Sustainable poverty graduation: Safety nets, livelihood opportunities termed critical

Safety nets and poverty graduation shall work hand in hand so that support through asset transfer, skills development and access to credit is pursued to provide the basis for policy development. This was stated by Hubert Boirard, Country Director Pakistan, Mongolia and Iran, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), while addressing the two-day conference on "Research and Learning, Beyond Action, Towards Transformation" arranged by Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF).

The conference, which concluded here on Thursday, focused on developing further dimensions in knowledge and assessed how PPAF's interventions for the poor have led to transforming lives and communities. Research scholars, national and international speakers, representatives from the government of Pakistan, academia, donor agencies, civil society, media, PPAF partner organizations and community members attended the conference.

"For sustainable poverty graduation, the deployment of appropriate safety nets and creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities are critical. An effective approach shall essentially entail diversity and relevance and enable the poor in terms of using tangible and intangible productive assets that increase income. Safety nets and poverty graduation shall work hand in hand so that support through asset transfer, skills development and access to credit is pursued to provide the basis for policy development," said Hubert Boirard.

"It is also important that poverty graduation policy encompasses protecting the poor through appropriate instruments from internal and external shocks. At the same time it is important to pay due consideration to gender mainstreaming, youth engagement, nutrition security and building climate resilience as Pakistan strives to move millions of people out of poverty. It is ambitious but very possible," he added.

"For us development must be about social transformation, by powering initiatives of change and giving a voice to the voiceless," said Qazi Azmat Isa, CEO of PPAF on the closing ceremony of the 3rd International Conference on Research and Learning. Isa said, "The third international conference on Research and Learning is a reaffirmation of our commitment towards enabling the poorest of poor. Through our Poverty Graduation Initiative we aim to provide opportunities and support households for economic stability."

The day-two of the conference featured researchers, Dr Kate Vyborny from Duke University and Dr Salman Khan from Middlesex University. They delivered keynotes on incentivizing development and role of micro-enterprises in development process. The role of grassroots institutions was also discussed in this regard. Distinguished panelists including Dr Khawar Mumtaz, Dr Rashid Bajwa, Dr Imran Rasul, Dr Tariq Husain and Dr Allah Nawaz Samoo shared their insights on key topics concerning poverty graduation.

During the final session of the day, panelists discussed means through which social capital could be transformed in rural economies and the impact it could generate on a macro level. Panelists highlighted the need to make communities part of the decision-making process in order to enable them to take informed decisions about their livelihoods. The role of women was particularly stressed in this regard as the panelists agreed that females should have an equal voice in key economic decisions concerning their households.