The adoption by DFID of the 1997 White Paper priorities has brought a new determination to focus on poverty reduction in UK assistance to developing and transition countries. The White Paper recognised the significance of socio-economic factors in making people vulnerable to disaster. It sets out the objectives of protecting and rebuilding livelihoods and communities after disasters, and reducing vulnerability to future disasters. conditions. | CARE has had to address staff concern that the approach might become an end in itself, and that its comprehensiveness and complexity may make it inappropriate and too time-consuming. They recognise that a range of tools can be used to avoid this problem, and that the key is to obtain an holistic view of livelihoods ‘that allows for the identification of the most vulnerable households, and on placing people’s priorities and aspirations for improving their livelihoods firmly at the centre of the analytical and planning process.’ (). To this end, various rapid and participatory approaches have been adopted for information-gathering in order to ensure its viability. The main purpose is to understand livelihood strategies of different categories of households, their level of security, ‘and the principle constraints and opportunities to address through programming.’ (). As a minimum, the process must identify the risk factors facing households, and key intervention opportunities for CARE in its activities.
