The Government of Jamaica is now better equipped to measure and address poverty across the island following the launch of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
Developed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in collaboration with Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), the Index will serve as a foundation for the development of policies and programmes aimed at reducing multidimensional poverty and promoting the welfare of Jamaicans.
It will complement the existing consumption-based monetary measure used by the Government.
Grant financing for the MPI came from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through its Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment (ECPA) programme, which improves access to timely, reliable, monetary and multidimensional poverty data across the bank’s member countries.
It consists of four dimensions – education, health, living standards and employment, broken down into 15 indicators.
An individual would be considered poor if they are deprived in 40 per cent or more of the 15 indicators.
