- Economic Empowerment
Building Stability and Strengthening Communities
Limited access to steady livelihoods, reliable markets and agricultural resources keeps many communities confined by poverty and food insecurity. When income is unstable, families have to make impossible choices — whether to skip meals, which of their children can attend school or how to survive the next season if crops fail.
That’s why economic empowerment is essential to long-term food security. When families can earn a reliable income, they gain the stability they need to feed their households, invest in their futures, achieve self-sufficiency and strengthen their communities.
- The Challenge
Why Economic Stability Matters
Without access to sustainable livelihoods, families remain vulnerable to shocks like drought, rising food prices and economic disruption. These pressures limit opportunity and make it harder for communities to break free from cycles of hunger and poverty.
Economic insecurity doesn’t just affect income. It impacts nutrition, education and long-term resilience. That’s why we’re committed to empowering communities through economic empowerment programs that provide farming equipment and training and establish Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) that equip local families with loan and savings support.
- Economic Empowerment Programs
Growing Income and Opportunity
Rise Against Hunger invests in economic development initiatives that increase household incomes and strengthen local food systems. By equipping smallholder farmers — especially women and young people — with training, grants, tools and business skills, we help families generate sustainable income while also feeding their neighbors.
These programs also connect local farmers to reliable markets, allowing them to sell what they grow, diversify their income and build long-term resilience through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). VSLAs are a proven international development model to help farmers and families build financial stability by pooling savings and accessing small loans. Through these community-led groups, families can invest in seeds and equipment, cover household needs and weather unexpected challenges. As livelihoods improve, communities are better positioned to establish food security across their communities.
- The Impact
Livelihood That Leads to Food Security
Through these efforts, Rise Against Hunger helps families build both economic stability and food security. And when families become secure, their communities strengthen, too. Over the next three years, we project that 50% of households participating in economic empowerment programs will increase their income or savings by at least 10%.
Increased income and stability allow families to put meals on the table, keep children in school and reinvest in their communities — creating a ripple effect of opportunity and growth.
Here’s a glimpse at the global impact of our economic empowerment programs:
- Malawi: 111 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) were formed, leading to the growth of $28,722 in savings and $40,251 in loans from $0. Participating households used these savings and loans to invest, diversify income and build financial resilience.
- Zimbabwe: 45 VSLAs grew from $0 in savings to $53,489 and expanded school gardens that generated food and income amid drought pressures.
- Mali: 267 farmers across 64 villages saved $23,510 through VSLAs and expanded gardens and livestock.
- Economic Empowerment
