“In response to the request from the donor agency, ORG has developed this paper to initiate, design and implement an effective livelihood intervention strategy targeted at the poor and the disadvantaged communities living in the river basin. The strategic approaches, outlined in this concept note, will leverage with the ongoing efforts of other donor-supported projects in mitigating disasters and reducing the vulnerability of the communities. The proposed project will specifically contribute towards increasing livelihood opportunities of the marginalized people in the river basin areas, taking into account the natural risks and disasters and ensuring communities’ long-term livelihood sustainability. The project will examine disaster-prone areas and, on the basis of participatory studies, it will build up strategic efforts to increase skills and knowledge of the targeted beneficiaries in planning income-generation activities, exploiting markets, establishing linkages, enhancing incomes and organizing community-based institutions.
The main features of the project are:
- Educating the community on economic risks caused due to natural disasters and reducing the impact of natural disasters on livelihood activities.
- Developing the skills of small and marginal farmers, including women, in identifying potential agricultural, NTFP produce and other micro-enterprises, adopting better production techniques and exploiting market opportunities based on sub-sector approach.
- Building the capacities of the community in establishing strong and sustainable cooperatives providing member-based financial services and also facilitating input supply, resource management and collective marketing. The cooperatives will ensure practice of equity, participation, better management and good governance.”
