TARGETING THE ULTRA POOR
A multifaceted program to lift people out of extreme poverty
Research on the Graduation Approach, developed by BRAC and evaluated by J-PAL-affiliated researchers has empowered over 14 million households across 50 countries to uplift themselves from extreme poverty. This innovative and multifaceted livelihood program strategically combines assets, training, coaching, savings access, and consumption support, resulting in significant and lasting benefits. Evaluations done by J-PAL affiliated researchers in 50 countries found that the people who received the package of support under the Graduation Approach highlight the program's transformative impact on consumption, food security, asset holdings, and savings.
Partners
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| Ministry of Rural Development | JEEViKA, Government of Bihar | BRAC | Bandhan Konnagar | The / Nudge Institute |
The Graduation Approach — developed by the NGO BRAC — has been effective in putting ultra-poor households out of extreme poverty. The Graduation Approach provides asset transfers, training, coaching, access to savings, and consumption support for two years. The first study was conducted in Bangladesh, and eventually extended to 6 more countries. The first government-led-scale up of the Graduation Approach is Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY) for households headed by women. It is implemented by the Government of Bihar and Bandhan Konnagar, with J-PAL South Asia as the knowledge partner. SJY aims to reach 1 million people, through 200,000 women-headed households.
Evidence-to-action story
RESEARCH
J-PAL conducted evaluations across 7 countries to study the transformative power of the Graduation Approach. A randomized evaluation of the original Graduation program along with evaluations of six adaptations of the program provide important evidence that the multifaceted livelihood program is effective at spurring a transition into self-employment across diverse contexts. In India, J-PAL South Asia and Bandhan Konnagar have conducted pilots for the Graduation Approach in Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
RESULTS
The Graduation approach evaluated by J-PAL and IPA found enduring economic impacts. Households receiving the intervention had greater spending power, ate regularly, and had higher incomes and savings based on the findings from 7 countries. An evaluation from Murshidabad found that the effects of the Graduation Approach persisted 10 years after the program ended. Consumption of households receiving the intervention was 18% higher than those who did not participate in the program.
SCALE-UP
J-PAL South Asia and Bandhan Konnagar are supporting JEEViKA in scaling up SJY to more than 200,000 households. J-PAL South Asia is also collaborating with India's Ministry of Rural Development to scale the Graduation Approach across more than 10 states in India as a part of the Government of India’s Samaveshi Aajeevika Yojana (SAY). Under this collaboration, J-PAL South Asia is working with BRAC and The Nudge Institute to support the implementation of the Graduation Approach in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Lessons from the scale-up will be documented closely, in order to create future pathways for implementation of the Graduation Approach.
What idea is better than the idea that the poorest of the poor have enough talent to be self-sufficient? That if you give them a push, they'll stay up."
Point of contact
Parikrama Chowdhry
Lead - Policy (Scale Ups), J-PAL South Asia
[email protected]
Parikrama Chowdhry leads multiple scaling interventions that have proven effective through rigorous evaluations. Her work focuses on system-change initiatives across themes of economic inclusion, crime, violence and conflict and education, particularly in South Asia.