ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a view of frugal science initiatives based on the arithmetic of the poor in relation to poverty alleviation, social change and economic development. It presents the perspective and traces the origin, development and dynamic interaction of these tendencies: from the age of the 'village republic', to the global village in shaping up the vision, structure, and impact of civil society in defining the citizen-state relationship for poverty alleviation. Foreign assistance for poverty alleviation in the social sector has had mixed impact. Pakistan is home to a diverse group of civil society institutions: contractors of donor agencies, advocates of the 'universal' human rights agenda and visionary and idealist social entrepreneurs. The chapter identifies different forms of development assistance and drawn lessons for a meaningful collaboration. A review of prominent cases of poverty alleviation depicts that selection of right partner with knowledge of the ground reality, long-term engagement capacity and entrepreneurial vision played a crucial role in aid effectiveness.
