Regions and Countries

	Table of Contents
p. 3 of 21 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment A. Economic Performance Assessment B. Poverty Assessment C. Assessment of Socio-Environmental Performance D. Governance: Sound Development Management E. Implementation Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Kiribati : I. Country Performance Assessment

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B. Poverty Assessment

5. The perception that absolute or significant poverty is not found in the Pacific continues to be conveyed in many development reports. However, the situation in small Micronesian atoll island countries is not comparable to the situation of larger islands with a much broader economic base. Kiribati, with its relatively small land area, narrow based economy, and rapid urban growth shows significant signs of emergence of urban poverty as can be observed by the proliferation of squatters areas and an overall deterioration of the quality of life in Tarawa. Even in the outer islands, inequalities in quality and access to education, health and economic development result in lower human development indicators. Kiribati still has a relatively high infant mortality rate, a significant portion of the population does not have access to safe water and sanitation and while the adult literacy rate is high at 92 percent, the mean years of schooling is still low at only 6.1. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Human Development Report 1999, Kiribati has the lowest per capita GDP among the Pacific Member Countries, the highest infant mortality rate after Papua New Guinea (PNG), and the third lowest human development index (0.515) after PNG and Solomon Islands (see Appendix 1, page 2).

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