Sustainable Poverty Alleviation

PKSF completed EU-funded 'Food Security 2012 Bangladesh-Ujjibito' project. The Final Evaluation Report states that the project has helped 183,000 poor households successfully graduate from extreme poverty. Apart from the successfully graduated households, the remaining 142,000 extremely poor households have been enabled to enjoy sustainable and decent means of living, sustainable development of health and nutrition and increased participation in social activities, and increased social empowerment.

The realistic and effective innovative activities of the project can be replicated in other projects. These activities include ‘1000-day Special Health and Nutrition Service for antenatal, neonatal and child care, Ujjibito Adolescent Clubs to increase health and social awareness, Alor Karkhana libraries for community-based knowledge sharing and social development at the local level, disability-friendly mobile training facilities, livelihood activities suitable for trans-gender for social inclusion, Ujjibito Primary and Secondary School Forums, and Ujjibito Nutrition Villages to raise the health and social awareness for children and adolescents. The Final Evaluation Report also concluded that self-employment training, technical assistance, and skill development training significantly accelerate the process of graduating from extreme poverty. Access to financial services makes a more effective impact when skill development training is tied to it. Multi-dimensional interventions like dietary diversity and women empowerment will make lasting impacts on sustainable poverty alleviation.

A book was published on the outcome of the final evaluation of the project, titled 'Sustainable Poverty Alleviation through Human and Social Capital Development in Bangladesh, by PKSF and Pathak Shamabesh. It can be accessed by visiting PKSF's library.