The Graduation approach is a multifaceted set of interventions designed to address the complex nature of extreme poverty.

It is a comprehensive, time-bound and sequenced set of interventions that aim to graduate people from ultra-poverty – who live on less than US$1.90 per day or who are unable to eat three times a day – to sustainable livelihoods.

Our model is adapted from the evidence-based BRAC Graduation Approach, which has proven the need for a “big push” to escape the poverty trap long term.

The model consists of the following elements:

• Meeting basic needs – Many people experiencing extreme poverty lack the necessities to survive. The programme ensures that participants are protected by a safety net for the duration of the program through resources such as a cash transfer or basic food supplies, as well as access to health services
• Social empowerment – We empower participants to increase their confidence, integrate into their community, and develop a range of life skills. This is often delivered through coaching, mentorship, or peer-to-peer learning
• Income generation – We enable participants to earn a sustainable income by providing them with a productive asset, such as livestock, equipment, or seed capital, and support to start a microbusiness
• Financial support and savings – We support participants in directly accessing convenient formal or informal savings facilities and financial services so they can plan for the future, save, and borrow responsibly. This also includes basic numeracy education, financial literacy training, and participation in saving groups

Working together, these interdependent elements lead to strong outcomes at the household level including increased or improved assets, food security, savings, financial inclusion, health outcomes, social integration, and productive skills.

Palmera trialled the programme in 2018, and through that pilot adapted the programme to best suit the needs of the Sri Lankan context.

For more information on the Graduation Approach, you can read more on the BRACs website

https://bracupgi.org/research-and-resources/economic-inclusion/graduation-overview/