Household Livelihood Vulnerability Research Articles

Impact of Nature Reserves on the Rural Household's Livelihood Vulnerability In Surrounding Communities: 17 Giant Panda Nature Reserves in China As Examples

Impact of Nature Reserves on the Rural Household's Livelihood Vulnerability In Surrounding Communities: 17 Giant Panda Nature Reserves in China As Examples

Social Capital and Household Vulnerability of Fishermen's Household in Lae-Lae Island, Makassar City

The results of research conducted in 2022 in the Lae-Lae Island fishing community found that the forms of household livelihood vulnerability can be categorized into: pressure from external community factors that are long-term and broad-scale (trends), shocks that come in a short time that disrupt sources of livelihood, and disturbances or pressures that are seasonal. The study also found that small-scale fishing communities carry out three livelihood strategies namely: (1) double income pattern; (2) optimizing the role of the family; and (3) utilizing social networks. The factors of the existence of physical and financial capital as an essential element of resilience show that these two capitals still need to be improved in the community’s possession. This research is a continuation of previous research, aiming to determine the strength of social capital possessed by fishing communities in dealing with household livelihood vulnerabilities on Lae-lae Island, Makassar City. This type of research is descriptive qualitative with informants and was carried out through purposive sampling. Researchers used observation data collection techniques, interviews, and documentation. The analysis technique used is qualitative data analysis and is descriptive. The study found that social norms in the fishing community on Lae-lae Island contributed to other elements of social capital. Social solid norms maintain the habit of mutual assistance, high trust among them, and cooperation built in a network of social and institutional relations, which is a condition rooted in the socio-cultural values of the fishing community of the Bugis-Makassar tribe.
 Keywords: social capital, resilient, livelihood strategy

Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis

Navigating dynamics of farm household livelihood vulnerability to climate-related risks in southern Ethiopia: An agroecology-based comparative analysis

Climate Change Perception and Vulnerability Assessment of the Farming Communities in the Southwest Parts of Ethiopia

This study assesses the perceptions and vulnerability of the farming communities to climate change in the southwestern parts of Ethiopia. Climate change vulnerability assessment is a prerequisite to designing climate change adaptation strategies. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select four of the six zones from the southwestern parts of Oromia. Close-ended and open-ended questionnaires were used to assess household perceptions of climate change and the degree of vulnerability to climate change by using five household capitals: natural, social, financial, physical, and human capital. Data were collected from 442 households in 4 districts: Jimma Arjo, Bako Tibe, Chewaka, and Sekoru. The vulnerability of the farming communities was assessed using the households’ livelihood vulnerability index. A total of forty indicators from five capitals were applied to calculate household livelihood vulnerability to climate change. Household perceptions of climate change had a statistically significant relationship with changes in rainfall pattern (75.6%, p < 0.001), temperature pattern (69.7%, p < 0.001), drought (41.6%, p = 0.016), flood (44.1%, p = 0.000), and occurrence of early (53.2%, p < 0.001) and late rain (55.9%, p < 0.001). The results show that households in the Sekoru district were the most vulnerable (0.61), while households in the Jimma Arjo district were less vulnerable (0.47) to the effect of climate change. Household vulnerability to climate change is mainly related to the occurrence of drought, lack of much-needed infrastructure facilities, and weak institutional support. Links with financial organizations are also lacking in the household. The findings of this study will help policymakers to address the impact of climate change. To support disaster risk management on the one hand and increase the resilience of vulnerable societies to climate change on the other, we recommend a detailed assessment of the remaining districts of the region.

