Livelihoods principles

The following principles underpin DFID’s, and others, livelihoods approaches:

• People-centred: focusing on poor people’s priorities, understanding the differences between groups of people and working with them in a way that is appropriate to their current livelihood strategies, social environment and ability to adapt
• Responsive and participatory: listening and responding to the livelihoods priorities identified by poor people themselves
• Multi-level: working at different levels to reduce poverty- ensuring that micro level reality informs development of policy and an effective enabling environment, and macro level structures support people to build on their own strengths
• Conducted in partnership: with the public and private sector
• Sustainable: balancing economic, institutional, social and environmental sustainability
• Dynamic: recognising the dynamic nature of livelihood strategies and responding flexibly to people’s changing situations.

Since guidance on livelihoods approaches was published in the late 1990s by DFID, other organisations have developed their own methodologies and approaches. Some have added new principles such as:

• Building on strengths: working to develop poor people’s strengths - their skills, knowledge and resources, rather than focusing solely on their needs
• Holistic: understanding the complex reality of poor people’s livelihoods rather than taking a purely technical or sectoral approach