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What is HEA Problem specifications

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Problem specifications

by Tanya Boudreau — last modified 02/20/2008 16:16

What is a problem specification

A problem specification is the process of mathematically linking a 'shock' to household livelihood strategies for the purposes of analyzing the shock's effects on food, income and expenditure. For instance, in the illustration below, it is shown how a hazard at the macro level translates to problems at the household level. It is at the intersection between the meso and the household level that the problem specification is defined.

Problem specification overview

A production problem is quantified by simply comparing the current production to the reference production, as below:

production problem example

Income problems are slightly more complicated, as they combine an analysis of a change in the amount of the commodity being sold (the production problem) with a change in the price of the commodity. This is illustrated below. income problem example

Rigor and Flexibility

frameanimate

HEA is a unique livelihoods-based framework designed to provide a clear and accurate representation of the inside workings of household economies at different levels of a wealth continuum and in different parts of the world. This picture can be used for a wide range of purposes, including development planning, emergency response, early warning,monitoring & evaluation, poverty analysis and reduction, and policy analysis. For more on how HEA has been used, please click here. In over 15 years of consistent use, throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, the Balkans and Asia, the Household Economy Approach has been tested, refined, and applied in a wide range of settings. In every case, the approach has been adapted to local realities without losing its essential rigor; and in every case, decision makers have remarked on its ability to open their eyes to a reality they had not fully comprehended.

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