ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates the use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques for economic assessment in post-conflict Rwanda. This technique was used as part of the methodology for researching poverty baselines in preparation for the 2001 Rwandan Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The chapter outlines the use of participation to inform strategies for poverty reduction, the socio-economic setting of Rwanda and the role of PRSPs. This establishes the context for a practical example of using PRA techniques to establish perceptions of wealth from the perspective of different Rwandan communities. Any participatory poverty assessment of Rwanda has to be informed by the socio-economic setting. The Government of Rwanda cites that poverty in Rwanda is due to the economic structure which reflects a failure to achieve productivity increases in a context of a large and growing population. Past inequalities are being overcome by attempting to mainstream the income distribution to all sectors of the economy and close the urban-rural gap.
