Government of Belize and the Caribbean
Development Bank
Final Report
Country Poverty Assessment
Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010
Halcrow Group Limited and the Belize
National Assessment Team
Government of Belize and the Caribbean
Development Bank
Final Report
Country Poverty Assessment
Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010
Halcrow Group Limited and the Belize
National Assessment Team
Halcrow Group Limited
Vineyard House 44 Brook Green London W6 7BY
Tel +44 (0)20 7602 7282 Fax +44 (0)20 7603 0095
www.halcrow.com
Halcrow Group Limited has prepared this report in accordance with the
instructions of their client, Caribbean Development Bank, for their sole and
specific use. Any other persons who use any information contained herein
do so at their own risk.
© Halcrow Group Limited 2016
Contents
1
Introduction
1
2
Poverty Line Estimation and Poverty Indicators
2.1 The Minimum Cost Food Basket
2.2 The Indigence Line
2.3 The Poverty Line
2.4 Poverty Indicators
2
2
2
2
3
Annex A1. Minimum Cost Food Baskets
3
The Living Standards Measurement Survey
3.1 Design and Content
3.2 Sampling
3.3 LSMS Implementation
3.4 Calculation of Weights
3.5 Sampling Error
3.6 Data Validation, Processing and Analysis
Annex A.3.
4
LSMS Tabulations
The Participatory Poverty Assessments
4.1 Objectives
4.2 Methodology and Techniques
4.3 PPA Coverage
4.4 PPA Organisation and Training
4.5 PPA Fieldwork and Reporting
4.6 Analysis
5
13
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
32
32
32
33
34
35
35
Annex 4.1. PPA Narrative Report
38
Background and CPA Objectives
39
Question 1- How have living standards changed in recent years, and why?
39
Question 2: How Do The Household/ Individuals Cope With Hardship/Poverty?
41
Question 3: What assistance are Communities Receiving from Government and Other
Organizations?
42
Halcrow/ NAT, Belize CPA, Draft Final Report, Volume 2, January 2010.
i
Question 4: How Effective Do Respondents Consider This Assistance To Be, And Is It
Addressing Their Priority Needs?
43
Question 5: How could the assistance be made more effective and more closely aligned to the needs
and aspiration of community members?
45
Annexe 4.2. Tabular Analysis of PPA Results.
47
5
The Institutional Analysis
5.1 Objectives
5.2 General Methodology
5.3 Coverage of the Institutional Analysis
5.4 LSMS and PPA Information
65
65
65
67
68
6
The Village Survey
6.1 Objectives, Methodology and Organisation
6.2 Village Survey Results (selected)
69
69
72
Appendix 1. LSMS Questionnaire
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74
ii
List of Tables and Boxes
Box A1. Poverty Line – Calculation Procedure ....................................................................................................... 3
Table A1.1. Minimum Food Basket - BELIZE CITY.......................................................................................... 5
Table A1.2. Minimum Food Basket – BELMOPAN (CAYO) ........................................................................... 6
Table A1.3. Minimum Food Basket - COROZAL ............................................................................................... 7
Table A1.4. Minimum Food Basket – ORANGE WALK .................................................................................. 8
Table A1.5. Minimum Food Basket – PUNTA GORDA (TOLEDO) ............................................................ 9
Table A1.6. Minimum Food Basket – SAN IGNACIO (CAYO) ....................................................................10
Table A1.7. Minimum Food Basket – SAN PEDRO (BELIZE) .....................................................................11
Table A1.8. Minimum Food Basket – DANGRIGA (STANN CREEK) ......................................................12
Table 3.1 Population of Households and Enumeration Districts, 2006 ............................................................14
Table 3.2 Sample EDs and Households by District and Urban/ Rural Location ............................................15
Table 3.3. LSMS Sample Result Codes ....................................................................................................................16
Table 3.4. Response Rates by District......................................................................................................................16
Table 3.5. District Weighting Factors ......................................................................................................................17
Table 3.6. Sampling Errors ......................................................................................................................................17
Table A3.1.1. Population by Sex and Age Groups ................................................................................................19
Table A3.1.2. Ethnic Origin of Head of Household by Quintile ........................................................................19
Table A3.1.3. Urban and Rural Households by Quintile ......................................................................................19
Table A3.1.4. Urban and Rural Poverty Rates by District ....................................................................................20
Table A3.1.5. Household Size by Quintile ..............................................................................................................20
Table A3.1.6. Sex of Head of Household by Quintile ..........................................................................................20
Table A3.1.7. Dependents per Household by Poverty Status ..............................................................................21
Table A3.1.8. Elderly Households by Quintile .......................................................................................................21
Table A3.1.9. Household Structure of Households with Children under 18 Years by Poverty Status .........22
Table A3.1.10. Parentage of Children by Ethnicity and Poverty Status .............................................................23
Table A3.2.1. Roof Material of House by Quintile ................................................................................................23
Table A3.2.2. Main Source of Drinking Water by Quintile ..................................................................................24
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Table A3.2.3. Persons per Room by Quintile ........................................................................................................24
Table A3.2.4. Ownership of Durable Goods and Other Assets by Quintile ....................................................24
Table A3.2.5. Ownership of Durable Goods by Urban Rural .............................................................................24
Table A3.3.1. Economic Status .................................................................................................................................25
Table A3.3.2. Economic Activity by Age Group ...................................................................................................25
Table A3.3.3. Number of Workers per Household by Urban Rural ..................................................................25
Table A3.3.4. Households with Unemployed Persons by Residence .................................................................26
Table A3.3.5. Hours Worked by Poverty Status ....................................................................................................26
Table A3.3.6. Months Worked by Poverty Status ..................................................................................................26
Table A3.3.7. Employed Persons by Occupation by Poverty Status ..................................................................26
Table A3.3.8. Industrial Sector of Workers by Poverty Status ............................................................................27
A3.4.
Education.................................................................................................................................................28
Table A3.4.1. Non Attendance Rates by Population Quintile and Urban Rural ..............................................28
Table A3.4.2. Absences from School in Last Month by Quintile and Urban Rural .......................................28
Table A3.4.3. Mode of Travel to School in Urban and Rural Areas ...................................................................28
Table A3.5.1. District Indicators .............................................................................................................................29
Table A3.5.2. Food Security ......................................................................................................................................30
Table A3.5.3. Difficulties Paying Expenses ............................................................................................................30
Table A3.5.4. Households Experiencing Crime ....................................................................................................31
Table 4.1. PPA Techniques ......................................................................................................................................33
Table 4.2. PPA Coverage ...........................................................................................................................................34
Table 4.3. PPAs Undertaken ....................................................................................................................................35
Table 4.4. Agenda for PPA Analysis Workshop ....................................................................................................36
Table A4.2.1a. Summary of Problems Identified during Community Meetings ...............................................47
Table A4.2.1b. Summary of Problems Identified during Community Meetings ..............................................48
Table A4.2.1b. Summary of Problems Identified during Community Meetings ..............................................48
Table A4.2.2a. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs ..................49
Table A4.2.2b. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs..................50
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Table A4.2.2c. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs ..................51
Table A4.2.2d. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs..................52
Table A4.2.2e. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs ..................53
Table A4.2.2f. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs ..................54
Table A4.2.3. Problems identified in during Transect Walks ............................................................................55
Table A4.2.4. Summary of Priorities Identified during Community Meetings ................................................56
Table A4.2.5. Summary of Priorities Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs....................57
Table A4.2.6. Summary of Focus Group Discussions for Vulnerable Groups ...............................................58
Table A4.2.7a. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups - Youth ...................................60
Table A4.2.7b. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – Youth and Families ..........61
Table A4.2.7c. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – HIV/AIDS ........................62
Table A4.2.7d. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – HIV/AIDS (cont.) ...........63
Table A4.2.7e. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – Elderly and Disabled ........64
Box 5.1. Summary Institutional Analysis Social Sector Checklist .......................................................................66
Table 5.1. Coverage of Institutional Analysis .........................................................................................................67
Table 5.2. Programmes Evaluated using LSMS Data ............................................................................................68
Box 6.1. Village Survey Questionnaire .....................................................................................................................70
Table 6.1. Infrastructure Provision..........................................................................................................................72
Table 6.2. Ownership of Cars and Motor Cycles ..................................................................................................72
Table 6.3. Frequency of Non-Agricultural Activities ...........................................................................................72
Table 6.4. Changes in Economic Conditions in last 5 Years ...............................................................................73
Table 6.5. Non-Infrastructure Programmes in Last 5 Years ................................................................................73
Table 6.6. Priorities for New Projects/ Programmes ............................................................................................73
Halcrow/ NAT, Belize CPA, Draft Final Report, Volume 2, January 2010.
v
ACRONYMS
Nb. This is a consolidated list which has been reproduced from the Main Report.
AAA
Alliance against AIDS
AHS
Average Household Size
AME
Adult Male Equivalent
ARI
Acute Respiratory Infection
(B)SSB
(Belize) Social Security Board
BAHA
Belize Agricultural Health Authority
BBB
Belize Business Bureau
BCCI
Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
BCCI
Belize Council of Churches
BCFA
Belize Cane Farmers’ Association
BCVI
Belize Council for the Visually Impaired
BDF
Belize Defence Force
BEST
Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology
BFC
Belize Family Court
BFLA
Belize Family Life Association
BLPA
Belize Livestock and Poultry Association
BMC
Borrowing Member Country
BNTF
Basic Needs Trust Fund
BPD
Belize Police Department
BRDP
Belize Rural Development Programme
BSI
Belize Sugar Industry
CARD
Community Initiated Agricultural Development Project
CBB
Central Bank of Belize
CBO
Community Based Organisation
CCT
Conditional Cash Transfer (Programme)
CDB
Caribbean Development Bank
CFNI
Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute
CFZ
Corozal Free Zone
CIDA
Canadian International Development Agency
CM
Community Meeting
COMPAR
Community Parent Empowerment Program
COPS
Citizens on Patrol
CPA
Country Poverty Assessment
Halcrow/ NAT, Belize CPA, Draft Final Report, Volume 2, January 2010.
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CPI
Consumer Price Index
CPS
Child Protection Services
CRA
Compulsory Registration Areas
CRD
Community Rehabilitation Department
CS
Community Survey
CSEC
Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate
CYDP
Conscious Youth Development Programme
DARE
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
DDC
District Development Committee
DfID
Department for International Development
DFR
Draft Final Report
DHS
Department of Human Services (MHDST)
DVU
Domestic Violence Unit
DWP
Detailed Work Plan Report
ECCB
East Caribbean Central Bank
ECE
Early Childhood Education
ESTAP
Economic and Social Technical Assistance Project
EU
European Union
FDI
Foreign Direct Investment
FGD
Focus Group Discussion
F(M)HH
Female (Male) Headed Household
GATE
Garden-based Agriculture for Toledo’s Environment
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
GEF
Global Environment Facility
GHR
Golden Haven Resthouse
GoB
Government of Belize
GPL
General Poverty Line
GST
General Sales Tax
GVA
Gross Value Added
HECOPAB
Health Education and Community Participation Bureau
HES
Household Expenditure Survey
HfP
Help for Progress
H'hold
Household
HIL
Household Indigence Line
HIVOS
Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation
HSD
Human Services Department
I(A)DB
Inter American Development Bank
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IA
Institutional Analysis
IMF
International Monetary Fund
ITVET
Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
KII(S)
Key Informant Interview (Survey)
LAC
Latin America and the Caribbean
LC
Local Co-ordinator (NAT)
LFS
Labour Force Survey
LSD
Land Survey Department
LSMS
Living Standards Measurement Survey
M&E
Monitoring and Evaluation
MCH
Maternal and Child Health
MDG
Millennium Development Goal
MED
Ministry of Economic Development
MFB
Minimum Food Basket
MHDST
Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation
MICS
Multi Indicator Cluster Survey
MNREI
Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Industry
MoEd(uc)
Ministry of Education
MOF
Ministry of Finance
MoH
Ministry of Health
MRDLG
Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government
MTR
Mid Term Review
N(D)AVCO
National (District) Association of Village Councils
NAC
National AIDS Commission
NAT
National Assessment Team
NCA
National Council for Ageing
NCD
Non-communicable Disease
NCFC
National Committee for Families and Children
NCP
Non-contributory Pension
nec
Not elsewhere classified
NEMO
National Emergency Management Organisation
NES
National Estates Section
NGO
Non Government Organisation
NHDAC
National Human Development Advisory Committee
NOPCAN
National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
NPEAP
National Poverty Elimination Action Plan
NPES
National Poverty Elimination Strategy
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NPESAP
National Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan
O&M
Operations and Maintenance
PAHO
Pan American Health Organisation
PCPEP
Police Crime Prevention Educational Programme
POA
Programme of Action
PPA
Participatory Poverty Assessment
PPU
Policy and Planning Unit
PRSP
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
PSE
Primary School Examination
PSIA
Poverty and Social Impact Analysis
R&D
Research and Development
RCDO
Rural Community Development Officer
SecAL
Sector Adjustment Loan
SIB
Statistical Institute of Belize
SIF
Social Investment Fund
SPAP
Southside Poverty Alleviation Project
TDC
Toledo Development Corporation
TOC
Team of Consultants
TOR
Terms of Reference
TW
Transect Walk
UNDAF
United Nations Development Assistance Framework
UNDP
United Nations Development Program
UNHCR
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
UNICEF
United Nations Children’s Fund
UNPFA
United Nations Population Fund
VCT
Voluntary Counselling and Testing
VPL
Vulnerable to poverty line
VS
Village Survey
WB
World Bank
WD
Women’s Department (MHDST)
WHO
World Health Organisation
WIN
Belize Women Issues Network
YEU
Youth Employment Unit
YFF
Youth for the Future
ZBLO
Zone Beat Liaison Officers Program
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Halcrow/ NAT, Belize CPA, Draft Final Report, Volume 2, January 2010.
x
1
Introduction
This Volume complements the main CPA report (Volume 1) by providing a more detailed description of
methodology used for five key components of the study, namely:

Poverty Line Estimation and Poverty Indicators (Chapter 2)

The Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) (Chapter 3)

The Participatory Poverty Assessments (PPAs) (Chapter 4)

