sustainable livelihood framework sr 1227325121783906 8

8/6/2019 Sustainable Livelihood Framework Sr 1227325121783906 8

1/32

Compiled by S.Rengasamy Madurai Institute of Social Sciences 1

The Sustainable Livelihoods FrameworkThe Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

ItsIts ONE WAYONE WAY of organising theof organising the complexcomplexissues surroundingissues surrounding POVERTYPOVERTY

ItsIts NOTNOTthethe ONLY WAYONLY WAY ItItneeds to beneeds to be::

o ModifiedModified

o AdaptedAdaptedo MadeMade appropriateappropriate toto local circumstanceslocal circumstanceso MadeMade appropriateappropriate toto local prioritieslocal priorities


2/32


Livelihood- DefinitionsDefinitions

The definition used by Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID)incorporates these sentiments 'A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (including both material

and social resources) and activities required for a means of living. Alivelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stressesand shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both nowand in the future, while not undermining the natural resource base'(Chambers, R. and G. Conway, 1992).

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) differentiates between a job

and a livelihood, which are often used interchangeably. Jobs

"A job connotes one particular activity or trade that is performed inexchange for payment. It is also a formal agreement, as manifested by acontract, between an employer and employee...... . A job can, however,comprise part of an overall livelihood, but does so only to complementother aspects of a livelihood portfolio.

Livelihoods"A livelihood, on the other hand, is engagement in a number of activitieswhich, at times, neither require a formal agreement nor are limited to aparticular trade. Livelihoods may or may not involve money. Jobsinvariably do. Livelihoods are self-directing. ....

Livelihoods are based on income derived from "jobs", but also on incomesderived from assets and entitlements. "

"a means of living or of supporting life and meeting individual andcommunity needs"


3/32


Livelihood"A livelihood, on the otherhand, is engagement in anumber of activities which,at times, neither require aformal agreement nor are

limited to a particulartrade. Livelihoods may ormay not involve money.

Jobs invariably do.Livelihoods are self-

directing. .... . Livelihoodsare based on incomederived from "jobs", butalso on incomes derivedfrom assets and

entitlements. "

Job"A job connotes oneparticular activity or tradethat is performed inexchange for payment. It

is also a formalagreement, as manifestedby a contract, between anemployer andemployee...... . A job can,

however, comprise part ofan overall livelihood, butdoes so only tocomplement other aspectsof a livelihood portfolio.

Livelihood & Job


4/32


PrinciplesPrinciples

People-centred: beginning by understanding peoples priorities

and livelihood strategies. Responsive and participatory: responding to the expressed

priorities of poor people.

Multi-level: ensuring micro-level realities inform macro-levelinstitutions and processes.

Conducted in partnership: working with public, private andcivil society actors.

Sustainable: environmentally, economically, institutionally, andsocially.

Dynamic: ensuring support is flexible and process-oriented,responding to changing livelihoods.

Holistic: reflecting the integrated nature ofpeoples lives anddiverse strategies.

Building on strengths: while addressing vulnerabilities.


5/32


Livelihoods AssetsLivelihoods Assets

Financial CapitalSavings Credit/debt

formal, informal, NGOs

Remittances -Pensions -Wages

Natural CapitalLand and produce

Water & aquatic resources

Trees and forest productsWildlife

Wild foods & fibres

Biodiversity

Environmental services

Social CapitalNetworks and connections

Patronage

Neighbourhoods

kinship

Relations of trust and mutual

support

Formal and informal roups

Common rules and sanctions

Collective representation

Mechanisms for

participation in decision-making

Leadership

Physical CapitalInfrastructure - transport - roads, vehicles, etc.

secure shelter & buildings water supply & sanitation

Energy communications

Tools and techology - tools and equipment for productionseed, fertiliser, pesticides traditional technology

