Philippine Government Showcases Innovative Approach to Multidimensional Poverty at UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2023

The Philippines, through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), took center stage at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2023, held on September 20, 2023, at the UN Headquarters in New York. The government highlighted its innovative approach to addressing multidimensional poverty, emphasizing a commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The side event, titled “Leveraging the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to Advance Interlinked SDGs,” showcased the Philippines’ dedication to a comprehensive approach to development in alignment with the 2030 Agenda.

NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon underscored the significance of the MPI in capturing the diverse economic and social challenges faced by individuals. She detailed the country’s journey with the MPI, emphasizing efforts to refine data approaches, broaden the definition of poverty, and introduce policies in line with the broader objectives of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda.

“From 2015 to 2018, the Philippines adopted the MPI comprising 13 indicators across four dimensions: education, health and nutrition, housing, water and sanitation, and employment. Our findings underscored deeper deprivations, particularly in education,” said Edillon.

Highlighting the nation’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Edillon explained, “For the years 2019-2022, the Philippines enhanced its data approach by adding questions into the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) and merging it with the Labor Force Survey (LFS). This provides reliable estimates down to provinces and highly urbanized cities, enabling more accountability.”

In a commitment to enhanced accountability, both the FIES and LFS will now have at least 25 times more samples than the previous dataset from the Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS).

Edillon also highlighted pivotal policies enacted to address poverty, including the 4Ps (Conditional Cash Transfer program), Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, and the Universal Health Care Law.

The side event, hosted by the Republic of Panama, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network, emphasized the role of political leadership in achieving SDGs, especially during challenging times. The Philippines reiterated its commitment to using the MPI as a tool to drive policy actions, promote societal well-being, and reduce multidimensional poverty, aligning with the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda.

“What we are trying to do now is to fortify our commitment towards achieving the SDGs, and especially on [SDG indicator] 1.2… Armed with a refined targeting mechanism, robust institutional platforms, and a comprehensive monitoring system, we know that we are now better equipped to reduce the headcount and severity of the multi-dimensionally poor and, consequently, accelerate the SDGs,” concluded Edillon.

The UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2023 serves as a global platform, emphasizing worldwide dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.