Research Article

Harnessing Social Capital for Resilience to Livelihood Shocks: Ethnographic Evidence of Indigenous Mutual Support Practices among Rural Households in Eastern Ethiopia

Table 4

Household asset categories.

HH wealth category

CapitalsTujara (wealthy) 
(12% of HHs)
Woya (middle class) 
(estimated to be 53% HHs)
Miskina (the poorest) 
(estimated to be 35% HHs)

Natural(i) 2 hectares of land (at least) 
(ii) Up to 10 pairs of oxen 
(iii) ≥20 camels 
(iv) Shoats 10–15 
(v) 4-5 donkeys 
(vi) Sorghum 2000 kg 
(vii) G-nut 1500 kg 
(viii) Maize 1500 Kg
(i) Mostly 1 acre 
(ii) Pair of oxen 
(iii) Shoats 3-4 
(iv) Sorghum 500 kg 
(v) G-nut 300 kg 
(vi) Maize 100 kg 
(vii) Camel 1-2
(i) Ranges from half 1 acre up to landless 
(ii) Own marginal land 
(iii) Most do not own draft animal 
(iv) Very few have modest sized land but they rent it out

Physical(i) Cemented house (bricks), iron roofing, multiple rooms(i) Mostly iron roof, mud wall, ordinary fencing(i) House: mostly thatched grass 
(ii) Their fence: a natural bush

Political(i) Mostly have linkages with local politicians and tribal leaders 
(ii) They influence decisions 
(iii) People listen to them voice no matter how 
(iv) However, they rarely listen to others
(i) Generally have good relations with community members and politician but cannot influence decisions(i) Limited or no access to local politician and tribal leaders 
(ii) Their voice is rarely heard in the public spheres

Social(i) Have strong linkages with all actors 
(ii) People never wait their invitations to help 
(iii) Have extended social networks within and outside the community (have larger network size) 
(iv) Most of their network members are rich and wealthy HHs
(i) They actively engage in societal affairs, reciprocate, and get assistance in return 
(ii) Most of their networks are within their community; however they have some networks from elsewhere as well 
(iii) Most of their network members are poor HHs
(i) They have very limited network; people around their networks are often the poorest 
(ii) Their networks are only within their villages 
(iii) They are fatigued of requesting help from others; they do not do it much

Human(i) Better clothing 
(ii) They can afford better health care 
(iii) Most of them send their children to school 
(iv) Very good labor condition
(i) They send their kids to school—however, they drop out at high school 
(ii) Moderate labor condition
(i) Their kids are malnourished 
(ii) They educate their kids only up to elementary level 
(iii) Poor labor condition

Financial(i) Mostly have tangible assets and saved money in the house and banks(i) Their saving is in their cattle not in cash(i) No saving at all