IPC-IG will be supporting the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger (MDS) in the organization of the Seminar “Urban Productive Inclusion” to be held on May 8-9 in Campinas, Brazil. The Seminar aims at presenting and discussing the main results of Brazil Without Extreme Poverty Plan, with focus on the productive inclusion of low-income population groups. The event is a partnership between MDS, University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the World Bank.

For more information (Portuguese only) please click here.

Agenda -  Seminar “Urban Productive Inclusion”, May 8-9 – Campinas, São Paulo:

Programme DAY 1 – Wednesday

9h00 – 10h20 – Opening session

• UNICAMP / World Bank / Ministry of Social Development / NEPPConferência:

• The Plan Brazil Without Extreme Poverty  - Tereza Campello, Minister of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger

10h30-11h20 Session 1

Claudio Dedecca – UNICAMP: “The poverty multidimensional approach in Brazil Without Extreme Poverty  Plan (25′)

Aldaíza Sposati – PUC / SP: “Cross-cutting multi-sector oriented policies and access to basic services as requirements for productive inclusion” (25 ‘)

11h20 – 11h50 Panel discussion moderated by Tiago Falcão (SESEP / MDS) (30 ‘)

12h-14h00 Lunch

14h00 – 14h50 – Session 2

Sergei Soares – IPEA: “What is known about the effects of cash transfers on labor supply” (25 ‘)

Alexandre Leichsenring – USP: “Precarious employment and the Bolsa Familia” (25′)

14h50 – 15h20 Panel discussion moderated by Luis Henrique Paiva – SENARC /MDS (30′)

15h20-15h40 Coffee Break

15h40 – 17h10 – Session 3

Marta T. Arretche: “Public Policy and Federalism” (20′)

Valdiosmar Vieira – CONGEMAS: “Mobilization by municipalities and states for productive inclusion” (20′)

Luiz Claudio Romanelli – FONSET: “The role of federated entities in job and income generation policies management” (20′)

Heider Aurelio Pinto – Ministry of Health: “Programmes for Health in the Brazil Without Extreme Poverty Plan” (20′)

17h10 – 17h45 Panel discussion moderated by Vincent P. Trevas (25′)
Programme DAY 2 Thursday

9:00 – 10:15 Session 4

Marco Antonio – SETEC / Ministry of Education: “Innovations in professional  qualifications with PRONATEC (25′)

Felipe Morgado – National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship /SENAI: “Brief on Brazil Without Extreme Poverty Plan” (25 ‘)

Denise Colin – SNAS /MDS: Programmes for labour market access (25′)

10h15-10h45 Panel discussion moderated by Clemente Ganz Lúcio – DIEESE (30′)

11h00 – 11h50 – Session 5

Márcio Pochmann – UNICAMP: “ Labour and Social Security, the role job and income generation policy in poverty reduction” (25 ‘)

Nadya Araujo Guimarães – USP: “Occupational inequalities and access to job opportunities information“ (25 ‘)

11h50 – 12h20 Panel discussing moderated by José Celso Pereira Cardoso Junior – Ministry of Planning (30′)

12h-14h00 Lunch

14h00 – 15h00 – Session 6

Rafael Marques de Sá – MDIC: “Brasil Maior and Brazil Without Extreme Poverty: possible articulations” (20 ‘)

José Carlos Martins – CBIC: “Inclusion of BSM beneficiaries in the construction market” (20′)

Paul Januzzi – SAGI / MDS: “Opportunities mapping and other instruments for improving productive inclusion” (20′)

15:00 – 15:30 Panel discussion moderated by Anselmo Luis dos Santos (CESIT)

15h20-15h40 Coffee Break

14h00 – 15h00 – Session 7

Franco Matos – USP: “The role of microcredit and microfinance in the productive inclusion of extremely poor” (20′)

Roberto Marinho – SENAES / Ministry of Labour: “Solidarity Economy and Entrepreneurship: possibilities and limits” (20′)

Helena Rego – SEBRAE: “Experience with individual micro-entrepreneurs – MEI” (20′)

Gabriel Kraychete – UCSalvador: “Economy of the popular sectors and incubator of cooperative technology” (20 ‘)

17h00-17h30 Panel discussion moderated by Helena Carvalho de Lorenzo – UNESP / Araraquara (30′)

17:30 – 18:00 – Closing session

Conclusions, achievements and forging a common agenda

Ana Fonseca – NEPP / UNICAMP

Tiago Falcão - SESEP / MDS

Photo: ESCAP 2013

ESCAP flagship Survey calls for a paradigm shift in macroeconomic policies to make growth inclusive and sustainable

Brasilia, 18 April 2013 – Asia-Pacific economies will see subdued growth in 2013 after last year’s sharp slowdown caused by external factors, the United Nations said in its annual regional social and economic report released today in Brasilia. The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013: Forward-looking macroeconomic policies for inclusive and sustainable development adds that efforts to stimulate demand must go hand in hand with macroeconomic course correction to promote broad-based and sustainable development. The Survey 2013 was presented in the Seminar entitled “Asia and Brazil: Perspectives for Inclusive Growth”, organised by UNDP’sInternational Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) and the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea).

While  the  Asia-Pacific  region  has  weathered  the  financial  crisis  better  than  many other parts of the world, there is an urgent need to adapt macroeconomic policies to address the challenges of sustainable development and assist the poorest and most vulnerable” said Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The recommendations in this issue of the Survey seek to assist these countries to advance economically, socially and environmentally, citing that such measures will lead the region towards a more inclusive and sustainable growth path. “These efforts can assist the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Greater progress will fuel confidence in, and mobilize support for an ambitious post-2015 development agenda”, says Jorge Chediek, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Brazil.

Inclusive and environment-friendly growth is key to creating new sources of economic dynamism amidst the persisting global uncertainty, says the flagship publication of the Bangkok, Thailand-based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) which estimates that economic policy uncertainty in the eurozone and the United States since the onset of the global crisis has shaved 3 per cent off regional GDP – a loss of $870 billion in output.

“The 2013 Survey suggests the need for new macroeconomic policies in Asia. The Brazilian example shows us that social policies can play a vital role in achieving inclusive and sustainable development”, says Claudio Hamilton dos Santos, Director of Macroeconomic Studies and Policies, Ipea.

“The Latin American experience has shown that public social investment, such as conditional cash transfer programmes, non-contributory social pensions, access to health care and education, can contribute to both GDP growth and domestic consumption demand by empowering millions of economically and socially marginalized people” added Fabio Veras, research coordinator IPC-IG/UNDP.

Limited pick up in growth

The expected improvement in global demand arising from steady growth in the United States and the limited rebound in major emerging economies is projected to help raise developing Asia-Pacific growth to 6.0 per cent in 2013 from 5.6 per cent last year.

China is estimated to record a moderate increase in growth from 7.8 per cent in 2012 to 8 per cent while India is projected to recover somewhat from last year’s low of 5 per cent to 6.4 per cent in 2013.

Oil and gas exporting North and Central Asia will continue to benefit from high global energy prices, maintaining steady growth. In South and South-West Asia, the economies of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are projected to grow 6 per cent or more in 2013.

The export-led economies in East and North-East Asia as well as South-East Asia are expected to gain from “improved, although still tepid, global trade”. However, domestic demand will be the main economy driver in Indonesia, giving it a robust growth of 6.6 per cent in 2013. Strong private consumption will support growth in the Philippines (6.2 per cent in 2013) and Thailand (5.3 per cent in 2013) while Viet Nam’s economy is expected to pick up in the second half of 2013 to 5.5 per cent.

Growth is expected to decelerate in Pacific island developing economies in 2013 due to a sharp, energy sector-led slowdown in Papua New Guinea, the largest Pacific island economy.

“New normal” of lower growth underlines need to make development inclusive and sustainable

The Survey cautions that “much lower growth compared to recent years could become a new normal for many regional economies if present economic trends were to continue” and this could cause an estimated economic output loss of about $1.3 trillion by end-2017.

Long-term structural issues, such as rising inequality, energy and infrastructure shortages are compounding the regional slowdown and the Survey says the “structural solution to invigorating the domestic drivers of growth will lie in making the development process more inclusive and sustainable”.

