Reducing Vulnerability

Our work centres around strengthening the ability of poor people to use technology to cope with threats from natural disasters, environmental degradation and civil conflict by:

• Strengthening the ways that people who live in fragile environments cope with the environmental degradation that threatens their livelihoods
• Preventing and managing conflicts over scarce natural resources and competition for common property resources
• Improving the livelihoods of society's most disadvantaged groups (for example, those affected by HIV and Aids) 

Current projects

Mainstreaming livelihood-centred approaches to disaster management
A five-year project investigating and applying community-driven approaches to disaster management, drawing upon local knowledge and using appropriate technologies which are effective in protecting vulnerable communities.

Enhancing food and livelihoods security of vulnerable communities in drought-prone areas of Zimbabwe
This three-year project aims to enhance the food and livelihood security of vulnerable communities in drought prone areas of the country through increasing practical opportunities for improved food production and livelihoods in rural Gwanda, Matobo, Bulilima and Mangwe districts in the vast semi-arid Matabeleland South Province.

Improving the Livelihood Options of Vulnerable Rural Poor Communities in Semi-arid Areas of Zimbabwe
Started in 2006 this European Commission funded project, known as the EC Block Grant (BG), aims to improve the livelihood options of vulnerable rural poor communities in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe.

More about Practical Action's international Reducing Vulnerability programme

Completed projects

Strengthening the Livelihoods of Poor Rural Communities in Southern Africa
Operated in both Nyanga and Chivi Districts and built on local skills and knowledge to enable resource poor men and women to identify and seek solutions to problems that hinder the sustainability of their livelihoods.

Gwanda Community Based Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Livelihoods
The project worked with resource poor communities to identify, develop, test, demonstrate, share and modify a range of models for sustainable utilization of natural resources and facilitating the creation of a diversified rural economy in a semi-arid environment. From an initial 24 beneficiaries, there is now a record 700 farmers engaged in water harvesting and soil conservation activities whilst 340 farmers have developed their own water sources.

Strengthening Livelihoods of Children Affected by HIV/Aids (CABA)
The overall goal of the project was to enhance the livelihoods of children affected by HIV/Aids through innovative community based strategies. It established working relationships with 19 out of the 23 wards in Chimanimani District. The project worked with over 350 community volunteers who take care of the 3,000 out of a targeted 6,000 orphans. The children benefited through training, exchange visits and involvement in self-help initiatives organized under the project.

Improving the Food and Livelihood Security of Communities Affected by HIV/AIDS in Zambia
This project aimed at enabling community-based Support Groups and Home-based Care programmes in Zambia's Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi districts to mobilize (locally and externally) and effectively manage food resources to meet the annual nutritional needs of people living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA) and their families.

See also "Healing the Land - improving agricultural productivity in Chimanimani" from the Appropriate Initiatives newsletter