Vietnam should apply a multi-dimensional poverty (MDP) approach to avoid missing out any targeted beneficiaries, according to Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam.

Vietnam is among the 32 countries in the world to pioneer the research and application of multi-dimensional poverty measures

At a Hanoi seminar announcing the results of MDP approach research in Vietnam on December 29, Dam said that the current income-based poverty reduction policy reveals many shortcomings as incomes are much lower than minimum living standards.

Therefore, the goal now is to fix the current policy’s shortcomings to gradually ensure people’s right to basic social services in the coming time, he said, affirming that the MDP approach will be the best choice.

Participants agreed that the application of MDP measures in Vietnam should be in line with the country’s socio-economic situation.

This new approach needs to achieve three objectives, including measuring poverty dimensions, controlling poverty and identifying policy beneficiaries, they said.

The MDP framework was originally developed by the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

With the UN support, Vietnam is among the 32 countries in the world to pioneer the research and application of multi-dimensional poverty measures.

Source: VNA