Community adaptation to climate change: exploring drought and poverty traps in Gituamba location,Kenya

Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research

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Abstract: Globally,many communities are vulnerable to weather-pattern variability. Climate change will act as a threat multiplier by increasing this variability. To combat growing vulnerability,strategies for adaptation must be developed. This study uses interviews and participatory research techniques to examine the effects of a year-long drought on women and poverty dynamics in Gituamba location,Kenya. It concludes that drought has the ability to create poverty traps and produce a poverty of time and energy among women. Some possible adaptation strategies include livelihood diversification,creation of cooperatives,conservation farming,and rehabilitation of communal boreholes.