Livelihood Dynamics in Mountainous Areas of Algeria: A Case Study of Four Villages in Ighil Ali, Bibans Mountain Range (Béjaïa Province)

Abstract

In Algeria’s mountainous regions, rural households face persistent structural constraints: land fragmentation, precarious agricultural incomes, limited access to resources, and weak institutional support. This study, conducted in four villages of the Ighil Ali municipality (Béjaïa Province), examines the strategies developed to sustain livelihoods and enhance resilience in the face of ecological and socio-economic uncertainties.Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), the research draws on an in-depth survey of 78 households, combining both qualitative and quantitative data. The findings reveal a marked diversity in livelihood trajectories: some households capitalize on local resources through irrigated polyculture and livestock farming, while others rely heavily on external income and multiple sources of employment.Despite a genuine adaptive capacity, households remain vulnerable due to the lack of support mechanisms tailored to the specific realities of mountain territories. The study advocates for a territorialized approach to rural development policies, integrating local dynamics, endogenous resources, and the social capacities of mountain communities.