Synthesizing Research on Resilience in Drylands and Fragile Contexts Project

From 2005 to 2017, the Feinstein International Center developed a wide-ranging research portfolio on livelihoods systems under stress throughout the Greater Horn of Africa and beyond. The results of this research speak directly to the agenda of building more resilient households and communities in the face of ever-worsening cycles of drought and climatic shocks. Under this project, we synthesize our research from the past decade on three major themes related to resilience:

  • The evolution of pathways to resilience in pastoralist areas of eastern Africa
  • Building resilience and protecting livelihoods in conflict-related crises
  • The persistent problem of global acute malnutrition: Why it persists despite humanitarian and development gains

These syntheses provide policymakers and practitioners with insights and recommendations that emerge from a rigorous evidence synthesis across studies and contexts.

This project was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Center for Resilience. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

conflict and resilience synthesis

Resilience is defined as the ability of people to mitigate, weather, and “bounce back” from shocks or adversity. This definition is framed in terms of understanding capacities and risk—often particularly...

Daniel Maxwell, Elizabeth Stites, Sabina C. Robillard, Michael Wagner

• December 2017
Cover of the Conflict Resilience brief

This is a briefing paper of the full report. Resilience is defined as the ability of people to mitigate, weather, and “bounce back” from shocks or adversity. This definition is...

Daniel Maxwell, Elizabeth Stites, Sabina C. Robillard, Michael Wagner

• December 2017
pathways to resilience

This synthesis paper reviews Feinstein's research and focuses on the increasing socioeconomic differentiation in selected pastoralist areas, and the implications in terms of pathways to resilience.

Andy Catley

• December 2017
pathways to pastoralist resilience

This briefing paper reviews a full synthesis of Feinstein's research on pastoralism and focuses on the increasing socioeconomic differentiation in selected pastoralist areas, and the implications in terms of pathways to resilience.

Andy Catley

• December 2017
persistent global acute malnutrition

The widespread scale and long-lasting nature of “persistent GAM” means that it must be a policy and programming priority. This paper sheds light on the issue and provides strategies for policy and practice.

Helen Young, Anastasia Marshak

• January 2018
persistent global acute malnutrition

The widespread scale and long-lasting nature of “persistent GAM” means that it must be a policy and programming priority. This brief sheds light on the issue and provides strategies for policy and practice.

Helen Young, Anastasia Marshak

• January 2018
Building Resilience and Protecting Livelihoods in Conflict-Related Crises
December 2017

Much of the focus of resilience research and programming has focused on natural or environmental hazards, oftentimes overlooking the effects of conflict. Join researchers and humanitarian practitioners for a discussion...

Evolution of the Pathways to Resilience in Pastoralist Areas of Eastern Africa
January 2018

This webinar is a conversation about what makes people resilient in pastoralist areas of Eastern Africa. Topics include how commercialization has driven a gradual redistribution of livestock from poorer to...

The problem of persistent GAM: Why does it persist despite humanitarian and development gains
February 2018

Despite global improvements in malnutrition and under-five mortality child Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) continues to be an ongoing and alarming problem in post-emergency and protracted crises. During this webinar a...