Stats Bureau can now measure poverty levels using Multi-dimensional Method

Feb 11, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – Staffers of the Bureau of Statistics are now better positioned to measure poverty levels in Guyana using the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

This was made possible after several staff members recently concluded hands-on capacity building exercise conducted at the Bureau’s headquarters in Georgetown. The training was facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will see Guyana utilising this method for the first time, the bureau said in a press release.

Facilitators and participants of the training

Previously, measurement of Poverty levels in Guyana by the Bureau was primarily done using the Consumption Expenditure method, which utilises data on household expenditure. Other Agencies have also used the income method which relies on household income data. However, incomes are often understated and therefore not the most reliable metric for poverty measurement.

According to facilitator of the training exercise and the UNDP Multi-dimensional Poverty Specialist, Renata Pardo, the MPI method is a complementary one which examines other dimensions to poverty which are not covered by monetary measures.

Participants engaged in the training exercise

These include school attendance, educational achievement, barriers of access to health services, unemployment, food insecurity and overcrowding in homes, among others. While Guyana has a Multi-dimensional Poverty Index calculated at a global stage, the specialist explained that there are dimensions of poverty that are unique to each country. Ensuring that the participants of the training have a greater understanding of those dimensions was therefore a main aspect of the exercise.

This will now allow for the design and computation of the country’s first Multi-dimensional Poverty Index at a national level. Meanwhile, Chief Statistician, Errol La Cruez highlighted the important role of the Bureau of Statistics in providing accurate, quality, and timely data and analysis that is vital for policy and decision makers to construct plans and interventions that reduce poverty, promote development and improve people’s quality of life. Therefore, this training and the subsequent measurement of poverty using the MPI would be very useful to all stakeholders in identifying areas for development and tracking progress in this regard.

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Bureau of Statistics, Errol La Cruez, Guyana, Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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