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Recognition of a Brazilian policy

Lifting Families Out of Poverty in Brazil - Bolsa Familia Program

Patrus Ananias, former Minister of Social Development and Fight against Hunger, in Novo Cruzeiro (MG), on September 5, 2010, in a report on beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program (image of the program that was recognized; it does not show the World Bank recognition).
Patrus Ananias, former Minister of Social Development and Fight against Hunger, in Novo Cruzeiro (MG), on September 5, 2010, in a report on beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program (image of the program that was recognized; it does not show the World Bank recognition).Image: Leonardo Lara/Aldeia (Helio Costa on Flickr), CC BY-SA

Documentary record

In a note published in the World Bank repository, the Bank states that Bolsa Família is among the most effective social protection programs in the world and that it helped lift about 20 million people out of poverty between 2003 and 2009, in addition to reducing income inequality.[1]

The same note says that the Bank supported the first phase of the program with a loan of US$572 million approved in 2004 and approved in September 2010 a loan of US$200 million for the second phase.[2]

In the completion report of the first Bolsa Família support project (ICR, 2010), the Bank rated the project's outcome as "Satisfactory."[3]

Sources and evidence

Excerpts are quoted in the original language of the source.

  1. 1. In a note published in the World Bank repository, the Bank states that Bolsa Família is among the most effective social protection programs in the world and that it helped lift about 20 million people out of poverty between 2003 and 2009, in addition to reducing income inequality.

    • Lifting Families Out of Poverty in Brazil - Bolsa Familia Program · World Bank (Documents & Reports) International organization
      Where: p. 1, paragraph 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “Brazil's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program Bolsa Família helped millions out of the poverty and is among the most effective social protection programs in the world, having helped raise approximately 20 million people out of poverty between 2003 and 2009 and well as significantly reducing income inequality.”

  2. 2. The same note says that the Bank supported the first phase of the program with a loan of US$572 million approved in 2004 and approved in September 2010 a loan of US$200 million for the second phase.

    • Lifting Families Out of Poverty in Brazil - Bolsa Familia Program · World Bank (Documents & Reports) International organization
      Where: p. 1, paragraph 4. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “the program was supported by a US$572 million loan approved in 2004, to help develop, strengthen and expand Brazil’s flagship social protection program.”
    • Lifting Families Out of Poverty in Brazil - Bolsa Familia Program · World Bank (Documents & Reports) International organization
      Where: p. 1, paragraph 5. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “In September 2010, the World Bank approved a US$200 million loan for the second phase of support to Brazil’s Bolsa Família”

  3. 3. In the completion report of the first Bolsa Família support project (ICR, 2010), the Bank rated the project's outcome as "Satisfactory."