Food Security and Livelihoods

Helping communities build lasting food security and sustainable livelihoods across Somalia and Kenya.

We support agriculture, income generation, and market-based approaches that turn short-term recovery into long-term self-reliance.

Building Livelihoods That Last

Recovery from crisis means more than surviving today — it means having the means to provide tomorrow. ARD supports communities to improve food security and build sustainable livelihoods, moving families beyond dependence on aid and toward lasting self-reliance. Our work spans agriculture, income generation, and market-based approaches tailored to the realities of each community we serve.

We recognize that no two communities face the same challenges. Some need support to restore agricultural production after drought or displacement; others need access to markets, tools, or skills to build entirely new sources of income. Our programmes are designed around these differences, not a single fixed model.

Livelihoods rebuilt today become the foundation for resilience tomorrow. A family that can grow, earn, and trade is a family far better equipped to withstand the next shock — whether drought, displacement, or economic hardship. This is the shift we work toward with every programme: from surviving crisis to building a future beyond it.

MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS

Connecting households to functioning local markets.

AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

Restoring production with tools, seeds, and training.

INCOME DIVERSIFICATION

Building multiple pathways to household income.

WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Prioritizing access for women-led households.

CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES

Building resilience against drought and shocks.

LOCAL OWNERSHIP

Training communities to sustain progress independently.

What We Provide

AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

For many households, farming remains the backbone of survival, yet drought, displacement, and conflict can strip away the tools and inputs needed to produce food. We provide seeds, tools, and agricultural training that help families restore production and build resilience against future shocks. Our support is tailored to local conditions, helping farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable growing seasons.

INCOME GENERATION

A single source of income is rarely enough to withstand crisis. We support households and women’s groups with training, start-up grants, and small business support that diversify income and reduce dependence on any one source. These programmes are designed to build skills that last well beyond the life of a single grant or training session.

MARKET ACCESS

Even a thriving farm or business struggles without access to functioning markets. We work to connect households to local markets, strengthen value chains, and support market-based approaches that allow families to earn, trade, and reinvest. This market-driven focus helps ensure that economic recovery is sustainable, not dependent on continued external support.