Discussion Forum

The Microcredit Summit Secretariat is moderating a discussion group via regular post and E-mail on poverty indicators and measurements to assist our Research Director in monitoring the progress of the campaign. If you would like to participate, please read Poverty Measurement Discussion Group Paper # 1 (in Spanish) (in French), Targeting the Poorest and Covering Costs by David Gibbons and John De Wit, Poverty Measurement Discussion Group Paper # 2 (in Spanish) (in French), and Poverty Measurement Discussion Group Paper #3 (in Spanish) (in French).

The Next Items for Discussion

The goal of the poverty measurement discussion group is to find consensus on the poverty measurement tools that are being proved successful in different regions and in different contexts.

We welcome comments on the methods discussed in Poverty Measurement Discussion Group Paper #3, which includes measurements from RHUNU UNESCO, Family Development Fund, International Rescue Committee SEAD Program, and Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO).

Comments on these tools should focus on:

  • Challenging the tool: Does the tool make sense to you? If not, why not? Would the tool be effective in identifying the population in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line in your community, country, or region? If not, why not?
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  • Verifying the tool: Share the experience of your organization if this tool is being effective in identifying the population in the bottom 50 percent below the poverty line. Why is it working? How do you know that it is effective?
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  • Improving the tool: Have you modified one of these methodologies? If so, how? Why is it effective?
We also welcome comments on poverty measurement tools that have NOT yet been addressed in this forum. In all cases, we are most interested in comments that:

Describe, in detail, a methodology currently in use to identify the poverty level of program clients AND discuss the strengths and weaknesses of that methodology in terms of cost-effectiveness for the program, and the accuracy in identifying families in the bottom 50 percent of those living below poverty in developing countries (or identifying families below the poverty line in industrialized countries).

If you would like to join the discussion group, please send us the following form.

I would like to join the discussion group mailing list on poverty measurements:

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