Urban poverty in Bangladesh extends beyond income deprivation, shaped by informal employment, inadequate housing, limited services, environmental and health risks, and gendered vulnerabilities. Although BRAC’s UPG model has been widely studied in rural settings, the urban program—launched in 2010 and now reaching over 50,000 households— lacks structured longitudinal evidence on the sustainability of outcomes. This study addresses that gap by examining longer-term experiences of UPG participants across cohorts and urban contexts, with particular attention to mobility, vulnerability, and evolving aspirations.
Researchers: Noriya Mahin Chowdhury; Farah Muneer; Mahbubul Hassan Sharan; Suzana Huq; Fathima Hayder Chowdhury
Partner: BRAC Poverty Alleviation Cluster
Timeline: 2026
Status: Ongoing
Contact: Noriya Mahin Chowdhury; noriya.mahin@bracu.ac.bd
Context
Rapid urbanisation in Bangladesh has intensified multidimensional poverty, particularly among households living in informal settlements and engaged in informal work. While a lot is known about BRAC’s rural Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) program, far less is known about the urban UPG program and how its participants fare once program support ends. High mobility, exposure to urban shocks, and shifting living conditions make sustaining gains difficult and challenging to assess.
For this purpose, the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD)—through its Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning and Adaptation (MELA) Initiative—is conducting a long-term qualitative follow-up of Urban UPG participants to understand post-program trajectories. Rather than measuring impact, the study generates learning to inform recalibrated targeting, refined interventions, and updated program priorities that better reflect urban realities and participants’ evolving aspirations.
Objectives
The study aims to generate evidence to strengthen the design and adaptation of the Urban UPG program and support sustainable urban poverty reduction. Specifically, it seeks:
- to evaluate if and how Urban UPG interventions have improved livelihoods and supported sustained progress;
- to examine the degree to which participants’ aspirations align with the program’s interventions;
- to assess current vulnerabilities, resilience, and opportunities to strengthen long-term outcomes.
Methodology
This study adopts an exploratory, qualitative, learning-oriented approach spanning four program cohorts (2018, 2022, 2024, and a potential 2026 cohort). A total of 60 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with program participants from the 2018 and 2022 cohorts explore their life trajectories before and after the UPG intervention. Focus group discussions (FGDs) with recent (2024) and upcoming (2026) cohorts capture emerging challenges, vulnerabilities, and aspirations, enabling the program to assess alignment with participants’ lived realities, understand how interventions are reducing vulnerabilities, and identify what could be adapted or done differently in future cohorts. Additionally, key informant interviews (KIIs) with urban UPG program staff triangulate participant narratives with operational perspectives. Data is being collected from Dhaka, Chittagong, Rangpur, and Sirajganj, representing megacities, city corporations, and municipalities, respectively.
Findings and Recommendations
Forthcoming.
