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

G20 Elevates Voices of the Global South as They Focus on World’s Most Pressing Economic Challenges

Leaders of the world’s 20 biggest economies recently came together for the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, India to discuss some of the world’s most pressing economic issues and produce a final document that highlights leaders’ commitments to challenges ranging from inclusive growth to gender equality.  To better represent the needs of those most … Continued

Alleviating Urban Poverty Through Livelihood Generation – IPS

This article was originally published by Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency on August 30, 2023. PUNE, INDIA, Aug 30 2023 (IPS) – In a bid to tackle the complexities of urban poverty, the Government of Bihar’s Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS) has launched Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana Shahari (SJY Urban). The program will include a time-bound … Continued

Local Governments in Indonesia Advance Efforts to Eliminate Extreme Poverty through a Holistic, Evidence-Backed Approach

By Abdurrahman Syebubakar | Country Lead for Indonesia, Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative and Courtney Calardo | Head of Communications, Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative Caption (above): A photo session with the Governor and almost all heads/vice heads of districts and mayors/vice mayors in West Sumatra province after they signed a joint statement and the plan of action to … Continued

How Do We Support the World’s Poorest Countries? | The Development Podcast

Meet the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries—75 to be exact. It’s the largest single source of donor funds for basic services in these countries and aims to eliminate extreme poverty. IDA’s most recent replenishment, IDA20, resulted in a historic $93 billion financing package for IDA countries for … Continued

Staff Spotlight: Jean Claude Muhire, Rwanda Program Director of BRAC UPGI

By Courtney Calardo, Head of Communications, BRAC UPGI Jean Claude Muhire, BRAC UPGI’s Rwanda Program Director, has played a pivotal role in driving UPGI’s partnership with the Government of Rwanda under the Ministry of Local Governance. Under Jean Claude’s leadership, BRAC is now supporting the Government’s new National Strategy for Sustainable Graduation, designed to empower … 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

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

BRAC International Signs MoU with Rwanda to Empower People in Extreme Poverty – IPS News

This article was originally published on March 21, 2023, by IPS News. Last week, BRAC International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Rwanda under the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) to support efforts to empower people in extreme poverty to develop sustainable livelihoods and break the poverty trap long term. This is part of the … Continued