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Author(s):
Nathanael Goldberg

Nathanael Goldberg, Senior Policy Director, Innovations for Poverty Action, USA Arielle Salomon, Policy Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action, USA Ultra poor Graduation pilots modeled after BRAC's Targeting the Ultra Poor program are currently being replicated and evaluated in eight countries. By offering a holistic set of services designed to help families meet basic consumption and health needs, adopt new livelihood activities, and engage in financial services, the graduation model has the potential to move families out of extreme poverty. Graduation pilots require grant-based expenditures to reach households generally not reached by traditional microfinance. Eight of the pilots are undergoing rigorous evaluations to measure the impact of the programs on ultra-poor households and communities. Early results suggest the graduation model has the potential to increase long-term household welfare, though impacts vary by program.