For the past three decades, ActionAid Association has been deeply embedded in the semi-arid Bundelkhand region, grappling with acute poverty exacerbated by limited opportunities and employment options. This economic stagnation has driven significant migration from the area, highlighting the profound challenges faced by its 18.3 million residents, 79.1% of whom live in rural settings, with over a third classified below the poverty line.

The region’s environmental landscape is equally troubled, marked by severe water scarcity, deforestation, soil degradation from chemical inputs, and heightened vulnerability to climate impacts. These ecological strains have directly affected agricultural yields and livestock.

Compounding these issues is a deeply entrenched social and economic hierarchy, where dominant upper-caste and land-owning families wield disproportionate influence, perpetuating socio-economic disparities. Exploitative practices, such as arbitrary wage reductions for daily labourers, further exacerbate local hardships.

Out of these challenges, Spain’s la Caixa Fundacion, in collaboration with ActionAid International Federation member Alianza por la Solidaridad and ActionAid Association, launched an initiative that spans 40 villages across Jhansi, Mahoba, and Lalitpur districts. Working alongside grassroots organisations like Gramonnati Sansthan and Sai Jyoti Sansthan, ActionAid Association focuses on empowering vulnerable communities, particularly women, through tailored livelihood strategies. By encouraging women’s leadership and entrepreneurial skills, the project aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for marginalised farmers.

This report serves as a comprehensive documentation of ActionAid Association’s efforts in Bundelkhand, highlighting both the systemic and enterprise prototype models implemented to contribute to sustainable development. The systemic prototypes are designed to address underlying socio-economic challenges at a systemic level, influencing policies and practices that perpetuate poverty and inequality.

These prototypes aim to empower marginalised communities, promote gender equality, and advocate for sustainable agricultural practices. The enterprise prototypes focus on creating viable business models within the local economy. These models aim to generate income and employment opportunities through initiatives like the Basant

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