Vulnerability Assessments

One of the first steps to effective intervention design, goal-setting, and M&E indicator selection for any program is to understand the vulnerabilities and strengths of the participant population. Programs using economic strengthening (ES) interventions require information on the factors that contribute to economic vulnerability, and those using a graduation approach need solid data to demonstrate that participants are resilient when they exit the program. ASPIRES uses its expertise in household economic research to assess vulnerability and identify indicators of resilience that signal readiness for graduation. Vulnerability assessments can help USAID Missions and partners implementing ES interventions to better design their programs to meet the needs of their intended beneficiaries, more accurately target vulnerable households, and set indicative benchmarks for success.