The Search for Sustainable Livelihoods

  Context

The Context for Sustainable Livelihoods

In order to develop sustainable livelihoods strategies that work, the local context needs to be understood. This includes understanding local skills, strengths, and resources as well as local obstacles or barriers to development. It also includes understanding how these factors interrelate, particularly through social structures and systems.

Every person is situated within a household, community, and region that have distinct livelihood options and constraints. These options and constraints are shaped by social, political, cultural, economic, and ecosystemic forces. For example, the opportunities available to a poor mechanic in Dakar, will be very different from those of a landless farmer in rural India. However, despite these differences, they may also face similar constraints and / or build on similar strengths.

Constraints and Capacities

For sustainable livelihoods strategies to work, they must start with local strengths and build upon existing capacities. They also require awareness of local constraints, including those that:

• cannot be modified (e.g. rain patterns);
• can be modified relatively easily (e.g. an information gap)
• and, can be modified with difficulty (e.g. communal religious divides).

If the local context is not understood, projects are not likely to be sustainable over the long term.

Many of DA and ENDA's projects were created in the face of specific local constraints, such as desertification, gender inequities, poverty, etc. However, the projects build upon local strengths to find livelihood solutions. These strengths include, for example, local entrepreneurial spirit, traditional knowledge, or simply the desire for change. The case studies illustrate the importance of adapting strategies to the local context.

1. Managing Water Shortages

In the Bundelkund region of India, most of the poor work as subsistence farmers or casual laborers. One of the most serious local livelihood constraints is the lack of water for irrigating crops. Local strengths include, traditional water harvesting techniques and agricultural knowledge. DA is working to make local livelihoods more sustainable by collaborating with villagers to construct small check-dams to regenerate groundwater resources and increase available water for irrigation.

2. Creating Alternatives to the Cash Economy

Although micro-credit has proven to be an interesting option for many people in developing countries, it still relies on an input of capital. After devaluation, it became very difficult for micro-credit groups to compensate for the increased need of cash capital caused by inflation. In an action / research initiative, an association of women leading micro-credit community banking created a new barter system. The Doole Exchange Network allows them to create jobs and provide training within their community, even without having to wait for cash capital. (en français)

3. Solving Child Malnutrition Using Local Food Resources

Following the currency devaluation in 1994, food prices almost doubled in Senegal. The increase in prices made it more difficult for women to buy sufficient amounts of food for their family, therefore worsening the health conditions of many children. In Rufisque, a project took place to train women in using local food resources as an alternative to more expensive products. Along with nutritional training, the women of Relais health / hygiene / nutrition in Rufisque also learned to assist local health workers in their fight to save malnourished children. (en français)

4. Adapting to Climate Change with Ecological Agriculture

In rural areas, where people use the land as a livelihood resource, desertification is a major concern: the monsoons are less abundant each year, and the farmers are seeking new ways of cultivating. Ecological agriculture became an option a few years ago for the people in two regions of Senegal: the Niayes (along the coast) and Koussanar (Oriental Senegal). It includes using local plants to prepare natural pesticides, and incorporating animals in the system. (en français)

5. Overcoming Caste Barriers

When DA first established an appropriate technology centre in Madhya Pradesh, they encountered caste divides. These divides threatened to block efforts at developing a participatory and equitable work environment. With patience and humor DA staff, worked with members of different castes to foster harmony and cooperation.