Households balancing risks & returns for resilience in Darfur

The Feinstein International Center of Tufts University is conducting a series of studies on resilience in the context of Darfur Region of Sudan. The report “Risks and returns: household priorities for resilient livelihoods in Darfur” (2016, 112pp including Arabic summary) examines how numerous shocks of various types over the past 15 years have affected specific livelihood groups in Darfur and the extent to which the people have been successful in recovering their self-sufficiency, and why. Both pastoralist and cultivator households were studied. It was found that the households make calculated decisions based on balancing the potential risks and returns of activities in the light of shocks. Some key factors influencing resilience and recovery in this context include: ability to engage in cultivation and livestock rearing, power relations influencing access to natural resources, and the role of markets in coping and recovery. The findings highlight that local solutions are generally the most effective in managing local natural resources and making pastoralist and cultivator household more resilient to shocks, but are heavily influenced by national and state policy.

Posted on 30 April 2017 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Marketing, Pastoralism & Natural Resources, Pastoralism, Mobility & Land Tenure, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition