Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Alternative livelihood systems for sustainable rural transition in the global south

 

A challenge facing marginal or transitional areas of the global south is to identify alternative livelihoods for local residents in order to achieve public objectives such as poverty alleviation, environmental protection or other public interested projects.

This raises questions about mutual trust, effective communication and cooperation between external stakeholders and local communities to initiate and sustain a process of rural transition toward a new and sustainable livelihood system. 

This project attempts to develop a framework on alternative livelihood system for sustainable rural transition to reflect good practices in both targeted poverty alleviation in China (2015-2020) and Chinese agricultural investment in BRI countries (especially Southeast Asia).

In particular, it aims to address following questions: 

  1. What experience and lessons can be learnt from alternative livelihood strategies in different locations and programmes, either in China or in BRI countries?
  2. What are key factors, conditions and mechanisms which can be drawn from good practices in terms of successful and sustainable alternative livelihood systems?
  3. How can mutual trust, collaboration and partnership between external stakeholders and local communities be initiated, maintained and upgraded, leading to sustainable rural transition?
  4. What are features of or criteria for favourable ecosystems responsible for sustainable rural transition, and what lessons can be learnt from unsuccessful external intervention?

The above aims will be addressed based upon case studies and comparisons in multiple sites, either in China or in BRI countries.

ECRs: Yan Jin (YAU), Shuru Zhong (SYU ), Zhenzhong Si (WLU) 

Mentors: Bin Wu (UoN), Gubo Qi (CAU) 

Contacts: Yan Jin 

Nottingham University Business School

Jubilee Campus
Nottingham
NG8 1BB

Email: ingenuitylab@nottingham.ac.uk