Save a Family Plan

Published purpose

The “Sustainability through Participation, Empowerment and Decentralization” (SPED) program supports 27 regionally based NGO partners in 12 States of India to implement approximately 3,000 village-level socio-economic development initiatives in 540 villages, reaching over 400,000 individuals. These initiatives target the most marginalized populations, including (but not limited to) the poor, women, minorities, and members of the lowest social castes. The program trains Community Facilitation Teams (CFTs) as they in turn train local communities to form Village Actions Teams (VATs) and undertake initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. Areas of poverty reduction initiatives include off farm livelihoods, agriculture, watershed management and irrigation, basic and non-formal education, health and hygiene promotion, gender mainstreaming, environment protection, and human rights advocacy.