The Development Review Beyond Research (p25-40), ISSN NO: 2220 - 7651, CHANGES IN LIVELIHOOD CAPITAL ASSETS BEFORE AND AFTER CONFLICT: A CASE OF FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN NEPAL
http://thedevelopmentreview.org/Papers/TDR_Volume1Issue1.pdf#page=25
Chiranjibi Rijal, Student PGD-Disaster Management
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Hom Gartaula, Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Anthropology,
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2N2 Canada
Abstract
In Nepal, conflict has affected different social groups at different levels and scales. Taking an example from Bardiya District, Western Nepal, the paper aims to assess economic activities and safety nets of conflict-affected female-headed households using capital assets in the sustainable livelihood framework. Open-ended interviews with 30 conflict-affected female-headed households were conducted, in addition to an extensive visit of the study area, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The study confirms that in post-conflict situations, livelihood opportunities are limited in case of female-headed households. However, due to proliferation of development initiatives targeting conflict-affected families, their social capital increases at greater extent and economic capital at lesser extent. Realizing the limitation of the pentagon of capital assets within sustainable livelihood framework in post-conflict situation, the paper recommends political capital and psychosocial trauma as additional capitals and a heptagon of capital assets, for household level livelihoods in post-conflict situation.
Key words: Capital assets, Post-conflict, Female-headed households, Safety-net, Nepal
Acknowledgement:
The authors would like to thank Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) for its generous support in conducting fieldwork in Nepal.
Chiranjibi Rijal, Student PGD-Disaster ManagementIndira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Hom Gartaula, Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Anthropology,
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2N2 Canada
Abstract
In Nepal, conflict has affected different social groups at different levels and scales. Taking an example from Bardiya District, Western Nepal, the paper aims to assess economic activities and safety nets of conflict-affected female-headed households using capital assets in the sustainable livelihood framework. Open-ended interviews with 30 conflict-affected female-headed households were conducted, in addition to an extensive visit of the study area, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The study confirms that in post-conflict situations, livelihood opportunities are limited in case of female-headed households. However, due to proliferation of development initiatives targeting conflict-affected families, their social capital increases at greater extent and economic capital at lesser extent. Realizing the limitation of the pentagon of capital assets within sustainable livelihood framework in post-conflict situation, the paper recommends political capital and psychosocial trauma as additional capitals and a heptagon of capital assets, for household level livelihoods in post-conflict situation.
Acknowledgement:
The authors would like to thank Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) for its generous support in conducting fieldwork in Nepal.