People living in extreme poverty earn less than $1.90 per day. The ultra-poor are the lowest earning and most vulnerable subset of this population.
They struggle everyday to cope with food shortages, poor health, and lack access to basic services like medical services, clean water, sanitation and formal savings. They rarely own any land or productive assets. Lack of education and skills limit their capacities of a decent livelihood. They are mostly excluded from social services and healthcare, generally live in remote areas disconnected from markets and few have any prospect of sending their children to school in the hope that they at least might look forward to a better future.
Approximately 20 million people are trapped in this spiral of poverty in Bangladesh and globally the number is 400 million.
FIGHT TO ELIMINATE ULTRA-POVERTY
The Graduation approach recognises this complexity and takes a holistic solution to ultra-poverty. Rigorously tested and now replicated across 43 countries and regions, the model has shown great success in enabling ultra-poor families to break out from the spiral of poverty and move towards sustainable livelihoods.
The collection of stories illustrates the transformation of ultra-poor families in Bangladesh, as participants of Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) programme and Graduation programmes in Kenya as part of the PROFIT Financial Graduation pilot who have secured a pathway out of poverty.
THE GRADUATION APPROACH
A pathway to prosperity
Woman in charge
Household has increased income.
A daughters hero
Participant’s children are going to school
The most important oath
Household’s school-aged children are going to school.
The coop corporation
Household has increased income and better access to nutritional foods
A full and happy home
Household members had two meals a day in the past week. No child goes to bed without an evening meal in the past week.
Beads on a string of love
Participant has multiple types of productive assets with at least two sources of income.
A world of difference, said with a smile
Participant has multiple types of productive assets with at least two sources of income.
Sewing the threads of life
Participant’s productive asset is at least 25% higher than its original value.
The house of sunshine
Participant has improved house conditions considering the respective geographical context.
The real deal on wheels
Household has multiple sources of income
Plates full of goodness
Household members are able to eat quality meals.
A little oasis
Household has a vegetable kitchen garden
The clean mission
Household members use sanitary latrine and have access to clean drinking water.
The last card
Ending under-age marriages of participant’s children
A desert oasis
Participant’s productive asset is at least 25% higher than its original value.
Bridging the gap
Participant is a member of a savings group, has savings and has access to credit.
Tending to the flock
Household members are able to eat quality /nutritional meals (with meat, fish, egg, milk) at least three times a week.
Standing taller than ever
Household has improved housing conditions considering the geographical context.
A proud and stable home
Household asset value has doubled and ready for market transaction after 18 months of asset transfer.
Building a future
The participant feels accepted by her community and is able to afford a safe home for herself and her family.
A woman’s world
Households are practicing safe hygiene and sanitation and have access to a safe drinking water source.
A market for education
Participant’s market helps her children attend school.
Dreaming of a home
Participant is saving to build a new house.
The power of independence
Participant leads her own pig rearing business.
The biggest shop owner in town
Beneficiary is involved in decision-making at community level.
Growing a new livelihood
Household has at least three sources of income after 18 months of assets transfer.
A new chance to learn
Household members are able to eat quality /nutritional meal (with meat, fish, egg, milk) at least three times a week.
A journey of growth and transformation
Possession of at least three sources of income
LEARN MORE
Strategic Partners in Bangladesh
Strategic Partners in Kenya
