IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i14p5654-d384224.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Analytical Framework for Assessing Context-Specific Rural Livelihood Vulnerability

Author

Listed:
  • H.M. Tuihedur Rahman

    (School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Ave, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
    Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada)

  • Gordon M. Hickey

    (Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada)

Abstract

Reviewing both conceptual and empirical studies on climate vulnerability and adaptation assessment, this paper offers an analytical framework to help better understand how context-specific adaptation strategies could be developed. The framework systematically assembles the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and the Vulnerability Assessment frameworks to develop its structural and analytical components. The resulting five-step approach involves: (i) identification of context along with understanding what aspect of vulnerability need to be studied; (ii) assessment of livelihood exposure to climate impacts involving both community perspectives and meteorological data-based climate forecasts; (iii) characterization of available capital asset usages to help buffer climate sensitivity; (iv) analysis of formal and informal institutional impetus to enhance adaptive capacity; and (v) evaluation of gaps between context-specific vulnerability and institutional and policy responses to avoid maladaptive trajectories. Drawing on published research and policy documentation, we apply the framework to the livelihood systems operating in the northeastern floodplain community of Bangladesh to demonstrate the utility of the approach and then discuss its potential to inform adaptation strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • H.M. Tuihedur Rahman & Gordon M. Hickey, 2020. "An Analytical Framework for Assessing Context-Specific Rural Livelihood Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5654-:d:384224
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5654/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5654/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reed, M.S. & Podesta, G. & Fazey, I. & Geeson, N. & Hessel, R. & Hubacek, K. & Letson, D. & Nainggolan, D. & Prell, C. & Rickenbach, M.G. & Ritsema, C. & Schwilch, G. & Stringer, L.C. & Thomas, A.D., 2013. "Combining analytical frameworks to assess livelihood vulnerability to climate change and analyse adaptation options," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 66-77.
    2. Roy Brouwer & Sonia Akter & Luke Brander & Enamul Haque, 2007. "Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Adaptation to Environmental Risk: A Case Study of Climate Change and Flooding in Bangladesh," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 313-326, April.
    3. Ahmed, Irina & Deaton, B. James & Sarker, Rakhal & Virani, Tasneem, 2008. "Wetland ownership and management in a common property resource setting: A case study of Hakaluki Haor in Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1-2), pages 429-436, December.
    4. Paolo Prosperi & Thomas Allen & M. Padilla & Luri Peri & Bruce Cogill, 2014. "Sustainability and food & nutrition security: a vulnerability assessment framework for the Mediterranean region," Post-Print hal-01189996, HAL.
    5. Md. Islam & Susannah Sallu & Klaus Hubacek & Jouni Paavola, 2014. "Migrating to tackle climate variability and change? Insights from coastal fishing communities in Bangladesh," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 124(4), pages 733-746, June.
    6. Rahman, H.M. Tuihedur & Hickey, Gordon M. & Sarker, Swapan Kumar, 2012. "A framework for evaluating collective action and informal institutional dynamics under a resource management policy of decentralization," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 32-41.
    7. H. M. Tuihedur Rahman & Kate Sherren & Danika van Proosdij, 2019. "Institutional Innovation for Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from Salt Marsh Restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-26, November.
    8. W. Neil Adger, 2003. "Social Capital, Collective Action, and Adaptation to Climate Change," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 79(4), pages 387-404, October.
    9. Juhola, Sirkku & Glaas, Erik & Linnér, Björn-Ola & Neset, Tina-Simone, 2016. "Redefining maladaptation," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(P1), pages 135-140.
    10. Heltberg, R. & Tarp, F., 2002. "Agricultural supply response and poverty in Mozambique," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 103-124, April.
