The policy report titled “Understanding Multidimensional Vulnerabilities: Impact on People of Sri Lanka”, puts forth Sri Lanka’s first ever Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) which was derived using the National Citizen Survey (NCS)2022- 2023, covering a representative sample of 25,000 households. The survey was conducted between November 2022 and March 2023, to capture the impact of the cascading crises on the people. The NCS was initiated by UNDP Sri Lanka to capture a snapshot of vulnerabilities experienced by Sri Lankans as a result of the pandemic and the economic crisis.
This should give the reader an idea of what we are going to discuss when we say “Vulnerabilities”. Here we are not talking about feeling hurt over breaking up with a partner or spouse. We are talking about vulnerabilities that have an effect on the progress or development of a nation. Vulnerabilities that threaten the well-being of the citizens. Last week, Daily News attended the Launch of Policy Report on “Understanding Multidimensional Vulnerabilities: Impact on People of Sri Lanka”.
The first line in the press release issued that day stated – Debt, a lack of education and the inability to adapt to disasters are factors that make most people feel vulnerable, says a new report released today by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the University of Oxford’s Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
Dr. Sabina Alkire and Azusa Kubota
That first line tells us a lot about which direction this article is heading in. Debt can make you feel vulnerable. The cost of living is skyrocketing. The one thing that is not skyrocketing is your salary. How are you going to pay your children’s school fees? How are you going to clothe them? How are you going to put food on the table? How are you going to pay the bills? How are you going to take care of your family? So you get into debt and then you get into more debt. How are you going to pay off your debts? How long has the bank given you? Now that is the Vulnerability we are talking about in this article.
The more vulnerability increases in society, the more society starts to erode. Several districts including Puttalam, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Ampara, Vavuniya and Nuwara-Eliya exhibit multidimensional vulnerability, highlighting the need for focused interventions to address factors like disaster preparedness, debt relief, water source accessibility and female education. A well designed and comprehensive policy approach is recommended to improve the well- being of these communities.
This Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) developed for Sri Lanka is a godsend. It will ensure that those at the helm of policymaking will continue to be equipped with the information they need to determine where help is most needed.
The MVI sheds light on the complex landscape of Vulnerability in Sri Lanka, where 55.7% of the population or 12.3 million people experience multidimensional vulnerability. Focused interventions such as reducing indebtedness or enhancing disaster preparedness are vital to build resilience. The MVI expands on Sri Lanka’s official Multidimensional Poverty Index by using 2022/23 citizen survey data. MVI emphasizes the need for multi-sectoral engagement to enhance the well- being of vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka. Ensuring that such data is up to date and comprehensive is a crucial first step in addressing these challenges and maintaining progress towards a more equal world.
UNDP understands the severity of the issues facing Sri Lankans. That is the reason behind this initiative. This initiative fills them with optimism and they have a vision for the future.
Chief Guest, Leader of the House and Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, pointed out that we are living in extremely challenging times, saying that it is important that we identify these vulnerable groups and comprehend the unique challenges they confront.
“As we focus on recovery and resilience building, our path is clear. We must first pin point that these vulnerable groups are and identify the trials they face and work to address this. I commend the UNDP in Sri Lanka alongside its esteemed partner OPHI, in this initiative. The NCS was initiated by UNDP Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Citra Innovation Lab and UNDP’s SURGE Data Hub. This Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) is the foundation we need to craft national policies tailored to these vulnerable groups. I am pleased to see the Citra Innovation Lab’s key role in this process, as I initiated the lab during my tenure as the Minister of Science, Technology and Research together with young educated youth in our country,” said Minister.
He further added that the timing of this report is important, saying that recent events have prompted us to acknowledge the multifaceted nature of vulnerabilities. “This newfound understanding arms policymakers with vital information to direct assistance where it is most needed. Just as the Multidimensional Poverty Index provided a more comprehensive snapshot of poverty, embracing the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), in our statistical endeavours is a prudent step forward. These insights will help us better target vulnerable populations ensuring that their needs are taken into account and they are reflected in our national budgeting and planning processes. The report and the data from the Citizen Survey will be shared with Government officials, policymakers and members of the academia, all of whom I am sure will benefit from this snapshot of emerging vulnerabilities in Sri Lanka. Education is a cornerstone in our society’s progress. Yet, key indicators of vulnerability such as male and female years of schooling, revealed stark disparities that persist and have likely worsened as a result of the interruptions to schooling that resulted through the lockdowns imposed during the covid19 pandemic and some other factors. I do not want to mention what these other factors are, as I do not have the opportunity and time to explain. Allow me to focus on one point. We have done a survey in literacy and numeracy of Grade 3 students with a sample of 10,000 islandwide and taking remedial action with UNICEF. We had two workshops. This shows that our government is committed to educational transformation. Yet we must go further by championing inclusive and accessible education. But I feel that we have done our part. I must also point out that when I was the Minister of Environment in 2013/2014, I attended three workshops when formulating 17 SDG goals by the United Nations. I think this is a fact most people do not know. I attended the first workshop in Geneva in around 2013, another workshop in Berlin, and the final one in UN Headquarters New York. I am very passionate about how to achieve these 17 SDG goals by 2030, because SDG goal 4, is the field of education.”
