Household Economy Analysis Common Approach – Comprehensive Overview

The Household Economy Analysis approach (HEA) is a unique approach to understanding household economy i.e. the economic decisions households make. Understanding how households live helps us determine how they will respond and cope in the event of a shock, such as a drought. HEA can:

• Quantify access to food and income for households across the wealth spectrum;
• Clearly identify who needs what kind of intervention and when;
• Predict when and where households will require assistance.

HEA gives us the tools that we need to thoroughly understand food insecurity and the outcomes of  poverty, and to design appropriate and effective interventions that strengthen household livelihoods and resilience to increase income and enable them to adequately invest in their children’s well-being.