Livelihoods. The book, divided into fourteen chapters, looks at the Okavango region of northern Namibia. It is based on five village studies which cover all five tribal regions within the Okavango; these target communities provide a reasonable representation of the rural communities throughout the region. The population within the Okavango is one of the fastest growing in Namibia, and already accounts for 10% of the population, besides several thousand refugees from neighbouring Angola. In all, 270 households were surveyed in November 1991 to March 1992. The first chapter provides a historical and physiographical background to the area. The conceptual framework and methodology are then set out. An overview of the economic situation faced by households in the region, leads into an assessment of the extent and distribution of poverty in Okavango. The present position of agriculture, fishing and other sources of income are discussed, and recommendations are given, for example to establish fish farming courses in Okavango to improve production possibilities, or to improve agricultural expertise along with better transport provision or more markets for the sale of produce. The issues of education (concerning its underdevelopment throughout the colonial period); women (illustrating how there has been no specialist concern for women, in fact the category as such does not exist within Okavango, although there is a little change to see gender as bound by culture and social position); and legal issues (looking at the ownership of land, conservation, and the position of women, particularly concerning marriage, divorce and inheritance; and various business relationships) are covered. The implications of the study for policy development in terms of objectives for the region and possible projects are drawn. These are identified as being sustainable improvements in household food security, poverty alleviation more generally, improved transport services, health care, education and better water supply, although it is essential that, in considering the position facing women, they participate fully in this development process. Short case studies of the villages in Okavango are provided in an appendix.