in recent years, one of the most significant shocks to rural livelihoods has been the covid-19 pandemic. this global crisis affected rural livelihood systems in various ways, and due to limited preparedness—particularly in rural areas—households adopted diverse strategies in response.this study investigates the livelihood strategies adopted by villagers in the oraman region of sarvabad county during the pandemic, and evaluates their effectiveness. employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines both quantitative and qualitative techniques. data were collected through documentary analysis (for the theoretical framework) and a field survey. the statistical population comprised three key groups: local residents (300 individuals selected using cochran’s formula), development officials (18 individuals selected purposively), and regional experts (12 individuals also selected purposively). inferential statistical analyses—including pearson correlation, path analysis, and regression—revealed, at a 0.001 significance level and with 99% confidence, that the average livelihood resilience scores (2.63 and 2.72) indicate a highly unfavorable situation in the face of the pandemic. key explanatory factors include village population size, number of households, and the level of villagers’ economic activity. the primary livelihood strategies employed by villagers included: using personal savings, selling gold and other stored valuables, increasing work hours, borrowing money, temporary migration for employment (especially to marivan and sanandaj), participation in local savings groups, selling land or leasing gardens, taking loans, engaging in virtual marketing, and selling handicrafts online. overall, the prolonged pandemic has contributed to the deepening of multidimensional poverty and deprivation in various aspects of life: increased livelihood vulnerability; insecure and insufficient jobs and incomes; environmental degradation and declining productivity; social and geographical isolation of villages—particularly impacting women’s participation in employment and public life; and a lack of psychological security and motivation to pursue work and development in the villages of the oraman distric
extended abstract
introduction
the rural areas of the oraman district in sarvabad county are characterized by their remote location, proximity to the border, and highly uneven topography. the dispersion of villages and their relatively small populations further exacerbate the challenges in these areas. in a development planning system that allocates services and facilities based on population size and proximity to urban centers, this region is particularly vulnerable to livelihood instability due to its structural and economic weaknesses. this vulnerability has been further exacerbated by the underutilization of the region’s abundant resources, especially in tourism and horticulture. one of the most visible manifestations of this situation is the widespread migration of the labor force out of the villages. moreover, the covid-19 pandemic has contributed significantly to the stagnation of tourism activities—one of the region's most important economic resources—disrupting both the livelihoods of villagers and their direct sales channels.in light of the fact that a comprehensive understanding of the current situation is essential for addressing any crisis, it is crucial to assess the living conditions of the villagers and the coping strategies they have adopted in response to the pandemic. this assessment will provide a foundation for developing practical solutions to overcome the current crisis. accordingly, the present study aims to answer the following research questions:
1.how do variables such as the diversity of rural income sources, the size of the rural population, the number of households, and the respondents' areas of activity influence the assessment of livelihood resilience in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic? do these factors lead to differences in how the pandemic has affected the resilience of villages in the oraman district?
- what livelihood strategies have households adopted to cope with the ongoing pandemic?
- what have been the livelihood outcomes for the villagers, considering their resilience and adopted strategies in response to the pandemic?
methodology
this study is applied in nature, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology. data collection was carried out using a combination of documentary and survey methods, which included distributing questionnaires, conducting interviews, and making observations. the study was conducted during the second half of 2021. the statistical population of the research consisted of three groups: local residents, development officials, and scientific experts in the region. based on cochran's formula, a sample size of 300 individuals was selected from a local population of 5,390. the sample was stratified by village population, with participants chosen randomly. in the case of development officials, 18 individuals working in rural offices were purposefully selected. the group of scientific experts consisted of 12 professionals specializing in geography, rural planning, tourism, agriculture, and sociology of development. the validity of the measurement instruments was established through expert opinions, and reliability was confirmed using cronbach's alpha coefficient..
results and discussion
the the findings of the study indicate that all variables, except for the diversity of income sources, significantly affect livelihood resilience following the pandemic. the highest t-statistic values, suggesting the greatest impact, were found in relation to the village population variable. path analysis results revealed that the post-crisis adaptation dimension of the covid-19 pandemic crisis has had the most significant effect on the livelihood resilience of the villages. however, the direct effects of this dimension on other key resilience factors, such as the ability to implement short-term reconstruction measures, were also significant.
further analysis of the strategies adopted by households indicated that while virtual marketing for handicrafts proved effective in sustaining livelihoods, other strategies were largely ineffective, reflecting a general lack of resilience in rural areas. these strategies do not appear to foster long-term adaptability and, instead, highlight the vulnerability of these livelihoods in the face of prolonged crises. as a result, the continuation of the pandemic will likely further destabilize the livelihood situation of villagers. additionally, the findings suggest that the persistence of the pandemic, combined with inadequate coping strategies, has led to poor livelihood outcomes, manifesting in significant reductions in the quality of life.
conclusion
the results of this study demonstrate that the strategies employed by villagers have not only failed to enhance their livelihoods but also indicate a lack of long-term adaptability to the ongoing pandemic. consequently, the continuation of the crisis will likely exacerbate livelihood instability in the region. these strategies underscore a traditional and passive crisis management approach, which does not provide sufficient resilience against the persistent shocks affecting rural livelihoods. the inability of these strategies to withstand and rebuild livelihoods in the face of the covid-19 pandemic points to the need for a more proactive and resilient crisis management framework. the consequences of this lack of resilience include unstable and insufficient employment, income insecurity, environmental degradation, social isolation, and diminished psychological well-being, particularly for women in the workforce. therefore, it is critical to raise awareness among regional development officials about the need for a new understanding of crisis dynamics and to advocate for adaptive strategies that can support sustainable rural livelihoods in the face of ongoing challenges.