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Introduction to livelihoods, conflict and disasters

The livelihood assessment tool-kit: analysing and responding to the impact of disasters on the livelihoods of people

Preparedness and response in countries prone to sudden onset disasters: a sustainable livelihoods approach

Authors: ; Food and Agricultural Organisation; International Labour Organisation
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , 2008

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The increase in natural disasters around the world warrants attention to protecting and rebuilding the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. This toolkit aims to assess the impact of disasters on the livelihoods of people and the capacity and opportunities for recovery and increased resilience to future events. It is comprised of four volumes providing an introduction and tools to address baseline studies, initial assessment, and post disaster assessment.

Volume one provides an introduction to the toolkit including its conceptual framework, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), and its three main technical elements: 

  • (Vol 2) Livelihoods baseline assessment ( pre-disaster) provides a general outline of a useful livelihoods baseline. This should provide a credible basis for designing a good post disaster assessment from which an improved early recovery response can be designed 

  • (Vol 3) Initial livelihood impact appraisal ( 1-10 days post disaster) provides guidelines on setting up a post disaster initial assessment and is designed to generate a credible picture of the current and likely impact on livelihoods of a sudden-onset natural disaster soon after the disaster occurs 

  • (Vol 4) Detailed livelihoods assessment ( 1-3 months post disaster) provides guidelines on setting up a detailed livelihoods assessment to look at the impact of disaster on livelihoods and identify opportunities and capacities for recovery at household, community, and local economy levels

The three technical elements make up volumes 2-4 and are designed as modules to be used in series or independently. The modules have been tailored to United Nations funding mechanisms such as flash appeals as well as more general programming mechanisms. Each module is aimed at the appropriate expert within government bodies, UN agencies and NGO’s.