Seasonal poverty in Zimbabwe and Cambodia: A comparative analysis of the developing world

Abstract

It has been claimed that the nature of seasonal poverty is context- specific, but this claim is rarely substantiated. This study therefore ascertains whether the nature of seasonal poverty varies according to context. It examines this supposition by comparing the nature of seasonal poverty in both Zimbabwe and Cambodia. The study employed an exploratory methodology. It predominantly made use of secondary data, along with limited primary data. The results show that: (1) Both Zimbabwe and Cambodia experience climatic and non-climatic seasonal realities, however, some of these are peculiar to Cambodia. (2) The complexity of seasonal poverty in Zimbabwe and Cambodia is similar. (3) In both countries, seasonal poverty is more pronounced in the wet season. Thus, despite the remarkable contextual disparities between Zimbabwe and Cambodia, the nature of seasonal poverty in each country is, by and large, similar. Thus, the claim that seasonal poverty is context-specific is considered to be inaccurate. Since seasonal poverty is inevitable, the study recommends that Zimbabwe, Cambodia and other developing countries should factor the impact of this seasonal dimension into poverty reduction policies. The focus should be on minimizing the effects of seasonal poverty on the livelihoods of the poor and enhancing their resilience to seasonality.