Module 3: Towards an application of livelihood approaches

3.2: Analysing Core and Context of Livelihoods

Fields of observation and methodological focus

Poverty assessments usually begin by identifying groups and/or social strata of a given population who live in poverty. For this purpose, broad but generally accepted indicators are applied, e.g., based on poverty line criteria.

However, poverty reduction measures that aim at sustainable improvement of poor people's livelihood require a structured investigation into root causes of poverty in the wider context as well as within the core of people's livelihoods where poor peoples strategies root. The livelihood approach offers a framework for a structured and goal-oriented analysis of both the context and the core of livelihoods. It allows identification of patterns of livelihoods and specific conditions of poverty, with its constraints and potentials.