Exploring the utility of the entropy method for classifying household livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies to salinity intrusion Impact - empirical evidence in coastal communities of the Vietnamese Mekong delta

This study evaluates how vulnerable and adaptable the coastal communities of the Vietnamese Mekong delta (VMD) are to the effects of saltwater intrusion on their livelihoods. A multi-disciplinary approach is used, including the entropy method, field surveys, and GIS combined with interviews with local officials, coastal communities. For analyzing household vulnerability for 457 households in twelve selected communes in Soc Trang province, VMD, we applied the Livelihood Vulnerable index (LVI) and LVI-IPCC indices, and the weight of key components was determined using Shannon's entropy approach. Both are salinity intrusion-focused and the subcomponents of the LVI and LVI-IPCC were similar; nevertheless, they are each conceptually constructed differently, resulting in distinct final value outputs. The results produced from LVI revealed that Lich Hoi Thuong had the highest vulnerability index (0.608), followed by Tran De (0.443) and Dai An 2 (0.435), having moderate vulnerability, whereas the Phu Huu (0.389), Tan Hung (0.341), Long Phu (0.337), Long Duc (0.322), Truong Khanh (0.318), Chau Khanh (0.277), Dai Ngai (0.260), Hau Thanh (0.244) and Lieu Tu (0.224) communes were classified as having low vulnerability. In terms of the results of LVI-IPCC, Lieu Tu (−0.013) is the most vulnerable. Our analysis underlines that, while some communes are vulnerable to saline intrusion, the sensitivity can be mitigated by their adaptive ability. This study has detailed the picture of livelihood vulnerability in Soc Trang, providing valuable information for the decision-makers to understand the context in study areas and then suggest effective strategies to adapt to salinity intrusion.

Estimating Livelihood Vulnerability and Its Impact on Adaptation Strategies in the Context of Disaster Avoidance Resettlement in Southern Shaanxi, China

In order to alleviate ecological environmental degradation and to enhance sustainable rural household livelihoods, the Shaanxi government of China launched a disaster mitigation program: the disaster avoidance resettlement. Measuring household livelihood vulnerability and further assessing its influence, hold the key to strengthening livelihood adaptation in the context of disaster resettlement. Taking Ankang—in southern Shaanxi Province, China—as an example, this article explores the impact mechanism of household livelihood vulnerability on adaptation strategies through a multinominal logistic regression model in which 657 rural questionnaires were employed. In order to provide more integrated empirical evidence, we draw lessons from the livelihood of the previously proposed vulnerability framework, which has three dimensions: the degree of sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity. The adaptive strategies were divided into pure farming, non-agricultural, and diversified adaptation types according to the types of income sources. The results indicated that livelihood vulnerability varies with different resettlement characteristics. In terms of adaptive strategy types, the vulnerability of pure farming households was the largest. This article found that the relocated households who had a lower sensitivity preferred the non-farming livelihood adaptation strategy. Local households with a high adaptive ability preferred to implement diversified adaptation strategies. The weaker the social support network of the relocated households, the more likely they were to choose off-farm adaptation strategies. Our research results are robust and have broader implications in terms of promoting rural household diversifications of adaptation strategies and reducing livelihood vulnerability.

Study on the Livelihood Vulnerability of the Poor Relocated Households in Karst Area: A Case Study of Liupanshui Area

Relocation for poverty alleviation has become a vital means for the elimination of rural poverty in China. Research on livelihood vulnerability and its influencing factors of relocated farm households before and after poverty alleviation in Karst areas would contribute to the sustainable development of rural households in mountainous areas, which remains unclear. In this paper, the livelihood vulnerability evaluation index system and evaluation model in Karst areas were constructed based on questionnaire data of relocated households in Liupanshui collected in 2020. Then, the degree of livelihood vulnerability of households before and after relocation was measured, and the analysis of the difference between livelihood vulnerability index and dimension of households with different resettlement methods, relocation time, and livelihood diversification index was carried out in detail. Afterward, stepwise linear regression analysis was chosen to screen the main factors affecting the livelihood vulnerability of rural households subject to different resettlement methods and different relocation time. Results show that the livelihood vulnerability of rural households decreased significantly after relocation, and the risk of rural households returning to poverty was reduced. At the same time, it reveals that the family income level and livelihood diversification index have significant positive effects on the livelihood vulnerability index of rural households before and after relocation. In addition, among the three village resettlement methods, urban resettlement is the most effective way to alleviate the livelihood vulnerability of rural households. With increasing time since relocation, the adaptability of rural households to the new environment is enhanced, and their ability to withstand the impact of risks is also significantly improved.

