In the past 20 years, Cuba has emerged as a world leader in urban agriculture and sustainable development, having shifted its policies and practices toward local, organic food production and self-sufficiency. This collective case study explored small-scale, unwaged urban agriculture and household livelihoods in Havana, Cuba. Data were collected from three case households through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and photos. Two of the families produce fruits, vegetables and animal products, and the third produces organic fertilizers. For these families, agricultural production requires time and labour, but produces multiple material and non-material benefits at the individual, household, and community level. The findings demand a more nuanced view of household livelihoods and agency in the Cuban context, and the notion of agriculture as work vs. leisure. As global concerns about resource depletion and social justice in food systems increase, much can be learned from families and countries that have successfully implemented alternatives.

In alleviating poverty in Lakes State in general and in the two counties (Yirol East and Wulu) in particular, there is a need to assess the property rights and its effects, identify the livelihoods and production assets of people solely involved in the cultivation of crops and agro-pastoralists, assess the role of land tenure system and how it contributes to land conflicts as well as conduct gender analysis of the impact of land tenure on the vulnerability of women and children in Yirol East and Wulu of Lakes State, South Sudan. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodology were utilized in this study. The qualitative research data consisted of focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and direct observation. Quantitative research data was gathered with the aid of a questionnaire. Two hundred questionnaires were implemented in Yirol East and Wulu County including 100 questionnaires in each county. Furthermore, these primary data sources were supplemented by secondary (or existing) data sources, including the South Sudan Land Act 2009, South Sudan National statistic Bureau, and documents from South Sudan Ministry of Irrigation. The food security is blamed on poor inadequate production assets which include human capital, financial capital, social capital, natural capital, and physical capital. In addition vulnerability factor due to draught, and conflict as well underutilization of the main livelihoods existing in the two communities the agro-pastoral of Yirol East and crop farmers of Wulu counties are the main findings of this research. The author highlighted the need to address the livelihoods and production asset constraints faced by agro-pastoralists of Yirol East Dinka communities and sedentary Beli communities of Wulu County. Dialogues for peace initiatives between rivals should be considered a step forward towards peaceful co-existence. Addressing property rights issues in relation to vulnerable women and children as well as land conflicts due to border demarcation, pastures and water points between communities is essential. / This thesis is an investigation for the use of agriculture and land tenure as a trategy for sustainable livelihoods for rural peoples of Lakes State, South Sudan. Inaddition, it was to access the impact of Sudan civil war on rural lives in the two counties Yirol East and Wulu of Lakes State, South Sudan.

<p>For close to a decade, Zimbabwe has experienced a protracted socio-economic crisis. Although it is affecting both rural and urban areas, major forms of formal safety nets by the Government and Non-Governmental Organisations have been confined to rural areas. On the other hand the virtual collapse of the formal food marketing system in urban areas and the high formal unemployment rates have contributed to increased vulnerability of low income urban households to food insecurity. Using qualitative research methods, the study set out to understand livelihoods of low income urban households in Dzivaresekwa. In particular strategies low income households employ to cope with the negative macro-economic environment prevailing in Zimbabwe.</p>

The local livelihood systems of Tam Giang Lagoon, Central Vietnam have shifted since the policy changes of 1986. Aquaculture has replaced capture fishing as the most important livelihood activity in the lagoon. Aquaculture is governed by both customary and legal access rights. The move from a centrally-planned (collectivization) economy to a market-oriented economy in conjunction with the development of the aquaculture sector has had significant impacts. This change has reduced the available lagoon areas for mobile-gear fishers, polarized different user-groups, and raised the issue of resource access inequity. The overarching objective of this thesis is to understand the complexity and influence of property rights on local livelihood systems; specifically: (1) to examine changes in resource access and various types of resource use in the lagoon; (2) to analyse the effects of aquaculture and changes in resource access on local livelihood systems; and (3) to assess the resilience of livelihood systems and identify the essential elements that contribute to resilience in livelihood systems. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used for data collection. Sixty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted and fourteen households were selected for an additional in-depth livelihood analysis. Focus group discussions were one of the most important methods used for data collection. Fifteen formal focus groups and several informal discussions were organized. Both types of focus groups were used in conjunction with a number of participatory methods, such as seasonal calendar, participatory mapping, and well-being ranking. The field work was conducted over twenty-nine months between December, 2005 and April, 2008. The research examined the evolution of property rights and the complexity of resource access in Thuy Dien village. The research investigated seven types of resource use which are associated with “bundles of rights” and discussed the dynamics of property rights governed by both laws and customs. De jure and de facto rights were classified in different time periods by using Schlager and Ostrom’s framework. By applying a sustainable livelihood framework, the research presented overview of livelihood systems and discussed the influence of property rights on household livelihoods. Households in the village were classified into four groups: (1) earth pond, (2) net-enclosure; (3) mobile fishing; and (4) non-fishing households. Attention was paid to the disparity between these household types in term of livelihood strategies and opportunities for livelihood development. The research applied a resilience approach to the analysis of the local livelihood systems. Resilience is an inherent attribute of sustainable livelihood systems because it implies the flexibility and availability of options. If resilience is lost, livelihood systems may cross a threshold and shift to a different regime or alternative equilibrium. In Tam Giang Lagoon, a shift to a different regime seemed to have occurred over the last two decades.

The local livelihood systems of Tam Giang Lagoon, Central Vietnam have shifted since the policy changes of 1986. Aquaculture has replaced capture fishing as the most important livelihood activity in the lagoon. Aquaculture is governed by both customary and legal access rights. The move from a centrally-planned (collectivization) economy to a market-oriented economy in conjunction with the development of the aquaculture sector has had significant impacts. This change has reduced the available lagoon areas for mobile-gear fishers, polarized different user-groups, and raised the issue of resource access inequity. The overarching objective of this thesis is to understand the complexity and influence of property rights on local livelihood systems; specifically: (1) to examine changes in resource access and various types of resource use in the lagoon; (2) to analyse the effects of aquaculture and changes in resource access on local livelihood systems; and (3) to assess the resilience of livelihood systems and identify the essential elements that contribute to resilience in livelihood systems. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used for data collection. Sixty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted and fourteen households were selected for an additional in-depth livelihood analysis. Focus group discussions were one of the most important methods used for data collection. Fifteen formal focus groups and several informal discussions were organized. Both types of focus groups were used in conjunction with a number of participatory methods, such as seasonal calendar, participatory mapping, and well-being ranking. The field work was conducted over twenty-nine months between December, 2005 and April, 2008. The research examined the evolution of property rights and the complexity of resource access in Thuy Dien village. The research investigated seven types of resource use which are associated with “bundles of rights” and discussed the dynamics of property rights governed by both laws and customs. De jure and de facto rights were classified in different time periods by using Schlager and Ostrom’s framework. By applying a sustainable livelihood framework, the research presented overview of livelihood systems and discussed the influence of property rights on household livelihoods. Households in the village were classified into four groups: (1) earth pond, (2) net-enclosure; (3) mobile fishing; and (4) non-fishing households. Attention was paid to the disparity between these household types in term of livelihood strategies and opportunities for livelihood development. The research applied a resilience approach to the analysis of the local livelihood systems. Resilience is an inherent attribute of sustainable livelihood systems because it implies the flexibility and availability of options. If resilience is lost, livelihood systems may cross a threshold and shift to a different regime or alternative equilibrium. In Tam Giang Lagoon, a shift to a different regime seemed to have occurred over the last two decades.

Self-recruiting species (SRS) are the aquatic animals that do not require repeated stocking in farmer managed aquatic systems (FMAS) and can be of indigenous or exotic origin (Little, 2002). Current concept of conventional aquaculture greatly underestimated the contribution of SRS to the livelihoods and particularly nutritional security of the poor. The present study examines the role of SRS in poverty focused aquaculture. The role of SRS in aquaculture was evaluated from the perspective of people dependent on them in terms of well-being, gender, resource access and broader livelihoods in the northwest and south-central region of Bangladesh. SRS management practices, already an existing component of aquaculture in FMAS, were explored to define sustainable management strategies that benefited poor. The thesis uses a livelihoods framework within a methodological context of participatory action research at household, community and national level. The process begins with a Participatory Community Appraisal (PCA) in 18 communities with 360 participants which then directs further investigation at household level through survey, longitudinal study farmer and farmer participatory action research over a systematic 4 year investigation from 2001 to 2004. At the PCA stage, the context of livelihoods, importance of popular aquatic animals and their different sources were examined. The more frequently mentioned and higher scored SRS by the communities were Clarias batrachus, Anabas testudineus, Macrobrachium sp., Puntius sp., Heteropneustes fossilis, Channa punctatus, Mystus vittatus, Amblypharyngodon mola, Channa striata, Macrognathus puncalus. The sources of these aquatic animals provided a better understanding of the diverse typology of farmer managed aquatic systems (FMAS) and showed the importance of both FMAS and open systems to sustain a self-supporting population of aquatic animals for nutritional security of the poor. Rice and other crop farming, fish culture, livestock and poultry rearing, service and business were found to be common occupations among better off households where as share-cropping, petty trade, fishing, selling agricultural and non-agricultural labour were of greater importance to poorer households. Both gender and well-being affected livelihoods with significant differences in involvement of the better off and poorer. PCA findings were later validated at a national level stakeholder workshop with 138 government, non-government officials, researchers and academics which established a broader understanding of the prospects and constraints of SRS culture and conservation. The baseline survey with 119 households further examined the characteristics and access of key farmers to managed aquatic systems, livelihood assets, vulnerability and the behaviours of households managing SRS. Access to FMAS and SRS are of much greater importance to poorer than to the rich. Positive, negative and neutral attitudes towards managing SRS were not significantly affected by well-being. Access to appropriate types of FMAS, SRS management knowledge, traditional taste, greater involvement in non-farm activities, family need were all associated with the SRS positive attitude. Results from the year round longitudinal study with 50 households focused on the seasonal dynamics of food consumption and its connection to livelihoods in terms of sources, income and expenditure. Aquatic animals are the 3rd most important contributor to the rural Bangladeshi diet after cereal and vegetables by weight and the 2nd most important contributor by price after cereal. FMASs are important source of aquatic animals compared to other sources such as open system, market and given sources (free from neighbours and relatives). SRS were accounts for 52% of the total aquatic animal consumption. Even among some very low income vulnerable groups such as day labourers and rickshaw pullers, SRS was found important in their diet. Poorer households rely significantly more on SRS than richer households. The total amount of SRS consumed by thenhosueholds over the year was strongly correlated with total number of SRS species consumed per year and further emphasised the significance of maintaining biodiversity. The pre monsoon dry period as April and May were low consumption periods in both zones. Rainy and post rainy season July to October were the peak consumption months in the northwest zone and June to November in south-central zone. The year round farmer participatory trial with 29 farmers confirmed the value of SRS within culture systems with lack of any major conflicts in the husbandry of non-stocked species with popular carps in the system which, in the past regarded as weed fish and have been generally excluded from formal aquaculture. The study found a range of species of both commercial and non-commercial SRS have greater significance to the poor than to the richer households particularly in terms of household consumption, income and social value. More deliberate attention towards avoidance of negative actions towards SRS in aquaculture in the lean season may also expand niche benefits for non-pond owners and vulnerable social groups such as fishers. Current investigations also revealed the complementarities of stocked fish particularly during dry months when SRS are less available. In spite of the poor having limited access to ponds, the seasonal scarcity of water in dry seasons and habitat degradation, SRS remains an important and valuable food item for the poor in low income vegetable scarce months. The study recommends future emphasis on the management and conservation of both commercial and non-commercial (mainly for consumption) SRS in FMAS particularly during the lean season and also to maintain the integrity of the permeable nature of FMAS and its linkage with the broader open systems for the sustained availability of such self-recruiting population. Finally the study greatly influenced the perception of utilising both stocked and non-stocked species in formal aquaculture. It is necessary to take urgent steps to avoid negative actions to damage SRS and formulate an integrated approach to water, agriculture, environment and fisheries management to sustain them for current and future nutritional and livelihoods security of the poor.

Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated coastal areas of several countries in South East Asia, there has been renewed interest in disaster recovery operations. Although governments and aid organizations have increasingly focused on improving living conditions and reducing vulnerability to future disaster events during the recovery period, there has been limited understanding of what effective disaster recovery entails, and a lack of empirical assessments of longer-term recovery initiatives. Researchers, governments and aid organizations alike have increasingly identified the need for a systematic, independent, and replicable framework and approach for monitoring, evaluating and measuring the longer-term relief and recovery operations of major disaster events. Within this context, the research contends that a conceptualization of effective disaster recovery, referred to as ‘resilient disaster recovery’, should be built upon the holistic concepts of vulnerability, resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Using the resilient disaster recovery framework, the research aimed to develop an evaluative strategy to holistically and critically assess disaster recovery efforts. Using a case study of the 2006 Yogyakarta, Indonesia earthquake event, the research examined one long-term recovery effort in order to develop and test the usefulness and applicability of the resilient disaster recovery conceptualization and assessment framework. The research results further contributed to disaster recovery knowledge and academic literature through a refined conceptualization of resilient disaster recovery and further understanding of recovery as a process. The research used qualitative research approaches to examine the opinions and experiences of impacted individuals, households, and communities, as well as key government, academic and humanitarian stakeholders, in order to understand their perceptions of the long-term recovery process. Using the resilient disaster recovery approach, the research found that the recovery programming after the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake contributed to reductions in visible manifestations of vulnerability, although the root causes of vulnerability were not addressed, and many villagers suffer from ongoing lack of access to assets and resources. While some aspects of resilience were improved, particularly through earthquake-resistant housing structures, resilience in other forms remained the same or decreased. Furthermore, livelihood initiatives did not appear to be successful due to a lack of a holistic approach that matched the skill and capital levels of impacted populations. Using the evidence from the 2006 Yogyakarta recovery effort, the research furthered knowledge and understanding of disaster recovery as a complex and highly dynamic process. The roles of a variety of actors and stakeholders were explored, particularly highlighting the role of civil society and the private sector in facilitating response and recovery. Furthermore, issues of conflict, the context and characteristics of place and scale, and the impact of disasters on income equality were explored. Through this research, an improved understanding of disaster resilient recovery and long-term recovery processes has been highlighted in order to facilitate improved and resilient recovery for future disaster events.

Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This study sought to examine the effects of soil fertility replenishment (SFR) adoption on household security and poverty reduction in smallholder farming households of central and southern Malawi by assessing food security, asset status, and household income generating activities in Kasungu and Machinga Districts during 2007. The results showed that households had been able to significantly increase maize production by an extra 382 kg per year in Kasungu and 242 kg per year in Machinga Districts, which constitutes approximately 35% and 22% of average household maize requirements for the year for each district, respectively. This reduced the critical annual hunger periods from 3.46 months to 2.80 months per year in Kasungu and from 4.31 months to 3.75 months in Machinga. Respondents also reported a significant increase in assets and an increase in income. Despite these positive changes, households were found to still be living in extreme poverty. Selling physical assets was the most common response to shocks and any increase in income was allocated to the purchase of food, household supplies, and other items necessary to immediate survival. This study revealed that while food security is paramount to the sustainable livelihoods of smallholder farmers, livelihood security and poverty reduction depend on more than increased food production. SFR technologies are fulfilling their primary role as a means to food security, but their adoption does not lead to significant livelihood improvements. Achieving lasting impacts requires that initiatives take an integrated approach and address not only household food production, but the multifaceted dynamics of social institutions, markets/economy, and policy. The long-term impacts of the current agroforestry programs in the study areas will emerge only with time. Livelihood improvements will depend on several factors. First, market inefficiencies must be remedied and economic barriers must be broken down. Second, the challenges identified by the respondents, especially access to resources and training, need to be addressed in a participatory way that promotes education and empowerment. As these two issues are tackled, households will become better equipped to manage the complexities that arise from SFR adoption and livelihood diversification. It is recommended that future research and initiatives should focus on identifying and removing economic barriers to markets, addressing farmeridentified challenges such as access to seed, water, and education and training, supporting households in managing multiple livelihood strategies, and continuing research to identify appropriate agroforestry species and technologies.

The research question asks: “Is the policy for financial inclusion in Rwanda explicit, appropriate and effective?” The Government of Rwanda targets ‘financial inclusion’ for 80% of the population of Rwanda by 2017. The study considers what financial inclusion means, how policy has captured it, and whether policy implementation reaches the grassroots – and with what effect. Chapter 1 introduces the research study. Chapter 2 gives background to Rwanda’s development, the strategic policy cycle and planning processes, the accessibility of policy detail, and the aspiration for economic transformation to be a ‘middle income’ country by 2020. Professionalising public service, and the role of Rwanda’s leadership are considered, as are Rwanda’s demographic challenges. Chapter 3 reviews literature relevant to Rwanda’s development and to financial inclusion in development. It explores the ‘livelihoods’ analytic framework. Chapter 4 outlines methods and methodological approaches to this study. A ‘grounded theory’ approach is used and a mixed methods approach is applied to the data. The four data chapters (Chapters 5, 6 7, and 8) draw on voices of people involved in financial inclusion policy. In Chapter 5, villagers speak, via a household survey, about good things in their lives, challenges they face, and their actual livelihood activities. They explain their engagement with financial services, and discuss the role of asset ownership. In Chapter 6 senior policy makers speak of vision and pragmatism in financial inclusion policy, and their own rationale for supporting the policy. Chapter 7 focuses on voices at the mid-level of implementation: District level civil servants, cooperative managers, branch bank-managers. All describe challenges and achievements, explaining their personal route to this career position. Chapter 8 returns to grassroots, hearing voices of farmers (in groups and individually), using real lives to show impacts and limitations of the policy. Chapter 9 draws conclusions from the study: the impact of the policy for financial inclusion; the role of central and local leadership; the wider insights allowed into the nature of inclusive development; and the significance of Rwanda’s ‘Home Grown Solutions’. The study proposes a wider use of the livelihoods analytical framework as an aid to understanding transformation at diverse levels in development.

abstract: What happens to community-based institutions (CBIs) when persistent out-migration changes the socio-demographic structures in the community? This question needs exploration in the context of increasing urbanization in the developing countries, where a substantial population depends on forests for subsistence livelihoods. In pursuance of this question, Almora district in India provided the necessary conditions of high out-migration, and the presence of oldest surviving CBIs of forest management (locally called as Van Panchayats or VPs). Framing the research question as social resilience of VPs amidst high out-migration, a representative sample of six VPs in Almora was investigated. Factors considered crucial to social resilience were analyzed by using qualitative and quantitative techniques on primary data collected through household surveys (n=111) and secondary data from authentic sources. Results, organized by three levels of analysis, highlight: 1) community - low participation, particularly of women, in proceedings of VPs, and a transition away from forest-based livelihoods; 2) institutional (VPs) - low adaptability to changes in gendered composition and a shift away from the community-specific needs; and, 3) policy - reduced use and access of forest resources for the community, and curtailed autonomy of VPs. The findings suggest that out-migration is one among the multiple factors, and its impacts on VPs are mediated by the broader political economy around VPs, thus obviating a linear causal relationship. Therefore, the findings arguably inform policy and future research by highlighting linkages between diverse contextual factors at the regional and community level, and the points of concern for social resilience of VPs, with particular focus on out-migration. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Community Resources and Development 2017