Sustainable Village Organizations,the Successful Route to Sustainable Livelihoods? A Case Study in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan

Abstract

The study is based on the impact of development interventions on the rural households in the Abbottabad district of Pakistan. Methodological approaches used include a qualitative analysis of natural resource management and NGOs' impact on development activities and quantitative analysis of households' livelihood status and strategies. The key findings are that the role of social capital can ensure sustainable natural resource management and sustainable livelihood improvement activities. Formation of community-based organizations can lead to the formation of social capital that is much needed for other management and livelihood support activities. Also, natural resource management and livelihood improvement activities need to be interrelated with each other to involve the poor as they need incentives.