Household livelihood vulnerability to climate induced droughts in the drought prone area of Sekota district Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the most vulnerable countries in sub-Saharan Africa to climate change. Rural livelihoods, in particular, are rain-fed agriculture dependent and adversely affected by climate-induced droughts. Thus, the study is aimed to assess the extent of livelihoods vulnerability to climate-induced droughts in Sekota District. A concurrent mixed methods research design was applied for the study. A total of 417 sample households were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. A cross-sectional household survey together with key informant interviews and focus group discussions were applied to collect the data. Principal component analysis and livelihood vulnerability index of intergovernmental panel on climate change were used for the analysis of data. The results revealed that the average livelihood vulnerability index of households was 0.048. About 91% of households were found moderately vulnerable to drought followed by highly vulnerable (8.39%). The area is identified by high exposure (0.523) due to drought impacts. High sensitivity (0.558) also driven by housing and sanitation, food insecurity, health status, land degradation, water access burden and long-term aid dependency. A relatively low adaptive capacity (0.472) was due to lack of social networks, low access to agricultural inputs and early warning information, low livelihood diversification, low irrigation practice and labor migration, unfair social safety nets and dependency burden. Kolla agro-ecological zone was highly vulnerable than Woina Dega. Thus, the study suggests that policy interventions should be focused on agro-ecological based support to small-scale irrigation, developmental social safety nets and integrated knowledge to enhance adaptive capacity of households and reduce their vulnerability.