Addressing development issues by putting the livelihoods of poor people at the forefront of analysis and action.
 
We have an established track record in the field of pro-poor development policy, and wide-ranging experience across the range of competencies that have recently been synthesised into the “livelihoods approach”. Our aim has always been to recommend integrated reform strategies that are transparent, streamlined, efficient and effective. These create incentives for the growth of sustainable productive activities by focusing on natural comparative and competitive advantages, rather than subsidies, protectionism and market distortions. Our assistance to developing countries in this area covers many intervention types and ties in with our work in other practice areas.

		Rural Infrastructure and Service Provision Local and regional governments are frequently unresponsive to the needs of the poor in the areas of rural infrastructure and service provision. We are engaged in a wide variety of capital investment activities including road and ferry services development; construction of community buildings (including schools, medical centres and local government offices); developing communications networks in the area covered; and public health works including improving water supplies.
		Social Inclusion and Strengthened Voice The poor are often excluded from the decision-making process and are unable to hold any individual, or any organisation, to account for the non-delivery of infrastructure or service provision. We have undertaken a wide range of projects to promote social inclusion and social mobilisation activities and to strengthen the voice of the poor. Our aim is to ensure that the needs of the poor are heard and acted upon when decisions are made, particularly in service provision, that affect their lives. This conforms to the concept that the millennium goals can only be achieved with the active involvement of poor people in the development process.
		Enterprise Development and Business Service Markets In collaboration with our competitiveness and enterprise development work, we have undertaken many assignments that have successfully created and facilitated markets for business services. This has included both the management of direct-subsidy funds for business services and, more recently, assistance in developing service markets that have long-term sustainability without outside funding. Our work in this area has been not only for a wide variety of service companies but also for public and private sector organisations. Projects include the identification of constraints to market development; diagnostic market reviews; and training.
		Small Business Finance and Micro-Credit Complementing the work of our Competitiveness and Finance divisions, we have undertaken assignments to help both commercial and micro-financial institutions worldwide understand and respond to requests from SMEs. We also regularly provide advice on financial innovation issues and on developing financing mechanisms for small business.