Jàmbá - Journal of Disaster Risk Studies ISSN: (Online) 2072-845X, (Print) 1996-1421 Page 1 of 11 Original Research Measuring social vulnerability to natural hazards at the district level in Botswana Authors: Social vulnerability to natural hazards has become a topical issue in the face of climate change. 1,2 Kakanyo F. Dintwa For disaster risk reduction strategies to be effective, prior assessments of social vulnerability Gobopamang Letamo2 Kannan Navaneetham2 have to be undertaken. This study applies the household social vulnerability methodology to measure social vulnerability to natural hazards in Botswana. A total of 11 indicators were Affiliations: used to develop the District Social Vulnerability Index (DSVI). Literature informed the 1 Environment Statistics Unit, selection of indicators constituting the model. The principal component analysis (PCA) Statistics Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana method was used to calculate indicators’ weights. The results of this study reveal that social vulnerability is mainly driven by size of household, disability, level of education, age, people 2Department of Population receiving social security, employment status, households status and levels of poverty, in that Studies, University of order. The spatial distribution of DSVI scores shows that Ngamiland West, Kweneng West Botswana, Gaborone, and Central Tutume are highly socially vulnerable. A correlation analysis was run between Botswana DSVI scores and the number of households affected by floods, showing a positive linear Corresponding author: correlation. The government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector should Kakanyo Dintwa, appreciate that social vulnerability is differentiated, and intervention programmes should
[email protected] take cognisance of this. Dates: Keywords: Botswana; District Social Vulnerability; place vulnerability; natural hazards; Received: 21 Feb.