Alternative livelihood for women in Alif Dhaal Atoll

Objectives

The main objective of the project is to empower and provide opportunities for the unemployed women n Alif Dhaal Atoll. The achievement of the project objectives will supports MFF’s three programmes of work, 6, 7 and 8 respectively. The implementing partner, Omadhu Island development organization, gather the support of the communities in the Atoll for the implementation of the project ensuring its sustainability by establishing a corporative to market and sell the products. The targeted training and the awareness workshops are directed at the whole community of the atoll, engaging with the civil society.  The training programme increases the capacity of the unemployed women in the Atoll, equipping them to take up similar livelihood activities. The second phase of the project is establishing a viable business for the products to ensure sustainability. This support MFF’s POW 15. Finally, the goal of the project itself is to enhance the livelihoods of the communities in the Atoll, directly supporting MFF’s POW 8. The project further supports policy 3 of the Government of Maldives’ Strategic Action Plan, reducing barriers to markets for all sizes of businesses.

Background

In all the islands in the Atoll, an average of 80 percent of the women population is unemployed. Although the poverty levels in these islands are not at absolute levels, new opportunities would broaden their social and economic participation, increase their voice and participation in island level and atoll level governance activities. In the long run, the project aims to increase income of the target group, increase their household assets, increase uptake of loans for similar activities by being economically active, increase enrolment on education and improve their health.

Target beneficiaries

Women between the age of 18 to 35 in Alif Dhaal Atoll

Outputs

1) Train 50 unemployed women

2) Train the 50 participants on product differentiation and marketing

3) An outlet established in the local airport for the products

Accomplishments and challenges

The inception workshop of the project was on 6 December 2012, and the training sessions commence on 16 January 2013.

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

Sustainable livelihoods and gender