The Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool: An

introduction

Alasdair CohenMPAT Project Manager

MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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Presentation overview

MPAT

What it is

How it works

How we built & evaluated it

How to implement MPAT

How to use the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet

Quick introduction to the 2014 User’s Guide

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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What it is

A survey-based, thematic, indicator

A method for collecting and organizing rural people’s perceptions

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

#Theme

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#Composite

vs

Thematic

indicators

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What it is

Assess ten core dimensions of rural life, livelihoods, and wellbeing*

Is an enabling environment in place?

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

*For more information see: Cohen, A. (2010). The Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool: A New Framework for Measuring Rural Poverty. Development in Practice, 20, 887-897.

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What it is

A collection of composite indicators presented together

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How MPAT works

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

Use surveys to collect data about people’s perceptions

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How MPAT works

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

The Household Survey

Administered in an interview format (~35 minutes)

Easy to complete

Range of responses already coded

Formatted for easy quality control & data entry

And Village-level Survey

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How MPAT works

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

Survey data is transformed to 1-10 scale (valuation)

Indicators are used to organize these data (weighting)

Subcomponents combined into components (now at a 10-100 scale)

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How MPAT works

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How we built it

Custom-designed from the bottom up (2007-2009)

Based on input from international experts* See 2009 MPAT Book and 2014 User’s Guide for acknowledgements

Beijing (2008) New Delhi (2009) Rome (2009)

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

*For more information see: Cohen & Saisana (2014). Quantifying the qualitative: Eliciting expert input to develop the Multidimensional Poverty Assessment Tool. Journal of Development Studies. 1, 35-50

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How we built it

Multiple rounds of testing & refinement (2008-2009)

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How we built it

Beta version released early 2010

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How we built it

Training projects to use the beta version (2012-2013)

Bangladesh (2012) Mozambique (2013)

Additional improvements made to the tool and training programs

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How we built it

Feedback from non-IFAD users also incorporated, for example:

Kenya (2011 & 2013) India (2011) China (2013)

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

Nuru International (NGO) Indian Institute of Technology Chinese CDC (MoH)

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How we evaluated it

Independent evaluation European Commission JRC

Peer-reviewed journal papers Journal of Development

Studies Development in Practice

2014 User’s Guide peer review Wageningen University

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How to implement MPAT

Simple sampling approach (16-30 villages, 30 households per village)

Field-tested training program for enumerators

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How to implement MPAT

Extensive focus on quality control & data entry

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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How to implement MPAT

Excel Spreadsheet automatically calculates indicators/results

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet

Intentionally used Excel as the platform (accessible & simple)

Spreadsheet “does the math” for the user (in a transparent way)

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet

Automatically calculates results for each household

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

For subcomponents

For components

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Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet

Automatically calculates results for each village (and entire project)

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet

Break for real-time tour of the 2014 MPAT Excel Spreadsheet…

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

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A quick look at some results

Looking behind the component scores in rural Kenya

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

Data courtesy of Nuru International

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Quick introduction to the User’s Guide

Comprehensive, step-by-step instructions for all stages

Detailed lesson plans for: Enumerator training Supervisor training Data entry training

Guidance on use for M&E, results analysis, customizing MPAT…

…and much more

MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome