DOLE Graduation Program: Building Resilience in the Philippines through Sustainable Livelihoods

BRAC

1 Feb 202104:31

Summary

TLDRThe Graduation Approach is a transformative program empowering individuals in extreme poverty to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Implemented in Negros Occidental, it targets the poorest sectors, including informal workers and small farmers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program adapted by using text messages and remote check-ins to provide health guidance and ensure cash assistance reached beneficiaries. The initiative, supported by DOLE, not only builds resilience against crises but also informs future social protection policies.

Takeaways

🌟 The Gradation Approach is designed to empower people in extreme poverty by building their capacity for sustainable livelihoods.
📅 It is a time-bound and sequenced intervention aimed at moving participants beyond poverty.
🌐 The program is implemented in Negros Occidental, covering five areas including two municipalities and three cities.
🏘️ The program targets the poorest sector, with beneficiaries mostly from the informal sector, such as workers and small farmers.
😷 The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant source of fear and apprehension, especially among the most vulnerable.
🛠️ BRAC adapted the program to meet the needs of participants during the pandemic, ensuring continuity.
📱 Pilot activities included the use of text messages and remote check-ins for information and health safety guidance.
💼 Staff tracked participants to ensure they received cash assistance and coordinated with local DSWD authorities.
🎵 Background music is used to emphasize the emotional impact of the program's efforts.
🤝 The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is supportive of these projects and sees their value for future policies and programs.

Q & A

What is the Graduation Approach?
-The Graduation Approach is a comprehensive, time-bound, and sequenced set of interventions designed to build participants' capacity to move beyond extreme poverty and into secure, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods.
How does the Graduation Approach help build resilience during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic?
-The Graduation Approach serves as a form of social protection that helps build resilience to shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, extending benefits far beyond the individual.
In which province is the Graduation Approach being implemented?
-The Graduation Approach is implemented in the province of Negros Occidental.
What areas does the Graduation Approach cover in Negros Occidental?
-It covers five areas, two municipalities, and three cities: the municipalities of Mauritia and Imalagona, and the cities of Silay, Talisay, and Victorias.
Who are the primary beneficiaries of the Graduation Approach in Negros Occidental?
-The primary beneficiaries are the Pantaguit families belonging to the poorest sector, with the majority being informal sector workers and small farmers.
What was one of the significant challenges faced by the beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic?
-One of the significant challenges faced by the beneficiaries was the fear and apprehension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a lot of tragedy, especially among the most in need.
How did the program adapt to the needs of the participants during the pandemic?
-The program adjusted to the needs of the participants by implementing pilot activities such as the use of text messages and remote check-ins, providing information and health safety guidance to continue with livelihood efforts.
What steps were taken to ensure that beneficiaries received their cash assistance during the pandemic?
-Staff tracked those who did not receive their cash assistance and coordinated with the local DSWD authority to report these cases.
How did the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) support the Graduation Approach during the pandemic?
-DOLE was 100% supportive of the projects, ensuring that the program continued to monitor the progress of the projects they had funded.
What is the potential impact of the Graduation Approach on future policies of DOLE?
-The Graduation Approach will help in shaping future policies of DOLE, particularly regarding library programs and other initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable populations.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Graduation Approach for Poverty Alleviation

The script discusses the Graduation Approach, a comprehensive and time-bound strategy aimed at empowering individuals in extreme poverty. It is designed to build participants' capacity to transition from extreme poverty to secure, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods. The approach was particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a form of social protection that helped build resilience against shocks. The program was implemented in Negros Occidental, covering five areas including two municipalities and three cities, targeting the poorest sector, with most beneficiaries being part of the informal sector, such as workers and small farmers. The script highlights the challenges posed by the pandemic and how BRAC adapted the program to meet the needs of participants, including the use of text messages and remote check-ins for information and guidance on continuing livelihood efforts. The staff also tracked those who did not receive cash assistance and coordinated with local authorities to address these cases.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Graduation Approach

The 'Graduation Approach' refers to a strategy aimed at empowering individuals in extreme poverty by providing them with a comprehensive set of interventions over a specific time period. This approach is designed to build the capacity of participants to move beyond poverty and into secure, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods. In the context of the video, the Graduation Approach is implemented in Negros Occidental, Philippines, and is particularly relevant during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, where it serves as a form of social protection that helps build resilience to shocks.

