Economic Inclusion Glossary

Agency, or “human agency,” refers to the capacity for self-determination or the “ability to define one’s goals and act upon them”. It refers to the capacity of individuals to make their own choices, take actions, and influence the world around them. Agency involves acting independently, making decisions based on personal beliefs and values, and taking responsibility for the outcomes of those actions. Closely related to the concepts of capability, freedom, dignity, and flourishing, agency is central to human development. In a sociological context, it emphasizes that while societal rules influence individuals, people can also change those rules through their actions.

Digital agency refers to the capacity of individuals—especially women—to exercise meaningful control over the digital products, platforms, and services they rely on to meet their needs and achieve their goals for resilience and empowerment. It encompasses three interrelated dimensions: 1) the ability to access digital content and devices, ensuring they can obtain the tools and information necessary for their livelihoods; 2) the ability to use these resources effectively, which involves navigating digital environments, building digital literacy, and leveraging opportunities for skill development to set personal goals and adapt mental models based on new information and experiences; and 3) the ability to control their digital engagement, including owning devices, participating in economic, social, and civic activities online with autonomy and security, and making informed decisions about their daily needs and aspirations.

CSOs are non-profit, voluntary groups formed by citizens at local, national, or international levels to advance shared interests and values. They perform a wide range of functions, including service delivery, advocacy, policy monitoring, and community mobilization. CSOs bring citizens’ concerns to governments, promote political participation, and contribute to the implementation and oversight of development agendas. They are often organized around specific issues such as human rights, peace and security, environmental protection, and social inclusion.

Coaching and mentoring refer to structured, supportive relationships that help individuals build confidence, develop skills, and make informed decisions. In the context of Economic Inclusion programs, coaching and mentoring are core components that reinforce participants’ agency and capacity to sustain livelihoods. They provide personalized support to navigate challenges, build financial literacy, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and foster psychosocial well-being.

Co-implementation refers to a collaborative approach to program delivery in which international or external actors work in partnership with local organizations to jointly design, implement, and adapt development interventions. It reflects the values of joint ownership, two-way learning, and mutual capacity development, recognizing that local actors bring essential contextual knowledge, legitimacy, and leadership, while external partners contribute complementary resources and technical expertise. For Trickle Up, this means working through local structures and partners to ensure that programs are rooted in community realities, responsive to local priorities, and designed for long-term sustainability.

CBOs are grassroots entities formed and led by members of a specific community to address local needs, promote collective action, and improve well-being. They are typically small, informal, and deeply embedded in the social fabric of the communities they serve. CBOs play a vital role in service delivery, advocacy, and community mobilization, often acting as intermediaries between citizens and larger institutions. Their strength lies in their local legitimacy, contextual knowledge, and ability to foster participation and accountability.

EI programs are a bundle of coordinated multidimensional interventions that support individuals, households, and communities to increase their incomes and assets. Economic inclusion programs cover a diverse and often overlapping landscape, including cash-plus, safety net, productive inclusion, and community-driven development programs, among others.

Financial inclusion means that all people and businesses have access to—and are empowered to use—affordable, responsible financial services that meet their needs. These services include payments, savings, credit, and insurance. Financial inclusion can be transformative, especially for people with low incomes, women, and other socioeconomically marginalized groups, by helping them harness economic opportunities, build resilience, and recover from shocks such as health emergencies or climate-related events.

Gender transformative development refers to approaches that go beyond addressing symptoms of gender inequality to actively challenge and shift the underlying norms, power structures, and institutional barriers that perpetuate discrimination. In the context of economic inclusion, gender transformative programs are designed not only to improve women’s access to resources and opportunities, but to actively challenge and shift the underlying social norms, power dynamics, and institutional structures that perpetuate gender inequality. These programs go beyond gender-sensitive or gender-responsive approaches by intentionally promoting women’s agency, leadership, and decision-making power within households, communities, and markets.

