DUBAI — Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) seeks to attract Gulf corporate sector and sovereign wealth funds to launch more public-private projects to eradicate poverty in the country, its top official has said.
“We are planning to hold road shows and organise meetings with business giants of the Gulf in order to attract them for investing in the poor communities of Pakistan,” Qazi Azmat Isa, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.
Managing over $1 billion funds, PPAF is the lead apex institution for community-driven development in the country and the largest source of pro-poor spending outside public sector development programme and the Federal budget. Set up as a fully autonomous private sector institution, PPAF enjoys facilitation and support from the Government of Pakistan, the World Bank, IFAD, USAid, USDA, KfW and US corporate sector.
Qazi Azmat Isa said Gulf corporate sector can help eradicate poverty in Pakistan by project funding for the poor and marginalised communities in Pakistan through PPAF. “There is a huge potential in the Gulf corporate sector and if PPAF manages to convince them then it would go a long way in helping addressing poverty in Pakistan,” he said.
PPAF has partnered with 97 organisations working in over 85,000 villages/settlements of the country with over 257,000 communities and self-help groups at grassroots level in 128 districts of Pakistan. It’s cumulative operational activities entailed over 4.3 million microcredit loans impacting directly or indirectly 29.2 million people with 100 per cent recovery rate, over 24,200 educational, health, water and infrastructure projects impacting 14.2 million persons and over 489,800 trained individuals.
Externally commissioned independent studies have demonstrated positive outcomes and impact of PPAF interventions on the lives of benefiting communities related to their economic output, household incomes, assets, agricultural productivity skills and other quality of life indices.
Here are the excerpts of the interview;
What is the vision of the PPAF?
PPAF vision is restoring hope, securing the future and ending poverty. The idea is to catalyze efforts by undertaking multi-dimensional interventions for poverty reduction through civil society organisations. A major element of PPAF mission is to develop well-structured retail capacity at the grassroots level. The objective is to identify and develop credible implementing partners as effective vehicles of delivery for a range of interventions and services.
Do you have any plans to explore corporate sector in the Gulf region for more resources to increase your outreach?
Yes! We have a definite plan to explore funding opportunities in the Gulf region to which Pakistan enjoys close proximity culture and commercial ties. PPAF enjoys the comparative advantage of working with the poorest of the poor and marginalised communities with zero per cent overheads (as these are picked up through our endorsement) and demonstrated impact to attract corporate philanthropy.
What type of resources are you looking for in the Gulf region?
We are looking for technical and financial support in the form of grant to facilitate the poor and marginalised communities across Pakistan. Then we have ideas to provide access to the talented and trained entrepreneurial poor, especially the young, equipped with modern skills to the Gulf markets so that they could explore new avenues and carve their own destiny.
Do you think the Gulf corporate sector can help eradicate poverty in Pakistan by project funding through PPAF?
There is the huge potential in the Gulf corporate sector and if PPAF manages to convince them then it would go a long way in helping addressing poverty in Pakistan. Leading international donors like the World Bank, IFAD, KfW, etc. have provided funding to PPAF over the years. Through its support, the Gulf corporate sector is very well placed to capitalize on the confidence.
Do you have any specific plan or project for the Gulf-based investors or corporate sector?
We are planning to hold road shows and organise meetings with business giants of the Gulf in order to attract them for investing in the poor communities of Pakistan. PPAF has an integrated development approach, a strong network of partner organisations and a robust growth strategy for improving the lives and livelihoods of the poorest of the poor. Three overarching principles of PPAF i.e. dynamism of private sector, commitment of the civil society and empowered communities offer excellent value for investment.
Are you targeting the Gulf sovereign wealth funds for PPAF projects?
Yes! Both sovereign social responsibility funds aspect make PPAF a very effective candidate in the region. PPAF’s track record in service delivery speaks volumes for its commitment to serving the poor in the remotest parts of the country.
How is the Government of Pakistan and PPAF relationship?
Credit goes to the Government of Pakistan for having the wisdom and the foresight to support PPAF and its programmes. PPAF has managed funds of over $1 billion of multinationals and bilateral corporate sector organisations. Right now over a billion dollars have gone through the PPAF. This is no small achievement.
How do you look at the achievements of PPAF?
The work that PPAF has done in over the past decade is tremendous. What started off as a small organisation as a small experiment to alleviate poverty in Pakistan has become an identity of Pakistan. Since its inception, PPAF has covered tremendous ground. PPAF was nowhere to be seen 10 years ago but today, its coverage spans to 128 districts of Pakistan.
As a model of public-private partnership, PPAF has been able to bring private sector efficiencies, corporate sector rigor, planning and managerial skills to the development sector. It has changed the charity mindset to a business-like approach to grassroots development. PPAF is focused on delivery of resources and services at the household level aimed at the poor and excluded.
Is PPAF involved in emergencies and natural disasters?
As an organisation PPAF earned its mettle in the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan in 2005. It was assigned dedicated responsibility by the Government of Pakistan for housing, water, infrastructure, health, education, training and disability management in eight districts of earthquake-affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP.
PPAF disbursed assistance for reconstruction of 120,000 housing units, trained over 108,000 individuals in seismic-reconstruction technologies, rehabilitated over 400 damaged water and infrastructure schemes and reconstructed 19 health and education facilities in the quake-hit areas of the NWFP & AJK.
Reinforcing its efforts, PPAF has exhibited its spirit during droughts, handling and training of the internally displaced persons and flood affectees in Pakistan. It distributed over five million kilograms of food items including dry and cooked rations, 40,000 liters of milk, medical assistance to 300,000 patients and 1,500 tents in 22 flood-hit districts of Pakistan in 2010.
Microfinance is a buzz word these days. What role PPAF is playing on this front?
PPAF’s contribution in the field of microfinance has earned recognition not only from the World Bank but also from other international donors. Current outreach and expansion of the microcredit borrowers as a whole has been due to PPAF which has led the exponential growth in the sector and put Pakistan at the forefront of ‘emerging’ market of microfinance internationally. PPAF has 50 per cent share of the microfinance market in Pakistan. It supports small community-based organisations, NGOs and MFIs.
It is also engaged in providing financial as well as capacity building services to retail microfinance institutions. One of the major roles of PPAF has been the development of retail capacity of its partners to deliver microfinance on a viable and sustainable basis. It has helped introduce international best practices like poverty targeting, business plans, professionalisation of microfinance management and impact studies.
Gallup Pakistan Survey on the impact of microcredit on clients in the areas where PPAF has disbursed credit through its partner organisations revealed a 21 per cent increase in the mean personal income of the borrowers, a 13 per cent increase in the mean household incomes, 19 per cent increase in average expenses on household consumption, 14 per cent increase in food items consumption and a 16-26 per cent increase in assets.
What services PPAF has rendered in the fields of health, education, infrastructure and disability?
PPAF has completed 24,200 educational, health, water and infrastructure projects, impacting 14.2 million persons in the most neglected parts of the country. It has established/adopted 955 schools with an enrollment of 138,329 where children (63,000 girls and 75,000 boys) of marginalised communities are getting quality education.
Likewise, PPAF has established/adopted 334 health centres to provide general patient check-up, mother-child healthcare, skilled birth, family planning, antenatal and related services across the far off places in the country. So far 2.4 million patients have benefited from quality healthcare services.
The PPAF has provided 15,000 assistive devices to persons with disabilities. As many as 1,500 Persons with Disability have been given need-based skill trainings while 530 family members of the severely disabled persons have been imparted trainings on how to take care of the special persons.
How has PPAF improved the lives of the ultra poor and marginalised communities in Pakistan?
Development of the marginalised and poor communities in the country has been the centre of attention of PPAF. The multi-pronged approaches adopted by PPAF for the improvement in the lifestyles of the marginalised communities have helped them access basic health, education, infrastructure, potable water, credit, energy, vocational, etc facilities.
Over the last 10 years, PPAF has emerged as the largest private sector initiative for wholesaling development support to civil society organisations in the country and has played the role of lead agency in strengthening participatory development. It has endeavoured to mainstream marginalised communities through provision of a broad range of financial and non-financial services.
PPAF has received third funding from the World Bank. What is the secret behind this generosity of the World Bank? Is PPAF too much dependent upon only one agency?
In recognition of track record and performance, World Bank approved $250 million for poverty reduction project (PPAF-III) for next five years. The World Bank funding is based on the consideration PPAF’s output, low overheads (arguably one of the lowest in the world), effectiveness of outcomes and impact on the poorest at the grassroots level.
Besides the World Bank, PPAF has received funding from a diversified range of international and multilateral donors like IFAD, KfW, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, USAID, USDA, etc. The international donors have adopted an institutional program approach in the PPAF rather than a discrete project approach, where elements of projects reinforce a long term coherent strategies.
PPAF is currently focusing the multinationals and bilateral institutions based in Gulf for funding multi-pronged projects aimed at the poor and marginalised communities’ welfare all over Pakistan. We want to create a sense of ownership of PPAF among our overseas Pakistanis and Arab brethren, and intend to benefit from their financial and technical support to restore hope, securing the future and making poverty a history in Pakistan.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
“We are planning to hold road shows and organise meetings with business giants of the Gulf in order to attract them for investing in the poor communities of Pakistan,” Qazi Azmat Isa, Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.
