November was an important month for SAMN as it featured the first gathering of all SAMN partners and witnessed many project related main activities such as the launch of SAMN, the participation of all our partners to an investment fair, cross visits and trainings.
The south Asia Microfinance Network (SAMN) is an initiative by ACTED and its partners ACESS (in India) and RSPN (in Pakistan) to promote economic development in South Asia by establishing a network for coordination and cooperation between European financial sector and the microfinance sector in South Asia, i.e. in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAMN is among the first initiatives of this kind, providing a regional platform for Microfinance institutions (MFIs) and European investors to forge business linkages. Read more…
Category: News January 5th, 2009
Community-based Trainers at the hearth of sustainable livelihood in Nias
ACTED is implementing a project aimed at restoring and developing the agricultural and fishing sectors in Lahewa district, Nias. Like many livelihoods initiatives, the project will replenish communities’ supply of goods such as seeds, tools, fishing equipment and boats. But what is unique about this project, however, is its use of community-based volunteer trainers to transmit knowledge to programme beneficiaries. This innovate methodology will help to ensure that communities have a sense of ownership of the project and that skills transfer is sustainable.
Based on the livelihoods needs of the 24 targeted villages, the project has three components, all of which use volunteer trainers to pass on the acquired skills to their community members. The fishery programme trains marine carpenters in fisheries techniques, engine installation, boat maintenance and critically, boat building. The learning group programme involves the facilitation of learning groups, where beneficiaries are trained in the management of household and business finances, the benefits of group work and credit union formation. The third component, agricultural skills training, focuses on better production methods for vegetables, cacao and rice. Read more…
Category: News December 23rd, 2008
Category: News December 22nd, 2008
ACTED Chad Supporting food security for the local populations around Abéché: a local development programme in a cross border humanitarian context
For the past 10 months ACTED has implemented a project of food security for the rural populations around Abéché, in partnership with the European Commission (EuropeAid). This programme is very particular in a context where most humanitarian agencies only provide relief for the refugees and displaced populations.
This programme dedicated to supporting local development focuses on all aspects of food security, ranging from cereal and domestic crop production, veterinary care and follow up for the cattle, awareness raising to the risks of malnutrition, food habits, or rural restructuration thanks to local governance and rural organisations.
Read more…
Category: News December 19th, 2008
ACTED works to increase the food security of vulnerable herders in the West Bank
A confluence of natural and man-made factors in recent years has severely impacted the agricultural sector of the West Bank. Small-scale herders in particular face growing food insecurity and impending loss of livelihood. With the support of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office, ACTED is currently implementing a year-long project to support vulnerable small-scale herders in the most impoverished governorates.
Small ruminant herders in the West Bank have been especially affected by the cumulative impact of ongoing drought, skyrocketing input prices and tightening Israeli administrative and military measures. Fodder prices alone are an average 45% higher today than they were in 2005. Israeli closures and settlements continue to limit access to grazing land and water sources. Furthermore, despite the resumption of international aid to the Palestinian Territories in 2007, the impact of the recent boycott and sanctions remains severe. Read more…
Category: News December 17th, 2008
