Sustainable Livelihoods Approach
When do you use the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach?
It is most appropriate to use the SLA:
- When it has been established through a prior process (e.g. NZAID country programme strategy process or a local-level poverty or needs assessment) that the improvement of people’s means of living is a priority;
- At the development programme and project level, although it can be used in a broad-brush way to help consider NZAID engagement at the (productive) sector level as well;
- At the early stages of the development programme and project cycle (identification, design and appraisal), and integrated into ongoing monitoring and evaluation as well;
- In the context of rural or urban development.
Although applied at the development programme and project level, SL analysis makes linkages to the sector and national (or ‘enabling environment’) levels as well and thus can potentially inform NZAID’s engagement with partners at these levels too. SL analysis is generally not an appropriate tool for NZAID country programme strategy development. See NZAID Guideline for Developing a Programme Strategy.
Some degree of sustainable livelihood analysis should be considered for all development programme and project interventions that directly target livelihoods. The depth of analysis appropriate will be determined by the size, modality, significance of livelihood outcomes, and timeframe of the proposed intervention.