Tracing livelihood trajectories: Patterns of livelihood adaptations in rural communities in eastern Nepal

Abstract

Mountain communities are adapting their livelihoods to a complex combination of social, political and economic changes and associated risks. Despite recognition of adaption in response to multiple changes in sustainable livelihood and critical climate change literature, risks attributed to biophysical effects of climate change have increasingly assumed importance. Consequently, diversification is promoted as an adaptive approach to reduce such risks. However, understanding livelihood adaptation from the vantage point of climate change alone might lead to a limited understanding of non-climatic factors also shaping it. This paper proposes understanding adaptation through analysing long-term livelihood changes and using society rather than climate change as a conceptual starting point. It argues that such an approach has better potential to highlight a broader range of dynamic drivers operating over decades and to inform contextually grounded rural livelihood adaptation policies. Changes are traced in the overall livelihood trajectories among four rural communities in Nepal, in living memory, to understand the role of adaptation in shaping it. Qualitative life narratives were collected and complemented by key informant interviews, field observations and the analysis of official documents. The findings suggest that livelihoods have shifted not only from subsistence towards income generation but also from engagement in diverse livelihood sectors towards specialisation; the opposite of the advocated diversification. The role of political, economic, social and cultural processes within and outside the community has been prominent in shaping this trajectory.

Addressing capacities of local communities in a changing context in Nepal

“…It is true that external actors responding to disasters often only see the vulnerability side and ignore capacities to a large extent. Further, it is important to note that adaptation does not only stem due to climate change but is also rooted in diverse socio-economic factors within and outside communities (Lama et al , 2019). However, these capacities within a community may not be the only way of addressing vulnerabilities arising from root causes in society that may predominantly be external to communities.…”

Livelihood Strategies of the Bajo Fishing Community in the Outbreak of COVID-19 (Study of Bajo People in Salabangka Island of Central, Sulawesi, Indonesia)

“…Some also combine working as rock and sand miners and motorcycle taxis (ojek). Diversification of livelihoods is the most frequently done way to reduce the risk [44,45]. Understanding of the factors that determine the diversification strategy is very important to increase the sustainability of livelihoods [46,47].…”