Mapping Vulnerability Profiles of Low Capacity Households

A Case Study
Social Protection A CARE International in Zambia Learning Product 2009

CARE Zambias work in Social Protection

Since 2004, CARE Zambia has been working through a Program Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the UK Governments Department for International Development (DFID) to implement a number of Social Protection projects, aimed at increasing the capacity of institutions and the most vulnerable in society to better manage risk associated with food insecurity, destitution and HIV and AIDS. The PPA programme reflects CARE Internationals vision which seeks a world of hope, tolerance and social justice where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security. An estimated 64% of Zambians are poor, mostly living in rural areas (Central Statistics Office 2007) on less than US$ 1 per day. The PPA programme has focused on addressing this through a Social Protection agenda that supports both the achievement of Millennium Development Goals one, two and six, and the Government of Zambias Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP). In this context, CARE Zambia regards Social Protection as a holistic approach to protecting and promoting the livelihoods and welfare of vulnerable groups through coordinated policies and transfer mechanisms such as cash, physical resources, training and in-kind contributions. The vulnerable groups targeted include: Low capacity households including widows, the disabled, the old, and other marginalized, lowincome households, and informal sector operators; Incapacitated households with no self-help potential, including mainly households affected by HIV/AIDS; Child-headed households and street children

low capacity households, incapacitated household or child headed households. In contrast to Incapacitated and Child-headed Households, targeting Low Capacity Households (LCHs) is comparatively more challenging based on the experiences of Government social protection programmes like the Food Security Pack (FSP) programme which has high inclusion errors. Based on CAREs working experience in rural areas it was observed that the Young Married (YM), Female Headed Households (FHH) and People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHAs) among others constitute a large proportion of the low capacity household category. In order to have an in-depth understanding of these households, a Life History Approach to mapping their vulnerability was used in the rural areas of Katete and Kazungula districts.

Key shocks influencing vulnerability

Low Levels of education Early marriages Disruption of family and household life Lack of Male labour No/few productive assets

The findings from this case study can be used to inform programming that protects Low Capacity Households from falling into further vulnerability and promoting improved livelihoods by raising their incomes and consumption levels as well as providing access to education and health services.

As part of the PPA, a series of learning products have been developed as a means of sharing knowledge and promoting greater understanding with a wide spectrum of stakeholders including policy makers, Government, donors, and civil society.

Vulnerability Profiles of Low Capacity Households using the Life History Approach
A Life History Approach (LHA) seeks to determine the levels of vulnerability in households and their geographical locations based upon household members recollections of their abilities to manage risks and critical incidents in their lives. It explores what assets they need to deal successfully with such shocks and

Background to the case study

Target groups for social protection interventions in Zambia are categorised as those falling either under the

Social Protection

stresses for example, farming implements owned, levels of education, overall health status of household members or numbers who receive a cash income, and so on. Similarly, what alternative resources were they able to call upon to allow them to better cope with emergencies. For example, selling off of livestock or finding alternative means of work to provide income, during a period of drought when food and/or cash is in short supply.

However, in reality, community targeting for example for agricultural input programmes, frequently resulted in the selection of households who already have such resources available to them, resulting in local farmers benefiting when they do not qualify for or have need for such assistance.

Often, the farmers selected were members of existing farmers groups, which are male-dominated, market focused, and have a stronger voice in the decision This study used the Life History Approach to help making process of who should receive Food Security address previous challenges of inconsistent targeting Packs, than do the vulnerable or LCHs who should be where low capacity directly targeted. It was households and vulnerable also found that targeting Understanding why assets have not reached groups were not being overall efficiency, using this their intended recipients helps to identify reached with the Food community-based method, more efficient and effective methods Security Packs (FSPs). could not effectively Understanding why assets distinguish the groups it have not reached their was supposed to target intended recipients helps to even when not manipulated or biased. identify more efficient and effective approaches and methods. Using the Life History Approach to gather information Low Capacity Households and other vulnerable groups are normally expected to be identified through the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS), which guides communities in targeting those meeting the criteria for incapacitated and low capacity households. proved far more effective than community-based methods, not only for improving overall targeting efficiency, but also in providing the raw information to develop a comparison matrix of common characteristics within all three target groups.

