In continuation of its decades-long, PKSF is implementing a new project titled ‘Pathways to Prosperity for Extremely Poor People (PPEPP)’ with joint funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the European Union (EU). PKSF, the core implementing entity of the project, is implementing the project through 19 selected Partner Organisations (POs).
The project builds on the experiences of previous extreme poverty reduction projects in Bangladesh, including PRIME and UPP-Ujjibito implemented by the PKSF with funding from the FCDO and the EU respectively. The project draws experiences also from a number FCDO-funded ultra-poor programmes in Bangladesh such as Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP), Economic Empowerment of the Poorest (EEP), Stimulating Household Improvements Resulting in Economic Empowerment (SHIREE) and Targeting the Ultra Poor (TUP).
The PPEPP project is working to connect extremely poor people with mainstream development activities and economic growth.
Project objectives
• To enable 1 million people to exit from extreme poverty for good; and
• To support the development of stronger national institutions and systems to deliver the vital public and private services necessary for the extreme poor to become resilient and prosper.
Expected outcome and indicative high-level output
Outcome 1: Sustained market development in target districts creates market demand for goods and services produced by target households and job opportunities.
Indicative high-level output: Developed livelihood options resilient to shocks and stresses.
Outcome 2: GoBbegins to support effective graduation-style programme, alongside scale-up of a core set of Life-cycle Grant relevant to labour-poor households.
Indicative high-level output: Improved nutrition practices and sustained through GoB and market systems.
Outcome 3: GoB begins to invest significant resources in the development of lagging regions, including provision of quality basic services in hard-to-reach areas.
Indicative high-level output: Increased awareness among the extreme and vulnerable poor, and empowered to secure their rights.
Expected results
The project will deliver the following indicative results:
- 1 million extremely poor people (250,000 households) exit extreme poverty for good;
- 357,000 women and children have better nutrition, and women of childbearing age and adolescent girls benefitted from a package of nutrition interventions;
- 125,000 women experience a significant change in their social status and level of empowerment within the household and the community; and
Increased resilience to climate change and other shocks for 1 million extremely poor people.
Project duration
The project is designed to work for the sustainable development of up to 250,000 households covering 1 million extremely poor people by 2025. Of the total six-year lifespan, first one year is Inception Phase (April 2019-March 2020) and the last five years are Implementation Period (April 2021-March 2025).
Geographical targeting
The project is being implemented in three climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh.
North West: the riverine chars and districts along the banks of the Teesta and Brahmaputra rivers;
South West Coastal Belt: that faces periodic cyclones, tidal surge, salt water intrusion and chronic waterlogging; and
Haor region in the North East: that has a specific ecosystem, presenting a very limited range of livelihood options as it remains under water for nearly six months every year. In addition, certain extreme poverty-prone pockets are getting support under innovation programmes.