Holistic support can empower people to forge a pathway out of extreme poverty.
Worldwide, over 700 million people experience extreme poverty, living on less than $2.15 per day. Extreme poverty disproportionately affects women, who often lack the resources, skills, and opportunities they need to escape the poverty trap. BRAC’s flagship Ultra-Poor Graduation approach instills hope and provides the knowledge and tools to enable people to chart a pathway out of poverty.
Your impact
families graduated out of extreme poverty in Bangladesh
countries across three continents where BRAC has run or advised on Graduation programs
increase in earnings among participants in Bangladesh years after the program ends
years economic benefits are sustained after the program
BRAC’s innovative Graduation approach has enabled millions to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
With more than 50 years of experience working hand-in-hand with communities around the globe, BRAC understands the unique, multifaceted needs of people living in extreme poverty—and their inherent potential. Our pioneering, proven Graduation approach unlocks that potential and enables people to break the cycle of poverty.
Our Approach
BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation approach is a multifaceted set of interventions designed to address the complex nature of extreme poverty. Participants receive a stipend to support their basic needs; a productive asset such as livestock, equipment, or seed capital; training in life skills, finance, and business skills; and regular coaching and mentoring. Participants unlock their intrinsic potential and develop sustainable livelihoods that set them on a path of upward economic mobility. They also become better integrated into society, develop social connections, improve their self-esteem, and establish active roles in their communities.
A holistic approach
The Graduation approach is proven to break the cycle of poverty and yield lasting results. In Bangladesh, BRAC has reached more than two million families. Research shows that 95 percent of BRAC’s participants lift themselves out of extreme poverty by the end of the program, and that ten years later, the benefits were sustained for 93 percent of the participants, including a 37 percent increase in earnings, a nine percent increase in consumption, a ninefold increase in savings, and a twofold increase in assets and land.
Proven results
Since BRAC pioneered the Graduation approach in Bangladesh in 2002, the approach has been adapted and used by partners in nearly 50 countries around the world, gaining traction as a scalable solution with proven success in breaking the poverty trap. Building on our success in Bangladesh and the effectiveness of pilots in other countries, BRAC launched the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (UPGI), which aims to influence and assist governments and other partners to adapt and scale up the approach by providing technical assistance and conducting complementary advocacy. Now, UPGI is expanding to reach 21 million more people by scaling Graduation through government partners.
Scaling success
Our work in action
Understanding Multidimensional Poverty
Extreme poverty goes far beyond a lack of income. This is because poverty is multidimensional. Health, education, clean water and sanitation, electricity, housing, and social inclusion are all crucial indicators that determine standards of living and future prospects of an individual and their household.
I never could have imagined that as a single mother, I would be able to improve my standard of living with sustainable income sources.”
Program Highlights
Ending extreme poverty is within reach. We can’t give up
"If the mission is possible, we have the resources, and we know what works, why are we off track, and what should we do to achieve SDG1?" Shameran Abed from BRAC and Nobel-winning economist Esther Duflo answer in this opinion article.
Our work in action
A proven solution to eradicate extreme poverty
For those stuck in the poverty trap, a ‘big push’ can enable them to lift themselves out of poverty and build resilience to avoid sliding back into the same trap. Learn how the Graduation approach does just that.
Related Research
How effective is the BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation program?
An impact evaluation of the 2019 cohort of BRAC's Ultra-Poor Graduation program reveals strong results.
COVID-19 vs. UPG: Evidence From the 2007 Cohort in Bangladesh
This research examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on past participants of BRAC's Ultra-Poor Graduation program, exploring whether the benefits of the program are robust to systemic shocks like the pandemic.
Transforming the economic lives of the ultra-poor
Results from a rigorous seven-year evaluation of BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation program in Bangladesh reveal that participants increase their earnings by 37% and improve their consumption, savings, and asset accumulation. The program yields lasting results, with gains sustained years after the program ends.
