|
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the Ministry within the UK Government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. DFID supports both long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty; and responds to emergencies.
DFID places great importance on its role in achieving the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals. The Department works directly in over 150 countries worldwide, and has 64 offices overseas and headquarters in the UK. It works in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies, and the European Commission.
The sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) has a long history within DFID. SL thinking was evident in DFID practice in the 1990s, and was formally adopted following its 1997 White Paper on International Development. A change management office – the Sustainable Livelihoods Support Office worked from 1998 to 2003 to promote understanding and practice of SLA amongst DFID staff, agencies, partners and practitioners. Livelihoods Connect was established to facilitate lesson-learning about sustainable livelihoods approaches.
SL has become integral to many sectors, policies and programmes within DFID. Particular emphasis has been placed on the SL principles which encompass best development practice over many years.
|
