This paper aims to investigate the role of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth in explaining the prevalence of poverty in Bengkulu Province. The study used a time series data for 26 years . The data were secondarily sourced from statistics bureau. Ordinary least square (OLS) was used as an analytical technique. Empirical results show that inflation and unemployment have positive and economic growth has negative impact on poverty. The paper recommends to applied an appropriate macroeconomic policy which is crucial for poverty alleviation. To improve economic growth, efforts must be put in place to increase productivity; improving the level of local production. To restrain the surging rate of unemployment, it is necessary to creates a work training center, opening new economic centers, and linking education and skills needed in the labor market. Furthermore, there must be concrete efforts to controlling inflation, because inflation affects poverty mainly through its impact on real wage. In other word, inflation affects people's purchasing power.

The community empowerment in the area of Ar-Rahmah pesantren, Air Meles Atas Village, Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu was intended to increase the income of pesantren to finance poor students, and at the same time to enhance the ability of pesantren in carrying out educational and teaching activities. Community service activities carried out in the form of assistance activities in shallot cultivation in the yard of the Ar-Rahmah Pesantren. The assistance program is carried out for 4 months, with such stage of activities as: the preparation stage for managers, teachers, students and farmers around the pesantren, seed selection, land preparation, planting, maintenance, harvesting, and post-harvest. The evaluation result showed that the community participation and involvement in the shallot cultivation assisting program were considered high. The highest participation rates were during the selection of seed activity (73%) and planting activity (100%). Meanwhile, the lowest participation rate was during maintenance activities (27%). The evaluation results showed the level of participants’ satisfaction is high (90‒100%) on the implementation of assistance activities. The harvested shallots could increase the income of the boarding school which can be used to help the education cost and education progress of the boarding school. The participation of the entire community would be encouraged so that the success of empowerment program could be felt by the entire community. The community empowerment program need to be carried out continuously, so it would enhance the welfare of and self-sufficiency of the community.

Beringin Raya has a vulnerability to the spread of the covid-19. This is because Beringin Raya come from various regions, especially boarding house residents, this area is the entrance to Bengkulu City which is directly adjacent to Mukomuko to West Sumatra Province. The purpose of this activity is as an effort to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in the Beringin Raya Village and to support government programs in overcoming the Covid-19. The activity is in the form of socialization about California papaya cultivation which has benefits for the health (nutrition) of the residents of the Beringin Raya Village. The results that the community in Beringin Raya understands and uses the California Papaya as a medicinal plant in preventing the spread of the covid-19.

The study aims to identify opportunities and constraints for the development of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Seluma district. Formulate a development strategy for microfinance institutions in the future. The method used in this research is descriptive method. The approach used in this study is a quantitative approach. The type of data used in this study is primary data and secondary data. Primary data is obtained through direct interviews with research respondents, namely MSME actors in the trade sector in Kab seluma by giving questions that have been compiled in the questionnaire. While secondary data was obtained from the relevant agencies in the study, namely the Central Bureau of Statistics, Department of Animal Husbandry as well as reports of previous research results as well as data from internet browsing. The results showed that there were several opportunities in the development of MFIs, among others, the high participation of members in repaying loans, the low level of bad loans, the closeness between the management and members of the MFI and there was an increase in members' business performance. The constraints in developing MFIs include the low level of collaboration with the banking sector and the low capital of the MFI itself.

During the pandemic, there are still many people in Pasar Bengkulu Village who do not work, where housewives should be able to use their free time more productively. Based on observations made in Pasar Bengkulu Village, many housewives who have been in the business of selling souvenirs in tourist areas, just don't develop it. Most housewives who have tried small businesses eventually close their businesses. If housewives have clear and systematic financial management and sales bookkeeping skills, then the side business of selling souvenirs that have been carried out so far is expected to run more smoothly and develop. The Master of Applied Economics at the University of Bengkulu conducted Community Service (PKM) activities in Pasar Bengkulu Village, Sungai Serut District, Bengkulu in the period July-November 2021. This PKM succeeded in attracting the interest of 30 activity participants to start implementing financial planning patterns and making business reports so that financial households are getting better and better.