Livelihoods are the means by which households obtain and maintain access to the resources necessary to ensure their immediate and long-term survival. These resources can be categorized into six categories: physical, natural, human, financial, social, and political. Households use these assets to increase their ability to withstand shocks and to manage risks that threaten their well-being.
Understanding the dynamic between livelihoods and conflict is essential for managing and minimizing conflict’s impact. Livelihood strategies change in response to shifts in a household’s access to assets, and their effectiveness depends on many external factors. Prolonged conflict can restrict access to essential resources, forcing households to resort to desperate measures to obtain them.
Conflict can result from a wide range of factors, including competition for essential livelihood resources, ethnic or ethnic tensions, competition for political power, dissatisfaction or desperation on the part of marginalized groups, or deliberate attempts by the state to subjugate particular groups or extract resources from areas where competing claims exist.
Triggers may include natural disasters, economic shocks, or sharp fluctuations in food prices. Even where there are other primary causes of an escalation of tensions, livelihood failure can contribute to the emergence of conflict by weakening the social fabric, making people resort to desperate measures to obtain resources, and increasing individuals’ vulnerability to those with an interest in promoting conflict for political or economic gain.
The relationship between livelihoods and conflict is complex and multifaceted. Livelihoods are not just a means of survival, but also a source of identity, status, and social cohesion. When livelihoods are threatened, households and communities may experience a loss of dignity, status, and social standing, leading to increased tensions and conflict.
Key Issues
Understanding the dynamic between livelihoods and conflict is essential for managing and minimizing conflict’s impact. Livelihood strategies change in response to shifts in a household’s access to assets, and their effectiveness depends on many external factors.
Prolonged conflict can restrict access to essential resources, forcing households to resort to desperate measures to obtain them. This can lead to increased tensions and conflict, as households and communities compete for limited resources.
Lessons Learned
Livelihoods are a critical factor in the emergence and escalation of conflict. Understanding the dynamic between livelihoods and conflict is essential for managing and minimizing conflict’s impact.
Program Options
Resources
Livelihoods are the means by which households obtain and maintain access to the resources necessary to ensure their immediate and long-term survival. These resources can be categorized into six categories: physical, natural, human, financial, social, and political.
Households use these assets to increase their ability to withstand shocks and to manage risks that threaten their well-being. Understanding the dynamic between livelihoods and conflict is essential for managing and minimizing conflict’s impact.