International Institute Of Rural Reconstruction
Our mission is to empower rural people to build resilient communities and attain socioeconomic equity through creative and community-led action.
“I am the head of our family...Farming is very difficult now because of the long dry season and rain is very limited. My family has no choice but to work outside the village as a wage laborer. This is why I am very happy that I was selected to receive goats so that I will no longer depend on farming. Goats are very good animals to keep here in our village.” - Daw Ngwe Po
Through our Climate Smart Village (CSV) model, IIRR works closely with farmers to identify climate-smart agriculture options in order to build resilient farming systems.
In the Myanmar dry zone farmers participated in small-scale homestead goat rearing. Goats are a promising resource as they don't require much water and feeds can be grown in homesteads. They multiply quickly and provide meat to the village.
Daw Ngwe Po was one of the women in this program. She received two goats in February 2019 and she now owns a total of 6 goats including 4 newborns. She no longer has to rely solely on farming.
Financials
Programs
Biointensive Gardening
Last year 4.3 million people in rural Zimbabwe faced high levels of acute food insecurity and need emergency food assistance. The ongoing pandemic has only exacerbated this need.
IIRR, alongside WICO, implemented a Bio-Intensive Gardening (BIG) project in Shurugwi District. BIG utilizes a Regenerative Agriculture Approach, which is not only more sustainable, but also yields a greater volume of crops than older farming techniques.
Farmers were able to intensify their production, feed their families, and even produce a surplus to sell in local markets - meaning farmers are able to generate additional income.
It is hoped that the BIG project’s locations will also serve as a learning center for rural communities from surrounding areas, so that these principles and techniques can be shared. However, further support of the BIG project is required for BIG to be scaled up and out.
Stop Violence Against Women and Girls Project
IIRR implemented the ‘Stop Violence against Women and Girls’ project in the Northern Kenyan counties of Samburu, Marsabit, and Isiolo. This project seeks to raise awareness about reproductive health and gender-based violence, as well as to advocate for gender equality. In particular, this initiative aims to improve access to support services in psycho-social, medical, and legal categories. IIRR’s program coincides with Kenya’s national commitment to invest $23 million by 2022 and a further $50 million by 2026 to help fight gender-based violence.
In 2020, over 8,400 community members were educated on the negative consequences of sexual and gender-based violence in their communities. Overall, through this project we have touched the lives of 16,196 people in Northern Kenya, contributing to a more equal and safe future for women’s health and equality in the region.