Sustainable Livelihoods and Micro-Enterprise Promotion in Plaridel

Executive Summary

As Plaridel transitions into a more urbanized area, it is imperative that the municipality understand its existing livelihood assets and challenges so as to protect current livelihoods and increase livelihood opportunities. Ensuring sustainable livelihoods for Plarideleños is very important for the development of a strong municipality. Achieving this can lead to poverty reduction and strong citizen participation within Plaridel.

This project was aimed at understanding the current livelihood situation in Plaridel, how it could be improved, and recommending actions for the municipality to undergo to ensure and promote sustainable livelihoods for all Plarideleños.

Using a mixed method approach, the report highlights many of the key assets, challenges/limitations and also opportunities that Plaridel has in order to improve upon the current efforts targeted at developing sustainable livelihoods.

The key findings focus on developing micro-enterprises in Plaridel, as a strategy to promote livelihoods and to reduce poverty.

The recommendations draw on important topics as participatory governance, multi-sectoral partnerships, participatory methods, and community based knowledge. The key recommendations in the report include developing short, medium and long term plans for Plaridel in regards to: creating a livelihoods strategy council which includes civil society participation, developing a public market strategy and branding Plaridel as an organic destination; re-framing and restructuring the current livelihood trainings; and building up community organization capacity.