Cost-effective Household Surveys: Key Lessons for Implementing a Household Livelihood Survey on a Budget

This document outlines key lessons learned for cost-effective implementation of a household livelihoods survey, drawing from the experience of a successful effort in earthquake-affected Pakistan.In 2005, a massive earthquake struck the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan, damaging or destroying thousands of homes and livelihoods. ShoreBank International Ltd (SBI) and its Pakistani partner, the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), responded to the disaster with the Advancing Microfinance for Post-Disaster Economic Reconstruction project, with support from the USAID Implementation Grant Program. Its goal was to increase access to financial services for the poor in the disaster-affected area.The staff of SBI and NRSP identified key lessons learned for cost-effective survey development and implementation. These include:

• Leverage local partner;
• Develop budget for an alternative plan;
• Make preliminary site visit;
• Keep field teams in close proximity;
• Train "“back-up”" field interviewers;
• Use local, culturally appropriate field staff;
• Involve locals and microfinance stakeholders;
• Do your homework.