P r o j e c t s

Livelihood Security Project for 

Earthquake Affected Rural Households in Gujarat

This project has been designed in response to the devastating earthquake which struck Gujarat in January 2001. The earthquake followed a series of natural disasters that had struck the region in the last few years. This project will provide assistance, in partnership with World Food Programme, to address the immediate needs of the communities for rehabilitation of their livelihoods as well as addressing their inherent vulnerability. It was agreed that this project would be best implemented through the voluntary sector and hence, a highly respected women’s member-based organization, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) was identified because of its inherent strengths and presence in a large part of the affected areas.

Project Objective

The objective of the project would be to provide greater livelihood security to economically vulnerable households living in a harsh, disaster-prone and increasingly fragile natural environment and to enhance their preparedness and capacity to cope with future crises. This would involve capacity building among communities by promoting and strengthening membership-based community institutions; protecting and diversifying their livelihood opportunities and building mechanisms to effectively cope with natural disasters.

Project Area

The project is implemented in 12 blocks in three of the most severely affected districts – Kutch, Surendranagar and Patan. The project will focus on villages where over two-thirds of the households are poor.

Project Approach

Livelihood security in a multi-hazard environment depends on multiple activities and income sources, covering both farm and off-farm activities. In spite of all the adverse factors, the natural resource base offers considerable opportunities for development. Land and water management would be planned and implemented through participatory planning and empowering community institutions for implementation. Natural resource management interventions would be complemented by off-farm activities such as craft development, salt production and gum collection. Since improved financial management strategies are the key to consumption smoothening and production in hazard prone environment, the project would emphasise the importance of savings, insurance and credit through the provision of cost-effective financial services at the village level. WFP food assistance would enhance the capacity of food insecure households to participate in developmental interventions, which will strengthen their long-term household food security and improve their overall well-being.

Project components

The project objectives are proposed to be achieved through the following components:

Capacity building and empowerment of stakeholders

Livelihood systems enhancement and crisis coping capabilities

Disaster preparedness and mitigation

Social development

Project management activities

Food handling

Project cost and financing

The total cost of the project, over 7 years, is estimated at USD 24 million. The IFAD loan of USD 15 million would finance 62% of the total project costs. Of the remainder, WFP would contribute USD 4.9 million (21%) in food assistance, SEWA 1.7 million (7%), Government of India/Government of Gujarat USD 1.7 million (7%) and the SEWA members and the communities USD 0.7 million in voluntary labour contributions.