HOPE WITH TOOLS: WHAT GLOBAL EXPERIENCE CAN TEACH SA ABOUT GRADUATION AND LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMMES

By Cuma Pantshwa.

• Graduation Approach = Hope + Action: Structured, time-bound programmes help families break free from poverty permanently.
• Global Proof: India, Ethiopia, and West Africa show that integrating GBL into government systems works and scales effectively.
• ⁠South Africa’s Next Step: Build on existing programmes, coordinate across departments, and embed GBL into policy for lasting change.

““It’s a programme about hope,” said a delegate on Day One of the Generating Better Livelihoods (GBL) strategic planning session. This sentiment was echoed and expanded by BRAC International’s Director of Programme Design and Impact, Stephanie Brockerhoff, during her keynote address on Day Two.

“Yes, there is hope, but it’s also about equipping people with the tools to act on that hope,” Brockerhoff explained. “That’s why BRAC developed this approach decades ago. We realised that poverty is not just about a lack of income. It’s a trap, and people need a structured, sequenced push to break out of it.”

Her presentation offered a powerful perspective on how Graduation-based livelihood programmes are being implemented and scaled by governments across Asia and Africa. For South Africa, which is preparing to expand GBL, the experiences of India, Ethiopia, and West Africa provide both inspiration and practical guidance.

Not Just Hope, But Exit from Poverty

Brockerhoff explained that Graduation programmes rest on four foundational pillars: meeting basic needs, creating sustainable livelihoods, enhancing financial inclusion, and fostering social empowerment. What makes these programmes distinct is their deliberate sequencing and focus on measurable outcomes.
“Programmes like GBL are not about how long someone participates, but about what has changed in their lives. Did they achieve economic stability? Do they need less support than before? Are they truly on a path to independence?”

The model is time-bound, typically running for two years, and relies on coaching, mentorship, access to capital, productive assets, and continuous support. According to Brockerhoff, it is cost-effective because short-term investment significantly reduces long-term dependency.

Lessons from India: From Bihar to National Scale

India, with a population of 1.45 billion and over 76 million people living in poverty, has steadily integrated Graduation-style programmes into government systems. In the state of Bihar, more than 200,000 households have benefited from such interventions since 2018.

The success in Bihar has inspired the national Ministry of Rural Development to adapt the model across five additional states. The government’s strategy: embed Graduation into existing schemes using self-help groups and ringfenced budgets within national and state frameworks.

“This shows that scaling doesn’t always require starting from scratch,” Brockerhoff noted. “By building on existing investments, both financial and human, governments can minimise costs while deepening impact.”

Ethiopia: Tailoring the Approach to Local Challenges

In Ethiopia, where 39% of the population remains in poverty, the government is embedding Graduation into its flagship Productive Safety Net Programme. Recognising the country’s diversity and complexity, officials are piloting four distinct designs:
•⁠ ⁠One focused on refugees, internally displaced persons, and host communities.
•⁠ ⁠Another targeting youth employment outcomes.
•⁠ ⁠A third promoting social reintegration of destitute individuals in urban areas.
•⁠ ⁠The fourth aims to build resilience against shocks and disasters.

“These are great examples of how Graduation can be adapted to fit very different contexts, even within the same country,” Brockerhoff said. “The principle remains the same: a big push, sequenced support, and ongoing mentorship.”

West Africa: Multiple Countries, One Vision

Six West African nations — including Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Mauritania, are implementing integrated livelihood programmes based on the Graduation model with support from the World Bank. While the core approach is consistent, each country delivers it differently:
• Niger and Burkina Faso use existing social protection infrastructures.
• Senegal leverages a hybrid system involving NGOs and government.
• Mauritania relies on NGO delivery.

“Despite using different delivery models, these countries share a common vision: using the Graduation approach to help people move beyond survival and into stability,” said Brockerhoff. Government cash transfer schemes in these countries still provide basic consumption support but it’s the layered interventions that enable real transformation.

Four Big Takeaways for South Africa

Brockerhoff concluded with four key insights for countries like South Africa, aiming to embed and scale Graduation-based programmes:
1 Build on existing poverty-reduction initiatives, systems, and staff rather than starting anew.
2 Foster joint planning and alignment across departments for a unified vision.
3 Establish strong oversight structures to ensure collaboration on timelines and processes.
4 Set up strong oversight structures – These ensure different departments can collaborate effectively, especially on timelines and implementation processes.

As South Africa prepares to advance GBL, Brockerhoff’s message was clear “hope is not enough on its own”. Combined with mentorship, structure, and the right tools, it becomes a catalyst for lasting change.

She concluded by emphasising that while the journey ahead is long and South Africa is still in its pilot phase, global evidence proves that success is possible with the right approach.