An exploration into livelihood options after disasters: A case of Chimanimani district, Zimbabwe.

The impact of natural disasters on rural areas has recently increased especially in Southern Africa. The main question of importance is on how to effectively improve the livelihood resilience of disaster-affected communities. Instead of just restoring communities to their pre disaster state, the post-disaster recovery phase is now widely seen as an opportunity for regeneration and progress (Khasalamwa 2009). For instance, the term building back better has been used by both the government and aid organizations to describe their post-disaster recovery programming. This approach is based on the notion that the recovery period presents a window of opportunity for long-term vulnerability reduction, disaster risk reduction, and improved development. Régnier et al. (2008) highlights that experience with livelihood recovery projects has been somewhat limited and that successful efforts should be highly localized so that economic and livelihood recovery may become an increasingly important component of the post-disaster recovery process. The links between disaster recovery, resilience and livelihoods are clear, a successful livelihood strategy must incorporate mechanisms for coping and bouncing back when another disaster emerges. Using the sustainable livelihoods approach (DFID 1999, Scoones 2003), this paper seeks to explore the various livelihood options available for disaster-stricken areas in Manicaland province of Zimbabwe. The study design is qualitative and used both primary and secondary data in order to obtain the research objectives. Semi-structured interviews and direct observations were employed for collecting primary data. The study provides tangible homegrown livelihood solutions to humanitarian agencies, local government and civil protection unit. Results show that households are involved in strategies such as livelihood diversification and migration in response to the cyclone Idai.