Food Security & Livelihoods

In response to the lack of economic opportunity, the rise in poverty related food insecurity, the inaccessibility of fresh and affordable produce and high unemployment rates, ASAP is expanding on its food gardens program to include food production at household and community level. Based on low-input agriculture (permaculture), specifically adapted to the local area, with integrated livelihoods and financial literacy components, the programme aims to address food insecurity and malnutrition whilst creating self-employment opportunities for rural women and youth.

• Financial literacy and small business tools form an integral part of the garden development to ensure gardens are managed sustainably, social enterprises grow and flourish, whilst contributing to livelihoods as well as socially.
• Participants are carefully selected based on demonstrable predisposition for gardening and/or entrepreneurship, with partnerships between individuals with respective skills encouraged. Following the ABCD methodology, groups create a vision for their gardening enterprises, establish existing assets and resources, and determine gaps where support is needed.

• ASAP’s activities in the Food security and livelihoods programme include:
  • Permaculture garden trainings for community groups and household members
  • Financial literacy and social enterprise training
  • Material support in developing gardens
  • Physical support in developing gardens during in-situ training
  • Follow-on mentorship for 36 months (tapered from bi-weekly to quarterly) include completing a 10-module business in a box development process, work-along, problem-solving, market development and M&E learning sessions
  • Digital support groups (WhatsApp)for knowledge sharing and problem solving
  • Horizontal learning events where beneficiaries visit each other’s gardens for knowledge sharing, problem solving and resource exchange