17
have the capacities or skills to develop their own sustainable livelihood strategies.
Hence, strategies in place might be temporary rather than sustainable in the longterm. They may also be of varying degrees of relevance for locals. Following
Mandke (2007), livelihood strategies can be examined in consideration of four
aspects: combination, substitution, sequencing and clustering. These strategies will
be examined here in relation to community capacity-building to recommend alternative ways of creating more sustainable livelihoods for mining-based communities
and human settlements in resource regions in Colombia.
2.3.1.5 Combination and Substitution
Combination and substitution are two main strategies that can be implemented to
foster sustainable livelihoods. It is advisable to apply these two strategies according
to the context and governance environment in which the communities are embedded. Combination entails examining how mining and other livelihoods coexist and
the implications of this coexistence for communities. However, assets and livelihoods can also be replaced to help communities adjacent to mining operations
develop livelihoods in tune with their development aspirations in what the SLF
refers to as substitution. The Risaralda case study illustrates the successful implementation of a combination strategy in which both mining and other traditional
livelihoods like agriculture are combined to help communities become more resilient to potential mining impacts.
In Risaralda, examples can be seen where mining has also been combined with
jewellery design and trade, a livelihood option that is currently adding value to
resource extraction in the region. Conversely, mining training in Antioquia is often
substituting for traditional livelihood options such as agriculture, which is compromising community sustainability and even exacerbating poverty.
In this context, the implementation of an economic diversification approach coupled with other initiatives such as food security and farming programmes is highly
recommended due to the likelihood that mining impacts will have many adverse
implications for livelihoods. This will allow activities like mining to coexist with
other industries and activities relevant to the local economy and will add value to
other livelihood options relevant to communities, as well as helping to ensure that
livelihood options remain open after mines have closed.
2.3.1.6 Sequencing and Clustering
Both sequencing and clustering are examined here. Sequencing relates to the
resources that need to be allocated one after the other to build livelihoods, while
clustering relates to the group of livelihood assets associated with specific livelihood strategies (DFID 1999). In other words, an examination of these two concepts
accounts for existing community assets and potential strategies to further employ
these assets. Based on the key findings of the research, communities need to develop
2 SDG 1 No Poverty
have the capacities or skills to develop their own sustainable livelihood strategies.
Hence, strategies in place might be temporary rather than sustainable in the longterm. They may also be of varying degrees of relevance for locals. Following
Mandke (2007), livelihood strategies can be examined in consideration of four
aspects: combination, substitution, sequencing and clustering. These strategies will
be examined here in relation to community capacity-building to recommend alternative ways of creating more sustainable livelihoods for mining-based communities
and human settlements in resource regions in Colombia.
2.3.1.5 Combination and Substitution
Combination and substitution are two main strategies that can be implemented to
foster sustainable livelihoods. It is advisable to apply these two strategies according
to the context and governance environment in which the communities are embedded. Combination entails examining how mining and other livelihoods coexist and
the implications of this coexistence for communities. However, assets and livelihoods can also be replaced to help communities adjacent to mining operations
develop livelihoods in tune with their development aspirations in what the SLF
refers to as substitution. The Risaralda case study illustrates the successful implementation of a combination strategy in which both mining and other traditional
livelihoods like agriculture are combined to help communities become more resilient to potential mining impacts.
In Risaralda, examples can be seen where mining has also been combined with
jewellery design and trade, a livelihood option that is currently adding value to
resource extraction in the region. Conversely, mining training in Antioquia is often
substituting for traditional livelihood options such as agriculture, which is compromising community sustainability and even exacerbating poverty.
In this context, the implementation of an economic diversification approach coupled with other initiatives such as food security and farming programmes is highly
recommended due to the likelihood that mining impacts will have many adverse
implications for livelihoods. This will allow activities like mining to coexist with
other industries and activities relevant to the local economy and will add value to
other livelihood options relevant to communities, as well as helping to ensure that
livelihood options remain open after mines have closed.
2.3.1.6 Sequencing and Clustering
Both sequencing and clustering are examined here. Sequencing relates to the
resources that need to be allocated one after the other to build livelihoods, while
clustering relates to the group of livelihood assets associated with specific livelihood strategies (DFID 1999). In other words, an examination of these two concepts
accounts for existing community assets and potential strategies to further employ
these assets. Based on the key findings of the research, communities need to develop
2 SDG 1 No Poverty