4.5. Natural Capital

On the other hand, we have external one which we cannot less control, is an exogenous variable. What are they? External variables is considered in this double structure of vulnerability as exposure. So, exposure to what, some shock or some events like it depends on what kind of shocks, is it natural phenomena or some epidemics or not merely a kind of special exposure but how defenseless like I am for that one.

This chunk references the concept of external variables and exposure in the study of vulnerability. External variables are those factors outside of an individual's control, which can significantly impact their situation. These may include natural disasters like floods or man-made events such as epidemics. The text emphasizes that exposure is more than just facing an event; it also encompasses the degree of defenselessness an individual feels in the face of these shocks.

Imagine living in a coastal town prone to hurricanes. You can't control when a hurricane will hit (the external variable), but your feeling of defenselessness might depend on how prepared your community is. If local authorities have strong emergency plans and resources are available, your defenselessness diminishes, despite the looming threat.

Well to understand people's coping, we can also borrow the ideas from crisis and conflict kind of studies, who have the access to assets and resources and how it matter of conflict between individuals and groups or maybe sometimes action theory approaches, how people act, react frequently as a result of social-economic and governmental constraints and model access to assets like a mitigation of vulnerability through access.

This chunk discusses different frameworks for understanding how people respond to vulnerabilities. It suggests that the way individuals cope with exposure often depends on their access to resources and the socio-political context they are in. Factors like social networks, economic conditions, or government policies can either mitigate or exacerbate vulnerability. Action theory is introduced, highlighting how individuals and communities might react based on the constraints they face.

Consider two neighborhoods after a flood. One has strong local organizations that help residents get back on their feet, while the other has a lack of resources and support. The residents' ability to cope with the flood impacts will vary significantly based on their access to these resources, demonstrating how external factors shape responses to vulnerability.

There is another more prominent and very popular conceptual idea of vulnerability is the sustainable livelihood framework. It is not really on vulnerability, but they are one of the pioneering approach that define and quoted the vulnerability and which was now very regularly used in disaster risk and other risk management. So, this idea came originally developed by famous person Robert Chambers and Conway in 1992, quite long back.

In this chunk, the sustainable livelihood framework is introduced as an important concept in understanding vulnerability. The framework emphasizes that people's livelihoods are at the center of vulnerability studies. It originated from research into poverty and development, seeking to explore how individuals can sustain their lives despite challenges. This model considers various aspects that contribute to well-being and resilience in the face of vulnerabilities.

Think of a farmer in a rural area as an example of the sustainable livelihood framework. If the farmer invests in crop diversification, they can better withstand the loss of a single crop due to drought. In this case, rather than focusing solely on the risks, the framework encourages looking at how sustainable practices can lead to better overall resilience and prosperity.

So what are the shocks? One is the natural shocks like flood, drought, and cyclone. And health shocks like epidemic like cholera or even dengue let us say, or economic shocks like some financial recessions or maybe death in the family for a household or maybe violence like civil war in case of Syria or in many other countries in case of Sri Lanka when they were in civil war or in case of Bosnia.

This chunk identifies the different types of shocks that can lead to increased vulnerability. The shocks categorized here include natural disasters (like floods or droughts), health crises (such as epidemics), economic downturns, and social conflicts (like civil wars). Each of these shocks severely affects individuals' ability to cope and can significantly disrupt their livelihoods, pushing them into a situation of vulnerability.

Imagine a family living in a region prone to drought. If a drought occurs, their crops fail, leading to food insecurity. This is a natural shock. If the family further faces an unexpected medical emergency or economic downturn at the same time, their vulnerability increases exponentially, showing how interconnected these shocks can be.

Now, this vulnerability context actually, this is the poor people and is affecting their household capacity or their own individual capacity. So, they have actually different kind of capitals or capacities. One is a human capital, social capital, financial capital and physical capital.

This chunk introduces the idea of various 'capitals' that individuals possess, which influence their vulnerability and coping abilities. These include human capital (skills and health), social capital (networks and relationships), financial capital (money and assets), and physical capital (infrastructure and tools). Each category of capital interacts with the others and affects individuals' resilience in the face of shocks.

Consider a person who has strong social connections (social capital) in their community. If they experience a financial crisis (financial capital), they might rely on their friends and family for support or resources, showing how interconnected capital types can bolster resilience in tough situations.

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