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Livelihoods

Strengthening resilience and improving nutrition

Our livelihoods work combines with our healthcare and education work to increase the availability of nutritious food, reduce malnutrition (particularly in children) and create economic stability for farmers all year round.

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Despite advances in economic growth and agricultural productivity, food security in Nepal remains a major problem, leading to high levels of malnutrition across the country.

67.8%

of the Nepali population

have an insufficient food supply (UN 2018)

Farming is the main livelihood activity for 66% of people in Nepal and is crucial for remote rural communities. Being able to grow good yields of nutritious food enables farmers to feed their families well and increase economic independence by selling to others.

This work contributes to food sovereignty, a worldwide movement to empower and build the capacity of small-scale producers to have more control over the way they grow and sell food. PHASE aims to develop farming practices in Nepal through an emphasis on sustainable methods, increasing awareness of environmental problems in the villages we work in.

Our livelihoods work contributes towards the Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, aiming to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people, especially children, have access to sufficient and nutritious food all year round.

 

What do we do?

PHASE supports farmers in a range of ways, including supporting communities to hold regular farmers’ meetings and we deliver specific training and support on farming equipment and growing methods. For example, farmers can receive support to build polytunnels, set up irrigation systems and other commercial farming processes. Alongside this, training is delivered on selecting quality seeds, seasonal vegetable growing and livestock rearing.

 

83%

of people in the Far West of Nepal

rely on local agriculture for their consumption (UN 2018)

 

What’s the impact?

Access to sustainable livelihoods enables communities to access opportunities for themselves and their families, whilst reducing malnutrition and improving health. Our livelihoods programmes have a particular emphasis on training female farmers, which enables them have an increased role in household decision making, and improve quality of life for their families.

Jayakala Karki is a farmer from Jima, in the Far West of Nepal. Before the project started, the Karki family only grew enough crops and vegetables to support their family for three months of the year.

Upon joining the farmers group, Jayakala received training in techniques to make nursery beds, planting saplings, making homemade manure and organic pesticide, harvesting and earning potential by selling the product. Technicians were able to visit her land and give advice on the best way to treat and maintain the soil. They were also able to help her build a polytunnel.

 After the training, Jayakala began to grow lots of leafy, nutritious vegetables, tomatoes and cucumber in her polytunnel. Finally achieving a good yield from the small piece of land, her family was able to eat plenty of nutritious vegetables throughout the year. In addition to this, Jayakala has been able to sell the surplus yield, earning money to be able to send her children to school with the correct equipment they needed. Our support given to the Karki family highlights how our livelihood work interconnects with health and education work, striving to provide a better quality of life for families marginalized by a lack of support.


DELIVERING CHANGE

Livelihoods Projects

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Project

Start Strong Project: Improving Maternal Healthcare and Reducing Malnutrition

2022-2025

The Start Strong Project is a three-year project, starting in April 2022 and running until March 2025. PHASE Worldwide secured funds for the project through…

Project

Addressing Causes of Malnutrition

2018 - 2021

Funded by the Department for International Development (DFID)   Since March 2018, PHASE has been delivering a DFID funded project in Mugu that has been…

Project

Rebuilding Communities

2016 - 2021

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund   What is it? PHASE Worldwide is delivering a five-year project which started in 2016. The project is based…

Project

Tackling Malnutrition in Mugu – With a Focus on Women and Children

2015 - 2018

Funded by the Innocent Foundation   What is it? PHASE Worldwide completed a three-year project which was delivered between August 2015 – July 2018, funded…

INSPIRING TALES

Livelihoods Stories

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Story

Shantikala

In Nepal, Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for 66% of people. However, due to the harsh environment in Far West Nepal, food security…

Story

Dhandevi

Dhandevi lives in Mugu with her husband and daughter. Her family is actively involved in agriculture and Dhandevi recently became a member of the Mugu Livelihood Phase Farmers Group. Here,…

Story

Sunakhari

Sunakhari is a member of the PHASE livelihood farmers group in Mugu and has seen great results since joining. Previously, Sunakhari worked all day every day…

Story

Lalkala

Lalkala lives in Mugu and is an active member of a PHASE Livelihood farmers group. Speaking with PHASE, she shared how becoming a member of the…

Story

Tara

In the Far West of Nepal, food scarcity is a huge problem. Due to high altitudes and a harsh climate, food production is very low. The yearly harvest lasts for only…

Story

Govinda

2020

Govinda is a farmer and a mothers’ group member living in Jima. These are her experiences from our project in Mugu: “We have learned to…

Story

Naina

Naina Jaisi, 39, lives in a village in Mugu. She had never grown vegetables before the project started but is now one of the village’s…

Story

Bachkali

Bachkali is an active farmers’ group member living in Jima, in the far west of Nepal. With our support, Bachkali has developed a lush vegetable…

WORKING ACROSS NEPAL

Livelihoods Locations

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Location

Gorkha

One of the districts most severely affected by the 2015 earthquakes. Combined with Sindhupalchok, 40% of deaths caused by the earthquake occurred across the two districts. Gorkha is primarily a rural municipality, with a population of around 32,500 people.

Location

Mugu

The majority of Mugu is rural, aside from an urban town in its centre.

Help us continue our work

Support our Livelihoods work

If you would like to support the work of PHASE Worldwide and help us to continue empowering people living in isolated regions of Nepal the best way to do so is through regular giving. Even the smallest amount a month can make a huge difference. As a regular supporter you will receive a welcome pack, exclusive updates and will become part of the PHASE family. You can set up your regular gift easily and securely online.

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