With the region home to nearly two-third of the world’s poor and having more than a billion people with insecure livelihoods, the Survey highlights the economic benefits of social protection. It makes a first-time estimation of the public investment requirement of a package of social protection and sustainable development policies comprising a job guarantee programme, a universal pension scheme, disability benefits, increased public health spending, universal school enrolment and universal access to modern sources of efficient energy.

Requiring between 5 and 8 per cent of GDP in many Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, this can be self-financed by most countries, although least developed countries, some geographically disadvantaged nations and small island developing states would also require external support.

Moreover, these investments do not carry any risk of macroeconomic destabilization.

Thailand and China show the way

Among measures to support inclusive development, the Survey makes a case for a minimum wage policy which can also benefit employers and the economy. It estimates that the recent minimum wage hikes in Thailand could increase job growth by up to 0.6 per cent and real GDP growth by 0.7 per cent by 2015.

Another model of a pro-inclusive growth policy is the ongoing rebalancing of China’s economy which aims to reduce reliance on exports and boost domestic consumption-driven demand by promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. ESCAP estimates this will also benefit intraregional trade, triggering an additional $13 billion worth of exports by other Asia-Pacific countries to China during 2013-2015 and cause regional export growth to pick up by up to 0.5 percentage points above the level it would otherwise have been.

Download full report:  http://www.ipc-undp.org/pressroom/files/ipc827.pdf

For more information, please go to: http://www.ipc-undp.org/ or follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ipc.undp, on our Twitter https://twitter.com/UNDP_IPC or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/ipcundp.

For more information, please contact:

Brasilia:
Ms Mariana Hoffmann
Communications Officer, IPC-IG
T: (55) 61 2105 5036/ M (55) 61 8125 6469 E: mariana.hoffmann@ipc-undp.org

Bangkok:
Ms. Francyne Harrigan
Chief, Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section, ESCAP
M: (66) 81 835 8677, E: harriganf@un.org

Launch event in Brazil:

Seminar “Asia and Brazil: Perspectives for Inclusive Growth”

Launch of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013 in Brazil

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013 Time: 9 a.m.

here: Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) / SBS, Quadra 1, Edifício BNDES, Auditorium 16º floor – Brasília – DF, Brazil
Agenda

9h –  Breakfast to welcome guests

10h – Opening event

Mr. Claudio Hamilton dos Santos, Director of Macroeconomic Studies and Policies, the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) 

10h20 – Release of the report entitled “Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013: Innovative Macroeconomic Policies for Inclusive and Sustainable Development”

Mr. Jorge Chediek, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Brazil

10h40 – The conjunction of macroeconomic policy and inclusive and sustainable development

Mr. Claudio Hamilton dos Santos, Director of Macroeconomic Studies and Policies, the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) 

11h – Emerging counrtries: Prospects for inclusive growth policies

Mr. Fabio Veras, Coordinator of Research, the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Brasília

11h20 – Parallels between Latin America and Asia in the current global context

Mr. Carlos Mussi, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC, United Nations), Brasília

11h40 – Opportunities for dialogue between Brazil and Asia

Mr. Renato Baumann, Director of Studies and Economic Relations and International Policy, the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA)

12h – Q & A session with the speakers

12h20 – Closing of the Meeting

‘A farmer harvests sorghum.’ Source: Fred Noy, UN Photo

Brasília, March 27, 2013 – The International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth hosted a 10-day E-discussion between February 10^th and March 4^th on the topic of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) with support from the UK Department for International Development. The discussion attempted to address the key tensions that exist at the intersection of climate change and agriculture in Africa, particularly emphasizing ‘climate-smart’ solutions. In so doing, the e-discussion yielded critical information from a portfolio of sources as well as strategies for improving CSA. The e-discussion also afforded the opportunity for diverse actors involved in climate change and agriculture across the world to engage in debate through an innovative online platform: a Google Groups.

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach to farming that aspires to support smallholders through risk-averse and environmentally sensitive agricultural practices. As the world is experiencing increasingly erratic weather patterns due to a changing global climate, efforts to enhance agricultural resilience are of critical importance. Investing in knowledge for smallholders may not only inform debates on social protection but may also improve the knowledge base for food security and climate change adaptations.

