This tool-kit has been formulated as a joint effort between FAO and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
As currently designed, the LAT is aimed collecting information – at community level and the existing livelihood groups – on people’s ability to make a living before and after sudden onset natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and tsunamis.
In the process of development, the LAT has been tested, redefined and refined in a number of countries including Pakistan (2005 Kashmir earthquake); Indonesia (2006 volcanic eruption and earthquake in Yogjakarta); Philippines (2006 Typhoon Reming); Bolivia (2007 flooding); and Pakistan again in 2008 (livelihood baseline work). This process of continual learning and improvement continues, and so the current set of guidelines contained in these volumes should be seen as one stage in the development of the approach.
Assessment Tools
The LAT consists of three interrelated assessment tools:
- Livelihood Baseline (LB) – compiled at national level prior to a disaster, the LB provides a good picture of ‘normal’ livelihood patterns in areas at risk from natural hazards together with an indication of likely impact of hazards, key response priorities and institutions likely to be involved in recovery;
- Initial Livelihood Impact Appraisal (ILIA) – done within 14 days after a disaster, the ILIA provides immediate first-hand information on the impact of the disaster on the livelihoods of the affected people to be integrated into multi-sectoral assessments (e.g. MIRA);
- Detailed Livelihood Assessment (DLA) – usually done within the first three months after a disaster, the DLA provides a more detailed information and rationale for development or fine-tuning of early recovery livelihood response strategies, programmes and projects.
You can download this toolkit for free here.
