Before we can analyze the livelihoods of people we need to put them into their geographical context. This is what livelihoods mapping or ‘zoning’ is about, and it is usually the first activity undertaken in a Household Economy survey for an area of any significant size.
The method for livelihoods zoning has been developed by FEG over several years and involves a process of analysis of available data-sets and literature, national and regional workshops with key informants, and consultation for verification at regional or district level. As of 2007 livelihoods zoning had been done in over 30 countries in Africa, Central America and Central Asia. The resulting maps, with their livelihoods-oriented focus on economic geography, have been found interesting and useful beyond specific early warning and monitoring purposes, for gaining a geographical handle on development issues too.
