Unlocking Insights: Complimentary Data Sources & Purposes in HIES

Complimentary data sources in HIES Presenter name: Scott Pontifex Presenter title: Complimentary data collection in HIES Presenter affiliation: Pacific Community Pacific Regional Conference on HIES Methods 28 to 31 March 2023 Nadi, Fiji PACSTAT project (P169122): Statistical Innovation and Capacity Building in the Pacific Island Countries

Examples of complimentary data sources in HIES The Time Use Module Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) Washington Group Small Set questions: Disability Financial inclusion in HIES Health Education Labour Social Protection Deprivation Labour mobility Migrant workers

The Time Use Module in HIES The time use module in HIES surveys collects data on how individuals spend their time on various activities, such as work, household chores, leisure, and social activities. This data collected through the time use module can be used to estimate the amount of time spent on different activities and identify patterns and trends in time use across different population groups. Understanding how people allocate their time and the factors that influence time use patterns. Estimating the value of unpaid work, such as household chores and care work, which is often overlooked in traditional measures of economic activity.

Purposes of the Time Use Module The data collected through the time use module of HIES surveys can be used for a variety of purposes, such as: Estimating Value of Unpaid Work 1. Understanding how people allocate their time and the factors that influence time use patterns. 2. Assessing the impact of government policies and programs on time use, such as policies related to employment, childcare, and social welfare. 3. Estimating the value of unpaid work, such as household chores and care work, which is often overlooked in traditional measures of economic activity. 4. Identifying gender differences in time use patterns and the impact of gender on access to opportunities and resources. The time use module can help estimate the value of unpaid work, such as household chores and care work. This is important because such work is often overlooked in traditional measures of economic activity. By including this work in estimates of economic activity, policymakers can better understand the true contribution of individuals and households to the economy. Overall, the time use module of the HIES is an important tool for understanding the complex relationship between time use, income, and well-being, and can help policymakers make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and design policies that promote economic and social development.

Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) in HIES The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) is a tool developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to measure food insecurity at the household level. The FIES assesses the extent to which households have experienced limited access to food due to financial or other resource constraints in the past 12 months. The FIES has been adopted as a core module of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) in many countries. The HIES is a comprehensive survey that collects data on the income, expenditure, and consumption patterns of households. By including the FIES as a module in the HIES, policymakers and researchers can obtain a more complete picture of the economic well-being of households, including their food security status. The FIES module of the HIES typically asks a set of standardised questions that are designed to capture the different dimensions of food insecurity experienced by households. These questions are translated into the local language and adapted to the local context to ensure cultural appropriateness. The FIES module of the HIES provides valuable information to policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners, who can use it to monitor trends in food insecurity, target interventions, and evaluate the impact of policies and programs aimed at improving food security. By incorporating the FIES into the HIES, countries can also compare their food security situation with that of other countries and track progress over time

Washington Group Small Set questions: Disability The Washington Group on Disability Statistics has developed a set of questions, known as the Washington Group Short Set of Questions on Disability (WGSS), to measure disability in surveys and censuses. The questions are designed to be easy to administer and understand and are suitable for use in a range of settings and cultures. The WGSS is being increasingly used in household surveys, including the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), as a core module to collect information on disability. The use of the WGSS in the HIES enables countries to generate disability statistics that are comparable across different countries and over time. The WGSS consists of six questions that ask about difficulties in six functional domains: 1. Seeing 2. Hearing 3. Walking or climbing steps 4. Remembering or concentrating 5. Self-care (e.g., bathing or dressing) 6. Communicating (e.g., speaking, reading or writing)

Washington Group SS questions on Disability The questions are structured as follows: 1. Do you have difficulty seeing, even if wearing glasses? 2. Do you have difficulty hearing, even if using a hearing aid? 3. Do you have difficulty walking or climbing steps? 4. Do you have difficulty remembering or concentrating? 5. Do you have difficulty with self-care, such as washing all over or dressing? 6. Do you have difficulty communicating, for example understanding or being understood? The response options are "no difficulty," "some difficulty," "a lot of difficulty," and "cannot do at all." The answers are used to determine whether an individual has a disability, the severity of the disability, and the specific functional domains in which the disability exists. By using the WGSS in the HIES, countries can better understand the prevalence and nature of disability in their populations and use this information to inform policy and program development to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Financial inclusion in HIES Financial inclusion can be included as a module in the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) to capture information on the financial behaviours and needs of households. The module can be designed to collect data on financial access, usage, and barriers to financial services. This information can be used to understand the level of financial inclusion in a country, identify gaps in financial services, and develop policies and programs to address these gaps. The financial inclusion module can include questions related to household income, savings status, loan borrowing, insurance, and other financial products and services such as money transfers. It can also capture information on the types of financial institutions households use, such as banks, microfinance institutions, and mobile money providers. The module can also gather information on the level of financial literacy among households and their understanding of financial products and services.

Climate Change Including a climate change module in the HIES can provide valuable insights into the impacts of climate change on households and their coping strategies. The module can include questions on the household's awareness and understanding of climate change, the changes they have observed in their environment, and the strategies they use to adapt to these changes. Some potential questions that can be included in a climate change module of the HIES are: 1. Have you noticed any changes in your local climate over the past few years? If so, what kind of changes have you observed? 2. Have you experienced any extreme weather events in the past year, such as floods, droughts, or heatwaves? 3. What steps have you taken to adapt to changes in the climate, such as changing agricultural practices or water management strategies? 4. Have you received any training or support from government or non-governmental organizations on climate change adaptation and mitigation? 5. Do you believe that climate change is a significant threat to your household's livelihood and well- being? If so, how concerned are you about it?

