Evolution of multidimensional poverty in crisis-ridden Mozambique

On 18 June 2020, three researchers of the Inclusive growth in Mozambique programme, Eva-Maria Egger, UNU-WIDER Research Fellow, and Finn Tarp and Vincenzo Salvucci, both researchers at the University of Copenhagen, will present their current research on changes in multidimensional poverty in Mozambique during the crisis-ridden period between 2015 and 2018.

The presentation is based on the new UNU-WIDER Working Paper Evolution of multidimensional poverty in crisis-ridden Mozambique.

The presentation will be in Portuguese.

To join our seminar live and take part in the discussion, please register by contacting Anette Camorai at camorai@wider.unu.edu by Wednesday 17 June 2020 at 18:00 (Maputo time, GMT +2). Please provide your name, surname, gender, nationality, and affiliation. By registering, you agree to be added to UNU-WIDER’s customer relationship management system under the Institute’s terms and conditions (Privacy statement andDisclaimer).

About the research

Mozambique experienced important reduction in the poverty rate until recently, before two major natural disasters hit and the country started to suffer from a hidden debt scandal with associated economic slowdown. As the last available national household expenditure survey is from just before these crises unfolded, there is need for a poverty assessment based on alternative data sources, especially since the COVID-19 crisis is now hitting the country.

In their working paper, the authors study the evolution of multidimensional poverty in Mozambique using the Demographic and Health Surveys/Malaria Indicator Survey data. Using both the standard Alkire–Foster multidimensional poverty index and the first-order dominance (FOD) method, they find that the poverty reduction trend observed between 2009–11 and 2015 halted between 2015 and 2018. Meanwhile, the number of poor people increased, mainly in rural areas and in the central provinces. Importantly, the poorest provinces did not improve their rankings over time, and between 2015 and 2018, no progress took place for most areas and provinces.

About the IGM Seminar Series

The online IGM Seminar Series provides a space to discuss research themes with a focus on the challenges of promoting inclusive growth in Mozambique at a time of overlapping crises: the economic and financial crisis of hidden debt, the climate crisis, and the global health crisis.