Strengthening Vulnerable Households Resilience Capacity

The project is implemented in Lukulu  district of Western province Zambia in 3 wards with the support with support from This project was implemented in partnership with Egmont Trust in Lukulu District of Western Province Zambia. The project aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and youth in Lukulu district, targeting an increase in direct beneficiaries of 300. Approximately 77% of the rural population struggles to afford a decent meal therefore, this project aimed at adopting a group-based approach, focusing on community resilience against climate change by providing training in sustainable livelihoods, such as chicken rearing and nutritional gardening, while promoting savings groups for financial stability. By leveraging local partnerships, especially with the private sector, the initiative has created sustainable market opportunities for local poultry and enhance food security.

The project set specific goals to strengthen climate resilience and improve food, income, and nutrition security for 300 vulnerable households. The trainings and support initiatives provided to 300 in 15 women’s groups included vegetable gardening and chicken rearing, enabling them to cultivate crops such as cabbage, rape, tomatoes, Impwa, and Okra. Each group received 30 chickens, leading to a total of 450 chickens, which multiplied to 1,679, with 1,260 sold, generating an income of K148,840. For example, the Kufanga Women Group expanded their chicken increased to 190, they sold 180 and earnings, where used to buy goats and they also invested in a brick-making business. Additionally, the trainings in HIV/AIDS awareness and nutritional gardening empowered the women, who not only shared their knowledge within their communities but also used their earnings to improve their households, invest in their children’s education, and enhanced food security.

The project established savings groups that enabled members to save and reinvest their earnings, facilitating small business ventures and improving living standards. The total savings across all groups reached K90,570, with members using these funds for different needs, such as school fees and food purchases. The project has improved the women’s livelihoods, allowing them to build better homes and invest in agricultural inputs for future farming seasons. The combination of skills training, financial literacy, and health education has fostered a supportive community environment, leading to sustainable development among the women and their families.