Practicing the Livelihoods Approach

Understanding the livelihoods context

APRLP has introduced the Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA), a tool which is used at village–level by the community to get an initial understanding, a snap shot view, of the existing context, available resources, possible livelihood opportunities, etc. (Participatory; holistic; SL framework used as checklist)
Identifying the poorest of the poor

This is done through a series of focused discussions and wealth ranking exercises, followed by a Grama Sabha (attended by the whole village).   APRLP is focusing on addressing the livelihoods of the community with an emphasis on the poor and taking into consideration gender and equity issues.  This assists in community sensitisation of the problems faced by the poor and also ensures that the poorest do not get further isolated. (People-centred; participatory)

Group strengthening and formation

APRLP is attempting to build the social capital of the poorest by organising them into Self-Help Groups (SHGs).  In addition to this it is helping to strengthen existing groups through various appropriate capacity building inputs.  The SHGs are then networked at village-level to form a Village Organisation (VO; with representatives from all SHGs).  This VO is responsible for managing a Livelihood Fund (SHGs’ pooled resources plus a matching grant loan from APRLP), which it uses to support people’s livelihood activities as well as providing safety nets for the most vulnerable.  The incentive for the VO to ensure that the poorest households are included is that the matching grant (which goes into the livelihood fund) will not be provided by APRLP if all poor households are not included in SHGs by the end of the second year.

Similarly, common interest groups or 'peer groups' will be formed around particular livelihood activities e.g. artisans or agricultural labourers (landless), etc.  These will also be members of the SHGs but will have separate representation in the VO, to ensure that their issues and interests get furthered. (Building social, human & financial capital; reducing vulnerability)

Promotion and Support of Livelihood Activities

The VO develops a livelihood action plan, in which the livelihood requirements (capacity building, seeds, tools, etc.) of the whole community are detailed.  There is a condition that at least 30 % of funds must address the requirements of the poor.  Immediate opportunities for the landless poor will be pursued such as developing Common Pool Resources, establishing usufruct rights, developing grain banks, etc. (People-centred; participatory; responsive; building asset base; reducing vulnerability)

The peer groups (and peer groups networked at mandal-level) will act as support mechanisms to their members.  Group members will have increased bargaining power and be able to draw upon increased economies of scale to purchase inputs, access markets, etc. (Building asset base, micro-meso linkages)

At village-level, para-workers are to be developed, these will provide support for specific livelihood activities.  At meso-level (mandal), APRLP is attempting to bring about improved and co-ordinated service delivery.  Livelihood resource centres will also be developed and act as one-stop service providers for specific livelihood activities, these will receive support from the Training and Technology Development Centres at District-level, and from the Business Resource Centre (under development) at State-level. (Building asset base esp. human capital; micro-meso-macro linkages)
On a macro-level, APRLP is influencing the on-going watershed programme to adopt a broader livelihoods approach to watershed development.  The above approach will be implemented and thus demonstrated in 500 new watersheds under APRLP. (Multi-level approach)

Livelihood Framework, Films and case studies