LIKHÂ
The Global Artisan Inc.
(
Private sector
)
#SDGAction59508
Description
LIKHA exists to disrupt cycles of poverty by turning traditional Filipino craftsmanship into a source of sustainable income and pride. We partner with artisan communities - mostly women in underserved rural and urban areas - to co-create fashion and lifestyle pieces that reflect culture, dignity, and purpose. Through ethical production, fair wages, and steady access to global markets, we transform handmade goods into vehicles for economic empowerment and long-term resilience. Rooted in the belief that economic inclusion drives systemic change, LIKHA works to shift power and value back to communities historically excluded from global supply chains. Our model prioritizes SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), while also advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through small-batch production and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by amplifying underrepresented voices, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through support of rural and urban artisan clusters. By reimagining the role of cultural heritage in modern retail, we aim to build a more inclusive and resilient future - one handcrafted piece at a time.
LIKHÂ implements its mission through a holistic, community-led model that integrates ethical production, design collaboration, and market access. Our methodology is grounded in the following pillars:
- Community Co-Creation: We engage directly with artisan groups to co-design products that reflect both cultural heritage and contemporary market trends. This ensures relevance, ownership, and pride in the work created.
- Skills & Capacity Building: We invest in ongoing training programs focused on craftsmanship, quality control, financial literacy, and small business development to help artisan partners grow.
- Ethical Production & Livelihood Generation: We commit to fair wages, transparent timelines, and respectful working conditions - ensuring that every order contributes directly to stable, dignified income for artisans.
- Sustainable, Small-Batch Manufacturing: We produce in limited quantities using natural or responsibly sourced materials, reducing waste and honoring the slower pace of handcraft.
- Market Integration: We connect artisans to global buyers in the retail and hospitality sectors through direct wholesale, curated collaborations, and digital platforms, driving steady demand and long-term economic resilience.
- Monitoring Impact & Learning: We track artisan income, production consistency, and qualitative indicators like confidence and leadership within communities. Insights inform our strategy and enable continuous improvement.
We are deeply committed to empowering our artisan communities through sustainable, values-driven capacity-building initiatives. Our programs provide ongoing training on workers' rights, workplace safety, business transparency, and design innovation - all designed to support artisans not only as makers but as leaders and entrepreneurs within their communities. Additional training in financial literacy, pricing, and livelihood development is offered to strengthen long-term economic independence. To support technology transfer, we introduce user-friendly digital tools and materials that enhance production efficiency, improve product consistency, and create safer, more responsive working conditions. This includes mobile-based communication for remote coordination, digital order tracking, and training on new materials and techniques that align with evolving market trends. Our approach is rooted in co-creation and mutual respect. We view knowledge transfer as a way to uplift, not replace, traditional skills and cultural heritage. By investing in both people and tools, we aim to foster self-reliant, resilient communities capable of thriving in both local and global markets.
LIKHÂ operates through a collaborative, community-first approach that centers long-term relationships with artisan groups, suppliers, and global partners. Coordination across our value chain is driven by the following mechanisms:
- Local Artisan Groups: We work directly with organized artisan groups and community leaders who coordinate production timelines, quality control, and skill-building workshops on the ground.
- Cross-Functional Team Oversight: Our internal team manages production planning, market alignment, and partnership development, ensuring a consistent feedback loop between makers and markets.
- Ethical Sourcing Framework: We maintain a traceable and transparent sourcing system rooted in fair trade principles, with a strong emphasis on materials that are natural, locally available, and sustainably harvested.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Impact is tracked through artisan income data, order consistency, and livelihood indicators, with annual assessments to adapt programming and scale what works.
- Strategic Partnerships: We actively engage with mission-aligned buyers and partners, as well as capacity-building organizations to strengthen market access and community resilience.
These mechanisms ensure that LIKHÂ remains grounded in its commitment to economic justice, while scaling impact through inclusive and values-aligned collaboration.
LIKHÂ evaluates its impact through a multi-dimensional framework that blends quantitative tracking with community-centered storytelling. Our evaluation covers five key areas:
1. Demography
- Artisan Communities: We monitor the number of artisan communities and individual artisans we work with, including the extended impact on their families and local economies.
2. Economic Security Metrics
- Fair Wages: Artisan income is benchmarked against the local minimum wage to ensure compensation meets or exceeds legal standards.
- Artisan Hours: We track the number of hours generated per artisan, recognizing that artisans are paid per piece and that consistent work is a key driver of economic stability.
