Tracking the livelihoods of the poor in urban context to understand factors that affect their attempt to move above the poverty line:  The case of Rosario, Argentina (2000-2013)

Abstract: Abstract This study shows how the chronic poor living in the urban context of Rosario overcome their limitations to achieve livelihood goals in their attempt to move above the poverty line. A theoretical perspective, which complements the concept, definitions and analytical viewpoints concerning: livelihoods, resilience and adaptation, chronic poverty, poverty dynamics and poverty line, is outlined to reflect the findings with the existing theories that enable examining the limiting and the supporting factors that really matter for the livelihood of the poor. In total, 27 interviews were conducted, 12 with selected participants who were living in the situation of chronic poverty in the year 2000, and 15 with key informants and other stakeholders in order to explore the life experiences of the poor through: the context vulnerability; access to assets; policy, institutions and processes; livelihood strategies and outcomes. After examining how the chronic poor living in Rosario are able to make their way of living, it has been observed that for them it is not possible to secure strategies which assure enough returns to improve their resilience, capacity of adaptation and reduction of vulnerability if there is no financial and technical support beyond the support given to them in terms of social protection to cover their basic needs. It has also been found that the support and accompaniment given to them during their changing process require a well-coordinated implementation of public policies, programs and projects which need to be improved. Thus, a humanitarian approach focusing on the household livelihood security which links emergency, recovery and development is described  to analyze what is being done in Rosario in terms of programing and on the other hand to formulate some recommendations to improve them.