Final Evaluation - Elimination of Extreme Poverty Project in Bangladesh

The final impact study of the project 'Promoting the model for the Elimination of Extreme Poverty (EEP) project for the Rangpur Region in Bangladesh', which focused on facilitating social and economic mobility for 1,600 extreme poor and destitute households across 64 communities in the sub-districts of Rajarhat (between February 2020 and June 2023) and Pirgachha (between December 2018 and March 2022 ) in Kurigram and Rangpur districts. Its specific outcomes included: lifting targeted households out of extreme poverty, sensitising governmental bodies and development partners for potential replication, garnering public support for funding and expansion, and fostering collaboration through the National Cooperative Network (NCN).

The study evaluates the EEP model's performance, employing OECD-DAC and CHS criteria. This evaluation juxtaposed baseline and end-line conditions of the rightsholders households, and compared beneficiary households with non-beneficiaries. Through a mixed method approach, the evaluation gathered both quantitative and qualitative data from a representative sample, utilizing various techniques including households surveys, focus group discussion, key informant interview, in-depth interviews, story listening and documentation, direct observation, and participatory rural appraisal. The evaluation covered 18 interventions, 4 replication sites, and 2 non-intervention communities representing both primary and supporting stakeholders. 

Key findings include insights on the meeting of priority needs of the target beneficiaries; attention to climate-induced disaster and prevalence of non-communicable diseases; capacity of organizations and actors to replicate the EEP model; public awareness and funding support for replication and scaling up of the EEP model; and formation and leadership training to the NCN, amongst others.