LIVELIHOODS IN AFRICA
Relatively few of Africa’s poor derive their income from a single source, or hold all their wealth in the form of just one asset. Livelihood studies during the last decade show that increasing numbers of people opt for strategies characterized by multi-tasking and income diversification. Such diversification is pervasive and enduring, and is a common feature of both urban and rural livelihoods. The nature of diversification can vary widely, according to who undertakes it. For higher-income groups it is often an accumulation strategy aiming at maximizing profits by investing across sectors, but for the poor it is often a survival strategy, a way of minimizing risk minimization and stabilizing income, and usually involves low-skilled, low-paid and often temporary employment.

YCFH UGANDA’S APPROACH

Access to Earning Opportunities:
By bundling together skills training with access to finance, technology, infrastructure, and most importantly, markets and networks, economic inclusion programs can help marginalized populations transition into sustainable employment or build livelihoods through self-employment and micro-entrepreneurship. This will successfully link the poorest with local markets, through strong collaboration with social protection and agriculture institutions. This will enable rural households to invest in productive assets, resulting in an almost 8 percent increase in household incomes.
Women’s economic empowerment: Ensuring that women have more agency and financial independence is key to reducing poverty. When women work, there is a positive and transformative impact on individuals and the community.
Supporting Women’s Livelihood component of the Girls Education and Women’s Empowerment project, which provides poor women with life and business skills training, mentorship, and support to form savings groups.