COVID-19 and Vulnerability: a Multidimensional Poverty Perspective in El Salvador

Abstract

This document offers an insight on the vulnerability of households in El Salvador in light of the COVID-19 shock, based on the scope of multidimensional poverty. Preexisting poverty conditions that determine some households to be more at risk than others facing the pandemic are identified using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The MPI lists six deprivations that account for these risks: access to drinking water, access to health services, overcrowding, access to sanitation, underemployment and access to social security. It is estimated that 85.5% of households suffers from one of the aforementioned deprivations. Additionally, four groups of households with characteristics that present elements of risk or disadvantage facing COVID-19 are identified, these are: multidimensionally poor; dependents on remittances; households with people over 60 who are dependent, and households with women head. These households should be prioritized in the response to the current emergency; thus, we recommend immediate and early responses denominated resilience packages..