When talking about vulnerabilities, Minister Premajayantha, reminded us how the Government has overcome immense obstacles to bring the country to where it is now.
“As the Minister of Education when I took over this Ministry, during a troubled period, exactly one year ago, at that time, there was no proper transportation. There were long queues for fuel, and this went on for days. There was no gas. There was no electricity. That was the situation. But President Ranil Wickremesinghe, myself and the present cabinet took on this challenge. Within a few months, I managed to supply text books for all 4.1 million students in the country. This was free distribution of text books. There was also the free distribution of 100% uniform materials, and midday meal for 25% of students, with the help of the World Food Program, USAID and some voluntary organizations. 1.1 million students are being provided midday meal. All of this was done with challenges and financial constraints. So in the field of education, with the economic setback, we provided all of this. With increasing the price of materials (exercise books and other materials) these vulnerable groups cannot afford it. Fortunately, the corporate sector helped us. They allocated funds from their CSR – 1.5 billion rupees. Schools that have less than 100 students are being provided bags, exercise books and other learning materials free of charge. So we are continuing that. I plan on getting more help from the donors. Last year I managed to get a donation from one of our friendly countries. With the assistance of many UN organizations, we managed to promote the education in the country. We experienced the Covid19 pandemic, and over 60% school closures took place, during 2020 – 2021. During 2022 there were some struggles. Protests on the streets. Then the President left his position, and the Parliament was surrounded. But now things have returned to normalcy. The country of course has been declared as bankrupt. However, we have passed many new Acts in parliament. For example, the Anti-Corruption Bill. We need to take into account all these indicators and the date that has been collected with this present scenario,” explained Minister Premajayantha.
The Minister also reminded us of the terror period Sri Lanka faced (1988/1989). At that time he was practicing in the Colombo High Courts. Many people do not remember what happened during the terror period. We lost 60,000 lives. Then there was the Civil War against the LTTE. “All of this need to be taken into account. I feel that all of these factors need to be taken into account. I for one am very passionate about transforming our education. Very soon changes will take place.”
Resident Representative, UNDP Sri Lanka, Azusa Kubota, called the world we live in today, a world of uncertainty, and that we face times of intense difficulty and danger. “The global pandemic was a stern teacher for policy makers and Government leaders. It emphasized the importance of swift data driven and evidence based decisions in the face of adversity. From climate emergency to the cost of living crisis, the economic crisis we face today contributed to the loss of gains we made in Human Development Index and SDG attainments. For the past two years, the Human Development Index has regressed. Ahead of the historic SDG summit next month, the most recent published UN report indicates that only 12% of the targets are likely to be achieved by 2030. The battles we see globally resonate with our experiences in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has experienced a series of setbacks in the recent past from the Easter Sunday Attacks in 2019, the Covid19 pandemic which crippled the tourism sector and overall economy and then compounded by the economic crisis that followed in 2022. Families and communities have borne the brunt, especially the most vulnerable ones. These events have re-shaped the socio-economic landscape and also given rise to new pockets of vulnerability, putting existing resilient structures of the Sri Lankan communities under great stress. The World Bank data shows that the poverty rate has almost doubled in one year between 2021 and 2022. The World Food Program report shows that over 6 million Sri Lankans are food insecure in 2022. The impact of these hardships exposes profound disparities between individuals and households. The long term and generational impact is unknown. The situation calls for timely and bold interventions. UNDP embarked upon Sri Lanka’s inaugural National Citizen Survey (NCS) 2022- 2023, covering 25,000 households across the country. When we saw the wealth of data coming from the survey, we quickly realized the value of examining multidimensional vulnerabilities rather than relying only on traditional poverty indicators. This approach is very important in assessing the extent of vulnerabilities particularly in times of fast evolving and compounding crisis,” explained Kubota.
She added that rich data and insights emanate from extensive conversations and dialogues with the community members across the country. “A team of researchers have collected real stories of hardships that families and communities have experienced. The findings highlighted in this policy report have far reaching implications. Both short and long-term actions. It is our sincere hope that the voices of the people will have an impact and a direct influence. As the government is preparing the budget for 2024/2025, we hope that the adoption of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index will help, while also protecting the most vulnerable. Following today’s launch, I hope you will widely disseminate the findings and recommendations to stimulate conservations that will lead to concrete actions and interventions.”
Director, OPHI, Dr. Sabina Alkire, emphasized that there is a great need to help better the lives of people facing vulnerabilities. “MVI draws from 25,000 households. This has been a colossal but rewarding task which will increase our understanding as how we can address difficulties/vulnerabilities Individuals and communities face. The MVI builds upon the Multidimensional Poverty Index. I for one hope this launch will have a very positive effect on future generations, and not just be forgotten after this day. The data and info is priceless. It is used by so many stakeholders. The index includes twelve indicators grouped under three dimensions: Education, Health and Disasters and Living Standards. Indicator selection was based on consultations with key stakeholders, including a technical advisory panel.”
The collaborative engagement process ensured that the MVI would appropriately reflect the complexity of vulnerabilities.
Ishara Jayawardane