Sustainable Livelihoods Approach
Introduction
What are Sustainable Livelihoods?
The livelihood of a household or individual can be interpreted as their ‘means of living’. Their means of living is based on their capabilities, assets (financial, physical, human, natural resource and social) and activities.
A livelihood is sustainable when it:
- can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks, and
- can maintain or build on available capabilities and assets, and
- does not undermine the natural resource base.
NZAID is committed to a safe and just world free of poverty. The new (draft) Growth and Livelihoods Policy provides an overarching framework for Agency support for economic development and livelihoods. The effectiveness of NZAID’s assistance to improve the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable women/girls and men/boys can be enhanced through an appreciation of the diversity, complexity and dynamic nature of their livelihoods, as well as an understanding of the many factors that influence their livelihood choices and opportunities.