Poverty Impact Assessment Report Chhattisgarh

Abstract

A Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA) was commissioned by the European Union State Partnership Programme Chhattisgarh (EU-SPP) and contracted by the GIZInternational Services Technical Assistance to the EU-SPP in late 2010. This PIA study has been carried out in two phases with three visits to Chhattisgarh from late 2010 through until the first half of 2011. The report that follows is based on extensive document study, village visits and consultation meetings with both governmental organisations and civil society organisations. EU–SPP‘s overall objective is oriented to poverty reduction: The SPP is a multisector support programme aimed at poverty alleviation in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In the light of such a programme goal, it is well-justified to carry out a PIA. Despite the best efforts of many institutional and civil society stakeholders, including the poor target groups themselves, rural poverty in Chhattisgarh remains deeply entrenched and widespread. A PIA Study, including this one, is not an evaluation although it does take a critical look at how the rural poor are being served by various schemes and programmes. In other words, it focuses on a combination of rural livelihood analysis with a focus on ―last mile‖ service delivery. A main purpose of PIA is to define more clearly which measures, with whom and by what means, will make a greater contribution to poverty reduction.