Collecting data for poverty and vulnerability assessment in remote areas in Sub-Saharan Africa

authored by: Rudolf Witt, Diemuth E. Pemsl, Hermann Waibel
Abstract: Data collection for poverty assessments in Africa is time consuming, expensive and can be subject to numerous constraints. In this paper we present a procedure to collect data from poor households involved in small-scale inland fisheries as well as agricultural activities. A sampling scheme has been developed that captures the heterogeneity in ecological conditions and the seasonality of livelihood options. Sampling includes a three point panel survey of 300 households. The respondents belong to four different ethnic groups randomly chosen from three strata, each representing a different ecological zone. In the first part of the paper some background information is given on the objectives of the research, the study site and survey design, which were guiding the data collection process. The second part of the paper discusses the typical constraints that are hampering empirical work in Sub-Saharan Africa, and shows how different challenges have been resolved. These lessons could guide researchers in designing appropriate socio-economic surveys in comparable settings.
Organisation(s): Institute of Development and Agricultural Economics
External Organisation(s): WorldFish
Type: Article
Journal: Survey methodology
Volume: 36
Pages: 217-222
No. of pages: 6
ISSN: 0714-0045
Publication date: 12.2010
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Statistics and Probability, Modelling and Simulation
Electronic version(s): https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/12-001-X201000211383 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{619d3144ba6c48d09d06b007de49d15f,
title = "Collecting data for poverty and vulnerability assessment in remote areas in Sub-Saharan Africa",
abstract = "Data collection for poverty assessments in Africa is time consuming, expensive and can be subject to numerous constraints. In this paper we present a procedure to collect data from poor households involved in small-scale inland fisheries as well as agricultural activities. A sampling scheme has been developed that captures the heterogeneity in ecological conditions and the seasonality of livelihood options. Sampling includes a three point panel survey of 300 households. The respondents belong to four different ethnic groups randomly chosen from three strata, each representing a different ecological zone. In the first part of the paper some background information is given on the objectives of the research, the study site and survey design, which were guiding the data collection process. The second part of the paper discusses the typical constraints that are hampering empirical work in Sub-Saharan Africa, and shows how different challenges have been resolved. These lessons could guide researchers in designing appropriate socio-economic surveys in comparable settings.",
keywords = "Data collection challenges, Socio-economic household surveys, Sub-Saharan Africa, Survey design",
author = "Rudolf Witt and Pemsl, {Diemuth E.} and Hermann Waibel",
year = "2010",
month = dec,
language = "English",
volume = "36",
pages = "217--222",
journal = "Survey methodology",
issn = "0714-0045",
publisher = "Statistics Canada",
number = "2",
}