Feasibility assessment of livelihood situation and opportunities of rural communities using mixed-methods approach to aid implementation of Save The Children’s SMARTPUR program
Client Name: Save the Children, India
Location: Andhra Pradesh (Nellore), Assam (Dhemaji), Maharashtra (Nashik), and Rajasthan (Dungarpur)
Background Context: Save the Children was implementing the SMARTPUR intervention with a gender-sensitive livelihood approach to address the structural barriers for rural communities. The intervention was planned to be implemented in 60 villages in 1 district each in Andhra Pradesh (Nellore), Assam (Dhemaji), Maharashtra (Nashik), and Rajasthan (Dungarpur) over 15 months. The program was aimed to be contextually relevant, gender-sensitive, equitable and efficient while strengthening the six pillars of development – education, livelihoods, governance, financial inclusion, and healthcare.
Objectives
Development Solutions was commissioned by Save the Children to conduct a formative assessment for guiding the intervention design and implementation. The overarching goal of the assessment was to understand the scope for livelihood promotion in target geographies with differences in opportunities for girls, women, and youth for developing district-specific recommendations. The specific study objectives include:
- To understand the existing capacities, skill requirements and aspirations of the target group.
- To assess the existing awareness about government skill development programs for women, adolescents and youth.
- To map livelihood portfolio and opportunities, and further understand the needs and aspirations of the community with a special focus on adolescent girls and young women.
- To assess the specific and accessible gender-segregated market demand of current and new attainable skill bases that could help generate livelihood opportunities for the youth and adolescents.
- To explore the role and capacities of existing SHG platforms in supporting the skill building and livelihood generation activities.
Approach and Methodology
- Method/ Design: Mixed-methods: Secondary review; in-depth primary data collection (quantitative and qualitative); triangulation of secondary and primary data. A threefold framework was used to assess the sector and industry needs, community perception and aspirations, existing skill gaps and enabling environment and identify appropriate livelihood opportunities for the targeted community.
- Key Respondents/ Informants: Adults (women and men), adolescents (girls and boys) youth (girls and boys), state government officials, district officials, representatives of key regional industry promotion boards, representatives of regional vocational and industrial training institutes, program managers of federations/SHGs operating in target villages, SHG members, community representatives/influencers
- Key Areas of Inquiry: Respondents’ socio-economic profile; access to finance, women’s agency and mobility; status of education attainment; skills and aspirations of young people, access to social institutions and government skill development programs, upcoming opportunities of employment
- Sample: Quantitative (2883), Qualitative (121)
Impact
Contact
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