Study protocol for developing an urban deprivation index in Nepal: Data review, measurement, visualization and real-world application in urban poverty alleviation

The urban poor constitute a vulnerable demographic facing a myriad of socio-economic hardships. To implement effective interventions, it is imperative to first understand the intricacies of their circumstances. However, defining and measuring urban deprivation is challenging due to its multi-dimensional nature, encompassing various dimensions such as housing, employment, living expenses, education, healthcare, and other unique challenges associated with city life. This task is also hindered by a critical gap in reliable and up-to-date data on urban poverty. The absence of accurate information not only impedes our ability to grasp the full extent of the issues faced by the urban poor but also hampers the formulation of targeted policies and initiatives needed to uplift these marginalized communities. Any reliable and up-to-date data on urban poverty is spread across different datasets hindering evidence-based decision-making and progress towards poverty reduction and urban development.

A CHORUS Project, funded through the Innovation Fund scheme and led by Sampurna Kakchapati at HERD International, will draw on the ‘Domains of Urban Deprivation Framework’ to evaluate the availability, commonness, and applicability of these domains. The study will measure multiple urban deprivation indices relevant to the context of Nepal, plotted at the provincial, district and municipal levels. The urban deprivation index will provide granular data that aims to enable policymakers and stakeholders to explore the urban deprivation index visually and access key insights for informed decision-making and resource allocation.

Read the study protocol here: Study protocol for developing an urban deprivation index in Nepal: Data review, measurement, visualization and real-world application in urban poverty alleviation

Kakchapati S, Mainali S, de Siqueira-Filha NT, Elsey H, Hicks JP, Clark A, et al. (2025). PLoS One 20(6): e0324837. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324837