The Institutional Analysis (Chapter 5).
These components provided the great majority of the information used in the study. Additional results
from the LSMS, the PPAs and the Village Survey are provided at the end of Chapters 3, 4 and 5. The
LSMS questionnaire is included at the end of Chapter 3.
Substantial training was provided by the Team of Consultants (ToC) to National Assessment Team
(NAT) members and others during the course of the study. The training material used for these
workshops is not included in this volume as it will be incorporated into the CPA Training Manual which
is another deliverable of the study. Likewise we have not repeated the overall methodological approach to
the CPA which is presented in Volume 1.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
1
2
Poverty Line
Indicators
Estimation
2.1
The Minimum Cost Food Basket
and
Poverty
The basis of poverty line estimation is the specification of the minimum cost for an adult to achieve a diet
of 2,400 calories per day taking into account local dietary preferences and the need for a balanced diet.
This is known as the MFB.
Tables A.1 to A8 in Annex A1 present the Minimum Cost Daily Food Basket (MFB) for an adult in the 8
urban centres in May 2009. These food baskets were prepared by a PAHO consultant nutritionist based
on food baskets used for previous CPAs and knowledge of local dietary characteristics. Prices were
derived using the lowest prices collected from the urban centre outlets in the six districts from the May
2009 Consumer Price Index survey carried out by SIB. While it was recognised that these prices did not
include prices from rural outlets, checks showed that there was no significant difference between urban
and rural outlet prices and that most people went to the outlets in the urban centres to shop. The
computations were made using an EXCEL spreadsheet based on information from the Caribbean Food
and Nutritional Institute (CFNI) publication “Food Composition Tables for Use in the English Speaking
Caribbean”.
The average total cost of this basket for the country of Belize, for an adult male aged 15-29 years, is
BZ$5.50 per day which is equivalent to just over BZ$2,000 per annum.
2.2
The Indigence Line
The indigence line is defined as the cost of the MFB. Adults with total expenditure below this amount are
classified as indigent or extremely poor1 - essentially they are unable to satisfy their basic food needs.
To allow for the different (and lower) consumption levels of people of different ages and sex, the cost of
each household’s MFB was calculated based upon the age and sex composition of its members.
Households with total expenditures below this amount are categorised as indigent.
As an example, given the male indigence line of $2,005, the indigence line for a family of 1 male and 1
female aged 19 to 29 years, a boy aged 4 to 6 and a girl under one year of age would be around $5,247
which is almost 35% lower than if no adjustment for household composition was made.
2.3
The Poverty Line
The calculation of the general poverty line (GPL) involves adding a component for non-food expenditure
to the MFB/ Indigence Line. In line with the 2002 Belize CPA and other current studies, the non-food
element of the poverty line is calculated by multiplying the MFB by the reciprocal of the proportion of
total household expenditure spent on food items by the poorest 40% the population classified by
household expenditure per capita (not per AME). It should be noted that this approach introduces a
1
The terms ‘severe poverty’ and ‘critical poverty’ are also used synonymously with indigence.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
2
normative element into the poverty calculations as it is not based on an assessment of the minimum nonfood expenditure needed for a ‘healthy’ life, as was the food component.
The calculation procedure for the poverty lines involves several stages as described in Box A.1.
Box A1. Poverty Line – Calculation Procedure
1.
Calculate total food (FOODEXP) and non food expenditure (NFEXP) to obtain total household
expenditure (TOTEXP).
2.
Calculate household AME value (HAME) by applying the adult equivalents to age and sex
characteristics of the household.
3.
Calculate Household per Capita Expenditure (HPCAP) by dividing TOTEXP by household size.
4.
Sort households ascending by HPCAP.
5.
For those households that comprise 40% of the population with the lowest HPCAP values, aggregate
(i) total food expenditure (TOFEXP); and (ii) total expenditure (TOTEXP)*.
6.
Calculate the Food Share (FSHARE) as a percentage of TOTEXP.
7.
Divide the MFB by the food share to obtain the general poverty line (GPL) for an adult male.
8.
Calculate Household Indigence line (HIL): MFB * HAME.
9.
Calculate Household poverty line (HGPL): GPL * H AME
10. Calculate Household vulnerability line (HVPL): GPL* HAME*1.25.
11. Assign poverty status (POVSTAT) of household by comparing whether total expenditure falls above
or below the above limits:
- Indigence: TOTEXP < HIL. Poor but not indigent: HIL<TOTEXP<HGPL; Vulnerable:
HGPL<TOTEXP<HVPL; Not Poor: TTOEXP>HVPL.
* This is not the same as taking the 40% of households with the lowest HPCAP.
NB. These calculations were repeated on a district by district basis given the calculation of separate MFBs
for each district, as was done in 2002.
2.4
Poverty Indicators
2.4.1
The Headcount Ratio
The most commonly used poverty indicator is the headcount ratio which gives the overall incidence of
poverty in a country. It can be expressed in terms of population or households. It is given by dividing the
number of poor households (or population) by the total number of households (or population). Similar
ratios are used to give the level of indigence or severe poverty.
2.4.2
The Poverty Gap
The formula for the poverty gap (PG) is as follows:
PG= 1/n * 
[ (zi-yi)/zi ]
Where:
n = total number of households;
zi= poverty line of ith household
yi = income of ith household.
NB. Negative values of (zi-yi) are set as 0.
The poverty gap has some use in identifying the depth of poverty, i.e. the extent to which incomes in
poor households fall below the poverty line. If aggregated over the whole population, it will show the
theoretical amount of income that these households need to raise them above the poverty line. Its policy
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
3
implications are however limited by the absence, in most countries, of progressive tax regimes that would
enable such redistribution to take place.
The poverty gap does however have policy making relevance when applied to the indigence line as it
provides a means of estimating the financial implications of raising the level of public assistance to ensure
that all household have incomes which exceed this line.
2.4.3
The Poverty Gap Squared
Similar to the poverty gap, the poverty gap squared (PG2) puts greater weight on those households with
the lowest incomes relative to the poverty line. It is not however easy to interpret and is not presented in
the World Bank’s publication ‘World Development Indicators’. It is given by:
PG2= 1/n * 
[ (zi-yi)/zi ]2
The notation is the same as for the poverty gap.
2.4.4
The Gini Coefficient
The Gini coefficient is a frequently used measure of inequality that is often applied to income
distributions although it can be applied to other variables such as assets or allocation of resources. A
simplified formula2 for the derivation of the Gini coefficient from quintile data is as follows:
G= 1 – 1/5 *  (yi-yi-1)
Where: yi is the total income/ expenditure of all households in the ith quintile.
The Gini coefficient varies between 0 (representing a wholly equal distribution) and 1 (representing a
wholly unequal distribution). It is a frequently used indicator of how income distributions change over
time. The Gini coefficient however generates relatively few policy implications and attempts to correlate
it to other economic or poverty variables have not proved successful owing to the multiplicity of factors
involved3.
2
3
For a worked example of its calculation, see www.unc.edu/~nielsen/soci209/s2/s2.htm.
See World Bank, World Development Report 2000/2001 – Attacking Poverty’, p. 52-56.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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4
Annex A1. Minimum Cost Food Baskets
Nb. All Minimum Cost Food Baskets (MFB) are the daily requirements for a male aged 19 to 29
years to achieve an intake of 2,400 Kcals. Prices are as of May 2009.
Table A1.1. Minimum Food Basket - BELIZE CITY
TOTAL COST($)= 5.26
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
150 WHEAT FLOUR,COUNTER
1.97
56
205.6
0.09
105 CORN CHIPS
1.97
56
311
0.15
127 RICE,UNENRICHED
1.97
56
203.4
0.16
232 POTATO,IRISH,FRSH TBR,RAW
9.17
260
154
0.57
229 PLANTAIN,RIPE,RAW
9.17
260
206.1
1.32
248 SUGAR,DARK BROWN,CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.07
290 RED PEAS,WH SEEDS,DRY,RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.08
332 COCONUT,MEAT,RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS,RAW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.2
378 CARROT,FRESH,RAW
3.14
89
34.1
0.15
376 CABBAGE,COMMON,RAW
3.14
89
17.8
0.1
468 ONIONS,BULB,RAW
3.14
89
27.3
0.2
475 TOMATO,RIPE,RAW
3.14
89
16.9
0.24
497 ORANGE,ALL VARIETIES
3.71
105
36.1
0.06
215 BANANA
3.71
105
62.9
0.24
574 WATERMELON
3.71
105
17.5
0.08
548 PAWPAW
3.71
105
27.5
0.17
663 CHICKEN,DRUM STICK,RAW
0.63
18
19.2
0.03
585 STEW STEAK,LEAN&FAT,RAW
0.63
18
31.8
0.1
688 HEN EGGS,WH,FRSH,FRZN,RAW
0.63
18
24.8
0.07
63
18
71.8
0.2
630 PORK FEET,TROTTERS,MEDFAT
0.63
18
27.9
0.1
615 PORK.RETAIL,SHOULDER,RAW
0.63
18
39.2
0.16
806 MILK,COW,DRY,WHOLE
0.63
18
88.4
0.32
596 SAUSAGES,BEEF AND PORK
0.63
18
57
0.14
849 OIL,PURE,ALL KNDS,BLND,AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.05
842 MARGRNE,REG,HRD,VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.05
34
10
85.6
0.09
810 CHEESE,HARD,CHEDDAR
847 OIL,COCONUT
.
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Table A1.2. Minimum Food Basket – BELMOPAN (CAYO)
TOTAL COST($)= 5.72
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
105 CORN CHIPS
2.13
60
337
0.17
127 RICE,UNENRICHED
2.13
60
220.5
0.13
155 BREAD,WHITE,ENRICHED
2.13
60
162.5
0.17
232 POTATO,IRISH,FRSH TBR,RAW
9.17
260
154
0.57
229 PLANTAIN,RIPE,RAW
9.17
260
206.1
0.8
248 SUGAR,DARK BROWN,CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.07
290 RED PEAS,WH SEEDS,DRY,RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.06
332 COCONUT,MEAT,RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS,RAW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
437 AVOCADO PEAR
1.63
46
55
0.29
378 CARROT,FRESH,RAW
1.63
46
17.7
0.1
468 ONIONS,BULB,RAW
1.63
46
14.1
0.1
376 CABBAGE,COMMON,RAW
1.63
46
9.2
0.08
497 ORANGE,ALL VARIETIES
1.33
38
12.9
0.03
215 BANANA
1.33
38
22.5
0.11
574 WATERMELON
1.33
38
6.3
0.04
563 RAISINS,UNBLEACHED
1.33
38
102.3
0.88
585 STEW STEAK,LEAN&FAT,RAW
0.79
22
39.9
0.12
688 HEN EGGS,WH,FRSH,FRZN,RAW
0.79
22
31.1
0.1
658 CHICKEN,DRESS,YOUNG/BRLER
0.79
22
32.8
0.13
630 PORK FEET,TROTTERS,MEDFAT
0.79
22
35
0.12
805 MILK,COW,CAN,CONDENSD,SWT
0.79
22
71.7
0.12
810 CHEESE,HARD,CHEDDAR
0.79
22
90
0.39
615 PORK.RETAIL,SHOULDER,RAW
0.79
22
49.1
0.27
753 SNAPPER
0.79
22
10.5
0.22
849 OIL,PURE,ALL KNDS,BLND,AV
0.52
15
130.7
0.09
842 MARGRNE,REG,HRD,VG FT OLY
0.52
15
109.3
0.09
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
6
Table A1.3. Minimum Food Basket - COROZAL
TOTAL COST($)= 5.35
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
1.97
56
311
0.15
150 WHEAT FLOUR, COUNTER
1.97
56
205.6
0.1
127 RICE, UNENRICHED
1.97
56
203.4
0.16
247 TANNIA, FRESH, RAW
5.19
147
156.4
0.49
232 POTATO, IRISH, FRSH TBR, RAW
5.19
147
87.1
0.32
229 PLANTAIN, RIPE, RAW
5.19
147
116.6
0.75
248 SUGAR, DARK BROWN, CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.07
290 RED PEAS, WH SEEDS, DRY, RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.08
332 COCONUT, MEAT, RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS, RAW WITH SKIN, DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
378 CARROT, FRESH, RAW
3.14
89
34.1
0.2
468 ONIONS, BULB, RAW
3.14
89
27.3
0.2
475 TOMATO, RIPE, RAW
3.14
89
16.9
0.15
376 CABBAGE, COMMON, RAW
3.14
89
17.8
0.18
497 ORANGE, ALL VARIETIES
3.27
93
31.8
0.07
540 MANGO
3.27
93
41.5
0.1
215 BANANA
3.27
93
55.4
0.28
574 WATERMELON
3.27
93
15.4
0.1
688 HEN EGGS, WH, FRESH, FRZN, RAW
0.65
18
25.5
0.05
806 MILK, COW, DRY, WHOLE
0.65
18
91
0.19
630 PORK FEET, TROTTERS, MEDFAT
0.65
18
28.7
0.08
663 CHICKEN, DRUM STICK, RAW
0.65
18
19.8
0.1
585 STEW STEAK, LEAN&FAT, RAW
0.65
18
32.7
0.16
624 HAM, BONELESS
0.65
18
29.7
0.22
810 CHEESE, HARD, CHEDDAR
0.65
18
73.9
0.32
596 SAUSAGES, BEEF AND PORK
0.65
18
58.7
0.16
849 OIL, PURE, ALL KNDS, BLND, AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.06
842 MARGRNE, REG, HRD, VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.06
847 OIL, COCONUT
0.34
10
85.6
0.08
105 CORN CHIPS
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
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Table A1.4. Minimum Food Basket – ORANGE WALK
TOTAL COST($)= 5.32
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
1.97
56
311
0.15
150 WHEAT FLOUR, COUNTER
1.97
56
205.6
0.1
127 RICE, UNENRICHED
1.97
56
203.4
0.16
247 TANNIA, FRESH, RAW
5.19
147
156.4
0.41
232 POTATO, IRISH, FRSH TBR, RAW
5.19
147
87.1
0.41
229 PLANTAIN, RIPE, RAW
5.19
147
116.6
0.56
249 SUGAR, LIGHT BROWN, DEMARRA
2.15
61
240
0.07
290 RED PEAS, WH SEEDS,DRY, RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.07
332 COCONUT, MEAT, RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS, RAW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
378 CARROT, FRESH, RAW
3.14
89
34.1
0.2
468 ONIONS, BULB, RAW
3.14
89
27.3
0.19
376 CABBAGE, COMMON, RAW
3.14
89
17.8
0.15
475 TOMATO, RIPE, RAW
3.14
89
16.9
0.2
497 ORANGE, ALL VARIETIES
3.71
105
36.1
0.08
574 WATERMELON
3.71
105
17.5
0.08
215 BANANA
3.71
105
62.9
0.32
548 PAWPAW
3.71
105
27.5
0.23
663 CHICKEN, DRUM STICK, RAW
0.76
22
23.2
0.03
630 PORK FEET, TROTTERS, MEDFAT
0.76
22
33.7
0.05
585 STEW STEAK, LEAN&FAT, RAW
0.76
22
38.4
0.18
688 HEN EGGS, WH, FRSH, FRZN, RAW
0.76
22
29.9
0.11
810 CHEESE, HARD, CHEDDAR
0.76
22
86.7
0.38
805 MILK, COW, CAN, CONDENSD, SWT
0.76
22
69.1
0.13
596 SAUSAGES, BEEF AND PORK
0.76
22
68.9
0.22
753 SNAPPER
0.76
22
10.1
0.2
842 MARGRNE, REG, HRD, VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.03
849 OIL, PURE, ALL KNDS, BLND, AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.05
847 OIL, COCONUT
0.34
10
85.6
0.1
105 CORN CHIPS
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
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Table A1.5. Minimum Food Basket – PUNTA GORDA (TOLEDO)
TOTAL COST($)= 6.12
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
105 CORN CHIPS
1.97
56
311
0.12
150 WHEAT FLOUR, COUNTER
1.97
56
205.6
0.1
127 RICE, UNENRICHED
1.97
56
203.4
0.15
247 TANNIA, FRESH, RAW
5.19
147
156.4
0.41
232 POTATO, IRISH, FRESH TBR, RAW
5.19
147
87.1
0.41
229 PLANTAIN, RIPE, RAW
5.19
147
116.6
0.76
248 SUGAR, DARK BROWN,CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.07
290 RED PEAS,WH SEEDS,DRY,RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.1
332 COCONUT, MEAT, RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS, RAW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
378 CARROT, FRESH, RAW
2.52
71
27.3
0.2
468 ONIONS, BULB, RAW
2.52
71
21.8
0.2
109 CORN, IMMATURE, RAW, SWEET
2.52
71
32.6
0.31
376 CABBAGE,COMMON, RAW
2.52
71
14.3
0.16
497 ORANGE, ALL VARIETIES
1.3
37
12.6
0.05
215 BANANA
1.3
37
22
0.13
563 RAISINS, UNBLEACHED
1.3
37
99.9
0.78
548 PAWPAW
1.3
37
9.6
0.08
663 CHICKEN, DRUM STICK,RAW
0.71
20
21.7
0.03
806 MILK,COW, DRY, WHOLE
0.71
20
99.9
0.2
630 PORK FEET, TROTTERS, MEDFAT
0.71
20
31.6
0.09
688 HEN EGGS,WH, FRSH, FRZN,RAW
0.71
20
28
0.09
592 BEEF,CANNED, MEDIUM FAT
0.71
20
43.9
0.25
810 CHEESE,HARD, CHEDDAR
0.71
20
81.2
0.36
753 SNAPPER
0.71
20
9.4
0.16
615 PORK.RETAIL,SHOULDER,RAW
0.71
20
44.3
0.22
849 OIL,PURE,ALL KNDS,BLND,AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.05
842 MARGRNE,REG,HRD,VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.06
847 OIL,COCONUT
0.34
10
85.6
0.12
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
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Table A1.6. Minimum Food Basket – SAN IGNACIO (CAYO)
TOTAL COST($)= 4.44
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
105 CORN CHIPS
1.97
56
311
0.18
150 WHEAT FLOUR,COUNTER
1.97
56
205.6
0.12
127 RICE,UNENRICHED
1.97
56
203.4
0.16
229 PLANTAIN,RIPE,RAW
5.19
147
116.6
0.19
247 TANNIA,FRESH,RAW
5.19
147
156.4
0.32
232 POTATO,IRISH,FRSH TBR,RAW
5.19
147
87.1
0.32
248 SUGAR,DARK BROWN,CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.06
290 RED PEAS,WH SEEDS,DRY,RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.08
332 COCONUT,MEAT,RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS,RAW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
475 TOMATO,RIPE,RAW
3.14
89
16.9
0.04
378 CARROT,FRESH,RAW
3.14
89
34.1
0.15
376 CABBAGE,COMMON,RAW
3.14
89
17.8
0.1
468 ONIONS,BULB,RAW
3.14
89
27.3
0.2
497 ORANGE,ALL VARIETIES
3.73
106
36.3
0.06
215 BANANA
3.73
106
63.3
0.24
574 WATERMELON
3.73
106
17.6
0.08
555 PINEAPPLE
3.73
106
27
0.19
630 PORK FEET,TROTTERS,MEDFAT
0.69
20
30.6
0.04
585 STEW STEAK,LEAN&FAT,RAW
0.69
20
34.9
0.12
658 CHICKEN,DRESS,YOUNG/BRLER
0.69
20
28.7
0.1
688 HEN EGGS,WH,FRSH,FRZN,RAW
0.69
20
27.1
0.09
805 MILK,COW,CAN,CONDENSD,SWT
0.69
20
62.7
0.11
810 CHEESE,HARD,CHEDDAR
0.69
20
78.7
0.41
615 PORK.RETAIL,SHOULDER,RAW
0.69
20
42.9
0.22
599 SAUSAGES,VIENNA,CANNED
0.69
20
54.5
0.19
849 OIL,PURE,ALL KNDS,BLND,AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.04
842 MARGRNE,REG,HRD,VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.06
847 OIL,COCONUT
0.34
10
85.6
0.08
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
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Table A1.7. Minimum Food Basket – SAN PEDRO (BELIZE)
TOTAL COST($)= 6.45
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
1.97
56
205.6
0.1
127 RICE, UNENRICHED
1.97
56
203.4
0.15
105 CORN CHIPS
1.97
56
311
0.25
247 TANNIA, FRESH, RAW
5.19
147
156.4
0.49
232 POTATO, IRISH, FRSH TBR, RAW
5.19
147
87.1
0.41
229 PLANTAIN, RIPE, RAW
5.19
147
116.6
0.79
248 SUGAR, DARK BROWN, CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.09
290 RED PEAS, WH SEEDS, DRY, RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.08
332 COCONUT, MEAT, RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.08
314 PEANUTS,R AW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
437 AVOCADO PEAR
1.63
46
55
0.47
378 CARROT, FRESH, RAW
1.63
46
17.7
0.15
468 ONIONS, BULB, RAW
1.63
46
14.1
0.15
376 CABBAGE, COMMON, RAW
1.63
46
9.2
0.1
497 ORANGE, ALL VARIETIES
3.71
105
36.1
0.09
215 BANANA
3.71
105
62.9
0.37
574 WATERMELON
3.71
105
17.5
0.12
548 PAWPAW
3.71
105
27.5
0.23
592 BEEF, CANNED, MEDIUM FAT
0.74
21
45.9
0.2
630 PORK FEET, TROTTERS, MEDFAT
0.74
21
33
0.09
658 CHICKEN, DRESS, YOUNG/BRLER
0.74
21
30.9
0.14
688 HEN EGGS, WH, FRSH, FRZN, RAW
0.74
21
29.3
0.12
805 MILK, COW, CAN, CONDENSD, SWT
0.74
21
67.6
0.1
810 CHEESE, HARD, CHEDDAR
0.74
21
84.8
0.53
599 SAUSAGES, VIENNA, CANNED
0.74
21
58.7
0.23
753 SNAPPER
0.74
21
9.9
0.23
849 OIL,PURE, ALL KNDS,BLND,AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.07
842 MARGRNE,REG, HRD,VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.08
847 OIL, COCONUT
0.34
10
85.6
0.12
150 WHEAT FLOUR, COUNTER
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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Table A1.8. Minimum Food Basket – DANGRIGA (STANN CREEK)
TOTAL COST($)= 5.99
Diet Selected
Amount (Oz)
Amount (Gr)
Energy (Kcal)
Cost ($)
1.97
56
203.4
0.15
105 CORN CHIPS
1.97
56
311
0.25
150 WHEAT FLOUR,COUNTER
1.97
56
205.6
0.37
247 TANNIA,FRESH,RAW
5.19
147
156.4
0.49
232 POTATO,IRISH,FRSH TBR,RAW
5.19
147
87.1
0.41
229 PLANTAIN,RIPE,RAW
5.19
147
116.6
0.56
248 SUGAR,DARK BROWN,CRUDE
2.27
64
240
0.07
290 RED PEAS,WH SEEDS,DRY,RAW
0.91
26
86.5
0.08
332 COCONUT,MEAT,RAW
0.91
26
47.3
0.06
314 PEANUTS,RAW WITH SKIN,DRD
0.91
26
106.3
0.4
437 AVOCADO PEAR
1.63
46
55
0.23
378 CARROT,FRESH,RAW
1.63
46
17.7
0.1
376 CABBAGE,COMMON,RAW
1.63
46
9.2
0.08
468 ONIONS,BULB,RAW
1.63
46
14.1
0.13
497 ORANGE,ALL VARIETIES
1.33
38
12.9
0.03
215 BANANA
1.33
38
22.5
0.11
574 WATERMELON
1.33
38
6.3
0.05
563 RAISINS,UNBLEACHED
1.33
38
102.3
0.88
810 CHEESE,HARD,CHEDDAR
0.88
25
100.4
0.16
663 CHICKEN,DRUM STICK,RAW
0.88
25
26.9
0.12
585 STEW STEAK,LEAN&FAT,RAW
0.88
25
44.5
0.19
688 HEN EGGS,WH,FRSH,FRZN,RAW
0.88
25
34.6
0.14
630 PORK FEET,TROTTERS,MEDFAT
0.88
25
39.1
0.15
801 MILK,COW,CAN,EVP,UNSWT,WH
0.88
25
33.4
0.12
753 SNAPPER
0.88
25
11.7
0.22
599 SAUSAGES,VIENNA,CANNED
0.88
25
69.5
0.22
849 OIL,PURE,ALL KNDS,BLND,AV
0.34
10
84.1
0.06
842 MARGRNE,REG,HRD,VG FT OLY
0.34
10
70.3
0.06
847 OIL,COCONUT
0.34
10
85.6
0.09
127 RICE,UNENRICHED
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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3
3.1
The Living Standards Measurement Survey
Design and Content
The LSMS questionnaire was designed with the following objectives:

To provide the information needed to derive poverty and indigence lines for the country,
comparable to those produced from the preceding study in 2002.

To obtain basic information on the demographic, employment, social, household and housing
characteristics of the population.

To provide data on other topics of direct relevance to the CPA, namely crime, food security,
difficulties faced by the population in terms of essential expenditure, strategies adopted to cope
with these difficulties and the coverage of major government programmes targeted at the poor and
the vulnerable.
The design and content of the LSMS questionnaire evolved through a number of discussions between the
NAT, the Consultants and the Statistics Institute of Belize (SIB), who were charged with implementing
the survey, between December and March 2009. The forms were pre-tested and piloted during this
period leading to further amendments designed to ensure the optimal phrasing of questions and the
elimination of possible sources of confusion and interpretation. The final questionnaire consisted of nine
sections:

Section 1: basic housing characteristics (Part 1), household information including ownership of
durables and utility expenditures(Part 2)

Section 2 collected data on persons living in the household: demographics, the parental situation of
children and infant feeding.

Section 3: health

Section 4: education enrolment and attainment.

Section 5: economic activity and employment of household members aged 14 or older.

Section 6: Food security and crime.

Section 7 (the most important): household expenditures - food (purchased, received as gifts and
home grown) and non-food items, incomes, savings and other gifts received.

Section 8: financial difficulties and coping strategies.

