Research

All pilot programs have a strong research focus. Pilots are measuring the program’s effects on people’s lives through rigorous randomized impact evaluations and/or qualitative research.

Quantitative Research

Teams of researchers are conducting Randomized Controlled Trial Impact Evaluations of eight pilots. Randomized controlled trials, isolate the effects of the Graduation Model so that impacts can be confidently attributed to the program itself, and not other factors. Innovations for Poverty Action is conducting research for seven pilots: Bandhan (India), Pakistan, Honduras, Peru, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Ghana. The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab and IFMR-Centre for Micro Finance are also involved in the Bandhan implemented pilot in India. Financial Access Initiative is evaluating the program implemented by SKS in India. Randomized Controlled Trial Impact Assessments are funded by The Ford Foundation and USAID (Ethiopia).

Read more here on http://graduation.cgap.org/topics/1-rcts/ and http://www.poverty-action.org/ultrapoor

Qualitative Research

Separate teams of researchers are conducting qualitative research to get a better understanding of chronic poverty and the constraints facing the ultra poor. Using a “life histories” approach and ethnographic methods, this research explores the details of extreme poverty in different contexts. It also offers a fine-grained understanding of pilot participants’ perceptions and behavioral changes.

BRAC Development Institute is conducting qualitative research in Haiti, India (Trickle Up), Pakistan, and Ethiopia (Anasuya Sengupta, Lead Researcher, anasuya@bracu.ac.bd). Innovations for Poverty Action is conducting qualitative research in Honduras, Peru and Ghana (Catherine Timura, Lead Researcher, ctimura@poverty-action.org). Qualitative research is supported by The MasterCard Foundation.

Over the month of September we are hosting a Qualitative Research Blog Series.