Health The Health module in HIES is designed to collect information on the health status of individuals and households. Some of the specific topics covered in the Health module may include: 1.Health status: Questions about chronic conditions, NCD or other problems, disabilities, and limitations in daily activities due to health issues. 2.Health care utilisation: Questions about the source of health care, type of facility and main reason for seeking medical assistance and use of health care services, such as visits to health care providers. Frequency of medical visits. 3.Health expenditures: Questions about spending on health care services, including prescription medications, medical equipment, and other health care expenses. 4.Anthropometrics What is the height in cm and weight in kgs? 5.Health behaviours: Questions about health-related behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. [The data collected in the Health module can be used to inform health policy and programme development, as well as to monitor trends in health status and health care utilisation over time.]

Education In order to ensure that HIES is inclusive and provides a comprehensive picture of household living standards, it is important to include an education module in the survey. The following are some of the key education questions that could be included in HIES: 1.Previous or current attendance in pre-school 2.Literacy supplementary module (self response) 3.Education level/highest level or qualification: This module would gather information on the highest level of education completed by each member of the household. This information is crucial for understanding the education levels of different segments of the population and for identifying disparities in educational attainment across different groups. 4.Education expenditure: This module would collect data on the amount of money spent by households on education-related expenses, such as tuition fees, books, and other materials. 5.Access to education: This module would gather information on the availability of educational facilities, such as schools, in the areas where households are located and any barriers to education.

Labour Why labour modules are relevant for inclusion as core modules in HIES: Labour is a significant source of income for many households, particularly in developing countries. By including labour modules in HIES, we can get a better understanding of how much income households are generating from labour, and how this income is distributed within households. Labour modules can help us understand the characteristics of different types of employment, such as formal versus informal, self-employment versus wage employment, and so on. This information is important for designing policies and programs that support different types of workers. Labour modules can help us understand the impact of labour-related policies and programs, such as minimum wage laws, social protection programs, and training programs. By collecting data on employment outcomes before and after the implementation of these policies and programs, we can assess their effectiveness and make improvements as needed. labour modules can also help us understand the dynamics of the labour market, including factors that affect labour supply and demand, such as education and training, migration patterns, and changes in technology.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Why WASH modules are relevant for inclusion as core modules in HIES: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are critical components of public health and well-being. Access to clean water, adequate sanitation facilities, and proper hygiene practices are essential for preventing the spread of diseases, reducing poverty, and promoting economic growth. Including WASH modules as core modules in HIES can provide valuable information on the availability, accessibility, and use of water and sanitation facilities, as well as the hygiene practices of households. The information collected through WASH modules can be used to inform policy and programmatic decisions related to water and sanitation, including the development and implementation of strategies to improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as behaviour change campaigns to promote proper hygiene practices. In addition, including WASH modules in HIES can help to identify vulnerable populations, such as those without access to clean water or adequate sanitation facilities, and inform targeted interventions to address their needs. Overall, WASH modules are relevant for inclusion as core modules in HIES because they provide critical information on a fundamental aspect of public health and well-being and can inform policy and programmatic decisions to improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities and promote proper hygiene practices.

Social Protection Social protection modules are relevant for inclusion as a core module in HIES because they provide critical information on the extent to which households are able to access types of social assistance (safety nets) and social insurance programs available to households, the extent to which households are able to access these programs, and the impact of these programs on household well-being and promoting social inclusion. Have you received assistance through social protection scheme? When was the last time you received assistance through social protection scheme? Please record the number of weeks/months/years when you received the assistance from social protection scheme? I would like to ask you about various external economic assistance scheme provided to households. By external assistance, I mean support that comes from the government or from non-governmental organisation such as religious, charitable, or community-based organisations. This also includes support from family, other relatives, friends or neighbours. For example Old age pension Child allowance Social Benefit Disability Allowance Any other scheme

Deprivation Deprivation in the context of HIES refers to the lack of access to basic needs and services, such as food, water, clothing, healthcare, education, and housing. It is measured through a set of questions that ask respondents whether they have access to these basic needs and services. For example, respondents may be asked whether they have access to enough food to meet their daily needs, whether they have access to clean drinking water, whether they have access to healthcare services, and whether they live in a decent and safe housing. Deprivation is often measured using an index that combines responses to these questions. The index assigns a score to each household based on the number of basic needs and services they lack access to. The higher the score, the more deprived the household is considered to be.

Labour mobility Specifically, a labour mobility module in HIES could include questions on whether any members of the household have worked overseas in the past year, the length of time spent working abroad, the type of work performed, the earnings received, and the impact of those earnings on household income and expenditure patterns. This information could be valuable for policymakers in the Pacific region to understand the impact of labour mobility on households and to develop policies that facilitate or regulate labour mobility in a way that maximizes benefits and minimizes potential negative impacts. It could also be useful for international organizations and donors that provide support for labour mobility initiatives in the region.