This series of activities - short term employment, training, and successful exit strategies leading to more permanent employment - is designed to achieve the alleviation of poverty. In June 2008, Cabinet gave approval for proceeding with the development of a second phase of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which began in early 2009. Extension of the programme aims to increase the number of full-year equivalent job opportunities to over 400 000 over the next five years.