Alivelihood profile (food economy) is a concise description of howpeople live, structured according to the issues which help usunderstand acute and chronic food and livelihood insecurity. Eachlivelihood baseline profile refers to a specific food economy group orzone. The terms "Food Economy Group" or "zone" are usedinterchangeably with "Livelihood Group" or "zone" - communities whoshare similar livelihood options: similar types and levels of assets;similar options for production and income generation; they arevulnerable to similar risks; and their socio-cultural environment andhistory may be similar. Within each livelihood group, householdlivelihood patterns vary according to socio-economic status.

FSAUhas classified the entire population of Somalia according to livelihood zones (.pdf 332KB)  

The livelihood zone baseline,based on participatory research methodologies, provides information onlivelihood sources, expenditures, vulnerabilities and coping strategiesof specific livelihood groups.

Thedescription in the profile usually refers to a normal year in therecent past - a year which is neither very good nor very bad - andwhich is fairly common. The information describes, therefore, theconditions which communities are most used to or a usual year.Livelihood profiles are sometimes updated if there has beenconsiderable change in the environment, or in livelihood status of thepopulation.

The normal year is a keyreference point for analysis to monitor change and trends. The normalyear is described by key indicators including political andenvironmental issues, while quantitatively described with yields,prices, terms of trade, rainfall data, livestock trade and crop yields.Normal year information for each livelihood zone provides contextualinformation at micro and meso level. The baseline information documentsthe socio economic wealth breakdown to understand the income and wealthdistribution, the related livelihood options, risks and vulnerabilitiesas well as the relationships between the various wealth groups.Household economy information on food sources, income sources andexpenditure enable determining whether the problems in a normal yearare related to access or availability, immediate or long term causes,local or structural issues. It documents the diversity of food andincome sources and shows the relative dependency of each. Thisinformation allows analysis of livelihood risk, vulnerability, copingstrategies and sustainability. Vulnerability is assumed to be afunction of exposure to risk and households ability to cope.

Thebaseline information provides the key tool for monitoring changes atthe meso level, design programs for relief and developmentaccommodating the local level complexities and diversity.

Livelihood Baselines for Somalia
1. Bay, Bakol and Bardera Agro-pastoral (.pdf 1042KB)
2. Central Agro-pastoral (.pdf 972KB)
3. Dawa Pastoral (.pdf 958KB)
4. Golis-Guban Pastoral (.pdf 873KB)
5. Hawd and Sool Pastoral (.pdf 890KB)
6. Hiran Riverine (.pdf 975KB)
7. Juba Pump Irrigated Commercial Farming (.pdf 965KB)
10. Lower and Middle Juba Agro-pastoral (.pdf 969KB)
11. Southern Inland Pastoral (.pdf 970KB)
12. Addun Pastoral (.pdf 896KB)