Hi Cor,

You are right, of course. There is much thinking to do here.

Incidentally, speaking of ultra-poor persons, here is another study published in the priceless Science Magazine (www.sciencemag.org/content/348/6237/903.abstract). You may find it interesting.

With kind regards,

Vishwanath

Dear Vishwanath,

It is indeed a groundbreaking study, but unless you give an ultra-poor person a pay-per-use toilet complex, I fail to see how a simple household latrine classifies as a "productive asset".

Cor

Hi All,

I am not sure of the category, but the topic of this post applies across several.
Also this is not exactly about toilets, but toilets could be one of the assets in the asset portfolio (see below)

BRAC is a very innovative and very successful grass-roots NGO in Bangladesh. BRAC have over the years developed a "Graduation" program to break the desparately poor out of poverty.

Yesterday, Science Magazine published a study (www.sciencemag.org/content/348/6236/1260799.full) which showed that families undergoing the "Graduation" program improved their standard of living across a range of categories in a way that lasted at least a year after active intervention ended. The success was tested across a wide range of countries and cultures using randomized control trials.

The basics of the "Graduation" program are:
1. Identify (via village level meeting followed by inspection) the poorest of the poor.
2. Give these families a productive asset (they can choose from several). Toilets could be one more asset to add to the basket.
3. Impart general life skills coaching (involving frequent visits from the NGO)
4. Help with groceries etc (weekly consumption support),
5. Simple health info and services and
6. Access to banking (savings) services.

These activities are intended to help households start productive self-employment activities: a "big push" over a year or so to break the poverty trap.

The program costs are equal to the household's consumption: which is more expensive than simple coaching or monetary help, but far more effective.

Households that "graduated" expanded self-employment activities, diversified out of traditional subsistence livelihoods and increased consumption.

The BRAC "Graduation" program is codified, scalable and replicable.

The study is available for free if you register with the Science Magazine (www.sciencemag.org).

Also check out this link: www.brac.net/sites/default/files/BRAC%20Briefing%20-%20TUP.pdf

I think this may be the biggest advance in poverty eradication in recent times. I would love to hear your views.

Vishwanath