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 current Chair of the EPRG in 2011 is Dr Munir, the Director of Hunger and Health, Save the Children UK.
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 Sally Faulkner (Research Focal Point at shiree) at: sally@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.
The EPRG Chair
Dr. Munir Ahmed, Chair, EPRG
Dr. Munir Ahmed currently works for Save the Children Internal Bangladesh and also is the Chair of the Extreme Poverty Research Group (EPRG). Dr. Munir is a physician by training. He did his postgraduate degree and training in public health management, international health, food security and nutrition, and livelihoods from various including the University of Liverpool, Mahidol University, Harvard University, Boston University, Curtin University, and University of the Philippines Los Banos and Atlanta International University. He is a development practitioner, working in various sectors and has more than 25 years practical experience working in different capacities in Bangladesh and abroad. In the last three decades, he worked with the Government (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives) and at the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) as a member of its health and nutrition faculty. Dr. Munir served for the Noakhali Rural Development II/DANIDA Project Advisory Team (PAT) as a technical expert for its integrated health, nutrition, population and development programmes. Over 13 years, he worked with BRAC in its management development programme, health, nutrition, population sectors including one year in the BRAC Afghanistan programme as Country Head. For the last seven years, he has been working in Save the Children as the Head of Hunger and Health, overseeing the Household Economic Security and Livelihoods project, and working in strategic leadership in programme development, implementation, applied studies/research, research management and policy advocacy. As a development practitioner and nominated Chair of the EPRG, he has been proactively contributing, along with young researchers of SHIREE programme, to move forward the extreme poverty research agenda for the betterment of extreme poor people in Bangladesh.