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Joining hands in the region
Publication date: Wednesday 28 September 2005
Arjun Karki, South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Nepal
In 2000 a meeting was convened in Manesar, India, bringing together 200 civil society organisations to discuss various common issues which they encountered in their fight against poverty and injustice in the South Asia region. Despite the great variety of organisations, cultures and principal objectives, they agreed to form an alliance and a year later, SAAPE was formally created. The alliance focuses on poverty in its relationship to marginalisation, political disempowerment, and its link to socio-political tensions, armed insurgencies, gender discrimination and violence, child labour and the appalling inequality between the rich and the poor.
A key factor within the alliance has been the ability to foster diversity, both amongst South Asian countries and cultures, as well as amongst civil society organisations themselves. SAAPE has specifically sought to engage a broad range of civil society organisations and marginalised groups (such as Dalit) in its work. Even more so, it addresses a vast range of stakeholders in its advocacy efforts, beyond its direct constituents. This has contributed to a broader understanding of poverty alleviation, within countries beyond the SAAPE regional focus as well as amongst other actors that contribute to a vibrant associational space, such as trade unions, journalists, religious groups, and multilateral agencies and bodies.
An alliance – even when advocating for a specific region or specific topic – can no longer afford to adopt a ‘tunnel vision’ in addressing its needs. Rather, it needs to expand its borders, harnessing a broad vision and scope to achieve its objectives.
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