2. The livelihoods approach
The livelihoods approach has its origins partly in a
literature concerned with understanding the differential
capability of rural families to cope with crises such as
droughts, floods, or plant and animal pests and diseases.
This literature focuses attention on the assets of rural
people, and how different patterns of asset holding
(land, stock, food stores, savings etc.) can make big
differences to the ability of families to withstand shocks
[28]. This set of concerns also links to the concept of
vulnerability; defined as a high degree of exposure to
risk, shocks and stress and proneness to food insecurity
[29,30]. Vulnerability has the dual aspect of external
threats to livelihood security due to risk factors such a
climate, markets or sudden disaster; and internal coping
capability determined by assets, food stores, support
from kin or community, or government safety net
policies.