TOWARDS AN TOWARDS AN APPROACH BASED ON APPROACH BASED ON THE ASSETS OF THE THE ASSETS OF THE

POORPOOR

The Rural ContextThe Rural Context

TWO OPPOSING APPROACHES TWO OPPOSING APPROACHES

Traditional approach based on needs Traditional approach based on needs

A new approach based on capacities A new approach based on capacities

The Traditional ApproachThe Traditional Approach

Based on needs, deficits and problems Based on needs, deficits and problems

Leads participants in development Leads participants in development processes to see themselves as: processes to see themselves as: Consumers of services with no incentives to Consumers of services with no incentives to

become producers of goods and services become producers of goods and services Victims who are incapable of taking charge of Victims who are incapable of taking charge of

their lives or the future of their communities their lives or the future of their communities

Other Consequences of the Other Consequences of the Traditional ApproachTraditional Approach

Channels resources to providers of Channels resources to providers of services and not to the resident target services and not to the resident target population population

Diminishes community leadership Diminishes community leadership

Deepens the dependency cycle Deepens the dependency cycle

Conspires against development of a plan Conspires against development of a plan which includes the energies of the which includes the energies of the community community

A New Approach A New Approach

Developing policies and activities based Developing policies and activities based on the capacities, abilities and assets of on the capacities, abilities and assets of the rural poor and their institutionsthe rural poor and their institutions

Building new structures for opportunities, Building new structures for opportunities, new sources of income and new new sources of income and new production possibilitiesproduction possibilities

Community Assets: individuals, Community Assets: individuals, associations and organizationsassociations and organizations

Individuals, men and women , the youth, Individuals, men and women , the youth, the elderly, the poorest, vulnerable and the elderly, the poorest, vulnerable and marginalized groups marginalized groups

Associations of all types: religious, Associations of all types: religious, cultural, sports and recreational cultural, sports and recreational

Public institutions such as schools, Public institutions such as schools, hospitals, the police and the judicial as hospitals, the police and the judicial as well as private enterprises big and small well as private enterprises big and small

The New Approach is Based onThe New Approach is Based on

The capacity of the population and their The capacity of the population and their associative and organizational structures associative and organizational structures The internal capacity to establish agendas The internal capacity to establish agendas and solve problems by groups, and solve problems by groups, associations and organizations associations and organizations The constant capacity to build The constant capacity to build relationships between the population, relationships between the population, associations, organizations and associations, organizations and institutions institutions

The Assets ApproachThe Assets Approach

Promotes full participation Promotes full participation

Builds a stronger civil society Builds a stronger civil society

Creates economic opportunities at the Creates economic opportunities at the local level local level

Conceptual Conceptual FrameworkFramework

The approach is centred on the following The approach is centred on the following assets of the community: assets of the community:

Productive Productive

Social and Social and

Locational Locational

Productive AssetsProductive Assets

Natural resources Natural resources

Human capital: education, skills, health Human capital: education, skills, health household compositionhousehold composition

Physical capital: housing, equipment and Physical capital: housing, equipment and household goods applianceshousehold goods appliances

Financial capital: savings, access to Financial capital: savings, access to credit, livestockcredit, livestock

Social Social AssetsAssets

Social networks, inclusion and or Social networks, inclusion and or exclusionexclusion

Political networks: participation in political Political networks: participation in political decision makingdecision making

Governance and organizational capacityGovernance and organizational capacity

Locational AssetsLocational Assets

Access to infrastructure and services Access to infrastructure and services

Distance to urban centres Distance to urban centres

Agro ecological characteristics, altitude, Agro ecological characteristics, altitude, soil and water quality, climatic conditionssoil and water quality, climatic conditions

Components for AnalysisComponents for Analysis

The tangible and intangible assets of the The tangible and intangible assets of the poor poor

The institutional and policy context, past The institutional and policy context, past present and future defining a sense of present and future defining a sense of ownership and possible risks ownership and possible risks

The results in wellbeing and growth The results in wellbeing and growth possibilities in timepossibilities in time

Implementation Mechanisms in Implementation Mechanisms in Latin America Latin America

Beneficiary identification and preparation Beneficiary identification and preparation of business plan or profileof business plan or profile

Transparent and competitive award Transparent and competitive award processprocess

Transfer of financial resourcesTransfer of financial resources

Signing of legally binding contract and Signing of legally binding contract and opening of bank accountsopening of bank accounts

Self evaluation and morning Self evaluation and morning

Thank You Thank You