1. Introduction -- 2. Culture, history, and political ecology -- 3. Markets and market relations -- 4. A risky region -- 5. Changing livelihood strategies -- 6. Household and intra-household patterns -- 7. Regional development priorities -- 8. Conclusion.

Mitigating the negative welfare consequences of crises such as droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks, is a major challenge in many areas of the world, especially in highly vulnerable areas insufficiently equipped to prevent food and livelihood security crisis in the face of adverse shocks....