Climate & Resilience Training and Natural Resource Management

Natural resources are essential for the farmers and communities we work with. By managing our natural resources more effectively, through training on best practices, we are able to run projects sustainably and stay within environmental limits. We believe communities can live off their environments without depleting their natural resource capital. iDE ensures programs cannot be impacted by dwindling natural resources such as water and arable lands.

For example, in Mozambique, iDE set up 400 farmer field schools across 12 districts in four provinces to increase knowledge and awareness of affordable technologies to achieve higher production using fewer resources. In total, 250 lead farmers trained some 16,000 smallholder farmers (59 per cent women-led businesses.)  

iDE uses a comprehensive, layered approach to building resilience and boosting livelihoods. For example, in the case of essential oil distillation, iDE supports community forest groups by restoring derelict or building new distillation units. We train members on how to identify and sustainably harvest essential oil crops (e.g. lemongrass, eucalyptus, curry leaves, mint and chamomile) while avoiding cutting down forests; improving yields and the quality of essential oils; storing and creating desirable products; and connecting farmers with traders and markets.

At the same time, multiple-use water systems are a community-led water resource management technique where groups collectively operate a water collection and distribution system that provides water for both household and agricultural use.

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