Program Pillar

Socio-Economic Empowerment & Livelihoods

Creating pathways out of poverty through skills training, enterprise support and economic inclusion — so that the leadership and health gains in our other pillars have something stable to stand on.

The challenge

Skills without a market are a dead end

Vocational training alone rarely changes a household's economic position if there is nowhere to sell what was learned. ACV pairs skills training with savings structures and market linkages, so a new skill turns into income, not just a certificate.

ACV Livelihoods Programme

How we work

What this program actually does

Each activity below is designed to reinforce at least one other ACV pillar — nothing here runs in isolation.

Savings & Micro-Enterprise Cooperatives

Community savings groups that pool small contributions into a shared fund, used in rotation to start or grow small household enterprises.

Vocational & Entrepreneurship Training

Practical short courses in trades and small-business basics — pricing, record-keeping, customer service — matched to demand in the local market.

Market Linkages

Direct connections between cooperative producers (agricultural and craft) and buyers, including local markets and, where feasible, institutional buyers.

Financial Literacy Workshops

Practical budgeting, savings and basic-records training aimed at households managing irregular, informal income.

Why it matters

Measured against real change, not activity counts

Indicative figures from current and recent programming — refreshed as each cohort or season closes.

0active savings & micro-enterprise cooperatives

0vocational training cohort completed to date

0+households reached through financial literacy sessions

0market linkage partnerships established for cooperative goods

Part of a bigger model

Livelihoods is where every other pillar pays off

An educated young leader, a healthier household and a more food-secure farm all eventually need one more thing — a stable income. This pillar is designed to be that final, connecting piece.

Education & Youth Capacity Building

Equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and leadership platforms to drive change in their own communities.

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Nature Protection & Biodiversity Conservation

Protecting and restoring the Congo Basin's ecosystems around Virunga through community-led conservation.

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Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security

Building climate-resilient, food-secure communities through regenerative farming and agro-ecology.

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Community Health & Well-Being

Promoting holistic health for vulnerable communities, with particular attention to women and children.

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Make it possible

Help this program reach the next community

This work is funded season by season, cohort by cohort. Here is how to be part of the next one.

Volunteer your skills

Share your expertise with ACV's youth teams — from agronomy to graphic design, remote or on the ground.

Get involved

Partner with us

NGOs, foundations and institutions: co-design a program, fund a pillar, or join a technical partnership.

Start a conversation

Support the work

Every contribution funds tree nurseries, school materials, clinic supplies and farmer training kits.

Ways to give