Household livelihood vulnerability to mining in Zambia's Solwezi copper mining district

Abstract

The mining sector contributes significantly to national and local economic development through employment, income generation, infrastructure development and the generation of foreign exchange. However, mining activities have adverse effects especially at local scale, with high potential to outweigh benefits if poorly managed. This study applied a livelihood vulnerability analytical framework to assess the household vulnerability of local communities in Zambia's Solwezi copper mining district. Two study areas were purposively selected based on proximity to mining activities. Assessment of the mining-related factors (sensitivities) that affect the local communities and their ability to respond in predictive or reactive ways (adaptive capabilities) is also included. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) results show that Central block was more vulnerable to the impact of mining in terms of human, natural, social, physical and financial capitals than St Francis block because of proximity to mining activities. Livelihood resources, such as agricultural land, forest and water, were affected by the degradation of the environment because of mining activities, making it difficult for households to achieve positive livelihood outcomes. This research contributes to understanding the household vulnerability of local communities impacted by mining. At the household level, the adoption of LVIs might have broader applications, such as vulnerability monitoring, development initiatives evaluation, and policy efficiency determination in the mining dominated landscapes.