analysis; - Mapping - Regressions; - Ranking

13. Combining Data to Identify Linkages Diarrhea Poverty Access to Water and Sanitation and the Prevalence of Diarrhea in Lao PDR (‘97/’98) ρpoor x diarrhea = 0.75

14. Combining Data To Identify Linkages Ranked Number of Poor and Ranked No Access to Piped Water/ Well ρpoor x safe water = 0.85

15. Map overlays Lowland/Upland Factor In Vietnam: Poverty rates increase with elevation, but numbers of poor are highest in low elevations

16. Elevation Poverty

18. Main Challenges • Responding to challenging questions from client countries Some Examples: - In Cambodia, what are the effect on poor from land/forest concessions, vs. community management vs. national park management? - In Vietnam, (i) what are the effects on poor vs. noon poor by the land law? (ii) what are the effects on poor vs noon poor from polluting craft villages (local industrial) in neighboring villages? - In Lao PDR, what are the impact on the poor in small towns from water & sanitation deficiencies (compared to rural areas). • Complex data requirements • Need data at different administrative levels (national, provincial, county, commune, villages, households) – and particularly local levels - to be able to respond to the questions. • Need data from different sectors (health, environment, social/poverty, rural development) to be able to respond.

19. Poverty & environment linkage areas with impact on highest number of people

21. Policy-orientation & Dialogue • Strong emphasis on country ownership • Significant weight given to government priorities in poverty reduction • National government involvement in the study:

22. Finalization Process (next days & weeks): • Obtained comments from several reviewers. • … however, need to obtain feedback from you at this conference and incorporate your relevant comments into the report Two levels: • Country specific findings • Sub-regional findings