IHEA

IHEA or individual household economy analysis involves collecting the same information as for a standard HEA baseline except for individual households. Thus, estimates of total food consumption (by source), total cash income (by source) and total expenditure (by category of expenditure), and levels of asset holding are made for individual households.

This means that IHEA is very similar to a conventional household income and expenditure survey. The main difference is in the level of training provided to the enumerators and the level of cross-checking undertaken in the field (both of which are more intense for IHEA than is the case with many household income and expenditure surveys). The result, it is hoped, is a more accurate set of results, which can be used for statistical analysis and detailed monitoring and evaluation of projects.

It is important to note that HEA is an analytical framework, not a specific method of information collection. It defines the information that needs to be collected and the way in which it should be analyzed in order to answer a particular set of questions. So, while rapid appraisal methods have most often been used in HEA, it is quite possible to use the framework to carry out an individual household survey.

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