Location
3500 BE UTRECHT
The Netherlands
Climate change, deforestation and poverty are global issues that go beyond the reach of single companies or governments; it takes public-private cooperation to solve them.
IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative brings governments, companies, CSOs and financiers together in action driven coalitions. We orchestrate the powers of law, of entrepreneurship and investments to work together to create solutions for global sustainability issues at scale.
Sector by sector and region by region we create, (co)finance and implement sustainable action plans. These plans can vary from working with the governments of Cote DÍvoire and Ghana and large cocoa companies to end deforestation, to investing with coffee companies and financiers in better livelihoods for hundred thousands of coffee farmers. All our plans and approaches start from a vision that sustainable impact will only last when there is a market and a viable business case for both (smallholder) producers as well as traders, buyers, financiers etc… to drive sustainability from niche to norm at scale.
In 2018 we reached over 2,7 million smallholder farmers of tropical food and cash crops in multiple sectors to improve their livelihoods. We worked with numerous plantations to close the living wage gap of over 50.000 workers in Malawi alone. We delinked commodity productions from deforestation in Africa, Latin America and Asia, bringing millions of hectares of land under sustainable production. And increased the demand for sustainable products globally.
Members:
Resources
Displaying 1 - 5 of 13Soil, water and energy management for resilient livelihoods
General
The project is implemented in Argobba special woreda, South Wollo zone, Amhara regional state. The woreda is selected for the intervention because: - prone to multi hazards such as drought, flood and erosion, - with severe land degradation and chronic food insecurity, - highly vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change, - having Woreda profile data that can be used as baseline information for measuring the impact changes of the proposed project, - representative site of interfacing the pastoralists and farming for up scaling the good practices.
Objectives
The objective of the project is to enhance food security and reduce vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate change by integrating soil, crop, livestock and natural resource management practices, which include among others: - watershed based soil and water conservation - improving access to water and improved crop varieties - improving production and productivity of livestock; - introducing renewable energy sources for community use.
Target Groups
3,411 HHs or 18,784 beneficiaries in 12 communities
Enhancing resilience of the most-at-risk individuals in Teso Region
General
Uganda Poverty Status Report (2016) states that although Uganda’s international extreme poverty rate fell by 2.7% points per year, the second fastest reduction in extreme poverty per year in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last 10 years; in 2013, more than a third of its citizens still lived below the international extreme poverty line of US$1.90 a day. Agriculture is the most important sector of the Ugandan economy employing over 80% of the labour force and contributing 23.1% to the GDP. Agricultural production in Uganda is mainly dominated by smallholder farmers engaged in food crops, forestry, horticulture, fishing, and livestock farming. However, agricultural productivity is affected : extreme weather variability, high costs of inputs, poor production and soil management techniques, limited extension services, over-dependency on rain-fed agriculture, limited markets, land tenure challenges and limited adoption of technology and innovation. Teso sub region is in the recovery stage after decades of conflict that devastated the livelihoods of between 60%-70% of the population as a result of displacement. The target sub counties for this project are characterized by high poverty levels that are manifested by the high-risk agricultural practices, insufficiency of income to meet basic human needs, low purchasing power, low savings and consequently low investment leading to low standards of living.
