Over 50 Countries Developing New Approach to Ending Poverty

• What do Cuba and China have in common with Chad, Honduras and Cote d’Ivoire? 
• Which Country in the world is fully restructuring its National Budget to fight poverty more effectively? 
• Do Poverty AND peace go together in Colombia? 

Mexico, Bhutan and Colombia have led the way in adopting a method to measure poverty in all its dimensions. And they have shown that it works. Poor people are beginning to notice change in Government policies--because resources now flow more directly to addressing the needs of the poor. 

After only a few years, there are now 51 countries participating in the Multidimensional Peer Network (MPPN) and working on this new way of measuring and combating multidimensional poverty. Among these are China, Cuba, Chad, Honduras, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, India and Tunisia. 

Armenia, Bhutan, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Pakistan have already adopted official measures of multidimensional poverty. And what is measured is addressed. In many of these countries the poor are seeing the impact of this new method of measurement. 

For example, the Government of Costa Rica is using the MPI to allocate budgetary resources to seven Government institutions responsible for social programmes in the country. 

As part of its peace process Colombia used the National Colombian Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to develop programmers that focus on the geographic areas where conflict-affected populations are being reintegrated into society. 

On November 8-9, the Government of Mexico highlighted to policymakers from over 50 countries and international institutions meeting in Mexico how the Mexican national multidimensional poverty measure has been used to inform policy programmes aimed at reducing poverty. This measure, in place in Mexico since 2009, has transformed the work of State-level Governments and propelled new, coordinated National programmes to tackle deprivations in social rights. 

The times are changing when it comes to poverty. The Sustainable Development Goals now enshrine the idea of poverty as more than just income. Countries in every continent now work with the Policy Network to help implement new national measures. And International Agencies are following suit. 

On November 4 at the University of Oxford, Sir Tony Atkinson launched the new Atkinson Commission Report just released by the World Bank. The Atkinson Report recommended that the World Bank report a measure of multidimensional poverty among its non-monetary indicators, and the World Bank’s response indicated that it intends to move on this recommendation. 

Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI, said: “Policymakers are turning to the Network because the MPI explains the experience of poverty in the words of the poor and gives policymakers the information more effectively to tackle poverty in its many forms. That over 50 countries have joined the Network shows the power of measurement to impact policy. What is measured gets acted on.” 

Further information 

To arrange an interview with OPHI Director Sabina Alkire, or to attend the high level meeting of the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network, contact Felipe Roa Clavijo OPHI Policy and Communications Assistant at +447563712633 or felipe.roa-clavijo@qeh.ox.ac.uk