A follow-up to  a seminar on the ‘Role of South-South Cooperation in Agricultural Development in Africa’ held in Brasilia on 17 May 2012,  the e-discussion aimed to continue in this vein of policy and research related to knowledge innovation around sustainable agriculture and climate change. The e-discussion involved more than 60 participants from a range of institutions with differing professional and academic backgrounds, such as federal government representatives and farmers. It facilitated greater engagement and discourse between civil society actors on South-South Cooperation. Participants were also afforded the opportunity to offer practical and hands-on experiences to complement the more theoretical discussion.

The e-discussion sought to inform ongoing debates on CSA while recognizing the particular relevance for Brazil-Africa agricultural cooperation. In particular, the discussion set out to “deepen the conversation with civil society and organizations that represent small farmers, as well as individuals researching small farmer issues.” As such, the debate was structured around the following three objectives:

• Objective 1: To understand the value of climate-smart agriculture for smallholder farming 
• Objective 2: To serve as a platform for knowledge sharing on climate-smart agricultural innovations in the South
• Objective 3: To promote a gendered approach to climate-smart agriculture.

The resulting knowledge product, entitled Climate Smart Agriculture in Africa, is a report that provides a broad based overview of CSA policies as well as nuanced and practical examples from the field. It highlights areas of contention as well as consensus with respect to best practices and key challenges. Compellingly, original case studies as well as newly available literature are identified.

The DFID and the IPC-IG in Brazil aspire to continue cultivating a meaningful dialogue related to adaptation and initiatives for climate change. Stay tuned for a separate evidence paper on Climate Smart Agriculture that will be made available in the near future by the IPC-IG. The e-discussion served as an innovative avenue of knowledge cooperation that will inform the evolution of climate smart agriculture policy and practice in Africa and beyond.

Summaries in English and Portuguese are now available on the IPC-IG website.

Source: IPC 819 and IPC 812, DFID 

Take a closer look at research on food security, climate change and inclusive growth through the following IPC-IG publications:

Market Alternatives for Smallholder Farmers in Food Security Initiatives: Lessons from the Brazilian Good Acquisition Programme

Public Support to Food Security in India, Brazil and South Africa: Elements for a Policy Dialogue

Providing Incentives to Women Farmers for Sustainable Food Production

Food Security Policy Context in Brazil

Integrating Public Works and Cash Transfers in Ethiopia: Implications for Social Protection, Employment and Decent Work

“On this first International Day of Happiness, let us reinforce our commitment to inclusive and sustainable human development and renew our pledge to help others. When we contribute to the common good, we ourselves are enriched. Compassion promotes happiness and will help build the future we want.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the International Day of Happiness, 20 March 2013

‘Boys enjoy water in Vietnam’ Source: Emmanuelle Graciet

The role of ‘happiness’ is increasingly important in national agendas around the world.  In Bhutan, for example, “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) serves as a key indicator of national prosperity. Although many interpretations of ‘happiness’ exist, this article will present photographs from the IPC-IG’s ‘Humanizing Development’ global photography campaign that may exemplify visual representations of the happiness concept. In addition to the photography below, the IPC-IG has made available a range of publications on social protection, pro-poor growth, and a variety of topics which may relate to enhancing happiness.

It is hoped that the following images shed light on a world in which happiness and well-being serve as central fulcrums of national agendas. Behind each photograph is a unique narrative of how ‘happiness’ may manifest in manifold ways.

Happiness: A Global Photo Essay

‘As Children Should Be’ Source: Philip West/Australia

This photograph shows primary school children celebrating happiness, peace, and learning in a poor area of Banjarmasin City, Kalimantan Island, Indonesia.

‘Doctores Bola Roja’ Source: Marco Simola/Lima, Peru

The photograph provides a glimpse into the lives of the doctors of Bolaroja who have graduated from the Bolaroja Clown School in Lima, Peru. A typical day for a Bolaroja clown-doctor includes entertaining young patients with music, toys, and bonding activities. Unique games are also created that cater to the unique interests and needs of individual patients.

‘Rural India talks’ Source: Divyangana Rakesh/Khunti District, Jharkhand, India

A woman smiles as she displays her handiwork at a public meeting about the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) held in Khunti District, Jharkhand, India.

‘A Smile’ Source: WONG Chi Keung/Hksar, China

The farmer shown here, Uncle Ming, resides in the mountain region of Yunan in China. Due to the climatic context, the options for farming in Yunan are limited in scope.  Thus Uncle Ming cultivates corn and consequently carries the produce to the local market to gain profit.

‘Business as Usual’ Source: Rolando Villanueva/Rural Bailundo, Angola

The smiling faces displayed in this photograph are microfinance clients in rural Bailundo, Angola, that are carefully tending to their livelihoods despite the rainy conditions.

Read more about the International Day of Happiness

Please find here the message from the UN Secretary-General in a meeting on ‘Happiness and Well-being’

See how the IPC-IG may help to promote happiness through research on issues such as enhancing access to basic services and inclusive growth:

The Life Development of Young People Engaged in the Oportunidades Programme

Green Equity: Environmental Justice for more Inclusive Growth

Securing Greater Social Accountability in Natural Resource Management

Dimensions of Inclusive Development

‘Delegation from Senegal Discusses Social Protection and Policies’ Source: IPC-IG/Lauren Core

A delegation from Senegal comprised of political leaders and United Nations representatives convened at the IPC-IG/UNDP on March 18, 2013 to better understand the successes of social protection policies in Brazil. The Senegalese delegation is visiting Brazil to attend the International Seminar on Social Policy for Development offered by the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger (MDS) (more information in Portuguese available here). The MSD seminar provides the opportunity for policymakers from different countries to come together and collectively exchange ideas for poverty alleviation.

In addition to the Senegalese representatives, leaders from other countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa have arrived for the MDS conference. An Ethiopian delegation will also be received by the World Food Programme Center for Excellence Against Hunger upon completion of the MDS conference.

The meeting at the IPC-IG involved the discussion of issues such as the type of conditions involved in cash transfer programmes and the key challenges of implementing large-scale social protection initiatives. The Senegalese delegation strategized ways to develop strategies to fight poverty and hunger, keeping in mind the unique challenges facing Senegal. In addition to the MDS conference and technical meetings, foreign delegations are attending field trips to study sites to gain first-hand experience about the impacts of social protection policies in Brazil.

Upon completion of the visit to Brazil, it is envisioned that the Senegalese representatives will have the opportunity to build context-specific social protection policies that emulate the successes of the Brazilian case. In particular, programmes such as Bolsa Familia and Brazil Without Extreme Poverty Plan may serve as exemplar for the design and implementation of social protection programmes. Cooperation agreements may also be drafted that promote South-South knowledge sharing. The global dialogue that began with the IPC-IG visitation will not cease following the visit but rather will continue through knowledge cooperation related to social policies.

Read more publications related to social policy and protection in French:

Support à la production alimentaire et à l´accès à la nourriture via des achats publics locaux : les leçons du Brésil

Les Programmes de Transfert Monétaire Assorti de Conditions Sont-ils Viables Dans les Pays à Faible Revenu ?

Programmes Sociaux de Transferts D’espèces en Zambie : Quel en est L’impact ?

Les Pays à Faible Revenu Peuvent-ils Adopter des Politiques Anticycliques ?

Un seul Instrument Pour Plusieurs Cibles : Le Défi Posé par la Politique Macroéconomique du Timor-Leste

Les leçons de la crise de l’électricité en Afrique du Sud

Photo: Emmanuelle Graciet

Brasília, March 08, 2013 – The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) are actively promoting an extension of the transition period under which LDCs comply with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). It is envisioned that granting an extension will facilitate the improvement of access to and availability of essential medicines in LDCs. This is due to the fact that patent protection in LDCs may cause prices for already high-cost medicines and diagnostics to further increase. In addition, LDCs host high levels of health risks, such as inadequate sanitation, unsafe water, and under-nutrition.

Although LDCs capture a mere 2% of the world GDP, approximately 12% of the world’s population live within their borders. Moreover, many individuals residing in the 49 countries identified as LDCs by the United Nations are threatened by non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes. As indicated by research on low income countries, the number of those diagnosed with cancer is projected to increase by 82 per cent from 2008-2030. Additionally, although mortality due to cancer is prevalent in LDCs, purchasing the patented vaccine remains largely unviable for low income populations.

The issue of access to essential medicines and vaccines therefore remains problematic in LDCs. According to 2011 data, it was reported that 9.7 million of the 34 million individuals living with HIV are from LDCs. From the 9.7 million diagnosed, only 2.5 million received antiretroviral treatment.

Photo: ‘Girls in the hairdressing class at Pro-Link Danfa School in Ghana.’ By Alice Wong of Canadian Crossroads International.

Brasília, March 08, 2013 –

“Providing women with income, land rights and credit would mean fewer malnourished children. Studies show that higher levels of gender equality correlate positively with higher levels of per capita gross national product. Opening economic opportunities to women would significantly raise economic growth and reduce poverty.”

On International Women’s Day 2012, the Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet pressed the importance of placing women’s issues at the forefront of international policy and research. According to Bachelet, the implications of prioritizing gendered issues in the world may not only address the aforementioned challenges but also “result in 100 to 150 million fewer hungry people.”

This International Women’s Day the IPC-IG presents publications that investigate women’s issues such as gender equality. Each of the following publications provides insight into diverse contexts and thematic areas. A multifaceted approach to understanding women’s issues is therefore offered through research ranging from environmental justice to economic empowerment.

Food Security, Women Smallholders and Climate Change in Caribbean SIDS

This Policy Research Brief 33 by Nidhi Tandon communicates the urgency to reframe solutions in the Caribbean towards food and nutritional security in the context of an unpredictable climate system. The author highlights small-scale ecologically sensitive farming and fishing in the Caribbean as key premises for climate-sensitive and socially equitable resilience in three Caribbean States. These briefs precede the publication of a set of more comprehensive papers in 2013, which are the result of an innovative partnership between IPC-IG and UN Women (Caribbean Regional Office and Southern Africa Regional Office) as well as a new partnership, and South-South exchange between the two regions within UN Women.

Water Supply in Rural Ghana: Do Women Benefit?

This One Pager 101 authored by Joana Costa, Degol Hailu, Elydia Silva, and Raquel Tsukada addresses issues related to water access and availability for women in rural Ghana. In particular, the study analyses the impact of water provision on women’s time allocation. The document notes that while having access to water infrastructure can reduce the time burden on women, it is not implicit that the time saved would be devoted to paid activities.

Poverty among women in Latin America: Feminization or over-representation?

The Working Paper 20 by Joana Medeiros and Marcelo Costa offers two different ways to frame the ‘feminization of poverty’ concept and employs household survey data to provide an analysis of the feminization of poverty in eight Latin American countries. In so doing, the study examines the manifold ways in which intra-household inequalities exist in Latin America. The findings elucidate that although poverty is prevalent among women, there is no evidence of a ‘feminization of poverty’ in the study areas.

To read the 2013 International Women’s Day message from the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon click here.

By Lauren Nicole Core, IPC-IG

Delve deeper into research on women’s issues around the world by exploring the following IPC-IG publications:

Greening the Economy and Increasing Economic Equity for Women Farmers in Madagascar

Providing Incentives to Women Farmers for Sustainable Food Production

The Implications of Water and Electricity Supply for the Time Allocation of Women in Rural Ghana

Age and Gender Bias in Workloads During the Lifecycle: Evidence from Rural Ghana

The Role of Gender Inequalities in Explaining Income Growth, Poverty and Inequality: Evidence from Latin American Countries

Eliminating Gender Inequalities Reduces Poverty. How?

What Do We Mean by “Feminization of Poverty”?

Latin America’s Progress on Gender Equality: Poor Women Workers Are Still Left Behind

Gender Equality

Gender Inequalities in Allocating Time to Paid and Unpaid Work: Evidence from Bolivia

The Gender Pay Gap over Women’s Working Lifetime

 

Portuguese version available at: UNDP Brazil

The IPC-IG, MDS, IPEA, and World Bank sign an agreement to fight poverty worldwide. By Ana Nascimento, MDS

Brasília, March 6, 2013 – In an unprecedented partnership, four institutions that have been recognized for their commitment to fighting poverty joined forces this week in Brasília to expand the exchange of knowledge and best practices related to the promotion of successful social policies. The ‘Initiative for Knowledge and Innovation for Poverty Reduction’ was signed on Tuesday, March 3, 2013 by the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth of the United Nations Development Programme (IPC-IG/UNDP), The Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) and the World Bank.

