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

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

Asian Development Bank Recognizes the Importance of CSOs and Empirically-Proven Interventions in New Report

By Marlowe Popes, Senior Field Manager, BRAC UPGI Philippines | Courtney Calardo, Head of Communications, BRAC UPGI | Rasha Natour, Head of Policy, BRAC UPGI The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plays a pivotal role in addressing the region’s most pressing issues by supporting evidence-backed, holistic programs that drive inclusive growth and enable communities and households … Continued

Highlights of ADB’s Cooperation with Civil Society Organizations 2022

This report provides a rundown of ADB’s work with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during 2022 to help developing member countries (DMCs) recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and give stronger social protection and economic support to some of the region’s poorest. Under Operational Priority 1: Addressing Remaining Poverty and Reducing Inequalities, the report highlights promoting social … Continued

Investing in Those Furthest Behind in Least Developed Countries for Inclusive and Long-Term Growth

BRAC International Executive Director, Shameran Abed, and other members of BRAC leadership participated in the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries to emphasize the importance of investing in those furthest behind and addressing the multifaceted nature of extreme poverty. Governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and private sector partners came together to … Continued

Expanding Graduation to Reach More in Extreme Poverty

Developed in the early 2000s, the Graduation approach was born out of learning from BRAC’s long period of program implementation that preceded it. BRAC has continuously evolved the Graduation approach since first starting the Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) program in Bangladesh in 2002, and it has now been adapted and expanded by BRAC and other organizations … Continued

Padayon Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP): Adapting the Graduation Approach in the Philippines

After a successful pilot with the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment, BRAC UPGI has partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Asian Development Bank, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to bring the scaled Padayon Sustainable Development Program to three provinces in southern Philippines. This integrated program is … Continued

How to Get on Track to Eradicate Extreme Poverty – IPS News

By Gregory Chen, Managing Director | BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative This piece originally appeared on Inter Press Service News on October 10, 2022. Read it here. WASHINGTON DC, Oct 10 2022 (IPS) – As we approach 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals look harder than ever to achieve. Shocks to the global economy caused by climate change, … Continued

Building Resilience in the Philippines Through Sustainable Livelihoods and Psychosocial Support – IPS News

By Joyce Chimbi, Journalist | Inter Press Service This article originally appeared in Inter Press Service News Agency on September 1, 2022. Read it here. Iloilo, Philippines, Sep 1 2022 (IPS) – Elvie Gallo no longer hangs around her local grocery store, hoping for the odd job to put food on the table. Her hand-to-mouth life … Continued