Women have the power to change the trajectory of their families and communities in the world’s poorest areas. However, ultra-poor women–those suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition, inadequate shelter and lack of opportunity–are not receiving the support they need to transform their lives.
Uplift is dedicated to reaching ultra-poor families. Its main purpose is to scale the hands-on, time-bound and proven Ultra Poverty Graduation, a 16-to-24 month sequenced program that takes women from basic survival to achieving sustainable livelihoods. Participants receive stabilizing support for basic needs, learn marketable skills to start small businesses and fully participate in their communities through social inclusion programs.
Supported by rigorous scientific evaluations, scaling graduation through Uplift represents an unparalleled opportunity to unleash human potential and change the lives of millions.
For the first time in history, we have momentum with world leaders, a scientifically-proven approach and a viable pathway out of extreme poverty for millions. Now is the time to act.
ISSUE AREA
Extreme Poverty, Financial Inclusion
GOAL
To enable the next 1 million women and families across more than 30 countries to exit ultra poverty
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Erol Foundation, Michael and Xochi Birch, BRAC, Trickle Up, Fundación Capital
LOCATION
Global
PHASE
Active
Graduation programs are among the most cost-effective and transformative approaches to permanently overcome the harshest conditions of extreme poverty. After seeing the positive results of the program in the field and reviewing the scientific literature, Amplifier formed a coalition to scale Ultra Poverty Graduation around the globe.
Uplift is the first investor group in the world working to scale graduation. Investors experience a new and exciting way to co-create social change and experience the benefit of unparalleled access, knowledge, transparency and accountability. Partners work together and benefit from new tools and technologies to serve more people faster.
Sir Fazle Abed, founder of BRAC, the organization that developed the graduation program, explains the opportunity for women who go through the program: “People trapped in a cycle of destitution often don not realize their lives can be changed for the better through their own activities. Once they understand that, it is like a light gets turned on.”
The United Nations has now set a goal to end extreme poverty worldwide by 2030. When we understand that something works to alleviate poverty, the next challenge is to seize the opportunity to scale it everywhere it is needed. This is Uplift’s ambition.
Uplift is rapidly expanding, growing partnerships in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
In 2016, Uplift will introduce Impact Atlas, a technology platform to make graduation programs more efficient, impactful and sustainable. By using the platform, graduation programs can reach more people for less money with greater impact. A community of like-minded investors is growing the Uplift movement. Each investor is committed to pooling their resources to support innovations in the field and strategies that empower implementers the world over.
More than 65 countries have expressed interest in graduation. Addressing this significant need to build capacity and scale infrastructure, Uplift can help countries meet this challenge. This is our moment to build on the momentum fueled by the success of graduation programs, the passion of investors and incredible international media coverage to address one of the world’s most urgent challenges. Join Uplift today.
The historic coalition pairs philanthropy, social entrepreneurs and policymakers in a ground-breaking collaboration to equip millions of women and families to rise from poverty.
Families involved in Graduation
Active countries
Success rate
“Much of the news about global poverty is depressing, but this is fabulous: a large-scale experiment showing, with rigorous evidence, what works to lift people out of the most extreme poverty.”
Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times