Advancing Poverty Graduation in Fragile Contexts: A New Agenda for Research and Policy

Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Advancing Poverty Graduation in Fragile Contexts: A New Agenda for Research and Policy Co-organized by IFPRI and Mercy Corps January 21, 2026 Multifaceted livelihoods interventions that target households in extreme poverty are extremely effective in reducing extreme poverty, with consistent gains in income, consumption, savings, and psychosocial well-being. These interventions, often called graduation models, have been widely evaluated, but most evidence comes from stable rural settings. In fragile and conflict-affected environments where poverty is increasingly concentrated, household-level interventions may not be sufficient to drive sustained poverty reduction. In today’s climate of constrained funding and compounding crises, there is a pressing need to understand how to adapt, scale, and sustain graduation models to deliver more cost-effective, resilient, and inclusive outcomes in contexts marked by fragility, displacement, and recurrent climate- and conflict-related shocks. Convened by Mercy Corps and IFPRI, this seminar will present new research, emerging program insights, and opportunities for continued learning to make graduation model interventions more impactful, inclusive, and resilient in fragile settings. The discussion will build on Mercy Corps’ recent report, Closing the Gap: Adapting Poverty Graduation for Fragile Contexts, which highlights evidence-based opportunities to adapt graduation design and delivery. The seminar will convene leading researchers, donors, policymakers, and implementing partners to showcase emerging evidence from IFPRI, Mercy Corps, and other partners. Together, participants will distill lessons from diverse experiences, explore frontiers for innovation and learning, and chart a forward-looking agenda to strengthen the impact, scalability, and resilience of poverty graduation in fragile contexts—laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration across the research and implementation community. Introduction and Opening Remarks Jeeyon Kim, Director of Research, Food Security, Mercy Corps Highlights from Recent Findings - The Impact of a Nutrition-Sensitive Graduation Model Program on Child Nutrition: Experimental Evidence from Ethiopia: Kalle Hirvonen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI - Displacement and Development: Evidence from a Graduation Program for Somalia’s Ultra-Poor: Jessica Leight, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI - The impact of connecting poverty graduation and market systems development in refugee contexts: evidence from DREAMS Uganda: Daniel Hudner, Senior Researcher, Resilience and Market Systems, Mercy Corps Panel Discussion Chaired by: Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Radu Ban, Senior Program Officer, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gates Foundation Wendy Chamberlin, Senior Technical Advisor, Resilience, Trickle Up Julie Kedroske, Director, Social Protection Program, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Kibrom Tafere, Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank Closing Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/advancing-poverty-graduation-in-fragile-contexts-a-new-agenda-for-research-and-policy/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription