Sustainable livelihoods approaches: where next?

There are now many case studies that demonstrate the value of adopting sustainable livelihoods approaches (SLAs) in a wide range of “development” contexts. However, evidence is also emerging of constraints that will need to be addressed if projects and programmes that take SLAs are to achieve their potential. In summarising the discussions from a recent series of DFID-supported seminars, this paper highlights practitioners’ experiences of the obstacles and limitations to operationalising SLAs. Some simple recommendations are made for consolidating and disseminating the lessons from current experience with a view to making the approach more accessible, practical and effective.