Livelihood vulnerability of pastoral households in the semiarid grasslands of northern China: Measurement and determinants

Livelihood vulnerability assessment has become an important policy tool for identifying groups in need of immediate intervention. Based on survey data covering 427 households in the Hulunbuir Grasslands in northern China, an indicator-based livelihood vulnerability assessment system (LVAS) was established by combining the sustainable livelihood framework and the exposure–sensitivity–adaptation framework, which described the livelihood vulnerability of households across the household life cycle in terms of the dimensions of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify the key variables that determine livelihood vulnerability. The results show that the livelihoods of pastoral households in the Hulunbuir Grasslands are moderately vulnerable overall, with a high level of exposure, a medium level of sensitivity, and a low level of adaptive capacity. As the household life cycle progresses (from the starting period to the empty-nest period), the adaptive capacity of pastoral households gradually decreases, and their livelihood vulnerability increases. The variables that most exacerbate the vulnerability of pastoral households’ livelihoods in this region are policy–ecological risks, climate–disaster risks and socioeconomic risks, and the main ways to reduce vulnerability are to improve these households’ productive capital, diversify their sources of livelihood, and improve their access to information. The results of the study provide empirical support for similar settings in different regions worldwide that aim to achieve a “win–win” situation of ecological conservation and sustainable livelihood development.

Household Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in West China.

Climate change disproportionately affects natural resource-dependent communities in the ecologically vulnerable regions of western China. This study used the household livelihood vulnerability index under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (HLV-IPCC) to assess vulnerability. Data were collected from 823 households in Ningxia, Gansu, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces, these being ecologically vulnerable regions in China. With a composite HLVI-IPCC and multiple regression model, the factors that affect households’ adaptive capability to HLVI-IPCC was estimated. Results indicate that Ningxia is the most vulnerable community, while Guangxi is the least vulnerable community across all indices. Moreover, Gansu has the heaviest sensitivity and exposure to climate change, whereas Ningxia has the highest adaptive capability to climate change. In addition, the age of household head and distance of the home to the town center had significant negative impacts on households’ adaptive capacity to HLVI-IPCC. The results also suggest that the HLVI assessment can provide an effective tool for local authorities to formulate prioritizing strategies with promoting climate-resilient development and increasing long-term adaptive capacity.

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

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.

NGHIÊN CỨU MỨC ĐỘ TỔN THƯƠNG SINH KẾ CỦA NGƯỜI DÂN VÙNG HẠ LƯU SÔNG BA TRONG BỐI CẢNH BIẾN ĐỔI KHÍ HẬU – TRƯỜNG HỢP NGHIÊN CỨU TẠI XÃ BÌNH NGỌC, THÀNH PHỐ TUY HÒA, TỈNH PHÚ YÊN

The study applies Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and LVI-IPCC to assess the level of livelihood vulnerability of households in Binh Ngoc commune under the impacts of climate change. The LVI includes 7 main factors: household characteristics, livelihood strategies, social networks, health, water resources, food and finance, natural hazards, and climate change. Based on the average value of these key factors, the LVI-IPCC index is made up of three factors: exposure, adaptability, and vulnerability. Calculation results in Binh Ngoc commune show that the LVI and LVI-IPCC indexes have values of 0,278 and 0,016 respectively. This reflects that livelihood vulnerability is not too high, and vulnerability to climate change impacts is moderate. However, the local exposure to climate change impacts is relatively high with a value of 0,476. Besides, people's adaptability is also relatively good with a value of 0,345 and vulnerability is also moderate with a value of 0,126.

Determinants of livelihood vulnerability to climate change: Two minority ethnic communities in the northwest mountainous region of Vietnam

This study identifies indicators that determine livelihood vulnerability of households to climate change in minority ethnic communities in the northwest mountainous region of Vietnam. The two Thai and H’mong communities were selected for the household survey. Household livelihood vulnerability in each community was assessed using a composite livelihood vulnerability index that references the IPCC framework. Results were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model with latent variables. The study indicated that the H’mong community is significantly more vulnerable than the Thai community. The H’mong community is more vulnerable to climate change mainly due to the higher level of sensitivity to natural disasters while the ability to adapt to climate change is lower. The key factors determining the vulnerability of the both communities are related to the adaptive capacity that households have including social networks, livelihood strategies and their household demographics. The results are helpful in identifying determinants of livelihood vulnerability to climate change of mountainous ethnic minority communities and may be applicable to other mountainous regions worldwide. Strategies to cope with climate change in the region are suggested.

Measuring Livelihood Vulnerability to Large-Scale and Small-Scale Mining in Rural Ghana: A Comparative Examination of Agrarian Households

While promoting both large-scale and small-scale mining to facilitate rural development and poverty reduction, it becomes imperative to examine the level of exposure and the risk of mining on assets and livelihoods of agrarian households in mining communities. The study was, therefore, designed to examine the differential effect of the risk of large-scale and small-scale mining on livelihoods of agrarian households. The study covered five regions of Ghana namely, Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Central and Brong-Ahafo Regions, where both large-scale and small-scale mining are pervasive. A two-stage sampling technique was used to sample 864 agrarian households in the study area for primary data. The 864 households comprised 432 households selected from 36 communities which are exclusively exposed to the activities of large-scale mining and 432 households selected from 36 communities exclusively exposed to the activities of small-scale mining. Household livelihood vulnerability (HLV) index was used to measure livelihood vulnerability to the risk of mining. The study established that though agrarian households are susceptible to both large-scale and small-scale mining, assets and livelihoods of such households are more vulnerable to the risk of large-scale mining than small-scale mining. Emanating from the study are recommendations to reduce household livelihood vulnerability to both large-scale and small-scale mining and facilitate livelihood development among agrarian households in mining communities of rural Ghana.

Application of capital-based approach in the measurement of livelihood sustainability: A case study from the Koshi River basin community in Nepal

• The Koshi River basin has been affected by climate change profoundly. • LVI and SLI were presented for assessing the livelihood sustainability of different communities. • The vulnerability of livelihood capitals varies among districts and communities. • Saptari district has the lowest livelihood sustainability value among three districts. Climate change is classified as a global scale issue, since it impacts numerous and varied regions worldwide without regard for anthropogenic or natural geographic borders. However, household livelihood vulnerability and sustainability are influenced by various factors that differ between countries, districts, and communities. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region has been severely affected, as climate change has profoundly impacted the native people’s livelihood, habitation, and physical infrastructure. In order to develop appropriate and effective adaptation strategies, it is necessary to understand the current livelihoods status of local households, to identify underlying factors that affect their livelihood, and to access vulnerability and livelihood sustainability. In this study, researchers collected data by surveying 130 households from the Koshi River basin (KRB) of Nepal. The study was conducted in three different districts, representing various ecological regions within the KRB, including: the Kavre district in the Mid-mountain area, the Sindhuli district in Siwalik Hill, and the Saptari district in the Terai Plains. While the different districts are susceptible to diverse types of climate-induced disasters, all three study areas have suffered huge economic losses in response to climate change. Quantitative assessment of capital-based vulnerability in the rural villages was carried out based on the three dimensions of vulnerability specified by the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and Sustainable Livelihood Index (SLI) was used to assess these three dimensions of vulnerability and sustainability and incorporated a wide range of socio-economic variables that represent human, physical, natural, financial, and social capitals. 45 sub-component indicators were selected to evaluate the five major capitals and ultimately reflect the three vulnerability dimensions. The results suggest that: 1) Kavre households have higher human capital vulnerability; 2) the Saptari district may be more vulnerable to natural and physical capital, and 3) the Sindhuli district is more vulnerable to financial and social capital. Investigation into the specific impacts of climate change on rural livelihoods in different environments enhances our understanding of the resulting environmental and socioeconomic changes. Furthermore, it helps identify the specific vulnerabilities pertaining to susceptible communities at a micro level and aids governments and scientists in developing targeted, customized, adaptive strategies to address infrastructure construction, education, public health services, skills training, establishment of early warning systems, and community-based risk reduction schemes, as needed.

