PKSF

MESSAGE   PKSF has since its inception in 1990 been supporting its Partner Organizations (POs) with highly subsidised funds and capacity building activities to facilitate their pursuit of poverty alleviating activities. But, the focus in this process has been only on microcredit. It is now realized, in view of the undesirable results of this approach, that it is imperative that PKSF strategically pursue employment generation and social development. In view of this, PKSF will strengthen and widen its programmes to include health, nutrition, education, skill training, and design programmes that will be demand-driven to target specific needs of the borrowers. In so doing, PKSF will implement an integrated approach that will comprehensively address the various factors of poverty, with a view to empowering the people to take charge of their own destiny.   PKSF can in fact play an important role by redesigning its approach as indicated above, towards achieving MDGs by following integrated inclusive development.   There is a strong need for research to understand the realities and design the way forward. To this end, a research department has been established within PKSF. With its vast network of POs, PKSF can easily carry out cost effective research and build necessary database. A strong research department and a well-designed research programme will provide PKSF with much needed insights and understanding of the dynamics of its programmes and their weaknesses and strengths and help identify opportunities, new ideas, and areas of innovation in its programming. It will also facilitate proper review of policy implications at the field level and assist in evaluating the performance of its POs.   PKSF has a well-developed training department that provides training in a wide range of topics to both the functionaries of the POs and the beneficiaries of the programmes being implemented. The department organizes, in addition to training, workshops, demonstration, and study visits as means of acquiring knowledge through more interactive methods. It will be continuously upgrading and diversifying its training activities, particularly focusing on the beneficiaries.   Global climate change has become a central issue of concern around the world; and Bangladesh is at the forefront of adverse climate change impacts. Climate change affects the poor the most. It is very important that we consolidate our experience from managing natural calamities such as SIDR and AILA to develop appropriate tools to help combat the impact of climate change. PKSF has commissioned a study for the preparation of guideline and designing tools for formulating and pursuing its activities relating to climate change management and awareness building in this context.   I sincerely thank the Government of Bangladesh and the development partners for their generous support and cooperation. I appreciate the work being done by our POs and expect that they will play their part in initiating and carrying forward the new comprehensive approaches to poverty reduction towards its eradication and beyond poverty, sustained socio-economic progress. I am very proud to be a part of the PKSF family where the members have demonstrated their diligence and their passion for learning from experiences and, on that basis, to reorient and redesign approaches and work programmes.       Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad Chairman June 2010