What is the EPRG?
The Extreme Poverty Research Group (EPRG) was formed in September 2010 with the objective of developing and disseminating knowledge about the nature of extreme poverty and the effectiveness of measures to address it. It initiates and oversees research, acts as a learning and sharing mechanism, and assists in the translation of learning into advocacy. It is an evolving forum for the shiree family to both design and share research findings.
What is its aim?
The EPRG aims to provide a space where both practitioners and thinkers working on a variety of interventions to reduce extreme poverty can come together, share findings and perspectives, and discuss operational and advocacy priorities.
What is the importance of the EPRG research?
The focus of EPRG activity is that it is rooted in the practical implementation experience of NGOs and other agencies working with the extreme poor in the field, and is therefore designed to be partner-NGO led. The intention therefore is that EPRG sponsored research, knowledge sharing and learning, addresses the priorities of implementing agencies and will serve to enhance the design and management of interventions intended to address extreme poverty. Meetings are held quarterly. The EPRG is currently chaired by an EPRG Panel consisting of 5 members from shiree’s Scale Fund and Innovation Fund partners.
The Terms of Reference of the EPRG can be read here.
Please visit the working papers page to read recently published working papers here.
For queries and details about the EPRG, please contact Kira Galbraith (Associate Programmes and Advocacy Manager) at: eprgcontact@shiree.org
EPRG so far
The Extreme Poverty Research Group (EPRG) meets quarterly bringing together thinkers and practitioners around extreme poverty to share research findings and determine new priorities. Please visit the EPRG pages to read the materials from each of the events so far.
EPRG Leadership Panel
The purpose of the Leadership Panel is to: a) provide a chairperson for the EPRG meetings; b) review and help enhance the quality of shiree research proposals; c) act as mentors and supporters to the shiree research team; d) act as a liaison point with shiree between EPRG meetings; e) act as advocates for the conduct of quality research into extreme poverty dynamics helping to build the EPRG as a focal point for this research over time, with a particular focus on practical mechanisms to address extreme poverty. The Leadership Panel is currently made up of 5 persons from shiree’s Scale Fund and Innovation Fund projects:
1. Haseeb Md. Irfanullah is currently leading the Reducing Vulnerability and Natural Resource Management Programme of Practical Action – Bangladesh. With a PhD from the University of Liverpool (UK), he has been engaged with different international environment and development organizations as well as the Government of Bangladesh’s initiatives on economic empowerment, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, multilateral environmental agreements, technology promotion, and environmental governance. His contributions include providing strategic direction and expert opinion; influencing policy; planning, managing and assuring programme quality; fundraising and financial management; managing knowledge; enhancing innovation; and promoting collaboration and networking. He is also associated with several reputed international journals, societies, funding agencies and knowledge and professional networks of his subjects of interest. Besides environment and taxonomy of the living world, he is very interested in communication of research and knowledge, teaching, and philosophy of science.
2. M. Mujibur Rahman has been working at Shushilan as an Advisor since 1989 leading various projects on environment, climate change, human rights, women and minority development, with a special focus on the extreme poor. He holds a Graduate Degree from Dhaka University in History and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. He has conducted action research on the extreme poor in the Kawra (pig rearing) community and the role of floodplain community-based organizations in coping with risks in the southwest coastal region. He also prepares HR, financial, human rights, and climate change position papers as well as various operational policies for Shushilan and local NGO partners. He is a board member of 4 other extreme-poverty focused NGOs.
3. Md. Muzaffar Ahmed is the Program Director at Save the Children. He has worked for several international development organizations for the last 30 years. During this period, he has devoted himself in many areas and particularly to eradicating extreme poverty in the South-West coastal zone. His responsibilities are to lead the Save the Children Household Economic and Food Security (HEFS) or Shiree program teams by providing strategic leadership. There are many challenges working with the extreme poor, particularly considering the climatic vulnerability of the South-West coastal zone, but with strong and dedicated leadership, he believes it is possible that through disseminating learnings and best practices we will be able to achieve the sustainable alleviation of extreme poverty all over the country.
4. Tofail Md. Alamgir Azad, M.Sc, MPH, Ph.D has worked for more than 22 years at different levels and capacities in the Government of Bangladesh, International NGOs and Non-government Organizations with a specialization in urban poverty, livelihoods, health, nutrition, food security and market development issues for the poorest through a rights-based and child-focused development approach, on which he has written and published a number of scientific and academic publications. He is presently Project Director of the shiree-DSK Scale Fund Project in Dhaka city.
5. Manna Rahman currently works at HelpAge International, a shiree Innovation Fund project. He has a background in Social Sciences and is an advocate for securing the livelihoods and rights of the extreme poor elderly in Bangladesh.