A Combined Analysis of Sociological and Farm Management Factors Affecting Household Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in Rural Burundi

This paper analyzed the livelihood vulnerability of households in two communes using socio-economic data, where one site is a climate analogue of the other under expected future climate change. The analysis was undertaken in order to understand local variability in the vulnerability of communities and how it can be addressed so as to foster progress towards rural adaptation planning. The study identified sources of household livelihood vulnerability by exploring human and social capitals, thus linking the human subsystem with existing biophysical vulnerability studies. Selected relevant variables were used in Factor Analysis on Mixed Data (FAMD), where the first eight dimensions of FAMD contributed most variability to the data. Clustering was done based on the eight dimensions, yielding five clusters with a mix of households from the two communes. Results showed that Cluster 3 was least vulnerable due to a greater proportion of households having adopted farming practices that enhance food and water availability. Households in the other clusters will need to make appropriate changes to reduce their vulnerability. Findings show that when analyzing rural vulnerability, rather than broadly looking at spatial climatic and farm management differences, social factors should also be investigated, as they can exert significant policy implications.

Rural Livelihood Vulnerability and Resilience: a Typology Drawn from Case Studies of Small-Scale Farmers and Fishermen in Indonesia

Various studies on rural household livelihood systems have been carried out in Indonesia to explain the level of household livelihood vulnerability in both farming and fishing communities. The livelihood of small-scale farmers and fishermen is usually vulnerable due to climate and non-climate pressure. This desk study compares the results of studies on livelihood vulnerability from various theses, dissertations and scientific journal articles with a similar topic of study. A case study analysis is used to figure out a comparative picture of small-scale farmers and fishermen households in responding to the pressure as well as making adaptive actions to survive. The weakness of this study is that the conclusion cannot provide evidences as a basis for deriving generalization. Rather it only provides an initial description of the socioeconomic responses as shown by small-scale farmers and fishermen in reacting to ecological pressures. This study comes up with a typology of pressure faced by small-scale farmers and fishermen households. There are four types of stressor that are identified, i.e., climate variability, capital farm expansion, rural-infrastructure development, and economic actorcompetitions. In responding to livelihood vulnerability, most of small-scale farmers and fishermen build their resiliency by using resources under the controlled household system while others use external sources.

The Influence of Poverty Alleviation Resettlement on Rural Household Livelihood Vulnerability in the Western Mountainous Areas, China

Poverty alleviation resettlement (PAR) is China’s largest-ever resettlement program and one of China’s flagship poverty alleviation initiatives. Resorting to this state-led conversation and development program, the central and provincial governments aim to lift the poor out of the poverty trap and into sustainable livelihoods, by delivering improvements in housing conditions, infrastructure services, public amenities, and living standards. Taking Ankang as an example, this study examines the PAR from the perspective of vulnerability through a household survey conducted in Ankang prefecture of Shaanxi province, China. A total of six townships in Ankang are covered, with 657 valid questionnaires collected. This study shows that there is a difference in exposure, sensitivity, and the adaptive capacity of rural households with different relocation characteristics, hence generating different livelihood vulnerabilities. The PAR generally achieves the target of livelihood vulnerability reduction. Specifically, the project-induced relocation has a significant positive effect on vulnerability, but there is a significant negative correlation between livelihood vulnerability and relocation region, relocation time, and relocation subsidy. Challenges and problems remain to be addressed for the next phases of the PAR, including diminishing the financial burden on those relocated and providing free public transportation services, carrying out community-building programs and updating the household registration institution, balancing the redistribution and sharing of farmland, furnishing assistance measures for employment searches and training in specific skills, and creating an impartial project to safeguard the non-movers from the significant negative impacts on their physical and spiritual dimensions.

