Investigating Chronic Poverty in West Africa

What are the causes of chronic poverty?

This paper seeks to examine the dimensions of poverty in general and chronic poverty in particular in West African countries. Some of the key findings of the paper are:

Incidence of poverty was highest in rural households;
There is highly unequal distribution of access to basic services like education and health services, transport etc.
Armed conflicts and civil unrest have destroyed infrastructure, disrupted the provision of basic services and utilities and created disincentive for investment.

The authors believe that income poverty, low education and skills, poor health status, poorly functioning informal safety nets, remoteness, exclusion, insecurity and unpredictable weather conditions together contribute to the persistence of poverty in many communities in West Africa.

While examining the chronic poverty, the authors, in absence of longitudinal data sets designed to address the issue, used the participatory poverty assessment method. They also point out that when poverty is conceptualized in different manner, it can yield quite different results concerning the incidence and depth of poverty.

The authors therefore recommend:

Not be more than a three-year period should separate each survey;
Introduction of panel element in next household survey conducted in any West African country;
Small scale surveys can be considered as an alternative;
Qualitative participatory assessments that investigate poverty dynamics should be conducted to compliment household surveys.