Online Reporter
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
TODAY, nearly 700 million people — about 8,5 percent of the global population — remain trapped in extreme poverty, surviving on less than US$2,15 per day.
In Africa, approximately 35 percent of people live below this threshold, compared to the global average of 8,5 percent.
A 2023 United Nations (UN) report warns that the world’s pledge to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 is far behind schedule and unlikely to be achieved.
The same report projects that more than 600 million people will still live in extreme monetary poverty and 665 million will be undernourished by 2030 — the deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This sobering reality underscores the urgency of bold, inclusive and effective poverty alleviation strategies.
In many parts of the world, poverty graduation programmes are emerging as innovative approaches to help families escape the cycle of extreme poverty.
The poverty graduation approach
First introduced in 2002 in Bangladesh by BRAC (an international development organisation), poverty graduation programmes combine asset transfers, training, mentoring and financial inclusion to enable households to build sustainable livelihoods.
For persons with disabilities, who are disproportionately represented among the poorest, these programmes can make a significant difference, but only if inclusion is placed at the centre.
Disability is not simply a health issue; it intersects with economic exclusion, social stigma and lack of access to tools that enable participation. Without disability inclusion, poverty graduation programmes risk reinforcing marginalisation rather than dismantling it.
Typically, poverty graduation programmes provide participants with a package of support over a defined period, including:
Consumption support or temporary assistance (for example, food, clothing or essential household items)
A productive asset (for example, livestock or tools)
Livelihood skills training
Savings or credit opportunities
Life skills coaching and mentoring
The goal is to help households move from dependency to self-reliance.
Once milestones are achieved, households are deemed ready to graduate.
Evidence from countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Uganda and Zimbabwe shows that poverty graduation programmes can significantly increase income, food security and resilience.
Disability-inclusive models recognise that poverty is not only about income, but also about dignity, participation and empowerment.
Innovations in disability inclusion
In Zimbabwe, disability-inclusive poverty graduation models are taking shape. A key innovation is the integration of assistive technologies into asset packages.
The Government and community-based organisations are including wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids and other assistive devices alongside traditional assets, ensuring that persons with disabilities can use their resources effectively and sustain their livelihoods.
In Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, programmes have also adapted training materials into sign language for deaf participants, provided mobility aids alongside livestock assets for persons with physical impairments, and developed braille and audio resources for blind participants.
Breaking barriers beyond economics
Disability-inclusive poverty graduation programmes also address social exclusion.
In Uganda and Zimbabwe, community mentors are trained to challenge stigma and support households with persons with disabilities. Sensitisation campaigns reduce stigma, while peer support groups build confidence and solidarity.
These programmes create ripple effects.
Children with disabilities gain access to education when families can afford transport to school.
Women with disabilities who face multiple forms of discrimination based on disability, gender, culture and religion find new opportunities for leadership.
Communities begin to recognise that inclusion is not charity, but smart economics.
A call to action
For poverty graduation to fulfil its promise, disability inclusion must be embraced as a core principle.
This strengthens households, reduces dependency and contributes to national development goals.
As the global community strives to achieve the SDGs, disability-inclusive poverty graduation offers a powerful reminder: True progress is measured not only by lifting households out of poverty, but by ensuring that no one — and no place — is left behind.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on [email protected]
