The Survival Threshold and Livelihood Protection Threshold represent the income required for households in a Wealth Group to survive and sustain their livelihoods, respectively. The Survival Threshold is the line below which intervention is required to save lives. The Livelihood Protection Threshold is the line below which an intervention is required in order to maintain existing livelihood assets and strategies. These thresholds are included in Livelihood Explorer (LEX) graphs so they can be compared to total income (food + cash). This can provide information about the magnitude of a required response and what kind of response might be most appropriate.
The Survival Threshold is the total food and cash income required to cover the food and non-food items necessary for survival in the short term. It includes:
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100% of minimum food energy needs (calculated as 2100 calories/person/day)
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The costs associated with food preparation and consumption
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Where applicable, the cost of water for human consumption
The Survival Threshold is the line below which intervention is required to save lives.
The Livelihood Protection Threshold is the total income required to sustain local livelihoods. It includes:
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All items covered in the Survival Threshold
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Access to basic services, like health care
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Items needed to sustain livelihoods in the medium to longer term, like seeds
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Items needed to achieve a minimum locally acceptable standard of living, like basic clothing or tea
The Livelihood Protection Threshold is the line below which an intervention is required in order to maintain existing livelihood assets and strategies.