What is UDYAMA All About?
UDYAMA is all about facilitating local action and global networking to promote risk-informed, resilient development. It’s a vibrant initiative focusing on livelihoods, climate adaptation, inclusion, and innovation—all geared towards contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization works closely with rural, tribal, and urban communities, ensuring that every effort is pro-poor, pro-people, and planet-friendly. Founded back in 1997, UDYAMA’s core mission revolves around strengthening and building capacities within local communities, helping them rejuvenate their ecological, economic, and human capital by making the best and most sustainable use of local resources. The goal? To shift mindsets from dependency to self-reliance, fostering true community resilience.
Main Benefits and Key Achievements
UDYAMA’s impact is both broad and deep. Here are some standout figures that showcase their work:
- 3500 micro-model water projects including dug wells, percolation tanks, community ponds, water harvesting, and recharge systems.
- 25 community-based organizations (CBOs) federated together to scale up livelihoods.
- 2000 distressed migrants who have self-engaged in sustainable livelihood activities.
- 200 women collectives actively involved in various initiatives.
- 20,000 hectares of land adopted for resilient farming practices.
- 500 hectares of pulses cultivated under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
- 1000 hectares dedicated to local biodiversity protection.
- 2500 home solar lighting systems installed for women’s empowerment.
- 3000 fuel-efficient cooking stoves distributed under the LEDS program.
UDYAMA’s Broader Objectives
UDYAMA doesn’t just focus on income or short-term fixes. It takes a broader view of poverty and poverty alleviation—one that goes way beyond just money. The organization highlights the crucial role of local context and how it shapes the asset base of communities. Their mantra? “No Action is Small, Small Is Big.” They give space to local perspectives and emphasize local action, categorizing strategies that make up livelihoods. The approach is integrated, uniting economic development with inclusion processes, building on what already exists rather than reinventing the wheel.
Strategic Approaches Driving UDYAMA
The organization follows four strategic directions to fulfill its vision and mission:
- Program diversity with value-based assurance and insurance.
- Creating an enabling environment for micro-macro linkages.
- Institution building, process development, and partnership cultivation.
- Promotion of alternative and local-specific development processes.
These strategies ensure that UDYAMA’s work remains relevant, adaptive, and deeply rooted in community needs and realities.
Mission and Vision: Guiding Lights
UDYAMA’s mission is clear: to embrace integrated and convergent actions embedded in community-led programs that promote innovation and inclusion. They facilitate networking among people for collective action aimed at reducing disaster risks—whether natural, climate-related, or human-made—and achieving sustainable livelihoods, gender rights, and equitable development.
The vision? To ensure an improved quality of life for vulnerable and marginalized smallholders through livelihood enhancement and enhanced resilience for risk reduction. It’s about creating lasting change that empowers communities to face challenges head-on.
Linking UDYAMA’s Work to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
Connecting with Communities for Lasting Change
At its heart, UDYAMA is about people—working directly with communities and partner organizations to build capacities and foster resilience. The organization believes in cultivating commitments for insulating solutions that strengthen community resilience. By focusing on local resources and knowledge, UDYAMA helps communities adapt to vulnerabilities and changing circumstances, turning challenges into opportunities. It’s a dynamic process, one that’s constantly evolving but always grounded in the belief that “No Work Is Small, Small Is Big.”
