Understanding long-term livelihood resilience of resettled ethnic groups in the Yali Falls Dam basin, Central Highlands of Vietnam

Abstract

Studies on development-induced displacement and resettlement (DIDR) across the world have revealed a range of negative outcomes for resettlers' livelihoods. DIDR studies have faced conceptual challenges and limited understanding of the post resettlement and livelihood reconstruction process. Previous studies have tended to overlook the full range of impacts that resettlement projects have on the ability of displaced persons to maintain their livelihoods and have tended to focus on short-term livelihood strategies rather than improve future livelihoods. In addition, the key DIDR frameworks fail to understand the complexities inherent in the resettlement process which is often contextualised in different economic, political, social and cultural settings (De Wet, 2006). This research employed both quantitative and qualitative methods to answer these research questions and gain insights into the resettlement complex. Methods included structured household interviews with 397 resettled households from the four ethnic groups, and in-depth interviews with 19 key informants from the local authorities in the district and communes, as well as with resettled people. In addition, participant observations and photos were also taken to complement the data and analysis.The research reveals the following key findings. First, impacts of the Yali Falls resettlement project were unevenly distributed among the four resettled ethnic groups. The three ethnic minority groups, who had traditionally led predominantly subsistence lifestyles have suffered high rates of poverty, food insecurity and debt. However, the Kinh group have been able to recover and develop their livelihoods after the resettlement. Second, a range of formal and informal coping livelihood strategies have emerged and been applied by the different ethnic groups. The ethnic minority groups (Bahnar, Jarai and Ro Ngao) have tended to apply more informal and unsustainable coping strategies, while the Kinh group have improved their livelihoods with the majority of households ii employing development strategies. The differentiation in livelihood strategies is driven by several key factors including land rights and land holding changes, social differentiation and social networks involved in the resettlement process. Third, examination of the resettlement process and its outcomes through the lenses of the DIDR frameworks and the sustainable livelihoods framework reveals several strengths and weaknesses of the existing frameworks which are explored. This study found that the four stage framework (Scudder and Colson, 1982) does not hold true for Vietnam's resettlement projects. The risk and livelihoods reconstruction framework (IRR) (Cernea, 1997) showed its strengths in predicting impoverishment risk outcomes of the Yali resettlement project and other projects in Vietnam. However, it has limitations in terms of providing an understanding of the process for and driving factors behind livelihood strategies. The case of Yali also provided additional risks such as power ine...