Development programs prioritize serving the poor, yet face challenges when trying to determine whether they are reaching their intended population. This session will explore the importance of and challenges to equity measurement, and introduce commonly-used wealth assessment tools, including the EquityTool—a free, scientifically-validated tool helping managers use data to adjust and improve service delivery, and drive inclusivity in their programs. We will analyze the approach and implications of a pilot analysis conducted by Living Goods branches in Kenya in 2017 to illustrate how measurement can be used in local health systems to make global health care more equitable. By incorporating the EquityTool into the Medic Mobile app, Community Health Workers (CHWs) collected equity data for over 90% of families within their catchment areas. Data collected during the pilot was analyzed to assess characteristics of households in the pilot sample, describe how often targets for desired health outcomes are being reached, and observe patterns of health inequity across and within pilot branches. We will invite participants to share their own experiences in how accurate beneficiary targeting (or a lack thereof) has affected program implementation, and encourage the discussion of other commonly-used wealth assessment tools. Participants will leave the session with an appreciation for the importance of real-time equity metrics in inclusive development, and an understanding of how to easily evaluate the relative wealth of beneficiaries in their own interventions.
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