Youth and Children Inclusiveness in Microfinance & Livelihood Approach
This paper discusses the youth & children inclusive livelihood and microfinance approach initiated by Save the Children US in Nepal. It demonstrates how youth and children/adolescents participate in livelihood activities and link with MFIs. Financial intermediary NGOs and savings and credit cooperatives partnered the organization in Nepal.
Key elements of the approach include learning sessions, training, mentoring, counseling and coaching of youth and adolescents to establish linkage with microfinance services. The specific objectives of the project are:
- Establishing community and microenterprises based learning centre;
- Providing business counseling to those wanting to or already engaged in microenterprise and self-employment activities;
- Developing vocational and microenterprise development skills of youth and adolescents on viable sub-sectors;
- Establishing linkages with microcredit for savings and loans for microenterprise initiation.
The initiative in Nepal has built confidence and capacity in youth and adolescents for livelihood readiness. Finally, the paper states that livelihood programs can be a success if were built to focus on three steps, namely, livelihood planning, readiness and access.
