Elizabeth Alex is a young lady of 23 years from a small village in Mvomero District. Together with her family, she cultivates crops such as cardamom and cocoa. But in recent years, farming has become increasingly difficult. Cocoa yields declined, and the soil grew harder to manage. Like many others in her village, she depended entirely on agriculture. But the future looked uncertain.

Elizabeth recalls: “The rains often came too late. And when they did, they caused more damage than help.”

In October 2023, Elizabeth joined the Sustainable Community Development (SUCODE) project after it was introduced during a village assembly. Her village is one of 15 villages where the project is being implemented. SUCODE aims to empower rural communities to develop their own strategies for adapting to climate change through community building, knowledge sharing, and hands-on training.

As an active member of the local Madibu group, Elizabeth attended numerous trainings on organic farming methods, agroecology, sustainable soil management, and the establishment of tree nurseries. Her commitment did not go unnoticed: before long, fellow group members elected her as a Farmer-to-Farmer Trainer. It is a key role in which she shares her knowledge with others and strengthens the community.

With support from the SUCODE project, Elizabeth has achieved remarkable progress. She has introduced improved farming techniques in her village, established two new farmer groups with a total of 48 members, planted more than 4,500 tree seedlings, and inspired initiatives in savings, entrepreneurship, and local leadership.

“Today, I do not only grow healthier, organic cocoa. I also help others make their farms more climate-resilient and sustainable,” Elizabeth says proudly.

Her story shows how communities can be empowered through knowledge, trust, and local leadership. SUCODE invests in the skills of local people, turning them into active architects of their own future.

The Sustainable Community Development (SUCODE) project is kindly supported by the Austrian Development Agency and Land Vorarlberg.

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