ABSTRACT
Natural shocks have been common in the Lake Chilwa Basin. In 2010, Malawi experienced El Niño followed by La Niña phenomenon which led to below normal rainfall resulting in droughts and a recession of Lake Chilwa in 2012. Past livelihoods and ecological studies have shown that the Lake Chilwa Basin constitutes a fragile ecosystem based on extreme pressure from deforestation, fires and the periodic desiccations of the lake. However during periods of natural resources scarcity livelihoods tend to be supply-driven based on limited choices. Donor supported projects during these times provide livelihood alternatives from a predetermined menu of activities, rather than exploring the livelihoods alternatives with the people that they intend to support. However, diversification of alternative livelihood sources has helped households in the lake basin to insure themselves from shocks and negative trends of natural resource scarcity as a result of frequent lake recessions and impacts of climate variability. While diversification occurs to ameliorate the riskiness of natural resource-based livelihoods, physical and socio-economic structural adjustments that take place to overcome consumption sufferings created by shocks, are seldom recognised. This chapter therefore explores both project-based livelihood interventions and household responses by recognising ‘livelihoods’ as being as much about a ‘way of life’ as they are a means of making a living in the Lake Chilwa Basin following climatic shocks from 2010 during the implementation of the Lake Chilwa Basin Climate Change Adaptation Programme (LCBCCAP).