Managing over $1 billion funds, PPAF is the lead apex institution for community-driven development in the country and the largest source of pro-poor spending outside public sector development programme and the Federal budget. Set up as a fully autonomous private sector institution, PPAF enjoys facilitation and support from the Government of Pakistan, the World Bank, IFAD, USAid, USDA, KfW and US corporate sector.
Qazi Azmat Isa said Gulf corporate sector can help eradicate poverty in Pakistan by project funding for the poor and marginalised communities in Pakistan through PPAF. “There is a huge potential in the Gulf corporate sector and if PPAF manages to convince them then it would go a long way in helping addressing poverty in Pakistan,” he said.
PPAF has partnered with 97 organisations working in over 85,000 villages/settlements of the country with over 257,000 communities and self-help groups at grassroots level in 128 districts of Pakistan. It’s cumulative operational activities entailed over 4.3 million microcredit loans impacting directly or indirectly 29.2 million people with 100 per cent recovery rate, over 24,200 educational, health, water and infrastructure projects impacting 14.2 million persons and over 489,800 trained individuals.
Externally commissioned independent studies have demonstrated positive outcomes and impact of PPAF interventions on the lives of benefiting communities related to their economic output, household incomes, assets, agricultural productivity skills and other quality of life indices.
Here are the excerpts of the interview;
What is the vision of the PPAF?
PPAF vision is restoring hope, securing the future and ending poverty. The idea is to catalyze efforts by undertaking multi-dimensional interventions for poverty reduction through civil society organisations. A major element of PPAF mission is to develop well-structured retail capacity at the grassroots level. The objective is to identify and develop credible implementing partners as effective vehicles of delivery for a range of interventions and services.
Do you have any plans to explore corporate sector in the Gulf region for more resources to increase your outreach?
Yes! We have a definite plan to explore funding opportunities in the Gulf region to which Pakistan enjoys close proximity culture and commercial ties. PPAF enjoys the comparative advantage of working with the poorest of the poor and marginalised communities with zero per cent overheads (as these are picked up through our endorsement) and demonstrated impact to attract corporate philanthropy.
What type of resources are you looking for in the Gulf region?
We are looking for technical and financial support in the form of grant to facilitate the poor and marginalised communities across Pakistan. Then we have ideas to provide access to the talented and trained entrepreneurial poor, especially the young, equipped with modern skills to the Gulf markets so that they could explore new avenues and carve their own destiny.
Do you think the Gulf corporate sector can help eradicate poverty in Pakistan by project funding through PPAF?
There is the huge potential in the Gulf corporate sector and if PPAF manages to convince them then it would go a long way in helping addressing poverty in Pakistan. Leading international donors like the World Bank, IFAD, KfW, etc. have provided funding to PPAF over the years. Through its support, the Gulf corporate sector is very well placed to capitalize on the confidence.
Do you have any specific plan or project for the Gulf-based investors or corporate sector?
We are planning to hold road shows and organise meetings with business giants of the Gulf in order to attract them for investing in the poor communities of Pakistan. PPAF has an integrated development approach, a strong network of partner organisations and a robust growth strategy for improving the lives and livelihoods of the poorest of the poor. Three overarching principles of PPAF i.e. dynamism of private sector, commitment of the civil society and empowered communities offer excellent value for investment.
Are you targeting the Gulf sovereign wealth funds for PPAF projects?
Yes! Both sovereign social responsibility funds aspect make PPAF a very effective candidate in the region. PPAF’s track record in service delivery speaks volumes for its commitment to serving the poor in the remotest parts of the country.
How is the Government of Pakistan and PPAF relationship?
Credit goes to the Government of Pakistan for having the wisdom and the foresight to support PPAF and its programmes. PPAF has managed funds of over $1 billion of multinationals and bilateral corporate sector organisations. Right now over a billion dollars have gone through the PPAF. This is no small achievement.
How do you look at the achievements of PPAF?
The work that PPAF has done in over the past decade is tremendous. What started off as a small organisation as a small experiment to alleviate poverty in Pakistan has become an identity of Pakistan. Since its inception, PPAF has covered tremendous ground. PPAF was nowhere to be seen 10 years ago but today, its coverage spans to 128 districts of Pakistan.
As a model of public-private partnership, PPAF has been able to bring private sector efficiencies, corporate sector rigor, planning and managerial skills to the development sector. It has changed the charity mindset to a business-like approach to grassroots development. PPAF is focused on delivery of resources and services at the household level aimed at the poor and excluded.
