“By aligning macroeconomic policies with targeted poverty alleviation programs, we aim for a future where poverty can be reduced to zero,” said Dr Zaidi Sattar, Chairman and Chief Executive of Policy Research Institute (PRI), Bangladesh. He was speaking as the Chief Guest at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Pathways to Prosperity for Extremely Poor People’ at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka on 16 October 2024. The event was jointly organized by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), the European Union (EU) and The Daily Star.

Stating that macroeconomic policy and stability are essential for economic growth, he said, to ensure continued success, we must focus on the strategies that drive inclusive growth and ensure that the benefits reach the most vulnerable populations. While significant progress has been made in poverty reduction, he added, poverty remains an ongoing challenge that we cannot ignore.

The roundtable discussion was organized under the ‘Pathways to Prosperity for Extremely Poor People – European Union (PPEPP-EU)’ project, implemented by PKSF with funding from the EU, to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17 October.

Michal KREJZA, the Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh spoke at the event as the Guest of Honor. He said, poverty reduction remains one of the most important goals of the EU’s development policy. Though Bangladesh has achieved remarkable development, extreme poverty exists … To make these people less vulnerable better access is needed to specific areas such as education, healthcare, safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, and food. The government can replicate the lessons and findings of the PPEPP-EU project in the other climate-vulnerable areas to help more people of Bangladesh … For future programs, the EU plans to invest in climate mitigation and adaptation activities like climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable livelihood for small farmers preventing climate-induced migration and addressing climate change impact food and nutrition security.

Presiding over the event, PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan commented that Poverty and inequality are two different things and should not be conflated. “What we are doing now is dealing with poverty, not inequality. Poverty is not only a lack of money — it means many more things.”

A key aspect of poverty eradication, he continued, is the active engagement of the youth. The interventions of the PPEPP-EU project should be continued under a program after the project’s tenure, he added.

In the welcome remarks, PKSF’s Acting Managing Director Md Fazlul Kader said PKSF’s understanding of poverty aligns closely with the European Union’s perspectives, emphasizing on the need for a holistic, sustainable approach. This alignment is reflected in the implementation of the PPEPP-EU project, which draws from the extensive prior knowledge and experience of PKSF in implementing extreme-poverty-focused projects and programs.

Attending the event as the Special Guest, Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury said, the extreme poverty programs need to be integrated with the government’s core activities and national-level policies to ensure that they are not only addressing immediate needs but also are aligned with broader development goals. In addition, it is crucial to involve local government entities in the design and implementation of these programs.

Md Rubaiyath Sarwar, Managing Director of Innovision Consulting Private Limited, made the keynote presentation that paved the way for a vibrant open discussion session.

Other speakers included Agrani Bank Chairman Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed, Social Development Foundation (SDF) Chairman and former NBR Chairman Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, PKSF Governing Body Member Prof Dr Md Taufiqul Islam, BIDS Research Director Dr Monzur Hossain, and representatives from  PKSF Governing Body Member Prof Dr Md Taufiqul Islam, and representatives from the British High Commission in Dhaka, the World Bank, the Institute for Inclusive Finance & Development (InM), BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), University of Dhaka, and Oxfam International.

This roundtable discussion provided a platform for PPEPP-EU to showcase some of the project’s achievements and to exchange insights for effective extreme poverty alleviation.

Since its establishment in 1990, PKSF has played a pivotal role in poverty reduction in Bangladesh by successfully implementing various pro-poor innovative projects and programmes with the support from the government and the international development partners. With lessons learned from various extreme poverty projects, PKSF floated the PPEPP-EU project in 2022.

This project is working to alleviate extreme poverty prevailing in climate-vulnerable areas of southwestern coastal region, northwestern riverine char areas, haor areas and some ethnic minorities living in the northwestern districts of Bangladesh.