Towards Income Generating Activities In Battambang, Cambodia (TIGA) Introduction Method Results Figure 1: AVERAGE CHANGE IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF QUALITY OF L IFE 560 targeted persons in the TIGA project increased their quality of life (49%of them were women, 70% mine/ERW survivors and 30% relatives of persons with disabilities. The estimated failure rate of IGA was very low, below 5% and mainly due to external factors. Areas of major changes were household budget & community participation. First collaboration established with MFIs, commune apprenticeship workshops, large dissemination of service directory OEC has now increased its capacity to implement and fundraise for similar projects. It submitted three proposals mainstreaming persons with disabilities, targeting 20%. If funded, OEC is ready to implement inclusive livelihood projects; with HI providing only ad-hoc technical support. … Title Significant capacity development of HI and OEC staff during first year on disability, livelihoods methodologies, business development, tool development (including baseline) Support for persons with disabilities to launch an IGA. On one hand, this included business support via technical training, business management training, provision of professional kits and orientation to access microfinance institutions. On the other hand, it included social support via home repair, accessibility, hygiene training and referral to health & rehab services. Implementation of awareness raising activities, referral and dissemination of information among the general population, local authorities & mainstream service providers. Ensuring a real and sustainable impact in living conditions TIGA worked with mine survivors, other persons with disabilities and their families to identify key areas of action for them to improve their overall quality of life. This included direct support when necessary, and referral to access a wide range of specialized and mainstream health, social, training and business services. Specific tools and methodologies were developed to define “quality of life” in the context of rural Battambang. A baseline was established and complemented by an end-of-project study to evaluate and demonstrate the impact on the project via clear quality of life indicators. The TIGA project, financed by the European Union, was designed with a comprehensive approach to increase the income, social participation and overall quality of life of mine survivors, other persons with disabilities and their families. Conclusion TIGA achieved its objective of improving quality of life in a sustainable manner through a comprehensive approach targeting economic, social and health aspects. Strengthening the capacities of OEC, working with local authorities and mainstream stakeholders, TIGA also contributed to inclusive development and established a basis for replication. In addition, the experience strengthened HI team’s skills on mainstreaming disability into livelihood. In future HI’s role will evolve in its role from direct implementer to facilitator of knowledge transfer to persons with disabilities and local stakeholders. Authors : Wanda Muñoz, Ulrike Last 1 Opération Enfants du Cambodge Photo credits : © Teng Kimsean, HIF Cambodia © Wanda Muñoz, Handicap International “For all of my life, my family had to take care of me. At 49, I have become the main bread-winner. I never lack customers. Neighbors come to visit; they never use to do so before. Learning through peer training, having a sewing machine adapted to my capacities and an accessible toilet has changed my life. I enjoy so much my work that when I go to bed I dream that it is already the next day, so I can start sewing again!” –Ms. Mao Objective Overall objectives: Reduce the social exclusion and poverty of persons with disabilities and mine/ERW victims: survivors, families Improve the capacities of local stakeholders to understand and responds to the rights and needs of this group. Specific objectives: Improve on the long term the living conditions of persons with disabilities and mine/ERW survivors Increase access to sustainable livelihood opportunities Reinforce the capacities of the local NGO partner to run sustainable socio-economic projects Thailand Lao Viet Nam