Do Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters Affected Households Have a Higher Level of Livelihood Diversification? Evidence from Rural Afghanistan

Weather and climate extremes may become more frequent and catastrophic in nature as climate change intensifies. Therefore, it becomes pertinent to explore strategies that help households adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. In this context, using data from the Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey (2016–17), the article examines whether rural households affected by extreme weather events and natural disasters have a relatively higher level of livelihood diversification. The results from the empirical analysis suggest that drought- and natural-disaster-affected households have comparatively more diversified sources of income as measured by the value of the Composite Entropy Index. The study also identifies other socio-economic factors that impact the extent of livelihood diversification. In light of the findings of the article, we infer that rural households possibly find livelihood diversification as a useful strategy to mitigate their vulnerabilities to climate change-induced extreme weather events and natural disasters. Hence, we suggest that the Government of Afghanistan and donor agencies should promote livelihood diversification within and outside agriculture, which is currently the dominant source of livelihood in rural Afghanistan.