The initiative will serve as a source of reference for other countries wishing to build or enhance their social inclusion policies based on the Brazilian Bolsa Família programme as well as Brazil Without Extreme Poverty. “Brazil has become a worldwide model for development,” said the UNDP Resident Representative to Brazil and Director of IPC-IG Jorge Chediek. “Brazil has designed a social policy that is not separate from economic policy or the general policy of the country. Rather, this social policy is central to the development of the country,” he continued.

In Brazil, the Bolsa Familia programme has managed to end extreme poverty for approximately 20 million people. Due to the ‘Single Registry System’ of the Bolsa Familia programme, the increased income and social development of approximately 50 million Brazilians provides a promising outlook. Thanks to the policies of conditional cash transfer, there has been significant growth of the Brazilian middle class in the last 20 years. According to Minister Tereza Campello of the MDS, Bolsa Familia is “the basis for constructing policies for overcoming extreme poverty, not only for being innovative on several issues, but also because we have an understanding that in order to implement social technologies, the programme has to have national size, impact, and scale. That is why the Bolsa Familia policy is so successful.”

The President of the IPEA, Marcelo Neri said that “this project is an opportunity to expand our cooperation with other countries, states and cities and exchange practical knowledge produced between public institutions, multilateral, civil society and people.” Besides the Brazilian experience in the area of poverty eradication, the initiative will provide benefits through exchanges with similar platforms created by the World Bank in China on the development of public transport as well as that of South Africa on the public health service.

The initiative is part of an overall effort by the World Bank and partner countries to produce and share knowledge about effective implementation of public policies, often defined by the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim as the “science of delivery.” According to Kim, high-performing companies stand out by the way they meet the expectations of their customers to deliver goods and services, but this ability is also crucial for the public sector as part of its social contract with citizens.

“The agreement signed today, March 3, recognizes Brazil as a global leader in reducing poverty and inequality. The advances made over the last decade have been remarkable and the world may obtain a great education from the Brazilian experience,” said Jim Yong Kim.

Initiative for Knowledge and Innovation for Poverty Reduction

In Brazil, the agreement between the World Bank, the IPC-IG/ UNDP, IPEA and MDS will unfold in three activities. The first is to create a knowledge repository, bringing together existing studies by the IPC-IG, IPEA, World Bank and other institutions on the Bolsa Familia and Brazil Without Extreme Poverty plan.

The second activity will focus on reviews and case studies of Brazilian experiences at the national, state and municipal scales. The intention of the second activity is to examine what makes particular actions successful and to adopt innovations that have the potential to expand beyond the challenges, difficulties, and lessons that may be relevant in Brazil and worldwide.

In the third stage, the initiative aims to gather inputs to find solutions to any problems implementing the actions and policies of poverty reduction, based on the experiences of Brazil and other countries.

“What we are planning today will likely not only be an interinstitutional agreement, but also a tool for millions of people in the world somewhere, in some corner of our planet – considering the totality of the institutions that are participating – for improved conditions of life by applying the ideals of Brazil and Brazil’s social technologies,” explains the UNDP Brazil Resident Representative and Director of IPC-IG.

Source: UNDP and MDS and IPEA

Photo: IPG-IG

Brasília, March 01, 2013 – Scientists from 55 countries convened at a conference held in Rio de Janeiro to strategize ways to reduce poverty through scientific innovation on February 24-27, 2013. Entitled ‘Grand Challenges and Integrated Innovations: Science for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development’, the conference debate focused on key issues outlined in the “Future We Want” document published at the 2012 Rio + 20 conference. The conference panel particularly emphasized the urgent need to gear up research related to issues such as food security and climate change in the pursuit of solutions to global poverty. Of particular importance, the Brazilian Minister of Science Marco Antonio Raupp delivered a speech that suggested the creation of a global scientific committee to galvanize cooperation in worldwide poverty research.

According to Raupp, the committee is envisioned “to coordinate global or regional poverty eradication projects; to enable local or international funding of these projects; to disseminate scientific knowledge; and to organise a global network of science institutions for the fight against poverty.” It was also suggested by Raupp that the multidisciplinary committee would enhance research collaborations, such as sharing research infrastructure.

The co-chair of the conference Professor Marcello Barcinski supported Raupp’s proposal by stating that “the gathering of scientists from this network of world academies, with the specific purpose to discuss poverty eradication, would be very positive.”

