The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and BRAC Philippines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the conduct of targeted policy research in the country. The agreement was signed by PIDS President Aniceto Orbeta Jr. and BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI) Program Director Maria Baylon, with PIDS Administrative Department Manager Atty. Jamie-lyn Jamias-Garcia and BRAC Philippines Research Specialist Kristian Paolo Torres as witnesses.
This strategic collaboration covers work on critical areas impacting vulnerable communities, including poverty, livelihoods, disability inclusion, resilience to shocks, and social protection. It aims to come up with actionable solutions that can be adopted by policymakers and other stakeholders, ultimately leading to tangible improvements in the lives of those most vulnerable.
“We are pleased to work with BRAC Philippines in this undertaking. We anticipate a productive partnership with a shared goal of assisting the Philippine government in addressing poverty and vulnerability,” Dr. Orbeta stated.
The first joint project under this collaboration is a research partnership to assess the convergence of government social protection and economic inclusion programs. This is aligned with BRAC’s UPGI Program, a global initiative aimed at scaling proven approaches to tackle extreme poverty, particularly in remote communities.
Director Baylon expressed hope that this collaboration between BRAC Philippines and PIDS can influence current discourses, and help promote innovative engagements on poverty alleviation, social protection, and resilience-building in the country.
For further details about BRAC and its projects, visit the BRAC Philippines Facebook page.
View photos of the signing here. ###
