Integrated Community Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Project (SAVE)

Project Overview

The SAVE initiative is a community-led development project designed to address the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, economic instability, and social vulnerability in rural Zambia. Operating within a region experiencing increasing pressure from informal mining, deforestation, and climate-related stressors, the project aims to build resilient, self-sustaining communities through integrated systems development.

The project will serve as a demonstration hub for regenerative livelihoods, combining agroforestry, enterprise development, water systems, and vocational training to reduce dependency on extractive activities while restoring ecological balance.

Community Context

The project operates in Chikwanda Chiefdom, a rural region with an estimated population of approximately 146,000 people, characterized by:

• High dependence on agriculture, forestry, and informal mining
• Increasing youth involvement in artisanal gold mining
• Limited access to stable income and formal employment
• Growing environmental degradation and declining land productivity

The rise of informal gold mining has created:

• Income instability
• Environmental damage
• Increased vulnerability among youth and households

The project directly targets:

• Women
• Youth
• Smallholder farmers
• Mining-dependent households

Ecological & Environmental Context

Ecosystem Type: Forest–agricultural landscape

Key Environmental Challenges:

• Deforestation
• Soil degradation
• Water scarcity
• Biodiversity loss
• Flooding
• Land degradation from artisanal mining

Primary Restoration Needs:

• Reforestation with indigenous and fruit trees
• Soil regeneration through regenerative agriculture
• Water harvesting and conservation
• Rehabilitation of degraded and mined lands

Integrated Project Systems

The SAVE project is structured as a multi-system community platform, designed to restore ecosystems while building sustainable livelihoods.

Agroforestry & Regenerative Agriculture

• Diversified crop systems (vegetables, legumes, staple crops)
• Soil restoration through regenerative practices
• Improved food security and land productivity

Nursery & Seedling Production System

• Community tree nurseries
• Production of indigenous and fruit tree seedlings
• Income generation through seedling sales
• Support for regional reforestation efforts

Water Systems Infrastructure

• Rainwater harvesting
• Water storage for agriculture and households
• Improved resilience to drought and climate variability

Vocational Training & Community Learning Hub

• Skills training for youth and women
• Enterprise development and business skills
• Demonstration site for sustainable practices

Women-Led Enterprises

• Production of reusable sanitary products
• Income generation and improved health outcomes
• Increased financial independence for women

Livelihood Diversification Systems

• Small livestock production (e.g., poultry)
• Beekeeping (honey production) and fish farming
• Community savings and lending groups
• Local market development and aggregation

Alternative Economic Pathways for Mining Communities

• Support for transition away from unstable mining income
• Development of parallel income streams
• Supply of food and goods to mining areas

Three Pillars of Sustainability

Social Impact

• Skills training and youth empowerment
• Women’s economic independence
• Strengthened community leadership and organization
• Reduced vulnerability linked to unstable mining livelihoods
• Youth engagement in climate action through sports

Environmental Impact

• Reforestation and agroforestry systems
• Restoration of degraded and mined land
• Improved soil health and land productivity
• Sustainable land-use practices
• Community-led environmental stewardship

Economic Impact

• Diversified income streams through:
• Agriculture
• Nurseries
• Livestock
• Women-led enterprises
• Development of local markets and value chains
• Reduced reliance on extractive industries
• Long-term reinvestment into community systems

Role Within the Country Platform

The SAVE project is positioned to serve as:

• A demonstration site for integrated rural development
• A training hub for agroforestry, enterprise development, and sustainability
• A seedling production center supporting regional restoration
• A model for livelihood transition in mining-affected communities

The project contributes to broader national goals by aligning environmental restoration with economic development and community resilience.

Collaboration & Partnerships

The project will collaborate with:

• Local CSOs and traditional leadership structures
• Farmer groups, youth groups, and women’s associations
• Regional development and environmental initiatives

Key collaboration areas include:

• Agricultural training and extension
• Reforestation and restoration programs
• Market access and value chain development
• Knowledge exchange across projects

Key Needs & Opportunities

To achieve scale and impact, the project requires:

• Technical training in agroforestry and enterprise systems
• Access to quality seeds, tools, and greenhouse infrastructure
• Water system development
• Market access and business development support
• Capacity-building and knowledge exchange partnerships

Vision (5–10 Years)

The long-term vision is to reach over 15,000 people through replication and scale, establishing:

• A resilient local economy not dependent on extractive industries
• Restored ecosystems supporting sustainable livelihoods
• A regional model for integrated development in mining-affected communities
• A community-driven system that can be replicated across Zambia and beyond

Summary

The SAVE project represents a highly scalable, integrated approach to rural development in a region facing increasing environmental and economic pressure. By combining ecosystem restoration with livelihood diversification and community empowerment, the initiative aligns directly with Collaborative for Change’s model of building self-sustaining, regenerative community systems.