Analytical framework of the rural households vulnerability Gore, Senegal - June, 2008 Why analyzing the vulnerability of the farm households? Our goal is: to engage a discussion on the most vulnerable HH and the most vulnerable regions in the 7 RS countries based on the field surveys to identify: the characteristics of vulnerability the types of vulnerable households differences between surveyed areas to follow up on the discussion on types of regional trajectories (winners, losers) What information do we have to discuss vulnerability? Information on the current situation of the households Characteristics: dependency ratio, education Assets Activities and income Dynamic variables Capitalization (land, herd, equipment) Food security and health Quality of housing Evolution of activities How to estimate and compare vulnerability? Building composite and synthetic indicators based on a specific scoring referring to the characteristics of the local context using the same range of values The same scaling allows comparisons between different situations Each indicator should be locally scored with respect to its own context and has only a meaning in this context What is the proposal? An analytical framework which integrates: multi-scale dimensions: agro-ecological, socio- territorial, economic multi-risks dimensions: climate risks, socio- economic shocks etc. local knowledge: specificity, contextualization 1. A three-component approach What are the components of vulnerability for farm households? Agro-ecological Climate risks: rainfed agriculture vs irrigation Fertility and pests management Biodiversity: diversification of crops Socio-territorial: Connection to the territory: marketing channel, social capital, non-farm activities Services provided by the territory: infrastructure, health, schooling Economic Assets Diversification of activities Economic earnings and dependence to credit Example of indicators 2. The scoring process For every variable, the range of values or the type of qualitative answers = score 1, 2, or 3 This definition is context related Sometimes it can be done at the national level Most often it implies a regional approach Scoring vulnerability 1= low2= medium3 = high Scale of vulnerability Example of scoring a component Agro-environmental Component Diversification of crops % of rainfed land Access to water Household 1Score = 1,2 or 3 Household 2Score = 1,2 or 3 Household nScore = 1,2 or 3 TOTALAverage of the scores for the component per locality/region What kind of results can we expect? Example Ex. of comparison of two regions Source: IDERICA - Etude prospective sur la caractrisation et le suivi de la durabilit des exploitations agricoles franaises Wine production region Mix animal x crop production region