Measuring resilience in fragile situations

In contexts of fragility, conflict, and climate stress, resilience is both a necessity and a challenge to measure. This session will explore innovative approaches to capturing how households, communities, and agrifood systems withstand, adapt to, and recover from shocks. Drawing on evidence from recent impact assessments and field applications, we will discuss methodological advances - including mixed methods, quasi-experimental designs, and composite resilience indices- that enable more accurate and policy-relevant measurement. The session welcomes contributions that examine resilience in agrifood systems, recognizing their central role in sustaining livelihoods and food security in fragile contexts. It will also highlight the trade‑offs between rigour and feasibility in these settings, and how robust evidence on resilience can inform more effective programming and policy engagement to support vulnerable populations.