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Rapid Household Economy Analysis, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District, Uganda

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Introduction

Yumbe District (Bidibidi settlement) hosts about 272,2061 refugees from South Sudan. An influx of refugees to Bidibidi settlement, Yumbe District, took place starting from August 2016 due to the increased conflict, scarcity of food, and subsequent financial instability caused by hyperinflation in South Sudan. Dan Church Aid (DCA) and Save the Children conducted a rapid Household Economy Analysis (HEA) to get a better understanding of the livelihood opportunities for the refugees. The assessment aims to inform appropriate livelihood interventions targeted at refugee communities. Note that the HEA findings are useful for the next six months only as the assessment was conducted at a time when refugees were becoming settled in their new place and therefore many changes might occur in the next few months. The assessment also focused only on 2 out of 5 refugee settlement zones where refugees had been settled for at least four months. The reference period used for data collection and analysis is only four months from October 2007 to January 2017.Various assessments had earlier been conducted focusing on the refugee community but HEA adds value by quantifying refugee access to food and income and by an analysis of household expenditures. HEA therefore determines level of humanitarian aid needed by refugees and identifies appropriate livelihoods interventions to enable refugees increase own production and thus reduce reliance on external aid.

Bidibidi refugee settlement is situated across 5 Sub-Counties of Romogi, Kululu, Kochi, Odravu and Ariwa, all of which fall within Uganda Livelihood Zone 07 (orange geographical part) shown on map above. Most of the population in Bidibidi refugee settlement is female (53%) and children (68%)2. Therefore, most households are female headed.

Household Economy Analysis (HEA) Framework and Methodology

Household Economy Analysis (HEA) is a unique livelihoods-based analytical framework designed to provide a clear and accurate representation of the inside workings of household economies at different levels of a wealth continuum and in different parts of the world. This picture can be used for a wide range of purposes, including development planning, emergency response, early warning, monitoring & evaluation, poverty analysis and reduction, and policy analysis.

This assessment covered two refugee settlement zones (two villages per zone) within Bidibidi refugee settlement. The assessment team interviewed community leaders (10-15 leaders) in each of the 4 villages captured information on wealth breakdown, income sources, market prices, hazards and coping strategies, and short and long-term development priorities. Focused group interviews were conducted for 5-10 typical households representing each of the three wealth groups (poor, middle and better off) in each of the 4 villages. Wealth groups’ interviews captured information mainly on sources of food, sources of income, expenditure patterns and coping strategies pursued by each wealth group.