1 Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction : Targeting the Ultra poor A BRAC INITIATIVE.

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Challenging The Frontiers of Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction : Targeting Poverty Reduction : Targeting

the Ultra poorthe Ultra poor

A BRAC INITIATIVEA BRAC INITIATIVE

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Targeting the ultra poorTargeting the ultra poor

Ultra Poverty : Bangladesh Ultra Poverty : Bangladesh ScenarioScenario

• Total Population : 130 millionTotal Population : 130 million• Ultra Poverty : 26% of the population Ultra Poverty : 26% of the population

(World Bank 1995)(World Bank 1995)• The Ultra Poor spend 80% of their The Ultra Poor spend 80% of their

income on foodincome on food• Still fail to reach 80% of their Still fail to reach 80% of their

recommended calorie intake.recommended calorie intake.

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BRAC’s two major programs BRAC’s two major programs for addressing ultra poverty for addressing ultra poverty are :are :

1.1. Income Generation for Vulnerable Income Generation for Vulnerable Groups Development Program (IGVGD) Groups Development Program (IGVGD) since 1987since 1987

2.2. Special Investment Program for the Special Investment Program for the Specially Targeted Ultra Poor (STUP) Specially Targeted Ultra Poor (STUP) since 2002since 2002

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• IGVGD Program Model : Special features IGVGD Program Model : Special features • Partnership programPartnership program• Selection of beneficiaries done by the Selection of beneficiaries done by the

GovernmentGovernment• Program implementation model developed jointly Program implementation model developed jointly

by all partnersby all partners• Group approachGroup approach• Food support in terms of monthly wheat ration Food support in terms of monthly wheat ration

for 24months for 24months • Enterprise development TrainingEnterprise development Training• Social Awareness raising educationSocial Awareness raising education• Credit supportCredit support• SavingsSavings• Close Follow-up and supervision for 24 months Close Follow-up and supervision for 24 months

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Targeting the ultra Targeting the ultra poorpoor

• Major Lessons from IGVGD :Major Lessons from IGVGD :• Most often the conventional microfinance Most often the conventional microfinance

program look at the ultra poor as high risk program look at the ultra poor as high risk group group

• Disciplines of microfinance do not suit the Disciplines of microfinance do not suit the livelihood pattern of the ultra poorlivelihood pattern of the ultra poor

• Ultra poor members do not feel confident about Ultra poor members do not feel confident about repayment of the loanrepayment of the loan

• Absence of adequate social protection Absence of adequate social protection measures in existing MF interventionsmeasures in existing MF interventions

• 60%-65% of IGVGD members can benefit from 60%-65% of IGVGD members can benefit from the IGVGD program model. The rest - drop outthe IGVGD program model. The rest - drop out

• Something else needs to be done Something else needs to be done for those category of ultra poor for those category of ultra poor who cannot make use of who cannot make use of Food+credit model.Food+credit model.

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THEREFORE , BRAC’S NEW THEREFORE , BRAC’S NEW TAILOR MADE APPROACH FOR TAILOR MADE APPROACH FOR THE ULTRA POOR SINCE 2002 :THE ULTRA POOR SINCE 2002 :

Special Investment Program for Special Investment Program for the Specially Targeted Ultra Poorthe Specially Targeted Ultra Poor

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Objective of the programObjective of the program

Creating solid economic and social capital Creating solid economic and social capital base for the ultra poor population in rural base for the ultra poor population in rural

BangladeshBangladesh

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Definition of the Ultra Definition of the Ultra PoorPoor

• households with < 10 households with < 10 decimals of landdecimals of land

• earns livelihood as beggar, earns livelihood as beggar, day laborer, domestic aidday laborer, domestic aid

• no productive assetsno productive assets

• children of school-going children of school-going ageage

taking up paid worktaking up paid work

• no adult male active no adult male active member in the household member in the household

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Identification processIdentification process Districts and Sub-districts with severe food Districts and Sub-districts with severe food

insecurity , and very high poverty level , insecurity , and very high poverty level , identified identified

NGO Survey carried out to see the volume NGO Survey carried out to see the volume and types of NGO interventions addressing and types of NGO interventions addressing the ultra poor in those districts and sub-the ultra poor in those districts and sub-districtsdistricts

