Emma Samman

Research Fellow, Growth, Poverty and Inequality

Emma Samman joined ODI in October 2011. She has experience in analysis of multidimensional poverty and inequality, the human development approach, survey design and the use of subjective indicators to inform development policy. She has also worked on the socio-economic effects of market development and the effects of space (and segregation) upon wellbeing. She has field experience in Chile, Philippines, Tanzania and Viet Nam.

Prior to joining ODI, Emma has worked for the Human Development Report Office (UNDP), Institute of Development Studies (IDS, University of Sussex), Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), Trinity College (University of Dublin) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). She has also undertaken consultancy assignments for Agrifood Consulting International, Oxfam International, Twaweza Initiative, UNDP and UNICEF.

Outputs

Eradicating global poverty: a noble goal, but how do we measure it?

Publication - Discussion papers - 21 June 2013

Working Paper 2

Emma Samman, Martin Ravallion, Lant Pritchett, Stephan Klasen, Sabina Alkire, Amanda Lenhardt, Emmanuel Letouzé

This working paper collates proposals from several experts on how to measure poverty in a post-2015 agreement. Their contributions show some consensus, but also several areas of contention.

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Using household surveys to start a data revolution and tackle social inequality

Opinion - Articles and blogs - 10 June 2013

'The post-2015 report calls for quality data to be made available to governments. While modern technologies are useful, do not neglect the workhorse of data collection – the household survey.'

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Old age, disability and mental health: data issues for a post-2015 framework

Publication - Discussion papers - 3 June 2013

ODI Background Notes

Emma Samman and Laura Kiku Rodriguez-Takeuchi

This Background Note discusses the available data on inequalities associated with disability, old age and mental health in a post-2015 development agreement. It presents the constraints to better data collection and some changes to key international survey instruments that would broaden their coverage, collect richer information and improve identification of these three groups.

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Eradicating extreme poverty: a noble goal, but how do we measure it?

Opinion - Articles and blogs - 12 May 2013

This week we kick off debate over how a post-2015 framework ought to measure poverty – with a blog by Martin Ravallion arguing that a new poverty target should continue to be based on a $1.25 a day poverty line alongside a ‘weakly relative’ poverty line, so that absolute poverty is given primacy but relative poverty is also taken into account.

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Equity, inequality and human development in a post-2015 framework

Publication - Research reports and studies - 28 April 2013

Human Development Research Papers

Claire Melamed and Emma Samman

A focus on tackling inequality ought to be central to a human development approach to the post-2015 framework. This paper will argue for an agenda which this focus features explicitly. It calls for an expansive conception of inequality across multiple dimensions of development and on multiple levels—within countries, among people regardless of where they live, and encompassing both present and future generations.

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