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Ngarava S. Takes more than two to tango: Intrahousehold food system agency and its intricacies in South Africa. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21770. [PMID: 38027789 PMCID: PMC10661508 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intra-household food system agency is affected by individual physiology, environmental diversity, variations in social conditions, relational perspectives and distribution within families, resulting in differing capabilities and functionings which have a bearing on welfare. The study used the capability approach to assess intrahousehold food system agency, its determinants and welfare impact, taking a cross-sectional survey of 1184 households from three heterogenous study sites in South Africa. Poisson count regression, Propensity Score Matching and Monte Carlo Simulations were used in the study. Duration of stay within the community, tenure, employment status and household size were significant in the number of intrahousehold food system decisions made by female heads and none-nuclear family members, with however overall reduction in number of decisions made. Yet, when female heads showed agency in agricultural production and food expenditure, food security improved by 5 % and 6 %, respectively. On the other hand, it is reduced by between 4 % and 5 % for none-nuclear family members. Duration of stay in the community and age of household head had the highest contribution to agency variation. In conclusion, there are varied intrahousehold food system decisions made by various members of the households, resulting in varying degrees of food security. In addition, variations in the socio-economic factors of the households result in varied agency, especially for female household heads and other none-nuclear family members. Female-head intrahousehold food system agency should be promoted in lieu of their positive impact on food security, and their reduced decision-making capacity in hindsight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saul Ngarava
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Vening Meinesz Building A, 8a Princeton Avenue, 3584 CB, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Wongsirikajorn M, McNally CG, Gold AJ, Uchida E. High salinity in drinking water creating pathways towards chronic poverty: A case study of coastal communities in Tanzania. AMBIO 2023; 52:1661-1675. [PMID: 37227665 PMCID: PMC10460759 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01879-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Seawater intrusion is a growing pressure in coastal communities worldwide, putting millions of people at risk of excess salinity in drinking water. This study examines the impact of saline water on people's health and labor allocation as potential pathways towards chronic poverty. Using a transdisciplinary approach based on a coupled human-water system framework, we test these linkages combining field data on well water salinity levels and rich household survey data in coastal Tanzania. The results suggest that increased salinity levels lead to more time spent collecting drinking water and an increase in illnesses. Moreover, households in poorer villages with weaker public infrastructure have limited access to alternative sources of drinking water, making them more vulnerable to scarce potable water resources stemming from high salinity. To prevent chronic poverty, communities vulnerable to saline drinking water need better adaptation strategies as well as groundwater monitoring and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattana Wongsirikajorn
- University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881 USA
- Chiang Mai University, 239 Huay Kaew Road, Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Catherine G. McNally
- University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881 USA
- 220 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882 USA
| | - Arthur J. Gold
- University of Rhode Island, 001 Coastal Institute, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881 USA
| | - Emi Uchida
- University of Rhode Island, 216 Coastal Institute, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881 USA
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Shah SH, Harris LM, Menghwani V, Stoler J, Brewis A, Miller JD, Workman CL, Adams EA, Pearson AL, Hagaman A, Wutich A, Young SL. Variations in household water affordability and water insecurity: An intersectional perspective from 18 low- and middle-income countries. ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING. F, PHILOSOPHY, THEORY, MODELS, METHODS AND PRACTICE 2023; 2:369-398. [PMID: 38707600 PMCID: PMC11065962 DOI: 10.1177/26349825231156900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Compounding systems of marginalization differentiate and shape water-related risks. Yet, quantitative water security scholarship rarely assesses such risks through intersectionality, a paradigm that conceptualizes and examines racial, gendered, class, and other oppressions as interdependent. Using an intersectionality approach, we analyze the relationships between household head gender and self-reported socio-economic status, and water affordability (proportion of monthly income spent on water) and water insecurity (a composite measure of 11 self-reported experiences) for over 4000 households across 18 low- and middle-income countries in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Interaction terms and composite categorical variables were included in regression models, adjusting for putative confounders. Among households with a high socio-economic status, the proportion of monthly income spent on water differed by household head gender. In contrast, greater household water insecurity was associated with lower socio-economic status and did not meaningfully vary by the gender of the household head. We contextualize and interpret these experiences through larger systems of power and privilege. Overall, our results provide evidence of broad intersectional patterns from diverse sites, while indicating that their nature and magnitude depend on local contexts. Through a critical reflection on the study's value and limitations, including the operationalization of social contexts across different sites, we propose methodological approaches to advance multi-sited and quantitative intersectional research on water affordability and water insecurity. These approaches include developing scale-appropriate models, analyzing complementarities and differences between site-specific and multi-sited data, collecting data on gendered power relations, and measuring the impacts of household water insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer H Shah
- University of Washington, USA; The University of British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Vikas Menghwani
- The University of British Columbia, Canada; University of Saskatchewan, Canada
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Leal Filho W, Totin E, Franke JA, Andrew SM, Abubakar IR, Azadi H, Nunn PD, Ouweneel B, Williams PA, Simpson NP. Understanding responses to climate-related water scarcity in Africa. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150420. [PMID: 34571220 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Water scarcity is a global challenge, yet existing responses are failing to cope with current shocks and stressors, including those attributable to climate change. In sub-Saharan Africa, the impacts of water scarcity threaten livelihoods and wellbeing across the continent and are driving a broad range of adaptive responses. This paper describes trends of water scarcity for Africa and outlines climate impacts on key water-related sectors on food systems, cities, livelihoods and wellbeing, conflict and security, economies, and ecosystems. It then uses systematic review methods, including the Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative, to analyse 240 articles and identify adaptation characteristics of planned and autonomous responses to water scarcity across Africa. The most common impact drivers responded to are drought and participation variability. The most frequently identified actors responding to water scarcity include individuals or households (32%), local government (15%) and national government (15%), while the most common types of response are behavioural and cultural (30%), technological and infrastructural (27%), ecosystem-based (25%) and institutional (18%). Most planned responses target low-income communities (31%), women (20%), and indigenous communities (13%), but very few studies target migrants, ethnic minorities or those living with disabilities. There is a lack of coordination of planned adaptation at scale across all relevant sectors and regions, and lack of legal and institutional frameworks for their operation. Most responses to water scarcity are coping and autonomous responses that showed only minor adjustments to business-as-usual water practices, suggesting limited adaptation depth. Maladaptation is associated with one or more dimension of responses in almost 20% of articles. Coordinating institutional responses, carefully planned technologies, planning for projected climate risks including extension of climate services and increased climate change literacy, and integrating indigenous knowledge will help to address identified challenges of water scarcity towards more adaptive responses across Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Leal Filho
- European School of Sustainability Science and Research, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Edmond Totin
- Ecole de Foresterie Tropicale, Universite Nationale d'Agriculture du Benin, BP, 43, Ketou, Benin.
| | - James A Franke
- Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA; Center for Robust Decision-making on Climate and Energy Policy (RDCEP), University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Samora Macrice Andrew
- Department of Ecosystems and Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.
| | - Ismaila Rimi Abubakar
- College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (formerly, University of Dammam), P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Hossein Azadi
- Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Patrick D Nunn
- School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Birgitt Ouweneel
- Africa Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | | | - Nicholas Philip Simpson
- Africa Climate and Development Initiative, 6th Floor, Geological Science Building, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
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