More specific villages identified which had More specific villages identified which had severe concentration of ultra poverty severe concentration of ultra poverty

Participatory Rural Appraisal meeting held Participatory Rural Appraisal meeting held with the villagers, Primary list of Ultra poor with the villagers, Primary list of Ultra poor produced by the villagers through Social produced by the villagers through Social Mapping and wealth ranking Mapping and wealth ranking

Door to door survey by BRAC's Staff / Door to door survey by BRAC's Staff / preliminary selectionpreliminary selection

Final Selection after VerificationFinal Selection after Verification

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Some Base line information : sample Some Base line information : sample size 5000size 5000

• Only 2.6% of the ultra poor household reported ever Only 2.6% of the ultra poor household reported ever participation in NGOs participation in NGOs

• 53.7% completely landless53.7% completely landless

• 70% depends on day labourer for income source70% depends on day labourer for income source

• 5.7% earns from begging5.7% earns from begging

• 16.9% households reported always food deficit16.9% households reported always food deficit

• 48% of household cannot afford two meals a day48% of household cannot afford two meals a day

• only 6.8% pregnant mothers had their Blood pressure only 6.8% pregnant mothers had their Blood pressure checked as ANCchecked as ANC

• Death rate of <1year children - 49.3%Death rate of <1year children - 49.3%

• 32.6% ultra poor member dies without accessing any sort 32.6% ultra poor member dies without accessing any sort of treatmentof treatment

• 95% ultra poor have no fixed place for sanitation95% ultra poor have no fixed place for sanitation

• 45.1% do not use delivery kit for child delivery45.1% do not use delivery kit for child delivery

• 96.2%do not take iodized salt96.2%do not take iodized salt

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Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction Targeting the Ultra Poor Targeting the Ultra Poor

Programme CoverageProgramme Coverage

Year Year : 2002 : 2002 2003 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006TotalTotal

Members Members

servedserved : 5000: 5000 5000 5000 10,000 25,000 25,000 10,000 25,000 25,000 70,00070,000

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Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction Targeting the Ultra PoorTargeting the Ultra Poor

Support provided to the ultra Support provided to the ultra poor poor

• Enterprise Development TrainingEnterprise Development Training

• Assets Transfer to start an enterpriseAssets Transfer to start an enterprise

• StipendStipend

• Social awareness raising education Social awareness raising education and community mobilizationand community mobilization

• Essential Health care , health Essential Health care , health education , financial assistance .education , financial assistance .

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Enterprise Development Enterprise Development

TrainingTraining

• Class-room Training on Enterprise Class-room Training on Enterprise Development : 3-day basic ; 11 refresher Development : 3-day basic ; 11 refresher courses in the following 11 months. courses in the following 11 months.

• Hands on Training in terms of weekly Hands on Training in terms of weekly individual follow-upindividual follow-up

• Ensuring technical support to run the Ensuring technical support to run the enterpriseenterprise

• Create market link for different enterprisesCreate market link for different enterprises

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Asset Transfer to the enterpriseAsset Transfer to the enterprise

• Livestock rearingLivestock rearing

• Poultry RearingPoultry Rearing

• Vegetable CultivationVegetable Cultivation

• Non-farm ActivitiesNon-farm Activities

• Horticulture NurseryHorticulture Nursery

• Wage employment ( shoe factory , Wage employment ( shoe factory , bakery , napkin centres)bakery , napkin centres)

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Some Exclusive Features of the Special Some Exclusive Features of the Special Investment ComponentInvestment Component

• Value of asset : Average US$ 100 Value of asset : Average US$ 100 • Support in kindSupport in kind• Weekly stipend for short term income supportWeekly stipend for short term income support• Close supervision for 24 months Close supervision for 24 months

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Pattern of Enterprise choicePattern of Enterprise choice

P oultry20%

Cow41%

Goat21%

Vegetable5%

Non-farm9%

Nursery4%

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Tailor made Social Development Tailor made Social Development program for the Ultra poorprogram for the Ultra poor

• Weekly informal discussion session on Weekly informal discussion session on paralegal issues paralegal issues

• Confidence Building Training after 18 Confidence Building Training after 18 months.months.

