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A boy smiles as he picks corn in a cornfield.

Livelihoods

We’re in a global food crisis made worse by conflict, climate change and economic challenges. Families are struggling, and child hunger is robbing girls and boys of their one chance to grow up healthy. Our work focuses on getting people the resources they need to survive today, while building toward a future where families are economically empowered with sustainable livelihoods. One where they can provide for their children and withstand the challenges that come. Whether they’re farmers or entrepreneurs, approaches like microfinance, savings groups and cash assistance help families break out of poverty.

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invested

$242.1 million

focused on Livelihoods

130 programs

people reached

4,527,483
Change

In Pillaro, Ecuador, the proportion of trained community members, including children, who are aware of disaster risk reduction strategies increased from

40% to 53.8%Pillaro | 2019-2024
Change

In Pillaro, Ecuador, the proportion of households reporting strong economic resilience increased from

0.6% to 3.2%Pillaro | 2022-2024
Progress

1,044,762people benefited from cash transfers, allowing them to meet their immediate household needs.

Progress

1,992,415people benefited from the provision of in-kind food assistance.

Progress

181,332people received support with agricultural resources, including large and small livestock, tools and seeds.

Connected Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goal 01 logo: No povertySustainable Development Goal 02 logo: Zero hungerSustainable Development Goal 05 logo: Gender EqualitySustainable Development Goal 13 logo: Climate action
Learn how we're working to achieve them

Explore our investments and results

Explore our investments and results options

Real impact measured

  • 2024 analysis of our Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration approach (see page 98 of the FY24 annual results report) in 40 projects across 19 countries showed that for every $1 invested, $2.06 is generated in economic and environmental benefits like increased income from crops and timber.
  • 2024 analysis of our Ultra-Poor Graduation model in 26 projects across six countries showed that for every $1 invested, $3.10 is generated in economic and health benefits—including 242 children’s lives saved over three years.
  • 2024 analysis of our 14 livestock transfer and training projects across nine countries showed that for every $1 invested, $2 is generated in economic and health benefits—including 353 children’s lives saved over five years.

Videos

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Global Challenges

Hunger remains at an all-time high as global food security continues to fall
Food security is increasingly challenging for people around the world. Rising food and energy prices, armed conflicts, and the effects of
climate change are all magnifying hunger and malnutrition worldwide. An estimated 281.6 million people in 59 countries are faci... ...
Economic empowerment for increased financial resilience
Extreme poverty was recently in global decline, dropping from 10.1 per cent to 8.6 per cent between 2015 and 2018. However, the effects of conflict, climate
change and inflation have severely stunted the gains. The global economy shows slow recovery with global output for 2023 estimated to be 3.4 ... ...
Preparing for uncertainty in the face of climate change
Approximately one billion children live in the 33 countries classified as “extremely high-risk” for climate change impacts. Between climate change,
urbanization and an overall lack of disaster preparedness worldwide, natural hazards such as droughts, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis are b... ...
Two young girls smile at each other as they stand in a grass field with a bicycle.

Approach and Strategy

Our Goal

Families become economically self-reliant with the ability to provide for their children—both now and in the future

Equip families and individuals with resources and training, focusing on the economic empowerment of women and youth
Join forces at the community level to build sustainability and resilience
Strengthen gender-responsive food and market systems to support the most vulnerable
Using holistic, evidence-based approaches, we help families in dire need affirm their dignity and become economically self-reliant, with the means to provide
for their own children—both now and in the future.... ...
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Investments and Results

In 2024, more than $242 million was invested in 130 programs focused primarily on livelihoods approaches. These programs reached 1,254,717 girls, 1,185,648 boys, 1,129,808 women, and 957,310 men. The majority of these investments were directed toward the most fragile (71 per cent) and very low developing countries (16 per cent).

Looking ahead, our goal for 2025 is to support at least 4.7 million people through livelihoods-focused initiatives.   Economic empowerment remained a key
priority, with an increasing number of individuals actively participating in savings groups and financial literacy programs. The number of active s... ...
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Progress

Change

Efforts put in by families and communities over the past several years have contributed to measurable positive change. Here are some recent livelihoods examples.

Stories

Two women smile as they stand in front of a colourful commercial sign. The woman on the left holds a tray of baked goods.

Esther, a 23-year-old baker and pharmacy student from Peru, used the support of World Vision’s Youth Ready program to help prepare her to launch and run her bakery. Now one enterprise supports the other with proceeds from her bakery helping to pay for her studies.

Read more(link opens in new tab/window)
A woman wearing a colourful read shirt smiles as she holds up a melon.

At a glance, food insecurity and hunger may sound like the same thing. Not quite. Food insecurity is about the economic and social circumstances that prevent access to the nutritious food necessary for a healthy life. Unfortunately, the trend is on the rise—around the world.

Read more(link opens in new tab/window)
A young girl carrying a bag walks along a raised platform above floodwaters.

Climate change is negatively affecting the livelihoods of communities around the world. The poorest communities bear the brunt of the impact. But with tactics such as disaster preparedness and climate-smart agricultural methods, these communities can build sustainable livelihoods.

Read more(link opens in new tab/window)
Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2023 and September 2024, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.