Main Contributors

The work under this PAIA is coordinated by an Informal Working Group linked to the PAIA on Integrated Production Systems. It is led by SDA, which deals with many aspects of sustainable livelihoods and is strongly supported by the other divisions in the Sustainable Development Department (SD). The major contributors from other departments include: AGS with its work on enhancing small farmers' livelihoods, ESN on community action for improved household food security and FO on participatory forestry and sustainable livelihoods.

Objectives

1. to improve the effectiveness of national policies and programmes aimed at strengthening the contribution of local institutions to rural livelihoods and assisting vulnerable populations;
2. to foster local institutions and attendant organizational capacity for improving rural livelihoods and ensuring equitable access to resources; and
3. to strengthen links of local institutions where appropriate to regional, national and international institutions.

Priorities

1. assessments of policies and programmes to strengthen local institutions, leading to adjusted advocacy and awareness activities for policy makers at international and national levels;
2. formulation of procedures at all levels to ensure adequate contributions of local institutions to policy, programme and project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
3. guidance on participatory and sustainable livelihoods approaches for strengthening local institutions and on institutional arrangements to improve access to, and management of natural resources;
4. capacity building of local governments in the promotion of sustainable rural livelihoods;
5. development of appropriate local institutional measures for forestry; co-management and rights-based institutions for fisheries; and efficient coordinating mechanisms in the post-harvest sector;
6. decision support tools to enhance gender equity in rural institution building and innovative institutional approaches to harness the potential of youth;
7. partnership with the private sector for achieving sustainable rural livelihoods, with attention to the sustainable provision of commercial services and the promotion of community-based enterprises;
8. guidance to producer organizations and related networks on policy analysis and improved support services, and dissemination of materials to enhance their performance; and
9. integrated decision support systems (e.g. integration of agricultural, forestry and fisheries research, extension, education and communications systems to support local institution building); enhanced knowledge base of local institutions to promote sustainable resource use in small-scale crop, livestock, fisheries, forestry and mixed production and post-harvest systems, drawing on indigenous knowledge and lessons learned.

[extract from MTP 2004-09]