A CARE International in Zambia Learning Product

Common elements of vulnerability across target groups

The following causes of vulnerability brings out collective experiences of YM, FHH, and PLWHA across two rural communities in Kazungula and Katete districts. It should also be noted that HIV and AIDS magnifies the vulnerability caused by each of the shocks identified below. No/few productive assets Often the most common feature among target groups was their possession of very few or of no productive assets such as hoes, an axe and/or domestic animals. These vulnerable groups were capable of working however, they were not in formal employment and had neither capital nor valued assets like oxen to invest in income generating activities. Low Levels of Education Education was seen as very important. It was closely linked to a persons hopes and dreams of escaping from poverty. Most respondents placed great emphasis on the extremely high and low points of their life graphs related to starting and stopping school respectively. All of them felt pressure to drop out of school or were forced to by circumstances, such as lack of funds, pregnancy, forced marriage, or distance to upper basic schools. Early Marriage Early marriages were common. In the cultural context, it seemed that young people immediately started

looking for a spouse as soon as they dropped out of school. Early marriage was also used as a coping mechanism for those who did not have other options. Unplanned pregnancies were extremely common among all target groups. These pregnancies often led to early marriages to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Lack of Male Labour Male labour was seen as of particular importance for most women, both economically and with regard to the overall cohesion of families and family life. At the time

FHH
Shocks:
Split from typical family home Drought Forced marriage In school Typical family home Marriage

Factors that help:

Acceptance of the forced marriage No upper basic schools in proximity Poor harvest Lack of male labour Some assets Small business Supportive mother Piece work Gardening Support of children

Forced to drop out of school Husband unfaithful + unsupportive Husband dies/leaves Property grabbing (South) Pressure of widow cleansing/inheritance (South) Crop damaged by elephants/floods

No harvest Struggle to educate kids No community respect Lack of male labour Few assets

when their husbands were with them, most women saw this time as being a high and stable point in their lives. When the man left or died, they would often plummet in terms of economic security and therefore became more vulnerable. Disruptions of family and household life Most respondents childhoods were characterised by a disruption or split from the conventional family home either through divorce or death of parents. Child labour practices were common and many participants were mistreated by stepmothers and other adult relatives other than their own parents. This often occurred when children were separated from their typical family home, and relatives felt obliged to take care of them.

Young Married Women

Shocks:
Split from typical family home Mistreated by relative Food insecurity Not very poor In school Typical family home Several assets Marriage

Factors that help:

Unplanned pregnancy Forced to drop out of school Too much rain Elephants damage crops (S)

Moderately poor Unhappy with continued mistreatment Interrupted education

Poor harvest Cannot go to school Dowry outstanding Lack of capital Few assets

Small business (S) Joint vegetable garden with husband Respect of community NGO & government support (S)

Social Protection

A CARE International in Zambia Learning Product

End Note: Inclusion and exclusion errors are critical elements to consider in any social protection intervention in order to render it effective and socially acceptable. It is therefore imperative to ensure that recipients of any social protection programming are clearly identified and supported through appropriate interventions. In the case of Zambia, where social protection beneficiaries are broadly defined as those falling either under low capacity households, incapacitated households or child-headed households, programming should be tailored to best meet the needs of each target category. Targeting those under the incapacitated and child-headed households is relatively easier due to clear indicators which delineate such households as noted in this study. In contrast, the low capacity households are a complex mix of relatively viable but vulnerable members of society who do not exclusively fall under one specific age, gender or social category. As such, targeting households as well as providing them with the appropriate support can be a complex task. This case study sought to demonstrate, based on CAREs extensive field experience, that by and large low capacity households can be classified as those made up of the Young Married, People Living with HIV and AIDS and those that are Female Headed. By mapping their life history, this study attempted to identify critical incidents in such households which expose them to shocks and can potentially pull them into further vulnerability. It is therefore hoped that this case study will inform programming for low capacity households and form basis for an effective response to chronic poverty that should be a part of a holistic approach to social protection.

Department for International Development