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IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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SEMINAR REPORT TITLED
“WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT & ROLE OF SPPAP”
Organized By
IFAD ASSISTED-
SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT
(SPPAP)
At
BAHAWALPUR
09 December, 2015
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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CONTENTS:
ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................ 3
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 4
2. CONTEXT: .................................................................................................................................. 6
3. IFAD ASSISTED-SPPAP DOCUMENTARY: .................................................................. 12
4. SPPAP-SUCCESS STORIES OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: ................................... 13
5. VOTE OF THANKS: ............................................................................................................... 14
6. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS: .................................................................... 14
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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ACRONYMS
BDO Business Development Officer
CO Community Organization
DMU District Management Unit
ETO Entrepreneurship Training Organization
GOPb Government of the Punjab
IFAD International Funds for Agriculture Development
IRM Institute of Rural Management
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
M&E Monitoring & Evaluation
NRSP National Rural Support Program
NPSC National Poverty Score Card
PD Project Director
PBUH Peace Be Upon Him
PMU Project Management Unit
SPPAP Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project
USAID United States Agency for International Development.
VTO Vocational Training Organization
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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1. INTRODUCTION
"We need women at all levels, including the
top, to change the dynamic, reshape the
conversation, to make sure women's voices
are heard and heeded, not overlooked
and ignored." —Sheryl Sandberg
Several of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
deal with the situation of women. The
target of Goal 3 is the elimination of
gender disparity. Goal 4 seeks to
reduce child mortality, and Goal 5 aims
to improve the health of mothers. But
the empowerment of women and the
strengthening of their position in society
is the aim of the other MDGs as well.
Women play a crucial role in the
fight against extreme poverty and
hunger (MDG 1). Girls and women lag
far behind boys and men in progress
toward achieving universal basic
education (MDG 2). No progress at all
can be made in the fight against
HIV/Aids, malaria, and other endemic
diseases (MDG 6), unless women are
included. And without the participation
of women, it will be impossible to ensure
environmental sustainability (MDG 7).
Women normally have to work
harder than men in the countries of
Asia especially in Pakistan. They
maintain traditional vegetable
gardens, raise domestic animals, and
do the farming. They are responsible for
child rearing, feeding their families,
doing the domestic chores, collecting
the fire wood, and fetching the water
etc. They supervise the education of
their children and nurse them back to
health when they get sick. They
guarantee domestic stability, taking on
any work they can get to secure the
family income, more often than not in
the informal sector and without the
benefit of social security.
But despite the important role
they play for family and society, in all
essential areas of life women are
generally at a significant disadvantage
as compared with men, whether in
terms of education, income, partner
choice, inheritance laws, property
rights, decision-making processes,
community organization, or access to
leadership positions in education,
business, or politics.
Since the creation of Pakistan in
1947 Pakistan inherited the menace of
poverty. The burden of this poverty was
put heavily on the female population
which is 50% of the total population of
Pakistan. ON the top of it, women were
neglected and under-nourished.
In the southern Punjab most of
the population lived in village areas
where women folk are facing miserable
conditions. Feudal system, weak law
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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implementation and lack of awareness
in male dominated society are the
major reasons of that which creates big
differentiation between men and
women and most women spend their
lives in their homes and courtyards and
go outside only for male approved
reasons. Due to these conditions their
social life remained in a specific circle
created by men. This is why the men
decide what is good and evil for
women and if a woman is being
tortured it is not considered a big
offence. People think that it is a right of
man to handle their women and in this
way, women of southern Punjab are
least empowered.
IFAD Assisted-Southern Punjab
Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP) has
been designed stunningly by the
Government of Punjab in financial
assistance of International Fund for
Agriculture Development (IFAD) for the
poverty reduction, gender
discrimination and to empower the
poor women in four poorest districts of
southern Punjab (Bahawalpur,
Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh &
Rajanpur). Poverty decline of
margilized segment (Poor Women) of
the society is the prime objective of the
project. Tangible actions have been
taken for women empowerment by the
project.
With a view to ensure effective
convergence mechanism of key
partners (IRM & NRSP) those were
involved in transformation and
inspiration overall development and
empowerment of women, a seminar
on Women’s Empowerment and Role of
SPPAP with a theme “Translating
women participation in the socio
economic development and poverty
alleviation” was organized by the
Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation
Project (SPPAP) in collaboration with
Implementation partners on 09.12.2015.
As women empowerment is one of the
prime aim of Government of the
Punjab and IFAD. This seminar intended
to provide a platform for the
beneficiaries of the project to share
their experiences on women
empowerment after innervations of
SPPAP. Altogether, there were 80
participants attended the seminar
which included Women Beneficiaries,
females from civil society, Project
Management Unit-SPPAP team,
females of IRM/VTO & ETO.
