A Conversation with AI on poverty reduction

Tasneem Salma Islam

What current initiative are there to fight poverty in Bangladesh ?

Bangladesh is actively engaged in various initiatives to combat poverty, leveraging both government-led programs and international collaborations. Here are some of the current initiatives:

1. Pathways to Prosperity for Extremely Poor People (PPEPP-EU) Project

• Objective: This project aims to lift approximately 860,000 extremely poor people from poverty by providing support for resilient livelihoods, inclusive finance, nutrition, primary healthcare, women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, climate resilience building, and community mobilization12.
• Implementation: Implemented by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) with funding from the European Union (EU), focusing on climate-vulnerable regions12.

2. Social Safety Net Programs

• Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Rural Maintenance Program (RMP): These programs provide food and cash assistance to vulnerable groups, contributing to poverty reduction and female empowerment3.
• Old-Age Allowance (OAA) and Widow Allowance (WA): These schemes offer financial support to elderly and widowed individuals, though benefits are often insufficient due to inflation5.

3. Safety Net Systems for the Poorest (SNSP) Project

• Objective: This project aims to improve the equity, efficiency, and transparency of major social safety net programs, benefiting the poorest households. It includes developing the Bangladesh Poverty Database to enhance targeting and governance3.

4. UNDP Projects

• Livelihoods Improvement of Urban Poor Communities (LIUPC): Focuses on improving livelihoods for urban poor communities.
• Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO): Empowers women through new economic opportunities4.

5. Bangladesh Challenge Fund

• Objective: Encourages research to improve national strategies and policies affecting poverty and vulnerability. It supports evidence-based decision-making by policymakers6.

6. Eighth Five-Year Plan (2020–2025)

• Goal: Aims to eradicate extreme poverty by 2031, supported by rapid economic growth and targeted poverty reduction initiatives8.

These initiatives reflect Bangladesh's commitment to addressing poverty through a combination of economic growth, social protection, and targeted interventions for the most vulnerable populations.

Citations:

1. https://pksf.org.bd/bangladesh-leading-global-efforts-for-poverty-alleviation/
2. https://ppepp.org/national-workshop-on-ppepp-eu-project/
3. https://snsp.ddm.gov.bd/page/12?lang=en
4. https://www.undp.org/bangladesh/beyond-recovery-towards-2030
5. https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/safety-net-schemes-fall-short-the-fight-against-poverty-3813871
6. https://povertyevidence.org/challenge-fund/bangladesh-challenge-fund/
7. https://pksf.org.bd/projects/pathways-to-prosperity-for-extremely-poor-ppepp-project/
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Bangladesh
9. https://thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/our-goal-bring-poverty-down-zero-3534141
10. https://bangladesh.un.org/en/sdgs/1
11. https://bimstec.org/poverty-alleviation
12. https://www.perspectivebd.com/article/poverty-in-bangladesh:-government-policy-to-alleviate-it.
13. https://socialprotection.gov.bd/2019/10/bangladesh-poverty-assessment-facing-old-and-new-frontiers-in-poverty-reduction/
14. https://bracupgi.org
15. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/development/news/bangladesh-leading-global-efforts-poverty-alleviation-3656706
16. https://cdn.sida.se/app/uploads/2025/01/27152343/Multidimensional-Poverty-Analysis-Bangladesh-2024_Sida.pdf
17. https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2018/11/15/bangladesh-reducing-poverty-and-sharing-prosperity
18. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/poverty-reduction-requires-long-term-solutions-3729506
19. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/10/05/structural-reforms-are-essential-to-sustain-growth-poverty-reduction-in-bangladesh
20. https://mof.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/mof.portal.gov.bd/page/03420639_b754_4e26_83bb_85cf7d6c7a5a/Social%20Security%20Budget%20Report%20(2024-25)_compressed%20(1).pdf

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share

If a simple formula works then would we need years for eradicate poverty ? Increasing the labor wage , keeping the price same, businesses make less profit but gets grants for R&D ( poor countries really needs to have better wages specially the blue collar labor) . would businesses be able maintain and compromise this ?

