screen 1 of 23 targeting introduction to targeting learning objectives explain the key principles of...

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TargetingIntroduction to Targeting

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Explain the key principles of targeting.

Understand the steps of the targeting process.

Understand the suitability of different targeting methods for given situations and target groups.

Recognize the costs and benefits of targeting.

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INTRODUCTION

This presentation introduces the basic principles of targeting within the food security context.

Targeting is the practical process of defining, identifying and reaching the intended recipients of assistance

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WHAT IS TARGETING?

What is Targeting?

•The analysis of who needs assistance, where, when and why.

•Decisions about what kind of aid is needed (and how much).

•How it should be delivered and how the beneficiaries will be identified.

All these affect the targeting bottom line of “who gets what”, which in turn affects the

programme’s impact.

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Which are good reasons for targeting?

WHY IS TARGETING IMPORTANT?

• To ensure aid is distributed according to need

• To ensure resources are received by the people donors intended them for

• To avoid disrupting local economies

• To enhance the programme’s impact on food security

• To avoid wasting scarce resources

• To guard against diversion of resources through corruption

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Before an intervention

Through vulnerability analysis, needs assessment, and response

planning.

Information systems have an important role to play in two key phases:

WHY IS TARGETING IMPORTANT?

During and after an intervention

Through monitoring and evaluation.

Good feedback information during an operation can be very important in fine-tuning or correcting

the targeting.

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IDENTIFYING

The process of targeting can be broken down into three key steps:

REACHING

DEFINING

TARGETING PROCESS

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• Who is a particular FS programme intended to help?

• Where should the benefits be directed in order to achieve the programme’s objectives?

DEFINING TARGET GROUPS

DEFINING

IDENTIFYING

REACHING

Vulnerability Analysis should include a diagnosis of why people are vulnerable, and what they are vulnerable to.Needs Assessments should identify what kind of assistance is needed, where, when and how much.

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DEFINING TARGET GROUPS

Type of vulnerability

Possible target group definitions

ECONOMIC vulnerability

Poor areas / groups/ households/ individuals People suffering food insecurity because of inadequate incomes, livelihoods, market access or entitlements Poorest x% of a population People in specified livelihoods or occupations (locally defined)

PHYSIOLOGICAL vulnerability

Children under five years old Malnourished children Groups with specific nutritional needs (e.g. the elderly; sick people; pregnant and breast-feeding women)

SOCIAL vulnerability

Unsupported older people, widows or orphans People with disabilities Socially excluded individuals or households

POLITICAL vulnerability

Refugees or displaced people Communities exposed to violence or marginalization

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LEVELS OF TARGETING

Geographical Targeting identifies selected areas to receive assistance.

Group Targeting identifies sections of the population, usually within geographically targeted areas.

Household Targeting takes the household as the smallest social and economic unit, and provides resources to be shared among household members.Individual Targeting is most often applied to health and nutritional programmes that screen beneficiaries through direct measurement or medical referral.

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The definition of the target group will logically suggest which kind of indicators are appropriate.

IDENTIFYING TARGET GROUPS – CHOOSING INDICATORS

IDENTIFYING

REACHING

DEFINING

Nutritional indicators

Socio-economic indicators

Demographic indicators

Meteorological and production indicators

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IDENTIFYING TARGET GROUPS – CHOOSING INDICATORS

Categorical indicators - they are basically Yes / No questions. For example, a person’s gender is either male or female.

Continuous indicators – a whole range of values is possible. For example, income; weight; number of livestock owned; kg of grain produced; age.

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VULNERABILITY’S CRITICAL DIMENSIONS: RISKSIDENTIFYING TARGET GROUPS – METHODS OF TARGETING

IDENTIFYING

DEFINING

REACHING

Administrative targeting - project or government staffCommunity-based targeting - neighbors or representativesSelf-targeting - their own choice

Market-based targeting - market conditions

• How will our indicators be applied?

• How will we ensure that the assistance actually reaches the intended beneficiaries? TARGETING

METHODS

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IDENTIFYING TARGET GROUPS – METHODS OF TARGETING

Administrative Targeting

Beneficiaries are selected by outsiders (such as project managers or government officials), using objective, measurable and standardized criteria.

This is the type of approach used in means-tested welfare systems in developed countries.

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Community-based Targeting

Beneficiaries households or individuals are selected by members of the community.

Targeting decisions may be made by established leaders, by specially elected committees, or by the whole community in an open meeting.

This method is widely used in both development and relief programmes.

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Self-Targeting

The beneficiaries themselves decide whether or not to participate in a programme, depending on the benefits offered and the costs involved.

Using this type of approach needs careful analysis to set the right costs and benefits.

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Marked-based Targeting

There is no direct selection of beneficiaries. Instead, interventions are made in the market to influence the supply or demand of the food that the target group buy, or the commodities they sell.

Like self-targeting, market-based targeting relies on good analysis of the market situation of the intended target group.

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Beneficiaries are identified as those attending or resident in schools, hospitals, clinics or orphanages.

Here the targeting effect depends entirely on who attends those particular institutions, in the local context.

Another targeting method often used in food security contexts is Institutional Targeting.

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THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF TARGETING

A targeting system must take account of the existing governance and power structures in beneficiary countries

Information systems can contribute to effective targeting design by analysing the social and political context.

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• What is the position of the intended target groups, in terms of social hierarchy and power structures?

• Do they have any voice in local decision-making? Are they marginalised?

• Are they regarded by local decision-makers as full members of the community and entitled to assistance?

• Gender, ethnicity, health status, occupation and displacement are examples of factors that can make target group members marginalised or disadvantaged.

• How are decisions made in this community, and who by? • What is the capacity of local government or community

institutions, and who do they represent? • Do they have experience of targeting? • How successful was this experience? • Do the suggested target group definitions fit with local social

structures?

The “political capital” of target groups

The existing social organisation and power structures

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Compromises must sometimes be made between the technically ideal targeting solution and political realities.

It is better to have a “good enough” workable targeting system than a perfect one that cannot be implemented.

Transparency and accountability should be built into the design of targeting systems.

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When designing or evaluating a targeting system, it is important to weigh up costs and

benefits. Factors to be considered:

‘Political’ costs

Costs to local decision-makers

Costs to beneficiaries

Costs to implementing agency

Resource savings

Enhanced Impact

Increased aid per beneficiary

COSTS BENEFITS

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COSTS AND BENEFITS

NO

YES

Is it worth targeting in this situation?

Weigh up the costs and benefits of DIFFERENT TARGETING OPTIONS

Untargeted / blanket programme

Weigh up the costs and benefits of TARGETING versus NO TARGETING

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Costs and benefits should be weighed: when deciding whether or not to target, and when choosing between targeting methods.

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SUMMARY

Targeting is the whole string of decisions and actions that determine who gets what from a food security programme. Its purpose is to concentrate resources on the most vulnerable or food-insecure people, in order to achieve the best possible impact with limited resources. Designing a targeting system involves three key steps: • Define the target groups – based on an analysis of the context, the nature of the problem, the causes of vulnerability and the needs of different groups. • Identify the target groups – select valid, feasible indicators which match the target group definitions and which will select the intended beneficiaries. • Reach the target groups - select an appropriate targeting method (or a combination of methods). The main categories of targeting method are administrative, community, self-targeting and market-based. In all three steps, keep in mind:• the local context – Target group definitions and indicators cannot just be taken off the peg: check that they fit the situation; and • “political” factors (power structures and interest groups) which may affect who is included and who is excluded. Weigh up the costs and benefits - when deciding whether to target or not, and when choosing between different targeting options.

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