Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring: Round Four Report

ABSTRACTED FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Qualitative Social and Economic Monitoring of Livelihoods in Myanmar (QSEM) research program provides a descriptive picture of rural life in Myanmar. It examines people’s livelihood strategies and activities, the wider factors that shape these strategies and how the broader social and institutional features of community life affect people’s livelihood choices and outcomes.The research covers 54 villages in six states and regions covering the different agro‐ecological zones where LIFT operates: (i) the dry zone (Magway and Mandalay regions); (ii) coastal zones (Rakhine State and Ayeyarwady Region); and (iii) hilly zones (Chin and Shan states). This report documents findings from the fourth round of research, which took place between March and May 2014.