Levels of Vulnerability of Livelihood Assets to Gas Extraction Operations in South-Eastern, Tanzania.

Abstract

Extractive investments are adversely affecting local communities’ households in Africa and particular in Tanzania because their operations depend on natural resources. This paper analyses the levels vulnerability of livelihood assets to gas extraction operations. A questionnaire survey which involves 260 households were conducted between July and December 2020. Eight (8) major components and (36) key indicators were developed based on the data collected through household surveys. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) with particular emphasis on levels of vulnerability of livelihood assets and socio-demographic and economic variables were used. The primary data were collected through household surveys. Microsoft Office Excel 2019 was used to analyse the LVI, the vulnerability spider (radar) chart and the vulnerability triangle. Results revealed that villages closer to gas processing plant were more vulnerable in terms of livelihood strategies, land, health and social networks. Conversely, the villages away from the gas processing plant were more vulnerable in terms of adaptive capacity, taking into account food, water and socio-demographic aspects. It is concluded that inadequate social networks and inefficient livelihood strategies contribute to household vulnerability. Interestingly, the impacts of gas extraction operations remain not the same in the study area and similarly when assessing household vulnerability. Finally, the study recommends that decision-makers should formulate effective adaptation policies to safeguard local communities and their livelihood assets residing closer to extractive investments. A health policy would help reduce vulnerability of households and a rural development policy would create employment opportunities leading to improved livelihoods.