Abstract

In Malawi Social Protection is identified as one of the key instrument to address the endemic poverty and vulnerability caused by different factors including climate shocks. Social protection programmes are being implemented to support poor beneficiaries including women whose households’ economic progress and welfare are constantly set back by climate shocks, which erode their assets and resources. This study assesses the level of adaptive capacity of women to reduce household vulnerability to climate shocks when targeted in social protection programmes in Mulanje District. The study sought to seek the following objectives; how climate shocks have influenced household vulnerability, how women’s participation in the social protection programmes promotes households adaptive capacity to climate shocks, and establish to what extent social protection programmes have built adaptive capacity of women to reduce household vulnerability to climate shocks. The study employed quantitative and qualitative data collected through Key Informant Interview, Focus Group Discussion and Household Survey. Data was analysed using content analysis and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. To determine levels of adaptive capacity the study adopted a composite index based on six adaptive capacity determinants namely economic resources, social capital, information and Awareness, technology, infrastructure and institutions. The study results found that social protection programmes are significantly building adaptive capacity of women to reduce household vulnerability to climate shocks. Women have moderate adaptive capacity level that is allowing them to reduce household vulnerability. The findings also found that in terms of adaptive capacity determinants, social protection programmes are promoting to women to access to economic resources, social capital, technology, and infrastructures. Conversely, information and Awareness, and institutions determinants had very low scores. Therefore, the study recommends full utilisation of the determinants that scored very low. There is a need for social protection programmes to focus on the involvement of the relevant institutions during and after beneficiaries’ cycle as well as integration of climate information such as early warning messages.

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School	: Not specified
Issued Date	: 2021

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