Impact evaluation of the disability-inclusive ultra-poor graduation programme in Uganda

INTERVENTION: A cluster randomised controlled trial will be used to evaluate the DIG programme. Clusters are based at the village‐level and are randomly allocated to intervention and control arms prior to baseline and implementation of the DIG programme. Clusters in the intervention arm will receive a novel disability‐inclusive version of the non‐governmental organization BRAC's 'ultra‐poor poverty graduation' programme. The programme delivers a six‐month unrestricted cash transfer, a (potentially) profitable asset, training, and access to locally‐appropriate financial services (village savings and loans associations). Additional support for participants with disabilities includes referrals to services, assistive technology, community sensitisation, home adaptations, and advocacy. Clusters in the control arm will receive 'business as usual'. No additional services will be provided by the intervention team. However, control arm participants are provided with information on how to access existing services for which they may be eligible, including health, rehabilitation, and social protection programmes. The DIG programme will be implemented for 18 months, with follow‐up at the programme end for participants with disabilities; and a second follow‐up for all participants approximately 3 years after baseline. The primary outcome of the trial is per‐capita household consumption. The impact evaluation is complemented by a process evaluation to further understand DIG programme implementation, mechanisms, and context using complementary qualitative and quantitative methods. Eligible households were identified based on demographics, education, assets, nutrition status, income, and healthcare access. This range of characteristics was jointly interpreted to identify the “ultra‐poor”. Withi CONDITION: Multi‐dimensional poverty ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: Per‐capita household consumption, measured using a questionnaire at endline. SECONDARY OUTCOME: The following secondary outcome measures are assessed using a questionnaire at endline:; 1. Monthly household income from agricultural and non‐agricultural sources (household level); 2. Participation of the project participant in livelihood activities ; 3. Participation of the project participant in social activities ; 4. Health and wellbeing of the project participants; ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Eligible “ultra‐poor” households were identified based on the following criteria: 1.1. Demographics 1.2. Education 1.3. Assets 1.4. Nutrition status 1.5. Income 1.6. Healthcare access 2. Households with persons with disabilities within the ultra‐poor category identified using the Washington Group short set of questions based on reporting 'a lot' of difficulty on at least one dimension of the six‐question set