Putting a Livelihood Perspective into Practice: Systemic Approach to Rural Development

A Guide for Analysis, Appraisal and Planning in Rural Areas   

 

 

What is this guide about? This guide builds on the use of a sustainable livelihood approach and describes a way to put such an approach into practice. It guides livelihood analysis, appraisal and planning in rural areas with the aim of assisting in the design and re-orientation of development interventions. Such a Systemic Approach to Rural Development (SARD) offers the establishment of a holistic and differentiated understanding of poverty, livelihood patterns and relations between stakeholders in a rural setting.  While SARD is not a new methodology, it is original in the way it integrates complementary methodologies stemming from different schools of thought, as well as providing clear guidance in their implementation.   The diagnosis provides a systemic and differentiated understanding at three levels: the household, its livelihood choices, assets and vulnerability; the local population, through a household typology that captures the diversity of people’s livelihoods; the area, through an overview that integrates a historical perspective, significant change patterns, as well as identifying the main stakeholders and their interrelations

Putting a Livelihood Perspective into Practice February 2009 Author: SDC Download (PDF, 1825 KB): [en]

 

Added value

SARD provides all the guidance needed for its implementation, and can therefore be put into practice directly. SARD is a concrete guide that structures a process, providing keys to understanding rural realities – although it must be locally adapted and, if necessary, complemented according to need. In this sense it provides a means to implement principles that otherwise, all too often, remain at the level of intentions, i.e. people-centred, poverty-focused and based on local people’s visions of the future.

 

To whom is this guide addressed?

This guide is primarily intended for those involved with local partners in the design of a development intervention, for the stakeholders of a programme who wish to reframe their partnerships on the basis of a common understanding of poverty, and also for local governments responsible for the design of a local development plan.

 

Your comments on this guide are most welcome. Please get in touch with the authors: Annet Witteveen (annet.witteveen@intercooperation.ch) and Laurent Ruedin (laurent.ruedin@deza.admin.ch)