Why Vulnerability Assessment Matters for Poverty Reduction

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Poverty eradication is at the core of development concerns in the Philippines, as underscored in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. This Policy Note examines why, despite the country's robust economic growth in recent years, the proportion of Filipinos living in poverty has not been significantly reduced. It highlights the importance of vulnerability in the assessment of poverty reduction. Among others, it finds approaches to poverty have largely been curative, but not preventive. Moreover, poverty alleviation and social protection efforts have typically revolved around the formulation of one-size-fits-all strategies. For poverty reduction efforts to have greater impact, this study urges the government to build an enabling environment for shared action and responsibility among local government and other stakeholders. It also argues that poverty reduction programs should not only cure poverty but also prevent it, or at least mitigate its harm to people who are at risk. It also favors differentiated rather than one-size-fits-all interventions to manage the risks among various poverty-vulnerable groups.