Self-reliance is a key component in any strategy aimed at avoiding or addressing protracted refugee situations, enabling agencies and refugees to find durable solutions that are truly sustainable; providing a foundation for building towards the Millennium Development Goals; and developing capacities contributing to the pursuit of the Agenda for Protection. This handbook is about social and economic self-reliance – developing and strengthening livelihoods of people of concern, and addressing or preventing their long-term dependence on humanitarian assistance. It will be used by different people in different ways – but mostly by people working with UNHCR.