Although Bangladesh has achieved fairly steady economic growth, as of 2011, almost half of its population still lived in extreme poverty. As a result, the Government of Bangladesh and its development partners have recently started to target the extreme poor in many development policies and programs. As part of a BRAC Advocacy Unit project titled National Policy Advocacy for CFPR-TUP, this study maps the current status of national-level policies and programs that address extreme poverty in Bangladesh. Research methods include analysis of national strategies, project evaluations, academic literature, print media, and interviews with national stakeholders—academics, policymakers, development practitioners, and journalists. The study found existing poverty classifications as dated, and overlapping. Mostly linear in nature, these classifications did not represent categorical sub-groups of the poor. Development actors implemented multiple, overlapping programs which often failed to distinguish between short-term social protection, and longer-term poverty alleviation. Increased dialogue between stakeholders, sharing organizational experiences, and collaboration on a national strategy can improve the quality of extreme poverty initiatives in Bangladesh.
Authors: Qayum, Nayma; Samadder, Mrinmoy
Type: Monograph
Year: 2013