Is PPAF involved in emergencies and natural disasters?
As an organisation PPAF earned its mettle in the devastating earthquake that struck Pakistan in 2005. It was assigned dedicated responsibility by the Government of Pakistan for housing, water, infrastructure, health, education, training and disability management in eight districts of earthquake-affected areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP.
PPAF disbursed assistance for reconstruction of 120,000 housing units, trained over 108,000 individuals in seismic-reconstruction technologies, rehabilitated over 400 damaged water and infrastructure schemes and reconstructed 19 health and education facilities in the quake-hit areas of the NWFP & AJK.
Reinforcing its efforts, PPAF has exhibited its spirit during droughts, handling and training of the internally displaced persons and flood affectees in Pakistan. It distributed over five million kilograms of food items including dry and cooked rations, 40,000 liters of milk, medical assistance to 300,000 patients and 1,500 tents in 22 flood-hit districts of Pakistan in 2010.
Microfinance is a buzz word these days. What role PPAF is playing on this front?
PPAF’s contribution in the field of microfinance has earned recognition not only from the World Bank but also from other international donors. Current outreach and expansion of the microcredit borrowers as a whole has been due to PPAF which has led the exponential growth in the sector and put Pakistan at the forefront of ‘emerging’ market of microfinance internationally. PPAF has 50 per cent share of the microfinance market in Pakistan. It supports small community-based organisations, NGOs and MFIs.
It is also engaged in providing financial as well as capacity building services to retail microfinance institutions. One of the major roles of PPAF has been the development of retail capacity of its partners to deliver microfinance on a viable and sustainable basis. It has helped introduce international best practices like poverty targeting, business plans, professionalisation of microfinance management and impact studies.
Gallup Pakistan Survey on the impact of microcredit on clients in the areas where PPAF has disbursed credit through its partner organisations revealed a 21 per cent increase in the mean personal income of the borrowers, a 13 per cent increase in the mean household incomes, 19 per cent increase in average expenses on household consumption, 14 per cent increase in food items consumption and a 16-26 per cent increase in assets.
What services PPAF has rendered in the fields of health, education, infrastructure and disability?
PPAF has completed 24,200 educational, health, water and infrastructure projects, impacting 14.2 million persons in the most neglected parts of the country. It has established/adopted 955 schools with an enrollment of 138,329 where children (63,000 girls and 75,000 boys) of marginalised communities are getting quality education.
Likewise, PPAF has established/adopted 334 health centres to provide general patient check-up, mother-child healthcare, skilled birth, family planning, antenatal and related services across the far off places in the country. So far 2.4 million patients have benefited from quality healthcare services.
The PPAF has provided 15,000 assistive devices to persons with disabilities. As many as 1,500 Persons with Disability have been given need-based skill trainings while 530 family members of the severely disabled persons have been imparted trainings on how to take care of the special persons.
How has PPAF improved the lives of the ultra poor and marginalised communities in Pakistan?
Development of the marginalised and poor communities in the country has been the centre of attention of PPAF. The multi-pronged approaches adopted by PPAF for the improvement in the lifestyles of the marginalised communities have helped them access basic health, education, infrastructure, potable water, credit, energy, vocational, etc facilities.
Over the last 10 years, PPAF has emerged as the largest private sector initiative for wholesaling development support to civil society organisations in the country and has played the role of lead agency in strengthening participatory development. It has endeavoured to mainstream marginalised communities through provision of a broad range of financial and non-financial services.
PPAF has received third funding from the World Bank. What is the secret behind this generosity of the World Bank? Is PPAF too much dependent upon only one agency?
In recognition of track record and performance, World Bank approved $250 million for poverty reduction project (PPAF-III) for next five years. The World Bank funding is based on the consideration PPAF’s output, low overheads (arguably one of the lowest in the world), effectiveness of outcomes and impact on the poorest at the grassroots level.
Besides the World Bank, PPAF has received funding from a diversified range of international and multilateral donors like IFAD, KfW, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, USAID, USDA, etc. The international donors have adopted an institutional program approach in the PPAF rather than a discrete project approach, where elements of projects reinforce a long term coherent strategies.
PPAF is currently focusing the multinationals and bilateral institutions based in Gulf for funding multi-pronged projects aimed at the poor and marginalised communities’ welfare all over Pakistan. We want to create a sense of ownership of PPAF among our overseas Pakistanis and Arab brethren, and intend to benefit from their financial and technical support to restore hope, securing the future and making poverty a history in Pakistan.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com
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