Providing functional skills in vulnerable areas

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends developing and strengthening integrated development programmes for the eradication of poverty and promotion of alternative livelihood systems in areas prone to desertification.

The Philippines Department of Education, Culture and Sports offers a Livelihood Skills Development Programme, designed to help solve the unemployment and underemployment problem of the country by equipping the youth with skills in handling technical/vocational jobs. In 1986, a total of 18,300 livelihood development classes were held in the 13 regions with a total enrolment of over 360,000. Of these, 270,000 successfully finished their courses. In 1987, 21,000 classes were organized with a total enrolment of over 480,000 and almost 340,000 successful graduates.

1. Improving international environment for development
2. Combating desertification
3. Building practical skills development

1. Enabling poor to achieve sustainable livelihood

1. Undertaking research on land use
2. Undertaking demographic case studies in threatened areas
3. Strengthening local organizations responsible for land management
4. Strengthening local associations dealing with interests of pastoralists
5. Strengthening effective information exchange
6. Protecting property rights in rural areas
7. Producing environmental resource inventories
8. Involving local populations
9. Integrating poverty alleviation in vulnerable areas into national development strategies
10. Improving coordination among international programmes for indigenous peoples
11. Exchanging information on alternative livelihoods
12. Developing technologies which support alternative sources of income
13. Delegating land resource management responsibilities to rural organizations
14. Creating rural banking systems
15. Assessing consequences of different land tenure systems
16. Acquiring revolving local capital

1. Vulnerability
2. Undeveloped
3. Underdevelopment
4. Overdevelopment
5. Functionality
6. Development

1. Agenda 21