- (vi) **_Outcome analysis:_** As a final outcome, the LIAS tool produces estimates of the number of people in need in any given _woreda_ . Thereby, two different thresholds are used: the livelihood protection threshold and the survival deficit. If total household income falls below the livelihood protection threshold, households are required to employ high-cost coping strategies to meet their food requirements. If household income falls below the survival deficit, they are unable to meet their food requirements even when livelihood-damaging coping strategies are used. The LIAS tool estimates beneficiary numbers by _woreda_ both for households that fall under the livelihood protection threshold, and for households falling below the survival threshold, based on the magnitude of the drought shock.

The HEA method is summarized in Table 2, illustrating how food security outcomes are linked to vulnerabilities, capabilities and hazard information.

||TABLE2: THEHEA METHOD. (RE<br> <br> <br>|PRODUCED FROMBOUDREAU200<br>|9).<br>|
|---|---|---|---|
||**f**<br>**(Vulnerabilities**<br>**/**<br>**Capabilities**|**Hazard)**|**=Risk**|
|**The LIU System**|**Livelihood Baselines**<br>Gathered through intensive<br>fieldwork once every five to<br>ten<br>years<br>(depending<br>on<br>changes<br>in<br>fundamental<br>economy) by highly trained<br>teams|**Hazard Analysis**<br>Hazard<br>information<br>is<br>gathered<br>during<br>the<br>seasonal assessments by<br>GoE, UN, NGO and other<br>staff; ongoing monitoring<br>(of prices especially) adds<br>to information base|**Outcome Analysis**<br>Conducted for seasonal<br>assessment and at other<br>times of year and for<br>other<br>purposes<br>as<br>required|

# _IV.2.2  Collection and use of LIAS data_

Within Ethiopia, LIAS data have been collected on a bi-annual basis for the two main harvesting seasons _mehe_ r and _belg_ . Following a pilot in 2008 in the region Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNPR), LIAS data have been collected throughout Ethiopia. In particular, the collection of LIAS data has formed part of the main seasonal needs assessments process, as described in step iii of section III.2 above. LIAS beneficiary estimates are conducted prior to the initiation of the review process to inform Humanitarian Appeal Numbers, and are developed using a clearly defined, transparent methodology. Due to these features, LIAS estimates represent a useful source of early warning information to inform drought response.

While the HEA methodology represents a key tool within Ethiopia’s early warning framework, the role of the LIAS tool within the seasonal needs assessment process has been subject to changes over time associated with changes to the definition of beneficiary numbers. In particular, during the years 2009 to 2010, beneficiary numbers reflected in the Humanitarian Requirements Document were based on initial LIAS estimates of food insecure households falling below the livelihood protection threshold, therefore including in the estimation of food insecure households those beneficiaries that have not made use of high-cost coping strategies. After 2010, the definition of beneficiary numbers reflected in the HRD was changed to reflect LIAS survival deficit numbers. The change of definition of beneficiary estimates led to lesser overall number of beneficiaries considered in the HRD process, as only those beneficiaries who were not able to meet food requirements even if damaging coping strategies were used were considered in humanitarian appeals. HRD beneficiary numbers therefore reflect the number of people at 15