Public Disclosure Authorized QUALITATIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MONITORING ROUND THREE REPORT Public Disclosure Authorized DECEMBER 2013 Public Disclosure Authorized Enlightened Myanmar Research and World Bank COMMISSIONED BY THE LIVELIHOODS AND FOOD SECURITY TRUST FUND Public Disclosure Authorized Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring Round Three Report 2 This report has not undergone the review accorded to official World Bank publications. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of the World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring Round Three Report 3 Acknowledgement We would like to thank Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States for their kind contributions to improving the livelihoods and food security of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Myanmar. Their support to the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is gratefully acknowledged. Disclaimer This document has been produced with financial assistance from Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or the governments of Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring Round Three Report 4 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................... i METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................................i Overall Change Trajectory .............................................................................................................. ii Land ......................................................................................................................................................... iv Labor ........................................................................................................................................................ v Debt and credit ................................................................................................................................... vi Markets .................................................................................................................................................. vi Coping Strategies ............................................................................................................................... vi Types of Shocks .................................................................................................................................... vi Drivers of Decision-making ............................................................................................................ vi Coping Patterns .................................................................................................................................. vii Social Relations and Institutions ............................................................................................... vii Village Institutions ......................................................................................................................... ix External Assistance ............................................................................................................................x Conclusions & Implications ............................................................................................................x Land ........................................................................................................................................................... x Labor ....................................................................................................................................................... xi Credit & financial services............................................................................................................... xi Risk-management products ........................................................................................................... xi Collective action interventions ...................................................................................................... xi Market access and information .................................................................................................... xi Conflict, markets and livelihoods ................................................................................................. xi Climate adaptation ............................................................................................................................ xi Fisheries ................................................................................................................................................. xi Coping Strategies ............................................................................................................................... xi Village Governance, participatory Planning ........................................................................... xi Aid effectiveness ................................................................................................................................. xii Chapter One: Introduction .............................................. 14 Chapter Two: Analytical Framework & Methodology ...... 15 Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring Round Three Report 5 Analytical Framework ................................................................................................................... 15 Report Structure ................................................................................................................................ 19 Chapter Three: The Overall Change Trajectory ................ 19 Basic Livelihoods Patterns ............................................................................................................. 20 Land, Labor, Migration and Credit ............................................................................................. 20 Problems and Shocks ....................................................................................................................... 21 Social Relations and Institutions ................................................................................................. 21 Chapter Four: Livelihoods ............................................... 24 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 24 Land ....................................................................................................................................................... 24 Land Management ............................................................................................................................ 25 Land Ownership ................................................................................................................................. 28 Land Conflict & Negotiation.......................................................................................................... 29 Labor ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 Farmers ................................................................................................................................................. 34 Laborers ................................................................................................................................................ 37 Debt and Credit ................................................................................................................................ 39 Markets ................................................................................................................................................ 42 Chapter Five: Coping Strategies ...................................... 43 Types of Problems and Shocks Faced .................................................................................... 43 Drivers of Decision-Making ........................................................................................................ 44 Coping Patterns ................................................................................................................................ 47 Increasing Income ............................................................................................................................. 47 Migration & Remittances ............................................................................................................... 50 Chapter Six: Social Relations and Institutions.................. 55 Social Capital, Social Inclusion and Collective Action ....................................................