Livelihood Support Groups

What are Livelihood Support Groups?

Tearfund’s Livelihood Support Groups help people living in extreme poverty come together, share skills and build sustainable livelihoods. Groups learn practical skills such as sewing, craft-making and climate-smart farming.

Groups save money together and take small loans to start micro-businesses: selling food at market, making and selling clothes, creating real, lasting livelihoods and support networks that hold.

Gender inequality

Women are disproportionately excluded from markets, paid less than men, and have less access to assets such as land and finance. They do the bulk of unpaid farm and household work, leaving less time for market activities.

Livelihood Support Groups help women, their families and their communities. Tearfund strives to enable men and women to work together as equally-valued partners so that everyone can flourish.

Tearfund's approach to livelihood support

Led by the love of Jesus, we go to where the need is greatest. We walk alongside local churches and community partners to equip people with practical skills, helping them unlock economic opportunities and build resilient micro-businesses. By building on local knowledge and resources, our Transforming Communities programme enables families to break free from extreme poverty and shape their own flourishing futures.

1. Self-help groups
   We support people to save together, access small loans from their collective savings, and develop financial skills to manage their money. Through peer learning and mutual support, members can start or grow small businesses, improve their livelihoods and build stronger, more resilient communities
2. Business skills and enterprise growth
   We work with local churches and partners to help people develop business skills, start or grow small enterprises and identify opportunities to earn an income.
3. Agriculture and markets
   We support sustainable farming, access to markets and stronger value chains to help people improve their livelihoods and diversify income opportunities.
4. Sustainable enterprises and green livelihoods
   We support livelihood opportunities that benefit people and the environment, including sustainable enterprises, waste recycling, solar energy and green jobs.