UNICEF Global Study on Child Poverty & Disparities - Ghana Initiating the Study, Methodology, Schedule of Study, Problems and Issues Presentation at Regional

UNICEF Global Study on Child Poverty & Disparities - Ghana

Initiating the Study, Methodology, Schedule of Study, Problems and Issues

Presentation at Regional Workshop

12-14 February 2008, Abidjan

Ghana Presentation on Global Study - Regional Workshop 12-14 Feb. 2008

Background – why Ghana?

Despite some progress towards poverty reduction and meeting the MDGs targets in Ghana, there is evidence that about 29% of the population is in poverty and 18% is in extreme poverty.

Regional and occupational inequalities still persist and some cases have even increased

Very little is known about poverty levels of children and the disparities among various segments of children


Initiating the Study

The Study Guidelines were received from UNICEF NY and shared with a number of research institutions including:

Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Legon, University of Ghana; and

Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) Legon, University of Ghana


Initiating the Study (continued)

In the course of sharing the Concept note and Study Guide, RIPS and ISSER jointly submitted a proposal using their varied strengths: RIPS (Statistical) and ISSER (Policy).

Several discussions were held between UNICEF and the research team to finalise the proposal.

These discussions with the RIPS/ISSER Team were held to iron out a few issues about the methodology and the budget requested for the assignment.


Initiating the Study (continued)

Final submissions and selection The outcomes of the evaluation and

discussions were communicated UNICEF NY and the Regional Social and Economic Adviser in WCARO, who also confirmed the suitability of the RIPS/ISSER Team to undertake the Study based on the Team’s capacity and the quality of the proposal.


Capacity of RIPS/ISSER Team (I) RIPS/ISSER are research & training institutes

in the Faculty of Social Studies at UG; Both have graduate students as stand-by

pool of research assistants to assist in data collection as part of their research training.

Currently, both institutes are involved in a north-south independent child migration study under the Migration Development Research Centre (DRC) on migration, globalization and poverty, a study which has a linkage with the current one.


Capacity of RIPS/ISSER Team (II) ISSER has been involved in several policy

related studies, and therefore has the expertise to operationalise the policy template for the current Study.

RIPS, as a population training institute has in the past employed robust statistical techniques in analysing large nationally representative data sets and therefore is well placed to operationalise the statistical template for the Study.


Communication with Partners All the relevant Ministries, Departments and

Agencies (MDAs) were sent copies of the study Guide and issued notification letters in October about the Study.

There was also an inception meeting to introduce the Study Team, discuss the Study and solicit the support of the MDAs, notably, the Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning, the Ministry of women and Children’s Affairs, and the Ghana Statistical Service.


Community factorsResourcesSource of water supplySanitationHealth care facilitySocio-cultural beliefs & practices

National Policies onChildrenFoodHealthEducationEnvironment, etc.

Household factorsStructure & compositionResourcesType of householdHousehold sizeGender relations

Maternal factorsAgeEducationMarital statusOccupation & income statusPlace of residenceReligionEthnicityKnowledge & use of family planning

Child PovertyEducationNutritional statusHealth statusLabour/trafficking status

_____________________________________________________________

Source: Modified from Ramakrishnan, U. 1995:287

Conceptual Framework


Methodology (I)

There shall be a comprehensive review of national policy and institutional documents: GPRS I and II, national budget documents, relevant

reports from other local and international bodies. Further analysis will be done on nationally representative sample surveys namely, GDHS 2003, CWIQ 2003, GLSS 5 (2006), MICS 2006, etc;

Further information pertaining to children’s development, poverty, rights and well-being will be collected from the following: UNICEF; MOWAC; MoH & the GHS; MoE & Sports

and GES; MoF & Economic Planning; NPC, NDPC, etc.


Methodology (II) The SPSS analytical software will be used for the

analysis of data employing the statistical and policy templates supplied by UNICEF;

Logistic/multiple regression analysis shall be used to examine the relationship between maternal, household and district/community factors on one hand and child poverty on the other as appropriately as possible;

The unit of analysis shall be the individual child less than 18 years with regional as well as rural-urban comparisons as each dataset may permit;

Findings from the statistical analysis shall be used to assess national policy targets and responses to child health and poverty in Ghana.


Schedule of Study Team

1. Complete all preliminary work, including assemblage and scheduling of all possible contacts, meeting with contacts to collect data files and information by end of February 08

2. First Draft of completed Policy and Statistical templates ready by end of April 08

3. Final policy template completed by mid-May 08 4. Dissemination of Draft full country report with

stakeholder and partners, including young people, care givers and service providers completed by end of June 08

5. Final full country report ready by mid-July 08


Work PlanActivities Feb. March April May June July

Preliminary Activities

First Draft of completed Policy & statistical templates

Final Policy & Statistical templates ready

Writing & submission of Final Report


Challenges being faced & issues requiring clarification

Readiness of GSS to provide (in good time) Study Team with soft copies of relevant nationally representative datasets for analysis;

Availability of relevant secondary data including policy documents and the readiness of organisations that possess them to release them in time to study team;

Late commencement of study on account of the long processes involved in getting contract signed with RIPS/ISSER.

Documents

UNICEF Global Study on Child Poverty & Disparities - Ghana Initiating the Study, Methodology, Schedule of Study, Problems and Issues Presentation at Regional