What is the logic behind the establishment of PAF?
Even after nearly five decades of planned development, one third of the Nepalese are still living in absolute poverty—deprived of basic amenities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, health, education and drinking water. A vast majority of women, Dalit and Janajatis are excluded from mainstream development by reasons of gender, ethnicity and caste. Nepal can not even imagine development excluding this large population. PAF envisions itself as a national instrument to uplift livelihood of these poor people.
PAF is a targeted programme initiative to support the third pillar of the 10th plan. It provides resources directly to the poor, and thereby expects to bring efficiency and transparency of the work, and ensure community ownership. PAF is guided by the principle that the poor themselves are the best source of information and the best to manage their needs and resource.
What is PAF?
No one should be confused that PAF is neither n government owned institutions or donor institutions or Non-governmental organizations.
In fact it is an autonomous institution established to fight against the extreme poverty of Nepal
The Poverty Alleviation Fund Ordinance 2060 has recognized PAF, as an autonomous organization with inalienable authority.
PAF is an apex umbrella institution to target the poor and works through partner organization (PO).
PAF is a professional organization sensitive to the poor with its secretariat based in Kathmandu.
Who else are the members of PAF Board of Governors?
PAF Board is chaired by the Prime Minister. With the Prime Minister as the Chairperson of the PAF Board, the PAF Ordinance reflects the conviction, support and commitment of the highest echelon of His Majesty’s Government to the programmes and objectives of the Fund.
The other members of the Board comprises, Vice Chair Person of PAF, Secretary from the Secretariat of the National Planning Commission, the Chairpersons of the Federation of District Development Committee; Federation of Village Development Committee; National Women's Commission and National Dalit Commission as ex-officio members including a member of the INGO umbrella organization and two prominent persons, including a woman, who have contributed to poverty alleviation in the country. The Executive Director of PAF works as the Secretary of the PAF Board.
Since the only government official represented in the PAF board of governors is the Secretary of the National Planning Commission, there is no government influence in the day-to-day working of PAF.
Who are our target beneficiaries?
The target beneficiaries of PAF are the poor women, Dalit, Janajatis, and the vulnerable communities living below the poverty line.
What do we want?
The purpose and an overriding mission goal of PAF is to reduce extreme forms of poverty from programme districts.
PAF aims to enable poor women, Dalit, Janajati, and vulnerable groups to gain access to resources for their productive self-employment, to encourage them to undertake income-generating activities for poverty alleviation and improved quality of life.
PAF is also seeking to address spatial exclusion through focusing on most deprived districts and also reaching out to other poverty-stricken areas through innovative programmes under Innovative Special Window.
What we do?
PAF has adopted demand led community-based approach to poverty alleviation. Keeping the target communities at the driving seat, it encourages to take initiatives to improve their livelihoods, particularly organizing them into community organizations.
The target communities are the sole actor. They plan what they need and prioritize on the basis of their capacity and local resource potentials.
PAF provides support for technical assistance in areas such as social mobilization and capacity building through partner organizations (POs) and funds directly to the community to implement community sub-projects.
What are the major programmes Components of PAF?
The four major programme components for includes Social Mobilization, Income Generation, Small Community Infrastructure Development and Capacity Building.
Where are we working now?
Initially, in the Fiscal Year 2061/062, PAF started program implementation in 6 districts (Siraha, Ramechhap, Pyuthan, Darchula, Kapilbastu and Mugu), with an aim of reaching 90,000 poor households in four years’ programme period. However, PAF was able to reach 55,000 households of 216 VDCs by Mangsir 2062. In addition to these districts PAF has reached other 24 districts through Innovative Special Window Programme to capture innovative initiatives of different organizations/communities at different places. Based on the experience gained in these 6 districts, during the Fiscal Year 2061/062, PAF has expanded programme coverage to an additional 19 districts (Achham,Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura,Dadeldhura,Dailekh, Dolpa, Doti,Humla, Jajarkot, Jumla, Kalikot, Mahottari, Rasuwa, Rautahat, Rolpa, Rukum, Sarlahi and Sindhuli), thus covering all 25 districts belonging to the category of most deprived districts in Nepal.
