Trickle Up

Trickle Up received a grant of $30,000 for expansion of its program in Guatemala to assist the ultrapoor in moving out of extreme poverty, with an emphasis on helping the disabled (the most marginalized of those living on less than the equivalent of $1.25 per day).  Work will occur in two phases.  Phase One (scheduled for 2013) will add 1,025 people (predominately women) to the organization’s program through planning and development of livelihood activities, formation of savings groups, and capacity-building for four indigenous partner NGOs and five municipalities.  This work will support the fledgling entrepreneurships and allow the organization to adapt, produce and distribute a Livelihoods Training curriculum through the indigenous entities.  Phase Two (scheduled for 2014) will add a second group of participants to the program as well as introducing a municipal-wide ultra-poor inclusion model.  By working in this manner with the municipal government, sustainability of the program is assured for application to the 13,000 residents of this area.  Assuming that all benchmarks for Phase I are achieved, the organization will be eligible for renewal of funding in 2014 to initiate Phase II.

Trickle Up is designed specifically to reach and provide a pathway out of poverty for the extreme poor: those whose incomes fall well below the threshold for utilizing traditional microfinance services. The organization’s model provides micro-grants to those living on $1.25 per day or less, as well as vital financial and social services, allowing the ultra-poor in the developing world the opportunity to develop sustainable livelihoods, better access goods and services and generate savings to secure their independence.