Human CapitalHealth, Nutrition, Education, Knowledge and skills

Capacity to work & Capacity to adapt

The Poor


6/32


FinancialCapital

HumanCapital

SocialCapital

PhysicalCapital

LivelihoodAssets

NaturalCapital

Shrin

k

Expan

d


7/32Compiled by S.Rengasamy Madurai Institute of Social Sciences 7

Asset composition of groups in non-irrigated andAsset composition of groups in non-irrigated and

irrigated areasirrigated areas

Small &Marginal Farmers

Non Irrigated Area Irrigated Area

Rural Wage Laborers

Non Irrigated Area Irrigated Area

Petty TradersNon Irrigated Area Irrigated Area

Large BusinessmenNon Irrigated Area Irrigated Area


8/32Compiled by S.Rengasamy Madurai Institute of Social Sciences 8

The Asset MixThe Asset Mix

DDifferent householdsifferent households withwith differentdifferentaccess toaccess to livelihoodlivelihood assets/capitalassets/capital

Livelihoods affected by:Livelihoods affected by:o diversitydiversity of assetsof assetso amount of assetsamount of assetso

balancebalance between assetsbetween assets


9/32


The asset mix of aThe asset mix of a

Human capitallabour capacity no education limited skills

Natural capitallandless access to common property resourcesFinancial capitallow wages

no access to creditPhysical capitalpoor water supply poor housing poor communicationsSocial capital low social status descrimination against women strong links with family & friends traditions of reciprocal exchange= an extremely reduced livelihood

pentagon

Landless femaleagricultural labourer

FinancialCapital

SocialCapital

PhysicalCapital

HumanCapital

NaturalCapital


10/32


Vulnerability Context

SHOCKS - Illness, disaster, economic, conflict, crop / livestock pests&diseases,Floods,droughts,cyclones,Deaths in the Family,Violence or civil unrestSEASONALITY- Rainfall,climate,prices, production, health, employmentTRENDS AND CHANGES- Long term trends that undermine livelihood potential: population,declining natural resource base, climate change, inflation, currency devaluation, structuralunemployment, poor governance, Environmental change,Technology, Markets andtrade, Globalisation

FP

H

NS

The Poor

Vulnerability

ContextShocks

Seasonality

Trends

Changes


11/32


FP

H

NS

The Poor

Vulnerability

ContextShocks

Seasonality

Trends

Changes

Vulnerability Context

FP

H

NS

The Poor

Vulnerability

ContextShocks

Seasonality

Trends

Changes


12/32


Understanding vulnerabilityUnderstanding vulnerability

Moser characterizes vulnerability as insecurity in theMoser characterizes vulnerability as insecurity in the

well being of individuals, households or communities inwell being of individuals, households or communities inthe face of a changing environmentthe face of a changing environment Because people move in and out of poverty the concept ofBecause people move in and out of poverty the concept of

vulnerability better captures processes of change that povertyvulnerability better captures processes of change that poverty

line measuresline measures

Understanding vulnerabilityUnderstanding vulnerability

Chambers observes that vulnerability has two sidesChambers observes that vulnerability has two sides An external side of risks, shocks and stressAn external side of risks, shocks and stress

An internal side of defenselessness due to lack of means toAn internal side of defenselessness due to lack of means to

cope with damaging losscope with damaging loss


13/32


Policies, Institutions & Processes

PoliciesPolicies of government of different LEVELS of government

of NGOs of interational bodies

Institutions

Processes

political, legislative & representative bodies executive agencies

judicial bodies civil society & membership organisations NGOs law, money political parties commercial enterprises & corporations

the rules of the game decision-making processes social norms & customs gender, caste, class

language


14/32


Policiesof government

of different levels of government

of NGOs

of interational bodies

Institutionspolitical, legislative &

epresentative bodies -executive

agencies -judicial bodies -civil

society & membership

organisations -NGOs -law,

moneypolitical parties

commercial enterprises &

corporations

Processesthe rules of the game

decision-making processes

social norms & customs

ender caste class lan ua e

FP

H

NSThe Poor

VulnerabilityContextShocks

Seasonality

Trends

Changes

influence

Policies, Institutions & Processes


15/32


Livelihood Strategies

What do people do?

Combining:Combining: the assets they can accessthe assets they can access

Taking account of:Taking account of: the vulnerability contextthe vulnerability context

Supported or obstructed by:Supported or obstructed by: policies, institutions and processespolicies, institutions and processes.. ........leading toleading to

Natural-resource based. Non-NR / off-farm activities. Migration /Natural-resource based. Non-NR / off-farm activities. Migration /

remittances.remittances. Pensions and grants.Pensions and grants. Intensification vs. diversification.Intensification vs. diversification.

Short-Short-

term vs. long-term.term vs. long-term.


16/32


Livelihood OutcomesLivelihood Outcomes

WWhat are people seeking to achieve?hat are people seeking to achieve?

PovertyPoverty -- a poor livelihood outcomea poor livelihood outcome:: based on a fragile or unbalanced set of livelihood assetsbased on a fragile or unbalanced set of livelihood assets unable to sustain to shocks, changes or trendsunable to sustain to shocks, changes or trends not supported, or actively obstructed by policies, institutions andnot supported, or actively obstructed by policies, institutions and

processes thatprocesses that do not allow assets to be used as they mightdo not allow assets to be used as they might

livehood options combined in a bad or unsustainable strategylivehood options combined in a bad or unsustainable strategyLivelihood Outcomes.Livelihood Outcomes.WWhat are people seeking to achieve?hat are people seeking to achieve?

More sustainable use of the NR baseMore sustainable use of the NR base

More incomeMore income

Increased well-beingIncreased well-being

Protect rightsProtect rights Recover dignityRecover dignity

Reduced vulnerabilityReduced vulnerability

Improved food securityImproved food security


17/32


The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

LIVELIHOO

DSTRATEGIE

SCombining:

the assets they

can access

Taking account

of:the

vulnerability

context

Supported or

obstructed by:

policies,

institutions and

processes.

leading to.....

Policiesof government

of different levels of

governmentof NGOs

of interational

bodies

Institutionspolitical, legislative

& representative

bodies -executive

agencies -judicial

bodies -civil society

& membership

organisations

NGOs -law, money

political parties

commercial

enterprises &

corporations

Processesthe rules of the

gamedecision-

making processes

social norms &customs

gender, caste,

class,language

NS

FP

H

The Poor

Vulnerability

Context

Shocks

Seasonality

Trends

Changes

influence

LIVELIHOOD

OUTCOMESPoverty - a poor

livelihood outcome:

based on a fragile or

unbalanced set of

livelihood assets

unable to sustain to

shocks, changes or

trends not supported, or

actively obstructed by

policies, nstitutions andprocesses that do not

allow assets to be used

as they might

livehood options

combined in a bad or

unsustainable strategy


18/32


LIVELIHOODOUTCOMES-More income

-Increased well being-Reduced vulnerability-Improved food security-Use of NR base-Skill development

LIVELIHOODSTRATEGIES

- On-farm work- Off-farm work- Wage labour- Migration

InfluenceULNERABILITYCONTEXT

Institutions

- GO / NGOsbodies- Private Sector

-Policies-Planningapproach

facilitating

entitlementchangers

Human

Physical Financial

Natural

Social

Processes

Livelihood Framework

itical Trendsternal Shocksasonality

nd ownershipage labor dependencyought / water scarcitynd degradationf-farm jobsw technologydebtednesscial insecurityoduct prices fluctuation

Influence


19/32


Expanding the asset baseExpanding the asset base

Human

Capital

NaturalCapitalSocialCapital

FinancialCapital

Physical

Capital


20/32


Scoones


21/32


ImplicationsImplications ofofLivelihoods approachLivelihoods approach

Livelihoods approach encourages thinking out of theLivelihoods approach encourages thinking out of the

box imposed by conventional developmentbox imposed by conventional developmentframeworks which often identify a problem andframeworks which often identify a problem andattempt to find a solutionattempt to find a solution

Forced to look at context & relationshipsForced to look at context & relationships

Vulnerability (inc. environment)Vulnerability (inc. environment)

