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The Impact of a Graduation Program on Livelihoods in Refugee and Host Communities in Uganda

By Max Gollin • October 26, 2021 • 1 minute read

The Impact of a Graduation Program on Livelihoods in Refugee and Host Communities in Uganda

Lasse Brune, Nathanael Goldberg, Dean Karlan, Doug Parkerson,
Christopher Udry (Ongoing)

Evidence from multiple contexts suggests that the Graduation Approach, which provides holistic livelihood support for ultra-poor households, has lasting positive impacts on a range of outcomes. However, graduation programs are relatively expensive because of the intense level of support they offer. The costs pose a challenge for governments that want to implement the approach at scale. More research to disentangle which particular components drive the program impact could help implementers design less expensive, more cost-effective models. In Uganda, researchers working with Innovations for Poverty Action are conducting a randomized evaluation to better understand the effectiveness of several variants of a graduation program focused on improving nutrition and self-reliance among populations in and around a refugee settlement.

The Impact of a Graduation Program on Livelihoods in Refugee and Host Communities in Uganda