Community Based Livelihood Development for Women and Children in Swaziland (CBLD) Quarterly Report (January 1, 2016 – March 31, 2016)

The project is led by FHI 360 with TechnoServe as its main implementing partner. CBLD has three program objectives: to improve the livelihood capabilities of vulnerable households, particularly women and caregivers; to protect and promote the rights of women and children; and to strengthen the capacity and coordination of government, communities, and organizations to protect and promote the social and economic well-being of women and children. Project interventions reached 3,813 direct and 1,128 child beneficiaries under OVC Serve. Linkages to HTC services occurred under OVC Access, reaching 1,196 OVC Serve participants. Of those, 247 completed the referral resulting in 10 positives found. CBLD suspended traditional Gender Norms interventions due to mobilization difficulties, instead supporting the traditional Sidla Inhloko to address mobilization issues. During this reporting period, 313 new individuals were reached, with 58 meeting the minimum 10-hour requirement. The CBLD project has reached 14,350 individuals with interventions to increase access to income and productive resources for women and children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Fifty-four percent (7,728) of those were provided with economic strengthening services, and 12,713 individuals were reached with interventions increasing access to services addressing the legal rights and protection of women and children. Savings Groups completed their saving cycles in January, with share outs and reviews of membership and constitutions. As of March 2016, CBLD's saving groups, with a total membership of 678, have a cumulative SZL 395,021 saved and SZL 778,975 loaned. Eight saving group community facilitators were trained to provide post-CBLD support in the communities on monitoring, mobilizing, training, and supporting saving groups. The Enterprise Development (ED) programs focused in Malindza and completed markets and finance, acknowledging the 394 participants who completed the enterprise development training with certificates of attendance. CBLD also began providing more hands-on, targeted record-keeping trainings to 83 participants with active businesses. Initial spot checks of the Enterprise Development programs showed promising results, with participants demonstrating improved business management skills. The CBLD project has made significant progress in reaching vulnerable households, particularly women and caregivers, with interventions to improve their livelihood capabilities. The project has also strengthened the capacity and coordination of government, communities, and organizations to protect and promote the social and economic well-being of women and children.