Objectives
Overall Objective: Enhanced Resilient Livelihoods of 500 most at risk households in Teso Sub-region of North Eastern Uganda Specific objectives: 1. To increase climate-smart food crop production among 500 households in 3 target districts 2. To reduce post harvest losses among 500 households in 3 target districts 3. To increase access to affordable finance among 500 households in 3 target districts
Target Groups
Direct beneficiaries: 500 most at risk households Indirect beneficiaries: 2500
VHC Urban Resilience Mandaue Cebu Philippines
General
Informal settlers, primarily fisherfolk, in the lowest lying zones of Jagobaio Village, Mandaue City remain exposed to coastal flooding and poverty. Despite urban resilience gains in Jagobiao village in 2018 and early 2019, informal settlers living in low-lying zones of the village, live in rudimentary conditions with lack of water, sewerage and poor quality building materials that exacerbating their risk conditions. A total of 300 household in Sitio Santo Rosario, San Antonio, Santo Nino and San Jose remain prone to extensive coastal flooding and storm surge. The households experience regular coastal flooding of up to one meter during heavy rains. Solid waste management challenges and pollution compound the flooding, clogging up the already poor drainage and increase health risks. The majority of these households are fisherfolk or daily laborers, and with limited livelihoods options, the majority of families live below the poverty threshold of 5,000 peso per month. The Cordaid and PARJ actions have been unable to directly impact this most vulnerable group to address resilience actions as a result of tenure status; drainage improvements, solid waste management and raised septic tanks in other parts of the village have not contributed to improvement for this group. The City Government and PARJ recognizes the importance of the restoration and management of the mangrove zone within which these families live within direct proximity. As a part of the larger city wide planning involving PARJ and the Jagobiao fisherfolk association plans are underway for the establishment and management of a mangrove eco-park, all stakeholders recognize the importance of engaging families living in these areas as a basis of the strategy. The mangroves swathes in Jagobiao are one of the last remaining mangrove zones in Mandaue City. The need to conserve and preserve them is highly important considering the threats of converting these mangroves to fishponds and salt beds, reclaiming them for urban land developments, and pollution and siltation from upland communities.
Objectives
A model of Mangrove Protection and urban resilience empowers the most marginalized urban poor and local actors to work together in Jagobiao, Mandaue City - Local actors combine capacities to agree a common strategy and plan for village wide action on Mangrove Protection and environmental management and poverty reduction to urban poor groups such as fisherfolks association (intervention funded by Cordaid – PfR efforts in 2019) - Community managed protection of 31 hectares mangrove result in improved environmental conditions - 300 of the most vulnerable families in Jagobiao have a 15% increase in monthly income - Community education programs in Jagobiao village enable at least 1500 villagers to engage in Mangrove protection and waste management
Target Groups
1,500 people in Barangay Jagobiao Mandaue City with highest vulnerability to hazards
South Sudan - SE cluster -Strengthening the Livelihoods Resilience of Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Communities
General
The proposed intervention will be implemented in Budi, Kapoeta East and Kapoeta Counties of Eastern Equatoria State as grouped by FAO under Lot 2/LoA 2 of the South East cluster. These counties are characterised by semi-arid land conditions, limited access to water resources for livestock and human consumption, frequent and extended dry spell, local and cross border inter-communal clashes, pressure of IDPs and returning population and eroded livelihood opportunities. Majority of households in these counties depend on livestock and livestock trade as the main source of livelihood with a few practicing subsistence farming. However, livestock trade is hindered by prevailing insecurity along the major road to Juba, which traditionally has been the main trade route. During the seasonal food-gap period, grain is acquired through livestock exchange complemented by wild food. In addition, the area is characterized by poor or limited agricultural practices, poor range land management and limited government capacity to provide services and coordinate resources. For example, in Kapoeta East there is no sustainable water source in the entire community and several attempts to drilling boreholes have failed in the past. The whole community migrate to Boma and Turkana during dry season in search of water, which has led to a bloody conflict with the neighbouring community and the abduction of children. Drought, conflicts and food insecurity are major hazards in the areas and exposed the community to serious threats (Cordaid, 2015 PDRA). The severe drought of 2016/2017 in the greater Kapoeta affected large areas of Kapoeta South, Kapoeta East and Budi. It manifested in loss of lives, deteriorated health conditions, outbreak of communicable diseases, loss of livelihoods, destitution and resource-based conflicts. The September 2017 IPC food insecurity analysis confirmed that 61% of Eastern Equatoria State is under crisis emergency and humanitarian catastrophe, concentrated in the Kapoeta areas. Given the food insecurity and nutrition situation during 2017, continued conflict, climatic shocks such as drought and macro-economic instability leading up to the 2018 lean season, it is likely that the humanitarian catastrophe in parts of Greater Kapoeta will increase.
