International series event “Kapuscinski Lectures” in Bratislava

On 16th of March 2011 the “Kapuscinski Lectures” took place in the University Library in Bratislava. David Hulme, professor of Development Studies from the University of Manchester, director of the Brooks World Poverty Institute and Head of the Institute for Development Policy and Management at the University of Manchester, hold a lecture on how to reduce poverty. During the lecture he introduced ideas from his recently published book “Just Give Money to the Poor”.

Professor Hulme thinks that cash transfers provide immediate poverty reduction and social protection; they may increase good governance, reduce risk and they do not make people lazy. This way of fight against poverty worked in various countries in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The main message is to give money to the poor. However, not as a charity or out of helicopters, but as carefully designed programs deriving from national decision-making and experience. There is a role for donors and international agencies to support it with cross-national learning, help countries to recognize the affordability and joint financing, particularly in low income countries in Africa. Professor Hulme recommended to Slovakia as a smaller donor to support volunteer sending programs to developing countries and projects of Slovak NGOs in developing countries. The event was organized by Slovak NGDO Platform and supported by the EU and the UNDP.

Please see also “Kapuscinski Lecture” with Prof. David Hulme on 16th March 2011 in Bratislava

Information provided by Andrea Girmanová