Prosperity, Resilience, and Community

Defining Prosperity 

In addition to asking about hopes for the future, in some cases storytellers were explicitly asked about how they define the terms prosperity and resilience. Prosperity is defined in many ways, but within those stories collected, it generally meant growth and improvement, having enough money to support themselves and their families, having a good quality of life, and/or hope for a better quality of life for their families. This sentiment is exemplified by this quote from an entrepreneur in Mozambique, “Prosperity, in my opinion, is the future, and the future is tomorrow. I want to see our living standards, hygiene, health, and education improve so that we might dream of a better future and the community's well-being.” 

Some other frequently cited definitions of prosperity include being able to provide for their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Others defined it as having a comfortable lifestyle with access to good healthcare, education, and other resources. Still, others sought to achieve their full potential and live a meaningful life. Many individuals define prosperity based on their business and finances, such as this storyteller from Cambodia, “For me, the word “prosperous” means having a business and money.” While a broad picture of prosperity can be painted from storytellers’ visions for the future, this picture still reflects many diverse specific priorities people cited when defining the concept. Figure 16 visualizes definitions of prosperity, showing the themes that emerged when clients were asked what prosperity meant to them.

The most prominent themes brought up were Education, Housing, Agriculture, and Finance (especially increased income). Increased income directly connected with improving their lives on these other themes, including improved assets such as housing or livestock, and education for family members. The following quote illustrates the broader significance of income for one farming family in Ethiopia, “With this income, I aspire to purchase oxen so that my children will be back home from working with wage labor, that way they can work on our own farmlands.”

Defining Resilience

Resilience was challenging for people to define and several of those interviewed stated that they did not know what it meant.  For example, in Mozambique, one participant answered, “Resilience? I’m not sure what it is or how to approach it.”  The Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia teams found that the word resilience was difficult to translate directly, and could be confusing to participants. Teams provided several examples and explanations of resilience to participants to overcome this challenge.

To some storytellers, resilience meant being able to cope with and overcome obstacles, to be persistent and determined in the face of challenges, and to find creative solutions to problems. Resilience was often talked about as linked with themes of prosperity, financial stability, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, as exemplified by this quote from a woman in Mozambique, “Resilience means knowing that the problem I had yesterday, I managed to solve.” These quotes paint a picture of resilience as something that can be achieved through hard work, determination, and support from family and community. 

Figure 17 illustrates themes that overlapped with resilience in stories. Some themes, such as Climate and Weather Impacts, Covid-19, and Conflict, were factors that people felt they were resilient against, represented by this quote from a farmer in Cambodia, “For me, resilient means persistent to the heat or flooding.” Other themes such as Land, Income, and Improved Agricultural Practices emerged as factors that made people feel more resilient when facing challenges.

For some, feeling resilient was a result of improved income, assets, and diversified sources of income. The following quote from an Ethiopian storyteller exemplifies that increased income connects to resilience and broader goals for them: “With improved income, I would like to invest in a grinding mill so that I could provide services to the surrounding community… This diversified income could make me a prosperous and resilient person.”

Barriers to Prosperity

147 individuals, almost 60% of respondents, discussed barriers they faced to achieving their goals. Figure 18 shows themes mentioned as barriers. Similar to definitions of prosperity, barriers encountered by individuals are varied and connect to many different domains of their lives.

Poverty is multidimensional and overall the data collected described a variety of barriers faced. In line with iDE’s focus on increasing income as its main desired impact, a lack of financial resources was by far the most commonly reported barrier. Financial barriers frequently overlapped with other themes as people often lack the capital/access to capital to start or expand businesses, invest in education or training, or access basic services like healthcare. Selection committees in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, and Nepal were also impressed by storytellers who overcame financial constraints when selecting MSC stories.

Beyond Finance, common barriers faced included Health, Gender Inequality, Climate and Environmental Impacts, Agriculture barriers, and Labor & Employment. For Health barriers, storytellers described illnesses or health challenges that prevented them or household members from doing productive activities. Storytellers also mentioned the costs associated with these health challenges prevented investment in businesses or other assets. With respect to gender, women shared how they faced discrimination in education, employment, and access to resources, limiting their opportunities for economic and social advancement. Environmental challenges, including droughts, floods, and heatwaves impacted crops, livestock, and homes. Additionally, a lack of employment opportunities and challenges employing others in businesses and farms posed challenges.

Barriers related to market access, input affordability, and product pricing posed significant challenges to agricultural productivity and income. Farmers often lacked access to markets due to poor infrastructure, high transportation costs, a lack of market information, or other causes. Additionally, the high cost of agricultural inputs, such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, often made it difficult for farmers to turn a profit. Farmers had difficulty finding stable places to sell their products at a fair price. These challenges can make it difficult for farmers to improve their livelihoods and contribute to economic growth. 

Apart from access to and participation in markets, storytellers also wanted training for business skills, including business management, financial literacy, and an understanding of relevant laws such as tax laws.

Community Support

When asked if respondents felt confident in achieving their goals for the future, many individuals stated that they did, in large part due to the support from their spouses, families, and the broader community. A pervasive theme across the gathered stories was mutual support within families and communities. Several people mentioned the importance of working together to support each other and build resilience in the community. One farmer said, "I am in a group of savings women… we work well, they trust and I coordinate another group where we prosper." The narratives consistently depicted instances where individuals relied on the backing of their families and communities for their businesses, fostering an environment of encouragement and resilience. This communal support appears to play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges and pursuing personal and entrepreneurial goals. 

Another trend among storytellers is their desire to contribute to social impact within their communities. Many expressed a commitment to giving back, as was evident in the testimonial from an entrepreneur in Bangladesh, “I am also committed to helping other women entrepreneurs succeed. I believe that every woman should have the opportunity to achieve financial independence. I wish to empower economically disadvantaged women and help them gain employment opportunities.” Across the world, entrepreneurs shared not only how they depended on support from their families and communities, but how they planned to use their businesses to give back.