The graduation approach is a carefully sequenced, multisectoral intervention designed to help the poorest and most vulnerable households move out of extreme poverty by building sustainable livelihoods. It typically includes: 1) consumption support to meet basic needs, 2) skills training and asset transfer to start economic activities, 3) financial education and access to savings, and 4) regular coaching and mentoring to build confidence and reinforce skills. These interventions are time-bound (usually 24–36 months) to avoid long-term dependency, but aim to create lasting change through income generation, asset building, and integration into social protection systems.

Local systems strengthening is the process of building the capacity, resilience, and coordination of local institutions and networks to deliver services, support livelihoods, and respond to community needs. It aligns with local priorities, invests in leadership, and reinforces structures—such as governments and civil society—to adapt and scale solutions. For Trickle Up, local systems strengthening means supporting locally led, place-based resilience through partnerships with community organizations and governments. This includes co-designing programs and aligning with development priorities. It also focuses on strengthening how systems—markets, financial services, social protection, and community institutions—work together to expand opportunities, build resilience, and reduce dependency on external support.

Locally-led development refers to development processes that are driven by local actors—individuals, organizations, and institutions—who hold decision-making power and shape priorities, strategies, and implementation based on their lived experiences, values, and aspirations. At its core, locally led development is about shifting power and resources to those most affected by development challenges, recognizing their agency and leadership in designing and delivering solutions.

Market systems development refers to the intentional design and implementation of interventions that enable poor and vulnerable individuals to access, participate in, and benefit from local and broader market systems. In the context of economic inclusion programs, market systems development involves linking participants to value chains, improving access to inputs and services, and fostering entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. It also includes efforts to strengthen local economies, promote inclusive business models, and ensure that market systems are responsive to the needs of marginalized groups.

Resilience is the ability of individuals and households to reduce and mitigate risks, as well as to cope with and recover from various shocks, stresses, and life cycle events to minimize any reduction in short-term consumption or long-term well-being. These may include environmental, economic, social, or political disruptions. Resilience involves maintaining or improving well-being in the face of adversity by reducing vulnerability, strengthening adaptive capacity, and supporting long-term development. In the context of economic inclusion programs, resilience refers to the ability of poor and vulnerable populations to navigate and recover from disruptions such as illness, job loss, conflict, or natural disasters without falling deeper into poverty.

Climate resilience refers to the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to climate-related shocks and stresses—such as droughts, floods, and extreme weather—while maintaining or improving their well-being and livelihoods. It involves reducing vulnerability, enhancing adaptive capacity, and ensuring long-term sustainability in the face of climate change.

Financial resilience refers to the ability of individuals, households, and communities to prepare for, cope with, and recover from financial shocks such as income loss, unexpected expenses, or economic downturns. It includes access to and effective use of financial tools like savings, credit, insurance, and social protection. These tools help people manage risk, smooth consumption, and invest in their futures. In economic inclusion programs, financial resilience is built through services and support systems that enable poor and vulnerable populations to withstand economic shocks and pursue sustainable livelihoods.

Social inclusion is the process of enhancing the ability, opportunity, and dignity of individuals and groups—especially those disadvantaged by identity, status, or circumstance—so they can participate fully in economic, social, and political life. It requires removing barriers like discrimination and inequality and promoting fair access to resources, services, and decision-making. Social inclusion spans three dimensions: 1) access to education, employment, public services, and social protection; 2) participation and voice in decisions that affect lives; and 3) respect for diversity, identity, and human rights. In economic inclusion programs, it focuses on empowering marginalized populations such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities to engage in livelihoods, access markets and financial services, and influence decisions shaping their well-being.

TA refers to the provision of specialized knowledge, tools, training, and advisory support to strengthen the capacity of organizations and institutions to design, implement, and scale effective programs. TA can include support in areas such as program design, monitoring and evaluation, staff training, systems development, and policy alignment. For Trickle Up, this means providing support to civil society organizations, community-based organizations, international NGOs (INGOs), funders, and governments to implement quality economic inclusion programs.