Online Training Portal
The following resources provide a thorough conceptual and technical introduction to current literature on the capability approach and on techniques of measuring multidimensional poverty. There is a strong emphasis on the Alkire-Foster method developed by OPHI and used to construct the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and national multidimensional poverty measures in Mexico and Colombia.
Videos are available for most of the sessions, which can be watched online or downloaded. Lighter, audio-only, files are also available, along with lecture slides and supporting resources such as exercises and reading lists.
The sessions are led by OPHI Researcher Officers José Manuel Roche, Suman Seth, Gaston Yalonetzky and Director, Sabina Alkire.
Background to the training materials
The capability approach formulated by Amartya Sen, and further developed by the philosopher Martha Nussbaum and others, provides a conceptual framework that grounds many multidimensional approaches to poverty and social protection, including the MDGs, PRSPs, rights-based development, integrated social policy, and other specific initiatives.
In the past few years, interest in multidimensional quantitative techniques of analysis has surged. New quantitative methodologies have been developed for measurement, comparisons, and analysis. Many more are still under development. It is a fast-moving area. These online training resources are designed to be flexible and fit the needs of those interested in finding out more about the benefits and construction of such measures – by following all the sessions, viewers will get a comprehensive grounding in the issues.
Who are the resources for?
The sessions are designed for anyone interested in the conceptual, political and/or technical aspects of multidimensional poverty measurement. For the sessions on quantitative methods (econometrics, statistics), a prior knowledge of STATA is required, as well as a familiarity with the capability approach and social science research methods.
These sessions were recorded at the 2011 OPHI-HDCA Summer School in Delft, Netherlands at Delft University of Technology. OPHI’s 2012 training course timetable will be announced in early 2012.