Mr. Jorge Chediek, Brazil’s Representative for the UNDP and Director of the UNDP International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) claimed that “Science has a role to play. We know we have to change the path of development and this implies changing the path of civilization and showing the world a better way.” The IPC-IG also provides rigorous evidence-based policy analyses and recommendations, such as PRB 40, PRB 33, and CS 22.

The conference was organized by the InterAcademy Panel (IAP), a Global Network of Science Academics that focuses efforts on contemporary issues such as climate change, biosecurity, and science communications. The three days of debate provided the attendees the opportunity to shape future directions in research related to hunger alleviation and poverty reduction. It is hoped that building a global committee may unlock the potential of scientific discovery to address poverty and sustainable development.

Read more about applying scientific innovation to the issues discussed throughout the article in the following IPC-IG publications:

Adjusting Biofuel Policies to Meet Social and Rural Development Needs: Analysing the Experiences of Brazil, India and Indonesia

Vulnerability to Climate Change: a Regional Perspective of Demographic and Socioeconomic Impacts

Rethinking Global Poverty Measurement

The Food Security Policy Context in Brazil

Brasilia, Brazil, 29 November 2012 –

The seminar will discuss the contribution of social policies and social protection to the rise of the middle class in emerging countries. It will also explore the relationship between productive inclusion with growth, local economic development and employment issues.

Its two main objectives are to facilitate policy dialogue amongst decision makers and experts focusing on recent developments, innovations and challenges in implementation from selected countries and to foster cross-regional knowledge sharing across programme initiatives implemented by countries as well as development partners. The discussions will influence a final report on social protection and productive inclusion for inclusive growth to be produced by IPC-IG.

“The recent crises underscored the importance of having scalable medium term social protection programmes in place. Nevertheless, while it is often difficult to rapidly scale up programmes to respond the needs both of the existing poor and vulnerable as well as constituencies newly made vulnerable by the crisis, a number of countries were able to find innovative way to expand access through flagship programmes that were being implemented at scale”, explains Fábio Veras, IPC-IG’s Research Coordinator.

The event will focus on recent developments with regard to the following four themes:

• Expansion in coverage and resilience of the social protection system;
• Social information, support and delivery systems to address social exclusion and foster productive inclusion;
• Productive impacts on the local economies and pathways out of poverty;
• Macro level impacts and the rise and vulnerability of the middle class.

The seminar will explore how social protection programmes in developing and emerging countries are responding to new and existing sources of vulnerability and inequities. In addition, there will also be a focus not only on innovative information and delivery systems for (scalable) social protection programmes but also on human resource networks (social workers, technical support and financial services education and support).

Programming

The first day will focus on the contribution and role of social protection and inclusion policies productive for inclusive growth and local development. The second day will focus on social protection programmes for children – family allowances and Conditional Cash Transfer programmes and on social protection for the elderly, mostly non-contributory social pensions. Te third day will address issues of institutional design and explore the “nuts and bolts” of scaling and integration of programmes.

Participants, collaborators and invited partners

The workshop target policy makers and experts engaged in social protection.

• Inter-governmental bodies:  UNDP, FAO, ILO, UNICEF, UNDESA, World Bank, Economic Commission forLatin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
• Brazilian government bodies: Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), Secretariat for Strategic Affairs (SAE), Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento (CONAB).
• International government bodies from the following countries:Kenya,South Africa,Mexico,Bolivia,Peru,Colombia,Chile.
• Research institutions: Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Levy Institute, Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA), Food Security Research Project ( Zambia), Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU – South Africa), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Development Resource Centre, Instituto de Estudios Peruanos.
• Universities: University of California-Davis, Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay), Geral Sarmiento National University (Argentina), Jawaharlal Nehru University (India), Chulalongkorn University- College of Population studies (Thailand), Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Brazil).
• Donor agencies: Australian Government (AUSaid).
• Civil society organizations:  Right to Food Movement (India).

Media contacts

Silvia Cavichioli - Communications Assistant, IPC-IG - (61) 2105-5019 - silvia.cavichioli@ipc-undp.org

Gaia Paradiso - Communications Intern, IPC-IG - (61) 2105-5016 - gaia.paradiso@ipc-undp.org