This book provides an overview of the conditions facing the urban poor in Khartoum, Sudan and explores the opportunities and constraints people of different genders, ages, wealth and social... Show moreThis book provides an overview of the conditions facing the urban poor in Khartoum, Sudan and explores the opportunities and constraints people of different genders, ages, wealth and social origins face in the pursuant of their livelihoods. Using an in-depth analysis, it argues that the livelihoods of poor people have been severely constrained by both formal and informal institutions that have not allowed them to access capitals and choose the way they utilize those they have. Muna A. Abdalla was born in August 1966 in Khartoum, the Capital of Sudan. After completing primary and secondary education in Sudan, she pursued her university education in Egypt, University of Zagazig, where she obtained her BSC in Science and Education. In 1989 she obtained an Advanced Diploma in Development and Adult Education, Post Graduate College, University of Khartoum, then a M.Ed. in Education, University of Manchester, UK, 1991. She worked as consultant/researcher on Africa's development challenges, poverty, gender and capacity building issues with ILO, OSSREA and the Ford Foundation in different countries. She coordinated and assisted in implementing and managing projects for UNECEF in Sudan, and worked for the Sudan Broadcasting Services and DPMF in Ethiopia. Show less
This book analyses changes in the use of the landscape and the nature of rural livelihoods in two South African villages - Guquka and Koloni in the former Ciskei homeland. Taking an... Show moreThis book analyses changes in the use of the landscape and the nature of rural livelihoods in two South African villages - Guquka and Koloni in the former Ciskei homeland. Taking an interdisciplinary approach on how livelihoods and landscapes in the Eastern Cape link the book provides a study of the patterns of land use over time. It depicts the steady deterioration in agricultural production and the corresponding increase in dependence on social grants and wages. It shows that despite this trend remnants of a peasantry do exist. Contributions: Investigating rural livelihoods and landscapes in Guquka and Koloni: an introduction (Paul Hebinck); Rural transformation in the Eastern Cape (Paul Hebinck and Wim van Averbeke); Agro-ecology, land use and smallholder farming in the central Eastern Cape (Wim van Averbeke and James Bennett); A social history of Guquka and Koloni: settlement and resources (Paul Hebinck and Lothar Smith); Natural resource base and agricultural potentials (Peter C. Lent); Local governance and institutions (Wim van Averbeke and James Bennett); The view from above: a history of land use in Guquka and Koloni, 1938-1996) (Peter C. Lent and Guilty Mupakati); Production of crops in arable fields and home gardens (Paul Hebinck and Nomakaya Monde); Livestock production and forage resources (James Bennett and Peter C. Lent); Gathering from the land (Peter C. Lent); Mobility and population dynamics (Lothar Smith and Paul Hebinck); Contemporary livelihoods (Wim van Averbeke and Paul Hebinck); Life histories and livelihood trajectories (Paul Hebinck et al.); Livelihoods and landscapes: people, resources and land use (Paul Hebinck and Wim van Averbeke). [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
Based on a study in Nakuru town, Kenya, this volume deals with the multi-spatial (or multi-local) livelihoods of households with livelihood sources in different localities. It focuses in... Show moreBased on a study in Nakuru town, Kenya, this volume deals with the multi-spatial (or multi-local) livelihoods of households with livelihood sources in different localities. It focuses in particular on the rural livelihood sources of urban households. To cope with the adverse economic effects of increasing unemployment, the escalating cost of living and decreasing purchasing power, households - both poor and rich - are having to diversify their sources of income. A large majority of Nakuru households now appear to have a rural livelihood source, usually for food. Another coping strategy witnessed in Nakuru town is the sending of some urban household members to live at the rural home. Generally speaking, urban households that engage in rural farming (multi-spatial livelihoods) and have access to a source of food for their household are more favourably placed regarding their food situation than households without a foothold in the rural areas (mono-spatial livelihoods). Linkages between urban and rural households are essential to an urban household's ability to survive, especially for poor urban households that are more vulnerable to economic stress and shocks than the non-poor. Contrary to the situation a few decades ago, those living in rural areas are no longer only the recipients of goods and services from the urban areas but have become important contributors to the livelihoods of relatives in urban areas Show less
