The livelihoods approach
The document discusses key concepts related to the livelihoods approach. It defines a livelihood as comprising capabilities, assets (both material and social), and strategies. A sustainable livelihood is one that can withstand stresses and shocks while maintaining or enhancing capabilities and assets over time without damaging natural resources. Assets include human, financial, social, physical, and natural capital. Poor households employ various strategies to raise income or lower expenditures such as casual labor, scavenging, migration for work, and reducing spending on goods and services. The goals of livelihoods are more income, well-being, reduced vulnerability, food security, and sustainable resource use. It also briefly mentions the poverty/disability cycle.
The livelihoods approach
- 1. The Livelihoods Approach Basic concepts and definitions Jorge Carrillo-Rodriguez Social Development Advisor Capacity Building Workshop on “Action Research on Disability, Poverty and Livelihoods” Bangkok, 16-18 January 2012
- 2. Key Concepts A livelihood comprises o Capabilities o Assets (material and social) o Strategies A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from external stresses and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets now and in the future while not undermining the natural resource base.
- 4. Assets (capital) Human: Skills, Knowledge, Information, Ability to work, Health Financial: Savings, Credit, Remittances, Pensions Social: Networks, Groups, Trust, Access to services Physical: Infrastructure, Transport, Shelter, Natural: Land, Water, Wildlife, Biodiversity, Environment
- 5. Strategies used by poor households Mainly urban Urban and rural Income raising • home gardening • domestic service - e.g. cleaning • processing, hawking, vending and childcare (esp. girls and • transporting goods women) • casual labour/piece work • urban agriculture • specialised occupations (e.g. tinkering, food preparation, shoe- • renting out rooms shining, prostitution) • child labour • mortgaging and selling assets • selling children into bonded labour • migration for seasonal work • seasonal food for work, public works & relief Lowering expenditures • changes in purchasing habits (e.g. small frequent purchases, • scavenging rather than cheap bulk buys, and/or poorer quality food) • cutting transport costs (e.g. • stinting on goods and services (e.g. buying less and/or cheaper walking to work) food) • discrimination and triage (e.g. giving less food to weaker/ less favoured household members). Social capital • mutual help e.g. loans from friends or saving groups • community kitchens (comedores • family splitting (e.g. putting children out to others) populares) • remittances from household members working away • shared childcare
- 6. Livelihood outcomes More income Increased well-being Reduced vulnerability Improved food security More sustainable use of the natural resource base
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