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Livelihood adaptation to risk: Constraints and opportunities for pastoral development in Ethiopia's Afar region

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  • Jonathan Davies
  • Richard Bennett

Abstract

Development policies in the pastoral areas of Africa assume that pastoralists are poor. Using the Afar pastoralists of Ethiopia as the focus of research this article challenges this depiction of pastoralism by exploring pastoral livelihood goals and traditional strategies for managing risk. Investment in social institutions to minimise the risk of outright destitution, sometimes at the cost of increased poverty, and significant manipulation of local markets enable the Afar to exploit a highly uncertain and marginal environment. Improved development assistance and enhanced targeting of the truly vulnerable within pastoral societies demands an acceptance that pastoral poverty is neither uniform nor universal.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Davies & Richard Bennett, 2007. "Livelihood adaptation to risk: Constraints and opportunities for pastoral development in Ethiopia's Afar region," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 490-511.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:43:y:2007:i:3:p:490-511
    DOI: 10.1080/00220380701204422
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ellis, Frank, 2000. "Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198296966.
    2. Strasberg, Paul J. & Jayne, Thomas S. & Yamano, Takashi & Nyoro, James K. & Karanja, Daniel David & Strauss, John, 1999. "Effects of Agricultural Commercialization on Food Crop Input Use and Productivity in Kenya," Food Security International Development Working Papers 54675, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    3. 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.
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    1. John Kamau Gathiaka & Moses Kinyanjui Muriithi, 2017. "An Empirical Analysis of Livelihood Strategies and Food Insecurity in Turkana County, Kenya," Working Papers 338, African Economic Research Consortium, Research Department.
    2. Alary, V. & Messad, S. & Aboul-Naga, A. & Osman, M.A. & Daoud, I. & Bonnet, P. & Juanes, X. & Tourrand, J.F., 2014. "Livelihood strategies and the role of livestock in the processes of adaptation to drought in the Coastal Zone of Western Desert (Egypt)," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 44-54.
    3. Headey, Derek & Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum & You, Liangzhi, 2012. "Enhancing resilience in the Horn of Africa : An exploration into alternative investment options," IFPRI discussion papers 1176, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Parlasca, Martin C. & Mußhoff, Oliver & Qaim, Matin, 2018. "How mobile phones can improve nutrition among pastoral communities: Panel data evidence from Northern Kenya," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 274651, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    5. Ruhangawebare, Godfrey Kalemera, 2010. "Factors Affecting The Level Of Commercialization Among Cattle Keepers In The Pastoral Areas Of Uganda," Research Theses 117797, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    6. Kihiu, Evelyne Nyathira & Amuakwa-Mensah, Franklin, 2017. "Improving Access to Livestock Markets for Sustainable Rangeland Management," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 5(2), July.
    7. Jonathan Davies, 2008. "Turning the tide: Enabling sustainable development for Africa's mobile pastoralists," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 32(3), pages 175-184, August.
    8. Joseph K. Assan & Pushpam Kumar, 2009. "Introduction: Livelihood options for the poor in the changing environment," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(3), pages 393-402.
    9. Wenmei Liao & Jiawei Wang & Ying Lin & Yao Wang, 2021. "Chronic Illness and Income Diversification in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-15, March.
    10. Martin C. Parlasca & Oliver Mußhoff & Matin Qaim, 2020. "Can mobile phones improve nutrition among pastoral communities? Panel data evidence from Northern Kenya," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(3), pages 475-488, May.
    11. Alary, Véronique & Hassan, Ferial & Daoud, Ibrahim & Aboul Naga, Adel & Osman, Mona A. & Bastianelli, Denis & Lescoat, Philippe & Moselhy, Naeem & Tourrand, Jean-François, 2014. "Bedouin Adaptation to the Last 15-Years of Drought (1995–2010) in the North Coastal Zone of Egypt: Continuity or Rupture?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 125-137.
    12. Kotu, Bekele Hundie, 2009. "From Pasture Land to Farm Plots, Triggers and Motivations for Land Use Changes in Afar, Ethiopia," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 51276, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Lee Cronk & Athena Aktipis, 2021. "Design principles for risk-pooling systems," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 825-833, July.
    14. Sundar Balakrishna & Vineet Virmani, 2019. "Numeracy and Financial Literacy of Forest-dependent Communities," Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, , vol. 44(2), pages 59-74, June.
    15. Alary, Véronique & Lasseur, Jacques & Frija, Aymen & Gautier, Denis, 2022. "Assessing the sustainability of livestock socio-ecosystems in the drylands through a set of indicators," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    16. Nejimu Biza Zepro & Araya Abrha Medhanyie & Afework Mulugeta Bezabih & Natalie Tarr & Sonja Merten, 2021. "Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Childbirth among Pastoralist Women in North-Eastern Ethiopia: A Multimethod Qualitative Analysis to the WHO Health Systems Responsiveness Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Sundar, B. & Virmani, Vineet, 2013. "Attitudes towards Risk of Forest Dependent Communities - Evidence from Andhra Pradesh," IIMA Working Papers WP2013-12-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.

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