Since joining Concern's liveihood programme, Mestawat Sorsa has acquired a donkey, a cow, and a sheep,.

Concern Livelihoods Fund

The Concern Livelihoods Fund will help 75,000 people who are impacted by climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, to improve their livelihoods through a variety of initiatives. This is an ideal opportunity for private sector companies to join together and deliver positive social, economic and environmental impact at scale.

Stronger together - delivering impact at scale

In these unprecedented times, Concern is inviting companies like yours to join with us to combat the devastating effects of climate change, COVID-19, conflict and other crises by supporting the communities who are worst affected. To do this, we have established the Concern Livelihoods Fund, with a target of raising €5 million, reaching 75,000 people over the next five years.

Your support for the fund will help people improve their livelihoods through a variety of initiatives, including technical skills training and small-business support, improved access to markets, and climate-smart agriculture. Together, and working with Concern, corporate Ireland can make a big impact on development issues.

What your support can do

Reach 15,000 households

You can join with other socially conscious companies to help us raise €5million over a period of 5 years, enough to reach 15,000 households. Each household equates to approximately 5 people.

With a package of supports

Transforming the lives of 75,000 people

13 year old Abinet, helps his mother, Workinesh Alto, to strip maize cobs in front of the new family home.

Abinet helps his mother, Workinesh to strip maize cobs. Workinesh set up her own business in the wake of taking part in the REGRADE program run by Concern. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide

Eliza Manjolo in her shop in Nsanje, Malawi. Photo: Chris Gagnon/Concern Worldwide

Why your support is so important

At the start of 2020, 643 million people were living in extreme poverty. With the combined impacts of climate change, conflict and COVID-19, the World Bank estimates that an additional 100 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty in the last year.

Concern has been working with extremely poor people for more than 50 years in the most vulnerable countries in the world. Our aim is to help people to develop the resources they need to move out of extreme poverty. We have decades of experience in implementing transformative livelihoods support programmes and now we are endeavouring to expand this effort considerably in the most fragile and insecure environments. This is extremely challenging but it is possible with the support of companies who intuitively understand the importance of factors such as skills training, access to capital, markets, and employment for individuals to thrive.

Concern staff member Timothy advises two farmers in Malawi.Photo: Chris Gagnon/Concern Worldwide

Aligning with your company values

Supports the 2030 Development Agenda

Significantly contributes to the achievement of a number of the Sustainable Development Goals, with considerable social and environmental impacts.

Alignment with the values of the Private Sector

Achieves more through collaboration

Creates value for companies supporting the Fund

Flexibility

Before and After: Patrick Ghembo in front of his destroyed crops in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, and one year later when his crops have recovered. Photo: Gavin Douglas / Concern Worldwide

37-year-old Mika Abdu proudly displays some of his short-season millet crop, grown from seeds supplied by Concern. Photo: Darren Vaughan/ Concern Worldwide

Additional benefits for your company

An annual progress report will be provided to all companies supporting the Fund which can be used as an internal and external communications tool
In-person briefing sessions will be available for the staff of all companies supporting the Fund, raising awareness of your CSR commitments
Staff Fundraising: opportunities will be provided to your staff to support the Fund directly through fundraising events designed to build team participation and to reinforce awareness of your CSR commitments
Visits to programmes: companies supporting the Fund at certain levels will be provided with an opportunity to participate in structured visits to a country where our livelihoods programme is being implemented.

Join Us!

We know that these issues are of critical importance to you and your stakeholders, and will be delighted to share regular reports on the difference that your support makes for the people at the sharp end of these crises.

You can contact our team please email Paul at paul.mcgrath@concern.net, or James at james.kitt@concern.net or you can register your company's interest below.