Brazil to share social policy expertise online
Brazil's government launched the Learning Initiative for a World without Poverty (WWP) on Friday (Mar. 21), in Rio de Janeiro. The initiative is a partnership with the World Bank (IBRD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In the short term, it aims to share Brazil's successful experiences in social assistance and poverty alleviation with social policymakers in other countries on http://www.wwp.org.br/en.
According to the Minister of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger, Tereza Campello, the website is also ultimately intended to serve as an online platform for the countries to share their practices in overcoming hunger and poverty.
“[By launching this initiative,] We want to welcome other countries' contributions of successful experiences, including a summary and impact review, as well as ideas for implementation and successful replication in other countries,” the minister said. “But it should be much more than a mere repository for random documents,” she noted, explaining that the platform will include videos, recordings of on-site visits, and information that provide useful tools which program sponsors can use anywhere with no need for traveling.
The website was released during the World Bank-sponsored South-South Learning Forum 2014, which has brought together policymakers, program coordinators, and social policy experts from 50 developing countries to design and implement social protection and employment opportunity systems. The platform will also provide interactive networks where participants can ask questions and provide help and insight with implementation issues.
The Head of the Strategic Affairs Secretariat housed under Brazil's Presidency, Marcelo Neri, said that the knowledge sharing will also help Brazil enhance its policies or introduce new ones based on contributions from other countries. As an example, he mentioned the Production-Oriented Microcredit Program (“Crediamigo”), which originated in Bangladesh and was later incorporated by Brazil with its own adaptations. “We are often unaware of what [countries] out there have been doing, so this collaborative knowledge base can come in really helpful as a central contribution repository.”
Brazil UNDP representative Jorge Chediek and World Bank Director for Brazil Deborah Wetzel said the chief reason they are ing the initiative is to put theory into practice. Moreover, they said, successful outcomes obtained by Brazil's government could help other countries in tackling great social inequalities.
“[Brazil] has a successful story that is worth sharing with countries all over the world to teach them important lessons. That's why we have chosen it as a leadership in this arena,” Wetzel concluded.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Brazil to share social policy expertise online
