You might reflect on:

• What is already known about inequality in your country? Where are there knowledge gaps, particularly dimensions of inequality where it is evident that divisions exist but they have not been well documented?
You can use the Multidimensional Inequality Framework as a basis for gathering the data required to measures and document these inequalities, or highlight important gaps.
• Where are there inequalities which may be hidden or have little prominence or action?
The Framework is Multidimensional and covers key aspects of well-being that you may not have considered before or which have received little prominence. The MIF can help you provide a systematic assessment of inequalities in the quality of people’s lives.
• What types of action are being taken by other groups, with whom you could work?
It is worth taking time to review who is already undertaking activities in your country to address inequalities. You may wish to join forces, share information or co-organise events and help each other disseminate your findings.
• What are the areas where action might be most effective in bringing change?
You are likely to have limited time and resources, and some activities will be more likely to have an impact than others – so think about where your added value and maximum impact might be.

For those interested in knowing the details, the Framework is theoretically grounded, drawing on Sen’s capability approach to assessing the quality of people’s lives. The capability approach marks an important advancement from either an exclusive focus on economic outcomes (such as income) or subjective measures of well-being (such as happiness). It is not necessary for you to have a deep understanding of this approach but if you want to learn more about the theoretical basis of the Framework click here.

The seven life domains are:

Domain 1: Life and health

Domain 2: Physical and legal security

Domain 3: Education and learning

Domain 4: Financial security and dignified work

Domain 5: Comfortable, independent and secure living conditions

Domain 6: Participation, influence and voice

Domain 7: Individual, family and social life

As part of your preparation, it is worth spending some time getting to understand the structure of the Framework as this will help you to navigate around the Framework as well as adapt it to suit your needs. Within each of the seven life domains are a series of sub-domains, inequality indicators and inequality measures. The sub-domains provide a further breakdown of the aspects of well-being covered within the domain, so for example Domain 2 covers both Physical and Legal security which are large and distinct areas. The sub-domains provide more structure and in Domain 2 include 2.A: Be free from violence including sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence and violence based on who you are and 2.G: Have the human right to identity, name, gender and nationality, identifying key aspects of physical and legal security.

You may not be interested in the technical detail, but for those who are, the capability approach focuses on the quality of life that individuals manage to live and the freedom they have to choose the kind of life they have reason to value, in terms of the valuable things they can do or be. You can see this reflected in the names we have given to the Domains and the sub-domains. So for example, the full name for Domain 2 is Physical and legal security: Inequality in the capability to live in physical safety and legal security.

Within each sub-domain are a number of indicators of inequality and for each of these indicators we suggest a number of ways in which they can be measured. So sticking with Domain 2, within sub-domain 2.A are a number of inequality indicators including 2.1: Violent crime. We suggest a number of ways in which this indicator of inequality can be measure including Measure 2.1.4: Percentage of children aged 0-17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month.

In getting to know the Framework and developing your plans it is important to understand that you can use the Framework flexibly and adapt it for your own needs in your context as necessary. We call this process “countrification” and in the next section we provide advice on how you might prioritise or adapt the relevant domains through the selection of sub-domains, inequality indicators and inequality measures to fit your context and suit your needs, or due to data limitations. If necessary, you may even supplement the Framework with additional inequality indicators and inequality measures, or conduct original research that would be more appropriate for understanding particular inequalities in your context. Remember that identifying important data gaps can be used for data advocacy so that these gaps can be filled in the future.

Plan your project team and consider forming a taskforce with a mix of expertise

Your plan should include identifying who you want to work with and whether you want to put together a taskforce. It is likely that you will achieve more if you work with others so it is very useful to identify and involve partners with shared interests while you are planning what to do. It is also worth considering if you want to bring policy makers on board at the beginning as this can help build consensus and ‘buy in’ from people who understand the challenges involved with taking action and achieving change.

• Involve partners with shared interests.
• Involve experts who understand the different dimensions of inequality.
• Link with technical specialists to help with data, including identifying different data sources, computing the inequality measures and analysing the data.
• Join up with people who are good at presenting statistical findings and communicating the important messages.
• Invite government or media, who may publicise or drive your agenda forward.

Plan your financial resources

No matter how enthusiastic you are, you will need some financial resources to undertake this task and do a good job. You need to plan some form of budget and maybe do some fundraising right at the start. This may not need to be very detailed, and can develop as you plan the main activities, but you need to have some clear system for raising and allocating your resources. Remember that through collaborating with others you can effectively get some bits for free!

You should also make a financial plan which identifies any resources that you may need and ways in which you could raise any additional funds.

Plan where, when, and how you might use your findings

A timetable should be a key element of your plan. Applying the Framework, identifying relevant data sources, estimating inequality measures and analysing your data will be time consuming and it is important not to underestimate the time needed to complete this task well. It is worth thinking about whether there are any specific dates or events in policy makers’ schedules where any evidence that you produce could have an impact or if there are any conferences or seminars where you could present your findings. It is very helpful to think through what you might do to take action on the facts about inequality that you will establish and how you might bring about change.

When planning how you can use the evidence on inequalities that you will establish and developing a view on how change might be brought about, consider:

• Being clear about the final change you might want (such as perhaps publishing a report, or campaigning for a new law in the area of health provision for marginalised groups).
• Deciding what specific steps are needed to bring this about, and when to take them (such as influencing public opinion, or senior government figures who can bring about the changes you seek).
• Deciding what evidence might be most powerful in making the case for change when trying to influence these people.
• Reflecting on what underlying factors need to be looked at which could help or hinder your case (such as, for example, widely held assumptions that certain groups are less important to protect and are entitled to fewer rights – which can include women, children, certain religious or social groups).
• Finding people to help and support what you are doing.

If you think through what a good outcome looks like, and how you might get there, this will help you both to plan what you need to do, and also keep you focused and aware of the real benefits in your country of the work you are doing. You can find more tips and advice in the Taking action section.