MINIMUM

BASIC NEEDS
Presented by Juniebe L. Manganohoy, RPm, LPT, MPA
PA 323: Seminar on the Administration of Social
Development
objectives
1. Know the basic concept of Minimum Basic Needs and
its underlying factors on the reduction of poverty.
2. Differentiate implemented poverty programs of the
government and its effects to the socio-economic status of
the people.
3. Reassess poverty reduction efforts of the government
towards human development
4. Identify the importance of reducing poverty in a society
definition
The MBN Approach is a valuable tool for focused
targeting, convergence of services and evaluation of
the attainment of a better quality of life for poor
households and communities

Based from the Executive Order 443,yr. 1997

definition..
The basic needs approach is one of the major approaches to
the measurement of absolute poverty in developing countries.
It attempts to define the absolute minimum resources
necessary for long-term physical well-being, usually in terms
of consumption goods. The poverty line is then defined as the
amount of income required to satisfy those needs. The "basic
needs" approach was introduced by the International Labour
Organization's World Employment Conference in 1976.
Based from the Wikipedia
What is basic needs approach?
The basic needs approach has been described as
consumption-oriented, giving the impression "that poverty
elimination is all too easy.“

*Needs-based approach also known as a traditional

approach, which generally understood as deficit model
which focuses on the community’s needs, deficiencies, and
problems
The ILO report goes on to indicate two crucial elements in
the Basic Needs approach:

“First, they include certain minimum requirements of a

family for private consumption: adequate food, shelter and
clothing, as well as certain household equipment and
furniture.

Second, they include essential services provided by and for

the community at large, such as safe drinking water,
sanitation, public transport and health, education and
cultural facilities.”
ABRAHAM
MASLOW’S
HIERARCH
Y OF
NEEDS
 RIGHTS VS NEEDS
A human rights approach, in
contrast, calls for existing The basic needs
community resources to be shared
more equally, so that everyone has
approach often aims
access to the same services. to obtain additional
Assisting people to assert their resources to help a
rights, therefore, often means
involvement in political debate.
marginalized group
While a basic needs approach does obtain access to
not necessarily recognize willful or services.
historical marginalization, a human
rights approach aims directly at
overcoming such marginalization.
US Government programs
The (1)Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or
SNAP, (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program)
distributes food vouchers to households with incomes that fall
within 130% of the federal poverty threshold. They support
approximately 40 million people, including low income
workers, unemployed citizens, and disabled heads of
household. This program is an entitlement program, meaning
if anyone is qualified, they will receive the benefits. 
criticisms
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP

In the Oxford Academic journal, Social Work, Adriana Flores- a socialist

advocate- brings attention to the limitations of government programs
such as SNAP. Flores states that while the government assists people
with food insecurity through SNAP, important basic needs like hygiene
products are excluded, ultimately forcing low-income people to decide
between hygiene items and other living payments. Flores considers
SNAP as one of the few entitlement programs that need to be expanded.
US Government programs
(2) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children, or WIC, offers referrals to health care,
nutrition information, and nutritious foods to low-income
women, infants, and children who are at risk of health issues.
[Unlike SNAP, WIC is a federal grant program that runs under

a specific amount of funds by the government, meaning not

everyone who is qualified will receive benefits. WIC was first
introduced in 1972 and became permanent in 1974.
US Government programs
(3) The Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) addresses place-
based theories of poverty, aiming to develop grocery store chains in
low-income communities and improve access to nutritious food.[ In
the early 2000s, the metaphor of food deserts- low income
communities that do not have access to grocery stores and
nutritious foods- have been connected to health disparities. More
than 29 million of US residents are reported to live in
neighborhoods that resemble a food desert. The concept of the food
desert has been increasingly linked to spatial reasons of poverty.
criticisms
Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI)
In the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research,
Laura Wolf-Powers criticizes HFFI, arguing that these policies
imply that the origins of food insecurity mainly derive from
geographical reasons. This makes them more prone to health
issues and nutrition deprivation. Studies directly investigating
shopping behavior of low-income residents disclose that their
shopping decisions depend more on price, quality, staff, and
similarities to other shoppers than simply the location of the store
Nongovernmental responses to basic
needs insecurity
Another project that started within the community is food pantries
 on college campuses. Food pantries were created to provide food
at no cost and decrease food insecurity among students. In 2008,
issues of food insecurity and homelessness among students were
recognized by student affairs professionals due to the increasing
tuition costs. A rising number of students especially in
community colleges were experiencing food insecurity or
homelessness, reaching between a fifth to two-thirds of American
college students.
Community Pantry in the PH

“Give according to your means, take according to your need.”

These are makeshift community pantries, ad hoc efforts that
provide free items such as rice, vegetables, canned goods and
even facemasks that benefit millions of Filipinos
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Thank you for actively participating