The document discusses contextual analysis and how understanding context is important for addressing inequities and extreme poverty. It outlines Concern's approach which views poverty as multi-dimensional, involving lack of assets, risk/vulnerability, and inequality. The approach involves analyzing the local context to understand who the extreme poor are, why they are poor, what maintains their poverty, opportunities that exist, and what needs to change. Key aspects of the context like assets, livelihoods, services, social factors, hazards/risks, and vulnerability are examined. Conducting a thorough contextual analysis is important for holistically designing anti-poverty programs.

1. Understanding the
context that produces
inequities
By Kai Matturi, Knowledge and Learning Adviser

2. Our Mission
“... to help people
living in extreme poverty
achieve major improvements
in their lives...”

3. Equality vs Equity
 Equality – the acceptance and recognition that people are entitled to
equal rights and opportunities without regard to any perceived
difference.
 Equality of outcomes- the realisation of the entitlements of all
members of an enterprise to a fair share of benefits.
 Equity - a state of fairness to all. Equity involves recognising the
differences that exist between people and different supports and
resources that each person requires. To ensure fairness, measures
must often be taken to compensate for unwarranted disadvantages.
Equity leads to equality.
Source: Concern Equality Policy

4. For Concern Equality is…
Equality is not about sameness but rather respect for difference and diversity…..true equality involves
acknowledging the differences that exist between people and hence the different supports and
resources that each person requires’ (Concern’s Equality Policy)
‘Equality is about recognising that every individual and group has equal entitlement to dignity &
respect, to the realisation of human rights and access to resources’
We need to understand people’s lives and recognise the barriers to their participation
Provide supports & resources for marginalised and discriminated groups to achieve success
…. Striving for Equality of Outcome and just opportunities to participate
Important to pay special attention to gender issues which is the most fundamental organising feature
in all societies

5. Defining Poverty - The Multi-Dimensionality of
Poverty
Source: UN High-Level Roundtable on Eradication of Poverty

6. Defining Poverty - The Multi-Dimensionality of
Poverty
Source: Chronic Poverty Research Centre

7. How Concern Understands Extreme Poverty (HCUEP)
•Based on realisation that cross-cutting approaches and
issues are very much intertwined:
•Extreme poverty forms the underlying cause
– Disaster risk reduction, equality, HIV & AIDS, human rights-
based approach
•Conceptual model
... to capture the multi-dimensional nature of poverty
 3 dimensions of extreme poverty
... to look at all these issues more holistically

8. How Concern Understands Extreme Poverty
Inequality Low Assets
Extremely
Risk &
Poor
People Vulnerability
Lack of Return
on Assets

9. Assets
Natural: Land, forest, wild resources, water.
Physical: Infrastructure, roads, rails, transport, shelter, water supply.
Financial: Income, savings, credit, remittances, cash transfers.
Human: Health, Skills, knowledge, ability to work, health.
Social :Support systems, relationships of trust.
Political: Voice and participation, membership of groups, legislation.

10. Risk & Vulnerability
• Risk =Hazard x Vulnerability (For example, a contaminated local water source is
a hazard. But the potential impact and risk of that contaminated water will be
greatly affected by the individual’s existing vulnerability e.g. if they are already
malnourished or ill; or have no donkey to travel to a cleaner water source).
• Understanding what are the main risks experienced by the community and the
extreme poor groups in a specific context.
• Understanding how vulnerable the extreme poor are to these risks and what
capacity they have to deal with them.
• The more vulnerable someone is to a risk and its impacts, the greater the risk to
their life and livelihood.

11. Inequality & Poverty
Poor people often not recognised as equals, experience discrimination,
exclusion, stigmatisation.
Inequality creates and furthers the condition of poverty, constraining the
agency of the Extreme Poor from taking opportunities to better their lives.
Aim of Concern’s Equality Policy is ‘to actively and significantly reduce
inequality and empower people living in extreme poverty’

12. Contextual Analysis (CA) – why & what?
 Identification of the extreme poor
 Gain a broad understanding of the environment in which they live
 Design programmes that address extreme poverty in a holistic
manner
 More relevant and appropriate for their lives and context

13. The CA answers 5 key questions
 Who are the extreme poor and where are they?
 Why are they poor? (immediate causes)
 What keeps them in extreme poverty? (maintainers)
 What opportunities exist for them?
 What needs to change?

14. CA – Key Steps

15. Continued

16. Data Gathering Framework
Effects of PIPS
Extreme Poor on each Impact
Impact Groups Group
Questions to be answered by the Contextual Analysis: in relation to the
wider community PLUS the specific extreme poor impact groups
identified
ASSETS ( NATURAL, PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, HUMAN, SOCIAL,
POLITICAL)
& RETURN ON ASSETS
(1) What assets do they have?
(2)What basic assets are lacking?
LIVELIHOODS STRATEGIES
(1) What are the main Livelihoods Strategies within these groups? What are the
returns from these strategies?
(2) What other strategies could be available and why are they not used?
ACCESS TO (QUALITY) SERVICES
(1) What services are relevant to them? Why?
(2) To what extent do they have access to these services? Why / why not?

17. Effects of PIPS
Extreme Poor on each Impact
Impact Groups Group
Questions to be answered by the Contextual Analysis: in relation to the
wider community PLUS the specific extreme poor impact groups
identified
RESPECT, RECOGNITION & VOICE
(1) Do they have representation at local & National Government either directly
or through CSOs?
(2) What cultural practices impact the lives of these groups? Do they experience
social stigma, discrimination or exclusion? How does it affect their lives?
GENDER-Specific issues related to gender inequality (gender roles, relations,
GBV etc.)
HAZARDS & RISKS:
(1) What are the main hazards, what causes them, what are their impacts, and
where and when do they occur (natural and human-made, including HIV)?
(2) What are the felt and predicted impacts of changes in the wider context
(climate change, food and fuel prices, politics and conflict etc)
VULNERABILITY: (1) Who, and what (assets) are vulnerable to these risks?,
(2) Why are they vulnerable?
CAPACITY: What assets are available for use in responding to disasters
(institutions and communities)?,What are the coping strategies of the vulnerable
people?

18. Contextual Analysis & the CA Guide –
Operationalizing HCUEP
•Practical guide for how to conduct a CA
to design programmes in line with HCUEP
•CAG as part of the Planning, Monitoring and
Evaluation Guide
•Application:
– As part of programme cycle
– Programme level but also project level or country
strategic planning

19. Contextual Analysis and the Programme Cycle
Management System (PCMS)
Country Contextual
Strategic Plan
analysis Contextual Analysis
Plan
To define
programme PCN & Proposal
Participatory Programme
Final evaluation final evaluation planning objectives in
report Evidence of Final consultation with
and response to outcomes and evaluation
recommendations impact in peoples’
people who are
lives and learning representative of
target groups
Community Detailed plans
planning and (including project
Participatory Start-up Baseline proposals/plans)
mid-term Detailed picture of
Mid-term review
review target beneficiaries’
(or evaluation) Mid-term M&E
Indications/eviden situation in relation
report review plan
ce of progress to objectives and
and response to re-
towards outcomes indicators
commendations Baseline
and impact against
baseline, to adjust report
and feed into
Participatory review
planning Annual review and planning
and planning Annual
Assessing progress and
report
indications of outcomes and
impact in peoples’ lives – to
adjust and feed into
planning
M onitoring and periodic (e.g. quarterly) reflection
adjust plans

20. HCUEP embedded in organisational thinking
• Organisational Strategic Plan 2010 -2015; Outcome level
• Programme Cycle Management System; CA is a requirement for each new programme
• 3 dimensions embedded in development programmes and emergency responses
• Recent Results Based Management (country programmes/ results frameworks)

21. How Health relates to HCUEP
Assets Inequality Risks & Vulnerability
Good health and nutritional status is Access to health and health- The risk faced by actors is
an essential human asset. related services is often not determined by the existing
equal. This may be due to or potential hazards in their
geographic factors, etc. immediate environment
and the vulnerability the
individual or community
already possesses.
How CA will ask and answer key questions CA will help us understand Existing and potential risks
around the health status of different the source of these must be assessed,
programmes communities and sub-populations. inequalities and the power anticipated and well
should help Design programmes in an integrated dynamics that drive them. understood to design
address: fashion to be sure all the drivers of Design programmes to effective programmes.
poor health across the six asset improve access of The aim is to improve
categories are addressed. disadvantaged groups to communities and
health services and individuals’ resilience to
resources and address future shocks by minimising
underlying social dynamics hazards &reducing
that maintain them. vulnerability.

