This study identified covariant and idiosyncratic shocks that made households vulnerable
and how these are managed. Using data collected from three districts in Tanzania using
qualitative data collection methods (focus group discussions and individual life histories)
coupled with key informant interviews, this paper identified major covariant shocks to include
those which are weather and agricultural market related, witchcraft and theft of agricultural
produce while in the farms. Further, idiosyncratic shocks identified include property grabbing
after the death of husband and property loss after divorce/separation, alcoholism, old age
vulnerability, serial polygamy, and selling labour on credit. The poor were also found to be
vulnerable as measured by the number of meals per day whereby the destitute and very poor
groups could afford one meal a day which is even not assured. Major resilience avenues for
coping with these shocks include transformation of available physical and human capital and
formation of networks. One major latent resilient avenue that needs to be activated is leasing
out land. Property transfer and investment on human capital were major ex-ante resilient
building processes. The study recommends for promotive and transformative social
protection measures in form of measures to increase productivity and legal institutional
reforms.