Introduction and Collaboration:

The SDG Action Zone introduces a new session on ASAS, a multi-sectoral program in Pakistan aimed at poverty alleviation. The initiative is a partnership between the Gates Foundation and the Government of Pakistan, targeting interventions in nutrition, health, economic empowerment, and maternal and newborn child care. The aim is to progress towards achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, gender equality, and decent work and economic growth.

Program Inspiration:

Dr. Sanya Nishtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, elaborates that the inspiration for ASAS comes directly from Prime Minister Imran Khan. He is passionate about uplifting disadvantaged individuals and wanted a large program to help achieve this.

Program Structure:

ASAS is an umbrella initiative that currently comprises 134 policies and programs. It is organized under four pillars: equality in government systems, safety nets, jobs and livelihoods, and human capital formation. The execution involves 34 federal ministries and various federating units, with Dr. Nishtar coordinating the program and executing two pillars focused on safety nets and jobs.

Funding and Infrastructure:

The program was prioritized even in a financially restrictive environment. A separate ministry was created to handle the fragmented institutions involved in the initiative. Plans include a new constitutional amendment, a new digital payment system, and a governance and integrity policy to oversee agencies involved in the program’s execution.

Targeted Interventions:

ASAS aims to digitally and financially include 7 million women by providing them with bank accounts and access to mobile phones. It also seeks to incrementally uplift the poorest of the poor through tiered financing instruments like interest-free loans and skills training. There are also policies aimed at providing social protection against catastrophic risks, special incentives for disabled individuals, and welfare plans for marginalized communities including transgender individuals and street children.

Education and Healthcare:

The program offers 5 million scholarships and small stipends in the form of conditional cash transfers for education. It also plans to provide health insurance for 10 million families.

Welfare for Workers:

ASAS also targets the tens of millions of informal workers in Pakistan with policies to ensure minimum wage and include them in the social security sphere. There are separate policies for the welfare of overseas Pakistani workers and retirement benefits.

In summary, ASAS is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral initiative aimed at uplifting marginalized populations in Pakistan, covering a range of areas from financial inclusion to healthcare and education.

Long-term Presence in Pakistan:

The speaker highlights that their foundation has been active in Pakistan for over a decade, primarily focusing on health initiatives such as vaccine coverage and eradicating polio. They also work in other sectors like agriculture, sanitation, and financial services.

Focus on Financial Inclusion:

The current program aims to advance digital financial inclusion. The foundation views this initiative as a way to push digital financial services to critical mass in Pakistan. This is particularly important for the poorest population segments, as they are often neglected in such efforts.

Equity Concerns:

The speaker emphasizes the importance of reaching equitable digital financial service distribution from the beginning. They express concern that often these services initially target urban and well-off populations, leading to a gender gap and social inequity.

Operational Priorities:

A second speaker outlines two main priorities for the program’s implementation: governance and the “one-window gateway” system. They explain that sound governance structures and transparency are crucial to ensure the program’s integrity and success.

One-window Gateway:

The “one-window gateway” is a digital system through which all services related to the program will be accessible. This platform is prioritized because it will increase the visibility of the program’s deployment and encourage efficient delivery from various institutions.

Challenges and Collaboration:

Finally, the second speaker touches on the challenges, particularly the difficulty in coordinating across the various government institutions involved. Creating a culture that incentivizes collaboration among these separate entities is considered key to the program’s success.

Optimistic Outlook:

Despite these challenges, both speakers are optimistic about the program’s potential to make a significant positive impact in Pakistan, particularly through improving financial inclusion and governance.

Importance of Private Sector:

The speaker emphasizes the need for private sector involvement in building agriculture value chains. Without the private sector’s expertise, it is challenging to create efficient and secure value supply chains or bring efficiencies into public sector institutions.

Pakistani Diaspora and Collaboration:

The speaker mentions the potential role of the Pakistani diaspora worldwide in contributing to domestic development. Additionally, collaboration with organizations like Bill Gates’ foundation provides valuable connections and expertise, which can help overcome capacity constraints and facilitate quick turnaround on studies and meta-analyses.

Structural Frameworks for Engagement:

The challenge lies in creating a framework that enables diverse contributors to participate. In response, a portal has been established on the organization’s website to formalize contributions and involvement from various parties.

Conditional Cash Transfers:

Cash transfers are being used not just for immediate financial relief but also to incentivize positive behavior. These transfers are conditioned on educational attendance, health, and nutrition factors. Digital financial inclusion is also an aim, serving multiple endpoints like gender empowerment and health behaviors.

Measurements and Metrics:

Metrics and data analytics, especially in a digital platform, provide robust tools for evaluating the impact of various programs. These metrics can track how families are spending the funds, thereby understanding the immediate social and economic impacts more precisely than traditional survey techniques.

Success Factors and Long-term Goals:

For the primary speaker, a key indicator of success will be the involvement of expatriate Pakistanis in funding these programs, reflecting trust in the program’s integrity. Bill Gates highlights the importance of health and nutrition as key enablers for income growth and overall development. Both speakers agree that trust and confidence in the system are critical for the program’s success.

Portal for Contributions:

The ministry has launched a portal called ‘Pledge to ASAS’ that serves as an open platform for potential partners to submit their ideas and contributions. The portal aims to collaborate with a wide array of organizations, from academic institutes to non-profits.

Financial Channels:

Expat Pakistanis are particularly encouraged to financially contribute through soon-to-be-established payment systems. The portal will also feature an option called ‘Huffers,’ designed to protect against catastrophic health expenditures.

Types of Contributions:

Contributions aren’t solely monetary. Technical expertise is also welcomed, as are other forms of support. Specific calls for different types of contributions will be posted on the portal.

Fostering a Culture:

The overarching goal is to institutionalize a culture where everyone, especially expatriates, can contribute to the ISAS program in a meaningful way. This institutionalized mechanism is still in its experimental phase.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Role:

The foundation is set to spend $200 million across all its programs in Pakistan in 2020, highlighting significant international support for health and development programs in the country.

Call to Action:

The main message emphasized that support can come in various forms, not just financial. A more concrete plan for contributions and institutionalizing this culture is expected to be shared at the next General Assembly.

Optimism for Health Indicators:

The presentation concluded on a hopeful note, indicating that health indicators have improved, and there is optimism about accelerating these improvements through partnerships.