Section 9: participation in various government programmes designed to alleviate poverty.
Appendix 1 contains the final questionnaire.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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13
3.2
Sampling
Based on previous CPAs and recent SIB national surveys (HES and LFS), a total sample size of around
2,700 was selected, which allowing for non-response, was anticipated to yield around 2,000 completed
questionnaires4. Belize is divided into 366 EDs with an average of 168 households per ED. Table 3.1
shows the number of households and EDs by district.
Table 3.1 Population of Households and Enumeration Districts, 2006
Total
# of HH
# of Eds
HHs/ED
Country
Urban
Rural
Corozal District
61,487
32,879
28,608
7,144
366
188
178
42
168
175
161
170
Corozal Town
Corozal Rural
Orange Walk District
2,192
4,952
8,058
11
31
51
199
160
158
Orange Walk Town
Orange Walk Rural
3,000
5,058
18
33
167
153
Belize District
22,833
118
194
17,661
89
198
Belize City - North Side
5,058
31
163
Belize City - South Side
10,385
52
200
San Pedro
2,218
6
370
5,172
29
178
11,765
6,640
79
43
149
154
San Ignacio
1,838
14
131
Santa Elena
Benque Viejo
1,444
1,111
7
8
206
139
Urban
Belize Rural
Cayo District
Urban
Belmopan
2,247
14
161
Cayo Rural
5,125
36
142
Stann Creek
Dangriga (urban)
Stann Creek Rural
6,563
2,316
4,247
41
19
22
160
122
193
Toledo
Punta Gorda (urban)
Toledo Rural
5,124
1,070
4,054
35
8
27
146
134
150
The sample design used for the LSMS was essentially the same as that currently used by SIB for its recent
major household surveys, namely a two stage stratified random sample, with the first stage being a
geographic selection of Enumeration Districts (EDs) or Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) and the second
stage a selection of households within the sampled EDs. All 159 urban EDs were included in the sample
and then an additional 108 of the 178 EDs from rural areas were included. Sample households were
drawn from household listings contained in the SIB sample frame; this frame was created with the 2000
Census and was updated in 2006. Households were drawn using a fixed interval methodology with a
random start designed to generate an average of around 10 households per ED. Table 3.2 shows the
number of households in the sample by urban /rural location and district.
This is slightly higher than that used in the recent HBS survey but significantly higher than the 2,000 used for the
2002 LSMS.
4
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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14
Table 3.2 Sample EDs and Households by District and Urban/ Rural Location
Geographic Area
ED'S
HHs in sample
Sample HHs per ED
Urban
159
1476
9.3
Rural
108
1199
11.1
Total
267
2675
10.0
Urban
11
91
8.3
Rural
24
194
8.1
Urban
18
123
6.8
Rural
25
205
8.2
Urban
31
219
7.1
Rural
12
196
16.3
Urban
52
433
8.3
Rural
3
35
11.7
Urban
6
106
17.7
Rural
1
9
9
Urban
14
112
8
Rural
14
140
10
Urban ED'S:
29
218
7.5
San Ignacio
14
91
6.5
Santa Elena
7
72
10.3
Benque Viejo
8
55
6.9
Rural ED'S:
9
77
8.6
Stann Creek
District
Urban
19
122
6.4
Rural
9
180
20
Toledo District
Urban
8
52
6.5
Rural
20
163
8.2
Country
Corozal
Orange Walk
Belize North
Belize South
San Pedro
Cayo: Belmopan
Cayo:
San Ignacio/
Santa Elena/
Benque
Urban / Rural
Source: SIB
3.3
LSMS Implementation
An interviewers’ training manual was prepared by the Consultants. This manual covered the survey
procedures and questions with emphasis on the problems likely to be encountered and how best to elicit
the required information. Training was provided to SIB central office and regional staff in January 20095.
Based on this training and the final questionnaire6, SIB trained the enumerators, almost all of whom had
previously worked on the HES, in April. Fieldwork for the LSMS took place during April and May 2009.
Completed and partially completed questionnaires were obtained from 2,152 households which
represents an overall response rate of over 80% which is comparable to those of most other CPAs.
Furthermore, as can be seen from Table 3.3, around half the reasons for non-response related to the
absence of occupied dwellings rather than refusals or non contacts.
More information on the training provided will be contained in the CPA Training Manual.
The pre-final version of the questionnaire was produced using TELEFORM software in Anguilla and the files sent
electronically to Belize where it was finalized by BIS and printed.
5
6
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Table 3.3. LSMS Sample Result Codes
Final Result Code
Frequency
Percent
2,152
81.4
Refusal
22
0.8
Address not found
26
1.0
No suitable respondent
22
0.8
No contact
122
4.6
Vacant lot
84
3.2
Under construction
25
0.9
Vacant dwelling
189
7.2
2,642
100.0
Completed
Total
Source: SIB.
The response rate is calculated as the ratio of completed and partially completed questionnaires divided
by the numbers of households in the sample minus those households out of scope (vacant and under
construction). The response rate for the survey as a whole was 91.8% (Table 3.4). There is thus
considered to be little likelihood of the responses being significantly biased in any way.
Table 3.4. Response Rates by District
District
Corozal
Orange Walk
Belize
Cayo
Stann Creek
Toledo
TOTAL
Response Rate
91%
99%
91%
86%
92%
99%
92%
3.4
Calculation of Weights
Weights for urban areas were calculated using the Household per ED (sampling ratio) adjusted by nonresponse (refusals, address not found, no contact and no suitable respondent) and out of scope (using
SIB’s 2009 district population estimates.
Urban Household Weight = Population less out of scope/sample less non-response
The Rural Household weight was calculated using the same formula as for urban households but with an
adjustment for the sampling ratio of the ED:
ED sampling ratio = Number of EDs in District/ Number of EDs in sample for the
District
A combined district weight was calculated by weighting the rural and urban weights by the number of
rural and urban households in the district. The resultant weighting factors are shown in Table 3.5.
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Table 3.5. District Weighting Factors
Population Estimate
(Mid April 2009)*
Sampled
Population**
Country Total
330,835
8,191
Corozal
37,185
1,038
37.3
Orange Walk
49,245
1,284
41.4
Belize
99,330
2,803
37.8
Cayo
79,965
1,837
47.5
Stann Creek
34,285
797
45.5
1,021
32.6
District
Toledo
30,825
* SIB estimates.
3.5
Weighting
Factor
** Unweighted LSMS results.
Sampling Error
The resultant sampling error for the proportion of households falling below the poverty line has been
calculated using the formula for a two-stage sample design (see Cochran, ‘Sampling Techniques’, Wiley,
1963, p. 278/9:
SE=sqrt [(1-n/N)/n(n-1)*∑(p- (∑p/n))2 + (n/N)(1-m/M)/n2(m-1)* ∑p(1-p)]
Where:
SE is the Standard Error of the estimate
n is the no. of first stage sampling units (ie. EDs) out of a total of N such units.
m is the number of households drawn from each selected ED containing M
households.
p is the proportion of households who are poor.
It should be noted that unless the sampling fraction (n/N) is large, the standard error is almost wholly
determined by the sample size and is thus largely independent of the size of the survey population. The
sampling error is shown, with other indicators in Table 3.6.
Table 3.6. Sampling Errors
Variable
Poor Households
Estimate
31.0% #
# As percentage of all households
*
Standard
Error
Coefficient of
Variation (%)*
.029
9%
95% Confidence Limit **
Lower
Upper
25.2%
36.8%
Ratio of standard error to estimate value.
** Estimated value  1.96 x Standard Error. There is a 95% probability that the actual proportion of poor households will lie
within this range.
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3.6
Data Validation, Processing and Analysis
The questionnaires were scanned to a SQL database by SIB using the TELEFORM software. This was
the first survey that SIB had used TELEFORM. As a result the scanning took substantially longer than
originally planned and more errors slipped through. These errors were identified and corrected manually
through July to September 2009. Simultaneously, outlier and consistency checks were carried out for the
key variables needed to calculate the poverty lines and which would be crucial to the analysis, namely, age,
sex, relationship, ethnicity, employment status, expenditure and income. Errors were identified and
corrected manually as needed with missing data being imputed where feasible. The relevant population
variables were merged into the main household database. Further validation checks were carried out on
the expenditure and income data. These resulted in food expenditures being imputed in a number of
cases a number of questionnaires being rejected as containing partial or incompatible information, e.g. a
major discrepancy between household income and expenditure. As a result of these checks, 126
questionnaires were rejected leaving a total of 2,026 which could be used for the analysis; this represents
an overall response rate of 76% of the original sample and 85% if vacant dwellings are excluded.
Data processing and analysis was done using SPSS. Initial data processing involved appending the
weighting factors to each household record and the calculation, for each household, of total and per
capita total, food, and non-food expenditure, and the numbers of children (of different ages) and adults
in each household. These variables were then used to derive the following: per capita household
expenditure quintiles, average per capita non food expenditure of the bottom two quintiles, household
indigence and poverty lines and household poverty status (indigent, poor, not poor). The household
quintile and poverty status variables were appended to the database of individuals.
This stage also involved the grouping of key variables (e.g. 5 year age groups), the derivation of variables
such as room occupancy rates, households with and without elderly persons, children, spouses/ partners,
household nationality, no. of workers in household, educational attainment of head of household) in
order to facilitate the analysis.
The final database was then used to produce cross-tabulations of the key socio-economic variables
against household poverty status and quintile using SPSS. The majority of the analysis undertaken is
presented in the Main Report (Chapters 3 and 4). Additional tabulations are contained in the Annex to
this Chapter.
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Annex A.3. LSMS Tabulations
A3.1. Population and Household Tabulations
Table A3.1.1. Population by Sex and Age Groups
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
Sex Ratio
0-4
9.5%
9.0%
9.2%
100
5-9
12.6%
12.1%
12.3%
99
10-14
12.9%
11.3%
12.1%
109
15-19
12.0%
11.8%
11.9%
97
20-24
8.2%
7.8%
8.0%
100
25-29
6.1%
7.8%
6.9%
75
30-34
5.6%
7.1%
6.4%
76
35-39
5.7%
7.0%
6.4%
77
40-44
5.8%
6.2%
6.0%
90
45-49
5.9%
5.3%
5.6%
108
50-54
3.8%
3.8%
3.8%
94
55-59
3.1%
3.1%
3.1%
95
60-64
2.4%
2.2%
2.3%
105
65-69
2.0%
1.7%
1.9%
110
70 and over
4.4%
3.8%
4.1%
112
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
96
Total
Table A3.1.2. Ethnic Origin of Head of Household by Quintile
Ethnicity
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
Creole
20%
23%
30%
38%
41%
30%
Garifuna
6%
8%
9%
10%
8%
8%
Maya
16%
8%
5%
4%
3%
7%
Mestizo
45%
56%
48%
41%
32%
44%
Other
13%
5%
8%
8%
15%
10%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Table A3.1.3. Urban and Rural Households by Quintile
Location
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
Urban
11%
18%
21%
23%
26%
100%
Rural
31%
22%
19%
16%
13%
100%
Total
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
100%
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Table A3.1.4. Urban and Rural Poverty Rates by District
Households
District
Location
Population
Indigent
ALL Poor
Indigent
ALL Poor
Urban
2%
17%
2%
16%
Rural
28%
70%
21%
58%
Orange
Walk
Urban
8%
27%
6%
23%
Rural
18%
52%
15%
46%
Belize
Urban (Belize City)
6%
29%
4%
21%
Urban (San Pedro)
2%
15%
2%
14%
Rural
8%
32%
5%
22%
Urban (Belmopan/ San Ignacio)
6%
32%
4%
24%
Rural
18%
50%
11%
37%
Urban (Dangriga)
12%
32%
8%
24%
Rural
24%
53%
16%
39%
Urban (Punta Gorda)
4%
7%
2%
4%
Rural
60%
73%
50%
61%
Corozal
Cayo
Stann
Creek
Toledo
Table A3.1.5. Household Size by Quintile
Persons
Q1*
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
All
1
3%
7%
11%
14%
30%
13%
2
6%
8%
13%
21%
27%
15%
3
6%
13%
16%
27%
18%
16%
4
13%
18%
23%
18%
12%
17%
5
18%
19%
15%
10%
9%
14%
6
27%
22%
16%
7%
3%
15%
7 & over
28%
13%
7%
3%
1%
10%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Ave Household Size
5.7
4.6
3.9
3.2
2.6
4
*
National level quintiles based on household expenditure per capita, i.e. weighted for
household composition by age and sex.
Table A3.1.6. Sex of Head of Household by Quintile
Sex
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
All
Male
75%
66%
70%
69%
71%
70%
Female
25%
34%
30%
31%
29%
30%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
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Table A3.1.7. Dependents per Household by Poverty Status
No. of Dependents
Indigent
Poor
All poor
Not Poor
All
0
1%
5%
4%
20%
15%
1
6%
8%
8%
24%
19%
2
9%
15%
13%
23%
20%
3
13%
23%
20%
17%
17%
4
20%
20%
20%
9%
12%
5+
49%
29%
36%
8%
16%
All
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
0
1%
7%
8%
92%
100%
1
4%
9%
12%
88%
100%
2
5%
16%
21%
79%
100%
3
8%
27%
35%
65%
100%
4
17%
33%
50%
50%
100%
5+
32%
36%
68%
32%
100%
All
10%
21%
31%
69%
100%
Poverty Rates
Table A3.1.8. Elderly Households by Quintile
Elderly in Household
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
All
Elderly on their own
2%
3%
3%
3%
8%
4%
Elderly couple
1%
2%
1%
3%
3%
2%
Other households with Elderly
18%
18%
16%
12%
9%
14%
No elderly persons
79%
77%
81%
82%
81%
80%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
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Table A3.1.9. Household Structure of Households with Children under 18 Years by Poverty
Status
% of households within (sub-) category
Category
Single adult
Single parent
(no spouse) +
Other adults
HoH + spouse/
partner + other
adults
Child households
Indigent
Poor
All Poor
Not Poor
% All
hholds
% Child
hholds
M+ own
22%
22%
44%
56%
0%
1%
F+Own
5%
18%
23%
77%
5%
8%
F+own+oth
0%
60%
60%
40%
0%
0%
M +other only
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
F + other only
9%
27%
36%
64%
1%
1%
M+ other
19%
23%
42%
58%
1%
2%
M + own
0%
25%
25%
75%
0%
1%
M + both
25%
25%
50%
50%
0%
0%
F + own
11%
29%
41%
59%
4%
6%
F + both
17%
42%
58%
42%
1%
2%
F + other only
6%
29%
35%
65%
4%
6%
Own kids only
15%
21%
37%
63%
26%
40%
Own kids + AD CH
20%
27%
47%
53%
10%
15%
Own + adults
12%
29%
40%
60%
3%
4%
Own+ other+ AD CH
20%
40%
60%
40%
1%
2%
Own + other
17%
30%
47%
53%
1%
2%
Own + other + adult
27%
18%
45%
55%
1%
1%
Other kids
6%
11%
17%
83%
2%
3%
Other kids + AD CH
16%
14%
30%
70%
2%
3%
Other kids + adults
23%
32%
55%
45%
2%
4%
14%
24%
39%
61%
65%
100%
Sub- Category
Nb. M= Male HoH; F= female HoH; child denotes child <18 years belonging to HoH; other child denotes child
not belonging to HoH; AD CH = child >17 years belonging to HoH.
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Table A3.1.10. Parentage of Children by Ethnicity and Poverty Status
All Children
Indigent
Poor
All poor
Not Poor
All
Both parents
63%
72%
61%
65%
61%
Mother only
27%
20%
31%
26%
29%
Father only
2%
2%
2%
2%
3%
Neither
7%
6%
6%
6%
8%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Both parents
32%
40%
38%
46%
43%
Mother only
57%
49%
51%
41%
45%
Father only
1%
2%
1%
4%
3%
Neither
10%
9%
9%
10%
9%
All kids (<18yrs)
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Both parents
69%
68%
68%
69%
69%
Mother only
20%
24%
23%
23%
23%
Father only
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
Neither
9%
6%
7%
6%
7%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Both parents
90%
87%
89%
72%
84%
Mother only
5%
10%
6%
10%
8%
Father only
3%
0%
2%
3%
2%
Neither
2%
4%
2%
15%
6%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
All kids (<18yrs)
Creole
Mestizo
All kids (<18yrs)
Maya
All kids (<18yrs)
A3.2
Housing Tabulations
Table A3.2.1. Roof Material of House by Quintile
Roof Material
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
Asbestos
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Concrete
8%
10%
14%
13%
17%
13%
Rubber rye
1%
1%
1%
0%
0%
1%
Sheet metal (zinc, aluminium)
74%
84%
82%
84%
81%
81%
Shingle
0%
0%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Thatch
14%
3%
2%
1%
0%
4%
Other
0%
1%
0%
0%
1%
0%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
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Table A3.2.2. Main Source of Drinking Water by Quintile
Drinking water source
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
Private piped into dwelling
7%
9%
8%
7%
4%
7%
Private vat/drum/well, not piped
20%
17%
17%
12%
10%
15%
Public piped into dwelling
18%
21%
21%
16%
10%
17%
Public piped into yard only
23%
11%
8%
5%
4%
10%
Public standpipe or hand pump
2%
1%
1%
0%
0%
1%
Public well
1%
0%
0%
1%
0%
0%
Purified bottled water
23%
39%
44%
57%
71%
47%
River/stream/pond/spring/creek
4%
1%
1%
1%
0%
1%
Other
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Table A3.2.3. Persons per Room by Quintile
Persons per room
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
less than 1
10%
27%
39%
60%
76%
34%
1 up to 2
57%
64%
57%
37%
24%
38%
More than 2 up to 3
15%
7%
2%
2%
0%
16%
More than 3
17%
3%
2%
1%
0%
12%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Table A3.2.4. Ownership of Durable Goods and Other Assets by Quintile
Item
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
Q1/Q5 ratio
Stove
76%
90%
92%
94%
93%
89%
0.81
Fridge
49%
72%
81%
84%
90%
75%
0.55
Television
62%
81%
84%
89%
91%
81%
0.68
Cell phone
49%
71%
77%
83%
88%
74%
0.56
Washing machine
47%
67%
71%
71%
78%
67%
0.61
DVD player
29%
50%
62%
65%
67%
54%
0.44
Motor vehicle
13%
23%
33%
43%
61%
35%
0.21
Table A3.2.5. Ownership of Durable Goods by Urban Rural
Item
Rural
Urban
Total
Rural/Urban ratio
Stove
83%
94%
89%
0.88
Fridge
62%
86%
75%
0.72
Television
68%
92%
81%
0.73
Cell phone
61%
84%
74%
0.73
Washing machine
59%
74%
67%
0.80
DVD
44%
63%
54%
0.69
Vehicle
31%
38%
35%
0.82
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A3.3.
Economic Activity and Employment Tabulations
Table A3.3.1. Economic Status
14 & over
14 to 64 years
Population
100%
100%
Employed
53%
55%
Unemployed
8%
8%
Labour Force
61%
64%
School
12%
14%
Sick
3%
2%
Disabled
1%
1%
Home duties
16%
16%
Retired
3%
1%
Other
4%
2%
Not in Labour Force
39%
36%
Table A3.3.2. Economic Activity by Age Group
Participation
Rate*
Unemployment
Rate**
Age distribution of
the Unemployed
14 to 19
33%
31%
28%
20 to 24
70%
19%
20%
25 to 34
76%
11%
21%
35 to 44
75%
7%
12%
45 to 54
75%
10%
14%
55 to 64
60%
9%
5%
65 & over
27%
5%
1%
All 14+
62%
13%
100%
14-64 only
64%
8%
Age Group
* Labour force (employed and unemployed) as percentage of population 14 years and over.
** Unemployed as percentage of labour force.
Table A3.3.3. Number of Workers per Household by Urban Rural
Workers per Household
Urban
Rural
All
No one working
15%
9%
12%
1
44%
48%
46%
2
31%
29%
30%
3
8%
9%
8%
4&over
3%
5%
4%
100%
100%
100%
Total
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Table A3.3.4. Households with Unemployed Persons by Residence
HH with someone
unemployed
Urban
Rural
All
15%
20%
17%
Table A3.3.5. Hours Worked by Poverty Status
Hours Worked
(in week)
Indigent
Poor
All Poor
Not poor
All
1 to 15
10%
17%
15%
12%
13%
16 to 30
21%
12%
15%
12%
12%
31 to 40
26%
27%
27%
25%
26%
41 to 50
28%
31%
30%
34%
33%
Over 50
15%
13%
14%
16%
16%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Table A3.3.6. Months Worked by Poverty Status
Months Worked
(in year)
Indigent
Poor
All Poor
Not poor
All
Under 6
12%
10%
11%
10%
10%
6-10
11%
10%
10%
9%
9%
11-12
78%
80%
79%
82%
81%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Table A3.3.7. Employed Persons by Occupation by Poverty Status
Occupation
Indigent
Poor
All Poor
Not Poor
All
Prof/Tech/Admin/Man
1%
6%
4%
25%
18%
Clerical & Service
18%
25%
23%
32%
29%
Agriculturalists
27%
11%
16%
6%
9%
Craft Workers
11%
13%
12%
9%
10%
Plant & Machine
4%
10%
8%
10%
9%
Elementary Workers
39%
36%
37%
18%
24%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
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Table A3.3.8. Industrial Sector of Workers by Poverty Status
Industrial Sector - All
Indigent
Poor
All poor
Not Poor
All
Agriculture/ Fishing
43%
24%
30%
15%
20%
Manufacturing
3%
7%
6%
5%
5%
Construction
11%
10%
10%
9%
10%
Retail
10%
16%
14%
17%
16%
Tourism
7%
9%
8%
11%
10%
Transport
2%
6%
5%
6%
5%
Bank Fin
0%
1%
1%
3%
2%
Miscellaneous Services
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
Government/ Health / Education
9%
9%
9%
19%
16%
Domestic and other informal
12%
14%
13%
10%
12%
All workers
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Agriculture/ Fishing
2%
5%
5%
4%
4%
Manufacturing
5%
7%
7%
5%
5%
Construction
19%
13%
14%
10%
11%
Retail
17%
18%
17%
19%
19%
Tourism
10%
11%
11%
13%
12%
Transport
0%
7%
6%
7%
7%
Bank Fin
2%
2%
2%
3%
3%
Miscellaneous Services
11%
6%
7%
5%
6%
Government/ Health / Education
13%
11%
12%
23%
21%
Domestic and other informal
22%
19%
19%
12%
13%
All workers
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Agriculture/ Fishing
52%
37%
43%
34%
38%
Manufacturing
3%
8%
6%
5%
6%
Construction
9%
7%
8%
9%
8%
Retail
8%
15%
12%
15%
14%
Tourism
6%
8%
7%
9%
8%
Transport
3%
5%
4%
3%
4%
Bank Fin
0%
0%
0%
1%
1%
Miscellaneous Services
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
Government/ Health / Education
8%
8%
8%
13%
11%
Domestic and other informal
8%
10%
9%
9%
9%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Urban
Rural
All workers
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A3.4. Education
Table A3.4.1. Non Attendance Rates by Population Quintile and Urban Rural
Population quintiles
Age Group
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Urban
Rural
75%*
64%
63%
40%
49%
60%
50%
70%
5-12 years/ Primary
5%
3%
2%
1%
2%
3%
2%
4%
13-16 years/ Secondary**
37%
30%
19%
18%
7%
25%
12%
35%
3-4 years/ Pre-school
* % of age group not attending school.
** A significant proportion of these children will be attending primary school.
Table A3.4.2. Absences from School in Last Month by Quintile and Urban Rural
Age Group
Population quintiles
Primary
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Urban
Rural
No days missed
21%*
25%
25%
21%
21%
23%
23%
23%
Due to sickness
60%
75%
66%
56%
73%
67%
67%
66%
Due to ‘financial’ reasons**
18%
12%
15%
13%
6%
14%
16%
11%
Due to other reasons***
22%
13%
19%
31%
21%
19%
17%
23%
None
19%
22%
23%
17%
19%
20%
18%
23%
Due to sickness
57%
59%
64%
65%
67%
63%
58%
69%
Due to ‘financial’ reasons**
29%
15%
17%
8%
14%
16%
22%
8%
Due to other reasons***
14%
26%
19%
27%
19%
21%
20%
23%
Secondary
* % of students who had missed at least 1 school day in the last month..
** Including truancy, work and home duties, lack of uniform or money
*** Reasons mostly not stated.
Table A3.4.3. Mode of Travel to School in Urban and Rural Areas
Mode of travel to
school
Primary School
Secondary School
Urban
Rural
All
Urban
Rural
All
Private vehicle
18%
5%
11%
17%
5%
12%
Walk
61%
66%
63%
41%
6%
26%
Bike
13%
17%
15%
20%
9%
15%
School bus
2%
9%
5%
5%
45%
22%
Other bus
5%
3%
4%
13%
32%
21%
Other
1%
1%
1%
4%
4%
4%
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
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A3.5. Other Tabulations
Table A3.5.1. District Indicators
Indicator
% of Country Population
Belize
Cayo
Corozal
Orange Walk
Stann Creek
Toledo
National
30%
24%
11%
15%
10%
9%
100%
Population density per square mile
60
40
52
27
33
18
37
% of population living in rural areas
22%
47%
74%
63%
55%
82%
49%
Children (under 15) to adult ratio
0.46
0.57
0.45
0.40
0.55
0.75
0.51
Sex ratio Males per 100 females
95.10
94.57
93.40
98.00
94.07
100.21
95.68
Birth Rates per 1,000 population
2.1
2.3
1.6
2.8
2.5
1.9
2.2
69%
68%
28%
48%
69%
39%
58%
3.6
4.4
4.3
4.2
3.5
4.9
4.00
Minimum food basket cost
$1,958
$1,791
$1,953
$1,942
$2,234
$2,186
$2,005
Poverty line
$3,928
$3,661
$3,041
$3,308
$3,906
$2,753
$3,429**
% of Households living in poverty
20.9
29.8
46.1
36.7
31.7
46.4
31
Gini coefficient
0.36
0.39
0.41
0.41
0.41
0.46
0.42
% of population with no secondary education
14%
16%
18%
19%
21%
15%
17%
% of head of households with no secondary education
9%
26%
22%
24%
11%
42%
19%
Unemployment Rate
13.1%
14.2%
10.6%
10.2%
17.1%
12.6%
13.1%
Employment Population 14 & over ratio
58.3%
50.8%
51.1%
49.0%
55.3%
47.6%
53.0%
Percent of employed working in Agriculture
1.7%
15.8%
29.8%
23.5%
22.4%
41.7%
16.3%
Percent of households not owning a vehicle
57%
65%
62%
61%
79%
80%
67%
% households not owning dwelling
46%
26%
22%
23%
44%
15%
33%
Percent of dwellings concrete or brick walls
50%
52%
65%
48%
38%
33%
49%
Asbestos & metal sheeting, thatch & other for roof
91%
91%
59%
81%
89%
90%
86%
% no WC
8%
41%
55%
49%
25%
65%
33%
% with Drinking water from Standpipe, well or river
1%
5%
1%
0%
0%
13%
3%
% of Households who do not use electricity for lighting
2%
8%
6%
8%
6%
35%
10%
% Households which have 3 or more persons per room
8%
5%
4%
4%
2%
38%
9%
% of households who own a computer
34%
33%
20%
19%
19%
17%
24%
Household Growth Rate 2000-2009 (%)
Average household size
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Table A3.5.2. Food Security
Frequency in Last Month
Type of Food Security Issue
1-2
times
Never
3-10
times
More than
10 times
Not
stated
Total
Percentage of Households
Did you worry that your household would not
have enough food to eat?
71.0
16.0
8.3
4.5
.3
100.0
Were you or any household member not able
to eat the kinds of food you preferred
because of a lack of resources?
70.8
16.5
8.7
3.6
.5
100.0
Did you or any household member have to
eat a limited variety of foods due to lack of
resources?
77.8
13.0
5.8
3.1
.4
100.0
Did you or any household member have to
eat a smaller meal than you felt that you
needed because there was not enough
82.0
10.5
5.0
2.3
.2
100.0
Was there ever no food to eat of any kind in
your household because of a lack of
resources to get food?
89.4
6.1
3.0
1.1
.3
100.0
Did you or any household member go to
sleep at night hungry because there was not
enough food?
94.1
3.4
1.3
.9
.2
100.0
Did you or any household member go a
whole day and night without eating anything
because there was not enough food?
95.8
2.6
.8
.6
.2
100.0
Table A3.5.3. Difficulties Paying Expenses
Frequency in Last Year
Type of
Expenditure
No
difficulty
Less than 1
month
1-2
months
3-5
months
6-12
months
Over 1
year
Not
stated
Total
Percentage of Households
Utilities
65.9
2.6
7.8
4.0
8.2
6.3
5.2
100
Food Bills
78.1
2.6
6.0
3.0
4.6
2.7
3.0
100
School Fees
51.2
1.8
3.8
4.0
3.8
32.7
2.6
100
Loans
32.7
.9
1.6
2.8
1.8
58.3
1.9
100
Entertainment
57.8
.6
.9
.4
.4
38.3
1.8
100
Mortgage
30.8
.5
1.5
.7
2.3
61.3
2.8
100
Transport
76.5
.8
1.7
2.0
1.2
15.9
2.0
100
Health Care
77.4
1.9
4.3
4.2
3.5
6.5
2.2
100
Clothing
84.3
1.6
2.3
3.4
1.8
4.8
1.8
100
Other Bills
52.3
.6
1.4
.5
.9
40.3
4.0
100
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Table A3.5.4. Households Experiencing Crime
Location
Urban
Rural
Urban and
Rural
Belize
District
% of all
Crimes
% of households experiencing
crime in last year
Corozal
4.2%
15.6%
Orange Walk
3.7%
7.2%
Belize
30.3%
12.6%
Cayo
15.0%
13.1%
Stann Creek
12.3%
23.1%
Toledo
0.7%
4.1%
ALL Urban
66.3%
13.1%
Corozal
8.4%
12.0%
Orange Walk
5.6%
7.1%
Belize
6.0%
8.9%
Cayo
6.4%
7.3%
Stann Creek
5.1%
8.8%
Toledo
2.2%
4.2%
ALL Rural
33.7%
8.1%
Corozal
12.6%
13.0%
Orange Walk
9.3%
7.1%
Belize
36.2%
11.8%
Cayo
21.4%
10.6%
Stann Creek
17.4%
15.6%
Toledo
2.9%
4.2%
100.0%
10.9%
Total
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4
The Participatory Poverty Assessments
4.1
Objectives
The overall objectives of the Participatory Poverty Assessments (PPAs) were as follows:

To supplement the quantitative information from the LSMS by providing additional and more
detailed information on the nature, causes and trends of poverty in Belize.

To complement the Institutional Analysis (see next Chapter) by obtaining the perceptions of
communities and vulnerable groups on the assistance that they are receiving from government
and non-government agencies, and how this could be improved and made more effective.
The overall thrust of the PPAs is therefore on the collection of qualitative information concentrating on
the following generic topics:

How have living standards changed in recent years, and why?

How do HHs/individuals cope with hardship/ poverty?

What assistance are they/ their community receiving from government and other
organisations?

How effective do they consider this assistance to be and is it addressing their priority needs?

How could it be made more effective and more closely aligned to their needs and aspirations?
4.2
4.2.1
Methodology and Techniques
General Approach
At the outset of the PPA, it was noted that a number of consultations were held in 2006 in relation to the
National Poverty Eradication and Action Plan7. The PPAs should avoid simply replicating this exercise
by concentrating on priority groups, i.e. those where the incidence, or risk, of poverty is considered to be
high, those for which information was felt to be lacking, and those where circumstances may have
changed significantly since the previous consultation process. It was also decided that the PPAs should
refrain from collecting excessive amounts of factual information but should instead prioritise information
that could both further understanding of the underlying causes and characteristics of poverty in the
country and facilitate the generation of recommendations to be included as part of the CPA’s Programme
of Action.
Arising from this, it was decided that there would be two basic types of PPA:
Community based PPAs: these would be targeted at communities in general and would focus on the
trends in economic and living conditions in the communities, the key problems faced by residents
NHDAC, Ministry of National Development, Investment and Culture, 2006, NPESAP 2006-2010: Public
Consultation, Belize.
7
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(whether economic, social, infrastructure related or other), there views as to the effectiveness of current
government and NGO programmes, and their perceptions as to their priority needs.
Vulnerable Group (VG) PPAs: these would be more specific in nature and targeted at groups where
poverty or poverty related issues are likely to be at their most acute, e.g. the elderly, unmarried, single
mothers, unemployed youth and young adults. The topics would be similar to those for the Community
PPAs but with greater emphasis on the problems faced by these groups, the assistance they are currently
receiving and how this could be made more effective.
4.2.2
PPA Techniques
There is a wide range of techniques for the collection of qualitative information by PPAs. Following
discussions within the Study team, the techniques shown in Table 4.1 were selected for use in this study
as those being most appropriate to the overall CPA objectives. The techniques selected tend to be the
more straightforward ones which are more relevant to a multi-sectoral CPA. More sophisticated
techniques, e.g. community mapping, poverty and wealth ranking, and time budgets are appropriate for
research –oriented studies and those targeted at individual communities.
Table 4.1. PPA Techniques
Technique
Short description
Usage
Transect Walks
Observational surveys and short random interviews
conducted across communities
Community PPAs
Key Informant
Surveys (KIS)
Semi-structured with persons considered to have good
knowledge of the community or VG, e.g. teachers, health
personnel, business owners, local officials, NGOs working
with VGs.
Community PPAs
Focus Group
Discussions (FGDs)
Structured discussions concentrating on selected issues or
vulnerable groups*.
Vulnerable Group PPAs
Community
Meetings
More wide ranging than FGDs, these cover a wider variety
of issues and topics. Participants are primarily selfselecting.
Community PPAs
Case Study
Interviews
Semi-structured interviews with members of vulnerable
groups designed to elicit more detailed information about
the reasons underlying their poverty, the difficulties they
face, and the assistance that could best help them.
Vulnerable Group PPAs
Vulnerable Group PPAs
* Often undertaken separately with men and women.
** Carried out in locations where the target groups gather, e.g. elderly centres or social security offices for the
elderly, classrooms or youth centres adolescents and youths.
4.3
PPA Coverage
The coverage of the PPAs was finalised in February 2009 following discussions between the NAT, its
members and the Consultants. The final selection of 18 Community Surveys and 8 Vulnerable Groups is
shown in Table 4.2. It represents a balance between securing a good geographical coverage of
communities, including the main vulnerable groups and formulating a programme feasible within the
available logistical, personnel and financial resources.
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Table 4.2. PPA Coverage
Community PPA ’s
District
Vulnerable Group PPAs
Community
Vulnerable Group
Method
Belize
Corazalito
Flowers Bank
Lucky Strike
Gracie Rock
Unemployed Youth
FGDs: Belize South Side, Orange
Walk, Dangriga
KIIs:CYDP, YFF, REMAR.
Corozal
Chan Chen
Patchakan
Single Parents
FGDs: male and female
KIIs: DHS, WD
Orange Walk
Fireburn
Indian Church
Elderly
FGDs: Belize City, Cayo
KIIs: VOICE, HelpAge, NCA, GHR
Cayo
Calla Creek
Cotton Tree
Buena Vista
Franks Eddy
Homeless
Case studies and FGD at homeless
shelter.
Stann Creek
Hummingbird
San Roman
Family Violence Victims
KIIs: DVU, BFC, DHS, WD
CRD + Case Study.
Toledo
Jacintoville
Mabilha
San Lucas
Yemeri Grove
Children in Institutions
FGDs: Dorothy Menzies Child Care
Centre (m + f), Youth Hostel (m + f);
Wagner’s Youth Facility.
People with Disabilities
FGD: Stella Morris home
KIIs: CARE, DHS.
People Living with HIV
KIIs: AAA, NAC, VCT, BFLA, HandIn-Hand (all Belize), Cornerstone
(Cayo).
Community PPAs generally included:
- 2 Transect Walks
- 2-4 Key Informant Interviews*
- 1 Community Meeting
* E.g. school teacher, health worker, village leader, business owner.
AAA: Alliance against AIDS; BFC: Belize Family Court; BFLA: Belize Family Life Association; CRD: Community
Rehabilitation Department; CYDP: Conscious Youth Development Programme; DHS: Department of Human
Services; DVU: Domestic Violence Unit; FGD: Focus Group discussion; GHR: Golden Haven Resthouse; KII:
Key informant Interview; NAC: National AIDS Commission; NCA: National Council for Aging; VCT: Voluntary
Counselling and Testing; WD: Women’s Department; YFF: Youth for the Future
4.4
4.4.1
PPA Organisation and Training
Organisation
Responsibility for planning and undertaking the PPAs was shared between the Ministries of Human
Development (MHDST) and Rural Development and Local Government (MRDLG) with the former
taking responsibility for the overall planning and scheduling of the PPAs. The PPA facilitators were
drawn from the Rural Community Development Officers of MRDLG and the field staff of MHDST
(community rehabilitation and women’s development officers). These personnel were organised into
teams of three on a district-wise basis. RCDOs were designated as the team leaders for the Community
PPAs while the team leaders for the VG PPAs were drawn from MHDST staff.
4.4.2
Training
An intensive four day training programme was prepared and delivered by the Consultants to all
designated PPA facilitators and supervising staff in Belize City in March 2009.
The training included formal presentations and interactive role plays and was organised into four parts:
introduction, tools and techniques, community meetings, and reporting and analysis. Participants were
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provided with pro-formas for each of the techniques shown in Table 4.1. These listed the topics which
needed to be raised with PPA participants and provided a standard basis for recording the results of these
discussions.
The training also included role plays which involved both participants and male and female members of
local communities. The role plays covered the tools and techniques discussed during the training, namely
semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and community meetings.
All training materials are contained in the CPA training manual.
4.5
PPA Fieldwork and Reporting
PPA fieldwork commenced on the 16th March and was completed on the 18th June as per the original
programme.
PPA facilitators were instructed to write up their field notes as soon as possible after completion of their
interviews, meetings and focus group discussions. The Team Leaders then synthesized the field notes
into the pro-formas distributed during the training session.
In total, 150 PPAs were conducted and 124 pro-formas were prepared giving a pro-forma completion
rate of over 80%. The distribution of PPAs and completed pro-formas is shown in Table 4.3.
Table 4.3. PPAs Undertaken
Type of PPA
No. undertaken
Pro-formas prepared
% Pro-formas
Community Meetings
16
12
75%
Focus Group Discussions
22
14
64%
Key Informant Interviews
75
69
92%
Transect Walks
37
29
78%
TOTAL
150
124
83%
4.6
Analysis
The pro-formas provided the primary basis for the analysis of the PPA results with additional, more
detailed material being available from the field notes. Analysis of the results was undertaken by both the
NAT PPA sub-committee and the Consultants.
4.6.1
Analysis by the PPA Team
A 2 ½ day workshop was held from the 12th to the 14th July to carry out the initial analysis of the PPA
pro-formas. This workshop was attended by 4 NAT members (Dr. Rosberg, Dr. Gillett, Ms. Hall and
Mr. Pol), 3 Human Development Officers, 4 Rural Community Development Officers and a 6th Form
intern student from Dangriga. The agenda for this workshop is shown in Table 4.4.
Participants were first asked to identify and prioritize key words from the field pro-formas. The key
words were then grouped into the following five categories: Political, Economic, Social, Cultural, and
Environmental. Participants were then asked to work in pairs and were asked to use the key words,
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alongside the more detailed information available in the field notes, to prepare prose summaries based
around the 5 key CPA questions set out at the beginning of the Chapter.
Table 4.4. Agenda for PPA Analysis Workshop
Participatory Poverty Assessments (PPA) workshop session– July 12-14, 2009
DAY/TIME
CONTENT
FACILITATORS
Sunday, July 12, 2009: INTRODUCTORY
11:00 – 12:30
Introductions
Introduction to CPA & PPAs
Purpose of Workshop
12:30 – 1:30
L U N C H
1:30 – 2:00
Description of Process(Analysis)
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
2:00 – 3:45
INTERIM ANALYSIS
Plenary session: break into 4 groups (FGD, community meeting,
transect walk & key informant interview) and brainstorm key words
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
3:45 – 4:00
B R E A K
4:00 – 5:30
Continue plenary session - brainstorm key words
Participants
Carlos Pol
M. Rosberg/ E. Gillett
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
Monday, July 13, 2009: CATEGORY ANALYSIS
8:00 – 8:30
Review of day 1 and introduction to day 2
Bring together all interim analysis by various categories: Continue on
the 4 groups
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
8:30 – 10:00
Bring together all interim analysis by various categories: Continue on
the 4 groups
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
10:00 -10:15
B R E A K
10:15 -12:00
PROSE ANALYSIS
Write prose summary for each category
12:00 -1:00
L U N C H
1:00 - 3:45
Continue writing prose summary for each category
3:45 - 4:00
B R E A K
4:00 – 5:30
Continue writing prose summary for each category
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
E. Gillett
Tuesday, July 14, 2009: PROSE ANALYSIS
7:00 – 8:00
B R E A K F A S T
8:00 – 10:00
Review of day 2 and introduction to day 3
Presentations by Groups
10:00 -10:15
B R E A K
10:15-12:00
Continue Group Presentation
Wrap-up
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
M. Rosberg/E. Gillett
Two members of the NAT team, Dr Rosberg and Dr Gillett, were given the responsibility to edit the
prose summaries and prepare a report synthesizing the results of the analysis. This report was completed
in early August 2009 and submitted to the NAT and the Consultants. It is presented as Annex 4.1 at the
end of this Chapter.
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4.6.2
Analysis by the Consultants
Further discussions concerning the report’s conclusions occurred during the Consultants’ visit in
September 2009. This meeting confirmed the basic conclusions of the report but it was agreed that there
should be some further analysis by the Consultants, in particular in relation to the problems identified in
the PPAs, the perceived needs of respondents and potential measures to address these needs. This
analysis took the form of preparing summary tabulations of the pro-formas produced by the PPA
facilitators concentrating on the above issues. These summary tabulations are presented in Annex 4.2 at
the end of this Chapter.
4.6.3
Synthesis
The Consultants subsequently undertook the task of integrating the results of the PPA analyses with the
LSMS data into the overall CPA report. It should be noted that additional information on some of the
key PPA topics, notably the difficulties faced by households and the coping strategies employed, was
available from the LSMS data. The majority of the results of the PPAs are incorporated into Chapter 4 of
the Main Report – The Causes and Characteristics of Poverty in Belize. References to the PPAs are also
made in Chapters 5, 6 and 7. Many of the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action
(Chapter 9) also emanate directly from the PPAs.
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Annex 4.1. PPA Narrative Report
Prepared for National Assessment Team by:
Ellajean Gillett, Ph.D., MOE, and
Michael Rosberg, Ph.D., Galen University
With the Contributions of:
Carlos Pol, MED, Diane Hall, MHD, Delroy Calis, Ecumenical Junior College, Eduardo Cus,
RCDO, Cordelia Forman, RCDO, Melissa Jenkins, MHD, Orlando Jimenez, RCDO, Nestra
Lino, MHD, Santiago Pop, RCDO, and Makesha Suazo, MHD
August 26, 2009
Contents
A4.1.1 Background and CPA Objectives
39
A4.1.2 Question 1- How have living standards changed in recent years, and
why?
39
A4.1.3 Question 2: How Do
The Household/ Individuals
Cope With
Hardship/Poverty?
41
A4.1.4 Question 3: What assistance are Communities Receiving from
Government and Other Organizations?
42
A4.1.5 Question 4: How Effective Do Respondents Consider This Assistance
To Be, And Is It Addressing Their Priority Needs?
43
A4.1.6 Question 5: How could the assistance be made more effective and more
closely aligned to the needs and aspiration of community members?
45
ACRONYMS
PPA
Participatory Poverty Assessment
CPA
Country Poverty Assessment
RCDO
Rural Community Development Officer
NAT
National Advisory Team
CBO
Community Based Organization
NGO
Non-Governmental Organization
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BACKGROUND AND CPA OBJECTIVES
The Government of Belize, with financial assistance from the CDB, is undertaking a new Country
Poverty Assessment (CPA) during 2009. It is the 3rd exercise to be conducted in Belize, the two
others were held in 1995-1996 and 2002. Results from CPAs have been used in the design of
poverty reduction initiatives such as Social Investment Funds, rural enterprise development, and
human settlements projects. These results have also informed the design of other projects in the
education, agriculture and health sectors.
The CPA has three objectives:

