|
Sustainable Livelihoods Stakeholders
There are many kinds of stakeholders involved in sustainable livelihoods approaches. Stakeholders include: individuals, communities, researchers, non-government organizations (NGOs), funders, government, etc.
Sustainable livelihoods approaches are fundamentally based on empowerment. For these approaches to work, power relations must be understood and addressed.
Power Differentials
In any community, access to resources and authority is not always equitable, but, rather, is determined by power relations. Power differences exist within households (e.g. between genders or generations) and communities (e.g. along caste, class, or religious divides). 
Agencies involved in sustainable livelihoods creation also have different levels of power. Usually, for example, NGOs, government organizations, and funding agencies have more power over the process than local communities.
Differences in power among stakeholders shape their opportunities to participate in the decisions that affect them. For livelihood strategies to be effective they must take local power structures into account. Livelihood strategies often target sites of inequity, by:
- facilitating access of disempowered groups to power, authority, and resources,
- raising consciousness about inequity
- and, strengthening the ability of marginalized people to transform existing structures.
All local actors must be engaged in a sustainable livelihoods approach. Widespread involvement can reduce opposition from groups who feel threatened by challenges to existing social structures. For example, many activities that target repressive gender norms only include women as participants. However, transforming gender norms can be more successful if both men and women are actively engaged in the process.
Moving Towards Power Sharing
Sustainable livelihoods approaches require acknowledging that:
- power differentials exist, and
- participation entails risks for both the powerful and the less powerful.
Nonetheless, if sustainable livelihoods approaches are going to work, they will require the authentic participation of all stakeholders. This is not an easy task. Part of this process involves relinquishing power over others and moving towards systems of sharing power with others. This transition entails understanding and using power as a collaborative tool, rather than as a control mechanism.
The following projects illustrate the role of power in shaping livelihood initiatives. In particular, they highlight ways that different stakeholders can pool their strengths to create sustainable livelihoods.
- Transforming Restrictive Gender Relations
Development projects can be an opportunity to establish a more equitable relationship between men and women in a community. On the other end, increasing work burdens can also impede the empowerment process. ENDA aims at distributing the tasks more evenly between men and women in its environmental project in Santhiaba. ![[ Jump to ENDA module ]](/webgfx/endajumper.gif) (en français)
Rigid social norms often restrict women's access to resources both at a community level and within the household. These norms are often strongly entrenched and can be very difficult to alter. In Sathanur village, Karnataka, DA is working to transform gender barriers by creating income opportunities for scheduled caste women. However they are finding that this is only a first step. Certain social problems including violence against women and alcohol abuse are still blocking progress towards sustainable livelihoods. ![[ Jump to DA module ]](/webgfx/dajumper.gif) .
- Building on Local Entrepreneurial Spirit
The role of stakeholder's personal attributes in determining the success of livelihood projects should be emphasized. Although difficult to quantify, a strong entrepreneurial spirit among local participants can determine the long-term success of some livelihood initiatives. This is certainly the case in Boranakanive Village, where DA has been working with local women to create small-scale vermi-composting enterprises. The determination of local women comes out clearly in their testimonials about the project.
- Redefining Partnerships
By its collaboration with local associations when developing a project, ENDA has contributed to a more grassroots vision of development. In Thiaroye, the Comité de développement intégré worked on an integrated plan for the development in its community. ENDA provides technical, material and human resources support for on of their projects, but some of the funding is left to the communities. (en français)
In Dalifort, a local actor who was involved with many associations gives his views on the subject. (en français)
Another example of integrating the habitat with livelihoods generation projects can be found at Ecopole. (en français)
- Using Cooperatives to Decrease Business Risk
After working with villagers in Azadpura on sustainable building construction, DA was approached by local women for help in forming a cooperative. The cooperative has raised funds to build a handicraft centre where women now create crafts marketed and sold by DA. The cooperative has also begun to provide credit informally to its members and is gearing up to take on the role as a village level micro-credit provider.
Other Tools and Resources
| 
Site Index
