A new evaluation by the EBA shows that Sida’s analytical model for understanding and tackling the various dimensions of poverty has contributed to a common and more nuanced view of poverty within the agency. At the same time, the tool needs to be developed in order to steer aid more effectively towards poverty reduction.
There is broad international consensus that poverty is not just a lack of money or material resources. Poverty must be understood in its many different dimensions. Since 2017, Sida has used multidimensional poverty analysis as a tool to understand the many dimensions of poverty – resources, human security, power and voice, and choices – and to take into account the political, economic and environmental context in partner countries.
The evaluation, Evaluation of Sida’s Application of Multidimensional Poverty Analyses, assesses how Sida has used its analysis model, what results it has led to, and how aid has been affected. It shows that the results so far have mainly been indirect, in the form of a more common understanding of poverty within the organisation. A multidimensional approach has been largely institutionalised, but the potential to use multidimensional poverty analysis as an active planning tool has not yet been fully exploited.
The results will be presented at the seminar Understanding and changing: dimensions of poverty, where the report’s authors and experts from Sida, academia and EBA will participate in discussions.