To identify the current extent, characteristics, trends and causes of poverty in Belize;

To assess the effectiveness of current policies and programmes and their impact on the poor
and the vulnerable;

To make recommendations for future policies and programmes that can be incorporated into
the current NPEAP.
One of the mechanisms used to carry out the CPA was a series of PPAs that provided qualitative
information. The PPAs used qualitative methods for obtaining detailed information on the
characteristics of poverty in Belize as perceived by various key stakeholders. PPAs used a variety of
techniques, e.g. informal surveys (transect walks), focus group discussions, key informant interviews
and case studies. There were two types of PPAs respectively targeted at poorer rural and urban
Communities and Vulnerable Groups, e.g. the elderly, single mothers, and unemployed youth.
The totality of the PPA research was based around five basic questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How have living standards changed in recent years, and why?
How do HHs/individuals cope w/ hardship/ poverty?
What assistance are they/ their community, receiving from government and other
organisations?
How effective do they consider this assistance to be and is it addressing their priority
needs?
How could it be made more effective and more closely aligned to their needs and
aspirations?
Answers to these questions were created at a two-day workshop attended by field Rural Development
Community Officers (RCDOs) and officers from the Ministry of Human Development, facilitated by the
National Advisory Team (NAT) Coordinator and NAT representatives from the Ministry of Education
and Galen University with qualitative and quantitative research experience. This document presents
summaries of the responses to each of the above questions obtained from the PPA interviews.
QUESTION 1- HOW HAVE LIVING STANDARDS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS, AND WHY?
According to respondents, the quality of life has changed over the past few years 8. People thought
that living conditions were more favorable in years past, and that people had access to several
essential services such as market outlets, health services, and agriculture among others. In addition
to services communities had easy access to necessary resources such as land for farming and house
lots. There was abundant, clean water which was available at no cost to communities as the
government drilled wells and installed hand pumps in every village. People would protect the
infrastructure, ensuring that they were not vandalized and that they were kept clean and functional.
Forest products for building homes and for food were plentiful and people had no constraint in
8
Respondents may be referring to a time before the 2002 CPA.
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harvesting and using these resources. Wildlife and fish were abundant and people complimented
their diet with these. Family nutrition was improved by the protein supplement, thereby reducing
expenditure on food items. In addition consumer goods, such as flour, salt and milk were cheaper
relative to income. People also produced and stored food and had no difficulty in providing for
themselves and friends. Credit for farming was available and affordable, with minimal collateral or
screening required. Credit was used for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and machinery to produce and
the system provided a market outlet for crops or livestock.
Respondents also said that communities were proactive and independently provided themselves with
basic home essentials such as food, clothes and shelter. Community members participated actively
in meetings and were part of the decision making process. They were humble and respectful of
authority but were independent.
The current status observed by respondents is that communities’ expectations are raised due to many
promises by organizations and politicians. These promises may be fulfilled but, it was felt, politicians
usually have ulterior motives, such as being elected. Political and religious leadership has interfered
with the smooth governance of communities. These interferences have been drastic, disrespectful
and full of guile. These have caused communities to become expectant, unproductive, and
dependent on external aid and welfare. Leaders have contributed to a situation where many
community members have developed a dependency syndrome, waiting for subsidies and favours
which are reserved for a selected population (‘first Belizeans’). The favouring of ‘first Belizeans’ has
given rise to further inequities within communities. More affiliated people are immediate beneficiaries
of scholarships, jobs, grants, land and other amenities. A persistent few may eventually become
beneficiaries. In retaliating against the system that does not benefit all, some people—especially the
youth—have developed a don’t care attitude and have come to disrespect authority. Attempts at
community improvement become futile as elected leaders become entangled in compromises and
community members become cynical.
In some instances, the divisiveness and conflict within communities have made communication with
leaders difficult. Bottlenecks resulting from the havoc and bureaucracy have created indolence. Longterm planning becomes arduous, and continuity of initiatives and priorities change in response to
personal or political agendas. Sporadic, ill-focused and ‘bandage’ interventions result as a better life
eludes many. The situation in no way responds to the development of the community as the needs
and capacities of humans to develop remain unfulfilled.
Lacking an adequate system for human capacity-building, people begin to make poor decisions;
family breakdown and many other social problems result.
Traditional norms, values and mores are sacrificed, and people begin to engage in immediately
gratifying, but negative choices leading to anti-social behaviour. To further compound this problem,
those who are desperately trying to survive who have run afoul of the law are segregated from society
and pushed further into unproductive behaviors. Mistrust reigns; this critical social situation is not
analyzed and improved. Many begin to doubt their potential and abilities and their chance of success
is reduced.
The struggle for survival creates a scenario where safety and participation in making wise choices
become extremely difficult, and the social context worsens: the cost of living rises, literacy levels
decrease, income opportunities ebb, savings and food supplies become diminished. No price control
on consumer goods only worsens the situation. Social support systems deteriorate and more people
seem to plunge into political and social dependency relationships, consequently reducing one’s selfworth, self esteem, and most importantly, independence.
Many communities do become involved in entrepreneurial activities such as farming and vending, but
some illegal activities such as prostitution and drug peddling also appear.
Environmental issues have contributed to the difficulties but in a manner that can be attributed to
destructive human practices including the misuse of chemicals, deforestation due to illegal logging,
and mono-cropping. The practices directly affect health and standards of living. Pollution impacts
also affect water quality and increase eutrophication. Natural phenomena such as heavy rains,
combined with improper ploughing methods and deforestation result in flooding during the rainy
season, soil leaching, erosion and infertility. Roaming livestock and the use of heavy farming
equipment result in soil compaction.
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In many areas there are systems in place to assist communities in transactional activities that should
result in improvement of the community and its members. These however are sometimes
bureaucratic, slow, complicated and unaffordable. In addition, people in positions of power may seek
special favours or bribes in exchange for services. Given the urgent need for opportunities, and the
desire to avoid delays and the payment of bribes, some indulge in illegal activities such as land
squatting, illegal logging or hunting, and looting of the national patrimony.
QUESTION 2: HOW DO THE HOUSEHOLD/ INDIVIDUALS COPE WITH HARDSHIP/POVERTY?
Due to lack of skills and training, no access to jobs and education many revert to “pull string” by doing
political favours to gain access to jobs and schools. Individuals, friends, and families of political
leaders rely on “Who you know and who know you”.
Throughout the data collection, it was seen that people who can’t make ends meet cope by
depending on politicians, influential leaders of the community, Government of Belize Welfare,
Churches, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other Community-Based Organizations
(CBOs) for small handouts and social assistance.
As a means of coping, homes are built over swamps, lands are filled with garbage, and polluted rivers
are being utilized for bathing, washing, and drinking. It was explained that due of financial and other
resources, individuals and families have no recourse but to remain in their environmental risky
situations. Individuals and families in such situations are often limited by low paying jobs, their
immigration status, and restricted job employment opportunities.
Stealing, begging, and hustling were prevalent among young men who saw such behaviours as a
means of survival, and a means of providing for their families. Some young women cope with their
hardships by engaging in transactional sex; however, the majority said that cope by getting involved
in small businesses such as pastry making, cooking, arts and crafts, hair braiding, and by relying on
micro credit organizations for grant.
It was believed by some respondents that unemployed, single mothers rely on the system for child
support assistance. They felt that, as a way of coping with their hardships, some abandon and
neglect their children, resulting in the removal of children and their institutionalization, or their
placement with family members.
Children and older persons, on the other hand, based on the assessments, were grateful for the
institutions and homes into which they were placed as a way of coping with poverty and family crisis.
Across the board, the assessment showed that some individuals and households were involved in
illegal activities as a supplementary means of supporting the meagre income. It was the basic
survival instinct to do whatever it took to make ends meet. This included selling drugs, guns,
engaging in illicit sex, and in other illegal activities. Young men took it upon themselves; they made it
their responsibility to support their single mothers, younger brothers and sisters, although some used
illegal methods to do so.
These illicit trades and activities were more prevalent among young men in the urban areas, whereas
young men in the rural areas tended to rely on farming, cane cutting or selling fruits and vegetables in
the area. On the other hand, there are people from farming families near the borders who engage in
contraband to earn extra income. On a limited scale, single fathers relied on their skills, families, and
Government system to support their children and themselves.
Poverty was seen as being lazy in the eyes of many of the participants in the rural areas. They felt
that if you have access to the land, there is no way you can be poor saying that, “You reap what you
sow”, being able to eat off the land.
Some individuals, including single parents, elders, and young women in institution, explained that
they coped by relying on their faith believing that God will provide.
Selflessness and sacrifices were common among single mothers and the elders. They would go
without food and other basic needs to provide education and food for their children. They would also
rely on charity from churches, schools, and other organizations for support in the form of clothing,
food, and educational assistance.
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People living with HIV/AIDS rely on family support and medication through Government of Belize
(Ministry of Health) programs and organizations such as Alliance against AIDS, Hand in Hand
Ministry, Cornerstone Foundation and the National AIDS Commission.
QUESTION 3: WHAT ASSISTANCE ARE COMMUNITIES RECEIVING FROM GOVERNMENT AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS?
It was frequently stated that most communities rely heavily on government subsidies for school
activities, and for such services as the feeding program. People also observed that changes in
administration bring negative consequences such as the lack of project and personnel continuity.
They thought that offering appropriate support to government representatives affected political
decision making.
People also complained about the high cost of living and an unchanging minimum salary. Although
many have a job, their salary is insufficient to the costs of food, education and health expenses. The
need for generating income opportunities such as assistance for starting up a business, and the
creation of more jobs, were identified as key issues by most participants throughout the country.
In some communities, farmers mentioned that the high cost of living also affects the price of seeds,
fertilizers, and insecticides. By the end of harvest, their profits had been eroded. In this regard, they
requested government support to address the issue. They also asked that government make micro
credit loans and grants more accessible to them.
Another issue raised was the lack of access to farm land. The Humming Bird Community in Stann
Creek District said that most of the land is already owned by foreigners. They said that there is land
available, but that they needed assistance in processing leases for them. They also mentioned that if
they were to have enough farm land, they would be able to grow many products to sustain their
families, and to supply local markets.
In the Toledo District, market competition for rice production was also an issue. Local rice farmers
need financial support in order to implement a mechanized system of cultivation for improved quality
and production so as to be able to compete with the Mennonites.
In terms of infrastructure, a number of communities said that government had assisted them in the
provision of rudimentary water systems, and health clinics in some communities. They recognized the
training efforts of some government departments. However, they thought that more training is still
required.
Also indicated was the need for more social support services. Some communities reported that they
have received some charity donations from businesses and churches that have positively contributed
to the development of their communities.
Insufficient policing in communities was also raised as an issue. Some communities the situation has
partly contributed to an increase in crime. They believe that police booths, and the presence of police
in the villages could help minimize crime.
There is a high demand for access to clean, potable water, especially in the Belize and Toledo
Districts. A number of villages need proper drainage and culverts to avoid soil erosion that has
caused flooding in some communities. Some communities, especially in the northern districts, noted
that neither government nor other stakeholders have placed much attention on addressing the issues
of air and land pollution caused by some industries.
The issue raised in the Stann Creek District, especially in the banana belt communities, was that the
government is not doing much to address their concern about low wages in this industry. Their
complained that Central Americans are given jobs at low pay, thus, making it difficult for Belizeans to
get a job. At certain instances this causes that Belizean feel forced to accept a low paying job.
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QUESTION 4: HOW EFFECTIVE DO RESPONDENTS CONSIDER THIS ASSISTANCE TO BE, AND IS IT
ADDRESSING THEIR PRIORITY NEEDS?
There seems to be some level general satisfaction with the assistance participants have received
from Government, NGOs, church organizations, and other donor agencies in terms of addressing
short-term needs. However, participants commented that much more could have been achieved
even with the diminishing resources being experienced given the global economic crisis if there was a
transparent system in place or if the nature of assistance available and if the process of how to
access the assistance was clearly defined especially to those who genuinely needed it.
Many of the participants felt that ‘poor’ was a labelling that has often been misused over the years
and that this has contributed to the ‘gimme-gimme’ mentality which has led to the dependency
syndrome and has become systemic. This situation, participants claim, has proven counterproductive in that there are those who no longer see the inherent value of work and have become a
society of beggars or simply people being satisfied with what charity is offered. They state that many
of our young people have no sense of self-worth, no sense of well-being, no respect for the rights and
property of others and seem content to engage in a life of drugs, crime, and violence.
Participants expressed the view that politicians have contributed somewhat to this state of affairs in
that due to the practice of ‘pull string’, that of offering people jobs for which they do not qualify,
benefits for which they did not work, and assistance which they do not deserve, many have come to
feel that they can have anything they want at any cost. In other words, there may be a kind of
dependency syndrome that springs from a system of political patronage. Participants highlighted
instances of perceived discrimination (by sex and favouring immigrants). Regulations and policies
must be put in place or enforced, therefore, to ensure transparency and equal treatment of all and to
enable the promotion of human assets and to ensure the effective use of scarce resources.
Participants stated that with proper planning, systems can be developed to ensure that the services
and support that are required are reaching those who genuinely need it.
Political interference has also been blamed for the divisiveness that exists in some communities and
the lack of respect for those duly elected to serve in certain capacities. Community members feel that
very often resources that are ear-marked for a specific population or target group do not reach them
resulting in priority needs not being addressed rendering the aid or assistance non-effective. The
result of such treatment may be the creation of competitive factions and mistrust. As a result, it
becomes difficult for community members to unite and to push for issues that are priorities for them.
Too often they have seen where programs designed to meet the needs of the community are
discontinued because it might have been started under the previous administration. Participants are
therefore calling for the depoliticising of services and assistance in an effort to enhance the overall
quality of life and human growth and development. Where communities lack unity it becomes difficult
to assert the changes that are required as it is hard to insist upon depoliticising if atomised individuals
relate to elected officers and government employees in a deferential manner; hence, a vicious cycle
continues.
There seems to be two opposing views among the participants on how best to ensure the effective
use of the resources/assistance being given. There are those who stated that they needed to be
assisted financially to purchase the things that were necessary, and then there were those who saw
training in human/skills for empowerment and to increase income opportunities as priority needs to
enhance their quality of life. This difference in response was particularly notable between the males
and females from among the vulnerable groups with males tending to prefer immediate aid to longterm, self-help assistance. In some cases participants expressed the view that they had land and
what they needed was assistance possibly through grants or micro-credit to help them to expand their
farming to ensure food security. Some participants stated that, even though they were engaged in
some level of farming, the land belonged to their parents or some family member and that they
needed their own piece of land to provide them with the level of security they needed. However,
many expressed the view regarding the bureaucracy and red tape that is involved in the process of
acquiring a piece of land. They are of the perception that officers within the Lands Department must
be bribed before they will act and this perception has left many with the feeling of helplessness and
hopelessness that adds to the culture of dependency. Others have expressed the view that to ensure
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greater financial returns on their investments price control regulations have to be instituted if they
were to survive given the increasing cost of living.
To ensure a changing Belize, participants felt that programmes/interventions focused on socioeconomic and socio-cultural issues had to be addressed as priority, with urgency, and with more
decisiveness. Even though it has been noted that government, and NGOs have been providing some
assistance with various programs with some measure of success, it has been observed that these
programs/activities generally lack continuity and sustainability, and tend to be sporadic.
To ensure greater effectiveness of the assistance plans/policies are therefore needed for sustained
initiatives especially in the area of sports and other discipline inculcating programmes to promote lifeskills, positive values and attitudes, healthy life-style practices, self-worth, and self-control. It is
believed that such programmes would certainly help to curb behaviours such as stealing, poor
decision-making, risk-taking, crime, and violence thereby restoring a sense of safety within
communities.
Given existing patronage, vertical linkages (i.e. dependency on charitable handouts from elected
individuals, NGOs, and churches), have increased over the years, while lateral linkages (i.e. selfreliance and a spirit of caring within communities) are diminishing. However, many respondents do
recognize the existence and value of social support systems and social networks, including friends
and family members that bolster a sense of moral and economic security and that promote cohesive
family units and community. Additionally, the bedrock faith of many allows them to retain hope of a
better tomorrow, and so they continue struggling in the face of otherwise overwhelming conditions.
In the face of diminishing resources, and the perception that the assistance that is forthcoming is not
adequately meeting the needs of the poor, the pressure for survival seem to have become so intense
to many, that some individuals (especially single parents) have resorted to substance abuse, criminal
activities, child abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Some have even turned to prostitution and the sex
exploitation of children. In such cases, the rights and dignity of the child are being ignored. Such
treatment undermines the sense of self-worth in children. This issue of lack of self-worth and low selfesteem among children often produces adults, who in turn abuse or who remain in abusive situations.
In contrast, some parents have exhibited much sacrifice and selflessness to make ends meet and to
provide the best possible opportunities for their children. They have the conviction that through
education, there is the hope for better income opportunities and thereby, upward mobility. In some
cases, changes in the economy have made it necessary for people to change priorities and make
new strategic changes. For example, many have left farming and have migrated to urban areas to
ensure an education for their children with the hope that this will ultimately result in better income
opportunities and a brighter future for their children.
Sex role stereotyping has been identified as one of the factors that have negatively contributed to
‘poverty’ as many individuals resist performing certain roles traditionally labelled as female
occupations. Additionally, market competition and the need for manual labour, which they perceive to
be relegated to Central American immigrants, have rendered many within a certain population as
‘poor’. Consumerism and the desire to have what they cannot afford have exacerbated the situation
and have led to tensions in the home and the breakdown of families.
Natural disasters, and more recent disasters experienced in the south, north and central part of the
country, have affected food security and are contributing to poverty. Other destructive environmental
practices (affecting soil erosion and leaching of nutrients) have added to the problem. Natural
disasters, coupled with environmental deterioration, have contributed to the new poor, especially
among the elderly who could otherwise have maintained their dignity, independence and self-respect.
Some are now looking towards social support and services. Notwithstanding these natural
phenomena, participants believe that if there were policies and procedures in place for the
administration of the assistance or support without fear or favour to those distressed, that much could
be done to alleviate the hardship experienced by those who are most seriously affected. The call for
the equitable distribution of the limited resources cannot therefore be overemphasized.
The issues highlighted above speak to the need for concerted efforts to ensure that there is an
effective, transparent system that can distinguish between the need for charity and welfare safety net,
and the need for enlarging opportunities to those striving for self-reliance and dignity.
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QUESTION 5: HOW COULD THE ASSISTANCE BE MADE MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED TO THE
NEEDS AND ASPIRATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS?
Clearly articulated criteria for assistance, and a transparent system of distribution of resources is
needed to dispel any notion of unequal or unfair treatment. Many people complain that there has
been inequity in the distribution of jobs, financial assistance, and the distribution of land titles. There
are also complaints of unequal treatment of disabled persons. The PPA survey indicated that few
persons with disabilities received assistance from government, such as access to jobs, and other
services. On the basis of dialog with community members, policies responding to the needs and
aspirations of communities must be established and to which they must adhere.
The general public believes that while there has been some impact from the current level of
assistance, there is still room for the improvement. However participants strongly believe that elected
leaders and officers must work more collaboratively with the general public to improve the nature and
quality of the support provided. On the other hand the general public is sometimes too dependent on
the services that are offered by the government of Belize. Some of the communities that were
