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, 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.
