Rural communities in East Africa face numerous challenges, including limited access to land, credit, and modern farming technologies. High unemployment rates and the impacts of climate change make it even harder for small-holder farmers to secure stable livelihoods.
The ALIVE Programme, running from 2017 to 2022, set out to tackle these issues by promoting sustainable agriculture and agroforestry. Implemented through farmer organisations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, the programme aimed to create societal changes that would enable the realisation of human rights and economic empowerment for small-holder farmer families.
Funded primarily by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with a budget of approximately 100 million SEK, the programme reached thousands of beneficiaries across the four countries. Key partners included local farmer organisations and various stakeholders committed to sustainable development.
Throughout its duration, the ALIVE Programme achieved significant milestones. Over 91% of the farmers involved adopted sustainable agricultural practices, and Sustainable Agriculture Land Management (SALM) practices were implemented on an average of 43 % of agricultural land. These efforts not only improved the livelihoods of small-holder farmers, but also contributed to climate resilience and sustainable development in their communities.
By investing in the potential of rural youth and small-holder farmers, the ALIVE Programme also fostered a generation of resilient, knowledgeable individuals capable of driving positive change in their communities.