Project approach

LPP's projects are based on the following philosophy.

Holistic framework

Pastoral and livestock development has long suffered from the imposition of western concepts and criteria that measure success only against the yardstick of productivity and cash. But in non-western cultures, livestock makes economic contribution such as dung and draught power, which can not always be evaluated in terms of monetary value, and its significance also extends into the social, cultural and even religious realm. These aspects need to be acknowledged for culturally appropriate development.

Integrated approach

There are no one-dimensional solutions to development problems. We probe livestock problems and projects for their wider cultural, social, environmental, macro-economical, political implications.

Bottom-up perspective

We always consider development from the perspective of the people involved:

	What does a project mean for them?
	Is an intervention really going to improve their situation?

Applied research

We consider ourselves a research organization and have our own research agenda. Instead of purely academic research, we strongly believe in practice and problem-oriented research which does not contribute to science, but solves actual problems in the field and ultimately improves peoples' lives. We also emphasize pre-project field research to establish a solid baseline for measuring impact of an intervention.

Promotion of local and indigenous knowledge

The value of indigenous knowledge and local technologies has long been overlooked. We promote the application of indigenous knowledge (blended with modern knowledge, if necessary), not only because it may provide the most appropriate solution, but also as a means of empowering people, increasing their self-worth and maintaining their heritage.

Appropriate communication

Communication strategies of rural people in the south and organizations in the north could hardly be more different. Instant electronic communication and access to databases here, oral tradition-based societies where only the spoken word counts there. We try to bridge the gulf in regards to concepts and terminologies between donors and rural people.