This study uses the 2003 Nigeria Living Standards Survey to construct an easy-to-use
scorecard that estimates the likelihood that a household in Nigeria has expenditure
below a given poverty line. The scorecard uses 10 simple indicators that field workers
can quickly collect and verify. Poverty scores can be computed on paper in the field in
about five minutes. The scorecard’s accuracy and precision are reported for a range of
poverty lines. The poverty scorecard is a practical way for pro-poor programs in Nigeria
to monitor poverty rates, track changes in poverty rates over time, and target services.