Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative

About the Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative

The Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative (“UPGI”) is a global unit of BRAC that was founded in 2016 to build off the success of BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation program in Bangladesh. BRAC UPGI aims to position the Graduation approach as a key driver to eradicate extreme poverty worldwide. It does this by:

•  Advocating for uptake of the Graduation approach by policymakers, national governments, multilateral institutions, and non-governmental organizations; and
• Effective adaptation and implementation of the Graduation approach in countries around the world, supported through technical assistance and capacity strengthening for external stakeholders.

In 2002, BRAC pioneered the Ultra-Poor Graduation (“Graduation”) approach in Bangladesh - a holistic intervention to help people lift themselves from extreme poverty - after recognizing that existing poverty alleviation programs were not reaching the poorest people. Through the provision of livelihood assets, cash transfers, and continued mentoring and training, the Graduation approach addresses participants’ multidimensional needs within the local context and helps lift people from extreme poverty into sustainable livelihoods. 

Graduation is an evidence-based, scalable intervention proven to break the poverty trap for the long term. So far, BRAC’s flagship Graduation program has impacted over 2 million Bangladeshi households—totaling over 9 million people. To help eradicate extreme poverty, BRAC UPGI is working to scale globally by integrating Graduation into existing government programs and help 21 million more people lift themselves from extreme poverty by 2030. 

Strategic Planning and Program Development (20%)

• Contribute to program strategy: Align program activities with the BRAC's overall mission and strategic goals, including BRAC’s UPGI overall mission and strategic goals.
• Needs assessment: Lead or contribute to assessments to identify community needs and inform program design.
•  Proposal development: Oversee the development of high-quality project proposals for funding from donors.
• Program design: Design and develop program frameworks, including logical frameworks, theories of change, and work plans.
•  Support Country Lead in developing Big-bets, concept notes and other proposals
• Ensure meaningful and timely support to government led national livelihoods project design, implementation manual, action plans etc.

Program Implementation and Management (50%)

•  Project planning: Develop detailed implementation plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Project oversight: Manage day-to-day program implementation, ensuring activities are carried out effectively and efficiently.
• Team leadership: Supervise, mentor, and manage program staff, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Financial management: Monitor program budgets, track expenditures, and ensure compliance with financial regulations and donor requirements.
• Resource management: Manage program resources, including staff, finances, materials, and equipment.
• Partnership management: Collaborate and coordinate with local partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders, including World Bank and Government counterparts, especially with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure.
• Quality assurance: Ensure program quality, adherence to standards, and the effective use of best practices.
• Risk management: Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks.
• Support the design of government-led graduation programs, in particular co-develop and co-draft program proposals, guidelines, advisories, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Government orders/instructions along with the government counterparts.
• Provide technical support to BRAC-Ethiopia provincial and sub-provincial level teams and government staff in the planning and effective implementation of the government-led graduation program.
• Mentor and supervise the BRAC-Ethiopia provincial and sub-provincial level teams. Also, conduct regular reviews on the project progress and ensure the achievement of key milestones and outcome indicators as per the set timelines.
• Support Country Lead in overseeing all management aspects of the project and managing key relationships with World Bank and Government counterparts especially with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure.
• Coordinate with the BRAC-Ethiopia team members positioned in the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure and act as a bridge between the BRAC country team, global teams, and the National government.
• Work closely with the BRAC INTERNATIONAL - UPGI global teams
• Undertake other related tasks as assigned by the BRAC – Ethiopia Country Lead

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (20%)

• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E): Develop and implement M&E systems to track program progress, measure outcomes, and ensure accountability.
• Data analysis: Analyze program data to inform decision-making and improve program effectiveness.Reporting: Prepare timely and accurate reports for donors, stakeholders, and internal management.
•  Learning and adaptation: Promote a culture of learning within the program team, documenting lessons learned and adapting program strategies as needed.
• Supervise various assessments viz., PSNP, UPSNJP effectiveness, quality of coaching and mentoring component in PSNP and UPSNJP, livelihoods and value chain programs across Ethiopia as required
• Ensure on-time submission of progress and MIS reports by field teams
• Develop communication material, synthesize field reports, MIS (monitoring and information system) reports, meeting summaries, and research material

Representation and Advocacy (5%)

• Representation: Represent BRAC at meetings, conferences, and other forums.
• Represent the team in meetings with policy makers and other stakeholders and write detailed summaries of visits and meetings
• Networking: Build and maintain relationships with donors, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Build relationships with partners and other stakeholders working with BRAC
• Support Country Lead in representing key national, sub-national, and international partners meets.

Safeguarding (5%)

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation to achieve the program’s goals on safeguarding implementation
• Act as a key source of support, guidance, and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Practice, promote, and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

• Post Graduate degree in development studies/social sciences/policy studies or related fields
• Minimum 10 years of experience in rural and urban development projects, poverty alleviation programmes, program management and implementation in Ethiopia. Additional knowledge and experience of programs outside of Ethiopia is welcome but not required. 
• Working experience with National, provincial governments, and international organisations
• Experience and proven ability to gain insights on program implementation from the field level: program participants, provincial and sub-provincial level staff. 
• Significant living and working experience in Ethiopia

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of rural and urban development, poverty, Livelihoods and indigenous group issues and large scale development programmes in Ethiopia.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the local context in Ethiopia, ensuring that all strategies and messages are culturally appropriate and relevant.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills (English and local language), with the ability to craft clear, impactful, and consistent messaging for diverse audiences.
• High proficiency in preparing technical reports, program updates, and other documentation, ensuring clarity and consistency.
• High ability and communication skills in liaising with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international partners.
• High analytical and planning skills and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage time and organize tasks in a virtual or in-person set up.
• Commitment to the vision, mission, and values of UPGI and BRAC
• Strong ability to work collaboratively across teams, demonstrating cultural sensitivity, transparency, and fostering values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. 
•  Flexible and willing to perform varying duties depending on the shifting needs of the organization and its staff members.
•  Highly organized with strong project management skills

BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share the same commitment. We believe every stakeholder and every member of the communities we work with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation - regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin. Therefore, our recruitment process includes extensive reference and background checks, self-disclosure of prior issues regarding sexual or other misconduct and criminal records and our values are a part of our Performance Management System.