Livelihoods

Many of our affected communities are in relatively under developed and under resourced areas. So we take a sustainable livelihoods approach in our help to them by identifying local self-sustaining solutions to improve their quality of life. This means not only considering opportunities for meaningful work, but also organising activities to meet basic needs.

These agreed programmes of assistance are identified through ongoing consultation each community and defined in a rolling five year community plan, which applies throughout the life of the business.

How we enhance livelihoods

The basis for our livelihoods approach is a planning, baseline and consultation process the communities. Our contribution is not only to provide support but, more importantly, to build local skills and knowledge. 

We use a variety of strategies ranging from better management of natural resources to agricultural extension, and from small business development to community-based health initiatives in which we provide training in basic health, specifically HIV/AIDS.

As a result, we may help to set up local entrepreneurial activities such as micro-finance initiatives and small and medium enterprise. And we achieve success in these activities by ensuring rigorous market and commercial analysis, as well as training in basic business management and financial control. 

In other areas, we promote agricultural extension to help subsistence farmers with sustainable farming methods and improve their livestock.

We also recognise that affected communities often exist within a larger system where the government itself is under-resourced, where local delivery is poor or where basic services are non-existent.  Thus we may seek to work in partnership with other appropriately resourced non government organisations (NGOs), government agencies or other institutions to share inputs and responsibilities.

We also seek to ensure that any such assistance does not compromise local ecosystems.