The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) is a project of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) designed in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The project is in response to the limited readily available options for the “disadvantaged” (youth and women) in the rural and suburban communities to improve their means of livelihood and help them to live decent lives. LIFE-ND promotes community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities along key agricultural value chain as a mechanism for job and wealth creation amongst unemployed and underemployed youths and women-headed households.
The LIFE-ND Project adopts a Incubator model at the community level of the Local Government Areas, targeting core commodities of comparative advantage in such communities. LIFE-ND community beneficiaries are identified, trained and supported in different segments of Agriculture along the entire value chain. This support includes access to affordable agricultural inputs for sustainable production, agro-processing & packaging, transportation and link to competitive financing and markets. Through the LIFE Project, a robust production to marketing system that reduces food wastage and increase farm earnings for rural families is ensured.
TARGETING STRATEGY
- Promotion of enterprises responsive to women’s livelihoods such as production, processing and marketing of vegetables, fish, poultry, and honey, for income, household food security and nutrition;
- Time, venue and environment friendly events for women’s participation;
- Self-targeting of women’s only groups;
- Provision of at least 50 percent of leadership positions for women in commodity associations, and 30 percent of women in the project management team.
- Promotion of the use of Gender Action Learning System (GALS).
CORE INDICATORS
- 80 percent of direct beneficiaries (30,600) have increased their food security (reduction in length of lean/hungry season,
- Increase in number of meals per day, increased food diversity and quality by 50 percent.
- 80 percent of direct beneficiaries (30,600) have increased their assets (measured by an increased assets ownership index, based on additional assets) by 50 percent.
- 38,250 (IFAD 25,500 AND NDDC 12,750) direct LIFE-ND beneficiary households have stable income for enhanced food, security and sustainable livelihood.
- 50 percent increase in volume of produce by beneficiary Agri-entrepreneurs is realized.
- 50 percent increase in volume of marketed produce by direct beneficiaries./span>
- 25 percent value addition is realized through processed produce/product;
- 50 percent of rural institutions promoting youth-based profitable Agri-enterprises are supported and strengthened.
- 50 percent increase in profit is realized by direct beneficiaries engaged in Agri-enterprise.
- Beneficiaries are able to access over 36,000 ha (24,000 ha & 12,000 ha provided by IFAD & NDDC respectively) of land for agribusiness and
- 30 percent of direct beneficiaries are ICT empowered through the use of technologies.
