KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica has entered a new era of poverty assessment with the official launch of its groundbreaking National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), a sophisticated analytical tool designed to transform how the nation measures and addresses economic hardship. This innovative framework moves beyond traditional income-based metrics to capture the complex reality of deprivation across multiple dimensions of human wellbeing.
Developed through a strategic partnership between the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), the MPI represents a paradigm shift in poverty measurement. The index comprehensively evaluates four critical dimensions – education, health, living standards, and employment – through 15 specific indicators that collectively paint a nuanced picture of disadvantage. Individuals experiencing deprivation in 40% or more of these indicators will be classified as multidimensionally poor.
Financed through grant funding from the Caribbean Development Bank’s Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment programme, this initiative marks a significant advancement in Jamaica’s data infrastructure. During Friday’s official launch ceremony at Kingston’s AC Marriott Hotel, PIOJ Director General Dr. Wayne Henry presented the inaugural MPI report to stakeholders, emphasizing its transformative potential for evidence-based policymaking.
Dr. Henry articulated the index’s revolutionary nature, stating, “This tool fundamentally evolves how we define and address disadvantage, moving beyond mere consumption metrics to capture what households truly lack across education, health, living standards, and employment domains.” He emphasized that traditional monetary measures often miss overlapping deprivations that characterize modern poverty, where individuals might meet basic consumption thresholds while still facing critical disadvantages in housing, sanitation, employment, and education access.
The MPI’s implementation enables unprecedented precision in identifying pockets of deprivation that previously remained invisible to policymakers. This granular understanding allows for targeted interventions specifically designed for those most in need while strengthening monitoring and evaluation capabilities under Jamaica’s National Poverty Reduction Programme. Beyond government applications, the index provides researchers, civil society organizations, and the general public with powerful analytical tools to understand poverty’s multifaceted nature.
Elbert Ellis, Portfolio Manager for the Caribbean Development Bank’s Social Sector Division, highlighted the timing significance as Jamaica confronts Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath. “Natural disasters frequently exacerbate existing vulnerabilities across multiple wellbeing dimensions,” Ellis noted. “The MPI ensures recovery efforts remain inclusive, targeted, and responsive to actual needs rather than simplistic economic indicators.”
Statistical analysis reveals encouraging trends, with multidimensional poverty incidence declining from 11.6% in 2018 to 8.7% in 2019 according to available data. The development process, initiated in June 2021 using Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions data, involved extensive community engagement with 357 participants across 17 communities in seven parishes, followed by technical consultations and empirical research to ensure methodological rigor.
This pioneering initiative strengthens Jamaica’s progress toward achieving Vision 2030 development goals and Sustainable Development Commitments, particularly SDG 1 targeting poverty eradication in all its manifestations. The MPI establishes Jamaica as a regional leader in innovative poverty assessment methodologies with potential applications throughout the Caribbean region.