Building Sustainable Livelihoods
For people living in poverty around the world, life is like the ancient Indian game of Snakes and Ladders. If you hit the bottom of a ladder, you will go up. If you hit the head of a snake, you will tumble down. Likewise, if the breadwinner of a poor household is taken ill or a farmer experiences a poor crop season, it is like hitting a snake’s head: the family can’t earn enough income to support themselves and remain in a state of poverty. To progress out of poverty, we believe that households need access to more ladders.
Path out of Poverty
There is no silver bullet, no 100-yard sprint. Progressing out of poverty is a long journey requiring multiple solutions across different sectors. We believe that the first step on this journey is for households to attain a stable mode of income generation which they can use to invest in affordable basic services like healthcare and education. With access to these services, the poor can begin to climb the ladders out of poverty. We call this our Path out of Poverty Model, and we collaborate with social enterprises to deliver solutions to empower the poor within these seven sectors.
Digital and
Financial inclusion
Globally, most households living in poverty are smallholder farmers. Increased knowledge and resources can help them sustain a regular income and prevent their migration to city slums.
Education
A good quality education is the springboard for those living in poverty. It promotes their employability, helps them earn a stable income, and can launch their families out of poverty.
Health Care
Affordable healthcare is the backbone for a productive and happy life. Without good health, children can’t go to school and adults can’t work to earn an income and meet their family’s needs.
Sustainable
Agriculture
Globally, most households living in poverty are smallholder farmers. Increased knowledge and resources can help them sustain a regular income and prevent their migration to city slums.
Renewable Energy
About one billion people live without electricity. Access to affordable clean energy is crucial to reducing inequalities and creating sustainable communities resilient to climate change.
Skills Training
1/3 of workers in developing countries lack the skills to get quality jobs, leaving them vulnerable to exploitative work. Skills development can empower individuals to achieve their full potential.
Water Sanitation
and Hygiene
Access to clean water, sanitation and irrigation is essential to ensuring food security and good health, especially for poor and unbanked households living in rural environments.