This study examines in what ways and to what extent microfinance services facilitate the empowerment of married rural women in Nebbi district, northwestern Uganda. In particular, it examines the... Show moreThis study examines in what ways and to what extent microfinance services facilitate the empowerment of married rural women in Nebbi district, northwestern Uganda. In particular, it examines the gender relations inherent in the livelihood practices of the community, the changes in well-being (if any) of the recipients of microfinance, and the ways in which changes in well-being are translated into changes in gender relations at the household and community levels. Using the sustainable livelihood approach, empowerment was measured at two levels, viz. the livelihood endowment status, and the livelihood entitlement status. The analysis reveals that microfinance did not make any significant change in the well-being status of clients. However, microfinance significantly facilitated women's empowerment at the individual, intrahousehold, and community levels. In this way, women's agency has sparked their struggle to engender livelihood practices. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
This paper examines how to research the changing outlines of African livelihoods in the present era of globalisation. After an analysis of the historical and theoretical context in which the... Show moreThis paper examines how to research the changing outlines of African livelihoods in the present era of globalisation. After an analysis of the historical and theoretical context in which the modern livelihood approach developed, two trends in modern livelihood studies are discussed, i.e. its increased holistic features and the surmounting of its micro-orientation. - Subsequently, the most pressing issues in livelihood research are reviewed: decomposition of households, increased diversification and increased multi-locality of livelihoods under globalisation. The next sections focus on two major theoretical and methodological challenges facing the livelihood approach at present. Firstly, with respect to the problem of access, we will demonstrate that the livelihood approach can become more powerful analytically by improving its theoretical depth through incorporating valuable elements of sovereignty and power. Secondly, there is the access to livelihood opportunities in relation to decision-making. In this context, we review various relevant concepts, such as livelihood strategies and styles, in order to operationalise the improved theoretical depth. We then propose livelihood trajectories as an appropriate methodology for examining pathways of African livelihoods. In so doing, the paper also sets the agenda for future research on African livelihoods. Paper presented at the 11th General Assembly of CODESRIA, 6-10 December 2005, Maputo. Show less
The enormous diversity of responses to the drought conditions in the Sahel in the last thirty years makes it difficult to formulate general conclusions about people's responses to climate change.... Show moreThe enormous diversity of responses to the drought conditions in the Sahel in the last thirty years makes it difficult to formulate general conclusions about people's responses to climate change. It is important to study the pathways of decisionmaking units at the micro-level and even at individual level and to emphasize the socioeconomic differences in changing patterns of responses and the gradual changes in people's 'habitus'. To understand the options available to people it is wise to focus on the technological changes in land use, the changes in the control over resources, migration and mobility, the trends of livelihood diversification and institutional change. The chapter is based on recent and ongoing research in Kaya (Burkina Faso), and Koutiala and Douentza (both in Mali). Summary. [Book abstract] Show less
This paper focuses on how livelihood and the question of development and environment in a globalising era should be examined. It discusses various views in geography on the question of environment... Show moreThis paper focuses on how livelihood and the question of development and environment in a globalising era should be examined. It discusses various views in geography on the question of environment and development, and it explores the concept of sustainable livelihood. It concludes that a geographical conceptualisation of development and environment may profit from the discussion on sustainable livelihood, provided that it does not become entangled in an actor-cum-local bias. Moreover, the diffusion of non-equilibrium concepts may broaden the analysis of man-land relations and open the way to an analysis of globalisation effects. Globalisation gives rise to new assortments of geographical entities and, as livelihoods adapt, they will shape constantly shifting regions with specific man-land arrangements. Show less
