PPAF launches $250m World Bank program

Aug 06, 2009

An impressive ceremony was held to mark the launch of World Bank funded PPAF III Project. Mr. Humayun Aziz Kurd, Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Also present were Mr. Hussain Dawood, Chairman PPAF, Mr. Kamal Hyat, CEO/MD, PPAF, Mr. Imtiaz Alvi, PPAF Task Team Leader in the World Bank, foreign delegates and members from PPAF partner organizations.

In his opening remarks Mr. Imtiaz Alvi, Senior Institutional Development Specialist and PPAF task team leader in the World Bank said that in PPAF III, the focus is essentially on inclusion and focusing the ultra poor, helping them build their livelihoods so that they are able earn their livelihoods and have access to improved education and health facilities.

Mr. Kamran Akbar, Chief Operating Officer, PPAF in his presentation gave an overview of PPAF III. Also included in the first part of the day’s proceedings were presentations on Environmental and Social Management Framework, Procurement of Goods and Services, Financial Management and Distribution and Monitoring and Reporting Requirements.

A Distinguished Speaker Series was also held in the later part of the day. The session was a part of PPAF Human & Institutional Development Center initiative and aimed at learning from the experience and knowledge of eminent personalities who have worked in the field of economic and social development.

The speakers included Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan, Chairman Rural Support Program Network; Mr.Shafiqual Haque Chaudhry, President ASA – Association for Social Advancement & Mr.Fazle-Hasan Abed, Chairman BRAC - Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee.

Speaking on “Development Experience in Northern Areas”, Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan shared his experiences of working in the Northern Areas and Chitral where RSPs have been highly instrumental in bringing improvement in quality of life of the people. He also said that PPAF has been successful in building up the capacity of Partner Organizations and NRSP would not have attained the scale it has achieved today.

Mr. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury while speaking on “Standardized Delivery of Microfinance” explained that how ASA became the leading Microfinanace Institution in Bangladesh and came to be globally known as the most cost effective microfinance institution. 

Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed, spoke on “Innovative Approaches to Development”. He discussed

how Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, BRAC started out as a small relief operation and then developed into a model of diverse service delivery and expanding opportunities for the poor in Bangladesh.

Later the audience was invited to ask questions from the distinguished panelists.

The day ended with the vote of thanks from Mr. Ahmad Jamal, Chief Strategy Officer, PPAF.

SNAPSHOT OF PPAF III LAUNCH