Using an Asset-based Approach to Identify Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America

Using an Asset-based Approach to Identify Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America
Author: Paul Siegel
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 33
Release: 2005
Genre: Assets (Accounting)
ISBN:
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"The asset-based approach considers links between households' productive, social, and locational assets; the policy, institutional, and risk context; household behavior as expressed in livelihood strategies; and well-being outcomes. For sustainable poverty reducing growth, it is critical to examine household asset portfolios and understand how assets interact with the context to influence the selection of livelihood strategies, which in turn determine well-being. Policy reforms can change the context and income-generating potential of assets. Investments can add new assets or increase the efficiency of existing household assets, and also improve households' risk management capacity to protect assets. After all is said and done, a household's asset portfolio will determine whether growth and poverty reduction can be achieved and sustained over time. The asset-based framework is amendable to different analytical techniques. Siegel suggests combining quantitative and qualitative spatial and household level analyses (and linked spatial and household level analyses) to deepen understanding of the complex relationships between assets, context, livelihood strategies, and well-being outcomes. This paper--a joint product of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Vice Presidency and the Rural Development Family, Latin America and the Caribbean Region--is part of a larger effort in the Bank to strengthen analyses and strategies for rural development, and address policy issues and investment priorities"--World Bank web site.

Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America

Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America
Author: Weltbank
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:
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This regional study encompasses three Central American countries: Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The focus of this report is Honduras. The objective of the study is to understand how broad-based economic growth can be stimulated and sustained in rural Central America. The study identifies "drivers" of sustainable rural growth and poverty reduction. Drivers are defined as the assets and combinations of assets needed by different types of households in different geographical areas, to take advantage of economic opportunities, and improve their well-being over time. The study examines the relative contributions of these assets, and seeks to identify the combinations of productive, social, and location-specific assets that matter most to raise incomes, and take advantage of prospects for poverty-reducing growth. It adopts an asset-based conceptual approach, where assets are defined to include natural, physical, financial, human, social, political, institutional, and location-specific assets, and, focuses on how households deploy their assets within the context of policies, institutions, and risks to generate a set of opportunities. The report further analyzes the quantity, quality, and productivity of assets needed by households in different geographical areas, to exercise their potential for generating long-term growth and improving well-being. Findings indicate that while there are well-defined areas of higher economic opportunity, given their underlying agricultural potential, relatively good access to infrastructure, and high population densities, poverty is widespread, and deep in rural Honduras, particularly in hillside areas. And, although agriculture should form an integral part of the rural growth strategy in hillside areas, despite its limited potential, agriculture alone cannot solve the rural poverty problem, yet, those remaining in the sector need to be more efficient, productive and competitive. It is recommended to move from geographically untargeted investments in single assets, to a more integrated and geographically based approach of asset enhancement with proper complementarities, such as land access and security, technical assistance provision, health and education services, and strong local level institutions,

Using an Asset-Based Approach to Identify Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America

Using an Asset-Based Approach to Identify Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America
Author: Paul B. Siegel
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN:
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Download Using an Asset-Based Approach to Identify Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The asset-based approach considers links between households' productive, social, and locational assets; the policy, institutional, and risk context; household behavior as expressed in livelihood strategies; and well-being outcomes. For sustainable poverty reducing growth, it is critical to examine household asset portfolios and understand how assets interact with the context to influence the selection of livelihood strategies, which in turn determine well-being. Policy reforms can change the context and income-generating potential of assets. Investments can add new assets or increase the efficiency of existing household assets, and also improve households' risk management capacity to protect assets. After all is said and done, a household's asset portfolio will determine whether growth and poverty reduction can be achieved and sustained over time. The asset-based framework is amendable to different analytical techniques. Siegel suggests combining quantitative and qualitative spatial and household level analyses (and linked spatial and household level analyses) to deepen understanding of the complex relationships between assets, context, livelihood strategies, and well-being outcomes.

Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America

Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America
Author: Weltbank
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Download Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This regional study encompasses three Central American countries: Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The focus of this report is Nicaragua. The objective of the study is to understand how broad-based economic growth can be stimulated, and sustained in rural Central America. The study identifies "drivers" of sustainable rural growth and poverty reduction, where drivers are defined as the assets and combinations of assets needed by different types of households in different geographical areas to take advantage of economic opportunities, and improve their well-being over time. The study examines the relative contributions of these assets, and identifies the combinations of productive, social, and location-specific assets that matter most to raise incomes, and take advantage of prospects for poverty-reducing growth. The study's focus on assets is appropriate given historically stark inequalities in the distribution of productive assets among households in the region. Such inequalities are likely to constrain how the poor share in the benefits of growth, even under appropriate policy regimes. In Nicaragua, economic potential has a strong spatial pattern, with high potential areas close to the main cities. But to generate substantial gains in poverty reduction and broad-based growth, complementarities between productive, social, and location-specific assets must be addressed. The report thus recommends the move from geographically untargeted investments in single assets, to a more integrated and geographically based approach of asset enhancement with proper complementarities. And, if the development objective is to reach the largest number of poor, invest in a variety of social and productive household assets, in higher potential areas with the highest rural poverty densities. However, remote areas such as the Atlantic, need specialized analyses and differentiated strategies and investments. The report highlights the need for more strategic convergence in linking the investment, and impacts of sectoral projects backed by the Bank, and other donors in the diverse geographical regions of the country.

Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America

Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America
Author: Weltbank
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Download Drivers of Sustainable Rural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central America Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This regional study encompasses three Central American countries: Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The focus of this report is Nicaragua. The objective of the study is to understand how broad-based economic growth can be stimulated, and sustained in rural Central America. The study identifies "drivers" of sustainable rural growth and poverty reduction, where drivers are defined as the assets and combinations of assets needed by different types of households in different geographical areas to take advantage of economic opportunities, and improve their well-being over time. The study examines the relative contributions of these assets, and identifies the combinations of productive, social, and location-specific assets that matter most to raise incomes, and take advantage of prospects for poverty-reducing growth. The study's focus on assets is appropriate given historically stark inequalities in the distribution of productive assets among households in the region. Such inequalities are likely to constrain how the poor share in the benefits of growth, even under appropriate policy regimes. In Nicaragua, economic potential has a strong spatial pattern, with high potential areas close to the main cities. But to generate substantial gains in poverty reduction and broad-based growth, complementarities between productive, social, and location-specific assets must be addressed. The report thus recommends the move from geographically untargeted investments in single assets, to a more integrated and geographically based approach of asset enhancement with proper complementarities. And, if the development objective is to reach the largest number of poor, invest in a variety of social and productive household assets, in higher potential areas with the highest rural poverty densities. However, remote areas such as the Atlantic, need specialized analyses and differentiated strategies and investments. The report highlights the need for more strategic convergence in linking the investment, and impacts of sectoral projects backed by the Bank, and other donors in the diverse geographical regions of the country.