Bab Amal Endline Results: A Door of Hope Opens for 100,000 Households in Upper Egypt
Cairo, Egypt
The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MOSS), the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD), and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at the American University in Cairo have announced the end-line results of the Bab Amal—a transformative social protection program set to scale and reach 100,000 households by 2028. Launched in 2018, Bab Amal (translated as “A Door of Hope”) is an ambitious program targeting households experiencing ultra-poverty in Assiut and Sohag, two of Egypt’s most underserved governorates. Spearheaded by SFSD and implemented locally through the Giving Without Limit Association (GWLA) and the Human Development Egyptian Association (HDEA), the program leverages the technical expertise of BRAC, the world’s largest non-governmental organization headquartered in Bangladesh.
Bab Amal is the Egyptian adaptation of BRAC's globally acclaimed Graduation Approach, which has been implemented in more than 50 countries and reached approximately 14 million people. This localized approach has been rigorously evaluated in diverse contexts, with impact evaluations consistently highlighting substantial and sustained improvements in social, economic, and psychological outcomes for participating households.
To assess and adapt the program, researchers at J-PAL MENA conducted a randomized evaluation involving 3,465 ultra-poor households. The evaluation underscores the program's potential, demonstrating significant improvements in household assets, income, consumption, and other critical outcomes.
On January 16, 2025, a seminar at Conrad Cairo Hotel unveiled the program impact evaluation results. The findings highlight substantial positive impacts on household consumption, food security, livestock ownership, and value, as well as female employment, with more modest gains in female empowerment. The seminar outlined the vision for scaling Bab Amal across Upper Egypt, targeting the poorest households in Assiut, Sohag, Qena, and Fayoum governorates.
The event offered a platform for policymakers, donors, development practitioners, and local NGO partners from Assiut and Sohag to exchange insights and lessons learned. By presenting the end-line results of this randomized evaluation, the seminar aimed to support the scale-up phase, strengthen collaborative networks, and explore innovative strategies to combat addressing multidimensional poverty across Egypt.
Collaborative Effort Toward Impactful Change
In its pilot phase, Bab Amal tested three program versions to refine the graduation approach for Egypt's unique context. This evidence-driven approach underscores the importance of partnerships.
Dr. Ahmed Elsayed, Executive Director of J-PAL MENA, said:
“At J-PAL MENA, we are committed to leveraging evidence to inform impactful policies and programs that address the root causes of poverty. The Bab Amal program stands as a testament to the power of rigorous evaluation and collaboration in tackling multidimensional poverty. By adapting BRAC’s globally acclaimed graduation approach to Egypt’s unique context and rigorously testing its impact, we have generated actionable insights that can guide the expansion of social protection programs to support the most vulnerable families. As we embark on scaling this program to reach 100,000 households, we are inspired by the potential to create sustainable change and improve lives across Upper Egypt and beyond. This journey exemplifies the transformative power of partnerships and evidence-driven action.”
Laila Hosni, Executive Director of SFSD, said:
"The results and diverse positive impacts are staggering, exemplifying our ambition to lift 100,000 households out of extreme poverty by 2028. By localizing BRAC’s approach, Bab Amal has proven effective in breaking the poverty trap through a sustainable, comprehensive pathway that integrates social protection, enhanced livelihoods, financial inclusion, and social empowerment. As we collaborate with our partners to scale this successful program, we envision a future where resilient households and empowered communities can maximize their full potential, driving lasting growth and equity.
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About J-PAL MENA at AUC
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at The American University in Cairo’s School of Business is a regional office established in July 2020, as a part of a larger network of research centers worldwide working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 260 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL MENA draws on results from randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. We build partnerships with governments, NGOs, donors, and others to share this knowledge, scale up effective programs, and advance evidence-informed decision-making.
J-PAL was launched at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2003 and has regional centers in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. For more information, visit https://www.povertyactionlab.org/
About the AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business
Boasting an unrivaled reputation as the top private business school in Egypt and one of the best in Africa and the Arab world, AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business is dedicated to transforming the eager and innovative minds of today to become the responsible change agents of tomorrow, all while developing relevance and leadership in an evolving ecosystem.
Situated within AUC and enjoying nearly seven decades’ worth of history, the School offers a wide range of programs and activities that extend beyond the classroom to provide a holistic and engaging experiential learning approach. The School’s seal of excellence is the Triple Crown accreditation, which places it among the top 1 percent of educational institutions worldwide to achieve the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs and the European Quality Improvement System accreditations.
For more information, visit https://business.aucegypt.edu/
About the American University in Cairo
Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions and study abroad programs.
The University offers 40 undergraduate, 52 master’s and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world.
An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.
For more information about the university news and events follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aucegypt and Twitter @AUC
About Sawiris Foundation for Social Development
SFSD is one of Egypt’s pioneering donor foundations. Established in 2001 by the Sawiris family, the foundation promotes and supports innovative, philanthropic solutions targeting comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt. Over the past 23 years, SFSD has addressed critical challenges facing marginalized Egyptians, including poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to quality education.
Through partnerships with the government, private sector, and civil society, SFSD funds programs designed to achieve sustainable development. By creating thousands of job opportunities, providing quality education, and ensuring access to essential services, SFSD has positively impacted the lives of nearly one million Egyptians across 24 governorates, with a focus on the most underserved villages. To date, its total investments have exceeded EGP 3 billion.
For information please visit: www.sawirisfoundation.org | www.facebook.com/SawirisFoundation | www.twitter.com/SawirisSFS