Social Capital and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Among Pastoral and Agropastoral Livelihoods in the Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change is a serious issue in pastoral and agropastoral areas of Borana Zone, southern Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to explore how the social capital interrelated with climate change adaptation and mitigation in pastoral and agropastoral livelihood of Borana Zone, southern Ethiopia. A mixed methods approach was used to collect data from 365 households sample size through multistage stratified random sampling, while 40 key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions were employed by purposive sampling techniques. With this, Dilo and Moyale districts from pastoral, while Taltale and Elwaye districts from agropastoral livelihood system. Primary and secondary data were collected through structured questionnaires, key-informant interviews, focus group discussion, desk review, and personnel observation. These data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariate regression, and chi-square tests across livelihood systems. The findings showed that in pastoral communities bonding social capital was dominant (77.3% in Yabelo and 82.4% in Moyale), whereas in agropastoral livelihood system linking and bridging social capital were stronger (linking: 78.4% in Yabelo; bridging: 83.6% in Dugda Dawa). Social capital in bonding, bridging, and linking showed significant difference in strengthening climate adaptation and mitigation efforts under regression analysis at p < 0.05. Likely, trust and collective action were more enhanced these interdependences. Thus, the interaction effects between bridging and linking showed that combined social capital dimensions amplified adaptation and mitigation outcomes. Therefore, strengthen bonding networks in pastoral area as well as bridging and linking social capital in agropastoral systems to enhance climate resilience as policy interventions.