934311 Livelihood system dynamics in rural development

Type
Lecture and seminar
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Hauser, Michael
Organisation
Development Research
Offered in
Sommersemester 2025
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

People navigating environmental shocks, conflict or displacement rely on a variety of adaptive strategies to secure their livelihoods. How can public, private and civic organisations design livelihood support schemes (such as food assistance, cash transfers, public employment programs, ecosystem restoration, agricultural recovery or legal counsel) that align with the realities of people in complex environments? And what structural transformations are needed to address the root causes of vulnerability in the first place? Answers to these questions require system diagnoses that integrate design thinking, social sciences methods and practical insights from rural and urban livelihood studies. Rather than focusing on predetermined solutions, the system diagnoses shall provide the basis for designing user-centred and resilience-building solutions which prioritise human agency and long-term systemic change rather than short-term relief.
Previous knowledge expected

Participants should have an interest in concepts related to livelihoods, food systems, and transitions in complex environments. Active participation in discussions, group work, and online check-ins is expected, along with a willingness to read, listen to and watch online resources. Additionally, students should be committed to a mini-study project.

169.401 Development Innovation
.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

1. Describe key concepts for understanding how people navigate uncertainty and sustain their livelihoods in complex environments.
2. Explain the value of systems approaches in analysing livelihood strategies across different contexts (e.g., farming, pastoralism, urban informal economies).
3. Apply livelihood system perspectives to a sector or case relevant to your discipline (e.g., agriculture/agroecology, water/natural resources management, informal labour, migration).
4. Critically assess the challenges and opportunities of using systemic perspectives to understand resilience, risk, and transformation in farm, food, and livelihood systems.
5. Propose strategies for accompanying people through critical transformations and episodes of poverty and food insecurity by integrating systemic perspectives into policies and programs.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.