Kathmandu, March 6:

Mohan Man Sainju, vice-chairman, Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF), spoke to The Himalayan Times on a host of issues related to pov-erty alleviation and meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Excerpts from the interview.

On MDGs:

MDG’s first goal is the eradication of extreme poverty by half. But other goals like reducing infant mortality rate are also related to poverty. Infant mortality rate is higher in families that are in poverty trap. MDGs also mention universal education and literacy. Similar is its stance on maternal mortality rate. The problem of environmental sustainability is also relevant, as poor families are worst hit by problems related to water, agriculture, forest etc. To fullfil MDG is to alleviate poverty.

Nepal’s context:

In the context of Nepal, we have to take note of the 10th plan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). PRSP has four pillars out of which the third one is most important because it talks about the targeted programmes. Our previous experience in Nepal, is that we have not been able to alleviate poverty because of our inability to identify the really poor and focus programmes for them. We failed in targeting.

Second thing that our previous experience has taught us is the ownership of such programmes must be with stakeholders. Poors themselves have to feel that the programme is theirs. We worked with an welfare approach. Somebody gave alms while others took it. What it required is a ‘right-based approach’.

On getting right target:

Our past experience shows that poverty alleviation fund targeted at the poor could not reach the poor. At best, only 10 to 20 per cent of the total fund could reach them. Rest was wasted due to leaks, or in stronger terms, due to ‘corruption’. The solution is to make fund flow direct to the community. That experience gave birth to the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF). The guiding principles of PAF are targeting, programme ownership and fund flow. PAF basically targets dalit, indigenous gro-ups, and women. That is because these caste, ethnicity and gender are the most deprived in our society acco-rding to previous censuses.

On programme ownership:

PAF realised that programmes should be community-driven. The communities should think the programmes are theirs and are based on their needs. State is not the only actor, there are other actors also.

On fund flow:

The last two years’ indicators are encouraging. In six districts where PAF is working, around 54,000 families are benefitting directly and indirectly. This has led to the expansion of this progra-mme to 19 more districts. Almost all underdeveloped districts are covered.

The community monitors the outcome of these programmes. In second phase, the partner organisation monitors and in the third phase independent experts monitor the programme. The major donor is the World Bank.

The aid is in grant.

The fund for the income generation should be returned to the community, and the community lends this amount to others, whereas in infrastructure development their involvement is 25 per cent of the labour force.

On PAF target:

A) In the 9th plan there werwe 20-year plans, which state that the poverty level should be reduced to 10 per cent

B) By 2015, halve extreme poverty, i.e the income level raised to $1 daily.

On the state of development work:

The 10th plan is passing through a difficult phase, but it has not failed. Similarly, MDG is also achievable because these targets are moniterable. There is a committment at the highest level, and social exclusion cannot be sidelined by any government. Conflict has hit the working environment but not all the development works have been stalled. Our traditional way of development work through sectoral ministries are the worst hit but the community-driven programmes are operating.

MDGs:

• Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

• Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

• Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

• Goal 5: Improve maternal health

• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria, and other diseases

• Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

• Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development