    11. Ellis, Frank, 2000. "Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198296966.
    12. W. Adger & P. Kelly, 1999. "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change and the Architecture of Entitlements," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 253-266, September.
    13. Golam Rabbani & Syed Hafizur Rahman & Lucy Faulkner, 2013. "Impacts of Climatic Hazards on the Small Wetland Ecosystems (ponds): Evidence from Some Selected Areas of Coastal Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-12, April.
    14. Michael Carter & Christopher Barrett, 2006. "The economics of poverty traps and persistent poverty: An asset-based approach," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(2), pages 178-199.
    15. Karen O'Brien & Siri Eriksen & Lynn P. Nygaard & Ane Schjolden, 2007. "Why different interpretations of vulnerability matter in climate change discourses," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 73-88, January.
    16. Maria Sánchez-Cortés & Elena Chavero, 2011. "Indigenous perception of changes in climate variability and its relationship with agriculture in a Zoque community of Chiapas, Mexico," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 107(3), pages 363-389, August.
    17. Mekou Bele & Anne Tiani & Olufunso Somorin & Denis Sonwa, 2013. "Exploring vulnerability and adaptation to climate change of communities in the forest zone of Cameroon," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 119(3), pages 875-889, August.
    18. Eakin, Hallie, 2005. "Institutional change, climate risk, and rural vulnerability: Cases from Central Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1923-1938, November.
    19. Md Danesh Miah & Md Humayain Kabir & Masao Koike & Shalina Akther, 2011. "Major climate-change issues covered by the daily newspapers of Bangladesh," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 67-73, March.
    20. Dagmar Schröter & Colin Polsky & Anthony Patt, 2005. "Assessing vulnerabilities to the effects of global change: an eight step approach," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 573-595, October.
    21. Sawon Anik & Mohammed Khan, 2012. "Climate change adaptation through local knowledge in the north eastern region of Bangladesh," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 17(8), pages 879-896, December.
    22. Carole Rakodi, 1999. "A Capital Assets Framework for Analysing Household Livelihood Strategies: Implications for Policy," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 17(3), pages 315-342, September.
    23. Gisela Wachinger & Ortwin Renn & Chloe Begg & Christian Kuhlicke, 2013. "The Risk Perception Paradox—Implications for Governance and Communication of Natural Hazards," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(6), pages 1049-1065, June.
    24. Edella Schlager & Elinor Ostrom, 1992. "Property-Rights Regimes and Natural Resources: A Conceptual Analysis," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 68(3), pages 249-262.
    25. Frank Ellis, 2000. "The Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Developing Countries," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 289-302, May.
    26. Dumenu, William Kwadwo & Obeng, Elizabeth Asantewaa, 2016. "Climate change and rural communities in Ghana: Social vulnerability, impacts, adaptations and policy implications," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(P1), pages 208-217.
    27. M. Rezaul Islam, 2018. "Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Socioeconomic Livelihood Vulnerabilities: Migration Decision Among the Char Land People in Bangladesh," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 575-593, April.
    28. Shah Md. Atiqul Haq & Khandaker Jafor Ahmed, 2017. "Does the perception of climate change vary with the socio-demographic dimensions? A study on vulnerable populations in Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(3), pages 1759-1785, February.
    29. Chambers, R. & Conway, G. R., 1991. "Sustainable rural livelihoods: Practical concepts for the 21st century," IWMI Books, Reports H032821, International Water Management Institute.
    30. Masud Shameem & Salim Momtaz & Anthony Kiem, 2015. "Local perceptions of and adaptation to climate variability and change: the case of shrimp farming communities in the coastal region of Bangladesh," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 253-266, November.