- Total Purchase Orders: We record and review purchase orders to evaluate the volume and distribution of work across communities.
3. Empowerment Metrics
- Satisfaction: We collect feedback on artisans' satisfaction with their work, creative fulfillment, and sense of purpose.
- Capacity Building: We track the number of training sessions delivered, participation rates, and measurable improvements in product quality and production efficiency.
- Impact Investment: A percentage of our profits is reinvested into community initiatives, such as workshop improvements, training programs, and ethical compliance upgrades.
- Improved Quality of Life: Surveys and interviews assess changes in well-being, food security, health, and household income over time.
4. Sustainable Development
- We assess our use of natural, locally sourced materials and encourage zero-waste or low-impact production practices in collaboration with our artisan partners.
5. Feedback & Storytelling
- We regularly conduct interviews and story collection to better understand artisans’ lived experiences, aspirations, and evolving needs. These stories provide essential context to the data and ensure we remain human-centered and culturally respectful in our approach.
NEST Guild, Fair Trade Federation, Vital Voices, Miller Center for Global Impact, Powered by People, Social Enterprise World Forum, Tory Burch Foundation, SOCAP, Kiva, MassChallenge, Catalyst Now, Community Crafts Association of the Philippines, Inc., Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Textile Research Institute, local government units and nonprofits, retailers, corporate partners, artisan communities
SDGS & Targets
Goal 1
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
1.1
By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
1.1.1
Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
1.2
By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
1.2.1
Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age
1.2.2
Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
1.3
Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
1.3.1
Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable
1.4
By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance
1.4.1
Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services
1.4.2
Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure
1.5
By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
1.5.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
1.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP)
1.5.3
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
1.5.4
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
1.a
Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions
1.a.1
Total official development assistance grants that focus on poverty reduction as a share of the recipient country’s gross national income
1.a.2
Proportion of total government spending on essential services (education, health and social protection)
1.b
Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions
1.b.1
Pro-poor public social spending
Goal 8
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
8.1
8.1.1
Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita
8.2
Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
8.2.1
Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person
8.3
Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
8.3.1
Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex
8.4
Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.4.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
8.4.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
8.5
8.5.1
Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities
8.5.2
Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
8.6
8.6.1
Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training
8.7
Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
8.7.1
Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age
8.8
Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
8.8.1
Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status
8.8.2
Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status
8.9
By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
8.9.1
Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate
8.10
Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all
8.10.1
(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults
8.10.2
Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider
8.a
8.a.1
Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements
8.b
By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization
8.b.1
Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy
Goal 10
Reduce inequality within and among countries
10.1
By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
10.1.1
Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
10.2
By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
10.2.1
Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
10.3
Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
10.3.1
Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed within the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law
10.4
Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality
10.4.1
Labour share of GDP
10.4.2
Redistributive impact of fiscal policy on the Gini index
10.5
Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations
10.5.1
Financial Soundness Indicators
10.6
10.6.1
Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations
10.7
Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies
10.7.1
Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of montlhy income earned in country of destination
10.7.2
Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people
10.7.3
Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destination
10.7.4
Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin
10.a
10.a.1
Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariff
10.b
10.b.1
Total resource flows for development (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows)
10.c
By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent
10.c.1
Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted
Goal 11
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
11.1
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
11.1.1
Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing
11.2
11.2.1
Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.3
11.3.1
Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
11.3.2
Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
11.4
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.4.1
Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)
11.5
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
11.5.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
11.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP)
11.5.3
(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
11.6
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
11.6.1
Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
11.7
11.7.1
Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.7.2
Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
11.a
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.a.1
Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space
11.b
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
11.b.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
11.b.2
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
11.c
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.1
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
12.1.1
Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
12.3
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.3.1
(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.4.1
12.4.2
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.6.1
12.7
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.7.1
Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans
12.8
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.8.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
12.a.1
Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)
12.b
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability
12.c
Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
12.c.1
Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Feedback
Action Network
Share
Timeline
Entity
Region
- Asia and Pacific
- North America
Other beneficiaries
Our primary beneficiaries are Filipino artisan communities - many of whom are women and informal workers from underserved rural and urban areas. These artisans specialize in traditional crafts such as weaving, wood carving, and natural fiber work, and often face limited access to stable income or global markets. Secondary beneficiaries include artisans’ families and local communities, who benefit from increased economic activity and impact reinvestment. Buyers and partners also benefit by gaining access to ethically made, culturally rich products that support the Sustainable Development Goals.
More information
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Contact Information
Nathalie Llorente-Lim, Founder & CEO