2016
QSEM Series Round Five Report
funded by:
LIVELIHOODS AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN RURAL MYANMAR QUALITATIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MONITORING ROUND FIVE REPORT – JANUARY 2016
ENLIGHTENED MYANMAR RESEARCH AND WORLD BANK COMMISSIONED BY THE LIVELIHOODS AND FOOD SECURITY TRUST FUND
Funded by
This report has not undergone the review accorded to official World Bank publications. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of the World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank the European Union and governments of Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America for their contributions to the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund. From the private sector, we thank the Mitsubishi Corporation for its kind contribution to the fund. DISCLAIMER This document is supported with financial assistance from Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the Mitsubishi Corporation. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of any of the LIFT donors.
CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I
THE LIVELIHOODS CONTEXT
II
THE VILLAGE CONTEXT
IV
ENGAGING BEYOND THE VILLAGE
V
RECOMMENDATIONS VI
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 7 THE CONTEXT
9
RESEARCH DESIGN
12
THE ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
13
THE SAMPLE
14
THE FIELDWORK
14
REPORT STRUCTURE
17
CHAPTER TWO: THE LIVELIHOODS CONTEXT
18
INTRODUCTION 20 LIVELIHOODS 20 FARMERS 22 LABORERS 25 NONFARM BUSINESS
28
MIGRATION 30 SHOCKS AND VULNERABILITY
34
PROBLEMS AND SHOCKS
34
VULNERABILITY 36 CHANGES IN INFLUENCING FACTORS
39
ACCESS TO CREDIT
39
LAND 43
CHAPTER THREE: THE VILLAGE CONTEXT
48
SOCIAL CAPITAL
50
VILLAGE GOVERNANCE
54
TURNOVER OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
55
THE VILLAGE TRACT ADMINISTRATOR
56
THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR
57
OTHER VILLAGE INSTITUTIONS
58
EMERGING IMPLICATIONS
60
CHAPTER FOUR: ENGAGING BEYOND THE VILLAGE
62
ENGAGING GOVERNMENT
64
INCREASING SERVICES
64
DECISION-MAKING AND INFORMATION FLOWS
66
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
69
ENGAGING DONORS
71
AID RECEIVED
71
LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION OF DONOR PROGRAMS
73
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
76
RECOMMENDATIONS 78 LIVELIHOODS 78 VILLAGE GOVERNANCE
79
TOWNSHIP CAPACITY
79
TABLES TABLE 1: RESPONDENTS PER ROUND
16
TABLE 2: AVERAGE DAILY WAGES FOR HARVESTING ACROSS ROUNDS (MALE, PEAK)
25
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