Fiji Brief

Exploring multidimensional poverty in Fiji: key findings from a study using the IDM.

Currently, poverty data in Fiji (and elsewhere) is derived from household income and expenditure data. Given gender inequality within households can be significant, assessing individual poverty by using household data and then assuming all household members have the same access to resources and opportunities is problematic.

Household-level measurement also means accurate disaggregation is impossible. This makes the work of policy makers and advocates harder, hiding differences rather than revealing them so they can be addressed. Individual-level measurement is essential to fully understand poverty and inequality, and the relationship between gender and poverty.