Understanding poverty in Tajikistan using the social exclusion framework

In Tajikistan, the ‘income-based’ framework used to analyse poverty has obscured its multiple dimensions, resulting in an inappropriate national Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. A social exclusion framework that considers the causes of poverty stands a better chance of generating policies that will lead to genuine pro-poor action.

Poverty is complex. The income-based approach identifies poverty with the lack of sufficient income and has been criticised for its narrow preoccupation with physical needs while ignoring the structural causes of poverty. A paper in the Central Asian Survey considers how the social exclusion framework reflects the many different ways in which people experience deprivation. It allows researchers not only to focus on the outcomes of deprivation, but also to identify the processes that cause deprivation.

Poor governance is one of the main obstacles to pro-poor growth in Tajikistan. Existing power structures limit opportunities for poor men and women to claim their rights. They cannot take advantage of economic and social opportunities as they lack status, cash and connections. Widespread corruption and weak rule of law limit the access of ordinary citizens to health care and other public services. Furthermore, traditional institutions do not necessarily serve the interests of all groups among poor people.

The chances of poverty reduction policies succeeding are threatened by the political nature of poverty, weak partnerships between the state and civil society and the limited analytical capacity of the groups involved. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for Tajikistan, based on a monetary approach to poverty, does not provide a coherent framework for pro-poor policies as it:

• does not provide an analysis of factors affecting people’s well-being –power relations and the socio-cultural context in which poor people live are important to understand
• identifies such important issues as governance and the need for land distribution but does not discuss them in a way that would contribute to poverty reduction policies
• acknowledges the importance of combating corruption and improving governance but does not connect these issues with poverty
• does not consider how poor governance affects the well-being of different groups among the population
• does not acknowledge that the reliance on informal networks produces not only benefits but also social inequalities and restrictions of access to services and resources that need to be addressed by policy.

The social exclusion framework provides greater room for causal analysis, which can help to move from a description of poverty to identifying its causes. The authors suggest:

• There is a need to develop the analytical skills of local experts working in the government and civil society organisations.
• Institutional structures such as social norms that create gender inequalities or community practices that exclude certain groups need to be changed, although this will be difficult.
• Complex, poverty-related issues must be diagnosed and understood even if it complicates the task of policymakers.
• The Tajik government, civil society organisations, public representatives and international donors need to engage in a debate about poverty and work together to boost the pro-poor nature of the new PRSP.

Source(s):
‘The Social Exclusion Framework and Poverty Reduction Strategy in Tajikistan’, Central Asian Survey, Vol.25, No.4, pages 403-418, by Babken V. Babajanian, 2007

id21 Research Highlight: 19 March 2008

Further Information:
Babken V. Babajanian
Department of Social Policy
London School of Economics and Political Science
Houghton Street
London WC2 2AE
UK

Tel: +44 20 79557364
Fax: +44 20 79557415
Contact the contributor: B.V.Babajanian@lse.ac.uk

London School of Economics and Political Science, [LSE] UK

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