The speakers came from
different organizations/social/women
development/NGO/community level
backgrounds and presented the
audience with different practical
experiences, insights, and views on
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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women empowerment. It gave a good
impression and understanding of the
many perspectives that could and
should be taken into account when
defining and implementing women
empowerment policies/projects. The
feedback of the participants
confirmed that the seminar was very
much appreciated as well as that there
was a pressing need for more practical
approaches and for other
opportunities to discuss the many issues
faced by women in the way of
empowerment (Economic & Social).
2. CONTEXT:
The Seminar was
hosted by the Ms.
Sammar Qureshi,
Gender Focal Person,
Institute of Rural
Management (IRM),
Bahawalpur who
conducted the seminar
in a first-rate way.
Formal segment of the
seminar began with the
recitation from the Holy
Quran followed by the
recitation of a Naat Shrif.
The seminar was opened by the Project Coordinator/VTO-SPPAP who gave a
tremendous outline to the seminar. He welcomed all the participants on behalf of
SPPAP and cherished the healthy participation of women from poor communities of
SPPAP. He said that they were here to appreciate the women who are working hard
in the rural areas for developmental activities. SPPAP had especially focused the
women by providing them valuable assets/trainings in a way so that women of the
poor communities could feel sense of ownership and fully empowered. He
emphasized that “Women are the integral part of the society and development is
impossible without women empowerment and participation in the overall process”.
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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Mr. Imran Nazir, Gender and Poverty Specialist, SPPAP publicized in his speech
that Women Empowerment refers to increasing and improving the social, economic,
political and legal
strength of the women
to ensure equal-
right to women,
and to make them
confident enough
to claim their rights.
He stressed that
Women
empowerment is
the key to
strengthen their
participation in the
decision-making
which is the most
important key to
socio-economic
development.
But, unfortunately we are dying to contribute those rights to the women which
is an enormous barrier in the way of healthy, prosperous and developed society. Being
a Muslim, we have a strong belief on Islam which is a complete code of life. Islam is
such a religion in which women respect is so important that it can be proved from the
saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that “PARADISE LIES UNDER MOTHER FEET”.
Women respect is necessary from every aspect and they should be given equal rights
whether it’s Pakistani society or western. For women empowerment, we should
contribute our share in raising the standard of living of rural women, built schools for
them so that they all get education, vocational training should be established which
can groom the inner abilities and provide the opportunities of earning to women of
rural areas. Education and skills are the basic keys of women empowerment. The
Speaker stressed on participants to bring change from their door steps to resolve the
issues of women empowerment. We all should inspect whether we are providing
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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equal rights to both the genders in our family and if do so subsequently we could be
able to bring change in the society. For poverty alleviation and development, it is
necessary that our women are fully empowered. He highlighted the Government of
the Punjab 31 initiatives package launched for women empowerment. He also
underlined IFAD vision and efforts done for gender equality and women
empowerment.
Ms. Navida Sadiq, M&E Specialist, IRM-SPPAP tinted the role of IRM for women
empowerment. She said that IRM was striving to empower the women from poor
communities by
organizing, creating
awareness and by
providing vocational
and
entrepreneurship
trainings with the
financial assistance
of SPPAP. She called
for jam-packed
women participation
for reduction of
poverty levels in the
society.
Ms. Samreen, Business Development Officer (BDO), IRM-SPPAP regaled the
participants by sang a poem in significance with the role of women in the
development of a society and women empowerment. She decorated the working
women issues in a beautiful way with virtuous lyrics
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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Ms Mah Rukh, Field Manager, Livestock & Dairy Development Project, USAID,
Bahawalpur acknowledged the efforts of IFAD, Government of the Punjab, SPPAP and
its Implementing Partners for gender equality and women empowerment in the
backward districts of Southern Punjab. In her address, she highlighted that today
women are working in
every field and
women can adopt
every profession. A
women may be a
pilot, doctor, engineer
or whichever she want
to do. But our rural
society and cultural
norms are the hurdles
in the way of women
development. There is
dire need to break the stereotypes and need to change the mind set for suitable
women empowerment. She appreciated the efforts of poor women efforts
(beneficiaries of SPPAP) done for self-economic empowerment after getting
vocational trainings from SPPAP. The speaker stressed for equal opportunities of
education both for man and women for women empowerment.
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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Ms. Humara Yasmin, President Waseeb
Organization highlighted the issues
regarding women empowerment.
She said that women are the half
of our country but they have
least access to education,
health, employment,
inheritance rights etc.
Regrettably, our society has
discriminative thinking for male and
female which is the major reason for
non- development of our country. She
claimed that women cannot get their rights until they realized their rights. She told the
audience that rapid pace of economic development has increased the demand for
educated female labor force almost in all fields. Women can earn as much as the
man do, women employment nonetheless adds substantially to family and gives
family an economic advantage over the family. Our rural communities would have to
comprehend the significant character of women in the way of development.
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
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The Chair, Mr. Muhammad Saghir, Project Director, SPPAP, expressed that it was
a great honor for him to be the part of instant seminar as a Chief Guest and open his
speech with
the narration
of Quaid-e-
Azam
(Founder of
Pakistan),
““No nation
can rise to
the height of
glory unless
your women
are side by
side with
you; we are
victims of evil customs. It is crime against humanity that our women are shut up within
the four walls of house as prisoners.” He referred the Holy Qur'an in the first verse of the
chapter entitled "Women", Allah says:
"O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul
and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women.
