Abstract
Investments in quality infrastructure play an essential role in addressing livelihood development challenges. A concerted effort in improving and operating such infrastructure can provide local industries with new market opportunities both locally and globally and thereby create a significant number of new decent jobs. This guide describes how the local construction industry and authorities can be mobilized to efficiently develop and maintain rural and urban infrastructure through a local resource-based (LRB) approach. It presents policies, strategies and good practices that have proven to effectively build and maintain local infrastructure, increase the participation of local entrepreneurs, create new job opportunities and build sustainable livelihoods.