• Local Community Leaders Workshop to Local Community Leaders Workshop to activate and enhance the commitments of activate and enhance the commitments of the local authorities.the local authorities.

• Legal support from BRAC’s Legal Aid Clinic .Legal support from BRAC’s Legal Aid Clinic .

• Popular TheatrePopular Theatre

• Advocacy workshops , seminarsAdvocacy workshops , seminars

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Community Mobilization Through Community Mobilization Through Village Poverty alleviation Village Poverty alleviation CommitteeCommittee

• 7-9 member Village Poverty alleviation 7-9 member Village Poverty alleviation committee formed committee formed

- Social security ensured , social conflicts Social security ensured , social conflicts resolved by this committee resolved by this committee

- tube well , sanitary latrines installed through tube well , sanitary latrines installed through locally mobilized funds and resources.locally mobilized funds and resources.

- houses repaired/ rebuilt through locally houses repaired/ rebuilt through locally mobilizedmobilized

- funds and resources.funds and resources.- children of ultra poor families enrolled in children of ultra poor families enrolled in

schools by the committeeschools by the committee

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Tailor madeTailor made HealthHealth Interventions Interventions for the ultra Poorfor the ultra Poor

• First strategy: Social Mobilization , First strategy: Social Mobilization , Health Awareness raising , Basic Health Health Awareness raising , Basic Health Care.Care.

• Second Strategy : Financial Assistance Second Strategy : Financial Assistance For Mild and Severe morbidityFor Mild and Severe morbidity

- - Health ID Card for the Ultra PoorHealth ID Card for the Ultra Poor

- Create Strong Linkage with other Health - Create Strong Linkage with other Health Service providersService providers

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Targeting the Ultra PoorTargeting the Ultra Poor

Some findings from External Some findings from External Evaluation 2004 and 2005Evaluation 2004 and 2005

• The program is assisting the ultra poor The program is assisting the ultra poor members to move out of extreme members to move out of extreme poverty on a sustainable basis.poverty on a sustainable basis.

• Ultra Poor members are making solid Ultra Poor members are making solid progress in growing their asset base progress in growing their asset base

• 75% of members have built the 75% of members have built the foundation for a sustainable foundation for a sustainable livelihood.livelihood.

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• An indicator of improvement is An indicator of improvement is diversification of IGAs. Over 90% diversification of IGAs. Over 90% members have more than two sources members have more than two sources of income. of income.

• The dominant plan among STUP women The dominant plan among STUP women looking to future investment is to looking to future investment is to acquire their own landacquire their own land

• 84.5% now eats three meals a day (54% 84.5% now eats three meals a day (54% at base line)at base line)

• 89.4% of school aged children are 89.4% of school aged children are enrolled in school ( 65% at base line)enrolled in school ( 65% at base line)

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned• Close supervision Close supervision

model is a must for model is a must for any program for the any program for the ultra poorultra poor

• supervision must supervision must address assessing the address assessing the current needs and current needs and counseling on how to counseling on how to graduate beyond ultra graduate beyond ultra povertypoverty

• Educating the ultra Educating the ultra poor members about poor members about their future planning their future planning is crucialis crucial

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned • Special efforts needed to Special efforts needed to

change the mind set of the change the mind set of the participants who might participants who might consider the assets consider the assets transfered to them as a transfered to them as a “relief” item.“relief” item.

• Community mobilization Community mobilization effort is necessary in order effort is necessary in order to ensure social security to ensure social security and to create enabling and to create enabling environment within the environment within the community.community.

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Wider LearningWider Learning

• ProductsProductsAssets and AccessAssets and AccessGrants andGrants and Targeting TargetingBroad-based InterventionBroad-based InterventionVillage InstitutionsVillage Institutions

• ManagementManagementSupervisionSupervision

• TrainingTrainingEmpathy and CommitmentEmpathy and Commitment

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Targeting the ultra Targeting the ultra poorpoor

For more information about BRAC’s For more information about BRAC’s Ultra Ultra Poor Program Pls. see our Poor Program Pls. see our website : website : www.bracresearch.orgwww.bracresearch.org

THANKYOUTHANKYOU

http://www.bracresearch.org/

1 Challenging The Frontiers of Poverty Reduction : Targeting the Ultra poor A BRAC INITIATIVE.

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