Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index

Overview

Nauru welcomes the adoption of the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index by the UN General Assembly in August 2024.
 
The MVI involves the identification of “the most vulnerable.” It allows vulnerable countries to provide granularity and greater characterization of their specific vulnerability and resilience factors, including non-structural resilience through the development of the vulnerability and country resilience profiles (VRCP). Through this lens, the unique predicament of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Nauru becomes clear.
 
The use of measures such as Gross Domestic Product or Gross National Income do not capture the variability, fragility and limitations of SIDS. Use of GNI and GDP alone is a barrier to vulnerable nations like Nauru accessing the donor support so desperately needed to mitigate their inherent economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities.
 
Using the MVI, Nauru is the fifth most vulnerable country, and the most vulnerable Pacific nation. This presents a vastly different picture to that visible when only viewing Nauru’s GNI or GDP. 

MVI – Preliminary Country Scores

 The MVI provides a practical solution to ensuring that Nauru is measured as it truly is – a struggling developing small island developing state in great need of significant financial aid. The MVI will help Nauru to prove that determination of Nauru’s eligibility for ODA and concessional financing should be based on its inherent economic vulnerability as opposed to a temporary increase in GNI.

Nauru encourages use of the tool by donors in developing strategies and programs, and welcomes support to improve data collection for MVI updates.