Cities are engines of economic growth. They comprise complex networks of activities essential for basic human functions to live and work. In these networks the space for the poor and marginalized is often confined to insecure and hazardous livelihoods. Many of them are part of the unorganized sector which does not ensure umbrella of social securities. Further, a majority of them are migrants from rural areas. They have to cope with the challenges posed by new livelihoods and dismal living conditions, which entail negative impact on overall quality of life. Their access to financial institutions is also limited to private moneylenders who charge high interests on debt. Understanding this changing scenario, urban livelihoods have to be seen as a process where different actors play vital role at different levels. There is now an emerging consensus that policy makers and development actors should seek to identify both what the poor have and what they do not have. For enhancement of urban livelihoods, accessibility to services has to be improved, inclusiveness of urban poor in policy process has to be realized, institutional framework has to be strengthen to accommodate and legalize the participation of urban poor in developmental process. This program has been designed to identify and address this complex and meshed issues, which will be useful for professionals working with both government and non–government organizations.

The objectives of the programme are: 1.To understand the basics of urban livelihood issues and how similar / different it is from rural livelihood issues 2.To get an insight on informal sector economy, micro-enterprises and alternative livelihood options for urban poor 3.To get sensitized on institutional arrangement and policy framework required for enhancement of urban livelihoods 4.To explore management practices and tools that can be used to address urban livelihood issues more effectively.