Multidimensional Poverty Index & Qualitative Study Among Urban Poor: Case Study Kuching

Sarawak Development Institute (SDI), in collaboration with the Society for the Kuching Urban Poor (SKUP), has completed a pioneering study on multidimensional poverty in Kuching. Moving beyond traditional income-based definitions, the study explores how poverty is experienced through multiple overlapping challenges – including limited education, health access, overcrowded living conditions, and social isolation.

Findings highlight that many elderly residents in Kuching are living alone with little or no family support, while some households remain in overcrowded or substandard housing despite being located within city boundaries. Informal neighborhood networks have emerged to fill critical gaps in aid delivery, revealing both the resilience of communities and the fragmentation of existing support systems.

The study makes a strong case for the development of a Sarawak-specific Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) that better reflects local realities. By adopting a more holistic and targeted approach to understanding poverty, Sarawak can ensure its social policies are more inclusive and impactful, in line with the goals of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

SDI will make the full report available to the public once it is finalised. In the meantime, key findings will also be shared through a series of public talks and outreach sessions aimed at sparking dialogue and informing policy action.

Cultural Resource Mapping (CRM)

2022 – 2024
The CRM project has been completed and SDI is awaiting a discussion on the handover process including the future plan of the project with the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP). The project, which started in 2022 culminated in the release of the CHAMPS digital platform. The platform enables spatial mapping of cultural and heritage data points throughout Kuching Division. The platform, which is open-sourced relied on entries by the public and participating stakeholder organisations. As of December 2024, the CHAMPS platform has 54 entries, a portion of which were contributed by participating Heritage Experts. The CHAMPS platform remains open for uploading of entries at www.champs.com.my. Existing entries can also be viewed there. To upload, users are kindly requested to download the CHAMPS app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store). Links are available on the aforementioned website.

Baseline Study on Sago Starch Production and Downstream Activities in Betong and Mukah Divisions

January – December 2022
The draft final report was submitted to Craun Research in December 2022. The findings of the research were presented to the client in February 2023.

Assessing Local Population Needs in Relation to Services Provided by the Digital Community Centres (DCC) in Sarawak

January – December 2022
The draft final report was submitted to the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) in December 2022.