Our Work
Programme Areas
Our programmes are designed to uplift communities, strengthen local capacities, and promote sustainable development across all aspects of life.
Community-Led. Locally Rooted.
VVD works with Indigenous communities in Ukhrul and Kamjong to strengthen livelihoods, empower women, protect natural resources and build strong local self-governance.
Our programmes recognise that livelihoods, climate, natural resources, community institutions and social inclusion are closely connected. VVD therefore works with communities through participatory processes that combine Indigenous knowledge, practical capacity building and community ownership.
Climate Change & Livelihood
VVD promotes sustainable livelihood opportunities that strengthen household income, food security and resilience while helping Indigenous communities respond to changing climatic conditions.
Explore Programme →Expand locally suitable livelihood and income opportunities.
Strengthen practical knowledge, production and enterprise skills.
Promote climate-smart and resource-efficient practices.
Reduce livelihood risks through diversified household income.
Key Interventions
Women Empowerment
VVD promotes gender equality, social inclusion and the leadership of Indigenous women by strengthening their economic opportunities, collective institutions and participation in community development and governance.
Explore Programme →Strengthen women's Self Help Groups and collective action.
Develop leadership, financial literacy and enterprise skills.
Support livelihoods, savings and women-led micro-enterprises.
Increase women's participation in community institutions and decisions.
Key Interventions
VVD encourages women's active participation in Village Authorities, Village Assemblies, community committees and local decision-making processes, strengthening their role as leaders and contributors to community development.
Natural Resource Management
VVD supports Indigenous communities in the sustainable management, conservation and restoration of land, forests, water and biodiversity that are central to livelihoods, culture and community identity.
Explore Programme →Map natural resources, boundaries and water recharge areas.
Protect forests, water, soil and community resources.
Rejuvenate springs and restore degraded landscapes.
Strengthen community rules and collective stewardship.
Key Interventions
VVD works with communities to strengthen local protocols and village regulations for forests, water resources, grazing lands and common property resources, placing long-term stewardship in the hands of local institutions.
Strong Local Self Governance
VVD strengthens Indigenous local self-governance by supporting leadership, participatory decision-making and community ownership of development processes.
Explore Programme →Bring community institutions and local stakeholders together.
Strengthen planning, management and institutional skills.
Facilitate dialogue and inclusive community decision-making.
Enable communities to manage institutions and development priorities.
Key Interventions
In community-led processes concerning territorial and boundary issues, VVD serves as a facilitator rather than a mediator. Traditional knowledge, oral histories and customary landmarks are jointly documented and mapped using GPS, followed by open community consultations and consensus-building. The process focuses on what is right rather than who is right.