Livelihoods
Sustainable livelihoods are the foundation of household resilience and long-term poverty reduction. RMI provides research, M&E, and consulting services for livelihoods programmes implemented by UNDP, FAO, ILO, bilateral donors, and a wide range of NGOs and INGOs across Southern and East Africa.
The livelihoods landscape in Southern and East Africa is characterised by high dependence on rain-fed smallholder agriculture, limited formal employment opportunities, a large and growing informal economy, and acute vulnerability to climate, economic, and health shocks. Building sustainable livelihoods requires interventions that strengthen the five capital assets of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework — human, social, physical, financial, and natural capital — while addressing the contextual factors (policies, institutions, and power dynamics) that shape livelihood outcomes.
RMI provides a comprehensive suite of consulting services to the full range of development actors operating in this sector:
- Livelihoods baseline, midline, and endline surveys (household-level)
- Market systems analysis (EMMA, VCA, M4P approach)
- Value chain studies and competitiveness assessments
- VSLA/SILC programme performance assessments
- Youth employment programme evaluations
- Graduation programme impact evaluations
- Refugee livelihoods assessments (UNHCR/WFP frameworks)
- Financial inclusion assessments
- Private sector engagement assessments
- Annual livelihoods programme reviews
- Tracer studies for vocational training graduates
