Programmes to build disaster resilient livelihoods are equally important for women, persons with disabilities, older people and other at-risk groups in the community. Economic empowerment is a key to inclusion.
To ensure inclusion in livelihood development programs apply a twin-track approach – providing both specific support to at-risk groups as well as mainstreaming accessibility and inclusion across the livelihood-relevant services, processes and policies:
- Identify the barriers for persons from different at-risk groups to access promising livelihood activities, markets, financial services and insurance, social protection and other public services. Consider attitudes and discriminatory policies and practices, which often limit access just as much as physical barriers.
- Plan and budget for measures to overcome barriers to participation in livelihood support activities. Consider for example the accessibility of venues and information material, the provision of accessible transport and childcare or the sensitization of staff.
- Focus on the inclusion of persons who are most at risk of being left behind, including persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities and women and girls with disabilities.
- Involve the representative organisations of at-risk groups in program implementation.
- Develop and utilise tools and skills for the collection and analysis of disaggregated data to monitor the impact of livelihood support programs on at-risk groups.
For further tips on agriculture-, livestock- and fishery-based livelihood programs, review the relevant cards.