Operationalizing the sustainable livelihood approach: The strength and weakness in mining communities in Ghana

Abstract

A major strategy which is playing an increasingly significant role in mining companies‟ Corporate Social Responsibility toward their host communities in Ghana has been the Sustainable Livelihood Approach. The approach has been popular to address the livelihood constraints and opportunities of local communities. This has by many been seen as a response to doubts on the effectiveness of modernization paradigm which emphasize structural transformation of the economy through industrial agriculture and downplayed the social development of rural areas with the notion that development will „trickle down‟ to poor rural communities. This paper argues that although the Sustainable Livelihood Approach look inclusive and empowering, it has its own challenges in practice that require analytical attention and call for proper management. Empirically, the paper focuses on the measures taken by major mining companies in southern Ghana to protect vulnerability in their communities. I firstly present an analysis and critique of the concept Sustainable Livelihood Approach and its framework, and then assess the activities of the livelihood programmes in mining communities in southern Ghana in practice. The paper present a comprehensive review of potential strengths and weakness of the Sustainable Livelihood Approach, and conclude with policy and theory implications the case study entails. One challenge that confronts society is to put theoretical ideas into practice to achieve our goals. One development analytical tool which has gained much attention in the last few decades is the Sustainable Livelihood Approach1 (SLA). This is in the wake where Modernisation paradigm2 to development has raised much question as to its effectiveness in reaching out to rural development (Hall and Midgley, 2004). This paper will argue that although the SLA may look very attractive in theory, it has its own challenges in practice. The paper attempts to present a comprehensive potential strengths and weakness of the SLA. However, the case study will provide specific insight into its potency and difficulties in practice. The case study will focus on assessing the measures taken by mining companies in southern Ghana as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility3 (CRS) to protect the vulnerability of the rural communities in which they have their activities. The paper will discuss the concept of SLA and then assess the activities of the livelihood programmes with principles of the SLA which include its focus on people, holistic approach to development and its macro-micro linkages (ibid). It will then conclude with policy and theory implication of the case study.