Thriving Communities, Healthy Landscapes
We're helping more than two million farmers embrace more sustainable growing practices that can help build resilience to climate change and boost yields.
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What's at Stake
Across the tropics, farming and forest communities face a daily struggle to cover life’s basic needs. Breaking the cycle of rural poverty—and tackling the ensuing impacts for people and nature—is critical for a more sustainable future for us all.
RURAL POVERTY, DEFORESTATION, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Rural poverty is at the root of many of our most pressing global challenges, from child labor and poor working conditions to deforestation for agricultural expansion. Economic desperation exacerbates these complex issues, which are deeply embedded in global supply chains. The result is a vicious cycle of environmental destruction and human suffering.
Our Work: Livelihoods
The Rainforest Alliance partners with frontline communities to build thriving rural economies rooted in more sustainable growing practices and forest stewardship. We also promote responsible business practices to ensure that companies recognize and reward sustainability transformation—in the field as well as the boardroom.
Our Work to Improve Rural Livelihoods
To improve rural livelihoods, we foster deep collaboration between farmers, civil society organizations, companies, and governments.
Our Work with the Global Living Wage Coalition
The Rainforest Alliance believes that workers around the world should be paid enough money to provide a decent life for themselves and their families.
All resources for Livelihoods
Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods Program (MSulli)
Mount Kenya is one of East Africa’s most biologically significant landscapes: a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose forests, rivers, and farmlands sustain biodiversity, water security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. As one of Kenya’s five major water towers, it provides vital water resources to millions of people and supports important food systems for the country […]
The huge new change to chocolate in UK supermarkets from 2027
Lab-grown cocoa is emerging as a potential solution to climate-driven supply risks, but raises concerns for smallholder farmers. Rainforest Alliance warns that without safeguards, innovation could undermine livelihoods, calling for investment in farmers alongside new technologies.
Chocolate giants back UK regulation to help small farmers as deforestation rules bite
Rainforest Alliance is featured in the UK Cocoa Coalition, where growing calls for stronger due diligence on deforestation-linked commodities take center stage. Owen Gibbons says certification matters, but lasting progress will require mandatory regulation and shared responsibility to support smallholders.
Rainforest Alliance Calls on Industry to Protect Farmer Livelihoods as Cocoa Prices Fall
The Rainforest Alliance is calling on chocolate manufacturers, traders, and retailers to look beyond short-term market prices and help ensure greater income stability for cocoa farming families as cocoa prices remain volatile, threatening to undo years of hard-won progress across West Africa and beyond.
Project Profile: FLOURISH (Financial and Livelihoods Opportunities Using Regenerative Innovations for Sustainable Households)
he FLOURISH project addresses socioeconomic challenges faced by women and youth in farming communities who are marginalized despite their critical role in global supply chains.... Continue Reading
Project profile: LandRISE
Landscape-Driven Resilience and Income Strategies for Community Empowerment (LandRISE) is a one-year initiative that aims to support economically vulnerable communities within five ecologically significant agricultural landscapes. ... Continue Reading