Community Based Livelihood Development for Women and Children in Swaziland (CBLD) Quarterly Report (April 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016)

The project is led by FHI 360 with TechnoServe as its main implementing partner. CBLD has three program objectives: (1) to improve the livelihood capabilities of vulnerable households, particularly women and caregivers within these households; (2) to protect and promote the rights of women and children; and (3) 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. During the reporting period of April 1, 2016 – June 30, 2016, project interventions reached 5,010 beneficiaries under OVC Serve. Linkages to HIV testing services (HTS) occurred under OVC Access, reaching 1,673 OVC Serve participants. Of those, 301 completed the referral resulting in 14 positives found. CBLD continued its collaboration with traditional community leaders on supporting the traditional Sidla Inhloko as a means to address mobilization issues around Gender Norms discussions. During this reporting period, 157 new individuals were reached, with a cumulative 290 completing the minimum 10-hour requirement at the time of the reporting. The CBLD project has reached 16,827 individuals with interventions that aim to increase access to income and productive resources for women and children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Sixty percent (10,039) of those individuals were provided with economic strengthening services, and 13,099 individuals were reached with interventions meant to increase access to services that address the legal rights and protection of women and children. As of June 2016, CBLD's saving groups, with a total membership of 830, have a cumulative E563,741 saved and E948,125 loaned. The seven saving group community facilitators that are supported through CBLD capacity building efforts, and through a fee for service model, received E1,160 during their first months of receipt of fees. CBLD provided nutrition-related programming to 406 direct beneficiaries, supporting 629 indirect beneficiaries. The program continues to see an increase in demand for permagardens, an 80% continuation rate of our gardens more than three months post training, efforts to make their own seedlings, and a continued increase in water harvesting practices, use of grey water, and deep root watering systems. The effects of the drought continue to be felt with our value chain farmers due to lack of/poor harvest, adjusted planting/types of crops, and overall low morale. During this quarter, the horticulture value chain saw 5 farmers harvesting butternut, sweet potato, green beans, and sweetcorn, earning an average income of E2,269/farmer. CBLD's saving groups have shown significant progress, with a cumulative savings of E563,741 and loans of E948,125. The project's nutrition-related programming has also seen an increase in demand for permagardens, with an 80% continuation rate of our gardens more than three months post training. The horticulture value chain has also shown some success, with 5 farmers harvesting and earning an average income of E2,269/farmer. The CBLD project continues to work towards its objectives, with a focus on improving the livelihood capabilities of vulnerable households, protecting and promoting the rights of women and children, and strengthening the capacity and coordination of government, communities, and organizations. The project's interventions have reached a significant number of beneficiaries, with a focus on economic strengthening services, legal rights and protection, and nutrition-related programming. The effects of the drought continue to be a challenge for the project's value chain farmers, with a lack of/poor harvest, adjusted planting/types of crops, and overall low morale. However, the project continues to work towards its objectives, with a focus on supporting the farmers and improving their livelihoods.