How BRAC, Governments, and the World Bank Scale Innovations to Combat Poverty – World Bank

The World Bank Group originally published this feature story on November 11, 2024. By Rasha Natour, Senior Specialist, Policy and Partnerships, BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative The number of people living in extreme poverty continues to be alarming and disheartening. The World Bank estimates that around one person in 10, or 700 million people, live in extreme … Continued

Tackling Poverty and Inequality All the Way to the Last Mile: Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) Programme – Highlights 2023

BRAC pioneered the Graduation approach by launching the Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme in 2002. The programme works to sustainably lift ultra-poor households from poverty while keeping women at the centre of economic activities. 69,242 participants were enrolled for the 2023 cohort in 38 districts across Bangladesh. The report shares additional highlights from 2023.

South-South Exchange: Philippine Delegation Learns from Bihar’s Inclusive Livelihood Programme

In February 2024, the Government of Bihar welcomed officials from the Government of the Philippines to visit and learn about its inclusive livelihood programme through a new Immersion and Learning Exchange programme.  The government-led programme, Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY), is one of the world’s largest programmes modeled after the Graduation approach, which to date has … Continued

The Graduation Approach has Reached the Philippines, Integrating into Existing Government Initiatives

2023 marked the end of the Government of the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Padayon Sustainable Livelihood Program, which equipped more than 2,700 households in the three poorest provinces of the country with the resources and tools needed to improve their socio-economic conditions and develop sustainable livelihoods. DSWD is now looking to … Continued

Policy Recommendations for Building Climate Resilience for the Most Vulnerable During Heatwaves in India

Image (above) credit: Mahila Housing Trust By Boudewijn Weijermars, Technical Advisor; Shweta S. Banerjee, India Country Lead; Ramesh Veluru, India Programme Officer; and Courtney Calardo, Head of Communications, at BRAC International Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative India is not alone in the world in experiencing the effects of the current 1°C global warming. Heatwaves, floods, and droughts … Continued

Climate Adaptation Within Livelihoods and Poverty Programmes: Responding to Extreme Heat in India

The authors of this paper are Shweta S. Banerjee (Country Lead India, BRAC International), Siraz Hirani (Senior Programme Management Specialist, Mahila Housing Trust), Boudewijn Weijermars (Technical Advisor, BRAC International), Ramesh Veluru (India Programme Officer, BRAC International) India is experiencing the effects of the current 1°C global warming. Heat waves, floods, and droughts are affecting the … Continued

National Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (NRLPS), MoRD signed MoU with BRAC International for Economic Inclusion and Social Protection for the Poorest of the Poor Women

This press release was originally published on February 2, 2024 by the Press Information Bureau, Delhi, Government of India. Caption for image above (left to right: Mona Dave, Consultant for BRAC International, Shameran Abed, Executive Director of BRAC International, Shweta Banerjee, Country Lead for India, BRAC International, Shri Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary and CEO of … Continued

The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Drives Coordinated Poverty Alleviation Efforts toward a Holistic, Evidence-Backed Approach

By Maria Baylon, Acting Country Director of BRAC International Philippines and Country Lead for the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative Caption for image above: The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma signed multiple MoUs with partners during the 90th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Labor and Employment. (PC BRAC International) During the Philippine … Continued

Advancing SDG1 through South-South Government Exchange

By Abdurrahman Syebubakar, Indonesia Country Lead | Shweta Banerjee, India Country Lead | Heidi McAnnally-Linz, Global Lead for Policy & Partnerships, at BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (Caption for image above): CEO of Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (JEEViKA) Rahul Kumar welcomes delegates from Indonesia and BRAC International to Patna to learn about the Satat Jeevikoparjan … Continued

How the Graduation approach is adapting to a changing climate – socialprotection.org

By Palash Kanti Das | Director, Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme, BRAC; Upoma Mahbub | Senior Manager of Advocacy, Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme, BRAC, Courtney Calardo | Head of Communications, Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, BRAC International, Max Gollin | Manager of Policy and Partnerships, Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative, BRAC International The article was originally published on socialprotection.org on November 28, … Continued