MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
HANDOUT
Financial assets
Discuss: seasonal activities (e.g.
agriculture, fishing, wage labour,
migration); how is cash income
earned; times of hardship;
saving/borrowing.
Natural assets
Discuss: soils, trees, water (for
drinking, irrigation, cooking, bathing)
Physical assets
Discuss: houses, wells, tools and
equipment, buildings,
communications, transport, etc.
Vulnerable Assets
What are the impacts during or after
the hazard (short/long term)?
Which economic assets are
affected? How?
Are people forced to sell assets?
What do they sell?
Are people able to borrow money? Is
it harder?
Which natural assets are affected?
How?
Which physical assets are affected?
How? E.g. water supplies, buildings,
communications, transport.
Livelihood conditions /
characteristics
What characteristics of peoples
livelihoods make those assets
vulnerable?
Are people heavily dependent on a
single economic asset?
Why are people forced to sell
assets?
Why are people unable to save or
borrow money?
Why are these natural assets
vulnerable to the hazard?
Is there a lack of natural assets?
Why? How does this affect people?
Why are these physical assets
vulnerable?
Policies & institutions (local,
regional, national)
Which policies or institutions (or lack
of) contribute to the vulnerable
conditions? How?
Consider: government line ministries;
savings and credit schemes;
Consider: local institutions which
might manage resources; land
ownership; agricultural policy;
industry
Consider: local authorities; building
regulations; land ownership; support
from community/religious groups.
Human assets
Discuss well-being, skills, knowledge
and individual strengths (health,
motivation, etc.)
Social assets
Discuss: between men and women;
community groups; NGOs; religious
groups; people with power and
authority
What are the impacts on people
(health, nutrition, physical wellbeing),
both immediately and shortly after
the hazard?
Who is most affected?
How are social relations affected
after a hazard?
What are the consequences?
Do relationships between men and
women change?
Why are these people most likely to
be affected?
Do people have knowledge of the
hazard and its impact?
Why do social relations change?
Why are they vulnerable?
Consider: access to health
institutions, education.
Consider: historical traditions; social
pressures; local authorities;
traditional leaders
A Training Manual on Use of Climate Information and Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for
Agricultural Extension Staff in Zimbabwe
Page 76