• Programmes
  
  
• Thematic Programmes
  
  
• Strategy Programmes
  
  
• Issue Programmes
  • Climate change and disaster risk reduction
    
    
  • Rural Livelihoods programme
    
    
  • Green Economy
    
    
  • Civil society and governance

ISSUE PROGRAMMES

Rural Livelihoods Programme

Programme rationale

Rural communities in the Caribbean are highly dependent on natural resources, including for subsistence use, informal enterprises, small businesses, and the provision of essential ecological goods and services.  There are many commonalities in issues and potential solutions across forest- and coastal and marine-based livelihoods and addressing these in a programmatic approach can facilitate a systematic and strategic approach.

Programme purpose

Sustainable rural livelihoods based on the use of natural resources established, maintained or strengthened.

Programme goal

To support rural communities with the development of sustainable natural resource-based livelihoods through building capacity, catalysing partnerships and influencing policy to create an enabling institutional environment.

Programme objectives

• To conduct research on how to manage ecosystems to protect and enhance the provision of goods and services for sustainable and resilient livelihoods.
• To develop and test a process for building the capacity of rural communities to develop sustainable small businesses based on the use of natural resources
• To build the capacity of rural communities to develop sustainable livelihoods resilient to climate change and other risks, including via facilitating exchanges and sharing of information between rural communities
• To catalyse partnerships and build the capacity of partners to effectively support rural communities to develop sustainable livelihoods.
• To communicate to influence policy for development of an enabling institutional environment that supports rural communities to develop sustainable livelihoods.

Priority programme results 2011-2016

• Targeted rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago mentored and supported to develop small collaborative enterprises based on the sustainable use of natural resources
• Process piloted in Trinidad and Tobago expanded to other Caribbean islands and new communities

Programme plan

• Draft Rural Livelihoods Programme plan (31 Jan 2014)

Advocacy and capacity building of support agencies conducted to build an enabling institutional environment for rural enterprises

Recent and current projects

• Empowering rural women through improving livelihoods
• Improving livelihoods in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago by developing small business ideas based on the sustainable use of natural resources

• Making it happen: Developing sustainable small businesses in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago (Phase II)

• Making it happen: Developing sustainable businesses in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago and improving livelihoods through enterprise development (Phase III)