Solving for Humanity: Resource Database
About the
Multidimensional Poverty Index
Eradicating poverty is humanity’s foremost sustainable development goal. To do so, we must know not only who is poor — but how they’re poor.
Out of all of our resources, we recommended all teams explore the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) with UNDP.
As expressed by OPHI Director Dr. Sabina Alkire at the Institutions panel, poverty is about much more than low income (monetary poverty). Here are some key takeaways:
Poverty is a compound problem that needs a holistic solution. To experience poverty is to be impacted by many deprivations that together prevent wellbeing.
Local-global partnerships are vital. Those in poverty are the protagonists of their solutions. They are closest to the needs and opportunities specific to their communities.
Using a framework like MPI enables everyone to be part of the solution — from student researchers to global policymakers. Your local insights do influence the UN!
See how young people use the MPI to inform their vision
These distinguished youth proposals were Global Finalists that each incorporated multidimensional poverty in innovative ways.
Revisit our SFH expert panel with Dr. Sabina Alkire
What is “human development”?
In short, human development is an approach to global development that focuses on growing the opportunities, abilities, and well-being of all human life — not just the economy.
The United Nations has focused on human development as its main conceptual framework of global development since 1990. The UN measures and tracks human development through the Human Development Index. More on that below.
What is the Human Development Index?
Here’s a brief video explaining the Human Development Index (HDI) from the experts at the UNDP Human Development Report Office (UNDP HDRO), which develops the HDI for every country each year. They’ve also worked hard to advise the South-North Scholars team that organizes Solving for Humanity!
What is the Human Development Report?
Every year, HDRO releases the Human Development Report to explain and track major challenges to human development worldwide. Here’s a brief video explaining this year’s report, which focused on explaining a global trend of rising feelings of uncertainty in people’s lives.
Where can I learn more?
Solving for Humanity hosted a 1-hour official kick-off event with our United Nations colleagues at HDRO. Fernanda and Josefin presented a detailed presentation on their work in human development and shared some amazing insights about what your team should consider including in your proposal.
Registered after the event, or just want to watch it again? Here it is!
For each Challenge Theme, we’ve put together incredible data sources to get your team started, including some resources sent to us by experts at Oxford University, Duke University, and other global institutions.
Simply choose your theme and you’ll be on your way!