22. Health Example from a CA Exercise
A CA was undertaken in the western district of Bo. The following results
emerged:
1)Extreme poor – female head headed households, returnees, families who are
chronically poor and have been affected by war, illness and are unable to produce
enough food or were always poor, elderly, chronically ill, disabled, & orphans.
2)Causes - fewer or low return on assets and limited capacity to cultivate large
areas of land, low levels of education, limited opportunities, and little access to
services.
3)Inequality -plays a big part in the lives of the extreme poor household, with
women excluded from leadership roles and participation.
4)R & V- food insecurity, illness, drought and floods.
5)Changes & options – stronger role of the state, availability of funds.

23. Programme Design
Dimensions Programme Outcome
Assets County Health Department provides standard quality BPHNS through
health facilities and outreach services (meso)
Indicators (to be disaggregated by gender and identified extreme poor group, unless
disaggregated groups are specified )
County Health Department provides standard quality BPHNS through health facilities and
outreach services (meso)
% of health facilities that provide quality BPHNS defined based on HFA assessment
% of health facilities having required # of trained health staff as per BPHNS
% of health staff who are practicing of correct diagnostic and treatment protocols

24. Continued
Dimensions Programme Outcome
Inequality Increased ability of women to make decisions regarding the health and
welfare of themselves and their children
Indicators (to be disaggregated by gender and identified extreme poor group, unless
disaggregated groups are specified )
% of deliveries attended by a skilled birth attendant
% of women reporting increased decision making power in the home
Inequality Women and children have access to free health care (no registration fee)-
(meso)
Indicators (to be disaggregated by gender and identified extreme poor group, unless
disaggregated groups are specified )
# of health facilities providing free health care(no registration fee) for all
at the point of service delivery
% of carers reporting that they accessed free health care

25. Continued
Dimensions Programme Outcome
Risk & Vulnerability Increased adoption and coverage of key preventative
interventions and behaviours(micro)
Indicators (to be disaggregated by gender and identified extreme poor group, unless
disaggregated groups are specified )
% of children aged 0-5 months who were exclusively breastfed during the last 24 hours
% of infants and young children aged 6-23 months who receive a minimum acceptable diet
(apart from breast milk)
% of mothers of children age 0-23 months who consumed iron tablets for 90 days during
their last pregnancy
% of children 0-59 months with Underweight
% of respondents who know the 5 critical moments for hand washing
% Wo/men who know the three main ways of preventing HIV transmission

26. Key Learning from the CA Process (1)
• Initial training for the team in HCUEP and the 3 dimensions ( in-house training)
• Need a leader/ facilitator of the process from the start
• PRA skills
• Country teams should carry out the Secondary Data Analysis themselves ( value addition, skills)
• Reflection & Analysis is vital; Daily Reflection. Taking time to do the analysis. Avoid gathering lots
of information then quickly designing a programme. Be aware of staff bias /comfort zones.
• Multi-Sectoral Teams are Vital ( understanding of assets)
• Triangulate information

27. Key Learning from CA Process (2)
• Disaggregation of impact groups and utilising these as a unit of analysis throughout the CA –
avoids generic findings on extreme poverty (gender, returnee status, etc.)
• Look at different wealth groups – some poor groups that may be vulnerable to risk of slipping into
extreme poverty
• Don’t forget to focus on PIPS ( Policy, Institutions, Processes ) from the beginning
• Target geographical areas, communities, households and individuals that experience the worst health
service coverage and health indicators
• Design programmes to address stigma e.g. related to HIV or social group and discriminatory
attitudes of health workers by sensitising through dialogue/ behaviour change, improving motivation
or accountability
• Do a market analysis