LSP Working Paper 5
People-Centred Approaches
in Different Cultural Contexts Sub-Programme

PEOPLE-CENTRED APPROACHES
A brief literature review and comparison of types

by DERVLA CLEARY

with contributions from
Pari Baumann, Marta Bruno,
Ximena Flores and Patrizio Warren

SEPTEMBER 2003
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Livelihood Support Programme (LSP)
An inter - departmental programme for Improving support for enhancing livelihoods of the rural poor.

Table of Contents

The Livelihood Support Programme

The Livelihood Support Programme (LSP) evolved from the belief that FAO could have a greater impact on reducing poverty and food insecurity, if its wealth of talent and experience were integrated into a more flexible and demand - responsive team approach.

The LSP works trough of FAO staff members, who are attracted to specific themes being worked on in a sustainable livelihoods context. These cross - departmental and cross - disciplinary teams act to integrate sustainable livelihoods principles in FAO’s work, at headquarters and in the field. These approaches build on experiences within FAO and other development agencies.

The programme is functioning as a testing ground for both team approaches and sustainable livelihoods principles.

Email: [email protected]

Table of Contents

LIST OF ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: THE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS APPROACH

1.1 The Central Tenets of the SL Approach
1.2 The SL Approach in the Field

CHAPTER 2: THE “GESTION DE TERROIRS” APPROACH

2.1 The Origins of Gestion de Terroirs
2.2 So, What is Gestion de Terroirs?
2.3 Some Weaknesses associated with the GT approach to rural development

2.3.1 Relatively High Start-up Costs
2.3.2 Maintaining Local Incentive
2.3.3 The Policy Vacuum
2.3.4 Local Institutions and Regional Specificity
2.3.5 The Gap between Rhetoric and Reality
2.3.6 Lack of Long-Term Planning
2.3.7 Local Power Relations

2.4 Partnership Institutions
2.5 Practical Application of GT

CHAPTER 3: APPROACHES AND LESSONS FROM LATIN AMERICA

3.1 Integrated Rural Development Experiences
3.2 Territorial approaches and “ordenamiento territorial”

3.2.1 Structure and components
3.2.2 History, evolution and institutional linkages
3.2.3 Territorial approaches and ordenamiento territorial in FAO
3.2.4 Key-focus, analysis, planning, implementation, evaluation
3.2.5 Methodologies and tools

3.3 ‘Brazilianising’ the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach

CHAPTER 4: FARMING SYSTEMS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

4.1 What are Farming Systems?
4.2 Determinants of Farming Systems

4.2.1 Natural Resources and Climate
4.2.2 Science and Technology
4.2.3 Trade Liberalisation and Market Development
4.2.4 Policies, Institutions and Public Goods
4.2.5 Information and Human Capital

4.3 Recognition of Cultural and Regional Differences

CHAPTER 5: COMPARING SOME PEOPLE-CENTRED APPROACHES

5.1 What? Where? The Key Principles of Some Development Approaches
5.2 What is the predominant focus of the approach?
5.3 What are the technical aspects of the approaches?
5.4 How do the approaches deal with broader issues?
5.5 Overcoming Common Fault Lines

CHAPTER 6: SO WHERE DOES THE REAL VALUE ADDED OF SLA LIE?

6.1 National Level Development Strategies
6.2 Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Internet Resources

Further information about the LSP

How to Order