assessed depended heavily on assistance from the government of Belize, non governmental
organizations and other community-based organization. The survey proved that the dependency rate
is rather high and it causes the development of the community to improve at a very slow pace.
In terms of how assistance could be more effective and aligned to their needs and aspirations,
respondents highlighted a number of recommendations.
Education was one area participants felt could be more closely aligned with their needs and
aspirations. It was felt that a system to ensure that a more equitable distribution of resources,
including high quality education, be allocated to areas where hardship denies a future to many
children. Opening support permitting children with disabilities to access appropriate educational
services is also an issue requiring urgent attention.
Participants highlighted the high cost of medicine and other health care services. They wondered if
these could be subsidized. The need for more doctors and nurses was also an issue of concern.
Service was available for some groups such as those with HIV or full blown AIDS. But there was no
systematic social network for many including the elderly, and members of other vulnerable groups.
While great strides have been made in providing potable water and sanitation services to many
communities, some respondents were concerned about the adequate provision of clean drinking
water and sanitation services. Some public facilities, such as hospitals, hurricane shelters, and roads
were seen to be in need of improvement. Improved feeder and secondary roads were required to get
produce to markets.
A frequent observed need was for more work to be done on job creation and job skill development,
and on small business promotion and the provision of credit. Very often, respondents observed that
many of the services required for self-reliance need to be improved in terms of their accessibility,
simplicity of process and freedom from political intervention, timeliness, and degree of coordinated
provision. Participants are of the opinion that if elected officers, representatives of NGOs and other
organizations were to consult and to respond more creatively to needs and aspirations than to
prescribe welfare solutions, available limited resources would have much greater impact. To deal with
existing and potential entrepreneurial ventures among the population, respondents called for
affordable solutions and training that respond to their need for inputs, storage, processing, labelling,
advertising, distribution and marketing.
Respondents also expressed the view that less self-interest and greater collaboration amongst
government, donor organizations and other interest groups greater benefits could be accrued from
many smaller contributions.
One important improvement suggested was for better coordination of services provided. A systemic
approach by government, NGOs, church organizations, and other institutions to addressing both
welfare and developmental challenges within communities would both improve the use of available
resources and also reduce abuses of the system. It is recognized that one will never be able to
eliminate poverty, but it can be ameliorated or alleviated by ensuring that the elderly, the
disadvantaged, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups are woven into the social
network fabric.
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Many participants identified a painful gap between income and expense. Part of the solution may
come from better responses to their desire for self-reliance, sustainability, and the ability to contribute
to national development, and for better respect for those who have preserved, persevered, and
accomplished so much notwithstanding hardships over the years.
There is a need, to respond to the two agendas being employed among members of the target
population. On one hand, there is sometimes a tendency to lean upon dependent relationships.
Government and NGOs are called upon to provide sustenance. At the same time, there is a call
among some for the sort of assistance that allows people to create their own opportunities thereby
developing human potential. This implies a need for government and NGOs to identify which desire
is to be nurtured. Children, widows and the elderly, for example, may need sustenance; but much of
the population may benefit most when government and NGOs offer opportunities for self-help.
The overall response from the PPA process seems to be that individuals are crying for strategic
development interventions that will lift them of the present path. People are crying for credit
opportunities, appropriate skills training, market development, and gainful employment, and less
bureaucratic access to land and to other essential services. They are requesting that policies and
planning be amended and enforced to pave the way to individual work, self-respect, self-reliance,
sustainability and to social transformation.
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Annexe 4.2. Tabular Analysis of PPA Results.
Table A4.2.1a. Summary of Problems Identified during Community Meetings
Political Issues
Typ
e
Village
District
Fireburn
Indian
Church
Orange Walk
Political
interference
Programs
redirected
Political
Not
ineffectiveness effective
Village
Councils
Chan
Chen
Patchakan
Gracie
Rock
Corozal
Corozal
Belize
Political
favouritism
helps some
individuals
Political
favouritism
helps some
individuals
Economic
Social
Females
No help
from any
political
party
Not
effective
Males
Stann Creek
Yes for jobs.
Discrimination
and racism
prevalent
Political
favouritism
helps
individuals
Top support
good, but area
representative
does not visit
Effectivehelpful in skill
training
Not
effective
Community
cohesiveness
Mixed- women
more cohesive
Lacking
Yes
Both
Land
Foreign
investors buy
and is of no
help to
community
Non-availability
is an issue
Health
Yes
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Yes
Jobs/
employmentan issue
More jobs
needed
during
tourism off
season
Yes,
particularly
for young
adults
Opportunitie
s availabletourism,
sand-mining
Agriculture
Facilities
existpositive
change
Education
To buy cheap
products,
women leave
children
unattended
Social
problems
Roads
Water supply
Electricity
Other
Other
Infra-structure
Hummingbird
Environmental
No elec.
No utilities
except
hand
pumps
No potable
water
Part
electrified
Housing
quality has
improved
over time
Garbage
affects
tourism
Chemicals
from
papaya
affect
children
Health issues Tilapia
for papaya
dump in the
workers.
river
NB. YELLOW shade denotes positive comments; YES means this is considered to be a problem.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
47
Table A4.2.1b. Summary of Problems Identified during Community Meetings
San Roman
Typ
e
Village
Females
District
Males
Yemeri
Grove
San Lucas
Mabilha
Jacintoville
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Stann Creek
Political Issues
Political
interference
Political
ineffectiveness
Yes
Some govt
org do not
fulfil
promises
Village
Councils
Mixed- good
for land
transaction, but
no proper
monitoring.
No- passive
Not effective
Community
cohesiveness
No
Economic
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Logging no
longer easy,
therefore loss
of employment
Yes, esp.
young
Yes
Limited market
and irrigation
issues
Land
More land
needed
Not enough
farmland
available
Latest policy
on land access
poses difficulty
Health
Cost of service
is unaffordable
Yes
Yes- poorly
equipped
Jobs/
employmentan issue
Both
Farming method
not competitive;
agric. Aid needed
for farmers
Social
Drop-out rate
noticeable
Education
Social
problems
Yes
Yes
Agriculture
Drinking and
domestic
violence;
unattended
children as
parents work
Increased drug
use; child
abuse and
single parent
households
structure
Other
Water supply
Water expansion
needed.
Electricity
Other
Environmental
Need for a lots
committee to
allocate lots
High school
not affordable
by all
Yes
Roads
Infra-
Neither parties
have been
effective
Drainage and
culverts
Increased pop,
incl. immigrants
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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Water supply
is a problem
Communicat
ion services;
hurricane
shelter
Yes; water
scarcity an
issue in dry
season
New logging
restrictions
prevent deforestation
48
Table A4.2.2a. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Typ
e
Village
Yemeri Grove
San Lucas
District
Toledo
Toledo
Informant
Political Issues
Political
interference
Teacher
Water
board
member
Political
ineffectiveness
Village
Councils
Committee
does not
serve
interests of
residents.
Leaders do No
not respond assistance
to needs
from govt
Rise in
prices
Affects single
parents, but not
issue for all
Yes
Yes
Agriculture
Farming is no
longer a
choice for
people
Limited water
therefore
availability
they seek
affects produce other jobs.
Heavy rains
lead to corn
shortage;
low lying
lands and
no drainage
system; less
fertile land
for agric.
Land
Positive land
distribution
process.
Migrants
squat on
other's land
Village has
private schoolnot affordable
by all
Village has
private
school- not
affordable by
all
Economic
Social
Neither parties
effective for
village
Yes
Education
Health (no
mentions)
Social
problems
Infrastructure
VC
chairman
No assistance
from govt
Yes
Dependency
on single
source of
income
(agric.)
Most produce
sold in
Guatemala
due to easier
Low lying
access so
land and no local market is
drainage
not favoured.
system
Low land with
exacerbates poor drainage
the problem and low.
limited land
availability
TCA allows
school fee
instalment
enabling
students to go
to High school.
Limited or no
school
Low level of
supplies
education
Absentee father
and single
parents:
strained
Alcohol relationships
overuse. affect children
No proper
water
system
Roads
Water supply
Electricity
Other
Other -Environmental
Teacher
Mixed ethnic composition
makes it difficult for village to
get attention from authorities.
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Jobs/
employmentan issue
VC
Chairman
Affects land
distribution and
distribution of
utility services
Neither
parties
effective for
village
Community
cohesiveness
Alcalde
Shop
keeper
No water
supply,
drainage
system or
hurricane
shelter.
Natural resources are being depleted.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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49
Table A4.2.2b. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Political Issues
Typ
e
Village
Mabilha
Jacintoville
District
Toledo
Toledo
Informant
Political
interference
Principal
Positive
influence- govt
policy helps
more children
seek higher
education
Pastor
Health
Worker
Negative influence,
esp. with respect to
land allocation
application. Change
in govt meant need
to re-apply for land
allocation requests
VC
Chairman
Community
Activist
Political
divisiveness
among
residents;
change of
political party
not helpful
Positive
involvement improved
infrastructure
Neither
parties
effective for
village
Political
ineffectiveness
Water board
member
Neither parties
have been
effective
Village
Councils/
Community
cohesiveness
Jobs/
employment
School fee and
other costs- not
affordable by all Increased prices
Yes
Agriculture
Yes
Yes
Subsistence farming
Change in govt and
policy resulted in diff
land access
Current
policies
difficult for
villagers to
own or lease
land
Land
Health
Access to
health services- Access to facilitiesdifficult
difficult
Education
Grant
availability has
brought many
students to
secondary
schools
Land
acquisition
now tougher,
earlier people
can squat!
Water quality
affects
children
Increased
drop-outs
Improved
school
building
infrastructure
structure
Infra-
Water supply
Electricity
Other
Other -Environmental
No school in
village, so children
travel. Parents
strive to send
children to high
school
Some single
mothers struggle
to cope
Social
problems
Roads
Unemployment,
esp. among
youth
Yes
Increased
cost on
animal
husbandry
New govt
policies
beneficial for
accessing land
by villagers
Social
Economic
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Water scarcity
during dry
months- health
problems.
Access to clean
No elec. affects water is difficult
students.
No elec.
Water
scarcity
during dry
season.
Forest protection
rules interfered with
village activitieswater scarcity; new
logging policy difficult
for livelihood
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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Drug addiction
and abuse
Need
improved
road access.
Water scarcity
during dry
season.
Logging
policy has
restricted
earning
capacity for
some people
Logging laws
has affected
some people.
50
Table A4.2.2c. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Typ
e
Village
Jacintoville
San Roman
District
Toledo
Stann Creek
Informant
Political Issues
Political
interference
VC Chairman
Jobs/
employmentan issue
High
Divisiveness in village
council due to varied
political inclination of
members
Inactive area
representative;
divisive group
therefore no progress.
VC does not support
village chairperson.
Community
cohesive and
helpful to
each other
Poor cohesiveness
when
due to diff party
required
affiliation
Change of water
board membersadversely affected
community
participation
Price rise
Unemployment;
stability in
employment- both
issues
Yes
No stability in
employment
Yes
No market area (to
sell)
Squatting is no
longer possibleconsidered a
negative in this
instance
Limited
medicine
availability
Medicines
unaffordable to many
Education
Social
problems
structure
Yes
Agriculture
Health
Infra-
VC Chair
Village
Councils
Land
Infra-
Pastor
Teacher
Either parties
ineffective
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Economic
Health
worker
Assistance stopped
since change in govt
Political
ineffectiveness
Community
cohesiveness
Social
Community
activist
Roads
Water supply
Unemployed
youth
indulging in
gang crime
Water
system is
working
Electricity
Other
Other
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Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Growing population
has a negative effect
51
Table A4.2.2d. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Political Issues
Typ
e
Village
Hummingbird Community
District
Stann Creek
Informant
N/a
Political
interference
People in power
misuse their positionnot helpful for
community
Political
ineffectiveness
Ineffective as
representative does
not visit
Village
Councils
Economic
VC member
High- area rep non
co-operative; last
party in power (UDP)
was helpful
Political divisiveness
impeding village council
performance
Non-cohesive
Low wages
Non-cohesiveness
between members
Limited to no
cohesiveness; cooperation will yield
better results
Low wages
Less jobs; obtaining
collateral for own
business loans difficult
Lack of market for
produce
Agriculture
Lack of land
therefore less access
to loans
Foreigners buy land and
spoil market; lack of land
limits cultivation for
selling produce
Old people own land,
but young who may use
it for cultivation do not
have access to land
Mobile nurse available
only once a month; need
for doctors and health
clinic
Health
Education
As most men are
illiterates they do not
participate in meetings
Low wages
Jobs/
employmentan issue
Land
Social
High interference that
impedes development
VC Chairlady
Ineffective- less
cohesive
Community
cohesiveness
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Shop keeper
Increased drop-outs
for financial reasons
Proximity to facility an
issue; increased cost
results in drop-out
Social
problems
No school, so children
are forced to travel
Crime is an issue - no
policing
structure
Infra-
Poor water quality.
Roads
Water supply
Electricity
Other
No clean water despite
proximity to 2 dams.
Internet and other
communication
facilities have
improved and is
helping the
community
Obtaining police
assistance is a
challenge without
phones.
Other
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52
Table A4.2.2e. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Typ
e
Village
Fireburn
Indian Church
District
Orange Walk
Orange Walk
Informant
Teacher
Economic
Political Issues
Political
interference
Assistance stopped
recently
Teacher
Negative influence
Political
ineffectiveness
Village
Councils
Shop keeper
Positive in terms of
infrastructure and
amenity provision, but
more room for
improvement exists
Chairman
Negative influence
Ineffective- too
politically
influenced
Ineffective
Community
cohesiveness
No social activity
and less cohesive
community
Limited, but some
people work in
groups for economic
benefits
Good
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Is an issue
Rise in prices
Is an issue
Jobs/
employmentan issue
Vehicles important
for employment
(out-commuting and
for charter
services).
Dependency on
Mennonite
community for jobs.
People cope with
self help jobs,
tourism and agri.
related work
Yes
Limited
Rise in prices
An issue, but
people cope by
Population
working in
engaged in fishing, groups; agric
tourism and casual as alternative;
labour; many work tourism not
in groups.
very rewarding
Alternative
jobs, but selling
produce is
difficult
People need more
marketing skills to
capitalise on this
Agriculture
Hotelier
Social
Land
Centre exists, but
needs improvement
Infra-Struct.
Centre exists,
but needs
improvement
Health
Clinic available, but
requires repair
Education
Lack of resources,
and children stay at
home to support
families
Positive change over Secure- receive support from other org such as GoB, SIF,
time
UNCHR
Social
problems
Other
Centre exists, but
needs
improvement
Need for a health
clinic
Roads
Drinking and drugs
No electricity
Basically good
Basically good
Water supply
Electricity
Water system needs
improvement.
Other
Population increase
creates housing
problems.
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Basically good
Positive protection
exists for tourism
purposes
Solid waste
management
Solid waste
management
53
Table A4.2.2f. Summary of Problems Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Typ
e
Village
Gracie
Rock
Lucky Strike
District
Belize
Belize
Na
Informant
Political Issues
Political
interference
Political
Both parties
ineffectiveness ineffective
Village
Councils
Villagers support to
parties is split; some
support the village
council
Change in members of
water board has not
made it more effective.
Economic
Social
Pastor
Political
interference
leads to
ineffectiveness
Ineffective VC
Ineffective especially which negatively
VC; it has got too
affects village
political
devt.
Increased
prices/ low
wages
Price rises, but people
alter priorities to cope –
difficult situation.
Both are issues.
Price rises have
affected buying
power which is thus
limited to essential
goods
Jobs/
employmentan issue
Long term employment
is an issue; alteration
to positive
improvement through
access to the tourism
industry
People devise
survival methodstake up carving that
support the tourism
industry;
Tourism offers
employment
opportunity,
particularly with
the young
Was active in the past,
but no longer; should
be resumed. People do
not make an effort to
use agricultural
resources.
Agriculture
Land
Lots committee has
made a positive
change to land
allocation
Health
Less secure but roads
improve access.
Decrease in service
quality
Education
Electricity has made a
positive difference;
technical resources
required
Decrease in service
quality
Social
problems
Infra-Struct.
Dependency on the
govt has increased.
Ineffective as VC does
not adhere to the laws
and is not transparent
Shop keeper
Has reduced over time,
mostly single parent
Divisive due to
household
religion and politics
Community
cohesiveness
Single parents
Roads
Roads are better.
Electricity has made a
positive difference;
students don't strain
eyes now.
Water supply
Electricity
Other
Other
Water Board
Manager
Chairman
River
pollution due
to dumping
of Tilapia
water
Decrease in
service quality
Increasing number
of single parent
households,
implying more
children to school
without basic needs
fulfilled.
Water supply is
available and works,
but willingness to pay
for services is limited.
Elec. Has improved.
TV, internet increases
global exposure.
Logging procedures
have hit livelihoods.
Logging procedures
have hit livelihoods;
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
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Tourism industry has
negative impact on
the environment,
e.g. Decreased air
quality.
54
Table A4.2.3. Problems identified in during Transect Walks
Chan
Patchakan
Chen
Corozal
Infrastructure:
Economic; Jobs,
roads/ access, water, Health, Education, prices, agriculture,
electricity, etc.
Social problems
land
Indian
Church*
Fireburn*
Orange Walk
VC
ineffective
and
divisive
Political / Governance
Issues
Village
District
Rising
prices.
Lack of
jobs.
School in
village, but
too small.
Good
connection to
buses and
taxis.
Good water
system and
most residents
have elec.
Good road
but needs
repair;
poor
public
transport
Potable
water and
electricity
available
Now
village has
a school
Gracie
Rock
Belize
Lucky
Strike
Belize
Hummingbird*
Stann Creek
Jacintoville
Toledo
San
Lucas
Toledo
Assistance
received
earlier has
not
addressed
needs.
Chairlady from PUP so cannot
get any assistance
HANDS (NGO) used to work
to limit school drop-outs but
stopped after change of govt.
VC is not very effective as
limited support received from
the govt; area representative
unseen since elections; info
dissemination poor; leadership
bad. Community
cohesiveness limited.
Rising
prices
Jobs less of
an issue as
people work
in the
shipyard.
Low wages- immigrants spoil
labour wages market
Limited job opportunities
Crop price fluctuates leading
to profit or loss; no market
place to sell produce.
Farm land needed
Rising prices
Difficult to find
stable jobs.
Most people
own land but
more lots
need to be
allocated
Low lying
lands with
no
drainage.
Flooding
causes
infertility
Poor access to health
services; availability of doctors
is a challenge.
No school in
village so
travel costs
Poor
nutrition.
Youth unemployment high;
some take up drugs and dropout
Students are
receiving govt.
for books
Unclear
ownership
Limited
school
teachers
Road repair
needed; no
public
transport
No water
supply or
electricity
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Limited
opportunity,
but many try
tour guide or
craft related
jobs
School dropout increase
as students
support
families
Good road
access, but
poor repair.
Water supply
OK, but
expensive for
some. Phone
and mobiles
available.
Most of village
is covered by
water and
electricity.
55
Poor
roadsneed
upgrade
No water/
drainage.
Mabilha
Toledo
Limited opportunities
within village
Mostly subsistence
farmers; a few sell in
nearby areas incl.
Guatemala. Some
illegal logging to
supplement incomes.
Limited facilities;
proper amenities
needed; travel and
access to town is via
bicycle or expensive
Recently more
students attending
high school despite
financial constraints
Access available
although rough roads.
Poor water system,
not working. No elec./
phone/ internet - high
school students have
to travel for
assignments.
Yemeri
Grove
Toledo
Difficult to
find jobs
Private
schoolexpensive
so not all
can afford
Road needs
repair
Connected
with water,
and
electricity
but some
unable to
pay bills.
Table A4.2.4. Summary of Priorities Identified during Community Meetings
Needs and
Suggestions
Patchakan
Corozal
Chan
Chen
Corozal
Indian
Fireburn
Church
Orange Walk
Gracie
Rock
Belize
San Roman
Stann Creek
Yemeri
Grove
Toledo
More land for
farmers.
Land
Agriculture
Yes
Aspiring women
entrepreneurs
need access to
credit
Credit
Yes
Training
provided but
lack of
resources
hinder
development
Vocational
training
(skills and
marketing) &
tour guide
Yes
Access to
computers
at school
Education
Market for crops.
Need to
mechanise
agric. practice
Yes
Jobs needed
Scholarships +
assistance with
school fees
Clinic
Yes
Improved
facilities and
health care
Address crime
(stealing)
Community
facilities
Sports
facilities
Secure land
tenure
Craft skill training
given for women
but training in
cooking for
business (snack
shop) needed
Assistance with
school costs
Social Issues
Infrastructure
Land drainage
system to create
fertile land
Jacintoville
Toledo
Yes
Improved facilities
and lower cost s.
Health
Mabilha
Toledo
Access to credit
for businesses
Yes
Skill
training,
esp. for
women
San Lucas
Toledo
For small
business startup
Pay rise and jobs
Jobs/
employment
Training
Hummingbird
Stann Creek
Day care centre
Garbage truck
Electricity
Yes(for
schoolkids)
Community
centre
Overall
improvement
needed
Yes
Transport
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Yes
Better
public
transport
Yes
Speed bumps
56
Multipurpose
building for
community &
hurricane shelter
Table A4.2.5. Summary of Priorities Identified by Key Informants during Community PPAs
Needs and
Suggestions
Patchakan
Lucky Strike
Corozal
Belize
Fireburn
Indian
Church
Orange Walk
Stann Creek
House lots& farmland
required
Land
Agriculture
San Roman
Interested in
revival of cane
farming
Make people return
to agric practices,
as before
Increased
economic
opportunities.
Training
Skill training in
small scale
industries (food
making)
Needed
especially for
women and for Suitable skill training
marketing.
for projects
More computers
and access to the
internet at school.
Financial support
to school children.
Community
facilities
Mabilha
Stann Creek
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Opportunity to own/ use
cultivable land. Support
in procurement
Land for
process.
cultivation.
Yes
Financial support
to the elderly
Assistance for elderly
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Better health care;
health post needed
Police booths.
Consistency in power
for VC needed;
constant change yields
no significant result
Establish
village
boundaries
Community
centre
Reliable/ good
water system but
more active and
technically capable
water board
needed.
Better housing
57
Apprenticeship
programme for
youth
Secondary
educ needed
Community
centre
Improvements
to
infrastructure.
Toledo
Lots committee
needs to
improve
procedures.
Yes- stability;
more
business
More empl/ selfopportunities empl
for women
opportunities
Marketing
training
Secondary school
and support for
higher educ.
Local park
Infrastructure
Yes
Skills
training
Clinic needed or
increased frequency of
mobile doctors and
nurses (new clinic in
nearby village only).
Improved clinic
Secure land tenure.
Access to fertile
Access to
land
fertile farms.
Jacintoville
Diversify farming to
incl. cattle rearing
Education and
projects.
Internet facility for
students' research.
Clinic
Social/
Governance
San Lucas
Village needs jobs and
projects (small cottage
industries- basket
weaving). Encourage Increased wages.
youth to seek jobs
Better paying jobs
Economic
opportunities to
be increased.
Health
Yemeri
Grove
Assistance for
agriculture
Jobs/
employment
Education
Hummingbird
Water and
drainage
system
Hurricane
shelter
Table A4.2.6. Summary of Focus Group Discussions for Vulnerable Groups
Location/
Vulnerable Group
Dangriga:
Unemployed Males
aged 12 and 18
years; some had
part time jobs
Dangriga:
unemployed females
aged 14 and 21
years; some with
casual jobs, some
with kids, incl. single
mothers
Belize City
Southside
(St.Michael’s):
unemployed male
youths.
Orange Walk:
Unemployed mixed
group:
5 girls and 5 boys,
under 20 years who
attend school
Belize City:
Young, middle aged
& older single
mothersunemployed and
retired
Dorothy Menzies
Child care centre:
Boys aged 10-14.
Dorothy Menzies
Child care centre:
Girls aged 10-23.
Reason for change Reasons for
in living standards hardship
Coping strategies
No change (or
improvement)
Dress code and history
of past behaviour; poor
education; lack of
finance for businesses; One-off jobs like
internal networking to
painting, selling
get jobs.
clothes
Condition worsened
due to rising prices; no
jobs and money for
education leading to
crime (stealing)
Insecure and unsteady
income; racism &
prejudice; lack of trust;
Single mothers provide
but do not have much
for themselves
Poor housing (leaking
roof) & swampy yards
Lack of education;
prejudice & racial
discrimination (favour
Northside people); lack
of discipline & interest
Positive change as
parents managed
finance for school
education
Lack of education,
therefore skills to find
jobs; lack of interest
(laziness); unhygienic
conditions therefore illhealth; crime
Some women involved
in transactional sex
(therefore contract
disease); illicit activities
(drugs, gangs, gun
crime etc)
Women work as
domestic maids,
further steal food from
workplace or others’
garden; illegal jobs
(drugs); remittance
from relatives abroad.
Lack of education;
limited job
opportunities; age
discrimination; single
parent household.
Garden crops; baking
etc; family support;
help from churches or
NGOs
Lack of educ. so
unemployed; teenage
pregnancy; drug use;
mental problems;
neglect/ abuse by
parents; domestic
violence; lethargy.
Begging; crime/
drugs; sell drugs;
family support; child
abuse; prostitution of
both mother and
child; food making;
give child for
adoption; poor
nutrition.
Perspective towards
poverty is cultural.
Poverty is the reason
for single parent
households.
No change (or
improvement)
Improvements visible;
food, clothing and
shelter secure now
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Part-time casual jobs;
small business (not
necessarily
successful); families &
friends; ask politicians
(no success though)
Priority for action
Opportunities for job
creation: loan for business;
educ assistance, incl.
scholarships to mainstream;
address racism & prejudice
issue through awareness
Community assistance
received
Effectiveness of Suggestions to
assistance
improve existing
received
intervention
Fire dept jobs; counselling, job
training and opportunities;
Town Council summer jobs;
other jobs or volunteering
opportunities from BDF & SSB
Boards; food support
As jobs available
are not permanent,
they are good for
the short term only.
Steady income
required.
Counselling, social & job
assistance (Human Services);
summer jobs (Town Council);
evening classes (Ecumenical
High School)
Education and
empowerment
visible; helps in
mainstreaming,
self-esteem
Addressing unemployment
and crime; education
finance for youth; solid
waste management
Youth programmes; City
Council summer jobs; train
street youth on trade; youth
sports & housing
Various NGO and government
depts: trade- related classes
for drop-outs, sex and health
education, scholarship, food,
help for street kids and the
elderly, sport activities, arts,
counselling for single mothers
Non-traditional skills
training for employment
Govt and NGO; family &
church; women's
development- skills training
Food, shelter and money
Govt provides food, shelter,
clothing and material grant
(household articles)
Counselling; skill training;
funding; job opportunities;
healthcare; education
Various govt or charitable
orgs; UNICEF; tourists;
churches; neighbours;
schools;
Jobs; subsidies/ grants for
entrepreneurs; education
support
58
Job training; school
scholarships; support to
buy books etc. Recreation
facilities. More job
opportunities.
Increase scholarships;
loans/ grants; jobs; open
art gallery.
Jobs/ job opportunities
Moderate
(entrepreneurship)
assistance
needed; sport facilities;
received, however skill training; improve
need to strengthen services; role models and
existing
counselling; political
interventions
intervention
Rehab centres;
counselling by mentors/
role models on HIV and
other issues; effective
media based counselling;
Moderate, but
enhance sport facilities;
could be better
address price rise
Aspirations of most
participants seem to be
similar to those of the
elderly so encouraging
older persons to assist in
MHDST and
church assistance child care activities while
and support are
mothers are out working
helpful.
offers potential.
Basic necessities
covered, so
effective
Practical skills for
employment; financial
support
Basic necessities
covered, so
effective
Would like to be fostered
or adopted; improve
availability of basic
necessities; maintain
existing building.
Location/
Vulnerable Group
Reason for change Reasons for
in living standards hardship
Priority for action
Imprisonment
Absence of father
figure; lack of food/
money at home; bad
company (gang
culture); lethargy and
jealousy despite
support from home;
school bullying; lack
of interest in school;
rebellious.
Being imprisoned
helps to focus on life
and to appreciate
freedom
Seek jobs; skill training;
financial support for
education;
Improvements visible;
food, clothing and
shelter secure now
Lack of educ. (drop
outs) so unemployed;
teenage pregnancy;
drug use; mental
problems; neglect/
abuse by parents;
domestic violence;
lethargy; AIDS; lack
of family support;
dependency on men;
low wages
Counselling; abortion;
petty thieve; adoption;
prostitution; family
support; selfemployed; learn new
skills; casual labour
(cleaners)
No education; gang
crime; politics; low
self-esteem; drug
abuse; no community
opportunity; laziness
Some work- cut
grass, hair dressing;
get govt help; sell
clothes; prostitution;
sell drugs; thievery;
seek family support
Wagner's Youth
Facility:
incarcerated youth.
Princess Royal
Youth Hostel:
children in care
following trouble with
the law – girls (12-16
yrs)
Coping strategies
Community assistance
received
-
Ibid.: boys
Golden Haven Rest
home: Female
elderly: 11 women,
60+; some receive
benefits
Unable to afford
comfortable living due
to rising prices.
Ibid: Male elderly: 5
men, 65+, some
receive social
security benefits
Earlier was able to
grow crops and sell,
but now dependent on
others.
Rising prices, but not
income; family
Cayo: Retired elderly members put elderly in
men & women.
homes; little social
assistance, thus hard
for elderly.
Rising prices; no
support (spouse);
natural disasters
Health (incl. old age);
no money; nutrition
Rising prices;
increased crime rates
leaving more single
parents; uneducated
elderly group; little
awareness about
elderly rights
Belize Country Poverty Assessment: Draft Report, Volume 2, Appendices
Halcrow Group Limited, December 2009
Effectiveness of Suggestions to
assistance
improve existing
received
intervention
Only churches provide
assistance in the form of
presentations.
Moderate effect in
terms of teaching
coping strategy
when back to
family and society
(emotional)
Practical programs such
as crafts, skill training
needed; awareness
generation on law and
rights; life skill training.
Night schools in villages
and districts; counselling.
Reduce crime; increase
education opportunities;
decrease school drop outs;
awareness re AIDS/ HIV
and contraception.
Safe shelter (GOB); food&
clothing donation;
counselling; free health &
dental care; skill training
Effective for those
who could
appreciate help
Seek more donations
and continue care for
less fortunate and
vulnerable
Address drug abuse and
unemployment
NEMO; Govt housing project;
Youth Hostel; CYDP and
other NGO
Govt assistance
not effective
Grants; truck and land for
business; lower food and
education cost;
employment.
Veg/fruit planting and
selling; baking (to sell); Financial assistance &
begging
housing
Social security board; mercy
clinic
Not effective
Rent house; seek
assistance from Mercy
Clinic and similar;
small scale farming
Social Security; Mercy Clinic;
NHI, Help Age, School &
Church
Very supportive,
however need to
increase existing
assistance
Housing assistance
(repairs); financial
assistance (feed for
livestock etc); better
infrastructure
Improve medical services,
particularly in rural areas
with more doctors &
nurses; increase monetary
assistance
Effective for those
who receive
benefits but not all
are eligible; women
benefit more than
men
Health mobility; more
recreational events for
elderly; affordable
medication; financial
assistance; awareness on
rights of the elderly
Health
Affordable medication; more
disabled access in public
buildings; use skilled old
people in employment (partSocial assistance;
time); educate elders on
Social assistance; pension;
pension; organisational rights; awareness on saving Recreational outings;
assistance
for future among young
(Helpage); Advocacy (VOICE)
59
Table A4.2.7a. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups - Youth
Question
Themes
Political
Economic
How has the
context
changed and
affected the
HHs?
Social
Environmental
How have the
PIPs changed
and how
these
changes have
affected
households?
Policies
Institutions
Processes
Conscious Youth
Development Program
(CSYD)
Considered politically
connected with UDP
Youth employment difficult
therefore resorting to crime
(illegal) means to make
money
Families break-down due to
economic difficulties;
increased single parents;
young people drop-out and
face anger/ depression
problems; easy access to
weapons has increased crime
rates
More awareness re pollution
issues & related programmes
As pro-UDP organisation,
considers youth favourable
projects are implemented
(e.g. Youth complex and
CYPD projects)
Public private members in
steering committee; no useful
info on change
Need to shift focus from
creating traditional jobs to
innovative viable job creation
How has the vulnerability
context changed over time
and how has this affected
HHs?
What are HHs long and
short term aspirations?
Coping strategies/
programmes
Social
Pop increased; so has crime
and unemployment; family
breakdown
Men & Women: employment;
education/ training
Skills training; farming;
personality dev training
Youth Governance
Unit (Youth for the
Future)
Started by PUP. Although
project in existence, there
has been a shift in focus
Court governed by the Poverty and
Procedure Manual
Insufficient funds for youth
training, particularly to pay
stipend
Women receive monetary support
through maintenance and protection
order; financially limited male support
Increased drop-out rates,
leading to focus on crime
activity
Dependency on benefits (e.g., child
maintenance) as means of survival
creates livelihood issues; gender
roles another reason for poverty
No info
No relevant info
Considers poverty has
increased but no effective
strategies/ policies made
for youth development
Govt's overall strategy
remains unchanged,
although direction of
programs have changed
Bureaucracy affects
delivery times of prog/ proj
Due to criminal records
employment for men is
difficult; though qualified
young women are at
disadvantage to get jobs,
and gender discrimination
re to pay exists
Men& women:
employment; education;
economic stability;
women(additional):
healthcare
4 thematic areas- youth
governance unit, violence
reduction unit, HIV aids
unit, youth enterprise unit
SIF, OPEC/ Global Fund,
UINCEF, NGOs, Chamber
of Commerce, private
institutions
Physical
Many organisations
Agric. Land; land for
commercial complex; tilapia
farms
Financial
Govt; private funds
Govt. and funding
agencies
Human
:Senior govt personnel; youth
groups; volunteers
Human: Fully staffed
Assets
Less secure on health &
safety.
Outcomes
Chief Magistrate, Belize Family
Court
Country-wide office
buildings; computers etc
Less secure on all aspectsshelter, food, water, health,
education, safety and
social
Court governed by the Poverty and
Procedure Manual
BFC works with various organisations
for referrals and is on NCFC coordinating and implementing body.
Assists in social issues, family
violence and human services
Dispute resolution with a gender
neutral approach
Unemployed and dependent
population have and will cause
serious problems in the future
BFC aims are to serve the public
offering professional family centred
advise
Some families live on child
maintenance benefits.
very high population growth leading
to increasing unwanted children, are
causes of poverty
No info on BFC assets. Nutrition is an
issue now as many people and
children do not have anything to eat
No info on BFC; single mothers
depend on child maintenance benefit
(recurring statement)
BFC resources limited, therefore
increased work pressure on CRO or
DHSO in districts (one per district)
Food, shelter are issues for some;
clients seek protection order due to
domestic violence; some clients to
BFC are uneducated and dependent
but it requires advocacy support
NB. More information on the programmes provided by these organisations is contained in Chapter 6 of the Main Report.
Belize CPA, Final Report. Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010.
60
Table A4.2.7b. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – Youth and Families
Question
How has the
context
changed and
affected the
HHs?
Themes
Domestic Violence Unit
(MHDST)
Political
System does not support students
after primary educ, hence dropping
out and delinquency.
No assistance received since
change of govt last year
Economic
Increasing lethargy and denial to
work; few job vacancies.
Org struggling with price rise
and limited finances has impact
on programmes (feeding)
Social
Some individuals lack family
support; some uneducated;
increasing violence on female
partners.
Environmental
Policies
How have the
PIPs changed
and how
these
changes have
affected
households?
Institutions
How has the vulnerability
context changed over time
and how has this affected
HHs?
What are HHs long and
short term aspirations?
Coping strategies/
programmes
Social
Provides support to victims of
domestic violence. Women access
DVU services as they could have
been subject to domestic violence
by their partner.
Increased pressure on uneducated
women on child care and
education- reason for drop-outs;
limited uptake of responsibility by
the male member; safety is an
issue for some women suffering
domestic violence. Lethargy and
unwillingness to work; lack to selfesteem; broken families.
No assistance received from
govt.
Most members are HIV
positive or have mental illness
and receive no support from
family.
Poor infrastructure (sanitation
and solid waste mgmt) leading
to pest/ rodent infestation, thus
poor health
Lack of space for physical
activities such as walking
An international organisation
with HQ in Spain, REMAR works
on various issues such as AIDS,
drug rehabilitation, poverty
alleviation. REMAR runs Mercy
Kitchen (feeding prog), drug
rehab (residential support), and
meals on wheels.
No significant recent policy
change at institution. Provides
support to the homeless.
Seeking duty exemption from
GOB on products sold for fund
raising as a means to tackle
rising prices.
Support from various org for
food, clothes, medical care,
but for only a few people.
Increased single mothers and
homeless resulting in more
people accessing services
(feeding prog)
More aggressive fund raising
strategy planned that targets
government funds.
Need for education stressed
Limited as family does not
support. Homeless perform
chores and make money.
Not sure how people cope.
Need to build self-worth/ selfesteem.
Men: Drug/alcohol rehab;
education. Women (mostly
single mothers): lack of family/
partner support.
REMAR manufactures cleaning
agent to raise funds; uses
Christianity and its teachings to
impart moral behaviour among
drug addicts
Physical
Financial
Homeless Shelter
System does not support students
after primary educ, therefore high
drop out rates and delinquency
Processes
Assets
REMAR
Often dependent on others for
finance
Lack of financial assets.
Lack of financial assets.
Clients less secure on all
aspects or shelter, food, health,
education, safety and
community participation
Not secure on many aspects
like shelter, education,
personal safety; secure for
water and food is secure only
for residents of the home.
Assistance from trained
professionals required for
healthcare.
Human
Outcomes
DVC should follow-up cases
referred to them. Men access DVU
to seek custody of their children
who may have been subjected to
domestic violence by male of the
family;
NB. More information on the programmes provided by these organisations is provided in Chapter 6 of the Main Report.
Belize CPA, Final Report. Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010.
61
Table A4.2.7c. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – HIV/AIDS
Question
Themes
Environmental
Minimal assistance from the
Govt.
Receives support from other
org and banks that are passed
onto HIV affected children or
women to help in their
education and livelihood.
Family members coping with
HIV affected person is
challenging and must be
addressed by generating
awareness to limit alienation,
discrimination against AIDS
patients and thus reduce
psychological issues.
Occupational hazards
increases health risk among
HIV patients (e.g. at Cement
factories); need for pollution
free open space
Policies
Org hopes to set up own
testing centre and HIV
treatment centre.
Political
Economic
How has the
context
changed and
affected the
HHs?
How have the
PIPs changed
and how
these
changes have
affected
households?
Alliance against AIDS
Social
Institutions
Processes
Bureaucratic interference is
high.
Works with many other govt,
NGO and UN agencies
How has the vulnerability
context changed over time
and how has this affected
HHs?
Coping strategies/
programmes
Social
Physical
Assets
Financial
Lack of social support for the
HIV patients.
AAA has set up fruit shops for
some, trained women on
sewing/ provided machines,
gardening tools to help clients
set up own business.
Many patients treated as
outcasts hence no employment
opportunities even if educated/
skilled; some receive help from
family members.
Voluntary Counselling
and Testing, Nurse
Receives medicines and
testing machines from GOB
but often needs personal
contact with politician.
GOB through VCT provides
monetary support but also
financial and in kind
donations, and Christmas
basket distribution
Some receive treatment
whilst the fear of stigma and
discrimination prevents
others; discrimination and
outcast; teenagers find
difficult to cope with sexual
issues
Poor environmental
conditions aggravate health
risk among HIV positive
patients – frequent in Belize
AAA has been vocal about
issues re AIDS and has
been successful in
generating awareness.
VCT policies re counselling,
consent forms from parents
are being reviewed.
Works with various NGOs
Hotline helps create
awareness; also makes
presentations, home visits
and workshops; data centre
for doctor referrals,
counselling or referrals for
social assistance.
Hholds seek donations and
monetary support from VCT
& other org
Central lab, is not fully
equipped to run medical
tests
Hand in Hand Ministry
GOB provides medicines
and small monetary
assistance, but politicians
often interfere with
detrimental effect.
Difficult economic condition
for families
Discrimination and
alienation common
poor living conditions
(garbage and sewerage)
affect patients
Wants to extend services in
rural areas and in Stann
Creek district
Works with NGOs, doctors,
dentists and paediatricians
Home visits, referrals,
conducts treatment, and
follow up.
Immigrants access services
more than Belizeans
HHM connects their clients
(suffering from AIDS) to
help others build their home.
Human
Outcomes
Many people in Belize seek
'assistance' rather than work
therefore poverty is high.
Belize CPA, Final Report. Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010.
Discrimination; domestic
violence experienced by
patients.
Program needed to give
assistance to families,
especially improvements in
environment and living
condition away from
garbage.
62
Table A4.2.7d. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – HIV/AIDS (cont.)
Question
How has the
context
changed and
affected the
HHs?
Themes
Belize Family Life
Association
Political
BFLA sets policies, refers AIDS
patients to VCT for treatment
Economic
The organisation is financially
constrained but manage with
funding from international
organisations
Social
Corner Stone
Foundation
Financial support from
the Govt
Non profit org obtains
funding from the Govt
and other donors
(business & community)
Employment of AIDS
patients is difficult
(health and social taboo
Society taboo on sexual education reasons) therefore more
at school, but children continue to funds needed to support
be exploited.
them
Environmental
How have
the PIPs
changed and
how these
changes
have
affected
households?
Org. implements policies and
procedures on medical hygiene
Policies
and bio-medical waste disposal
Network with various govt depts,
NGO and international funding
institutes. e.g. VCT, WIN Belize,
UNIBAM, Youth Advocacy
Institutions Program
Org activities: Best practice on
sexual reproductive services; out
patient clinic; run youth
programmes; BFLA only org
dealing with adolescent
Processes counselling for AIDS
How has the vulnerability
context changed over time
and how has this affected
HHs?
Coping strategies/
programmes
Population sexually more active,
but not liberal enough to discuss
sexual education.
Long term strategy- improve
services through the life cycle and
to educate men on handling
menopause issues
Org is involved in
networking with other
orgs
Supported by other
organisations and
volunteers to conduct
CSF programs and run
clinics
National Aids
Commission
Umbrella org-oversees national
response to AIDS; takes forward
the National Strategic Plan on
AIDS; focuses on advocacy,
resource mobilisation, monitoring
and evaluation
Provides care, treatment,
financial support and helps with
employment. Affected people
that seek help receive ARV
treatment.
Fear of discrimination and
alienation prevents some from
seeking help and can lead to
drug abuse; lack of proper
nutrition an issue, as treatment
requires food intake.
living conditions must be clean
MoH needs put a good case
forward to MoF to increase
funding
Works with various NGOs and
govt depts
Organisation has
increased outreach over
time
Offers services to children and
people with AIDS, such as
outreach, build houses,
scholarship, cafeteria program
or provide referrals; food and
day care for patients’ children.
Org runs food, medical
and counselling
programmes
Lack of doctors; DHS monetary
contribution not sufficient.
Org supports AIDS
patients with food,
healthcare and
counselling but results
would be enhanced with
community support and
education/ awareness.
Clean living conditions
essential; young girls drawn into
prostitution must be made
aware of AIDS; reduce school
drop-outs and educate students
on the issue.
Social
Assets
Physical
Financial
Human
Outcomes
Both men and women (homo- and
heterosexual) access BFLA
services, but stigma issues
continue at work place; nutrition is
an issue as employment of
patients is difficult; sexual
education at school is not viewed
with comfort but population is
sexually more active; teenage
pregnancy is an issue directly
relevant to poor sexual education
and this should be immediately
addressed.
Belize CPA, Final Report. Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010.
63
Table A4.2.7e. Summary of Key Informant Surveys for Vulnerable Groups – Elderly and Disabled
Question
How has
the
context
changed
and
affected
the HHs?
Themes
Care Belize
(disabled)
Political
No specific political ties
Economic
No services/jobs favour
disabled or aged,
therefore difficult
economic situation
Social
Stigma attached to
disabled and less
acceptance or help from
society
How have
the PIPs
changed
and how
these
Policies
changes
have
Institutions
affected
household
s?
Processes
How has the
vulnerability context
changed over time and
how has this affected
HHs?
General comment: people
with political connection
benefit
Residents are homeless;
unable to work or collect
benefits; some inmates own
agric land, but unable to
cultivate
Churches and medical
community assistance
received; no support from
the family or the community
Health policy relating to
procuring medication should
be flexible (get medicines
from more than one
designated pharmacy);
regulatory system poses
No policies for the
challenge for home's
disabled in the country
governors in seeking funds
Other charities and some
Govt and SIF assistance govt dept also provide food
available
or facilities.
Disabled face
discrimination, and this
has gone worse over
time
No relevant info
Increased cost of living
What are HHs long and
short term aspirations? To get an opportunity
(job) to prove that they
are able to work
Coping strategies/
programmes
Elderly are ignored
by political people.
Increasingly difficult
due to rising prices;
therefore cutting
down on food and
medication
No consistent social
support; ephemeral
socialising during
Christmas or
mother's day
Organisation takes
up advocacy for
cheaper medication;
social security
benefits for the
elderly
Org present in all
districts to help
elderly
Org brings people
together in order to
help the elderly
Help Age Belize (HAB)
Govt of Belize subsidiary
Org receives support from
the govt and from other
organisations worldwide
Some elderly are without
support, others taken care
of by (grand) children.
Community has got more
caring over time.
Info provided on policies of
HAB that belongs to HAB
International
Govt institution (MHDST
and HAB International)
General comment- Men: Are
not interested in working;
Women: Tend to cope by
finding work
Men & Women:
accessibility for
elderly men and
women
Family and government
assistance
None; dependency
on family members
Family; savings
Food, personal
safety and
community
participation have
got less secure
HAB provide space for the
elderly to socialise, worship,
wash. 90% of beneficiaries
are female.
Elderly clients whom HAB
serve may live with family or
on their own
Finance for the elderly:
pensions, babysitting
grandchildren for stipend,
remittance, Soc. Assistance
from HSD or begging.
Family, charity or
neighbours
Difficult living conditions,
poor condition of facilities;
difficult transport; insecure
for food and health; difficult
medication procurement
arrangements.
Housing condition has
worsened over time that has
negative health impact on
inmates, such as kidney
problems due to poor quality
water and sanitation
No relevant info
Physical
Financial
No relevant info on
assets, some men&
women with disability
manage to find jobs
Difficult as no pension and
no job sources
Human
Number of volunteers
staff at the home
Assets
VOICE
No relevant info.
Organisation managed by
Board of Directors
Non contributors pensions
disbursed for widows of
eligible citizens is not a long
term benefit, posing
financial strain to elders;
natural disasters affecting
people, particularly elderly
Short term aspiration of the
org: keep elderly clients
occupied and happy; long
term aspiration is to build a
hospice
Although people are
aware of the disabled,
social acceptance is not
visible; govt and
Children's hospital
provide assistance
Limited physical assets,
or physical provision for
disabled in public places
Social
Outcomes
Golden Haven
Resthome (elderly)
Churches; medical
community; fire dept; Human
services Dept
No info on home, but some
inmates are land owners
Discrimination in
decision-making;
disabled views are not
prime in decisions
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5
The Institutional Analysis
5.1
Objectives
The objectives of the Institutional Analysis (IA) were to:

