LIVELIHOOD RESILIENCE OF FLOOD AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTH-WESTERN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Resilience, a long term capacity of a system to deal with change, has emerged as an integrated approach for achieving sustainable livelihood condition. The objective of the study was to select and describe the resilience indicators, to assess livelihood resilience of flood affected households, and to determine the key factors of livelihood resilience. Data were collected using interview schedule from a sample of 120 households of the total four villages of Sundargonj (Gaibandha) and Lalmonirhat Sadar (Lalmonirhat) upazilas. Households’ livelihood resilience was conceptualized applying a climate resilience assessment framework of GIZ (German Cooperation for International Development) and analyzed developing a composite resilience index, which consists of three capacities and four dimensions. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to express results. Results show that (i) respondents had more absorptive capacity (46%) than adaptive (33%) and transformative (21%), (ii) in building capacities, social dimension had highest contribution, whereas institutional dimension was in a marginalized condition, and (iii) human capital, non-farm income generating activities, social capital, and infrastructure played a key role in improving livelihood resilience. This study concludes that households’ adaptive and transformative capacities building are essential for improving livelihood resilience. Policy should emphasis on (i) investing (human and social) capital-centric approach for reducing flood vulnerability, (ii) facilitating non-agricultural income generating schemes (starting small business), and (iii) improving condition of local infrastructure like roads, bridge and culverts.