Support to PRSP process and poverty analysis Objective   The purpose of the grant is to finance activities identified by the Government of Guinea, through the PRS Committee, as critical to the achievement of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The IDF grant will support the process by which the Poverty Reduction Strategy is elaborated and strengthen the in-country data collection and analytical capacity that will provide the poverty relevant information and analysis necessary to (i) provide an analysis of poverty characteristics and determinants; (ii) assist policy-makers in monitoring levels and trends of poverty, design strategies, policies and programs; (iii) implement the latter with the highest impact on poverty reduction; and (iv) ensure adequate and timely monitoring and evaluation of the activities as described in the Interim PRSP. Components The first two activities would establish a permanent institutional mechanism to produce the PRSP and the following progress reports, including the establishment of an Observatory for Poverty Reduction. The other activities will aim to (i) set up a poverty monitoring system; (ii) help organize and disseminate the existing data, and (iii) give to decision makers a tool (poverty map) to target the poverty reduction related activities.  Component 1: Institutionalization of PRSP process To establish a permanent institutional mechanism for the PRS Committee to design, monitor the implementation, evaluate the poverty reduction strategy, and produce the PRSP and the following Progress Reports. This activity will include (i) the proposal of institutional mechanisms for the PRSP process; (ii) a study tour for the PRS Committee to review what has been done in other African countries (Tunisia and Egypt Tunisia and Egypt have been selected because both countries have established successful social funds as key instrument to reduce poverty. ) and discuss targeted PRSP activities, i.e. Social Funds ; (iii) three workshops/training with government, civil society, local governments, NGOs, and donors will allow the PRS Committee to share and discuss the PRSP process; first workshop: sharing and discussing the sectoral strategies; second workshop: establishing priorities and tradeoffs; and third workshop: finalizing the PRSP.  Three fourths of the attendance will come from the regions; and (iv) the dissemination of documents and information to the PRSP stakeholders, and the public on the poverty reduction strategy. Component 2:  Establishment of an Observatory of Poverty Reduction To establish a poverty analysis center (Observatory of Poverty Reduction) that will (i) analyze poverty trends and determinants; (ii) monitor the implementation of poverty strategies, policies, programs and projects including the selection of relevant indicators; and (iii) evaluate their impact on poverty reduction. The Observatory will publish an annual report on Poverty in Guinea.      This activity will include: (i) the proposal of the Observatory including legal texts, staffing, composition, management, action plan, outputs, budget, and time table; (ii) a study tour in neighboring countries (Mali, Benin) to review the experiences of existing Observatories, and (iii) workshop with the staff and users of the Observatory to discuss the proposal, and finalize its different elements.    ,,,, Component 3: Definition and establishment of an Integrated Statistical Information System  for Poverty Reduction To create an Integrated Statistical Information System for Poverty Reduction (ISISPR) that produces quantitative and qualitative information, at (i) national, regional and community level, for sectoral and intersectoral issues, and (ii) at household and individual levels. The ISISPR will include the existing statistical services from the sectoral ministers. This activity will include (i)  the design of the overall system including statistics production, information flows, and expected outputs; and (ii) two workshops with Government, civil society and donors participation. The first workshop will discuss the system features, and the selection of performance indicators, and the second workshop will review the first year production of the system.  Component 4: Data Bank, Documentation, Dissemination  This component will allow the documentation of existing data and the organization in a data bank (Ã  la Africa Household Survey Data Bank), as well as the production of a CDROM and the establishment of three web sites to disseminate the data.Â§ Â§Poverty Data Bank : To establish at the National Statistical Department (DNS) a data bank where survey primary data and metadata will be stored, and made readily available to users. The activity includes (i)  the establishment of the data bank software; (ii) the training  of DNS staff; (iii)  the gathering of  data and the scanning of the documentation; and (iv) a workshop to present the data bank and to define the role of data producers and users. Â§Poverty CDROM : a preparation and dissemination of a CD-ROM containing all existing reports related to poverty to date. This stock taking exercise would mainly involve all statistics producers. The CDROM production will build on the Data Bank results. This activity includes (i)  the design of the CDROM structure and the search tool; (ii) the training of DNS staff; (iii) the gathering of the documentation, and the scanning of the documents selected, and (iv)  the dissemination of the CDROM.  Web sites : To develop three web sites (interlinked), one for the PRS Committee, one for the National Statistical Department, and one for the Observatory.  This activity includes (i)  the design and installation of the three web sites; (ii)  the training of local staff to maintain it; (ii)  the gathering and scanning of the documentation to be put on the web sites; and (iv) the review and fine tuning of the web sites one year after their installation.  Component 5: Poverty map  To develop the capacity of the DNS and other statistical personnel to elaborate and regularly update poverty maps based on 15 to 20 indicators, previously developed by international consultants. These poverty maps would be tailored to the specific needs (especially targeting) of various policy makers as they elaborate their Poverty Reduction Strategy and would allow wide dissemination and discussion within the country and with development partners.  This activity includes (i) the review and  update of the system; (ii) the  training of poverty map users; (ii)  the  collection and processing of new data; and (iii) a workshop to discuss the features of the poverty map and disseminate the results.