Determinants of household vulnerability and adaptation to floods: Empirical evidence from the Indian State of West Bengal

The study assesses household livelihood vulnerability and adaptive capacity in a flood prone area of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. The analysis is based on the primary data collected from two administrative blocks of Murshidabad district of the state where frequent occurrences of floods cause damages to both human lives and property. In order to develop a comprehensive livelihood framework to measure the degree of livelihood vulnerability of the flood affected households, the study uses both vulnerability framework proposed by the IPCC and Sustainable Livelihood Framework developed by the DFID. A composite Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVIs) is estimated by combining the household level data, and a comparative analysis is carried out between two administrative blocks and overall district level scenario. The results suggest that Jiaganj block is more vulnerable than Berhampore block; the overall adaptive capacity of the households was less than the exposure and sensitivity to flood events. Vulnerability elements such as exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity are found to be significantly influenced by age of the household head, household income, land holding size and family size. Some of the key household coping and adaptation strategies to floods identified in the study area include borrowing money from friends/relatives, money lender, selling assets and livestock, diversification of livelihoods, migration, elevation of the height of houses, preserving food and fuel stocks.

What Defines Livelihood Vulnerability in Rural Semi-Arid Areas? Evidence from Pakistan

Rural livelihoods in semi-arid Pakistan are increasingly exposed to climate impacts such as rising temperatures, erratic rainfalls and more intense and frequent climate-related extreme events. This is introducing new risks to the already vulnerable and marginalised societies that lack development and have high poverty rates. This study uses the IPCC Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) approach to analyse the determinants of household livelihood vulnerability defining vulnerability in terms of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. It also determines various adaptation responses that farmers apply and elucidates the reasons why some farmers choose not to adapt to climate change. It focuses on three semi-arid districts in Pakistan (Faisalabad, D.G. Khan and Mardan) and uses a sample of 150 rural agricultural households. As per the LVI scores, D.G. Khan is the most vulnerable district to climate change impacts, followed by Mardan and Faisalabad, respectively. Results show that (a lack of) adaptive capacity plays quite an important role in shaping households’ livelihood vulnerability for any given degree of exposure and sensitivity. Besides lower exposure and sensitivity to climate change, extremely low levels of adaptive capacity make Mardan more vulnerable to climate change compared to Faisalabad. The paper argues on people-centric development for rural areas through strengthening of agriculture sector as well as providing rural household opportunities for off-farm livelihoods.

PERUBAHAN DAN KERENTANAN PENGHIDUPAN RUMAH TANGGA NELAYAN BERBASIS PERIKANAN TERUBUK DI KABUPATEN BENGKALIS PROVINSI RIAU

The objective of this research is to collect fishery based household livelihood vulnerability database, to know government efforts in reducing the vulnerability and to maintain the sustainability of fisherman's livelihoods based on terubuk. The research method is conducted qualitatively by involving informants directly or indirectly with fishing activities and fishery business terubuk. The results showed that the change of livelihood of fisherman fishery-based fishermen was caused by environmental change either from ecological asphek or from social culture asfek. Being a fisherman is a derivative work of the ancestors, the sources of vulnerability that occurs not only from natural capital (fish terubuk) but also socially, economically, and politically, the vulnerabilities of fishery-based fishery-based households are initially shaky. This vulnerability is a seasonal trend and is a habit for fishermen.