Project Description

Poverty Alleviation Fund is the most prominent programme in Nepal launched to reduce the poverty level in the country. The Fund's activities are assisted by the World Bank. It started from 2005 in Nepal and has expanded to most of the districts in Nepal in all topographical regions. PAF supports ultra-poor and poor household plus marginalized groups by enhancing their capacity to be engaged and be benefitted from income generating activities; social mobilization for group savings and utilize the savings for income generation; local institution building through formation and functioning of Community Organizations (COs); along with creation of small scale rural infrastructures to enhance poor people access to goods and services. Besides social mobilization support it has two major focus areas: income generation activities, and creation of rural infrastructures. PAF provides funds to the COs which they utilize as revolving fund among their members for IG activities as decided by the group itself thus creating self-help attitude among them.

PAF deploys local NGOs or other private organizations as Partner Organizations (POs) to support and monitor the CO's activities and provides technical, capacity building and social mobilization support to the COs through the POs.

SIDeF is engaged with PAF in four VDCs of Pyuthan district as a PO from the beginning of PAF i.e. from April 2005. It has covered all the wards with 80% coverage to the poor households in these four VDCs of Pyuthan district. More than 17,000 people of 2,800 households have been organized in 90 COs by SIDeF and they have been provided social mobilization support as well as support in agricultural enhancement activities. Linkages have been established between the CO members and government line agencies to provide further support to the local people as required in future.

Total House Hold Surveyed : 2313