PRELIMINARY COUNTRY POVERTY ASSESSMENT FINDINGS FOR ANGUILLA

Visual representation of World Poverty by % of population

No percentage of the population was reported to be extremely poor or indigent.; 5.8 percent of the population is poor; 17.7 percent of the population is vulnerable.

(The Valley, Anguilla) - The latest Anguilla Country Poverty Assessment project, which was conducted under the theme; Information for Action – Improvement for All was a very intensive and comprehensive one. It consisted of four (4) interlocking components Survey of Living Conditions - SLC, Participatory Poverty Assessment - PPA, Macro Economic Analysis - MA and Institutional Analysis - IS which sought to look at the economy.

In December 2009, the Anguilla Statistics Department in conjunction with the National Assessment Team, the consultants attached Anguilla’s second Country Poverty Assessment – Kairi Consultants Limited conducted the Synthesis Workshop which sought to review the preliminary findings of the Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) which was launched in late 2007.

The synthesis workshop brought together the consultants Kairi Consultants Limited, the Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) facilitators, Survey of Living Conditions (SLC) interviewers, members of the National Assessment Team (NAT) as well as a number of persons interviewed during the Macroeconomic Analysis and Institutional Analysis (IA) components of the study.

Macroeconomic Analysis
This section of the CPA was based on interviews with key personnel with responsibility for macroeconomic policy.

Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA)
This was a qualitative approach to data collection which included focus group discussions which were planned with various groups of the Anguillan society; the youth, the elderly, men, women and unemployed. Included in this approach also were community workshops, household interviews, and in depth household interviews. However, in retrospect two additional groups of persons were included as it was thought that their views and opinions would also be necessary; the disabled as well as the non Anguillian resident population.

Institutional Analysis (IA)
This component of the CPA was similar to the macroeconomic analysis aspect as it related to the format of data collection. Interviews were conducted with the management of key institutions, whose organisational decisions impact on the way persons live. Some of the businesses interviewed were Anglec, National Bank of Anguilla, Anguilla Development Board, The Soroptomists, The Scouts and over 40 other NGO’s and CBO’s.

Survey of Living Conditions (SLC)
The survey of living conditions was a collection of surveys. This involves the enumerating and interviewing of a sample of households and individuals. A sample of households from the population was selected to be enumerated. All households were required to
complete a household questionnaire and each individual in those household; an individual questionnaire.

Some of the preliminary population findings calculated from the data collected were:

• The cost of the daily food basket for an adult based on 2,400 Kilocalories is XCD$7.13.
• The annualised Indigence Line is XCD$2,602.
• The annualised Poverty Line is XCD$16,348.
• The annualised Vulnerability Line is XCD$ 20,484.
• No percentage of the population was reported to be extremely poor or indigent.
• 5.8 percent of the population is poor.
• 17.7 percent of the population is vulnerable.

Prior to the finalisation of the report, the consultants will prepare a draft country report and conduct an interagency review meeting with representation from the sponsors of the project; the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Anguilla.

Following this member of the public will get the opportunity to once again contribute to the process during the National Consultations.