1. The Multidimensional Poverty
AssessmentTool: An introduction
Alasdair Cohen
MPAT Project Manager
MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome

2. Presentation overview
MPAT
 What it is
 How it works
 How we built & evaluated it
 How to implement MPAT
 How to use the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet
 Quick introduction to the 2014 User’s Guide
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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3. What it is
 A survey-based, thematic, indicator
 A method for collecting and organizing rural people’s perceptions
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
#Theme
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Composite
vs
Thematic
indicators
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4. What it is
 Assess ten core dimensions of rural life, livelihoods, and wellbeing*
 Is an enabling environment in place?
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
*For more information see: Cohen, A. (2010).The Multidimensional PovertyAssessment Tool:A New Framework for Measuring
Rural Poverty. Development in Practice, 20, 887-897. 4

5. What it is
 A collection of composite indicators presented together
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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6. How MPAT works
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
 Use surveys to collect data about people’s perceptions
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7. How MPAT works
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
The Household Survey
 Administered in an
interview format
(~35 minutes)
 Easy to complete
 Range of responses
already coded
 Formatted for easy
quality control & data
entry
And Village-level Survey
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8. How MPAT works
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
 Survey data is
transformed to 1-
10 scale
(valuation)
 Indicators are
used to organize
these data
(weighting)
 Subcomponents
combined into
components (now
at a 10-100 scale) 8

9. How MPAT works
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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10. How we built it
 Custom-designed from the bottom up (2007-2009)
 Based on input from international experts*
See 2009 MPAT Book and 2014 User’s Guide for acknowledgements
Beijing (2008) New Delhi (2009) Rome (2009)
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
*For more information see: Cohen & Saisana (2014). Quantifying the qualitative: Eliciting expert input to develop the
Multidimensional PovertyAssessment Tool. Journal of Development Studies. 1, 35-5010

11. How we built it
 Multiple rounds of testing & refinement (2008-2009)
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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12. How we built it
 Beta version released
early 2010
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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13. How we built it
 Training projects to use the beta version (2012-2013)
Bangladesh (2012) Mozambique (2013)
Additional improvements made to the tool and training programs
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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14. How we built it
 Feedback from non-IFAD users also incorporated, for example:
Kenya (2011 & 2013) India (2011) China (2013)
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
Nuru International (NGO) Indian Institute of Technology Chinese CDC (MoH)
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15. How we evaluated it
 Independent evaluation
 European Commission JRC
 Peer-reviewed journal papers
 Journal of Development Studies
 Development in Practice
 2014 User’s Guide peer review
 Wageningen University
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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16. How to implement MPAT
 Simple sampling approach (16-30 villages, 30 households per village)
 Field-tested training program for enumerators
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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17. How to implement MPAT
 Extensive focus on quality control & data entry
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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18. How to implement MPAT
 Excel Spreadsheet automatically calculates indicators/results
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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19. Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet
 Intentionally used Excel as the platform (accessible & simple)
 Spreadsheet “does the math” for the user (in a transparent way)
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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20. Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet
 Automatically calculates results for each household
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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For
subcomponents
For
components

21. Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet
 Automatically calculates results for each village (and entire project)
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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22. Using the MPAT Excel Spreadsheet
Break for real-time tour of the 2014 MPAT Excel Spreadsheet…
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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23. A quick look at some results
 Looking behind the component scores in rural Kenya
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
Data courtesy of Nuru International
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24. Quick introduction to the User’s Guide
 Comprehensive, step-by-
step instructions for all
stages
 Detailed lesson plans for:
 Enumerator training
 Supervisor training
 Data entry training
 Guidance on use for M&E,
results analysis,
customizing MPAT…
…and much more
MPAT: An Introduction | Alasdair Cohen | MPAT Launch Event - April 3, 2014 - IFAD Headquarters, Rome
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