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UK Department for International Development has developed an initiative to support its aid work which has led to the definition of what it describes as “sustainable livelihoods”
DFID defines sustainability as follows;
“Sustainability has many dimensions, all of which are important to the sustainable livelihoods approach. Livelihoods are sustainable when they:
• are resilient in the face of external shocks and stresses;
• are not dependent upon external support (or if they are, this support itself should be economically and institutionally sustainable);
• maintain the long-term productivity of natural resources; and
• do not undermine the livelihoods of, or compromise the livelihood options open to, others.
Another way of conceptualising the many dimensions of sustainability is to distinguish between environmental, economic, social and institutional aspects of sustainable systems.
• Environmental sustainability is achieved when the productivity of life-supporting natural resources is conserved or enhanced for use by future generations.
• Economic sustainability is achieved when a given level of expenditure can be maintained over time. In the context of the livelihoods of the poor, economic sustainability is achieved if a baseline level of economic welfare can be achieved and sustained. (The economic baseline is likely to be situation-specific, though it can be thought of in terms of the `dollar-a-day’ of the International Development Targets.)
• Social sustainability is achieved when social exclusion is minimised and social equity maximised.
• Institutional sustainability is achieved when prevailing structures and processes have the capacity to continue to perform their functions over the long term.
Very few livelihoods qualify as sustainable across all these dimensions. Nevertheless sustainability is a key goal and its pursuit should influence all DFID’s support activities. Progress towards sustainability can then be assessed, even if ‘full’ sustainability is never achieved.”
The document goes to say that:
“The sustainable livelihoods approach is broad and encompassing. It can, however, be distilled to six core objectives. DFID aims to increase the sustainability of poor people’s livelihoods through promoting:
• improved access to high-quality education, information, technologies and training and better nutrition and health;
• a more supportive and cohesive social environment;
• more secure access to, and better management of, natural resources;
• better access to basic and facilitating infrastructure;
• more secure access to financial resources; and
• a policy and institutional environment that supports multiple livelihood strategies and promotes equitable access to competitive markets for all.”
Source: Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets Section 1 Introduction (http://www.livelihoods.org/info/guidance_sheets_rtfs/Sect1.rtf
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