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Economic development

Strengthening Capacity to Tackle Multidimensional Poverty in OECS Countries

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States has marked the conclusion of the Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment (eCPA) Project, a two-year initiative to strengthen the capacity of OECS countries to tackle multidimensional poverty. Spearheaded by the OECS Commission, in partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank, the project has facilitated the collection of critical data and the development of targeted interventions to address poverty in an informed and evidence-driven way. The project has underscored the importance of combining surveys, censuses, geospatial analysis, and institutional assessments to deliver data-driven insights for policy formulation and social protection targeting.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment (eCPA) Project has been completed in OECS Member States, marking a significant step towards strengthening capacity to tackle multidimensional poverty.
  • The project was launched in partnership between the OECS Commission and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to address poverty in an informed and evidence-driven way.
  • The project employed modern data collection methods, cutting-edge tools, and capacity-building to strengthen poverty measurement and gain deeper insight into the needs of vulnerable groups in OECS Member States.
  • The use of participatory data collection processes ensured the voices of communities were heard in the project, which collected data through Living Conditions and Household Budget Surveys and national availability of census data.
  • The project provided capacity-development training and workshops across Member States to strengthen national capacity to analyse poverty and accelerate the development of evidence-based interventions.
  • The High-Level eCPA Forum convened a range of stakeholders, including Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of National Statistics Office, and development partners, to present detailed poverty and inequality profiles and facilitate peer-to-peer learning and best practices sharing.
  • The project has showcased the use of multidimensional poverty metrics and GIS mapping tools for targeting and policy, and shared insights from the Macro Social and Economic Analysis - Integrated Assessment exercises conducted in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the British Virgin Islands.
  • The OECS Commission's Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, highlighted the eCPA as the Commission's flagship program for generating harmonized monetary and multidimensional poverty, inequality, and vulnerability statistics across Member States.

Statistics:

  • The project was completed over a period of two years (2023-2025), with the High-Level eCPA Forum convening in August 2025.
  • OECS Member States participated in the project, with nine English-speaking countries involved.
  • The project collected data through Living Conditions and Household Budget Surveys, and national availability of census data.
  • The project provided capacity-development training and workshops across Member States, involving over 100 participants.
  • The project has showcased the use of multidimensional poverty metrics and GIS mapping tools for targeting and policy, with the use of these tools seen as a major advancement in poverty analysis.

Sources:

  • "Step by step, OECS Countries strengthen their capacity to tackle multidimensional poverty" (OECS Commission)
  • "Caribbean Development Bank Supports Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment Project in OECS Member States" (CDB)
  • "Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment (eCPA) Project - Background Report" (OECS Commission)

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