Links between vulnerability, exclusion and

poverty and the quest for pro-poor

development policies;
Key concepts in this policy statement
• Hazards are possible events that can adversely affect people‘s
welfare.
• Risk is the probability or likelihood that a hazard will occur.
• Shock refers to the impact on people of the occurrence of a
hazard.
• Vulnerability is a measurement of exposure to those shocks
for which people have little ability to manage the resulting
negative impacts.
Source : Sabates-Wheeler and Haddad (2005); Krech (2007)
 Cont…
Vulnarable expose to the risk of being attacked or
harmed, either physically or emotionally.
Vulnerability is a cause, symptom and constituent part
of chronic poverty (Prowse, 2003).
Vulnerability reflects a poor person‘s exposure to
shocks (or hazards‖) that threaten well-being, above
and beyond her or his ability to cope and manage
the downside risk.
A person with few capabilities or resources might be
very vulnerable even in the face of only moderate
risk, whereas a well-resourced individual might face
substantial risks without significant vulnerability
 Cont…
Risk and vulnerability contribute to poverty and
failing growth. Shocks such as natural disasters,
economic recession, HIV and AIDS, military conflict
and personal tragedies can destroy people‘s
livelihoods and disrupt the provision of nutrition,
education and healthcare that children and other
vulnerable groups need in order to avoid a lifetime
of chronic poverty (Krech et al., 2007; Voipio,
2007; Samson, 2007; Orero et al., 2006).
 cont

Poverty is not a one-dimensional problem relating

to a lack of income or resources.
Poverty involves a lack of capacity to participate in
societal dynamics and to manage one’s own
future.
People living in poverty experience exclusion,
hunger, they have no access to education, health,
or economic opportunities.
 Cont…
People living in poverty are deprived of the full
enjoyment of their human rights.
Equality and non-discrimination are basic human
rights that must be met, protected and
defended. As these rights are ensured,
effective steps can be made toward the
eradication of poverty.
 continue
• For growth to be beneficial for development, it
has to be sustainable and inclusive, taking into
account inequalities and with special emphasis
on reaching the poor and vulnerable.
• Pro-poor growth policies is based on decent
job creation, functioning health services,
universal access to education, a productive
agriculture, and good governance.
 Cont…
Growth must target the poor directly to reduce
poverty. There should be greater attention to where
growth is occurring and ensure that it is in areas and
sectors where poor people live and are economically
active, and that it is having a positive effect on the
livelihoods, assets and capacities of the poor.
Conditions affecting poverty and inequality are
country specific, that means there is no one-to-one
relationship between economic growth policies and
the reduction of poverty and inequality.
 conclusion
• Vulnerability, exclusion, poverty and pro poor
policies have direct influence to each other
because vulnerability cause poverty which
lead to exclusion which create vulnerable
group and pro poor policies should address
risk, vulnerable in order to reduce poverty and
exclusion in a society.