Activities

Our work is built around three main activities

Research: We develop accessible, low-cost research methods for collecting, modelling and analysing livelihoods data, primarily the household economy approach (HEA) and the individual household method (IHM). We focus on the practical, policy applications of research, and work with colleagues across discipline boundaries to support decision making in complex, real world situations. Examples of studies and reports can be found here.

Advancing technology: To maximise the impact and relevance of our research methods, we have produced cloud based HEA and IHM analytical software (OHEA and OIHM) and are collaborating with climate scientists, hydrologists and agronomists to develop improved livelihood impact models for future climate scenario planning. We aim to make state of the art poverty analysis tools freely available to policy makers, researchers and communities worldwide, giving easy access to technology that can help local decisions makers find answers to their own problems.

Capacity building: We work with government agencies, universities, NGOs and research institutes to promote methods of household economy assessment and modelling. Courses are designed to build local research leadership and to support problem solving, interdisciplinary exchange and in higher level postgraduate work, knowledge synthesis between climate, environment and social science.