Policies & InstitutionsPolicies & Institutions

Development initiatives becomeDevelopment initiatives become moremore complex as acomplex as a

result and more process focusedresult and more process focused

Mosse notes that this identifies an important shift awayMosse notes that this identifies an important shift awayfrom the focus on project inputs and outputs and thefrom the focus on project inputs and outputs and theassumed mechanical link between themassumed mechanical link between them


22/32


Implications for policy and practiceImplications for policy and practice

Scoones, Mearns and Bebbington identifyScoones, Mearns and Bebbington identify

The need for multiple entry points to move beyond aThe need for multiple entry points to move beyond a

homogenous community view and a narrow sectoralhomogenous community view and a narrow sectoral

perspectiveperspective

The importance of understanding institutions - mappingThe importance of understanding institutions - mapping

the institutional matrix, linking the micro to the macro,the institutional matrix, linking the micro to the macro,

the formal to informalthe formal to informal

The requirement for a new style of policy appraisal The requirement for a new style of policy appraisal moving beyond universalizing prescriptions to a moremoving beyond universalizing prescriptions to a more

context-specific approach that allows alternative, localcontext-specific approach that allows alternative, local

perspectives to be included in the policy process.perspectives to be included in the policy process.


23/32


Murrays assessment of livelihoods approachMurrays assessment of livelihoods approach

Strengths Weaknesses

It seeks to understand changing

combinations of modes of livelihood in adynamic and historical context

Elements of the vulnerability context such

as macro economic trends, inflation, civilconflict and mass redundancy areunderplayed

It explicitly advocates a creative tensionbetween different levels of analysis andemphasises the importance of micromacro linkages

There is an implicit assumption thatpeoples assets can be expanded in ageneralised and incremental fashion

It acknowledges the need to move beyonddiscrete and narrow sectoral perspectives urban and rural, industrial andagricultural, formal and informal andrather emphasises seeing the linkagesbetween different sectors

Inequalities of power and conflicts ofinterest are not sufficiently acknowledged

It requires investigation of therelationships between different activitiesthat constitute household livelihoods andin the process focuses attention on socialrelations within and between households

The notion of participation may disguisethe fact that the enhancement of thelivelihoods of one group may underminethose of another

The continuing vagueness of the conceptof livelihood sustainability and the criteria

and means to measure this over time


24/32


Social capital - issuesSocial capital - issues Much debate centers on the concept of social capital one of the key terms in the

development lexicon and the missing link in development the glue that holdssociety together

Concept attributed to Putnam who identified three elements of social relations Interpersonal trust, networks and shared norms

Where these elements function well they enable people to act together moreeffectively, make decisions, formulate policy and gain access to power andresources

Proposed that the major obstacle of economic and social development in the thirdworld is ineffective institutions

For a discussion of social capital and associational life in S.Africa (See Tapscott:2001)

Key critiques of Putnams approach are that it Devalues political civil society concentrates on apolitical institutions Romanticizes associational life Deterministic path dependent development you either have social capital

or you dont. A repackaging of what social scientists have studied for years with new terms

For Harriss and Fine, social capital equals Bankspeak, a term designed toneutralize and obscure problems and relations of power

CounterpointsCounterpoints Hilary argues that the concept of social capital exposes the limitations ofHilary argues that the concept of social capital exposes the limitations of

conventional economic approaches for understanding economic and socialconventional economic approaches for understanding economic and socialprocessesprocesses


25/32



26/32



27/32


Applying an Assets / Vulnerability FrameworkApplying an Assets / Vulnerability Frameworkin urban settingin urban setting

N

atural

Governance Actions

Which May EnhanceAssets of the Poor

Ensuring access to landwhich is affordable by thepoor and with sufficientlysecure tenure, both for

residential use and foreconomic activities. Effectiveenvironmental controls onwater and air pollution andwaste disposal.

Governance Actions Which May

Increase Vulnerability of the PoorZoning regulations and developmentstandards which prevent access by thepoor.

Minimum plot size regulations andconstruction standards which are

unattainable by the poor. Forced relocationand clearance of informal housing areas.

Upgrading projects which raise servicelevels and security to the point where itbecomes attractive to higher incomegroups.

