and gender are difficult to address, especially at the state level.<sup>11</sup> However, many of these findings can assist in the formulation of poverty reduction recommendations and strategy in Pará. The location and education findings should be reflected in the infrastructure and education policies, respectively, while health policies relating to improving family planning and infant mortality should result in lower household sizes with fewer young children. Also, some of the social protection policies should be targeted at the vulnerable as identified in this section.

# **8.  Poverty Reduction Strategy for Pará**

Over the medium to longrun what is needed to alleviate the high levels of poverty and social exclusion is broad-based growth. However, this is not enough to alleviate poverty, particularly in the shortrun. Measures are needed to protect vulnerable groups and to ensure that the poor are able to take advantage of the greater opportunities in the economy. In order to address these latter needs, this paper has examined the profile of the poor in Pará and recommended priority policies and programs targeted to them.

The government of Pará has taken important steps to reduce poverty. For example recent programs, such as the Maria-Maria and Raizes programs, address the needs of vulnerable groups in Pará. However, Pará needs a poverty alleviation strategy that sets clear and appropriate priorities and goals for poverty reduction efforts within a framework of a continuation of economic policies that would promote growth. The challenge and test of the government’s resolve will be to what extent current and future policies and programs are governed by that strategy. In order to ensure that the poor reap the benefits, poverty measurement and monitoring are called for, including tracking changes and making appropriate adjustments in existing programs and training staff to undertake activities to reflect these changes.

## **A SIX-PRONGED APPROACH FOR PARÁ**

The poverty profile and determination of poverty provide guidance on a social agenda and poverty alleviation strategy for Pará.<sup>12</sup> The strategic principles for reducing poverty involve seeking to strengthen the key assets of the poor, taking into account geographic differences in the poverty situation and priorities. The government of Pará could apply a six-pronged poverty-reduction approach:<sup>13</sup> 11 Moreover, the findings on race could be slightly biased—the non-poor in Brazil have a tendency to classify themselves as white.

12 It is worth to keep in mind that this paper is a fast assessment of poverty and exclusion in Pará and does by no means capture all areas of poverty in the state. Further research include: public expenditure analysis (incidence and management), the links between poverty, rural and urban living, health, and the environment, impact evaluations of social assistance programs, participatory research on the obstacles to increased school enrollment among black and mulatto children, and participatory research on poverty, crime and violence.

13 Some key steps for immediate action could include: (1) conducting a thorough review of public expenditure allocations and developing proposals for reallocating expenditures such that they better reach the poor; (2) developing a set of indicators to monitor implementation of poverty reduction interventions (including key budget categories) and agreeing on an inter-institutional process for reporting on such indicators and implementation; and (3) applying a poverty map as a tool for targeting and resource allocation.

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