Building Social Capital for the Ultra Poor: Challenges and Achievements

BRAC introduced a programme designed to meet the special needs of the extreme poor called, ‘Challenging the Frontier of Poverty Reduction: Targeting Ultra Poor (TUP)’ programme in 2002. The programme consists of economic and health inputs designed to create sustainable livelihoods. However, it was felt that the assets they received might be vulnerable to theft and damage. To offset this sustainable problem, BRAC created local institutions of village elites called Gram Shahayak Committees (GSCs) or Village Assistance Committees. The GSCs were designed to offer support, guidance and protection for the programme participants. [CFPR-TUP Working Paper Series No. 6]