Yemen Child Poverty and Disparities Study

Progress to date

Poverty in Yemen• Availability of data sources: trend analysis

– Poverty Assessment 2007– MICS 2006– 2005/2006 National Budget Survey– PAPFAM 2003– 2004 Census– 1998 (DHS, NBS)

• Poverty declined between 1998 and 2005– 40% - 35%– Absolute number still high at 7 million– Decline in urban poverty– Significant urban/rural differences.– Y poverty assessed– Macroeconomic solutions

Other Relevant Indicators

• Ranking on HDI: 155/174• Under five mortality: 102/1000• Neonatal mortality: 37/1000• Maternal mortality: 365/100,000• Malnutrition: 46% (weight/age)• Girls enrolment:63% (2005): 76%-boys• Access to improved water sources: 59% (74/52)• Access to adequate sanitation:52% (94/34)• Child labour: 23%

Status of study so far…..

• February 2008 : Study Global Guide was shared and TORs adapted for Yemen

• February 2008: Sensitisation of key partners (Government, UN, NGOs – Oxfam) and Sana’a University on the study

• March 2008: Creation of a Technical Committee to monitor progress and assure quality.

• High Council for Motherhood and Childhood was identified to play a coordinating role for the technical committee with UNICEF acting as the resource institution.

Timeline cont….• April-May :

– Identification of Consultants for policy and statistical templates

– Bidding process– Buy-in from the Ministry of Plan; sensitization of

the Minister and Deputy Ministers of concerned agencies will participate as members of the Steering Committee.

• June: CRC process concluded and contract preparation; review of calendar of activities: Work to begin

Opportunities

• Partner interest as they recognise the need to understand child poverty and disparities and more importantly want to work through the policy framework to respond.

• Availability of documentation likely to facilitate the examination of trends.

• Part of the SITAN process, to feed into MTR and wider reflexion on how UNICEF can better respond from 2009 onwards.

Challenges

• Correlation with gender considerations

• Maintaining partner interest in the study

• Limited institutional and research capacity

• Difficulties in releasing official data

• Weak transparency at all levels (National Budgets)