(I)
CONTEXT-DOMINANT POVERTY
In several states/regions, the observed MPI headcount significantly exceeds the predicted levels,
indicating that contextual factors, such as conflict exposure, displacement, restricted mobility,
infrastructure damage, market fragmentation and disrupted service delivery, substantially raise
poverty above what household characteristics alone would generate.
The largest gaps appear in Rakhine
and Kayah, where around two thirds
of households are multidimensionally
poor, far above what the structural
characteristics of their populations would
predict. In Rakhine, prolonged access
restrictions, displacement and the
cumulative effects of conflict compound
deprivation well beyond householdlevel risk factors. In Kayah, repeated
displacement cycles, insecurity and
market fragmentation produce a similar
pattern.
In Kayah and Rakhine, poverty is 25 percentage
points or more above what household
characteristics alone would predict. The
households are not unusually disadvantaged
in their education or employment. What sets
them apart is where they live and what has
happened around them.
Notably, Ayeyarwady shows a nine-percentage-point gap that exceeds the statistical threshold,
indicating a substantial context-dominant pattern. This is consistent with the state's exposure to
recurrent flooding, geographic isolation in delta areas, and market constraints that raise deprivation
above what household characteristics alone would explain.
Persona 1:
Context-dominant poverty11
Khu Bua Reh is living in Kayah and has been displaced multiple times due to conflict.
With primary education, Khu Bua Reh relies on irregular agricultural and casual labour.
Despite being willing and able to work, livelihood options are severely constrained by
insecurity and repeated displacement. Agricultural activities are frequently interrupted by
access restrictions, land abandonment and damage to tools and inputs. Casual labour
opportunities are sporadic and often unsafe to reach due to mobility constraints. Markets
operate intermittently, leading to shortages and price volatility that force the household to
reduce food consumption and rely on negative coping strategies. Access to healthcare is
highly constrained, with facilities distant, under-resourced or inaccessible during periods of
heightened insecurity. Schooling for children is repeatedly disrupted by displacement and
school closures, undermining educational continuity regardless of household or parental
preferences.
11
The three personas presented in this section, namely Khu Bua Reh (context-dominant), U Myaing (structure-dominant), and Ma Nu (high
structural vulnerability), are composite representations based on patterns identified in the PPS 2025 survey data. They are not portraits of
actual individuals but are constructed from survey responses to illustrate how the three poverty profiles manifest in lived experience across
different geographic and social contexts.
L AYE R S O F DE P R I VAT I O N : M u l t i di m en si on a l Pov er t y i n M y anmar
21
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