Participatory Poverty Assessment in Cambodia

Abstract

A number of quantitative poverty assessments have been undertaken during the past decade in Cambodia. But quantitative surveys traditionally measure poverty in consumption terms, leaving aside other important factors that impact the poor. It is widely recognized that poverty is multidimensional in nature, involving a host of sociological, historical and cultural factors. The Cambodia PPA was meant to incorporate that multidimensional aspect. What follows is a report that utilizes the strength of quantitative assessments in locating where the poor live, with a more qualitative understanding of why people are poor. The two approaches are designed to be complementary in enhancing a better understanding of poverty. At the heart of the PPA’s strength is t