Enhancing and opening up new opportunities for communities to address livelihood issues is a critical area of attention, at a time when income disparities in Kenya are increasing. We recognize that marginalized areas are largely dependent on natural resources and the environment for their livelihoods. In many parts of Kenya, the number of people living in absolute poverty is on the rise.

From a human rights perspective, livelihoods interventions are founded on the belief that livelihood is an essential right of all human beings to realizing equal opportunity. Poor people do not have life choices, nor do they have opportunities. Ensuring that a poor household has a stable livelihood will substantially increase its income, and over a period of time, ownership of assets, promote dignity and encourage social participation.

Our livelihoods thematic area seeks to promote economic growth targeting the ‘bottom of the pyramid’ who do not have the purchasing power to buy the bare necessities of life – food, clothing and shelter. KCDF shall facilitate livelihood creation interventions in urban areas, marginalized communities, arid and semi-arid areas.

Under this thematic area, the key interventions will include;

• Increase investments in knowledge and skills in communities to assess and monitor possible risks to their livelihoods.
• Strengthen and promote social infrastructure for community self-organizing such as cooperatives, sacco’s and other community structures to enhance their productive potential and sustainability.
• Promote measures to enhance food productivity, value addition and access to markets, credit and finance. 
• Promote enterprise development for increased participation in the market place and increased household incomes. 
• Invest in the provision of a diverse range of employment opportunities, income and financial services.
• Strengthen linkages between communities and external actors – governments, market players, development partners.
• Support measures to increase public investments to increase access to physical assets and services.