Geographical targeting for poverty alleviation
2000
Bigman, David | Fofack, Hippolyte
During the past decade, the need for effective targeted programs that provide significant support to the poor within tightening budget constraints has become more apparent than ever. The design of efficient programs that are tailored to the specific conditions and needs of each country presents a challenge that government agencies and international development institutions must confront. This report is intended to contribute to this challenge by addressing the complex factors that should be considered when designing poverty alleviation programs. This report presents alternative methods of geographical targeting aimed at improving the living standards of the poor, and carefully evaluates their effect on social welfare and their implications for public resource allocation. The report demonstrates that using geographical information systems (GIS) makes possible a detailed mapping of the incidence of poverty in the country that can be used, in turn, for more precise targeting. The incorporation of data from a wide variety of sources through GISs also reveals the multi-dimensional aspects of poverty and helps to more accurately identify factors relevant for designing effective poverty alleviation programs when budgets are tight. Finally, the report also shows that GIS methods can be more broadly applied to support targeted service delivery and access to the poor, for instance, by optimizing the planning and location of health and education centers in poor, under-served areas.
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