Executive Summary
Climate change is increasingly undermining traditional livelihoods, particularly for rural, coastal, and peri-urban communities that depend on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and informal labor. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, and extreme weather events have reduced incomes, increased unemployment, and intensified poverty and migration. Women, youth, and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected due to limited access to skills, finance, and decision-making spaces.
This proposal aims to create sustainable livelihoods and green jobs for climate-affected communities through an integrated approach that combines skills development, green enterprise promotion, access to finance, and climate-resilient value chains. The project will support vulnerable households to transition into environmentally sustainable and economically viable livelihoods, while contributing to local climate adaptation and mitigation goals.
Over a period of three years, the project will directly benefit climate-affected households by equipping them with green skills, supporting community-based enterprises, and strengthening local institutions. By aligning livelihood creation with environmental sustainability, the project will enhance income security, reduce climate vulnerability, and promote inclusive green growth.
Background and Problem Statement
Climate change has emerged as one of the greatest threats to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Communities that rely on natural resources for their livelihoods are experiencing declining productivity, loss of assets, and increasing uncertainty. Smallholder farmers face crop failures due to droughts and floods, fishers encounter declining fish stocks, and informal workers struggle with climate-induced disruptions to daily work.
Unemployment and underemployment are rising, particularly among youth and women, leading to increased migration, debt, and social stress. Existing livelihood programs often fail to integrate climate resilience and environmental sustainability, resulting in short-term gains that do not address long-term risks. At the same time, the transition to a green economy presents opportunities for new jobs in renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and climate services.
However, climate-affected communities often lack access to relevant skills, startup capital, markets, and institutional support to participate in green economic opportunities. There is an urgent need for integrated interventions that create decent green jobs while strengthening community resilience to climate change.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To enhance climate resilience and economic security of climate-affected communities by creating sustainable livelihoods and decent green jobs.
Specific Objectives
- To equip vulnerable women and youth with market-relevant green skills and entrepreneurship capacities.
- To promote community-based green enterprises and climate-resilient value chains.
- To improve access to finance and markets for green livelihood initiatives.
- To strengthen local institutions and policies supporting inclusive green employment.
Target Groups and Beneficiaries
The primary beneficiaries will include:
- Climate-affected rural, coastal, and peri-urban households
- Unemployed and underemployed youth
- Women-headed households and women entrepreneurs
- Informal workers transitioning to green livelihoods
Secondary beneficiaries include local governments, cooperatives, producer groups, and micro-enterprises that will benefit from improved green economy ecosystems.
Project Approach and Methodology
The project adopts a community-centered and market-oriented approach that integrates climate resilience, gender equality, and economic inclusion. Key principles include participatory planning, local ownership, and partnerships with public and private stakeholders.
The methodology combines skills development, enterprise support, financial inclusion, and enabling environment interventions to ensure sustainability and scalability.
Key Activities
- Green Skills Development
- Conduct climate and labor market assessments to identify viable green job opportunities.
- Deliver vocational and technical training in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy maintenance, waste recycling, eco-tourism, sustainable construction, and nature-based solutions.
- Provide life skills, digital literacy, and financial literacy training.
- Green Enterprise and Livelihood Support
- Support the formation and strengthening of producer groups, cooperatives, and social enterprises.
- Provide business development services, mentoring, and incubation support.
- Promote climate-resilient and low-carbon value chains.
- Access to Finance and Markets
- Facilitate access to microfinance, grants, and revolving funds for green enterprises.
- Build partnerships with private sector buyers and service providers.
- Support branding, certification, and market linkages for green products and services.
- Institutional Strengthening and Policy Engagement
Cross-Cutting Themes
- Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
- The project will ensure women’s active participation through targeted outreach, women-only training cohorts, leadership development, and access to finance. Youth and marginalized groups will be prioritized.
- Climate and Environmental Sustainability
- All supported livelihoods will contribute to climate adaptation and/or mitigation, natural resource conservation, and reduced environmental footprints.
- Innovation and Digital Tools
- Digital platforms will be used for training delivery, market access, and monitoring of livelihood outcomes.
Expected Results and Outcomes
Outputs
- Vulnerable individuals trained in green skills
- Green enterprises and cooperatives established or strengthened
- Financial mechanisms supporting green livelihoods operational
Outcomes
- Increased and diversified household incomes
- Improved employment opportunities for women and youth
- Enhanced resilience of communities to climate shocks
Impact
- Reduced poverty and vulnerability in climate-affected communities
- Contribution to inclusive green growth and climate action goals
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
A results-based monitoring and evaluation framework will track outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Baseline and endline assessments will measure income changes, employment generation, and resilience indicators. Continuous learning will inform adaptive management.
Risk Analysis and Mitigation
Potential risks include market volatility, climate shocks, and limited uptake of new livelihoods. These will be mitigated through diversification of income sources, climate-resilient practices, strong market linkages, and continuous community engagement.
Sustainability Strategy
Sustainability will be ensured through community ownership, financially viable enterprises, integration with local government systems, and private sector partnerships. Capacity building will enable beneficiaries to sustain and scale livelihoods beyond the project period.
Indicative Budget Summary
The total indicative budget will cover training and capacity building, enterprise support, access to finance mechanisms, staffing, monitoring and evaluation, and administrative costs. Detailed budget breakdown will be developed in alignment with donor requirements.
Conclusion
Creating sustainable livelihoods and green jobs is essential for building resilient communities in the face of climate change. By empowering climate-affected populations with skills, resources, and opportunities in the green economy, this project offers a scalable and inclusive pathway to climate resilience, economic security, and sustainable development.
