This strategy describes how Social Income, local NGO partners, and recipients themselves prepare for and manage that transition, so that the stability built during the program outlasts it.

A successful exit is not an ending. It is evidence that the program worked.

Why Exit Strategies Matter

Exit planning begins on day one. The final payment is not the trigger for transition work — the whole program is. From the moment a recipient joins, Social Income and its local partners are working toward the same goal: a future in which that person no longer needs us. Program completion is a graduation, not a cut-off.

Without that planning, the risk of sliding back into poverty after transfers end is real. And there is a structural reality worth naming plainly: financial resources are finite. An effective exit strategy protects current recipients and makes room for new ones. Those two goals are not in tension — they depend on each other.

This only works if it is done early and done together, with local NGO partners who know recipients personally, can read early signs of vulnerability, and will remain present long after Social Income's involvement ends.

Our 7 Exit Principles

These principles guide every decision we make about how recipients transition out of the program. They are not aspirations — they are working standards.

1. Reach the most vulnerable
   Those facing the greatest barriers — people with disabilities, widows, recipients in remote areas — are also most at risk when transfers end. They require earlier intervention and closer partner coordination

2. Long-term impact
   A good exit is measured years later, not weeks. Plan proactively and resist declaring success too early.

3. Demand-driven & Contextual
   Shape actions around the lived reality and priorities of recipients.

4. Scalable & cost-effective
   Create easy-to-replicate, low-cost models for diverse contexts and partners.

5. Make yourself redundant
   Strengthen local systems and leadership. Reduce the need for outside support.

6. Dignity & respect
   Uphold autonomy, voice, and dignity at every stage.

7. Assume trust
   Trust recipients to manage money and make their own decisions.

What We Already Do

Exit planning is embedded in the program from the start, not bolted on at the end. The following practices are already in place:

• Regular check-ins
  Recipients are contacted every six months to discuss their situation, goals, and concerns. Conversations include a clear update on remaining payments and what post-program support is available through partner NGOs.

• Mobile app timeline
  Recipients with smartphones can track their progress in real time — upcoming payment dates, amounts, and months remaining. Transparency about the timeline reduces uncertainty and helps recipients plan ahead.

• Partner alerts
  Local NGO partners receive monthly updates on recipients approaching the end of their term. This gives partners time to adjust and strengthen their support before — not after — the final transfer lands.

• Post-exit surveys
  Social Income stays in contact with recipients through semi-annual impact surveys after the program ends. Results are shared openly with all partners and interested stakeholders. We publish what we learn, including where transitions have not gone well.

• Annual feedback with partners
  At the Annual Partner Meeting, Social Income gathers structured feedback from local NGO partners on how recipients experienced the offboarding process. Findings directly inform updates to this strategy.

Local NGO Partner Activities

After transfers end, recipients remain connected to the local NGO that enrolled them. Depending on capacity and funding, partners may continue offering coaching, skills training, or peer community programs. We encourage this — while accepting that it is not always possible.