Using qualitative and mixed methods in livelihood systems profiling Fabio Pittaluga FAO Fisheries Department

Structure of presentation PART ONE: Overview The “zero-in” approach The “zero-in” approach Applications in different contexts Applications in different contexts Tools used flexibly to respond to client’s needs Tools used flexibly to respond to client’s needs PART TWO: Tools for LS profiling Two methodological elements: Two methodological elements: –Ranked sets sampling methodology –Methods to conduct focus groups discussions

PART ONE

Zero-in approach Direction of research MACRO For ex: country MICRO For ex: household MESO For ex: department

Livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities in Ivory Coast and Ghana Surveyed sample of households/individuals depending on fishing as primary activity Focus group at district level defined poverty and poverty groups within fishing communities Construction of multidimensional poverty indicator on the basis of local definitions of poverty Secondary literature review 4

Ghana The scaleable attributes module (Likert scales) 12 Livelihoods-based macro variables State of Natural resources Institutions Social capital Infrastructure Health Food security Financial assets Employment Education Coping mechanisms Vulnerability Access to resources

Ghana Each macro variable composed of MANY statements Statement Fish catches over the past 5 years have Substantially decreased Somewhat decreased Remained stable Slightly increased Increased considerably Example Maximum possible score = 5

Ghana Poverty and fishing communities of Lake Volta, Ghana

BANGLADESH Review of secondary literature and data 1 1 Mail survey with 105 NGOs coastal zone district workshops case studies 4 4

STRUCTURE OF THE WORKSHOP List vulnerability factors by livelihood group by livelihood group List vulnerability factors by livelihood group by livelihood group a a Rank according to frequency Rank according to frequency c c Info on spatial and temporal distribution, and coping Info on spatial and temporal distribution, and coping d d Respondents select 5 most important Respondents select 5 most important b b

SMALL FARMERS 1. Lack of safe drinking water / arsenic 2. Cyclone / tidal bore 3. Drainage congestion / water logging 4. Landholding problems 5. Labor market shortages ARTISANAL FISHERS 1. Cyclone/tidal bore 2. Deterioration of fish resources 3. Lack of communication facilities 4. Lack of cash 5. Lack of fishing equipment RURAL WAGE LABORERS 1. Labor market shortages 2. Low wage rate 3. Seasonal-labor market shortages 4. Lack of cash 5. Cyclone / tidal bore URBAN WAGE LABORERS 1. Labor market shortages 2. Low wage rate 3. Cyclone / tidal bore 4. Lack of sanitation facilities 5. Lack of skills RANKEDVULNERABILITYFACTORS NOAKHALI District NOAKHALI District

Vote proportion of people affected in each group Vote proportion of people affected in each group

NOAKHALI District TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF VULNERABILITY FACTORS FOR SMALL FARMERS CRITICAL PERIOD

PART TWO

Ranked sets sampling method: an example from the Gambia Poverty map existed but info not disaggregated at village level Poverty map existed but info not disaggregated at village level Two-tier approach to sampling: Two-tier approach to sampling: –Primary units (village) –Secondary units (households) Ranked sets method used to sample primary units Ranked sets method used to sample primary units

SELECTING 20 REPRESENTATIVE VILLAGES IN 4 DIVISIONS

RANKING FISHING VILLAGES BY PERCEPTION OF POVERTY CONDITION 1 = poorest 5 = richest ….. Same procedure for all Divisions ……………………………………………………………………….

EXTRACTING A RANKED SET

Focus group discussions Understand processes, causality, etc. Understand processes, causality, etc. Insights about WHY people feel Insights about WHY people feel in a given manner with respect to an issue Discuss particular set of topics Discuss particular set of topics

Focus Group settings Homogenous group Homogenous group people people Set of specific issues to deal with Set of specific issues to deal with No more than 2 to 2.5 hours No more than 2 to 2.5 hours

Conducting a FG discussion Whenever possible do it in a team Whenever possible do it in a team Select a facilitator Select a facilitator –Follow structure but responsive to direction of narrative flow –Follow up on unforeseen issues emerging from FG –Synthesize info in visually clear manner (as opposed to simply writing on a flip-chart…) Others write information Others write information

Questions to ask Broad, non-conducive, open-ended questions Broad, non-conducive, open-ended questions Then zero-in on specific aspects Then zero-in on specific aspects Tackle sensitive issues indirectly Tackle sensitive issues indirectly  This will tell you whether it’s ok to ask them or not…

Recording information from FG Write up all the information Write up all the information Keep questions you may want to ask for a later time Keep questions you may want to ask for a later time Observe dynamics of the group Observe dynamics of the group While you write, keep a column for your observations and questions. While you write, keep a column for your observations and questions.