The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) will launch the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) on Friday (January 16).

The MPI, which has been in development for six years, captures the various experiences of persons in poverty.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on January 15, Director of Policy Research at the PIOJ, Suzette Johnson, noted that poverty is diverse and complex and goes beyond measuring one’s financial means.

“Traditionally, we measure poverty by looking at money. We assess if someone is poor by looking at their expenditure and how it compares with the poverty line. But we know that poverty is more complex and very dynamic, and persons experience poverty in a variety of ways, outside of their ability to spend or buy their very basic needs. Persons have told us that when the poverty rates are released, it does not necessarily reflect their lived circumstances,” she pointed out.

Mrs. Johnson told JIS News that the PIOJ engaged in an extensive process to develop Jamaica’s MPI.

“We researched a methodology that would go beyond money. We explored international best practices and found that there is a multidimensional poverty index that is used to capture the various experiences of persons in poverty. Multidimensional poverty is internationally accepted and it is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals,” she pointed out.

The process to develop the National MPI was led by the PIOJ, with technical support provided by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), and funding support by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

It is made up of 15 indicators grouped into four dimensions – education, health, living standards and employment. Each dimension is equally weighted, and each indicator within each dimension is equally weighted.

The National MPI identifies a person as multidimensionally poor if they are deprived in 40 per cent or more of the indicators included in the measure.

Mrs. Johnson told JIS News that the Index will better assist policymakers in directing resources to specific groups by way of social intervention programmes or other means.

“The specific indicators give clear direction as to where the intervention needs to be. We know if somebody does not have safe drinking water, we know that the intervention should be to provide safe drinking water. It helps us to know what has the greatest impact, what does not. We’re able to direct scarce resources where the greatest need can be felt or the greatest benefit can be experienced,” she pointed out.

The Jamaica National MPI was calculated using data from the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC), which is an annual survey that captures the most comprehensive socioeconomic data in the country.

The public is being encouraged to view the report, which is available on the PIOJ website.

“Persons will have access to an explainer video, and another short video, just to get a snapshot or a summary understanding of what it is. We will be uploading frequently asked questions and brief answers. Information like that will be available on the PIOJ website for persons interested,” Mrs. Johnson said.