Simple Economic Strengthening Tool Developed for Cross-Project Comparisons in Uganda
| 1. | What is the MAIN source of household income? | ||||||||
| Options | a) None | b) Remittances, pension, gratuity, donations | c) Casual laborer | d) Informal job/employment | e) Peasantry farming/hiring out labour on other farms/garden | f) Petty business | g) Formal business | h) Commercial farming | i) Formal job/ employment |
| Score | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | What is the current monthly HH income? (express amount in Uganda Shillings, then score according to range) | ||||||||
| __________________________ Uganda Shillings | |||||||||
| Options | a) Less than 50,000 | b) 50,000 – 100,000 | c) 100,000 –150,000 | d) 150,000 – 200,000 | e) Above 200,000 | ||||
| Score | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 3. | How much money does the household have in savings? | ||||||||
| __________________________ Uganda Shillings | |||||||||
| Options | a) Less than 30,000 | b) 30,000 – 60,000 | c) 60,000 –90,000 | d) 90,000 –120,000 | e) Above 120,000 | ||||
| Score | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 4. | In how many of the last three months have you consistently been able to pay for the following items without having to sell HH productive assets like land, bicycle or borrowing at very high rates of interest (more than 30%)? | ||||||||
| Number of months (0–3) | |||||||||
| 1) Food, shelter, and water | |||||||||
| 2) Health care | |||||||||
| 3) Education | |||||||||
| Add total months (1 + 2+3)→ | |||||||||
| Options | a) Total=9 | b) Total=8 | c) Total=7 | d) Total=4–6 | e) Total=0–3 | ||||
| Score | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 5. | If you had an unexpected shock, like a death in the family, happen tomorrow, how would you handle the expenses? (tick all that apply) | ||||||||
| Options | (Do not read the options below; wait for the response and then tick those that correspond.) | Tick all that apply | Circle highest score | ||||||
| 1) Pay with cash on hand/savings | 0 | ||||||||
| 2) Seek contributions/gifts from friends, relatives, community members, church help, etc. | 3 | ||||||||
| 3) Request help from a charitable organization, CBO, NGO | 3 | ||||||||
| 4) Borrow from a friend or relative or savings group and pay back later | 1 | ||||||||
| 5) Look for another source of income near my home | 1 | ||||||||
| 6) Reduce household spending a little | 1 | ||||||||
| 7) Reduce household spending a lot | 2 | ||||||||
| 8) Sell small livestock, household goods or items used in the household | 2 | ||||||||
| 9) Migrate for work | 2 | ||||||||
| 10) Borrow from money lender at high interest | 3 | ||||||||
| 11) Sell bicycle, land, tools or other items that help produce income | 3 | ||||||||
| 12) Break up the household—send children to others to care for | 3 | ||||||||
| 13) Go without food | 3 | ||||||||
| 14) Engage in transactional sex or illegal activities | 3 | ||||||||
| 6. | Over the past [12 months (baseline)/6 months (subsequent)], what has been the MAIN source of food consumed by your HH? | ||||||||
| Options | a) Donated | b) Given in return for work only | c) Bought from the market | d) Home grown | |||||
| Score | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| 7. | How many meals does the HH have in a day? | ||||||||
| Options | a) Some days, no meal | b) One meal | c) 2 meals per day | d) 3 or more meals per day | |||||
| Score | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 8. | Do the following apply to this HH? Indicate (Yes/No) (observe for yourself where applicable) | Yes | No | N/A | |||||
| 1) Does the HH have access to safe water within 30 minutes (half an hour) or harvest rain water for domestic use? | |||||||||
| 2) Does the HH have a clean compound? | |||||||||
| 3) Does the HH have access to a public health facility within 5 kilometers? | |||||||||
| 4) Does the HH have a drying rack for HH utensils? | |||||||||
| 5) Does the HH have a garbage pit or dust bin? | |||||||||
| 6) Does the HH have a separate house for animals? | |||||||||
| 7) Does the HH have clean water and soap for hand washing? | |||||||||
| 8) Do all HH members sleep under a mosquito net? | |||||||||
| Options | a) If 4 or more are No | b) If 3 are No | c) If 2 are No | d) If 1 is No | e) If all are Yes or N/A | ||||
| Score | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 9. | Does the household have a stable shelter that is adequate, safe, and dry? (observe yourself) | ||||||||
| Options | a) No stable shelter, adequate or safe place to live | b) Shelter is not adequate, needs major repairs | c) Shelter needs somerepairs but is fairly adequate, safe, and dry | d) Shelter is safe,adequate, and dry | |||||
| Score | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||||
Abbreviations: CBO, community-based organization; HH, household.