This chapter will seek to set out the definition, origins and structure of SLA. In Chap. 1 it was pointed out that SLA is founded upon the notion that intervention must be based upon an appreciation of what underpins livelihoods. However there have been other factors at play that led to SLA as we know it today. First it is important to note that SLA was devised from what can be called an ‘intentional’ approach to development. Development has many meanings and Cowen and Shenton (1998) have made an interesting case for two basic forms:
1. Immanent development (or what people are doing anyway): this denotes a broad process of advancement in human societies driven by a host of factors including advances in science, medicine, the arts, communication, governance etc. It is facilitated by processes such as globalisation (an international integration) which helps share new ideas and technologies.
2. Intentional (or Interventionist) development: this is a focussed and directed process whereby government and non-government organisations implement development projects and programmes (typically a set of related projects) to
help the poor. The projects are usually time and resource bound, but have an assumption that the gains achieved would continue after the project had ended.