As global development enters an era of reduced aid and rising need, organizations like ours that provide graduation programs face a critical question: What delivers the strongest return on investment for people living in extreme poverty?

At Trickle Up, we’ve long believed in the power of women-led economic inclusion, and we have the evidence to back this up.

A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis conducted by KPMG on our MPowered project shows that for every Indian rupee invested, the program generated INR 6.7 in social value. This is a powerful case for scaling graduation programs—especially those rooted in gender equity, digital access, and local leadership.

Through the MPowered project, we saw that women-led economic inclusion had a domino effect: as household incomes rose, we witnessed life-changing outcomes in health access, education, and nutrition.

Access to Lifesaving Digital Tools

What if your phone could save your life? For many women in Jharkhand and Odisha, it did. The smartphones provided through MPowered weren’t just for using our livelihood apps—they became lifelines. Women used them to access government health programs, book medical appointments, and seek emergency support.

With increased digital confidence and awareness of government-led healthcare services like Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), more women sought care when they needed it, without delay or stigma.

When Income Grows, Girls Stay in School

One of the most encouraging ripple effects of MPowered was educational: More girls stayed in school. As household income grew through MPowered, families were able to pay school fees, buy uniforms, and rely less on child labor. On top of that, women also gained information about educational support programs and resources like Midday Meal and Aanganwadi through their phones and self-help groups.

One participant said it best: “Now my daughter stays in school—we have options we didn’t have before.”

Knowledge That Puts Food on the Table

MPowered participants used Trickle Up’s mobile PoP app to adopt organic farming practices, diversify their crops, and improve yields, resulting in morenutritious diets and stronger food security.

With small seed grants and technical support, women expanded into poultry, livestock, and vegetable farming—bringing not just income, but resilience.

Delivering Multidimensional Returns

The MPowered project provides strong evidence that graduation programs deliver measurable, multidimensional returns. Digital access builds confidence, literacy, and independence. Climate-smart agriculture supports livelihood resilience. Gender transformative approaches elevate women’s voices and power in their households and communities. Locally led approaches ensure sustainability and impact.

As international development faces a rapidly shifting funding environment, we must embrace this new chapter with a stronger focus on innovation, equity, and local leadership. We’re excited to continue our mission to combat extreme poverty through projects like MPowered, which will help us reach our goal to support 5 million people around the world by 2030.

Want to learn more about our work?
> Explore our Graduation Approach
> Support women building their own pathways out of poverty

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