Multidimensional Coaching for Socio-Economic Advancement of People in Poverty (EU Commission)

This publication is a Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Center (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. The purpose of the report is to highlight a relatively new approach to social assistance for people in poverty, focusing on multidimensional coaching. The approach represents a paradigm shift in social assistance design, as … Continued

BRAC International Joins Strategic Advisory Group of the United Nations’ Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund

New York, New York – As key global actors come together to attend the 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and discuss the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), BRAC International – the world’s largest Global South-led NGO – joined the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) of the UN’s flagship Joint SDG … Continued

Achieving the SDGs Requires Bold, Integrated, Community-led Solutions

Caption for image (above): Shameran Abed, Executive Director of BRAC International, joins others at UNFPA’s side event “Building an Equitable Future through Women-Centric Innovations: Equity by Design in Action”. PC BRAC. After a week of discussing the status of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the lack of progress at the United Nations General Assembly … Continued

Building Stable Livelihoods for the Ultra-Poor

This research was originally published on the J-PAL site and was last updated in October 2023. A multifaceted livelihood program that provided low-income households with a productive asset, training, regular coaching, access to savings, and consumption support led to large and long-lasting positive impacts on their standard of living. Additionally, recipient households were better positioned … Continued

Opinion: The World Bank’s Evolution is a Chance to Accelerate the End of Extreme Poverty – OECD Development Matters

By Shameran Abed, Executive Director, BRAC International and Joanne Carter, Executive Director, RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund This opinion article was originally published on the OECD Development Matters blog on September 27, 2023.  The World Bank is evolving, but can it widen its mandate without losing focus on ending extreme poverty? Cascading crises that include COVID-19, the Ukraine war, … Continued

UPGI September 2023 Update

Dear friends, We are writing to share a brief update on our shared aspirations. BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative is in its third year of a large and flexible Audacious grant, with the aim of catalyzing governments to scale an evidence-based approach to reducing extreme poverty. Our goal of reaching 4.6 million households remains our driving … Continued

Building an equitable future through women-centric innovations: Introducing the Equity 2030 Alliance (UNFPA)

The Government of Finland, the Government of Ghana, the Government of Norway, the Government of Vietnam, and UNFPA, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency organized this high-level side event on the margins of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, titled “Building an equitable future through women-centric innovations.” The 90-minute in-person … Continued

Devex @ UNGA 78 – Pathways out of Poverty

Devex at UNGA 78 – Day 1 Shameran Abed, Executive Director, BRAC International Raj Kumar, President and Editor-in-Chief, Devex

Opinion: Ending extreme poverty is within reach. We can’t give up – Devex

This opinion article was originally published on Devex on September 19, 2023. World leaders are gathering at the United Nations this week, at the midway point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to evaluate stalled progress and talk about how to get us back on track. This means doing more of what has already been proven to … Continued

CGI 2023: Spotlight Session – Stronger Communities, Stronger Economies: How to Prepare Small and Medium Enterprises for Economic Uncertainty

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 90 percent of all businesses globally, 50 percent of GDP, and more than 70 percent of the workforce, but they are most vulnerable during economic crises. They also continue to face considerable limitations due to racial and gender inequities that persist across the ecosystem. With the threat of … Continued