The project “Improving the Livelihoods of Marginalized groups in Salyan District” was designed for the substantial improvement of the food and nutrition security of very vulnerable smallholders and deprived groups of Salyan district. The project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the Happel Foundation through Welthungerhilfe (WHH) Nepal.

The overall objective of the project was to achieve improved food and nutrition security through enhancing household livelihoods, increasing agricultural productivity and income, developing a value chain of flagship agricultural products, and empowering communities on their rights to food issues. At the end of the project, four results were expected:

1. Community-based organizations (CBOs) were strengthened to ensure the right to adequate food by promoting good governance.
2. Increased productivity by adapting sustainable integrated farming systems.
3. Value chains of three commodities are developed and financing models established; and
4. The nutrition status on household level has been substantially improved.

It translated the human rights concept, particularly the right to food, into action by empowering the community to claim its rights. The approach followed an intense capacity building of various community-based organizations and strong participatory methods in order to guarantee the ownership of all stakeholders. The cooperation and involvement of the government offices and line ministries were crucial. It also considered the growing feminization of agriculture by addressing women with sufficient attention. The livelihood situation was enhanced by implementing integrated sustainable farming systems and developing value chains profiting the small-scale farming families. An innovative approach was sought by involving the private sector to establish fair financing mechanisms for smallholders. The missing link between livelihoods based on agricultural production and nutritional outcomes for the targeted families was closed by applying a systematic cross-sectoral approach named LANN (linking agriculture, natural resources, and nutrition) based on participatory behaviour change communication tools such as PLA.

The project targeted around 6,000 households with a population of 35,000 people, representing about 80% of the total households of the eight VDCs. The target group or beneficiaries were marginalized ethnic groups such as Magar, Tamang, Gurung, Dalits, and other vulnerable groups. Women, the poor, people in need, and children below five are the prime beneficiaries of the project.

Major key achievements of the project include:

Significant progress was made towards developing a sustainable and efficient value-chain of five commodities (Goat, Ginger, Turmeric, Fresh Vegetables, and Timur).

Identified four locations to establish community-managed collection centres. Through this initiative, around 1500 households benefited directly.

Establishment of Value Chain Development Fund of NPR 1,000,000 (non-traditional financing mechanism) and linking the financial institution Mahila Sahayatra Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha Ltd. for easy access to credit for more than 200 farmers locally.