Minister of
State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon represented Pakistan in the Regional
Seminar on Shock Responsive Social Protection organized by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS) of
the Republic of Peru and the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the
Caribbean of the World Food Programme in Peru.
The purpose of the seminar was to
share experiences, practices and vision on shock-responsive social protection
from different parts of the world and different contexts, reflect on
commonalities, opportunities and challenges faced in middle-income countries
and to contribute to the global commitments and the humanitarian-development
continuum. Pakistan was the only country invited from Asia to present its
social safety programme for experience sharing with other countries. Other
participant countries included Peru, Ecuador, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala,
Chile, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Namibia and West
Africa.
Ms Memon presented the
achievements of BISP and efforts made for supporting 5.4 million families
across Pakistan. She said that the national policy framework for social
protection pays significant attention to shock responsiveness. The countrywide
presence of BISP makes it a leader in shock responsiveness in Pakistan as it
has the potential to coordinate at central and provincial levels.
While highlighting the
opportunities, capacity and resources for the development of a successful
shock-responsive social protection in Pakistan, she said that BISP operational
capacity has improved significantly over the years as it has developed National
Socioeconomic registry (NSER) that has information of more than 80% of the
population and location by GPS. She said that BISP is in the process of
updating its NSER through resurvey. An updated NSER could be utilized for rapid
identification of caseload, through inclusion of household GPS coordinates and
indicators of climatic and livelihood vulnerability.
While discussing international
experiences in preparing and using national social protection system for
emergency response, Ms. Marvi highlighted the pivotal role of BISP in
collaboration with NADRA as a key implementing partner. She added that BISP
linkages with other organizations could be leveraged to support a shock
response and a well established BISP payment system could be utilized in a
disaster to swiftly reach disaster affected population.
Mr. Ismaeel Ahmed, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Programmes, Government of Nigeria, Advocate Bionce Philomena Gawanas, Special Adviser to the Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Government of Namibia, Ms. Margot Van der Velden, Deputy Regional Director, WFP Regional Bureau for West Africa and Ms. Ellen Kramer, Regional Programme Adviser, WFP Asia Regional Bureau also highlighted their experiences in shock responsive social protection.
The participants applauded the
efforts made by BISP for improving the lives of millions of people in Pakistan
and were of the opinion that this knowledge sharing from BISP would help in
replication of its experiences in shock responsive social safety.
War against malnutrition and
stunting is a common agenda of the World and should be dealt with jointly with
more coordinated efforts for quick and better results. Ms. Fiorella Molinelli,
Minister of Social Development and Inclusion, Government of Peru and Minister
of State and Chairperson BISP MNA Marvi Memon agreed in the bilateral meeting
held in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru. Minister of Social Development and
Inclusion, Government of Peru briefed the chairperson on different programs
helping reduction in Malnutrition by 50% in Peru and invited BISP to adopt the
model for dealing with stunting and malnutrition issue being faced by
Pakistan. Minister of State and Chairperson BISP while briefing the
Minister regarding efforts made by BISP in helping poorest of the poor stated
that food insecurity is matter of high concern as 44% of children in Pakistan
less than 5 years of age are stunted. This alarming situation needs to be
tackled at the earliest. She said that financial assistance through BISP is
effectively helping the downtrodden in meeting their basic needs particularly
food and health. BISP Impact Evaluation Studies highlight the positive
impact of BISP in reducing malnutrition rates as BISP stipend has increased the
monthly food consumption driven by high protein intake in BISP families.
Minister of Social Development and Inclusion, Government of Peru has also
accepted the invitation of Ms. Marvi Memon to visit of Pakistan for sharing the
experience of Peruvian model for reducing malnutrition and agreed to work
closely on regular basis in war against malnutrition.
Minister of state and Chairperson
BISP MNA Ms. Marvi Memon assured full support of BISP in carrying out the study
on Cost and gap of fixing malnutrition for Pakistan in another meeting with Mr.
Rodrigo Martinez, Senior Social Affairs Officer, ECLAC, held in Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. BISP agreed to take lead in carrying out the study which
determines the future option for launching of most cost effective design for
preventing the malnutrition and stunting in coordination with relevant
stakeholders in Pakistan.
