People, Poverty and livelihoods : links for sustainable poverty reduction in Indonesia

The study demonstrates convincingly, circumstances that do block people's ability to use their assets to obtain sustainable livelihoods. Too often those barriers are institutional. Inadequate, or inappropriate services, indifference, corruption and exploitation complicate the lives of the poor, adding to both poverty, and vulnerability. It highlights the links between macro-level structures, and processes, the resources upon which poor people depend, and the strategies the poor pursue in the struggle to survive, and to improve their situation. Following an overview of the background and goals of the study, Section two outlines the sustainable livelihoods framework and research methodology used, mostly highlighting the human, physical, natural, financial, and social capital of the poor. Under Section three, the report introduces site descriptions, and the selection criteria, while Section four describes the vulnerability contexts encountered in the communities selected, starting with people's own definitions of poverty, and the variations in perceptions of poverty by women and men, due to their different practices, and gendered cultural norms, continued in Section five, with an examination of the key livelihood assets upon which the poor depend. The last sections (six, seven, and eight) describe how to transform the structures and processes that shape poverty conditions, present an analysis of what helps, or hinders efforts to improve incomes and well-being, and, identifies a policy that assesses poverty programming, from empowerment, social protection, and pro-poor growth to safety nets.