How You Measure Matters: Defining Social Capital in Drought-prone Areas

Social capital, or social connections that a household possesses that can provide support and access to resources, is an important indicator to consider when assessing one's ability to withstand shocks and stressors. This study seeks to operationalize social capital within the context of two disaster-prone settings – Burkina Faso and Niger. Burkina Faso and Niger are two landlocked countries located in the Sahel region of West Africa. They are prone to frequent stressors including drought, flooding, and insect invasions.