While a simple formula might seem appealing for eradicating poverty, the reality is that poverty is a complex issue influenced by numerous factors, including economic conditions, social structures, education, healthcare, and environmental factors. Here's why a straightforward formula might not suffice:

1. Complexity of Poverty: Poverty is not just about income; it involves multidimensional aspects such as education, health, living standards, and social inclusion. Addressing these dimensions requires comprehensive strategies rather than a single formula.
2. Contextual Variability: Poverty manifests differently across regions and communities. What works in one context may not be effective in another due to differences in culture, infrastructure, and economic systems.
3. Dynamic Nature of Poverty: Poverty is not static; it evolves with changes in economic conditions, political policies, and environmental factors. Therefore, solutions must be adaptable and responsive to these changes.
4. Role of Economic Growth: While economic growth can reduce poverty, it is not a guarantee. Growth must be inclusive and benefit all segments of society, particularly the poor. This often requires targeted policies and interventions.
5. Importance of Human Development: As highlighted in research from Indonesia, the Human Development Index (HDI) is crucial for poverty reduction. Investing in education and health can have a more significant impact than mere economic growth4.
6. Time and Persistence: Eradicating poverty requires sustained efforts over time. It involves building infrastructure, improving education systems, enhancing healthcare, and fostering economic opportunities, all of which take years to develop and yield results.

In summary, while simple formulas might provide quick fixes or insights, they are unlikely to eradicate poverty on their own. Comprehensive, multi-faceted strategies that address the root causes of poverty and adapt to changing circumstances are more likely to succeed.

Here is a simple Python code snippet to illustrate how different factors can influence poverty reduction:

python        

[class PovertyReductionModel: def __init__(self, economic_growth, education, healthcare): self.economic_growth = economic_growth self.education = education self.healthcare = healthcare def calculate_poverty_reduction(self): # Simplified formula: Poverty reduction is influenced by economic growth, education, and healthcare poverty_reduction = (self.economic_growth * 0.3) + (self.education * 0.4) + (self.healthcare * 0.3) return poverty_reduction # Example usage model = PovertyReductionModel(economic_growth=0.05, education=0.8, healthcare=0.7) poverty_reduction = model.calculate_poverty_reduction() print(f"Poverty reduction potential: {poverty_reduction}")]

This code demonstrates how different factors can contribute to poverty reduction but is highly simplified and does not capture the full complexity of real-world poverty dynamics.

Citations:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_reduction
2. https://ekonomi.gov.my/sites/default/files/2020-02/Malaysia_Success_Story_In_Poverty_Eradication.pdf
3. https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/advocacy/solutions-to-poverty
4. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=112944
5. https://mof.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/mof.portal.gov.bd/page/ce0882c6_4bd1_4454_b7a8_9b720425479b/poverty14-15EN.pdf
6. https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2018/11/15/bangladesh-reducing-poverty-and-sharing-prosperity
7. https://www.jica.go.jp/jica-ri/IFIC_and_JBICI-Studies/english/publications/reports/study/topical/approaches/pdf/poverty_02.pdf
8. https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/what-has-made-viet-nam-a-poverty-reduction-success-story-112471/
9. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/poverty-reduction-requires-long-term-solutions-3729506
10. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/540611/approaches-poverty-reduction-cases-adb.pdf
11. https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/success-story-poverty-free-world-mohammad-shahbaz-alam
12. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/top-12-solutions-cut-poverty-united-states/
13. https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/uga163559.pdf
14. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1323548.shtml
15. https://povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/causes-and-solutions/
16. https://documents.worldbank.org/curated/pt/934631468743107944/pdf/multi-page.pdf
17. https://worldengineeringday.net/innovative-strategies-to-combat-global-poverty-success/
18. https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-for-eradicating-poverty
19. https://www.imf.org/external/np/prsp/2000/uga/01/
20. https://www.un.org/en/desa/concerted-ambitious-action-we-can-reduce-poverty-drastically-2030
21. https://bigd.bracu.ac.bd/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Eradicating-Extreme-Poverty-in-Bangladesh-National-Strategies-and-Activities.pdf
22. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/ending-poverty
23. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/poverty-prosperity-and-planet
24. https://www.norfund.no/when-growth-does-and-does-not-reduce-poverty/
25. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/povertyeradication
26. https://theprint.in/world/bangladeshs-success-story-is-a-lesson-in-poverty-reduction-heres-why/810178/
27. https://www.concern.net/news/solutions-to-poverty
28. https://www.theigc.org/blogs/progress-poverty-eradication/poverty-eradication-india-successes-and-shortcomings-social
29. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/10/15/ending-poverty-for-half-the-world-could-take-more-than-a-century
30. https://en.qstheory.cn/2021-02/25/c_596070.htm
31. https://www.undp.org/press-releases/25-countries-halved-multidimensional-poverty-within-15-years-11-billion-remain-poor
32. https://www.iom.int/resources/implementation-second-united-nations-decade-eradication-poverty-69-204
33. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2001/06/pfefferm.htm

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