Wage labourers and farmers lack knowledge and skills to increase their income. These disadvantaged groups lack business acumen, market access, do not know how to generate alternative income, or how to protect their livelihoods from disasters.

Because of their distance from cities and major markets, people in poor and rural areas rely on middlemen who take a cut of profits. They also do not have basic financial services like savings and loans, forcing them to pay high interest rates to moneylenders.

Rapid-onset disasters like earthquakes, and slow-onset crises like the COVID-19 pandemic can derail livelihoods. According to predictions, climate and disaster risk impacts will push an estimated 325 million poor people into extreme poverty over the next decade.

Access to skills training (e.g. financial literacy), business coaching and education helps break the cycle of poverty. We also train farmers to grow varied crops, form producer groups, improve product market value and negotiate for better prices.

Community saving groups support families in saving regularly and enable communities to plan and invest in their future; members can take turns borrowing money for their needs or to build and grow a business. 

We educate communities on disaster risks and prepare them with the skills and knowledge needed to face the effects of emergencies. We also liaise with local governments and other stakeholders to reduce the impact of disasters.