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Dhaka, 18 October 2011: Dhaka 11 October 2011: Dhaka Conference on 'Scaling Up Social Protection in Bangladesh: Providing Ladders Out Of Poverty and Social Safety Nets' ended with a call for the formulation of a national strategy to widen coverage and strengthen social protection system and a comprehensive Road Map for the scaling up of social protection schemes that combine both protection from and promotion out of poverty.
The two-day long conference, held in Dhaka, was inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minster of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Sunday 9 October. In her speech the Prime Minister stressed the need for a widening of social safety net coverage to ensure development and to uphold human rights. She identified social protection as "one of the only ways to ensure an equitable society". |
"Social protection policies are gaining in importance more than ever before. The recent global economic downturn and the direct negative effects from climate change particularly, remind us that our population is still very vulnerable and in need of social protection" said the Prime Minister. Praising the conference she underlined the necessity of better understanding social protection to formulate a comprehensive strategy that will address the issue most effectively.
The high profile conference shed light on the role played by social protection in Bangladesh in promoting inclusive growth and securing people against risks, as the country moves towards middle income status. The conference was jointly hosted by the Government of Bangladesh (General Economics Division of the Planning Commission), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP), with support of the UKAid of the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Australian Aid program (AusAid).
The Dhaka conference brought key stakeholders from the government, donors and members of civil society together with academics and expert practitioners to share cutting edge research and best practice field experience. Technical support was provided by two leading research partners: the Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI) based at the University of Manchester, UK; and the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) in Dhaka.
The conference covered a broad spectrum of social protection issues, ranging from Social protection within a modern poverty reduction agenda, Achieving food security in a risk-prone environment, Meeting the challenges of urbanization & migration, Designing Social Protection Programmes for the 21st Century, Ensuring coverage & effective targeting, Self & community coverage potentials and Moving the Social Protection Agenda Forward in Bangladesh.
Among the high profile speakers who participated in the plenary and breakout sessions were, Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor Bangladesh Bank; Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, Professor University of Dhaka; Dr Selim Jahan, Head of Poverty Practice: Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP; Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam, former advisor to Caretaker Government, Professor David Hulme, Executive Director, Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI), University of Manchester UK; Dr. Akther Ahmed, Chief of Party, IFPRI; Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Director, Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC); Lynn Brown, Chief of Food Security and Safety Nets, WFP; Dr Michael Samson, AusAid Advisor on Social Protection and Director of EPRI, South Africa; Professor Armando Barrientos, Research Director, Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI), University of Manchester UK;Dr Binayek Sen, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Dr Syed Hashemi, Director of Research, BDI, Dhaka.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference the Finance Minister of Bangladesh, Mr. AMA Muhith said the government was in the process of preparing a master database to improve social protection programmes in the country. |
