1.                   JUSTIFICATION/BACKGROUND

As a country, Malaysia has seen rapid socio-economic progress.  In the span of around 60 years, the country has transformed from a socially segregated community purely reliant on a commodity based economy to a multi-racial industrialising nation. Its GDP increased from RM 12.8 billion in 1957 to about RM 1.3 trillion in 2015. Urbanisation grew from 28% in 1970 to 75% in 2015. A significant marker of improvement is the near to eradication of poverty.  Poverty has been reduced to less than 0.4% in 2016 from 51% in 1957; inequality, life expectancy, and other social and economic indicators, while presenting new challenges, have also shown tremendous improvements during the same period.  The economic growth also benefited the whole country. Nevertheless, challenges remain, demographically children are disproportionately affected by poverty. In 2014 the child poverty level was 1.7% compared to 0.6 % of overall poverty. However, as high as 15% of children live in households with incomes that are less than twice the PL/I (UNICEF 2016).

In Sabah, poverty has been on a downward trend, from nearly 60% in 1976 to about 2.9% in 2016. Mean monthly household income also increased, from RM513 to RM5,354 during the same period. While from a glance Sabah is doing well and improving tremendously, however Sabah bumiputra poverty rate is still highest at 20% as of 2014 and while income growth is positive it is still low and uneven throughout the State. However, when it comes to children, there is very little literature on how children in general and from other marginal groups or different economic classes perform, this includes the undocumented children, which, according to one estimate, amounts to nearly 500,000 in Sabah.

Therefore, we are proposing to undertake a study on child poverty in the state of Sabah, including undocumented children.  This is in line with the theme of Sustainable Development Goals and the 11th Malaysian Plan of inclusive growth. No one should be left behind, and everyone, including children, citizens and non-citizens alike, registered or stateless, should fully benefit from the growth and wealth of the state.

2.                   OBJECTIVE, PURPOSE AND EXPECTED RESULTS

In summary, this consultancy sought will serve the following objectives:

·         Assess situation of children, including undocumented children residing in poor communities in Sabah through conducting a survey in purposefully selected communities[1] and conduct quantitative and qualitative data analyses of these well-selected areas.

·         Documenting the life of a child in poor communities through photography. Organize best picture contest.

·         Promote evidence-based public policies related to multi-dimensional poverty.

·         Disseminate strategic information on child rights and child well-being in these communities

Ultimately, the knowledge base resulted from this project will be used for promoting equitable and evidence-based public policies related to multi-dimensional poverty in Sabah communities that is State specific. This would help in tackling the social misconceptions about marginalized children in society and setting general framework for state level strategies and policies to reduce child deprivation and disparities based on evidence and analysis.