Be careful of your duty toward Allah in whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and
towards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! Allah has been a Watcher over you." (An-Nisa 4:1).
The Chair expressed that a state or a country is like a bird and man and women
are two wings of the bird and no bird can fly on one wing. But tactlessly, from the
centuries, societies of the world are trying to fly on one wing which is incredible.
Women are almost 50% of the population and how is it possible to make development
by ignoring half portion of the population. Women empowerment is an important goal
of development process. He spoke about the importance of women in a society and
said that women are the significant pillar of the society and life is totally partial without
women. He elaborated that Government of the Punjab with the financial assistance
of International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) has launched the Southern
Punjab Poverty Alleviation Project (SPPAP) in the four most deprived districts of Punjab
i.e. Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur. As per vision of Govt.
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
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of the Punjab and IFAD, gender equality and women empowerment is the prime
objective of SPPAP where most of the interventions were designed only for women to
make them economically, socially empower i.e. provision of small ruminants, small
land plots, low cost housing while some interventions have 50% fix quota i.e.
vocational and entrepreneur trainings, Para vets trainings and some interventions had
open quota for women. He told the house that women are absolutely independent
in decision making process and SPPAP is emphasizing on gender mainstreaming. To
tackle the women empowerment issues, SPPAP has provided Small Ruminants (Two
Goat Package) to 25113 poor women having NPSC (0-18), 1141 Small Land Plots to
the landless poor women having NPSC (0-11) and now the project has started the Low
Cost Housing Component for 1300 poor women having NPSC (0-11) in four project
districts. These interventions of SPPAP have been evidenced as a hallmark for poor
women. Social weaknesses of poor women are the major cause of domestic
violence. The results showed that by the interventions of SPPAP, poor women have
become not only economically empower but also become socially empower.
At the end, the Chair emphasized that Women too need to empower
themselves by being strong from heart and think from mind.
3. IFAD ASSISTED-SPPAP DOCUMENTARY:
A documentary on SPPAP interventions and project approach was shown to
the participants of seminar on large screen. The SPPAP documentary translated the
Government of the Punjab and IFAD vision for Poverty Alleviation, gender equality
and women empowerment into filmic form in front of all the participants. The audience
exceedingly valued the project documentary wherein project interventions, progress,
targeting approach and future plans for poverty reductions, gender equality and
women empowerment were unequivocally emphasized.
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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4. SPPAP-SUCCESS STORIES OF WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT:
MS Nazia Bibi (Beneficiary of
Vocational Trainings of SPPAP) told the
participants of seminar that she was a
handicapped living with her old parents.
They were hand to mouth and spent a
miserable life. She was engaged with her
cousin but after her disability, her finance
refused to accept her. She was very
affectionate of dress designing, but her
disability was the main hurdle. Through SPPAP-IRM she got the training of “ADDA
WORK” (Hand Embroidery). During the training period she was provided over all
material and after the training, her linkage was developed with the local market
through Business Development Officer. In this way, she started to earn adequately.
She felt economically empower if she compare her present to her past. She thanked
to IFAD, Government of Punjab and SPPAP team to provide her an opportunity of self-
sustainability.
Ms. Fouzia (Beneficiary of Vocational Trainings of SPPAP) briefed the audience
that she was living in rural backward area of Bahawalpur with limited access to
vocational training institutes. She was entirely reliant on her husband even for daily
routine overheads. Through
SPPAP vocational trainings
program, she could able to get
training of beautician and
started her own beauty parlor at
village level. By the grace of
God, Continuous efforts and
regular guidance from SPPAP
team, she could able to get rid of from vicious cycle of poverty and had the
opportunity to become empower.
IFAD ASSISTED- SOUTHERN PUNJAB POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECT (SPPAP), BAHAWALPUR
Seminar Report (Women Empowerment & Role of SPPAP)
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5. VOTE OF THANKS:
Mr. George Chughtai, Project Coordinator ETO-SPPAP offered the vote of
thanks on behalf of SPPAP to all the participants. He special thanked to the Project
Director-SPPAP for being present at the Seminar. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to
Ms. Mahrukh and Ms. Humaira Yasmeen for their presence and highlighting the
importance of women empowerment. He also expressed his gratitude to the other
Speakers especially women from poor communities who addressed very expressively
and meaningfully.
6. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS:
At the end of Seminar, the participants were agreed that such type of seminars
may be conducted in the SPPAP project area on regular intervals. The participants
self-confessed that through the seminar, they could be able to know that what is real
women empowerment and IFAD as well as Government of the Punjab vision
regarding gender equality and women empowerment. All the participants affirmed
that they would play the role of catalyst for awareness raising among the poor
communities regarding women empowerment and their role in development
process. They promised to bring change from their door step for women
empowerment and gender equality.