Livelihood analysis
Methods for analysing institutions and relationships
How do we Evaluate Programmes?
used in PPA
Livelihood analysis is a method of making detailed examination of the way
that an individual, a household or a given community lives and survives. The
analysis helps communities and researchers to have a better understanding of
how they cope and why they make certain decisions: how they spend money
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and what their priorities are. It also helps people to think about their sources of
income versus expenditure, and to look for opportunities and plan ways to
solve their problems.
PPA researchers may find this tool relevant in the understanding of how
particular individuals, households or communities survive or how they make
their decisions.
Steps in making a Livelihood Analysis
(1) Identify the individual, household or category of people that you want to
undertake a livelihood analysis with (these could, for example, be peasant
farmers, the poorest category of the community, women-headed
households, HIV/AIDS household, etc).
(2) If a Wealth Ranking exercise has been done previously it may be helpful
in identifying particular categories for whom livelihood analysis may be
carried out. You may also consider such indicators as income sources,
household size and composition, expenditure, livestock, etc.
(3) Agree on the specific questions that you will be asking, who will visit
which household, how the information will be recorded and how you will
give feedback (information as to what has been found) to households who
participate, and to the community?
(4) At the chosen household explain what the purpose of the livelihood
analysis. This is to enable the community to understand how they are
surviving, so that together plans can be made to alleviate their problems.
Examples of livelihood analysis drawings:
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(5) Draw a large circle to represent a household.
(6) Ask community, household or individual members to indicate the various
“things” on which they survive. Use local materials (stones, seeds, leaves,
fibres, etc) especially if the community that you are working with is not
literate. The number of, say, stones or seeds could be used to indicate the
quantity of income or expenditure.
(7) Ask the respondents to explain in which way the indicated how the
identified factors are related to household, individual or individual
survival.
(8) If you are interested in knowing about people’s perceptions on how they
could survive better, discuss with them any knowledge you have regarding
time schemes, income generating activities, assistance from NGO’s,
CBOs, etc. Ask them their opinion regarding obstacles and opportunities.
Example of questions for Livelihood Analysis
Who lives in this house or homestead (by age, sex)?
Which members contribute to the household income (in cash, credit, food,
barter labour or goods, land, loan of agricultural equipment, home
ownership, supply of seed, fertilizer, etc.)?
Which other people outside the household contribute to income (family,
friends, community organisations, etc.)?
What are the household expenses (for food, clothing, rent, tools, seeds,
school fees, loan payments, recreation, etc.)?
To what extent does household income meet the expenses?
How are livelihoods affected by seasons? Which times or seasons are
better or worse? How does one manage?
What in recent times has helped you or your household to survive better or
to meet your expenses better?
What in the recent past has made it more difficult for you to survive or
meet your expenses?
In your assessment what would help you better cope with your expenses?