💡Extreme Poverty

Extreme poverty is a condition where individuals or households lack the basic necessities of life, such as food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare. The video script highlights that the Graduation Approach is specifically designed for those in extreme poverty, aiming to lift them out of this condition. The beneficiaries of the program belong to the poorest sector, indicating the severity of their situation and the importance of targeted interventions.

💡Sustainable Livelihoods

Sustainable livelihoods refer to the ability of individuals or communities to maintain a decent standard of living while also ensuring the long-term viability of their resources and environment. The video emphasizes that the Graduation Approach is not just about immediate relief but about building capacity for sustainable livelihoods, which implies creating income-generating opportunities that can endure over time and adapt to changing circumstances.

💡Resilience

Resilience, in the context of the video, is the capacity of individuals and communities to withstand, adapt, and recover from shocks and stresses, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Graduation Approach helps build resilience by providing social protection and support that extends beyond the immediate crisis, preparing beneficiaries for future challenges and helping them maintain their livelihoods.

💡Negros Occidental

Negros Occidental is a province in the Philippines where the Graduation Approach is being implemented. The video mentions specific areas within the province, including municipalities and cities, indicating a targeted and localized approach to addressing poverty. This geographical focus allows for tailored interventions that take into account the specific needs and conditions of the region.

💡Informal Sector

The informal sector refers to economic activities and employment that are not regulated by the state or included in the state's labor statistics. The video script notes that most beneficiaries belong to the informal sector, which includes workers in small-scale agriculture and various unregulated occupations. This highlights the vulnerability of these workers, who often lack social protection and are disproportionately affected by economic shocks.

💡COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis that has had widespread social and economic impacts. The video script discusses how the pandemic has resulted in tragedy, particularly among the most in need. It also describes how the Graduation Approach was adapted during this time to continue supporting beneficiaries, emphasizing the program's flexibility and responsiveness to crises.

💡Pilot Activities

Pilot activities are small-scale, experimental implementations of a program or intervention to test its effectiveness before full-scale rollout. The video mentions the use of text messages and remote check-ins as pilot activities during the pandemic, which provided information and guidance to beneficiaries. These activities demonstrate the program's adaptability and innovation in reaching and supporting participants under challenging circumstances.

💡Cash Assistance

Cash assistance is a form of direct financial support provided to individuals or households in need. The video script mentions that the staff tracked beneficiaries who did not receive their cash assistance and coordinated with local authorities to address this issue. This highlights the importance of ensuring that financial support reaches those who need it most, particularly during times of crisis.

💡DOLE

DOLE likely refers to the Department of Labor and Employment in the Philippines, which is mentioned in the context of supporting the Graduation Approach and its projects. The video script indicates that DOLE is supportive of these initiatives, suggesting a collaborative effort between government agencies and the Graduation Approach program to improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations.

💡Library Programs

Library programs are initiatives that aim to provide access to information, resources, and services through libraries. The video script briefly mentions future policies of DOLE regarding library programs, suggesting that the Graduation Approach may also involve improving access to educational and informational resources for beneficiaries, which can be a key component of building sustainable livelihoods.

Highlights

The graduation approach is a comprehensive and time-bound set of interventions designed to empower people in extreme poverty.

The approach aims to build participants' capacity to move from extreme poverty to secure, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods.

The graduation model serves as a form of social protection that helps build resilience to shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program extends benefits beyond the individual, impacting the community as a whole.

Implemented in Negros Occidental, covering five areas including two municipalities and three cities.

The program targets the poorest sector, with beneficiaries from the informal sector, such as workers and small farmers.

COVID-19 has been a significant source of fear and apprehension, especially among the most vulnerable.

Brac adapted the program to meet the needs of participants during the pandemic, ensuring continued support.

Pilot activities included the use of text messages and remote check-ins for information and health safety guidance.

Staff tracked participants to ensure receipt of cash assistance and coordinated with local DSWD authorities.

Despite the pandemic, efforts continued to monitor the progress of projects funded by DOLE.

DOLE is fully supportive of these projects, which will inform future policies, including library programs.

The program's adaptability during the pandemic demonstrates its resilience and commitment to supporting the most in need.

The graduation approach is not only about immediate relief but also about long-term sustainable development.

The program's success is measured by its ability to empower individuals to move beyond dependence on aid.

The graduation model is a holistic approach that considers the social, economic, and health aspects of poverty alleviation.

The program's impact is far-reaching, as it aims to create a ripple effect of positive change in the community.

The graduation approach is a testament to the effectiveness of targeted, sequenced interventions in poverty reduction.