Poverty Reduction and Livelihoods Promotion

Even as India continues to record impressive growth rates, poverty remains widespread and disparities deeply entrenched. According to the UNDP 2011 Global Human Development Report, India is ranked 134 out of 187 countries and UN-recognized territories. Recent Government of India estimates suggest 37 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. UNDP works in partnership with central, state governments and civil society organisations to enhance the effectiveness of national poverty reduction and livelihood programmes, and build partnerships that enable disadvantaged communities to improve skills and diversify to non-farm activities.

Our Goals

UNDP fosters partnerships to enable deprived households to improve skills. This helps people to diversify non-farm activities and increase access to credit, financial services and markets. We also support initiatives that help the poor develop livelihood plans in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, land resource development, rural tourism and handicrafts. Efforts also aim at addressing the challenge of financial inclusion through a range of financial products and services that reduce the vulnerability of the poor. Empowering women remains a key area of intervention. more

Livelihoods for the Poor

UNDP India’s Poverty Reduction Programme partners with central, state governments and civil society organizations across the country to improve the effectiveness of poverty reduction and livelihood promotion programmes and build partnerships that enable disadvantaged communities to improve skills and diversify to non-farm activities. Efforts are also aimed at addressing the challenge of financial inclusion through a range of financial products and services that reduce the vulnerability of the poor. Empowering women remains a key area of intervention.

Stories of Change

Transforming Poor Rural Women into Successful Business Managers

As a result of UNDP-IKEA Foundation partnership, women in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have learnt business skills through financial literacy training started in 2009. The training has helped build capacities of women, and supported them to set up viable businesses like the Swaayam Ksheer, a milk producing company, which has not only eliminated the role of middlemen, but has also doubled the profits of its members in the past year. more
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Photo: Zubeni Lotha/UNDP India
From ‘Slash and Burn’ to Sustainability: Farming Communities in North-eastern India Improve Soil Fertility and Earn Higher Incomes

UNDP, in partnership with the Government of Nagaland, is helping farmers practicing jhum cultivation in 70 villages in Nagaland grow healthier crops and earn better income by introducing sustainable land management practices. By slowing rates of soil erosion, these practices have also helped farmers improve soil fertility and cultivate the same land for three years instead of the normal span of two years. more

Projects and Initiatives

Strengthening Women's Social, Economic and Political Empowerment in Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar of Uttar Pradesh (2009-2013)

In partnership with the IKEA Foundation, the project aims to empower women through an integrated approach that enhances the incomes of women and helps them contribute effectively to decision making in the domestic and public spheres by 2013. more

State-Level Support to Livelihood Promotion Strategies in Rajasthan (2008-2012)

In partnership with the Department of Labour and Employment, Government of Rajasthan, the project aims to promote sustainable livelihoods for the poor and other vulnerable groups such as women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. more

Financial Inclusion (2009-2012)

In partnership with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the project aims to increase financial inclusion through developing appropriate financial products for the poor and strengthening financial literacy, particularly amongst women. more

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