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Environmental variability and vulnerable livelihoods: Minimising risks and optimising opportunities for poverty alleviation

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph K. Assan

    (Department of Geography, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)

  • Cyril Caminade

    (Department of Geography, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK)

  • Frances Obeng

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana)

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis that explores theoretical and policy debates on environmental variability, sustainable livelihood strategies, household well-being and development policy. The paper focuses on communities in vulnerable environments with limited well-being and poor assets. The study examines the changing livelihood strategies and livelihood options of households located within ecosystems perceived to be experiencing environmental change in Northeastern Ghana. Livelihood diversification as a poverty reduction strategy has been argued to result in improved well-being or perpetuates a cycle of impoverishment. On-farm and non-farm diversification and migration as livelihood strategies are considered as survival strategies in environments experiencing rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns. It is argued that diversified livelihoods are operated within a cycle of impoverishment. The paper calls for geographically and locally sensitive policy intervention approaches that can sustainably expand the livelihood options of the poor in changing environments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph K. Assan & Cyril Caminade & Frances Obeng, 2009. "Environmental variability and vulnerable livelihoods: Minimising risks and optimising opportunities for poverty alleviation," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(3), pages 403-418.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:21:y:2009:i:3:p:403-418
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.1563
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reardon, Thomas, 1997. "Using evidence of household income diversification to inform study of the rural nonfarm labor market in Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 735-747, May.
    2. Chamberlin, Jordan & Pender, John & Yu, Bingxin, 2006. "Development domains for Ethiopia: capturing the geographical context of smallholder development options," EPTD discussion papers 159, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Ellis, Frank, 2000. "Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198296966, Decembrie.
    4. Stern,Nicholas, 2007. "The Economics of Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521700801.
    5. Barrett, C. B. & Reardon, T. & Webb, P., 2001. "Nonfarm income diversification and household livelihood strategies in rural Africa: concepts, dynamics, and policy implications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 315-331, August.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Francesca MARCHETTA, 2011. "On the Move Livelihood Strategies in Northern Ghana," Working Papers 201113, CERDI.
    2. Xu Zhao & Chen Chi & Xin Gao & Yuefang Duan & Weijun He, 2020. "Study on the Livelihood Vulnerability and Compensation Standard of Employees in Relocation Enterprises: A Case of Chemical Enterprises in the Yangtze River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-27, January.
    3. Kleemann, Janina & Celio, Enrico & Fürst, Christine, 2018. "Reprint of “Validation approaches of an expert-based Bayesian Belief Network in northern Ghana, West Africa”," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 371(C), pages 101-118.
    4. Patricia Nayna Schwerdtle & Julia Stockemer & Kathryn J. Bowen & Rainer Sauerborn & Celia McMichael & Ina Danquah, 2020. "A Meta-Synthesis of Policy Recommendations Regarding Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-30, December.
    5. Ernest Acheampong & Nicholas Ozor & Eric Owusu, 2014. "Vulnerability assessment of Northern Ghana to climate variability," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 31-44, September.
    6. Tyhra Carolyn Kumasi & Philip Antwi-Agyei & Kwasi Obiri-Danso, 2019. "Small-holder farmers’ climate change adaptation practices in the Upper East Region of Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 745-762, April.
    7. Smajgl, Alex & Bohensky, Erin, 2012. "When households stop logging — Evidence for household adaptation from East Kalimantan," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 58-65.
    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. Francesca Marchetta, 2008. "Migration and non farm activities as income diversification strategies: the case of Northern Ghana," Working Papers - Economics wp2008_16.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.

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