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Mapping Indicators of Poverty in
West Africa
APPENDIX 1: Proposal
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Applicant:
GRID-Arendal
TK-Senteret, Longum Park
P.O. Box 1602, Myrene
N-4801 Arendal,
NORWAY
Project responsible:
Svein Tveitdal, Director
1.2 Full Project Title:
Identification of future research investments to alleviate poverty: A pilot study to examine the relationship between the location of rural poor population and land use quality in West Africa, based on 'best available' data, using Geographic Information Systems technology.
1.3 Duration of the Project:
3 months, starting in February 1997
1.4 Cost of Project:
US$ 28,000 -- (GRID-Arendal in-kind contribution US$ 12,000.--)
1.5 Principal Objective:
Generation of reliable statistical and cartographic products to communicate the relationship between rural poverty and land use quality in West Africa, thus providing information to ensure optimal use of research investment.
2. Background
GRID-Arendal has been approached by TAC for assistance in the production of reliable statistical and cartographic products on poverty and land use quality. The proposed project will be integrated with ongoing GRID-Arendal work on the Use of GIS in Agricultural Research. This is a collaborative project between UNEP and CGIAR which has the following 3 aims:
- to coordinate and integrate CGIAR centers' approaches to using GIS by
establishing a communicating network.
- to strengthen the capacities of international agricultural research centers and to apply GIS in sustainable agricultural research.
- to contribute to further development of global databases relevant to agricultural research.
The use of this latter project's extensive network coupled with the funds being sought from TAC (US $ 32,000.--) will allow to come up with 'best available', cost-efficient outputs in a relatively short time span (3 months).
Outputs from previous work on this subject will be assessed and included in the proposed project where appropriate. These include the 'Study on CGIAR Research Priorities for Marginal Lands' and the report by the International Food Policy Research Institute entitled 'Should the Indian Government Invest more in Less-Favoured Areas?'.
3. Principal Objectives of the Project
The main objectives of the project will be to review data on poverty and land use quality in West Africa and to conduct an analysis to asses the relationship between the location of rural poor population and land use quality and degradation, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Main outputs will be reliable statistical data and maps.
4. Institutional Framework
TAC is the initiator and principal client of the study. It will make sure that outputs will be made available to users within and outside the CG system.
GRID-Arendal will be responsible for project management and conducting the data collection, analysis and the generation of outputs.
Institutions and individuals within the CGIAR-UNEP network will contribute data, information, and necessary expert advice to the project.
5. Outputs
- Tabular statistics on the distribution of the various groups of rural poor population with regards to land use quality and land degradation in West Africa, based on 'best available' data.
- Maps showing the geographic distribution of the above-mentioned statistical data.
- Project report documenting data used in the analysis, metadata records and recommendations on how to refine the analysis in order to produce more accurate results.
6. Activities and Workplan
1. (February 1997)
Preparatory Work: Data review, networking with relevant experts and working meeting to define suitable methodology for analysis.
2. (March 1997)
Data collection and analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Appropriate statistical methods will be adopted.
3. (April 1997)
Presentation of results in
the form of a executive project report with maps and graphics.