Linking ODA to the MPI: A Proposal for Latin America

El artículo parte de la metodología del Índice de Probreza Multidimensional y la para comparar la actual distribución de la Ayuda Oficial al Desarrollo en América Latina.

The article starts from the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) methodology and measures ( Santos et al.
2015) available, and uses them to compare the current disbursements of Official Development Aid (ODA) with
MPI-related deprivations and indicators. In particular, the six deprivation dimensions are matched with the
current sectorial classifications contained in the OECD-CRS database. This empirical exercise allows making
a comparison between ODA donors current disbursements (priorities) and normative disbursements, if the
MPI were taken as the rule in order to attain the objective of real poverty eradication. Important political consequences
of this counterfactual exercise are deduced: Latin American development agencies (ministries or
departments) should start to register ODA flows using the multidimensional poverty dimensions (housing, basic
services, standard of living, education, and employment, and social protection); donors (both North-South
and South-South Cooperation) should focus their resources and priorities on the MPI structure, increasing recipients
ownership of development strategies and interventions.