Sustainable Livelihood Approach
Introduction
In recent times, thinking about poverty and sustainable development has begun to converge around the linked themes of vulnerability, social protection and livelihoods. This has been accompanied by the development of a variety of approaches to analyse situations and assess the likely impact of project interventions. These include vulnerability analysis, social analysis/social impact assessment and sustainable livelihoods approaches (sometimes referred to as livelihood security or livelihood systems approaches).
Box 1
Meaning of Sustainable Livelihood
Livelihood
A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means for living. It is deemed sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shock and maintain or enhance its capabilities, assets, and activities both now and in the future, while not understanding the natural resources base.
Defining ‘sustainable livelihoods’
Whatever their precise terminology, most agencies’ definitions state that:
■ A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living.
■ A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from external stresses and shocks, and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets now and in the future.
The Sustainable Livelihood Approach
The sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) is a way of thinking about the objectives, scope, and priorities for development activities. It is based on evolving thinking about the way the poor and vulnerable lives their lives and the importance of policies and institutions.
It is a way to improve understanding of the livelihoods of poor people. It draws on the main factors that affect poor people's livelihoods and the typical relationships between these factors. It can be used in planning new development activities and in assessing the contribution that existing activities have made to sustaining livelihoods.
It helps formulate
In recent times, thinking about poverty and sustainable development has begun to converge around the linked themes of vulnerability, social protection and livelihoods. This has been accompanied by the development of a variety of approaches to analyse situations and assess the likely impact of project interventions. These include vulnerability analysis, social analysis/social impact assessment and sustainable livelihoods approaches (sometimes referred to as livelihood security or livelihood systems approaches).
Box 1
Meaning of Sustainable Livelihood
Livelihood
A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means for living. It is deemed sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shock and maintain or enhance its capabilities, assets, and activities both now and in the future, while not understanding the natural resources base.
Defining ‘sustainable livelihoods’
Whatever their precise terminology, most agencies’ definitions state that:
■ A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living.
■ A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from external stresses and shocks, and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets now and in the future.
The Sustainable Livelihood Approach
The sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) is a way of thinking about the objectives, scope, and priorities for development activities. It is based on evolving thinking about the way the poor and vulnerable lives their lives and the importance of policies and institutions.
It is a way to improve understanding of the livelihoods of poor people. It draws on the main factors that affect poor people's livelihoods and the typical relationships between these factors. It can be used in planning new development activities and in assessing the contribution that existing activities have made to sustaining livelihoods.
It helps formulate