Multidimensional Child Poverty in Rwanda

Rwanda has achieved remarkable progress in reducing poverty over the past decades. Since 2000, the monetary poverty rate has fallen from nearly 59% to under 40%, with extreme poverty dropping from 40% to 16%. Despite these impressive gains, poverty still affects two out every five Rwandans, and ending child poverty is a key commitment of the Government of Rwanda, highlighted in the 2017–2024 National Strategy for Transformation as well as through the government’s strong support to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 39% of children 0–17 years in Rwanda are currently multidimensionally poor – the SDG target is to reduce this figure by at least half by 2030.

Two concepts are used to measure child poverty in this study: monetary poverty and multi-dimensional poverty. A child is considered to be monetarily poor when living in a household where total household consumption per adult equivalent is below the national poverty line. A child is defined as being multidimensionally poor if he or she is deprived in several dimensions of his or her wellbeing. This study takes the multidimensional approach to poverty, based on the Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (MODA) methodology developed by UNICEF, which concentrates on the measurement of child deprivation. It is unique in that it takes the child (when possible) rather than the household as the unit of analysis. It explores overlapping deprivations, and the prevalence and depth of deprivation for each child to inform policy responses and interventions.

SPRI Global was happy to support UNICEF Rwanda and the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) in assessing current challenges for children’s well-being in Rwanda. The full report is now available for download from UNICEF Rwanda.