Finding Solutions to the Experience of Poverty -Sustainable Livelihoods Approach

The "Sustainable Livelihoods Approach or SLA" is a method of understanding the experiences of people living in poverty and disadvantage. It is a participatory approach which is based on the belief that people experiencing poverty have abilities and assets that can be used to help them manage and improve their lives. It has been used effectively in the southern hemisphere by international development organisations and brought to the UK by Oxfam and others with international experience.

The projects gave the local organisations – some of who had been working in their areas for many years – new insights into the effect of poverty on people’s lives. These insights challenged some of their own perceptions and understandings of resident’s lives. It also ensured that the actions taken following the research were based on what local people felt was important and was based on what people could do rather than what they couldn’t.

The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach is people focussed and aims to work with individuals and households to consider their situation and support them to create a sustainable livelihood for them and their families. In addition to this there are some early pilots looking at using the approach to consider community assets and Oxfam are interested to find out how the approach would work in group settings.

In order to promote Sustainable Livelihoods Approach in Wales, Oxfam will be launching a small grant programme offering limited funding in December. For more information and informal discussion please contact Frances Thyer (Tel: 07760 361145) or Maria Mesa (Tel: 07976 002751).