Assessing vulnerability and coping capacities of rural women to drought: A case study of Zvishavane district, Zimbabwe

作者：Ncube Alice; Mangwaya Precious T; Ogundeji Abiodun A^*

来源：International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2018, 28: 69-79.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.02.023

• Drought
• Vulnerability
• Coping capacity
• Women

This study analysed the vulnerabilities and coping capacities of rural women to drought in Zvishavane district in Zimbabwe. The study utilised quantitative research approach in which a structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the sampled households. The result revealed that low and erratic rainfall, lack of alternative livelihood options, lack of land and property ownership amongst others were identified as some of the indicators of vulnerability among rural women in Zvishavane. Despite the vulnerabilities surrounding them, rural women are not passive victims of drought. They have developed and adopted drought coping strategies such as; purchasing food stuffs from neighbouring communities and stocking it for consumption in dry periods, selling or trading their small livestock for grain, cultivation of drought resistant crop varieties, skipping meals and reducing meal portions and initiation of market gardens to supplement their harvests. Various institutions such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the government and religious organisations are also providing necessary support to these women. In order to mitigate drought impacts on rural women, interventions such as; boosting of irrigation activities, inclusion of women in programme implementation and drought mitigation planning, diversification of livelihoods, establishment and promotion of drought buffers and social networks are needed. In addition, reforms aimed at correcting the imbalances in land ownership and rectification of gender discrimination and imbalances from past practices and policies are some of the important policy options that should be looked into.

• 出版日期2018-6