    31. Klaus Eisenack & Susanne C. Moser & Esther Hoffmann & Richard J. T. Klein & Christoph Oberlack & Anna Pechan & Maja Rotter & Catrien J. A. M. Termeer, 2014. "Explaining and overcoming barriers to climate change adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(10), pages 867-872, October.
    32. Rahman, H.M. Tuihedur & Mia, Md. Ekhlas & Ford, James D. & Robinson, Brian E. & Hickey, Gordon M., 2018. "Livelihood exposure to climatic stresses in the north-eastern floodplains of Bangladesh," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 199-214.
    33. Ian Burton & Saleemul Huq & Bo Lim & Olga Pilifosova & Emma Lisa Schipper, 2002. "From impacts assessment to adaptation priorities: the shaping of adaptation policy," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(2-3), pages 145-159, September.
    34. Neil Adger, W., 1999. "Social Vulnerability to Climate Change and Extremes in Coastal Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 249-269, February.
    35. Md. Nazir Hossain & Swapna Chowdhury & Shitangsu Kumar Paul, 2016. "Farmer-level adaptation to climate change and agricultural drought: empirical evidences from the Barind region of Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 83(2), pages 1007-1026, September.
    36. Tuihedur Rahman, H.M. & Robinson, Brian E. & Ford, James D. & Hickey, Gordon M., 2018. "How Do Capital Asset Interactions Affect Livelihood Sensitivity to Climatic Stresses? Insights From the Northeastern Floodplains of Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 165-176.
    37. Sylvia Szabo & Rituparna Hajra & Angela Baschieri & Zoe Matthews, 2016. "Inequalities in Human Well-Being in the Urban Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna Delta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-14, June.
    38. Hassani-Mahmooei, Behrooz & Parris, Brett W., 2012. "Climate change and internal migration patterns in Bangladesh: an agent-based model," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(6), pages 763-780, December.
    39. Arlette S. Saint Ville & Gordon M. Hickey & Uli Locher & Leroy E. Phillip, 2016. "Exploring the role of social capital in influencing knowledge flows and innovation in smallholder farming communities in the Caribbean," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(3), pages 535-549, June.
    40. Ahmad Saleh Safi & William James Smith & Zhnongwei Liu, 2012. "Rural Nevada and Climate Change: Vulnerability, Beliefs, and Risk Perception," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(6), pages 1041-1059, June.
    41. Bebbington, Anthony, 1999. "Capitals and Capabilities: A Framework for Analyzing Peasant Viability, Rural Livelihoods and Poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(12), pages 2021-2044, December.
    42. Jessica M. Ayers & Saleemul Huq, 2009. "Supporting Adaptation to Climate Change: What Role for Official Development Assistance?," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 27(6), pages 675-692, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Phemelo Tamasiga & Malesela Molala & Malebogo Bakwena & Hugue Nkoutchou & Helen Onyeaka, 2023. "Is Africa Left behind in the Global Climate Finance Architecture: Redefining Climate Vulnerability and Revamping the Climate Finance Landscape—A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Mohammad Shamsul Hoq & Md. Taj Uddin & Shankar Kumar Raha & Mohammad Ismail Hossain, 2022. "Determinants of households’ livelihood diversification strategies to adapt to natural hazards: evidence from ecologically vulnerable haor region of Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 114(3), pages 3255-3291, December.
    3. Zhiying Han & Yeo-Chang Youn & Seunguk Kim & Hyeyeong Choe, 2023. "Improving Farmer Livelihood Resilience to Climate Change in Rural Areas of Inner Mongolia, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Fituma Lemessa & Belay Simane & Aseffa Seyoum & Girma Gebresenbet, 2023. "Development-Induced Impacts on the Livelihoods of Displaced Communities: The Case of Bole Lemi Industry Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rahman, H.M. Tuihedur & Mia, Md. Ekhlas & Ford, James D. & Robinson, Brian E. & Hickey, Gordon M., 2018. "Livelihood exposure to climatic stresses in the north-eastern floodplains of Bangladesh," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 199-214.
    2. Tuihedur Rahman, H.M. & Robinson, Brian E. & Ford, James D. & Hickey, Gordon M., 2018. "How Do Capital Asset Interactions Affect Livelihood Sensitivity to Climatic Stresses? Insights From the Northeastern Floodplains of Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 165-176.
