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Does Shelter Assistance Reduce Poverty in Afghanistan?

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  • Loschmann, Craig
  • Parsons, Christopher R.
  • Siegel, Melissa

Abstract

In this paper we assess the UNHCR post-return shelter assistance program in Afghanistan during 2009–11, motivated by the fact that the resolution of lost housing and property is commonly understood as a key ingredient in sustainable return and reintegration. We implement a variety of matching techniques in order to insulate our results from selection bias. Adopting a multidimensional approach, our results show that shelter assistance reduces the multidimensional poverty index of benefiting households by three percentage points. Looking at individual indicators of deprivation we find that assistance has the biggest effect on dietary diversity, food security, and heating.

Suggested Citation

  • Loschmann, Craig & Parsons, Christopher R. & Siegel, Melissa, 2015. "Does Shelter Assistance Reduce Poverty in Afghanistan?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 305-322.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:74:y:2015:i:c:p:305-322
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.05.022
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ann Mitchell and Jimena Macció, 2018. "Evaluating the Effects of Housing Interventions on Multidimensional Poverty: The Case of TECHO-Argentina," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp120.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    3. Yanzhe Zhang & Xiao Yu & Jian Zhang & Bowen Zou, 2020. "Evaluation of the Obstacles to Developing the Aynak Copper Mine in Afghanistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Masset, Edoardo & García-Hombrados, Jorge, 2021. "Sensitivity matters. Comparing the use of multiple indicators and of a multidimensional poverty index in the evaluation of a poverty eradication program," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    5. Suman Seth & Melba Verra Tutor, 2021. "Evaluation of Anti‐Poverty Programs’ Impact on Joint Disadvantages: Insights From the Philippine Experience," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(4), pages 977-1004, December.
    6. Sabrine Dhahri & Anis Omri, 2020. "Are international capital flows really matter for achieving SDGs 1 and 2: ending poverty and hunger?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 156(4), pages 731-767, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    South Asia; Afghanistan; civil conflict; displacement; return migration; shelter assistance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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