Income-Generating Activities - Action Against Hunger

CHAPTER 2: ANALYSIS OF THE CONTEXT, DEFINITION OF THE
INTERVENTION STRATEGY AND THE PROGRAMME
SUMMARY
• Prior to beginning any type of IGA, a proper food security assessment and economic
analysis must be made.
• The preliminary analysis will identify the main economic activities and the importance
of the various IGA for the vulnerable population.
• To carry out a market study including the production units (IGA,) a systemic approach
can be used that looks at the relationship between the different variables
within the dimensions of the market.
• The collection of information in the field should be carried out using participative
techniques that will help to gain a more complete and accurate understanding
of the context.
• The factors that limit the functioning of IGA should be identified.
• When proposing a food security strategy focusing on income generation, it is
essential to verify the viability of the activities, evaluate possibilities for coordination,
define the role of ACF, and ultimately, envision the exit strategy.
The implementation strategy should be based on the results of the preliminary assessment,
taking into account the priority zones and populations to target. This initial
assessment will gather knowledge of the region, its contextual characteristics including
the economic, social, cultural and other aspects at different levels, and the analysis
will allow the formulation of relevant proposals.
This chapter attempts to give a general vision of the steps to follow, the variables
to take into account, and the different analyses that should be carried out when designing
an income generating intervention strategy. Though details regarding methodology
for assessments will not be presented in detail because the book entitled “Food
Security Assessments and Surveillance” of this series is dedicated to the theme, certain
parts of this type of analysis will be touched upon here so that the entire project
cycle can be considered.
INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES: A KEY CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURTIY
21