Theme 1: Resilient Livelihood

The strategic aim of this theme is to foster resilient communities through economic empowerment. SUS’s experience illustrates that incorporating a livelihood component provides low-income households with the opportunity to achieve a sustainable livelihood through active engagement in agricultural or non-agricultural economic activities.

SUS integrates this livelihood component into the majority of its development programs and projects, as many of the rural households it assists are resource-constrained. Enhancing livelihoods remains a fundamental strategy for SUS to support these communities in overcoming poverty. SUS systematically coordinates and activates communities to generate financial resources and establish social networks. It encourages affordable, climate-resilient, and market-driven agricultural production while facilitating the growth of small and micro-enterprises within the targeted populations. Furthermore, SUS promotes coordination and collaboration with local stakeholders to enhance market linkages and economic infrastructure, generating multiplier effects.

Sub-priorities:

• On farm livelihood options
• Off farm livelihood options (enterprise)
• Skills development for employment and self-employment

Program Outcome indicators:

• % of targeted groups increase their income by additional 20% annually
• % of target groups improve capacity for coping economic and social risks and shocks through resilient livelihood models
• No of farmers participate meaningfully in decision making processes and structures of local governments for their economic and social empowerment

Major Interventions:

Access to productive resources:

• Awareness on govt and non govt policies and programs
• Access to inputs/resources (inputs, credit, technology, training/ TVET/extension services, market, insurance, linkages)
• Capacity building of target groups on technology transfer
• Policy/budget analysis and advocacy initiatives
• Strategic advocacy to access govt and non-govt economic means and resources
• Public-Private Partnerships dialogues for enterprise development and skills for employmen

Meaningful participations in decision making for economic rights/empowerment

• Policies and guidelines review and advocacy for making/reform of policies for meaningful participation and economic inclusion of target groups
• Participation of Target Groups and CBOs in 7 steps planning processes and govt formed local development users’ groups
• Capacity building of target groups on govt policy making, planning, and implementation process, 7 steps planning process, users’ groups capacity development and governance

Creating Resilient Livelihood Models:

• SHGs/farmer groups strengthening and mobilization
• Strengthening CBOs and cooperatives as a model of social enterprise
• Sub-sector analysis/study for climate smart agriculture/ livestock /enterprises
• Promotion and replication of Climate Smart Agriculture/livestock/Enterprise development (business planning skills, inputs support, production, market linkage in collaboration with private sector actors)
• Promotion of demonstration farms/enterprise including farmers’ climate field school
• Promote innovative models such as agro-tourism/farm stay, community service and resource center for one-stop shop for agriculture/enterprise services

Skills Development for Self/Employment:

• Research and study on market based/viable skills development
• Career counselling on market aligned skill development and job placement
• Facilitate and/linkage to TVET programs with govt and private sector
• Provide start-up support for self-employment businesses