Identify the principal current government and non-government policies and programs
designed to reduce poverty, directly and indirectly9, in Belize.

Obtain basic information on these programmes – objectives, target groups, eligibility criteria,
benefits provided, coverage and expenditure.

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of these programmes, both institutional and technical.

Provide potential recommendations as to how existing activities could be improved and what
new interventions could be introduced.

Gather views as to the priority poverty related issues facing the country today and in the
future.
The IA focusses on much the same issues as the PPAs but from the viewpoint of the programme
providers and implementers rather than that of the beneficiaries. The IA therefore provides information
on all the major programs and projects that seek to reduce poverty in Belize, whether directly or
indirectly, along with a wide range of government and non-government views on current poverty related
issues in Belize, the effectiveness of current policies and programmes, the extent to which the
implementation of these is hampered by weak institutional capacity, financial constraints and inadequate
design, and priorities for the future.
5.2
General Methodology
The IA was undertaken by means of: (i) one to one semi-structured interviews (SSIs) with government
departments, NGOs and private sector organizations; (ii) sector specific Round Table discussions that
brought together stakeholders working in particular sectors (e.g. tourism, agriculture, health, social
services); and (iii) reviews of relevant documents, notably the National Poverty Elimination Action Plan
(NPESAP), 2007-2011. The IA research was undertaken by the CPA study team through the first half of
2009 with follow up discussions and Round Tables during the ToC’s in country visit in September 2009.
The one to one SSIs were conducted by members of the NAT and the ToC. In order to ensure a
uniformity of approach, interview checklists were prepared and used for these interviews. The checklists
were discussed and agreed during the training workshop for the Institutional Analysis held in February
2009. Box 5.1 summarises the checklist used for the social sector IA interviews. The checklist for the
economic sector IAs was similar but with greater emphasis on the operations and constraints faced by
By directly, we mean those that operate programs which directly provide assistance to the poor and which aim to
reduce the likelihood of poverty arising in the future. This category essentially covers the social sector agencies –
health, education, social welfare and development.
9
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65
the organisation being interviewed10. These interviews were also used to obtain copies of relevant annual
reports and statistical material pertaining to the organisation’s activities.
Box 5.1. Summary Institutional Analysis Social Sector Checklist
Belize Country Poverty Assessment 2009
Institutional Analysis – Agency Interviews
Checklist for Social Sector Organisations
Interviewer… ……………………..
Interviewee/ Position: …….
Date
:
Organisation:………………………
Contact (email/ phone):
Topic 1: What does the organisation do?
- General: primary objectives (mission); legislative mandate; annual budget in 2008 (or 2007); activities/
programmes that are directly related to the poor and the vulnerable.
- For each relevant programme/ activity: objectives, description, i.e. what it provides; eligibility / targeting
criteria, i.e. who benefits; annual expenditure last year and funding source; numbers of beneficiaries
(households or individuals).
Topic 2: How effective do you consider the organization’s current activities to be?
- Extent of coverage of the intended target group(s); are the programmes providing the right type and amount
of assistance?
- What do you think are the most and the least successful of your programmes? Why do you think this is?
- Does the organization measure the effectiveness of its programmes? If so how and what results have been
obtained?
- Might there be some scope for reducing administrative costs? If Yes, how?
Topic 3: How do you think the organization could be improved in terms of:
- Improving the effectiveness and delivery of current policies and programmes?
- Introducing new programmes or extending existing ones?
- Strengthening the institutional set-up, e.g. financial resources, internal organization, staff resources
(number and technical capabilities), facilities, etc.?
- The monitoring and evaluation of activities.
- Enhancing co-ordination with other agencies involved in similar activities or target groups?
Topic 4: What does the organization see as the most important issues that it has to tackle?
- Is the incidence of these issues increasing or decreasing? Why do you think this is?
- Are any new issues emerging? If Yes, what are they?
Topic 5: What should be the priorities if:
(i) little additional finance is available?
(ii) some additional finance is available?
10
More information, including briefing notes for the interviewers, is provided in the CPA training manual.
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5.3
Coverage of the Institutional Analysis
An initial list of agencies to be interviewed as part of the IA was prepared by the NAT and reviewed in
subsequent discussions. Additional agencies were added during the course of the study. In total the views
of around 70 organisations were solicited by the CPA study team. The majority of organisations were the
subject of one to one interviews while others attended one or more of the Round Table discussions;
others were interviewed as Key Informants during the PPAs. Information obtained during the
interviews was supplemented by reviews of annual reports and internet research. Table 5.1 provides a
consolidated list of the organisations consulted during the IA. The effort put in by the NAT in enabling
the comprehensive coverage of the IA is evidenced by the number of the interviews that they undertook.
Table 5.1. Coverage of Institutional Analysis
Government/ Statutory Bodies
NGOs
Private sector
Belize Agricultural Health
Authority
Alliance Against AIDS**
Belize Council for the Visually
Impaired
BAS Group – Flint Wagner
Belize Police Department
Belize Rural Development
Programme*
Belize Council of Churches
Belize Business Bureau
Belize Social Investment Fund*
Belize Enterprise for Sustainable
Technology
Belize Cane Farmer’s
Association
Belize Social Security Board
Belize Family Life Association
Belize Chamber of Commerce
and Industry
Belize Tourism Board
Belize Medical and Dental Association
Belize Credit Union League
CARE Belize
Belize Livestock and Poultry
Association
Catholic Schools Association
Belize Sugar Industry
Community Youth Development Project**
Belize Tourism Industry
Association
Min. of Agriculture
Help for Progress*
Beltrade
Min. of Economic Development
HelpAge Belize**
Central Bank
Min. of Education*
Kolbe Foundation**
Citrus Growers Association
Min. of Health*
Mental Health Association**
Corozal Free Zone
Min. of Housing
National AIDS Council**
Mena Group – Fresh Catch
Min. of Human Development and
Social Transformation*
National Association of Village
Councils
ScotiaBank
Min. of Natural Resources,
Environment and Industry*
National Commission for Families and
Children
Spanish Lookout (Mennonites)
Min. of Rural Development and
Local Government
National Council for Ageing
Min. of Tourism
National Organization for the
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
International Agencies
Min. of Youth (Hand in Hand)
Protected Areas Conservation Trust
UNDP
Public Works Department
Salvation Army
PAHO
Cornerstone Foundation
Southern Environmental Assn.
UNICEF
REMAR
VOICE*
UNPFA
Youth Employment Services
Women’s Issues Network
Youth for the Future*
YMCA/ YWCA
Banana Growers Assn.
Customs Department
Development Finance Corporation
Directorate of Foreign Trade
Vista Real Estate
NB. Bold denotes interview by NAT member; italics denotes attended Round Tables only; all others agencies were interviewed by
ToC.
* Meetings were held with several departments and at various junctures during the study.
** Interviewed as Key Informant during PPAs.
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67
5.4
LSMS and PPA Information
The IA Interviews were supplemented by an analysis of LSMS information on the coverage of some of
the major government programmes which also enabled the poverty targeting of these programmes to be
assessed. This analysis also constituted the primary input to the Poverty and Social Impact Analysis
undertaken as part of the CPA. The programmes analysed in this way are shown in Table 5.2. The results
of these analyses are contained in the Main Report.
Table 5.2. Programmes Evaluated using LSMS Data
Training/ Education/ Micro-finance/ Micro-credit (incl. BRDP)
Housing and land distribution
Free school meals
Education start up subsidy
Pensions (including the NCP)
National Health Insurance (NHI)
Social Welfare/ Assistance
Social services: disability, juveniles, drugs, sex education, counselling.
The PPAs also provided information on the effectiveness of these programmes as perceived by
programme beneficiaries.
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6
The Village Survey
6.1
Objectives, Methodology and Organisation
A perennial issue with PPAs is their representativeness. By definition, PPAs are only conducted in a
small minority of communities. It was therefore considered desirable to obtain some basic information
on a larger sample of communities than could be covered by the PPAs. The Village Survey was designed
to achieve this with the following specific objectives:

To provide a more robust basis for selecting communities for PPAs and thus ‘bridge the gap’
between the PPAs and the LSMS.

To provide a snapshot of trends in living standards, the perceived priority needs of these
communities, the level and type of assistance currently provided to rural settlements across
the country, and an assessment of the effectiveness of these programmes.
The Village Survey was designed as a short, 2 page, questionnaire covering topics such as changes in
economic conditions (and reasons for these changes, levels of satisfaction, infrastructure provision, car
ownership, programmes (including infrastructure) benefiting the communities in the last few years, and
priorities for new programmes. The questionnaire is presented overleaf.
The survey was administered by the Rural Community Development Officers, during their normal
course of work, to around half the Village Council Chairmen in the country. Villages were selected
systematically by taking every second village in order to provide a statistically representative sample.
Survey execution was supervised by the NAT member from MRDLG. The survey started in January
2009 and was completed by mid- February with results obtained for 96 villages, just under half the
national total. .
The results were subsequently transferred into an EXCEL spreadsheet and analysed by the Study Team.
Selected results are presented in this Chapter while the most relevant have been incorporated into the
Main Report.
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69
Box 6.1. Village Survey Questionnaire
BELIZE COUNTRY POVERTY ASSESSMENT - Village Leaders Survey
A. Basic Information
A1.
Village
#
A2.
District
#
A3. Main
Ethnicity
A5. Main crops
grown
Infrastructure
Vehicle ownership
(estimate)
[no. or % h’holds
which own]
#
A4.
No.
Households
(latest est.)
A6. Main non-agricultural
activities (if any)
A7. Piped water
#
A8.
#
Elec.
YES/ NO
YES/ NO
A12. Motor Vehicles
A9. Road Access #
Paved
Dirt good
Dirt poor
A13.
Motorcycles
A10.
Primary
School #
A11.
Clinic#
YES/ NO
YES/ NO
A14. Poverty Classification #
Indigent / Poor/ Not poor
B. Population
B1. How has the population of the village
changed in the last 5 years?
Increased
a lot
B2. What do you think are the main
reasons for these changes?
1.
2.
Increased
a little
Little
change
Decreased
a little
Decreased
a lot
C. Economic Conditions and Living Standards
C1. In general, do you think your village is?
Very poor
Poor
C2. In general, how do you think that economic
conditions and living standards have changed in
the last 5 years?
Got a lot
better
Improved
a bit
C3. What do you think are the main reasons for
these changes?
1.
2.
About average
Little
change
Reasonably well off
Got a bit
worse
Got
worse
much
1.
C4. What do you think are the most pressing
problems current facing your community?
2.
3.
C5. In general, do you think that most residents are
generally satisfied with their current way of life and
level of well being?
Belize CPA, Final Report. Volume 2. Supplementary Material
August 2010.
Very
satisfied
Generally
satisfied
Generally
dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
70
D. Current and Future Projects and Programs
D1. Infrastructure/ services: have any of the
following been provided in the last 5 years?
Piped
water
supply
Electricity
Improved
road access
Primary
school
Health
facility
(include major rehabilitation)
D2. Has the community received support from
any non-infrastructure programmes provided by
YES/
government
NO
assistance/
or
NGOs?
extension
(E.g.
agricultural
services,
educational
If YES,
1.
list programs
2.
3.
assistance, training, micro-credit)
D3. Which programs/ projects do you think have been
the most effective/ useful for your community?
D4. Which programs/ projects do you think have been
the least effective/ useful for your community?
D5. If more finance was available, on what programs/
projects (existing or new) should more money be spent?
D6. What improvements could be made which would not
require a major increase in financial expenditure?
D7. Should the emphasis be shifted from some types of
programmes/ projects to others?
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
E. Is there any thing else that you would like to say?
……………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Thank you.
Date of interview
Interviewer’s name
.
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71
6.2
Village Survey Results (selected)
Table 6.1. Infrastructure Provision
%Villages with …….
%Villages getting in last
5 or so years**
Piped
water
Electricity
Improved
roads*
Primary
School
Health Facility
(Clinic or Post)
74%
78%
73%
89%
48%
49%
46%
49%
50%
29%
* Access by paved or good dirt road.
** Time periods are approximate; new works may often consist of improvements/ upgrades /
extensions rather than completely new schemes.
Table 6.2. Ownership of Cars and Motor Cycles
% H’holds owning
Motor vehicles
M'cycles
<10%
16%
86%
10-24%
30%
8%
25-49%
27%
2%
>50%
27%
3%
ALL
100%
100%
NB. Respondents’ estimates.
Table 6.3. Frequency of Non-Agricultural Activities
Type of Activity
% of Villages
None
45%
Tourism
28%
Construction
6%
Govt/ industry
7%
Free zone (Corozal)
7%
Small enterprises
6%
ALL
100%
NB. Primary non-agricultural activity only.
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72
Table 6.4. Changes in Economic Conditions in last 5 Years
What do you consider
the economic
situation of your
village to be?
% of
Villages
How have
economic
conditions
changed?
Very poor
4%
Increased
a lot
9%
Poor
35%
Increased
a little
34%
Average
55%
Little
change
5%
Reasonably well off
ALL
% of
Villages
What do you think
are the reasons?*
% of
Villages
Satisfaction
with current
conditions
% of
Villages
Lack of jobs/ no
investment
49%
Generally
satisfied
50%
High prices
12%
Generally
dissatisfied
39%
Poor infrastructure/
failed programmes
10%
Very
dissatisfied
11%
37%
20%
Positive factors
(good econ., govt.
progs)
23%
Decreased.
a little
Decreased
a lot
4%
100%
100%
100%
100%
* Respondents were able to give two reasons for the changes that had occurred.
Table 6.5. Non-Infrastructure Programmes in Last 5 Years
Type of Project or Programme
% Villages
receiving
Programme Effectiveness
Prog. Type
Effect.
Not effect.
21
16
Agriculture./ Livestock
36%
Small scale vegetable cultivation/ gardening
35%
Agric. training/ support
School fees / tuition / books / scholarships
86%
Education
24
6
Microfinance(SIF)
8%
Microfinance
4
3
14%
Other training/ capacity
building/ community facilities
21
(12)*
6
4%
Other
7
15
ALL
77
46
Other training / capacity building (incl. sports)
Other
* Excluding Water Board training.
Table 6.6. Priorities for New Projects/ Programmes
Priorities for New Projects/ Programmes
% of Responses
M/credit & capacity building for small business / job creation for youths & women
17%
Agriculture / Aquaculture training & marketing / Land improvement
18%
Health Services / Facilities
7%
School / Education Services
8%
Infrastructure and Utility upgrades.
28%
Community shelter / library / Sport / Internet facilities
17%
Housing +home improvements (post disaster)
5%
ALL
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100%
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Appendix 1. LSMS Questionnaire
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