HRD appeal numbers are based on a bottom-up assessment process and agreed assumptions of need, as follows (Source: Food Economy Group 2015):

- (i) **_Pre-harvest assessment triggered_** : The pre-harvest needs assessment is triggered by the Disaster Risk Management Technical Working Group (DRM TWG<sup>29</sup> ) and conducted by _woreda_ - level staff. Assessments are conducted within two weeks before or after each rainy season, depending on rainfall conditions.

- (ii) **_Pre-harvest assessment:_** _Woreda_ -level staff conduct an initial assessment of the number of people in need of food assistance. Assessments are based on a range of information, including rainfall and crop production data. _Woreda_ -level staff submit needs estimates to the zones, which revise and compile needs estimates. Zonal-level beneficiary estimates are submitted to regional governments, who compile and revise beneficiary estimates again.

- (iii) **_Main seasonal needs assessments:_** The main seasonal needs assessments are conducted by multi-agency teams dispatched by the federal government to the regions. In particular, assessments are conducted in specific _woredas_ . Agreement is reached on which _woredas_ to visit through coordination between assessment teams and the regional-level governments, based on pre-harvest assessment results. In determining beneficiary numbers, checklists are used to guide teams through the assessment process. Beneficiary numbers were calculated initially based on the Household Economy Approach (HEA, see section 4.2 for further details), and were computed using the LIAS spreadsheet. The spreadsheet produces, as a final output, the number of people in need of food assistance. Two different thresholds are used: A Livelihood Protection Threshold<sup>30</sup> , below which households are unable to meet food needs whilst upholding their livelihood strategy, and a Survival Threshold<sup>31</sup> , below which households are unable to meet food needs. As of 2015, the DRM TWG decided to discontinue the use of LIAS data, as it was recognized that LIAS baseline data are outdated for the highlands regions. At present, seasonal needs assessments are therefore mainly based on the use of checklists.

- (iv) **_Drafting of HRD Document:_** Based on compiled beneficiary numbers, the federal-level HRD Editorial Committee drafts the HRD document. The HRD Editorial Committee is composed of representatives of DRMFSS, the UN and NGOs. The Committee compiles the received assessments and presents these to the EWRD at DRMFSS.

29 The DRM Technical Working Group is a multi-sectoral forum led by DRMFSS, including GoE representatives, DPs and humanitarian partners.

30 The Livelihoods Protection Threshold represents the total income required to sustain local livelihoods, in particular: (i) ensuring basic survival, (ii) maintaining access to basic services, such as health and education expenses, (iii) sustaining livelihoods in the medium to longer term through purchases of seeds, fertilizer, veterinary drugs, etc., (iv) achieving a minimum locally acceptable standard of living through purchase of clothing, coffee and tea, etc. See USAID and FDRE Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector, MoARD: _The Livelihoods Integration Unit Uses of the Baseline Information and Analysis._ 31 The Survival Threshold represents the total income required to cover: (i) 100% of minimum food energy needs (2100 kcals per person), (ii) the costs associated with food preparation and consumption, such as salt, soap, kerosene, and/or firewood for cooking and basic lighting, (iii) any expenditure on water for human consumption. The Survival Threshold is the line below which intervention is required to save lives. See USAID and FDRE Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector, MoARD: _The Livelihoods Integration Unit Uses of the Baseline Information and Analysis._ 6