Objectives
Overall objective: To improve households’ food security, nutrition and income and enhance livelihood resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Kapoeta East, Kapoeta South and Budi Counties of South Sudan. Specific objectives: - Pastoral and agro-pastoral food security and nutrition and early warning information systems strengthened in South Sudan and its border areas to improve regional and national policy and response capacity. - Trans-boundary Animal Disease (TAD) prevention, detection and control measures in South Sudan border areas strengthened and harmonised. - Diversification of agro-pastoral livelihoods enhanced and access to livestock markets improved - Natural resources management (NRM) practices in cross-border areas improved on a sustainable basis
Target Groups
A total of 20,000 (female: 10,200, male: 9,800) most vulnerable women, men, boys and girls in the target counties will directly benefit from the project. 16 payams will be covered
Working Landscape DR Congo
General
The Bafwasende landscape in the Tshopo Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the country’s poorest areas. It is sparsely populated — with 455,657 inhabitants in an area of 47,087 km² — and has a forest cover of approximately 98%. With its immense forest cover, it makes a significant contribution to global carbon sinks and to stabilization of regional rainfall patterns. The forests, however, are threatened. The recent return of peace and stability, and associated (re)construction of basic infrastructure, is expected to increase pressure on the forest. Also, migration into the Bafwasende territory, mainly by Yira people from North Kivu, is a driving force of deforestation. This trend is already being observed in the neighboring territory of Mambasa, where Yira migrants now account for nearly 40% of the total population. The migration of the Yira people is driven by land scarcity in their home province and facilitated by road construction. Armed conflicts and the current ebola epidemic accelerate migratory movements to Bafwasende. Partly due to migration, more and more areas in Bafwasende are being cleared, and the average size of agricultural fields has been increasing, with cocoa as one of the main crops. The expansion of agriculture causes deforestation, while at the same time it is contributing to the well-being of local populations. Another important driver of deforestation is logging. The demand for timber is high, due to post-conflict reconstruction activities, and growing regional and international markets. Ongoing deforestation in the Bafwasende landscape has a negative impact on climate change mitigation. Moreover, as Bafwasende’s population is poor and highly dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods, they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. There is thus an urgent need to make the Bafwasende landscape climate smart. This means that forests will need to be conserved, while allowing people to develop their livelihoods based on sustainable natural resource management, as well as agro-pastoral and mining activities. The DRC WL programme aims to help conserve the forests of Bafwasende while improving the living conditions of the landscape inhabitants. In our vision of success, the forests and lands in the Bafwasende landscape are used sustainably for the benefit of all inhabitants as well as the climate. We envision that the area has maintained at least 95% of its forest cover by 2040. The remaining 5% is used for sustainable forestry, agriculture, mining, hunting and fishing, contributing to local economic and social development. In our vision, Bafwasende will develop two urban centers, that provide high quality services (communications, finance, water, power, education, health care, etc) to its local inhabitants and travelers. In our vision, marginalized groups, especially the Mbuti indigenous people, participate in the local governance, live in harmony with other groups and have secured access to lands. Women and youth actively participate in local governance, in harmony with elders, and have secured access to lands. The Yira migrants live in harmony with other groups and contribute to innovation, to transformation and to improved living conditions. Traditional leaders and local elites embrace development and changes in society. Local access to land and forest resources is secured, and detailed land use plans guide the development of community forestry, and agroforestry systems. Artisanal mining complies with national (environmental) 59 regulations, and miners reinvest at least part of their incomes in the landscape. Producers are organized in cooperative incubator organizations, and women and youth take active part in local enterprises. Tax revenues from these economic activities are invested in public services.
Objectives
We distinguish between the following three main intended outcomes. 1. Inclusive landscape governance ensuring secured access to forest, land and mineral resources to groups of local people. This implies: detailed land use, land allocation and development plans; inclusive decision-making bodies and control mechanism of local governments, with equitable representation of Mbuti, women and youth; secure local rights to land/forest; and inclusive models of Local Community Forest Concessions (CFCLs). 2. Sustainable land-use practices by small-scale and large-scale producers of agricultural and forestry products. This implies sustainable mining and logging, responsible fishing and hunting, and resilient agriculture, especially climate-smart cocoa agroforestry systems that contribute to local employment and investment. Cooperative business incubators, artisanal forest unit (UFAs) and CFCLs are sustainably managed, create added value, and provide technical and financial support to entrepreneurs in the Bafwasende landscape. 3. Responsible business and finance, leading to effective implementation of social and environmental standards and commitments, and equitable inclusion of smallholders in value chains. This implies that smallholders have access to markets and finance, and that Bafwasende’s elites invest in the development of a climate-smart landscape. It also implies effective organization of producers in cooperative incubator organizations, with special attention for Mbuti, women and youth.