UNDP sponsoring conference aimed at improving Guyana’s Livelihoods Programmes

The Ministry of Finance’s “Using Evidence and Evaluation to Improve Guyana’s Livelihoods Programmes” three-day conference commenced this morning at the Cara Lodge, Georgetown.

The event is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the aim of improving approaches to increasing income, employment and other key indicators of well-being through livelihood programmes.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan speaking at the conference stressed the need for Guyana to move from the traditional input to results-based Management. He noted too that the time has come for policies to be designed that will best proximate the needs of the vulnerable or poor.

Jordan underscored the importance of data in designing these policies, noting that data collection has been an age-old problem for this country. Data collection, the Minister pointed out would assist policy-makers in crafting programmes that would yield the necessary results as it relates to poverty reduction and improved livelihoods.

The Finance Minister is optimistic that the training received at the conference would be applied upon its completion, while urging the need to transition to Programme Budgeting.

Presentations are being conducted by Nathanael Goldberg, Programme Manager for Innovations for Poverty Action’s (IPA) Social Protection Programme, which uses rigorous evaluations to improve and scale safety nets and livelihood opportunities for the poor.

Dr. Dean Karlan, a Development Economist at the Yale University, has conducted a series of research evaluating similar programmes and Mr. Goldberg and IPA’s Programme Manager for the Social Protection Programme, Kelsey Wright are sponsors along with the UNDP.

They are conducting the training on a pro-bono basis.