The livelihood vulnerability of agro-pastoralist communities to climate extremes: a case study of Jonglei State, South Sudan
Student name: Mr Payai Manyok John
Guide: Dr Chubamenla Jamir
Year of completion: 2017
Host Organisation: TERI University
Abstract: The agro-pastoralists are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate extremes such as droughts
and floods. The impact of climate extremes is most in Bor North and Twic North County, where
crop and livestock is important for their daily subsistence.
This study uses Twic North, Twic South and Bor North in Jonglei State, as a case study and its
aims at assessing the livelihood vulnerability of agro-pastoralist communities to Climate
extremes in Jonglei State. The study answered the following questions; (i) How does climate
extremes impact the livelihood of agro-pastoralist, (ii) How vulnerable are the agro-pastoralist
communities to climate extremes? And (iii) what factors influence the livelihood vulnerability of
agro-pastoralist? The research uses a semi-structured interview to collect data from the local
communities, government officials, experts, CBOs and NGOs, and secondary data from
published and unpublished data sources. The study also uses both qualitative and quantitative
data to analysis the livelihood vulnerability of agro-pastoralist communities to Climate extremes
in Jonglei state.
The results show that 80% of the populations in Jonglei State depend on agriculture as a source
of livelihoods that includes crop and livestock production. However, the impact of climate
extremes on agro-pastoralist makes Bor North County most vulnerable than Twic North and
Twic South County due to the dependence of its population on climate-sensitive livelihood
activities like rain-fed agriculture, extreme pressure on forest and water reserves and poor
coping capacity and mechanisms. The research also indicated that Bor North and Twic North
County are most vulnerable to Climate extremes in term of government support (0.93), food
nutrition (0.891), education (0.81), Transport (0.760)), knowledge and skill (0.73), and Climate
Variability and natural disaster (0.733).
Though all households in the study areas are most vulnerable to the impact of climatic Change.
The problem is most critical for the poor agro-pastoralist, landless, children, women, and large
sized family in Bor North County. Their vulnerability are most worsened by unavailability and
unaffordability of agricultural inputs, livestock drugs, government support, markets, knowledge
and skill, finance, education level, transport, landlessness and unemployment as well as the
shortage of water during dry season.
The study suggests that further study is needed to be conduct on the relationship between climate
extremes and social conflict as well as the role of government in improving the livelihood of
agro-pastoralist in the State.
Key words: Livelihood Vulnerability, Agro-Pastoralist, Climate extremes, Impacts, South Sudan.
