Environmental and Livelihood Vulnerability Mapping in Darfur

Project dates: Oct 2009 – March 2010

ProAct is undertaking an Environmental and Livelihood Vulnerability Mapping (ELVM) project for Darfur on behalf of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from the Government of Japan. The project will develop a tailor-made environmental and livelihoods vulnerability mapping framework for North and South Darfur.

Following the framework, an initial vulnerability atlas for the region will be compiled based on existing and satellite-derived information for climate, vegetation, geomorphological processes, infrastructure and natural resource-based livelihood activities.

The ELVM Atlas will contain: an updated land cover map (2009) associated with potential natural resource-based livelihood activities; maps of exposure to anthropogenic and abiotic hazards (e.g. droughts, floods, and overexploitation of natural resources); and a set of vulnerability maps, based on spatial models which incorporate multi-hazard exposure and use ecological resilience and existing infrastructure as indicators of adaptive capacity. Vulnerability estimates will include current environmental degradation and data quality.

Spatial vulnerability estimates will be contrasted and verified using the latest data from IOM’s Village Assessments, existing results from the most recent relevant studies on Darfur and selected high resolution satellite imagery. Field verification will also be undertaken at selected locations and complemented with community environmental mapping techniques. The latter procedure will supplement IOM's survey information and will permit refining the mapping of potential natural resource based livelihoods activities in the region; it will also capture the communities' perception of livelihood activities vulnerability to major hazards.

Results of this project are expected to allow IOM, the Government of Sudan and other key agencies involved in the humanitarian operation to base future decisions on more complete and reliable environmental data, much of which underpins livelihoods, security and overall peace in the region.

While the atlas will constitute an initial source of information for humanitarian actions and return planning, the proposed framework could be further developed into a vulnerability evaluation tool- This would include additional environmental and socio-economic parameters; would allow temporal and spatial information updating and would provide decision-makers with the most accurate information, essential for sound planning and action in the context of Darfur, where environmental, socio-political and livelihood conditions are continuously changing.

Download ELVM project briefing notes:

• Briefing Note November 2009
• Briefing Note December 2009

For further information on the assessment, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it