The peri-urban interface is influencing the lives of increasing numbers of people around the world. As livelihood activities change from rural to urban, opportunities arise to help people manage this transition and successfully exploit new opportunities. This brief describes the key findings from a synthesis study of 10 years of research undertaken to explore changes in NR based production, and how these are linked with livelihoods and poverty, at the peri-urban interface. The synthesis found that while some people are able to take advantage of new income-generating opportunities, others are made poorer by the rural to urban transition. Poor people especially women, are less able to take advantage of new opportunities; but interventions that support the poor can help them. Although the land available for natural resource based activities declines with the rural-urban change, these activities remain important. Continued support for good natural resource management is therefore critical. Farming and trading have crucial roles in peri-urban situations, providing income and allowing new risk taking ventures. These activities can also be usefully supported. As increasing numbers of people are affected, governments, NGOs and other stakeholders need to be aware of the characteristics of the peri-urban interface if they are to intervene effectively to help the rural poor make the transition to the urban economy.

Download publication (307kb)

Project details