All Access Strategy Series: 1. Analyze data

At All Access we employ a multifaceted strategy in our mission to end global spiritual and physical poverty. And that strategy involves six core elements:

1. Analyze data
2. Consult experts
3. Evaluate organizations
4. Give together
5. Grant 100% to the field
6. Report everything

This article is the first in a series of six—alongside its Effective Giving podcast miniseries—and in the series we will be unpacking these foundational elements of our strategy and explain why they're so important to achieving our mission.

In our post today, we'll delve into the first element: analyzing data. This critical step underpins our entire approach, ensuring we focus our resources and efforts where they can make the most significant impact. Let's take a look.

Understanding the Multidimensional Poverty Index

The first step in our 6-part strategy is to identify the areas of greatest need through meticulous data analysis. Central to this effort is the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), an innovative tool developed by Oxford University and endorsed by the United Nations.

The MPI evaluates poverty through three core dimensions: health, education, and living standards. What makes MPI exceptionally powerful is its detail and specificity. For instance, it covers health indicators such as nutrition and child mortality rates and education metrics like years of schooling and school attendance. The living standards dimension further examines crucial aspects like access to clean water, electricity, sanitation, flooring, cooking fuel, and asset ownership.

The precision of MPI allows All Access to dissect the complex issue of poverty into quantifiable elements. This dissected data transforms abstract concepts like "poverty" into tangible statistics we can target and address. For example, in Acholi, Uganda, the MPI might reveal that 54% of the population lacks access to clean water, while 12% of children die before age 18. These are not just numbers—they are indicators of specific needs that compel intervention.

Data Collection: The Backbone of Understanding Poverty

The MPI is not a static or one-time measure. It relies on regular and comprehensive data collection efforts worldwide. Organizations like USAID and the French government conduct extensive surveys every five years in various developing regions. These surveys gather detailed information, feeding into the MPI to provide an updated snapshot of poverty dimensions.

This periodic data collection is vital because conditions change, sometimes rapidly. Political instability, economic shifts, and environmental changes can all impact living conditions. By continually updating the data, MPI ensures that All Access always has the most current and accurate information to guide decision-making.

Practical Application of MPI Data

Once areas of need are identified through MPI, the challenge becomes addressing them effectively. For All Access, this data forms the basis for interventions. Let's consider the example of clean water access in Amuru, Uganda. Analysis might show that 54% of the population lacks clean water. With this precise figure, All Access can support organizations providing targeted solutions, such as drilling a specific number of wells to serve 150,000 people.

This strategic intervention is calculated to reduce the proportion of people without access to clean water from 54% to approximately 50% by 2026, according to the MPI survey schedules. Such quantifiable goals ensure that every effort is directed toward tangible improvements.

Addressing Spiritual Poverty with Data

All Access also tackles spiritual poverty, which is as vital as physical poverty. For this, we turn to the Joshua Project, a reliable source of data on unreached people groups worldwide. An unreached people group is typically defined by having less than 2% evangelical Christians within its population. This threshold is significant because it indicates the minimal presence of the Gospel and Christian teachings.

The Joshua Project compiles data from various missionaries and organizations, providing a detailed map of the spiritual landscape globally. For instance, if a particular ethnolinguistic group in Southeast Asia has a low evangelical Christian population, it becomes a priority for All Access.

Just like with physical poverty, the goal is clear: to help these groups achieve a baseline level of spiritual well-being. This data-driven approach enables us to not only focus on physical interventions like clean water and healthcare but also ensure that the spiritual needs of people are not neglected.

Consulting Experts: Validating and Enhancing Data Insights

Data alone, however, is not sufficient. All Access consults with experts to validate and enhance insights drawn from the MPI and Joshua Project data. These experts, often with years of field experience and academic backgrounds, provide context that helps refine our strategies.

Experts assist in interpreting complex data and offer recommendations on the most effective interventions. For example, they can help determine whether drilling wells or implementing a water purification system would be more effective in a particular region. This collaboration ensures that All Access doesn't just rely on data but also contextual knowledge and expertise.

We'll say much more about consulting experts in the next article to come in the series.

Leveraging Secondary Data for Comprehensive Analysis

While MPI and the Joshua Project provide valuable primary data, All Access also leverages secondary data sources to ensure a comprehensive understanding. Secondary data sets from entities like the World Bank offer additional insights and validation. This triangulation of data sources strengthens the reliability of our findings and strategies.

Secondary data helps confirm the accuracy and relevance of the primary data. For instance, World Bank statistics on economic activity in a region might corroborate the MPI findings on living standards. By aligning multiple data sources, we can build a more accurate and nuanced picture of both physical and spiritual poverty.

Practical Steps in Data Analysis

The process of analyzing data at All Access involves several practical steps. It starts with collecting and organizing data into manageable formats. This might involve creating pivot tables, filtering rows, and sorting columns to identify trends and insights.

Reports and academic studies also play an essential role. Reading these extensive documents is part of the everyday tasks of the All Access team. They provide deeper context and understanding, complementing the raw data with qualitative insights.

Once organized, the data is then used to identify the most critical areas of need. For example, an Excel sheet might help pinpoint the top ten regions with the highest levels of physical and spiritual poverty. These regions become the focal points for further planning and intervention.

Achieving Impact Through Data

At its core, the mission of All Access is straightforward: reduce global poverty by focusing efforts where they are needed most. This mission is only achievable through the meticulous and rigorous analysis of data. By understanding where the needs are greatest, All Access ensures that its resources are deployed as effectively as possible.

For example, by targeting Acholi, Uganda, and aiming to decrease the percentage of the population lacking clean water from 54% to 50%, All Access demonstrates a clear, measurable impact. These efforts are continually monitored, with subsequent data collection confirming whether interventions are achieving their intended results.

Conclusion

Analyzing data is the bedrock of our strategy to end global poverty. By leveraging the Multidimensional Poverty Index and data from the Joshua Project, All Access identifies the most critical areas of need. Consulting experts and using secondary data sources further refine these insights, ensuring that interventions are both efficient and effective. Practical steps in data analysis translate complex statistics into actionable strategies, guiding efforts to improve physical and spiritual well-being. This rigorous approach ensures that all contributions are maximized for impact, embodying All Access's commitment to efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency.