A Livelihood Resilience Measurement Framework for Dam-Induced Displacement and Resettlement

Abstract

The concepts of resilience and livelihood resilience are growing in prominence with water resource development that aims to measure and build resilience to specific disturbances and shocks. However, practical frameworks to measure livelihood resilience are needed, not just a theoretical framework. In this paper, we introduce the livelihood resilience measurement (LRM) framework, which draws on Hooke’s law; use the state vector method to calculate livelihood resilience scores; and test the effectiveness of the method by correlation analysis. We illustrate the framework by using it to measure livelihood resilience in Henan Province, China, and assess the strategies that build livelihood resilience. The advantages and limitations of the framework are explored and discussed by drawing on empirical examples. Besides illustrating how to apply the LRM framework in a practical case, we discuss how to communicate with stakeholders to identify and strengthen the factors that build resilience. In this study, land ownership, housing and property value, and emergency cost are the most significant of these factors. Thus, the LRM framework has the potential to help reservoir-affected families protect their livelihood capital and to help governments improve social welfare. It can thus serve as a tool for monitoring and improving the effectiveness of policies and practices aimed at building livelihood resilience.

Buffer-Capacity-Based Livelihood Resilience to Stressors—An Early Warning Tool and Its Application in Makueni County, Kenya

“…Narrower and broader conceptualizations of livelihood resilience have been applied. For instance, Gong et al (2020) conceptualize resilience as including short-term actions to resist risk (capacity in responding to, absorbing and resisting risk and maintain livelihoods after relocation) but exclude longerterm adaptation, transformation or learning. Kumar et al (2020) take a yet narrower approach and define resilience as speed of recovery post-shock, measured by variations in crop productivity and crop income.…”

“…In order to operationalize livelihood resilience in a specific context and choose indicators that capture its multidimensionality, researchers have employed various techniques. Most studies use a data-driven or inductive approach to select indicators based exclusively on a review of literature (e.g., Sina et al, 2019) or in combination with stakeholder consultations or household surveys (e.g., Asmamaw et al, 2019;Gong et al, 2020;Campbell, 2021). Focus group discussion and key informant interviews have been used to validate indicators derived from literature review (Gong et al, 2020;Campbell, 2021).…”

“…Most studies use a data-driven or inductive approach to select indicators based exclusively on a review of literature (e.g., Sina et al, 2019) or in combination with stakeholder consultations or household surveys (e.g., Asmamaw et al, 2019;Gong et al, 2020;Campbell, 2021). Focus group discussion and key informant interviews have been used to validate indicators derived from literature review (Gong et al, 2020;Campbell, 2021). A qualitative-quantitative approach is also used to compile the indicators into a framework for measuring resilience (Sina et al, 2019) or a resilience index (Asmamaw et al, 2019;Campbell, 2021).…”

Geophilosophical realness of risk: a case study in national housing authority resettlement sites in Albay, Philippines

“…The livelihood resilience measurement concept of Gong et al (2020a, b aimed to measure resilience based on Hooke’s law to test the effectiveness using correlation analysis to calculate livelihood resilience scores. The samples were based on land (geographical location) ownership, housing, and property value, and emergency cost are the most significant of these factors to help the government to monitor and regulate projects aiming at building livelihood resilience [ 5 ].…”

“…As presented in the Abante (2020a, b ) risk reality phenomenon concept, based on the Fibonacci Golden Ratio and Schoen Golden Triangle theories hinted the 0-Risk (resilience measurement) is significant when exposure is nil or lacking. Resiliency is measured where the stability changes and is located [ 1 , 5 ] To determine the location of risk, the Abante (2020a, b) practically used Christaller’s Theory to store the elements of risk to analyze the patterns of risk and resiliency (based on sensitivity and conformity to the higher-based-land use to measure preparedness sufficiency as one of the six elements of risk) which mimicked the risk reality phenomenon in Albay [ 1 – 2 , 17 ].…”