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Is Ultra Poverty Graduation Working?
The graduation approach centers on creating effective pathways for the ultra-poor living at the bottom of the poverty pyramid. In countries like Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Peru, Ghana and Pakistan, studies have documented the approach's impact in causing (yes, causing) broad and lasting economic impacts and improvements in psychosocial well-being.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education
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NexThought Monday – How We Can Improve Ultra-Poor ‘Graduation’: The next generation of innovations required to end the most extreme poverty
There is no great innovation without skepticism, much less in the tireless crusade against global poverty. So it's no surprise that as the ultra-poor ‘graduation’ approach pioneered by BRAC has gained ground as a viable path out of extreme poverty, questions have emerged about its effectiveness and possible next steps.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Weekly Roundup – Nothing Random About It: ‘Graduation’ programs for the ultra-poor get validation through randomized control trials
Little research has been done into the long-term effectiveness of "graduation" programs to eliminate extreme poverty. But a big three-year study of 21,000 ultra-poor people in six countries appears to validate not only the approach, but also the return on investment.
- Categories
- Education
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Aid Burst Lifts People Out of Extreme Poverty
Giving some of the world’s poorest people a two-year aid package — including cash, food, health-care services, skills training and advice — improves their livelihoods for at least a year after the support is cut off, according to the results of an experiment involving more than 10,000 households in six countries.
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Cash Versus Cows (Part 1): Looking at the benefits of asset versus cash transfer programs
Is it better to give a cow or cash? Are cash and asset transfers hand-outs or a hand up for the extreme poor? BRAC examined the two approaches, and in the first installment of a two-part post, it compares the impact of cash transfers versus physical productive assets like livestock, seed and agricultural inputs, or a bundle of goods for petty sales.
- Categories
- Agriculture
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‘Positive, though not transformative’: Recent research clarifies the impact of microcredit, and points to ways it can improve
Recent research suggests that microcredit may not be targeting the world’s poorest as effectively as was once thought, says IPA. But these studies also tell a story of positive, though not transformative, results. They point to the importance of diversification of the traditional microcredit model, providing additional services in finance and beyond.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Where are the poor? : Lessons to share from BRAC’s poverty ‘graduation program’
In the countries that have some incarnation of the “graduation program” targeting the ultra-poor that BRAC began first experimenting with in the 1990s, communities themselves are also grappling with the question: Where are the poor? It’s a question that large scale aid agencies, impact investors, social enterprises, multinational companies and others ask on a regular basis. So, we thought those stakeholders and others would benefit from learning a bit more about our process.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
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Cut Off From Infrastructure, Not From Support: SKS NGO Builds Self-Reliance in Isolated Communities
The purpose of SKS’s ultra poor programme is to create sustainable livelihoods so that those living in extreme poverty can graduate into one of two paths: Axisting microfinance programme in the area (for the few that wish to expand their business or diversify into other activities), or to continue saving in groups and use their savings to strengthen and diversify their asset base (a viable transition for most).
- Categories
- Education