    3. Shaikh Mohammad Kais & Md Saidul Islam, 2020. "Resilience to Climate Change in Industrial Shrimping in Bangladesh: Assessing the Comparative Role of the Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Robinson, Lance W. & Ericksen, Polly J. & Chesterman, Sabrina & Worden, Jeffrey S., 2015. "Sustainable intensification in drylands: What resilience and vulnerability can tell us," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 133-140.
    5. Quandt, Amy, 2018. "Measuring livelihood resilience: The Household Livelihood Resilience Approach (HLRA)," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 253-263.
    6. Busby, Joshua & Smith, Todd G. & Krishnan, Nisha & Wight, Charles & Vallejo-Gutierrez, Santiago, 2018. "In harm's way: Climate security vulnerability in Asia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 88-118.
    7. Diane Kapgen & Laurence Roudart, 2023. "A Multidisciplinary Approach to Assess Smallholder Farmers' Adoption of New Technologies in Development Interventions," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(4), pages 974-995, August.
    8. Danielle Emma Johnson & Karen Fisher & Meg Parsons, 2022. "Diversifying Indigenous Vulnerability and Adaptation: An Intersectional Reading of Māori Women’s Experiences of Health, Wellbeing, and Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-40, May.
    9. Piya, Luni & Maharjan, Keshav Lall & Joshi, Niraj Prakash, 2012. "Vulnerability of rural households to climate change and extremes: Analysis of Chepang households in the Mid-Hills of Nepal," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126191, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Shepherd, Philippa M. & Dissart, Jean-Christophe, 2022. "Reframing vulnerability and resilience to climate change through the lens of capability generation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    11. Melania Michetti & Stefano Ghinoi, 2020. "Climate-driven vulnerability and risk perception: implications for climate change adaptation in rural Mexico," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 10(3), pages 290-302, September.
    12. Mya Sherman & James Ford & Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas & María Valdivia & Alejandra Bussalleu, 2015. "Vulnerability and adaptive capacity of community food systems in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from Panaillo," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 77(3), pages 2049-2079, July.
    13. Krauss, Judith E. & Artur, Luis & Brockington, Dan & Castro, Eduardo & Fernando, Jone & Fisher, Janet & Kingman, Andrew & Moises, Hosia Mavoto & Mlambo, Ana & Nuvunga, Milagre & Pritchard, Rose & Ribe, 2022. "‘To prevent this disease, we have to stay at home, but if we stay at home, we die of hunger’ – Livelihoods, vulnerability and coping with Covid-19 in rural Mozambique," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    14. Harry W Fischer & Ashwini Chhatre, 2016. "Assets, livelihoods, and the ‘profile approach’ for analysis of differentiated social vulnerability in the context of climate change," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 48(4), pages 789-807, April.
    15. Johnson Nkem & Olufunso Somorin & Cyprian Jum & Monica Idinoba & Youssoufa Bele & Denis Sonwa, 2013. "Profiling climate change vulnerability of forest indigenous communities in the Congo Basin," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 513-533, June.
    16. Francisco X. Aguilar & Dienda Hendrawan & Zhen Cai & James M. Roshetko & Judith Stallmann, 2022. "Smallholder farmer resilience to water scarcity," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 2543-2576, February.
    17. Kerstin Krellenberg & Juliane Welz, 2017. "Assessing Urban Vulnerability in the Context of Flood and Heat Hazard: Pathways and Challenges for Indicator-Based Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 709-731, June.
    18. Fadia Panosetti & Laurence Roudart, 2023. "Land struggle and Palestinian farmers’ livelihoods in the West Bank: between de-agrarianization and anti-colonial resistance," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/364796, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    19. Fekadu Mengistu & Engdawork Assefa, 2020. "Enhancing livelihood assets of households through watershed management intervention program: case of upper Gibe basin, Southwest Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 7515-7546, December.
    20. Bauer, Tina & de Jong, Wil & Ingram, Verina & Arts, Bas & Pacheco, Pablo, 2022. "Thriving in turbulent times: Livelihood resilience and vulnerability assessment of Bolivian Indigenous forest households," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5654-:d:384224. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.