Agriculture
Plan International Canada works with young people and their families to develop solar irrigation alternatives and climate-smart agriculture solutions. In addition to being more sustainable and increasing production, these solutions help farmers manage the impacts of increased drought and unpredictable rains on their crops. We work with local farmers to develop production systems targeted to best respond to the impacts of climate change in their environment, while equipping them to adjust these systems to suit changing conditions over time.
Plan International Canada is also improving farmers’ access to weather and planting information, right from their phones, so that they can make the best farming decisions for their crops. To further support these agricultural changes, Village, Savings and Loans and Associations are formed, in many communities where we work, providing a tool for communities to collectively support each other and adapt through the financial shocks and stresses that climate change can cause.
Alternative Energy Solutions
Partnering with solar distributors, our programming is providing remote communities with affordable alternatives to light their homes. Our project trained young women to be renewable energy entrepreneurs to increase the last mile reach of household solar products.
Through awareness raising activities, informed communities are better equipped to tackle the negative impacts non-renewable resources (such as kerosene and wood fuels) has on the environment and their homes. Together we focus our efforts to provide alternative, renewable energy solutions to meet the needs of local communities and businesses. Already, more than 4,000 solar energy systems have been purchased by households allowing young people more time to study in the evenings, families, particularly girls to feel safer travelling through the community at night, and less use of harmful fuels.
Greening the economy
Plan International Canada is working to equip young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women with “Green Skills,” the education, skills and training needed to enter into a new, environmentally sustainable job market.
Youth are building their employability skills to enter the workforce or begin businesses in innovative green sectors such as solar panel repair and installation, irrigation technologies, or recycling. Equipped with the information and tools to capitalize on emerging market spaces, youth are being positioned to launch new agricultural and upcycling initiatives.
Combatting Child Early and Forced Marriage
Climate change can lead to shortages in agricultural production and increases the frequency and intensity of storms causing disasters, making it difficult for the most vulnerable to recover from the financial hardships caused by climate change. For families living in poverty, child marriage is often seen as a way to ensure their daughters will be taken care of and provided for.
Plan International Canada is working in these disaster-prone areas to support sustainable businesses and combat child marriage. Through sustainable enterprises such as aquaculture, saline-resistant agriculture and mangrove planting, young people, particularly girls and young women are increasing their economic opportunities, which provides an alternative to child marriage. This programming builds up communities to withstand disasters, while empowering girls to make informed decisions that affect their lives.
Supporting flood resilience
The climate emergency is increasing the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological impacts on the communities’ plan works with. These floods cause significant loss of infrastructure, livelihoods and assets which disproportionally affect vulnerable communities, women and girls.
When communities become flooded children may have restrictions on their ability to get to school, may not be able to access resources, may become ill due to waterborne diseases, or may not have the food and nutrition they need to survive. Through a partnership with Zurich Insurance, Plan International is working to generate evidence about the ways in which a given area or community are already resilient to floods, as well as providing a guide to further develop this resilience.