A Review of the Use of Multidimensional Poverty Measures

Informing Advocacy, Policy and Accountability to Address Child Poverty

SPRI Global researchers contributed to and authored several key documents, multidimensional poverty methodologies and select country case examples that are highlighted in this comprehensive review. The reviews aims to unpack and understand the ways that multidimensional poverty measurement and analysis can impact on national policies, programs and accountability mechanisms and ultimately lead to the reduction of multidimensional child poverty.

Focused on actual country examples of the policy use of multidimensional poverty measures, the review is based on an extensive review of the literature (over 90 reports and papers were reviewed), complimented by qualitative interviews with 24 key stakeholdersinvolved in both the measurement and the use of multidimensional poverty measures, including academics, researchers, and policymakers in government and international organizations. The review provides documentation of 33 country examples, featuring diverse political and economic contexts, and covers the use of multidimensional child poverty analysis in the context of estimating the impact of COVID-19 on children.

The typology of impact pathways emerging from the review and the key conclusions are:

Impact pathway 1: Child poverty advocacy – raising awareness and changing the language and concept of poverty

Impact pathway 2: Using multidimensional poverty measures to identify policies and programmes to reduce child poverty. Four most common key policy recommendations emerging from multidimensional poverty analysis are:

1. The broad targeting of geographic areas and groups in poverty based on a multidimensional poverty measure.
2. The importance of multidimensional poverty measures in guiding multisectoral investment and coordination.
3. The use of multidimensional poverty measures to guide and influence national and sub-national budgets.
4. Social protection is commonly included as a policy recommendation for addressing multidimensional poverty.

Impact pathway 3: Embedding multidimensional poverty in government agendas and strengthening accountability.

The review also highlights important foundations in the processes of developing and using multidimensional poverty and child poverty measures to ensure impact, and outlines important avenues for future work in the field of multidimensional poverty measurement and policy design.

Download the review from UNICEF: Download