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Accepted Paper:

In due balance: economic and spiritual security  
J.R.A. Williams (Islamic Relief Worldwide)

Paper short abstract:

The Extreme Poverty Model helps tens of thousands of people out of distress and insecurity while building spiritual capital and dignity. This paper offers examples of faith principles applied to various poverty reduction settings and a case study from Bangladesh

Paper long abstract:

While development agencies struggle with ethical issues and the tension between free markets and the moral economy, Islamic Relief has refined its Extreme Poverty Model which has helped tens of thousands of people lift themselves out of distress and insecurity while building their spiritual capital and dignity. By rooting development in in their own experience and drawing on what is around them, people have stayed secure long after Islamic Relief has moved on.

This paper describes the model with examples from various settings and a case study of integrated work in Bangladesh. It shows that with careful needs analysis, cash transfers and livelihoods training, and loan funds managed by self help groups, income generation activities prosper so family incomes rise, education and health levels improve and dignity is restored. Families an communities become more resilient to shocks and disasters and gains are sustained over years.

We show that in Bangladesh and other countries, working with faith principles can address the well-being and holistic imperatives of development while also providing a uniquely cost-effective, sustainable and scalable model for increasing physical assets, reducing systemic barriers and building resilience for some of the poorest in the world.

Panel P34
The increasing space for ‘moral economies’ in the light of global inequality: the role of religions and faith perspectives [Religions and Development SG]
  Session 1