CEPA’s “Approach” to Poverty
CEPA takes a multi-dimensional view of poverty, moving beyond traditional measures and indexes in an effort to understand poverty rather than simply measure it. This means understanding poverty in relation to Sri Lankan issues, and in the context of specific factors that characterise certain areas and groups of people. CEPA specialises in measuring the relationship between and impacts of certain events and activities on poverty, rather than seeing poverty as an abstract state in itself. This helps to capture the dynamics of poverty rather than simply observing a static situation, i.e. how and why conditions change over time and identifying transitory and seasonal poverty.
CEPA focuses its research programmes on the relationship between poverty and certain key issues which are identified based on their importance relative to poverty, and on the current national and international policy environment. Outside of these main programmes CEPA identifies synergies and cross-cutting issues across different research topics; for example knowledge gained from CEPA’s Poverty and Youth programme contributed to subsequent research undertaken on poverty in the Estate sector.
CEPA’s approach combines qualitative and quantitative methods, contributing to and substantiating existing quantitative knowledge with valuable qualitative information collected in the field. This approach is contributing to the development of new multi-dimensional poverty measurement poverty methodologies and indicators which are more appropriate for Sri Lanka, measuring issues such as vulnerability, social exclusion and human security. CEPA also encourages and facilitates the dissemination and applied use of existing data and knowledge amongst development professionals in order to effect change and influence policy
The following pages outline CEPA’s specific experiences and views on poverty in Sri Lanka based on the research the organisation has undertaken. This more specific, qualitative information should complement and challenge the more traditional overview of poverty in Sri Lanka outlined above.
