Story Highlights

• An initiative from the Government of Lesotho, in partnership with the World Bank, the Economic Inclusion Program is helping beneficiaries establish businesses in various sectors such as poultry, catering, and dress-making.
• The program seeks to make social assistance more efficient and fair, especially for vulnerable families and people with disabilities. It integrates social protection with economic empowerment to meet immediate needs and strengthen long-term resilience.
• An impact evaluation will measure how effective and sustainable the program is as it grows to include a second group.

Forty years ago, Cristian Castañeda's parents arrived in the municipality of Calamar in the department of Guaviare, Colombia, in search of job opportunities and better life conditions. Cristian had the opportunity to study Agricultural Business Administration while his parents began their participation in the Forest Conservation and Sustainability in the Heart of the Amazon project, financed by the GEF under the supervision and technical assistance of the World Bank and as part of the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program.

Advancing the project's goal of improving governance and promoting sustainable land use activities to reduce deforestation and conserve biodiversity, Cristian's parents signed conservation, restoration, and non-deforestation agreements. Cristian returned home inspired by his parents' work, and since 2021 he has been part of the project team, offering technical assistance to other families like his.

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

Conserving Biodiversity

Fortunately, Cristian is not an exception. The project, through its implementation mechanisms, directly involves community, indigenous and non-indigenous leaders as team members or local service providers. These groups of people have served as local facilitators, field assistants, traditional knowledge holder, technical experts in forest use, biodiversity monitors and watchmen, as well as cooks and drivers in the territory.

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

This strategy has also expanded opportunities for women, recognizing their distinct roles in biodiversity conservation. Of the total number of people employed, almost a third have been women.  They have become an example for others in the region, as mentioned by Maria de los Ángeles Cadena Tovar, local facilitator for the implementation of the management plan of the Miraflores Picachos Park. "This project has allowed women in the area to also feel supported because before it was mostly men the first to be hired for field work with long walks. Right now, seeing that women are hired for these tasks and that we can do them, gives more personal security to women in the area. They realize that nothing is impossible, that everything in life can be done."

Capacity in The Local Labor Market

Fortunately, Cristian is not an exception. The project, through its implementation mechanisms, directly involves community, indigenous and non-indigenous leaders as team members or local service providers. These groups of people have served as local facilitators, field assistants, traditional knowledge holder, technical experts in forest use, biodiversity monitors and watchmen, as well as cooks and drivers in the territory.

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

The world is entering an inflection point with AI and we'll focus on channeling these breakthroughs into applications to deliver positive impact. Across Southeast Asia, women's workforce participation generally lags behind men's. When we spoke to women about being driver partners, many liked the flexibility but our concern that driving would be unsafe for them. Lily from Kuala Lumpur is a mother and grandmother. She became a Grab driver partner for the flexible work hours. She often works late in the evening, sometimes until 1:00 AM, and naturally her children worry. We hear them. Even when 99.9% of all rides on Grab take place with no safety incidents, we know that even one incident is one too many, so we continue to so we continue to double down on safety innovations. Fortunately, Cristian is not an exception. The project, through its implementation mechanisms, directly involves community, indigenous and non-indigenous leaders as team members or local service providers. These groups of people have served as local facilitators, field assistants, traditional knowledge holder, technical experts in forest use, biodiversity monitors and watchmen, as well as cooks and drivers in the territory.

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

This strategy has also expanded opportunities for women, recognizing their distinct roles in biodiversity conservation. Of the total number of people employed, almost a third have been women. They have become an example for others in the region, as mentioned by Maria de los Ángeles Cadena Tovar, local facilitator for the implementation of the management plan of the Miraflores Picachos Park. "This project has allowed women in the area to also feel supported because before it was mostly men the first to be hired for field work with long walks. Right now, seeing that women are hired for these tasks and that we can do them, gives more personal security to women in the area. They realize that nothing is impossible, that everything in life can be done."

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

This strategy has also expanded opportunities for women, recognizing their distinct roles in biodiversity conservation. Of the total number of people employed, almost a third have been women. They have become an example for others in the region, as mentioned by Maria de los Ángeles Cadena Tovar, local facilitator for the implementation of the management plan of the Miraflores Picachos Park. "This project has allowed women in the area to also feel supported because before it was mostly men the first to be hired for field work with long walks. Right now, seeing that women are hired for these tasks and that we can do them, gives more personal security to women in the area. They realize that nothing is impossible, that everything in life can be done."

In Cristian's words, the experience "has been much easier for me because I grew up in the countryside, and the connection and familiarity with the people generates a lot of trust when entering the territory."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

This strategy has also expanded opportunities for women, recognizing their distinct roles in biodiversity conservation. Of the total number of people employed, almost a third have been women. They have become an example for others in the region, as mentioned by Maria de los Ángeles Cadena Tovar, local facilitator for the implementation of the management plan of the Miraflores Picachos Park. "This project has allowed women in the area to also feel supported because before it was mostly men the first to be hired for field work with long walks. Right now, seeing that women are hired for these tasks and that we can do them, gives more personal security to women in the area. They realize that nothing is impossible, that everything in life can be done."

Cristian started as a local facilitator, then was promoted to technical support professional, and is now the lead professional in the restoration process in the Charras Boquerón area in the department of Guaviare. For Cristian, "It has been a wonderful and enriching experience, as it has allowed me to gain experience, improve my professional skills and be able to contribute both to the objectives and goals of the project and to the restoration."

Under this mechanism, the technical and administrative capacity remains in the territory. The project is enriched by experts who have knowledge of the local context and enjoy the trust of the communities. In total since 2016, 2,822 people have been hired to join the project team. The modalities of recruitment and remuneration are adjusted to the nature of each role and responsibility, but thanks to the project, the supply and capacity in the local labor market has increased, as well as income sources for the communities.

The world is entering an inflection point with AI and we'll focus on channeling these breakthroughs into applications to deliver positive impact. Across Southeast Asia, women's workforce participation generally lags behind men's. When we spoke to women about being driver partners, many liked the flexibility but our concern that driving would be unsafe for them. Lily from Kuala Lumpur is a mother and grandmother. She became a Grab driver partner for the flexible work hours. She often works late in the evening, sometimes until 1:00 AM, and naturally her children worry. We hear them. Even when 99.9% of all rides on Grab take place with no safety incidents, we know that even one incident is one too many, so we continue to so we continue to double down on safety innovations. Fortunately, Cristian is not an exception. The project, through its implementation mechanisms, directly involves community, indigenous and non-indigenous leaders as team members or local service providers. These groups of people have served as local facilitators, field assistants, traditional knowledge holder, technical experts in forest use, biodiversity monitors and watchmen, as well as cooks and drivers in the territory.