The project, started in October 2010, is funded by LIFT (Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund) and will come to an end on June 31st, 2015.
The purpose of the action is to improve livelihoods of resource poor rural households in 100 villages in Naung Cho and Kyauk Mae Townships, Norther Shan, through a community empowerment process, by increasing food security, and enhancing income generation opportunities and sustainable management of natural resources. The core component of the project is community mobilization and participation.
The design and the approach have been centered in providing key rural livelihood sectors with inputs and technical knowledge to diversify and intensify agricultural production, access other off farm income generating opportunities, managing natural resources and increasing overall resilience. All the components of the project involved the promotion of appropriate practices and training to farmers, small scale livestock breeders, peer nutrition promoters and alternative income generation beneficiaries.
The project’s approach combines grassroots governance’s strengthening through the village development committees (VDCs), resources sustainability through the adoption of appropriate technologies, crops and livestock for target farmers, different village revolving funds for both agriculture and livestock activities, and community education in key livelihood sectors.
More specifically, the project aims at:
- Increasing the capacity of 100 village communities of the target area to assess their situation, needs and manage the implementation of livelihood improvement activities.
- Ensuring that targeted vulnerable households have increased and diversified their agricultural production and productivity in terms of quantity and quality through training, distribution of assets and the set-up of seed/grain bank systems and kitchen gardens.
- Transferring skills and resources to targeted vulnerable households for alternative income generation activities and provision of quality extension services, including distribution of livestock and start-up kits for alternative income generation, training of animal health workers and of key persons for integrated pests management and pesticides application, and set-up of community services.
- Increasing communities’ capacities to manage natural resources in order to improve environmental conservation and develop new sources of income.
Click on an icon to view projects.
