Background

Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) builds on the best practices and successes of its predecessor program, GRAD, reaching 97,900 households in Ethiopia who are part of the Productive Safety Net Program with the generous support of USAID’s Feed the Future. L4R is strengthening the capacities of women, men, and youth to build resilient livelihoods by empowering them with improved agricultural and financial skills, access to loans and startup capital, market information, and high-quality inputs (such as fertilizer, veterinarian products, and tools). The project will also help households make forward-looking and informed decisions about their livelihoods, adapt to changes and opportunities, and effectively manage risk. Targeted communities are also strengthened through the establishment of Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs), and trainings in financial literacy, gender equity, nutrition, and climate-change resilience strategies. Livelihoods for Resilience also helps households enroll in the government’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) to access microfinance, improve on- and off-farm productivity, and improve links to markets. The program promotes women’s empowerment, improved nutritional practices, and climate change adaptation strategies. CARE leads the L4R consortium that includes REST, ORDA, CRS/MCS, Agri Service Ethiopia, and SNV. The project is implemented in 16 districts in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and SNNPR. In 2015, USAID’s Feed the Future office released a report saying that GRAD is the most cost-effective investment they have in Ethiopia.