In 2024, Misean Cara supported our members with nearly €2.5m in funding for sustainable livelihoods projects, with the following impact:
91%
of participants had improved diets from better incomes
36,000
households improved their livelihood opportunities
3,204
contributions made to improve climate resilience of human and natural systems
Nearly 40 percent of the world's population - an estimated 3 billion people - live in rural regions of developing countries, with most depending on small farming operations to feed their families and provide an income.
Additionally, it is the small-holder farmers in these regions that grow up to 80 percent of the food in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. *
Being able to earn a living that enables a dignified lifestyle is a basic human right. Support for sustainable livelihoods can take many forms: finance for small and medium enterprises, training in climate-smart farming techniques, water conservation and co-operative business management skills, especially for women.
In recent years, the importance of protecting the earth’s resources through sustainable livelihoods has also been recognised worldwide. In supporting people’s efforts to earn a sustainable income, Misean Cara encourages member livelihood projects that are climate-friendly, enhance local food security and help protect against natural threats such as drought and flooding.
Misean Cara Climate Action Awards
Our annual Climate Action Awards programme highlights Misean Cara member projects that counteract the impact of climate change in the developing world. In particular, it celebrates innovative projects that encourage sustainable livelihoods and agricultural practices.
SOUTH SUDAN:
Women’s Empowerment through Agricultural Livelihoods
With a large household of 10 people, Angelina Amon Majok’s family frequently experienced hunger and relied on humanitarian food aid to keep everyone fed. But even that was not always guaranteed. “We had been depending on relief food but sometimes the food did not come on time, which made me feel helpless.”
Empowering women is a widely recognised way to increase the output of small, household farms. Doing so builds food and nutritional security for vulnerable families and communities.
In Makur Agar, South Sudan, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) is empowering women from 140 households with farming skills including crop production, soil treatment, and watering methods. As a result, 1,400 people have benefitted from food security, better nutrition and skills in growing food for sale and income.
Women themselves were actively involved in designing and planning the project. They prioritised the crops grown based on community needs and purchased seeds themselves with project funds. With the project team, they targeted vegetables and cereals to improve nutrition and incomes in the village. They also identified the ideal location for a water pump to improve crop irrigation.
By learning the science of seed production and preservation, the women have seeds for future plantings. This helps eliminate their need for food aid and support from the project. Participants were also trained in basic household budgeting to help them make informed decisions about expenses and controlling their income.
A month after planting her farm plots, with support from the Spiritans’ project, Angelina reports “I was happy to see my gardens covered with a variety of green vegetables, tomatoes, kelay and okra. I have earned approximately 6,000 S. Sudan pounds a week from selling my vegetables and with the income we can buy food supplements and other basic items.“
“I feel proud, I feel empowered, I feel happy that my family can now have two meals a day and I don’t rely anymore on relief food.”