Empowering Samkhuy Village through Community-Led Change and Gender-Inclusive Leadership

Women-Led Management Committee: With project support, women received training to manage the Community Fisheries (CFi), leading to more women actively engaged in community management. This has strengthened local leadership, increased community trust, and fostered their participation in village activities.

Creation of a Learning Hub: The CFi established a learning hub, where local skill sets have been identified and pooled together to take roles in peer-to-peer learning, to improve knowledge for improved governance, financial management, and natural resource conservation. This hub empowers villagers, especially women, to take ownership of their community’s development.

Fundraising and Self-Financing Initiatives: The new leadership has successfully led fundraising efforts, creating sustainable development opportunities. A savings group was established, providing a self-financing mechanism for local initiatives and financial risk management.

Recognition as a Local Champion: Samkhuy CFi is recognized for its proactive knowledge sharing and resource management. The women-led committee has secured endorsements and support from local authorities, opening new partnership opportunities.

Sustainable Livelihoods and Conservation: Residents are deeply connected to their land and water. With 82 hectares of community-managed fisheries and a 3.5-hectare deep pool conservation area, the community preserves its biodiversity, including key fish species such as Scaphognathops stejnegeri, Dangila lineata, and Kryptopterus micronema, and other aquatic animals. Farming, primarily rice, vegetables, and livestock, is the main source of income, supplemented by fishing.

Read the original article