Income-Generating Activities - Action Against Hunger

CHAPTER 3: TYPES OF PROGRAMMES AND ASPECTS TO
HIGHLIGHT
SUMMARY
• The possibilities to act in the field of income generation are very wide, and a typology
focused on two large groups of issues is proposed: the rehabilitation of IGA
and the improvement of output or the creation of new activities.
• The definition of the level of intervention, whether it be household / individual
or in groups, requires an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages in each
specific context.
• Methods of financing must be established according to the level of vulnerability
of the beneficiary population. The creation of dependence through continual donations
must be avoided.
• Special interest must be paid to the creation of a solid team and to a framework
of collaboration with local partners.
The different types of programmes for the support and promotion of IGA are determined
by the need to adapt the intervention to the specific context in which it is
located and to respond to the needs of the population. Programmes may aim to restart,
strengthen and develop activities in the sectors of agriculture, livestock, fishing, processing
and services. They can work at different levels, aiming to improve the lacking
services, to increase technical and management capacity or increase access to the
start-up inputs. The diversity of types of programmes leads ACF to vary its role from
direct implementation to facilitation of the process.
Several criteria are used to determine the types of programmes to be established:
• Type of activity by sector:
— Primary (agricultural production)
— Secondary (industry)
— Tertiary (services)
• Level of intervention:
— Individual
— Group (associations, cooperatives, etc.)
• Nature of support:
— In relation to the productive goods and inputs:
• Provision
• Improved access (installation of shops and/or contacts with suppliers)
INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES: A KEY CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURTIY
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