By Robert Mazur

 

In rural communities within Uganda’s Kamuli district, people have gathered to share their knowledge, attitudes and practices used in agricultural production, consumption, and marketing, particularly of beans, with representatives of an indigenous non-governmental organization, Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO), Makerere University and Iowa State University (ISU). These three organizations have been collaborating to improve the livelihoods of people in 62 rural communities since late 2004, with the goal of ensuring that positive changes are sustainable and can be spread to other communities and regions in the future.

 

A focus group discussion on constraints and opportunities for bean production, consumption, and marketing in Kamuli.

 

 

 

 

 

The sustainable livelihoods (SL) framework has been developed and refined to reflect improved understanding of poverty dynamics. Instead of conventional top-down problem-solving, the SL approach operates from the perspective of the poor and views them as being at the center of development processes. The SL approach identifies the diverse assets or ‘capitals’ (human, social, cultural, natural, built, financial, and political), capabilities, and activities that enable them to actively pursue their livelihood goals (food and nutrition security; basic needs - shelter, health, education; income sources diversified and levels increase; and access to public goods and services). Livelihoods are sustainable whenpeople and communities maintain or enhance their assets and capabilities, can cope with or adapt to various stresses, and do not undermine the natural resource base.

 

In order to achieve sustainability of viable livelihoods for poor people in countries such as Uganda, a clear understanding of the root causes of poverty and barriers to improvement are essential. Then, solving them requires collaboration of people from different types of institutions, organizations and communities. One of the first steps in the SL approach is recognizing that ‘wealth’ consists not merely of items with monetary value, but also indigenous knowledge, special skills, individual and group resourcefulness and social support systems, and the creative strategies that people use to cope with challenges. This ensures a focus on strengths rather than problems. Though there are many challenges to successfully utilizing this approach, including broad participation, effective empowerment, and long-term sustainability, the SL approach has proven very effective in making progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations and organizations involved in international development.

 

Since the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL) at Iowa State University was established in 2003, it has used the SL framework to guide program design and implementation in rural Uganda in collaboration with VEDCO, Makerere University and others. Based on funding from private donors, organizations, and development oriented research projects such as the Dry Grain Pulse CRSP, approximately 8,000 people have been able to make meaningful improvements in their livelihoods and the quality of their lives.

 

The CSRL program uses a ‘farmer-to-farmer’ approach by training farmers – women and men - who provide volunteer extension services to members of their farmer group and beyond. This approach strengthens local human and social capital that are essential for sustainability of any type of development intervention. These volunteer trainers and extension/outreach service providers (42 Rural Development Extensionists - RDEs, and 27 Community Nutrition and Health Workers - CNHWs) directly assist 70 farmer groups with a membership of 1,117 farmers. At least 25 additional farmer groups have been formed, and the RDEs and CNHWs regularly provided demand-driven services to people in nearby communities. Two active youth groups have recently been established as a result of the findings and recommendations from research conducted done by an ISU undergraduate student.