MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
LIVELIHOODS VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT
SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO VCA
Objective: To introduce the VCA methodology
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) is a participatory process to
determine the nature, scope and magnitude of the effects of hazards, shocks
and stresses on the community. It determines the probable or likely negative
effect on elements of livelihood strategies (assets at risk) and why some
households are more badly affected than others. The coping strategies and
resources (capacities) present in the community are identified.
The complete slideshow can be found in Appendix 6
SLIDE – Livelihoods and vulnerability analysis
• VCA is a participatory process to determine the nature, scope and
magnitude of the effects of hazards, shocks and stresses on the
community.
• It determines the likely negative effect on elements of livelihood
strategies
• Why some households are more badly affected than others.
• It identifies the coping strategies and resources (capacities) present.
Participation is the most essential component of the process which helps the
community to understand the risks they face while identifying the resources and
opportunities available to deal with both specific hazards and future uncertainty.
It is an essential part of the bottom-up decision making process for developing
resilience (Pillar 1) and adaptive capacity (Pillar 2).
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment is diagnostic and provides a systematic
method for identifying, estimating and ranking local risks. The assessment is
divisible into five steps.
A Training Manual on Use of Climate Information and Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for
Agricultural Extension Staff in Zimbabwe
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