Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) and livelihoods impact assessments

Sustainable Agricultural Production research group members can help organisations solve complex issues and adapt to change through applications of the Institutional Analysis and Development framework (IAD) and livelihoods impact assessments.

Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IAD)

The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework (Crawford and Ostrom, 1995) provides an encompassing systems view of the policy/institutional setting, economic and social/cultural aspects interacting with the physical environment.

It captures how people collaborate and coordinate themselves across organisational and state boundaries to manage common resources such as forests and fisheries, which often cross or flow through national boundaries.

The IAD’s focus is on understanding the interconnected rules/norms within and between organisations in a societal context. In particular, “frameworks serve as a meta-theoretical schema that facilitate the organization of diagnosis, analysis, and prescription”. The IAD framework is flexible and as a result has been applied widely in areas such as: natural resource management, public health, conservation programs, nanotechnology consortia and immigration policy.

Livelihoods Impact Assessments

The livelihoods impact assessment of a project accounts for resources used and generates knowledge to improve the design and implementation of future programs and projects.

A livelihoods impact assessment (ODI 2000) may be conducted in a number of different ways. It mainly includes a good understanding of key themes:

  • Current livelihood strategies, achievements and priorities
  • How livelihood strategies and achievements are influenced by the project
  • What are the key internal and external influencing factors; and
  • Differences between stakeholder groups

A single project may not substantially change livelihood security in quantifiable terms. Nevertheless, livelihood impact assessment can highlight how it ‘fits’ with livelihoods, any incremental changes, and how impacts can be enhanced.

Contact information

For more information or to work with us, please contact: