The Broccoli Project is a novel incentive program for the poor that, unlike the more familiar loyalty programmes that reward consumers for spending money, rewards life-affirming actions, such as medical screening for a range of conditions, including HIV, hypertension and diabetes.

The Broccoli Project utilises state-of-the-art biometric technology – a finger print reader backed up by a central database – to keep track of its members. One of the first organisations to benefit from this technology is the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, which uses it in its mobile medical screening facilities. These mobile clinics use a finger-print reader that connects directly to the Broccoli database of biometric identities, and so avoids duplication of records and prevents wasteful repeat testing. Poor people who utilise the testing facility are rewarded with vouchers for food, clothing and/or building materials.