We deliver a 24-month, village-wide graduation program that moves last-mile communities in sub-Saharan Africa out of ultra-poverty. Our model pairs a streamlined graduation approach with Venn, our data and technology system, to drive income and production growth, wellbeing, and resilience.

We work with governments to identify last-mile communities with the highest levels of ultra-poverty. Selection is guided by poverty data, stakeholder input, and delivery feasibility, with communities prioritized through a multi-step targeting and validation process.

We deliver a standardized core program, with defined areas of flexibility to respond to local context. Adaptations are made within a clear program framework and are guided by data, community feedback, and implementation learning.

We deliver a 24-month program, followed by monitoring for up to 60 months to assess the sustainability of outcomes.

The first six months of the program are the most intensive. Households receive agricultural inputs, tools, and training, alongside group coaching on mindset, gender equality, financial literacy, and health to reduce barriers to participation.

We increase income primarily through improved agricultural production, with VSLAs enabling investments in both agriculture and livelihood diversification.

VSLAs are community-managed savings and lending groups. Raising The Village establishes and formalizes multiple VSLAs per village, including women- and youth-only groups.

We build women’s and youth leadership into program structures, establish women’s and youth VSLAs, and prioritize women- and youth-headed households for inputs and household coaching. Village-wide training strengthens decision-making, gender equality and economic participation.

We use baseline surveys, annual household surveys, standard evaluations and comparisons with peer communities. A difference-in-differences approach isolates program impact over time.

Community and local government leadership assume responsibility for program activities. We continue to monitor outcomes through follow-up surveys.

Venn is our integrated data and technology system that guides program design, delivery and impact evaluation. It enables real-time tracking of household progress, supports field decision-making, and continuously feeds learning back into program implementation.

We partner with governments to align programs with public systems and priorities, integrate delivery with existing services, and support long-term sustainability beyond graduation.

Cluster delivery, shared community resources, government partnerships and data-guided operations maintain cost efficiency and program quality.

We work in villages facing widespread ultra-poverty, where working with every household builds peer accountability and accelerates adoption of good practices across the entire community.

We work in clusters of four to eight neighboring villages that share geography and resources, enabling coordinated delivery and community-level impact.

Communities inform program design, approve implementation plans, and participate in activities through local leadership and community structures.