Graduating Into — Not Out of — a National Social Security System

Graduation Programmes have gone a long way in helping many vulnerable families develop diversified sources of income, build up their assets and self-confidence, and be more resilient to shocks and crises. But how do people fare once they have graduated from – or left – the intervention?

Edition 5 of our Pathways Perspectives argues that in order to ensure sustainability of benefits, countries implementing Graduation programmes must develop a national social security system for all vulnerable households, and that Graduation programme participants should have long-term access to these benefits in order to maintain their higher incomes.

Karishma Huda is a Senior Social Policy Specialist with Development Pathways, and has been working in social protection and financial inclusion for several years.