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
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
The Graduation approach builds self-confidence, skills, resilience, and sustainable, diversified livelihoods by meeting participants’ basic day-to-day needs, providing training and assets for income generation, financial literacy and savings support, and social empowerment through community engagement and life skills training – all facilitated through in person coaching. Coaches play a critical role in encouraging participants to … Continued
Governments must strengthen their social protection systems to ensure those furthest behind are covered and that their long-term needs are met. Otherwise, the deepest forms of poverty will remain entrenched. Social protection programs help people who are marginalized and living in poverty meet their most basic needs. They enable people to cope with crises, find … Continued
Extreme poverty goes far beyond a lack of income. This is because poverty is multidimensional. Health, education, clean water and sanitation, electricity, housing, social inclusion are all crucial indicators which determine standards of living and future prospects of an individual and their household. We cannot eradicate these challenges by focusing on income alone. To address … Continued
In July 2018, the Bab Amal Graduation program was launched with the objective of reducing extreme poverty in Upper Egypt. Together with the Sawiris Foundation, J-PAL, the Egyptian Human Development Association (EHDA), and Giving Without Limits Association (GWLA), the pilot targets approximately 2,400 rural, extreme poor households in the Assiut and Sohag governorates. BRAC UPGI … Continued
This virtual event took place on July 14, 2022, and was hosted by BRAC, the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN, and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the UN on the sidelines of the 2022 UN High-Level Political Forum. This webinar reflects on BRAC’s role in generating development lessons in the Global South … Continued
Learn how a proven solution to poverty eradication can help empower millions to lift themselves into sustainable livelihood. BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, wanted to help previously unreachable people in extreme poverty build sustainable livelihoods long-term. So, in 2002 we pioneered the Graduation approach – a holistic sequence of interventions that helps people escape the … Continued
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
This session sheds light on the state of ultra-poverty in India and the potential for the Graduation approach model to end it in this decade. With 23 million households ( 5.9% of the population) living in extreme poverty, there is a clear need for an evidence based approach to end ultra poverty in India. Globally, … Continued