A resources and shaping forces model for community-based sustainable development

The Resources and Shaping Forces¹ (RSF) model is developed froma case study in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, using modified groundedtheory. It provides a conceptual framework for identifying,describing and analysing livelihood and natural systems at thecommunity level, and helps link the principles of sustainablelivelihoods to those of community development. The shaping forcesset of institutions, interventions and perturbations describesthe influences on and determinants of resource availability(endowment) and resource access (entitlement), together withthe duties and responsibilities of various community members(entrustment). Applying the model requires community groups,households and individuals of different gender and wealth categoriesto articulate their perspectives on the dynamics of the livelihoodand natural systems.