Livelihoods and Jobs

Creating Employment & Jobs to Fight Poverty

Women entrepreneurs are vital to economic growth, yet continue to face persistent barriers—especially in accessing finance. This article explores how Learning Networks, like WE Connect in Vietnam, bring together ecosystem actors to co-create practical solutions. Through shared knowledge, innovation, and partnership, these networks can drive inclusive finance and long-term success for women-led enterprises.
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Credibility is the key to unlocking crucial sustainability impacts. Embedding trust and confidence, credible sustainability systems help governments and businesses address today’s most urgent challenges. Patrick Mallet, ISEAL’s Innovations Director, explains what credibility is and why it’s so important.
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Women play a vital yet often overlooked role in agriculture and climate resilience. CottonConnect CEO Alison Ward highlights how women cotton farmers are disproportionately impacted by climate change—and why they must be central to sustainability strategies. Through education, training, and recognition, women can lead transformative climate action from the ground up.
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Sales agent models have the potential to improve access to goods and services while creating economic opportunity for women and youth. Drawing on work from Rwanda and Mozambique, TechnoServe’s Sophie Duchanoy and Sarah Bove share three key factors in making these approaches work.
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As expectations rise and regulatory demands grow, businesses must strengthen their ability to manage social impact. This article outlines three key priorities for companies: addressing core worker concerns like wages and job security, using social data to inform decision-making, and building relationships across systems to tackle complex issues like forced labour and living wage.
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Social Impact Pioneers Megan Spurgeon and Scott C. Miller talk economic empowerment, workforce development and overcoming poverty in the U.S
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Social Impact Pioneer Christina Mawuse Gyisun, Co-Founder of Sommalife, joins us to talk about the shea industry in West Africa and how she and her team are increasing market access, and securing the future of an industry, by better supporting female smallholder farmers.
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Werner Wallner, Hilti Foundation; Amalia Johnsson, Hand in Hand International; and Payal Dalal, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. Listen in to explore how microentrepreneurs can be the catalyst for economic growth, the systemic shifts needed to empower them, and the emerging trends shaping their future.
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As 2025 begins, businesses must shift from strategy to action on sustainability, resilience, and social impact. With support from Business Fights Poverty Institute Fellows, this article outlines five key priorities, including reimagining resilience, scaling regenerative solutions, aligning social and environmental goals, advancing living wages, and leveraging collaboration as a competitive edge. The year ahead offers a critical opportunity to drive meaningful, systemic change.
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Antoinette Marie, Director of Heifer Labs, and Sander de Jong, Managing Director of Fairfood talk blockchain, supplychains and food.
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Who comes to mind when you imagine a confident entrepreneur? A Silicon Valley tech bro or navy-suited executive in a Western business hub, most likely. But zoom out to the Global Majority and you’ll see something incredibly powerful and systemically ignored: women entrepreneurs leading sustainable businesses with exceeding vision and drive.
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A new white paper from Heifer International and Fairfood International outlines a strategy to help suppliers and companies ensure farmers in commodity supply chains receive sustainable, living incomes. The paper details two open-source methodologies for determining actual production costs and efficiency for more transparent pricing and sustainability.
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It is well established that women and girls experience poverty in greater numbers than men and boys. This “feminization” of poverty presents itself in many forms, with women worse off when it comes to access to credit, land ownership and the impacts of climate change. But rather than seeing women as victims, a growing movement within the international development sector recognises them as the key to change.
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A new report from 60 Decibels reveals insights from 3,000 coffee farmers in Uganda and Rwanda, highlighting the challenges and opportunities within the coffee supply chain. While profitability and financial security remain elusive for many, farmers show resilience and commitment. By prioritizing farmer voices and wellbeing, the coffee industry can foster greater sustainability and equity.
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Empowering Africa’s youth is key to combating violent extremism. By fostering sustainable livelihoods, promoting gender equality, and addressing environmental challenges, TechnoServe is creating brighter futures. Through cross-sector collaboration with trusted local partners, we can unlock the potential of Africa’s youth, driving positive change and reducing extremist influence across the continent.
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Implementing a living wage is challenging, particularly across diverse economic contexts. One promising solution to contribute to the living wage agenda is transitioning to digital wage payments, which offer greater transparency, security, and data accuracy for both workers and businesses.
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How can we support the 600 million smallholder farmers around the world to meet and respond to the challenges of climate change? This article explores two carbon innovations in the Philippines and Ghana that are tackling these challenges by incentivizing smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart practices and boost their incomes.
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Explore Dr. Martin Burt’s insights on empowering the poor through business and capitalism. Discover how innovative strategies and the Poverty Stoplight model can transform poverty relief, emphasising the role of businesses in fostering economic growth and self-sufficiency. Learn how a shift in perspective can help eradicate poverty.
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Global supply chains have historically sidelined Mexican Smallholder farmers but they are now at the forefront of an agricultural transformation. Discover how a unique partnership between multinational buyers and local farmers is steering the adoption of regenerative practices that enhance food security and promote environmentally positive practices.
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Celebrate the Fairtrade Foundation’s 30th Anniversary and explore its impact on global trade. Fairtrade supports over 2 million farmers and workers, addresses climate change challenges, and promotes fair wages. Discover consumer power in transforming trade systems and ensuring sustainable futures for beloved products like coffee.
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What do we mean by "Livelihoods and Jobs"?

Discover how job creation is a pivotal strategy in the global fight against poverty. Promoting employment opportunities fosters economic stability and growth.

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