Facilitation of livelihood and economic diversification
Trees’ over-cutting for fuel consumption has been identified as the main driver of forest degradation in EPIC villages, which is exacerbating peoples’ vulnerability to climate change. Alternative solutions need to be found for being able to increase people’s resilience and livelihood. Through EPIC, ducks breeding has been initiated in the villages as alternative livelihood. By increasing people’s incomes, livelihood and economic diversification have been made possible; people are now able to buy gas instead of relying on firewood, which in turn reduces pressure on forests.
- The development of alternative livelihoods should respond to people’s needs. - Prior to implementation a feasibility study is conducted with local partners. - For the overall process to success, it is necessary to pilot mini-project to see how the suggested new income sources are developing. - Knowledge exchanges with other villages and local stakeholders prior to any large implementation are important
-The success of these activities is largely build on the empowerment and engagement of women, who may otherwise not be actively involved in the project’s activities - Livelihood diversification provides alternative incomes that may not be foreseen or expected by local population at the start of the project. It greatly encourages people to diversify their sources of income for increasing their resilience in the face of climate-related events. - The success of these alternative activities (like ducks breeding) is expected to encourage neighboring villages to undertake similar activities, which will contribute to an increased resilience of people in the area.