Social Assessment of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF-III)

Social Assessment of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF-III)

Partner: Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF)

Year: 2012

Locale: Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Ghizer, DI Khan, Swat, Bahawalpur, D.G Khan, Layyah, Sanghar and Tharparkar

Introduction:   

As one of the largest sources of pro-poor spending in the country, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is claimed to be the lead agency for initiatives related to poverty reduction in Pakistan. It embodies the spirit of public-private partnership to address the multi-dimensional issues of poverty with a view to achieving social and economic change. PPAF has progressively organized its endeavors to develop a multi-sectoral poverty alleviation strategy by integrating its operations through structural alignment of its development functions. Among other things one of the most critical steps is to develop PPAF’s own result framework and adopting an outcome-based approach. This strategic visioning is predicated by a strong feeling to move from output-based development to impact oriented approach and hence it becomes more relevant today than ever to conduct a thorough social assessment study.

A third party Social Assessment study was designed by PPAF, under the scope of World Bank supported projects in Pakistan. For this purpose, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has been outsourced by PPAF to furnish Social Assessment report in 10 randomly selected districts across Pakistan. This social assessment will inform the project design on strategies for social and economic empowerment of the rural poor. The key purpose of the social assessment is to analyze social issues, institutional viability of grass root organizations to undertake socially responsible development in line with PPAF core values of inclusion, accountability, good governance, transparency and environmental conscientization.

The assessment study would also allow for information disclosure, stakeholder consultation and to address the conformity with PPAF standard social safety measures vis-à-vis voluntary/involuntary resettlement, up-rootedness of indigenous people and social conflict that a PPAF funded intervention may ensue.

The Social Assessment Study will be conducted in 10 selected districts against PPAF criteria include Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar, Ghizer, DI Khan, Swat, Bahawalpur, D.G Khan, Layyah, Sanghar and Tharparkar. The interventions i.e. CPI, WEU, Education, health and Micro-credit will be assessed against predefined criteria and indictors.

Objectives:

The overarching aim of the social assessment study is to analyze social issues, and institutional viability of grass root organizations to undertake socially responsible development in line with PPAF core values of inclusion, accountability, good governance, transparency and environmental conscientization.

The social structure and institutional dynamics will objectively be assessed during the course of this study. The overall objective of the social assessment is to incorporate the human and social dimensions more fully in the design of PPAF interventions. To this end, the assessment will identify key social and institutional issues and stakeholder groups.