A Big Push for Entrepreneurship: Lessons from a Field Experiment – Cartier

Cartier Women’s Initiative (2022)  Using a field experiment from BRAC as an entry point, Prof. Esther Duflo shows how one big boost to women living in extreme poverty can help their businesses take off, with long-lasting positive impact for them and the next generation. Prof. Duflo shares lessons learned from the program, with insights on … Continued

In Memoriam: Alison Wright

BRAC’s Statement on the Tragic Passing of Alison Wright BRAC expresses its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of documentary photographer, author, public speaker, educator, and friend of BRAC, Alison Wright. Alison showcased BRAC’s work around the world through her brilliant photography and has documented the people our programs serve in a deeply personal … Continued

فيديو برنامج باب امل (عربي) / Bab Amal Graduation Program Overview

In July 2018 the Bab Amal Graduation program was launched with the objective of reducing extreme poverty in Upper Egypt. BRAC UPGI is providing technical assistance on the program which is focused on rural households, particularly those with livestock as a primary source of income. Together with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) , … Continued

Long-Term Effects of the Targeting the Ultra-Poor Program

Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Garima Sharma (2021) This paper studies the long-run effects of a “big-push” program providing a large asset transfer to the poorest Indian households. In a randomized controlled trial that follows these households over 10 years, we find positive effects on consumption (0.6 SD), food security (0.1 SD), income (0.3 SD), … Continued

What Cultivating Resilience Means for Women Living in Extreme Poverty – Trickle Up

Joint Blog by Trickle Up and BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative Communication team members This article originally appeared on Trickle Up on March 8, 2022. Read it here. As we approach a third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world continues to face unprecedented challenges and deep uncertainty, especially as the issues of conflict and climate … Continued

UK International Development Committee Formal Meeting: Extreme Poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals

On Tuesday 1 March, the UK House of Commons International Development Committee (IDC) began taking evidence on extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals. Experts sharing evidence included: Dr. Sabina Alkire, Director at Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford Romilly Greenhill, UK Director at ONE Campaign Shameran Abed, Executive … Continued

Responding to New Threats to Poverty Eradication in Asia – IPS News

By Dr. Imran Matin | Executive Director of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development & Dr. Stephanie Levy | Guest Lecturer, London School of Economics This article originally appeared in Inter Press Service on February 14, 2022. Read it here. DHAKA, Bangladesh, Feb 14 2022 (IPS) – With consistent, robust economic growth, countries across Asia … Continued

BRAC Regional Dialogue: Applying Evidence to Achieve Long-Term Development and Inclusive Growth Across Africa

Organisers: African Development Bank Group BRAC Institute for Governance and Development, BIGD BRAC United Nations Development Programme, UNDP West Africa Civil Society Institute, WACSI Before COVID-19, many countries across Africa were making significant gains in human capital, improving health and education outcomes for girls and boys and empowering women and youth to reach their full … Continued

Looking Back to Move Forward: A Letter from BRAC UPGI’s Managing Director

By Greg Chen | Managing Director, BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative I am delighted to have joined BRAC UPGI as the Managing Director late in 2021. I have long been inspired by BRAC and its Graduation approach. For more than 25 years, I’ve worked to advance financial inclusion through microfinance and digital finance. I have a … Continued

BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation Program in Liberia

In November 2018, BRAC International, with funding from the Dutch Postcode, began the targeting process and launched the Liberia Graduation pilot in March 2019 to provide targeted support to 750 households living in extreme poverty across Kakata and Gbarnga counties and Unification Town (250 households per branch). After two prolonged civil wars and the 2014 … Continued