Sustainable Livelihoods

The Sustainable Livelihoods course offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the strategies, frameworks, and practices that enable individuals and communities to achieve long-term economic, social, and environmental well-being. Designed for students, community leaders, policymakers, and development practitioners, this course provides a deep dive into the components that contribute to resilient livelihoods and sustainable development, with a special focus on understanding how people make a living in a rapidly changing world.

Key topics include:

Foundations of Sustainable Livelihoods: Understand the theoretical frameworks that underpin sustainable livelihoods, including the sustainable livelihoods framework, asset-based approaches, and the interplay between vulnerability, resilience, and risk.
Livelihood Assets and Strategies: Examine the five core types of livelihood assets—human, social, natural, physical, and financial—and learn how these assets are mobilized to support diverse livelihood strategies.
Environmental and Economic Sustainability: Analyze the relationship between environmental stewardship and economic development, with an emphasis on resource management, climate change adaptation, and the promotion of green economies.
Social Equity and Inclusion: Explore issues of gender, age, and social equity in livelihood opportunities, and study strategies to ensure inclusive development that benefits marginalized and vulnerable populations.
Policy and Institutional Frameworks: Assess the role of public policy, community institutions, and market forces in shaping sustainable livelihoods, and learn how to design interventions that promote systemic change.
Practical Approaches and Case Studies: Engage with real-world examples and case studies from various contexts, applying participatory methods and community-based approaches to identify, plan, and implement sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Through a combination of lectures, interactive discussions, group projects, and fieldwork, participants will develop the skills necessary to critically assess livelihood challenges and design strategies that enhance community resilience and sustainable economic development. By the end of the course, learners will be equipped to contribute to transformative change that supports robust, equitable, and enduring livelihoods in a variety of socio-economic and environmental settings.