Failing to control pollution and wastedisposal upstream of where the poorlive.

Rent-seeking by enforcement agencieson activities in poor areas such as waste

sorting, pollution from economic anddomestic activities.


28/32


Applying an Assets / Vulnerability FrameworkApplying an Assets / Vulnerability Framework

in urban settingin urban setting

Human

Universal, quality (primary)

education. Ensuring equal provision

for girls. Involving parents in the

management of schools. Skills

training related to real skills needs

ofthe poor. Accessible health care

Food/nutrition support

programmes. Public works

programmes that absorb surplus

labour (& increase skills)

Imposing fees (official and

unofficial) for primary

education.

Imposing fees (official and

unofficial) for primary healthcare.


29/32



in urban settingin urban settingFinancial

Providing access to suitable

housing finance (e.g. communitymortgage)

Providing access to micro credit

for informal businesses.

Provision of market facilities in

suitable locations, with provision

for small, informal sector

businesses.

Refusing to recognise informal

housing areas or resolvingtenure

insecurities.

Regulatory controls oninformal

sector trading.Costly and cumbersomelicensing

requirements for traders.

Harassment of informal sector

traders.

Local taxes which impinge onthe

poor.

Charges for services which are


30/32



in urban settingin urban settingPhysical

Providing access to safe, reliable

water supplies, includingcommunity

provision (e.g. communal taps).

Providing access to safesanitation

(including community provision).

Providing proper systems of

wastedisposal (including community

provision).

Providing all-weather pedestrian

access.

Providing vehicle access to within

reach of area where the poor live.

Providing drainage systems to

prevent flooding.

Provision of public space for

economic and social activities in

informal housing areas.

Ensuring safe and reliable public

transport.

Ensurin availabilit of electricit

Unsafe water which requires boiling, and unreliable

supplies which require storage, queuing, collectionat

night. Enforcement action against illegalconnections.

Inadequate sanitation which creates environmental

hazards and increases vulnerability of women.

Inadequate waste disposal which creates

environmental hazards. Privatisation which resultsin poor areas being excluded.

Regulation of waste collection/sorting/recycling

which reduces income earning opportunities for

the poor and results in rent-seeking by

enforcers.

Provision of too high levels of vehicle accesswhich make areas attract to higher income

groups. Displacement of poor households as a

result of upgrading.

Rent-seeking by traffic police which increase

costs of public transport without improving

safety.

Enforcement action against illegal connections


31/32



in urban settingin urban settingSoc

ial

P

olitical

Helping to build community

organisations among thepoor.

Ensuring safety / security /

freedom from fear of crime in

poor areas.

Accessible, ward-basedcouncillors

who have influence.

Mechanisms to make decision-

making and resource allocationmore accountable andtransparent.

Mechanisms for participation.

Responsive systems.

Supporting collective action bythe

Creating dependence on external

agents.Forced relocation (or relocationcaused

by pressure from higher income

groups) which destroys informal

networks.

Dependant relations with localpoliticians.

Service / resource providers notsubject

to democratic accountability.

Exclusion of certain groups.

Co-option of leadership of community

organizations


32/32

Compiled by S Rengasamy Madurai Institute of Social Sciences 32

How the SL framework can support project/program planningHow the SL framework can support project/program planning

Livelihoodstrategies

Helps to identify groups of poor people according to their main

livelihood sources. Recognizes that households may pursue a range of

different livelihood strategies.

Livelihoodassets

Helps identify the principal assets needed to support different

livelihoods. Looks beyond the normally considered assets suchas

land, water and forest, and includes economic assets such as

employment opportunities, and social assets such as informalsafety

nets.

Vulnerability

context

Helps identify the main sources of vulnerability associated with

certain livelihood strategies, which are not normallyconsidered systematically in planning processes

Policies,

institutions andprocesses

Helps to identify institutional and policy influences on poor

peoples livelihoods. Draws attention to the issue of poorpeoples

access to the structures and processes that can help to

sustainable livelihood framework sr 1227325121783906 8

Documents