Communities’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Variability in Ethiopia

Misganaw Teshager Abeje, Atsushi Tsunekawa, Nigussie Haregeweyn, Zerihun Nigussie, Enyew Adgo, Zemen Ayalew, Mitsuru Tsubo, Asres Elias, Daregot Berihun, Amy Quandt, Mulatu Liyew Berihun and Tsugiyuki Masunaga
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Misganaw Teshager Abeje: The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
Atsushi Tsunekawa: Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
Nigussie Haregeweyn: International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
Zerihun Nigussie: Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
Enyew Adgo: College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 5501, Ethiopia
Zemen Ayalew: College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 5501, Ethiopia
Mitsuru Tsubo: Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan
Asres Elias: Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8550, Japan
Daregot Berihun: College of Business and Economics, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar 6000, Ethiopia
Amy Quandt: Department of Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Mulatu Liyew Berihun: The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
Tsugiyuki Masunaga: Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Shimane Matsue 690-0823, Japan

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 22, 1-22

Abstract: Ethiopia has experienced more than 10 major drought episodes since the 1970s. Evidence has shown that climate change exacerbates the situation and presents a daunting challenge to predominantly rain-fed agricultural livelihoods. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent and sources of smallholder famers’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change/variability in the Upper Blue Nile basin. We conducted a household survey ( n = 391) across three distinct agroecological communities and a formative composite index of livelihood vulnerability (LVI) was constructed. The Mann–Kendall test and the standard precipitation index (SPI) were employed to analyze trends of rainfall, temperature, and drought prevalence for the period from 1982 to 2016. The communities across watersheds showed a relative difference in the overall livelihood vulnerability index. Aba Gerima (midland) was found to be more vulnerable, with a score of 0.37, while Guder (highland) had a relatively lower LVI with a 0.34 index score. Given similar exposure to climate variability and drought episodes, communities’ livelihood vulnerability was mainly attributed to their low adaptive capacity and higher sensitivity indicators. Adaptive capacity was largely constrained by a lack of participation in community-based organizations and a lack of income diversification. This study will have practical implications for policy development in heterogeneous agroecological regions for sustainable livelihood development and climate change adaptation programs.

Keywords: climate change; drought; livelihood vulnerability; Shannon-entropy index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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