🧩 Gertraud Faltermeier on Strengthening Rural Communities Beyond Crisis

Resilience has become a central topic across development projects, yet it is often treated as a technical issue rather than a lived reality. In this interview, Gertraud Faltermeier, advisor and long-time practitioner in rural development, explains why building resilience means empowering people to adapt and act — not just protecting them from shocks.

Drawing on years of experience, she reflects on how communities began rethinking their independence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to imported food and inputs became uncertain. Since then, resilience has evolved into a key element of advisory work: helping rural households reduce vulnerability, strengthen local supply chains, and develop systems that can sustain themselves in the face of crises.

Her message is clear: resilience is not built by projects but by people. Development cooperation can provide knowledge, networks, and confidence — but long-term stability grows from within communities themselves.

🎙️ Recorded at the SNRD Africa Conference 2025

🕒 Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:20 How resilience became a core topic
1:40 Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
3:00 Local independence and adaptation
5:00 Why resilience must grow from within

✅ To see more testimonial videos from the conference, go to the SNRD Africa Youtube channel – it includes also a playlist from the working group.