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remittances, enterprise holdings, insurance, pensions, and livestock), political capital (access
to and participation in decision making processes), and social capital (networks, group
memberships, and social relationships). In crisis and post-crisis situations, capital assets are
easily lost, destroyed, or stolen. The capacity to preserve or recoup these capital assets
determines the impact of a crisis on livelihoods.
1.2.3 Linkages to the MDGs and poverty reduction strategies
Governments around the world have committed themselves to achieving a set of timebound
and quantifiable Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs address poverty
and hunger, universal education, gender equality, child health, maternal health, HIV/AIDS,
environmental sustainability, and global partnership. Many national governments have
established development and poverty reduction strategies that address MDG achievement
within their own specific contexts. In line with the MDGs and its own Poverty Reduction
Strategy, UNDP promotes inclusive and equitable growth, human rights principles, access
to decent employment opportunities, private sector development, and access also to
basic services for all groups and communities, without discrimination.
In crisis and post-crisis situations, livelihoods and economic recovery are vital for MDG
progress. At the same time, a firm foundation for development, including effective and
resilient institutions, is important for livelihoods and economic recovery. The goal of
reducing poverty and hunger (MDG 1), which is essential for inclusive economic growth,
calls for programming with a long-term vision and commitment, even in times of crisis.
As elaborated below, the three-track approach to programming taken in this Guide promotes
coherence among interventions with short-, medium-, and long-term objectives.
1.2.4 UNDP’s role in livelihoods and economic recovery in crisis and
post-crisis situations
Globally, as set forth in UNDP’s Strategic Plan for 2008-2011, capacity development is UNDP’s
overarching contribution, and crisis prevention and recovery constitute one of the four focus
areas in which UNDP seeks to strengthen national capacities. UNDP’s resources for supporting
capacity development—and the knowledge management that this requires—include a
network of offices, technical personnel, programmes, and relationships in countries around
the world. UNDP has the ability to convene partners and to provide effective coordination of
capacity development support, enabling countries and communities to reduce their reliance
on external assistance. UNDP has committed in its strategic plan to assisting countries that
are prone to natural disasters, countries that face imminent conflict and have experienced
severe disruptions in critical national or local capacities, and countries with priority postconflict
situations (as designated by the United Nations). As chair of the UN Cluster Working
Group on Early Recovery, UNDP has a central role among international development partners
in fostering economic recovery in both crisis and post-crisis settings.
Wherever possible, a preventive (proactive) approach to crisis is preferable to a curative
(reactive) approach. In many countries in which UNDP is a partner, however, a crisis is
already underway or has already occurred. In these countries, UNDP supports governments,
civil society organizations, and communities to develop and implement livelihoods
and economic recovery programmes and strategies. These are sometimes implemented
within larger programmes for peace-building, disaster risk reduction, reintegration, and
the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. In situations where a particular geographical
area has unique or specific problems, UNDP adopts an area-based development
approach. (See Box 1.1 for further information on area-based development programming.)
Livelihoods & Economic Recovery in Crisis Situations